Onboard Cash Account

[carnival03]

When setting up an onboard cash account ahead of time, when is the cash collected? I know it mentions it on the website but thought it probably varies. Is it collected when we got to the check in counter or onboard at guest services and or sail and sign kiosk? Thanks!

[sundagoff]

We added cash to our account on the kiosk near guest services on our last cruise. We could check our balance, get a print out to see what the kids spent and even take cash out for our destinations so we didn't have to pay the atm fee.

[anythinggoes580]

We added cash to our account on the kiosk near guest services on our last cruise. We could check our balance, get a print out to see what the kids spent and even take cash out for our destinations so we didn't have to pay the atm fee.

 

 

Did they charge a fee to take cash out? I was wanting to put a good amount on my account before the cruise so I wouldn't have to carry it on me till I get to the room safe. Was there a fee or limit you can take out if you put it on your account as cash before hand?

Edited April 5, 2015 by anythinggoes580

[Sumsss]

If you're doing an all cash account they'll ask for some when you check in. After that you can add it at the kiosk or guest services.

[sundagoff]

We never put any cash in at check in we did it all at the kiosk. It didn't charge us anything to take cash out. We put all our cash in to start so I don't believe there was a limit.

[anythinggoes580]

We never put any cash in at check in we did it all at the kiosk. It didn't charge us anything to take cash out. We put all our cash in to start so I don't believe there was a limit.

 

 

My thoughts were to put it on pre-cruise. I'm satisfied that's the same as putting it on your account at the kiosk? I was just told that there was a fee for taking cash already on your account out at the cage in the casino. I'm thinking getting it out at the kiosk would be an option if I didn't want to carry it on the way and holding it the nights before in Miami. Wouldn't worry about it if it was just a few hundred.

[Rainbowfalls]

we normally would do it at the check in counter at the port. My parents had trouble the last time we went (2013...) they told them they had to wait to board and go to guest services.

 

I was actually wondering if it has changed myself. We liked doing it at the port (check in) cause they wouldn't put a hold on our card (we use debit).

[dioxide45]

When we have had cash accounts, there was always a table after checkin where you could add cash to your account. This was inside the terminal. Of course this was several years ago. I recall that if you had a balance left at the end of the cruise, a check was printed and attached to your final cabin folio that you get at the end of your cruise.

[anythinggoes580]

we normally would do it at the check in counter at the port. My parents had trouble the last time we went (2013...) they told them they had to wait to board and go to guest services.

 

I was actually wondering if it has changed myself. We liked doing it at the port (check in) cause they wouldn't put a hold on our card (we use debit).

 

 

 

When we have had cash accounts, there was always a table after checkin where you could add cash to your account. This was inside the terminal. Of course this was several years ago. I recall that if you had a balance left at the end of the cruise, a check was printed and attached to your final cabin folio that you get at the end of your cruise.

 

 

You can actually do it now pre-cruise. You can put it on your account as Cruise Cash. You have to make sure you don't put it on your account as Bar Cash. Just trying to make sure you can get it out with no fees via kiosk. As earlier I stated I know there's a fee if you get it out at the casino.

[WAHMto5]

We always have used a cash account and just have guest service put it on when we board.

[sundagoff]

There was no fee to take it out at kiosk. Out PVP informed us if we buy cruise cash or bar cash We do not get a refund at end of cruise for what we didn't use. In the casino we never took any cash out, we only played slots n the funds were downloaded from of S&S card to the machine and when we won we just had to goto the cage , tell them we wanted the money either back on our card or cash.

[SadieN]

You can actually do it now pre-cruise. You can put it on your account as Cruise Cash. You have to make sure you don't put it on your account as Bar Cash. Just trying to make sure you can get it out with no fees via kiosk. As earlier I stated I know there's a fee if you get it out at the casino.

 

 

A fee only if you get it from the cage or table.

[Martini Mom]

We always do a cash account. I just paid off my tips in advance and bought Carnival gift cards for most of what I expect to spend. I'd rather pay/plan in advance.

[Bases5]

You can actually do it now pre-cruise. You can put it on your account as Cruise Cash. You have to make sure you don't put it on your account as Bar Cash. Just trying to make sure you can get it out with no fees via kiosk. As earlier I stated I know there's a fee if you get it out at the casino.

 

On our last cruise we were not able to cash out our cruise cash with the kiosk or guest services.

 

The actual cash we put in we were able to cash out no problem

 

The pre bought cruise cash part of out account we had to do the casino trick to get out cash out.

 

I'm not sure but since cruise cash is a use it or lose it product it might revert to non refundable on board credit and if that's the case you can't just cash it out. I'm thinking thats why people use the casino as there bank.

[anythinggoes580]

On our last cruise we were not able to cash out our cruise cash with the kiosk or guest services.

 

 

 

The actual cash we put in we were able to cash out no problem

 

 

 

The pre bought cruise cash part of out account we had to do the casino trick to get out cash out.

 

 

 

I'm not sure but since cruise cash is a use it or lose it product it might revert to non refundable on board credit and if that's the case you can't just cash it out. I'm thinking thats why people use the casino as there bank.

