first time using a cash account on board...

[ishari]

We are getting ready to leave this week on the Ecstasy and I decided to set up a cash account rather than using a credit card. This is my first time using a cash account (I've always just used a credit card because it was easy)...and this is my first time sailing Carnival...so I had a couple questions:

 

- do you put your cash deposit down when you are checking in at the port or when you are on board the ship?

 

- can I put more money down on my account at Guest Services throughout the cruise?

 

- if I don't use all the cash I put down, I can pick up the leftovers at GS on the last night, correct?

 

- when does Carnival charge your account for the gratuities?

 

Thanks so much for your help!

[deedle7544]

We are getting ready to leave this week on the Ecstasy and I decided to set up a cash account rather than using a credit card. This is my first time using a cash account (I've always just used a credit card because it was easy)...and this is my first time sailing Carnival...so I had a couple questions:

 

- do you put your cash deposit down when you are checking in at the port or when you are on board the ship? We put cash on the account once on board the ship, at the kiosk

 

- can I put more money down on my account at Guest Services throughout the cruise? do it at the kiosk, its quicker and easier - there were two on Fascination, one by Guest Services and one by the coffee bar

 

- if I don't use all the cash I put down, I can pick up the leftovers at GS on the last night, correct? I used all mine :p

 

- when does Carnival charge your account for the gratuities? Ours hit the afternoon of the 2nd day

 

Thanks so much for your help!

 

hope that helps

[TracersQQ]

 

- if I don't use all the cash I put down, I can pick up the leftovers at GS on the last night, correct?

 

 

They put a check in your room. Can't remember if it's there the last night or first thing on the last day. They will cash the check at GS, but we, usually, just wait until we get home.

[k2excursion]

My friends went to GS the final evening & got their unused cash from their account. So that is another option.

[rju713]

You can either cash out at guest services or they will mail it to you in check form about a week after your cruise. I have went this route twice since may and will stick with putting down cash.

[christyran1228]

When we were on last month they said they didn't leave checks for your balance on the last night anymore ... anything over $5 is mailed to you and anything less is donated to St. Jude.

 

 

 

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[timhoke]

What we have started doing is, setting up our S&S acct with the credit card (easier no waiting in line at the pursers desk) and on the last evening of the cruise I go down pay off the balance in cash. And that way if we do spend anything after I pay, we can still use our acct on board and at most is just a couple of bucks.

[ccruisequeen]

Last night you can cash out at the kiosk (or transfer to a gift card for the next cruise) or transfer it to a account at the slots, take a couple of spins and cash out at the casino.

[Blueboss]

When we were on last month they said they didn't leave checks for your balance on the last night anymore ... anything over $5 is mailed to you and anything less is donated to St. Jude.

 

 

 

Sent from my Commadore 64 using the Cruise Critic forum app

 

Is this something new or ship specific? Just curious. We were on Magic in Jan. and they slid a check under our door on the last night in the amount of $2.57. The last time we were on Elation was when she was still ported in Mobile and they slid the checks under the doors then too. Not a big deal, just want to know what to expect. Thanks.

[me & my peeps]

On my first cruise, I was nervous about having our spending get out of control. I heard stories from people at work about $1,000 bar bills. When I got on board, I put $500 cash on my account and $200 each on the 2 kids accounts.

 

I think it depends on your personal spending habits. Were pretty conscious of what we spend and we checked our account online every night, just to be sure. For me, I liked the peace of mind, not having a runaway balance. But on the next cruise, ill just pay into it before I go. That way, ill have $1,500 +- on my account before I set foot on board. Anything above that, ill have CC's for.

[WLHyatt]

They have started mailing the checks on certain ships. The Conquest last August put a check under the door, but in May this year mailed the remainder home.

We figure out what we plan to spend (tips, Cheers!, steakhouse for one night, excursions we did not prepay for, behind the fun, etc.) then add about 20% for extra tips on the bar tabs and other things.

 

The last trip we went on we purchased Cheers! on the first sea day, one night in the steakhouse for the two of us, and put $1000 down, and we came home to a check in the mail with about $30 on it after all the tips and stuff were done.

[Blueboss]

They have started mailing the checks on certain ships. The Conquest last August put a check under the door, but in May this year mailed the remainder home.

We figure out what we plan to spend (tips, Cheers!, steakhouse for one night, excursions we did not prepay for, behind the fun, etc.) then add about 20% for extra tips on the bar tabs and other things.

 

The last trip we went on we purchased Cheers! on the first sea day, one night in the steakhouse for the two of us, and put $1000 down, and we came home to a check in the mail with about $30 on it after all the tips and stuff were done.

 

Thanks. I know Carnival changes things up a little and doesn't always make the big announcements. Since we will be on the Elation, I will let the rest of our group know what to expect. Only 3 of us have cruised before so the other 5 are looking to us for guidance.

[christyran1228]

Is this something new or ship specific? Just curious. We were on Magic in Jan. and they slid a check under our door on the last night in the amount of $2.57. The last time we were on Elation was when she was still ported in Mobile and they slid the checks under the doors then too. Not a big deal, just want to know what to expect. Thanks.

 

I really don't know ... that was our first trip. Lol

 

On the last night we checked what was left of the cash balance we put down and spent it in souvenirs (it wasn't much) ... went over by $6 and change..put $7 in the kiosk and that was that.

 

It was even easier using up the $10 or so we had in the casino...lol. :rolleyes:

 

Using cash was super-easy.

 

Sent from my Commadore 64 using the Cruise Critic forum app

[Blueboss]

I really don't know ... that was our first trip. Lol

 

On the last night we checked what was left of the cash balance we put down and spent it in souvenirs (it wasn't much) ... went over by $6 and change..put $7 in the kiosk and that was that.

 

It was even easier using up the $10 or so we had in the casino...lol. :rolleyes:

 

Using cash was super-easy.

 

Sent from my Commadore 64 using the Cruise Critic forum app

 

We have always used cash, didn't like the hold on the debit card since that account also covers the ranch expenses. It would be just our luck to have a great trip then have to call a vet for the cattle when we get home or have car trouble on the road. Don't like to have our money tied up with the holds they put on Credit/Debit cards. One of these days I'll get around to setting up a "strictly cruise" account and not worry about it. Thanks for the info though. At least we'll be prepared whichever way they do it on our cruise.

[adoptivemommy]

Is there a minimum amount they make you put on it? Other than gratuities we don't plan on charging much to the account.. :)

[Blueboss]

They SUGGEST $200 for a five day cruise and $300 for a 7 day. With that being said, my sister puts $100 on each of her small children's cards since they don't having spending privileges but will still have auto tips being paid. We usually start with the minimum and do a rough guess about our purchases and adjust accordingly. I figure $10 per mixed drink, $20-$22 per picture, and a certain amount for gift shop. We don't go to the casino so can't help you judge how much that will cost. Look around on these boards, that will help you get a better idea of what things cost. Any photo review by Sargent Shultz is a good one to look at, he takes a lot of pictures of the signage around the ships to give you a better idea or you can go to his webpage of cruises at zydecocruiser.com. Very informative. The prices are the same across the entire fleet so don't worry if he hasn't been on the ship you are booked on. Also, if you need to add more mid trip, you can do that as well. Just go to guest services or find a kiosk (looks like a small ATM) on the ship and add more to your account.