Cruise Cash/gift cards question

[laurantwins]

So I don't drink nearly enough to justify buying Cheers for our upcoming 8 day cruise. Honestly, I will probably drink about 15 drinks total during the entire 8 days. My thinking is:

Sunday: 2 fruity sail away drinks

Monday at sea: 3 fruity drinks

Tuesday at sea: 3 again

Wednesday: Jamaica - 1 after dinner

Thursday: G Cayman - 1 after dinner

Friday: Cozumel - 1 after dinner

Saturday at sea: 3 again

 

It's looking like $200 of drinks (or less). If I did want to pay this up front, what would be the best way to do it? Buy gift cards/cruise cash?

 

I know that I could just budget for it and stick to my plan - I'm just love the idea of PRE-paying and then not worrying about it.

 

Suggestions?

 

 

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[gadan1]

Gift card. The limitations of cruise cash is that it is only available for a specific sailing and can't be applied to a different sailing if you don't spend it all or if you have to cancel and rebook.

 

A gift card is also not refundable but if you don't spend it all (and if you don't use the casino method to cash out before the end of the cruise), you'll get a new gift card with the balance on it. Also, it's not tied to a sailing--apply it when you board---so if something unforeseen occurs you can still use it on a different sailing.

[CruiserNic]

Can you apply the gift cards at the kiosks or do you have to go to Guest Services?

[laurantwins]

What is the casino method? I will search for a thread on it - but I'm totally intrigued, if anyone has a quick explanation!

 

 

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[dwaterhouse]

Can you apply the gift cards at the kiosks or do you have to go to Guest Services?

 

You can do either... Very easy.

 

I bought about 700 dollars worth and had them applied at GS, but was told that I could have done it myself at the kiosk.

 

I like having all things paid for prior to sailing.... So when I realized our local grocery store carried the gift cards, I would just pick one up everytime I went grocery shopping.

 

Usually our sign and sail isn't that high... But I knew we were going to the steakhouse, buying cigarettes (for hubby) and buying daughter a citizens watch for Christmas, plus drinks.... I came off the ship with about $15 on our S/S

[ZJ13820]

Can you apply the gift cards at the kiosks or do you have to go to Guest Services?

 

You can do it at either one.

[dwaterhouse]

What is the casino method? I will search for a thread on it - but I'm totally intrigued, if anyone has a quick explanation!

 

 

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If you have say... 50 dollars left on you gift card that you already applied to your S/S... Once in the casino you will add the $50 to your players bank... Spin a few times... Cash out and get your money from the casino cage.

 

Zero dollars left on your sign and sail

[ZJ13820]

What is the casino method? I will search for a thread on it - but I'm totally intrigued, if anyone has a quick explanation

 

The "casino method" is going to the casino, sitting down at a slot machine, requesting money to play from your Sail & Sign account, transferring the money to your player bank, and then cashing it out at the casino cage.

 

If you are on a ship with a kiosk, you can request a withdrawal of a credit balance at any time. On my last cruise, I uploaded a $500 gift card to my account though the kiosk on the second day. When I finished, it gave me the option to make a withdrawal up to my amount of my credit at the time (total payments applied less charges).

Edited January 20, 2015 by ZanzibarJackson