 

 

So basically from what I am reading from several different people is just purchase gift cards pre-cruise and put them on your account after you board. Really the only way to not have to carry money with you and have full access to it other than having a credit line at casino.

[dioxide45]

So basically from what I am reading from several different people is just purchase gift cards pre-cruise and put them on your account after you board. Really the only way to not have to carry money with you and have full access to it other than having a credit line at casino.

 

The only problem is that the gift cards are the equivalent of cash, if they are lost or stolen, they are gone if someone else redeems them. If they aren't redeemed, then you could use them on the next cruise.

 

I don't think I like Cruise Cash. It seems like the equivalent of purchasing a gift card but isn't treated the same. It should be a refundable OBC, not non refundable. Almost sounds like it is illegal.

[anythinggoes580]

The only problem is that the gift cards are the equivalent of cash, if they are lost or stolen, they are gone if someone else redeems them. If they aren't redeemed, then you could use them on the next cruise.

 

 

 

I don't think I like Cruise Cash. It seems like the equivalent of purchasing a gift card but isn't treated the same. It should be a refundable OBC, not non refundable. Almost sounds like it is illegal.

 

 

If I'm correct the gift cards you never have to touch and just redeem them by code and put them onto your account or have them waiting in your room upon arrival. Am I correct in this assumption?

[dioxide45]

If I'm correct the gift cards you never have to touch and just redeem them by code and put them onto your account or have them waiting in your room upon arrival. Am I correct in this assumption?

 

There are egift cards and physical ones. You can buy Carnival gift cards in retail stores. Those are opt to be lost or stolen. If you get an e-gift card you need to have the code that is e-mailed to you. Probably best to print out the email and take it to the pursers desk to be redeemed. That printed email could be lost or stolen and then redeemed fraudulently. I don't know if you can have a gift card or egift card sent to your stateroom. You would have to buy those through Carnival to do that. The ones you buy from retail stores or from rewards programs would need to be carried.

 

I do think gift cards are safer than cash. More opt to have cash stolen than have someone steal a piece of paper with a code on it that they have no idea what it even is.

Edited April 5, 2015 by dioxide45

[carnival03]

So, what I am taking from this is that if I set up a cash account when doing online check in, I add physical cash to my account either in the check in terminal, guest services, or the kiosk, correct?

[dioxide45]

So, what I am taking from this is that if I set up a cash account when doing online check in, I add physical cash to my account either in the check in terminal, guest services, or the kiosk, correct?

 

That is correct.

[Bases5]

So, what I am taking from this is that if I set up a cash account when doing online check in, I add physical cash to my account either in the check in terminal, guest services, or the kiosk, correct?

 

Yes you are correct.

 

What we do is buy $100 cruise cash so it's already on my account. Then we put regular cash on our account after we board.

 

The reason we pre buy $100 cruise cash is 2 fold.

Our accout has charging privileges as soon as we board before we have to go to guest services or kiosk.

 

Sometime's the lines can be long on sail away day and that way we can go later in the day without worries.

2ed I know for a fact that Carnival uses the cruise cash part for charges before it uses Regular cash so there is no worries about use it or lose it.

 

P. S.

We have bought a lot more cruise cash than $100 in the past. If I know I'm going to purchases certain thing onboard like the wine package cheers tips or specialty restraun.tI figure up the amount I'm going to spend anyway's and buy that much in cruise cash.

[sharonny]

So, what I am taking from this is that if I set up a cash account when doing online check in, I add physical cash to my account either in the check in terminal, guest services, or the kiosk, correct?

 

Yes, exactly. Also the kiosk is great to keep an eye on your account and add cash on board if needed. Keep in mind that whatever is left Carnival will mail you a check in about 7 days if it's over $5.00, otherwise they will donate it to St. Judes ($5.00 & under).

 

Add your cash right at terminal check in so you are ready to go once on board. Add more cash in the Kiosk if needed. Very simple.

Edited April 5, 2015 by sharonny

[MrsPhoenix91]

When setting up an onboard cash account ahead of time, when is the cash collected? I know it mentions it on the website but thought it probably varies. Is it collected when we got to the check in counter or onboard at guest services and or sail and sign kiosk? Thanks!

 

Thank you for asking this question. We will also be setting up an our onboard cash acct for our May 29th cruise and had similar concerns.

 

I didn't realize how recently the Kiosks were introduced (2009)...I found a brief June 2012 video on how the Kiosks are used...enjoy!

 

[MrsPhoenix91]

The reason we pre buy $100 cruise cash is 2 fold. Our accout has charging privileges as soon as we board before we have to go to guest services or kiosk. Sometime's the lines can be long on sail away day and that way we can go later in the day without worries. 2ed I know for a fact that Carnival uses the cruise cash part for charges before it uses Regular cash so there is no worries about use it or lose it.

 

Now that is brilliant:D Thanks for sharing!

[Martini Mom]

Also, I just called Carnival and pre-paid our gratuities. That's one less chunk of money that my on board account doesn't get hit for.