Cash For my S&S Card

[Gabby229]

Getting closer to our first cruise!! The biggest question I am thinking about right now is the sail and sign card. I understand that it is your way of charging things on the ship etc. What I am confused about is putting money towards the card and receiving it back (if you put cash on it).

I have no credit cards and don't see myself getting one before this cruise. I want to use cash. I saw that carnival has a required deposit of $100 for 3-5 day cruises and ours is a 5 day cruise. I am going to put more than that on it, but will I have to wait in those dreadful lines that I have read so much about on the last day/night to get those unused funds that were placed on my card? Or will they put a check with my statement? Also, trying to make the check-in process as easy as possible, and I read on carnival's website that I can set up the card account, but my guess is that I can't do that because I am using cash? Thank you in advance. Any information at all about cruising is very appreciated and welcomed :)

[spookwife]

yes you must wait in line at guest services and when you close out your account that is it.. no more last minute charges allowed.

[CruiserBruce]

The better place for your research would be the Carnival board, here:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=215

[Gabby229]

The better place for your research would be the Carnival board, here:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=215

 

I have kept up with these threads very often, but I have just been even more confused. Thought I could get an answer over here. Will probably post this over their and hopefully not get confusing answered.....

[GUT2407]

As far as I know your only option will be to stand in line, though I have never found the lines THAT bad.

 

Also you card is then cut off.

 

I think, but am not certain that if you don't collect it they will return it to you the way you paid for the cruise.

[Flatbush Flyer]

Getting closer to our first cruise!! The biggest question I am thinking about right now is the sail and sign card. I understand that it is your way of charging things on the ship etc. What I am confused about is putting money towards the card and receiving it back (if you put cash on it).

 

I have no credit cards and don't see myself getting one before this cruise. I want to use cash. I saw that carnival has a required deposit of $100 for 3-5 day cruises and ours is a 5 day cruise. I am going to put more than that on it, but will I have to wait in those dreadful lines that I have read so much about on the last day/night to get those unused funds that were placed on my card? Or will they put a check with my statement? Also, trying to make the check-in process as easy as possible, and I read on carnival's website that I can set up the card account, but my guess is that I can't do that because I am using cash? Thank you in advance. Any information at all about cruising is very appreciated and welcomed :)

 

 

Traveling without a credit card? How exactly would you deal with an emergency?

[navybankerteacher]

You will have to carry sufficient cash with you to the port to cover whatever minimum deposit the line requires, plus a reasonable reserve to add on board ship if you come close to that minimum (to avoid being cut off), plus sufficient cash to get you home after the cruise. Perhaps you should re-think not wanting a credit card.

 

If you do go the cash route, you will have to stand in line at the end - hopefully not too long a line: how else could you request the cash - or submit a request to have a check sent?

[Essiesmom]

You can purchase onboard credit for yourself before the cruise, and it will be on your Sail & Sign card when you board. Many people without credit cards do this. I believe if you have funds left over at the end of the cruise, and don't have a credit/debit card on file, they will refund it with a check. EM

[Gabby229]

Thank you all. My dad is traveling with us and he has a credit card so emergencies are covered. So if I buy obc before, they will actually give me a check if I don't use it all? That seems to be a way to go.

[cruisead]

It's not confusing. If you use cash, there's only one way to get your left over cash back, and that's by standing in line at Guest Services. IF they give you a check for any unused on board credit, you will still have to stand in line to get the check. And, not all lines give a check, some will give cash. So regardless of how you get your money back, you're going to be standing in line to get your money. And believe me, those lines are LONG on the morning of disembarkation.

[serene56]

. I am going to put more than that on it, but will I have to wait in those dreadful lines that I have read so much about on the last day/night to get those unused funds that were placed on my card? Or will they put a check with my statement? :)

 

 

You do not have to set up your account when you board-- you can do so anytime within the first 24 hours and your card will have charging priviledges.

 

I suggest first thing the next morning--- or go right after dinner. THe lines will be very short.

 

IF you have money at the end-- you can visit the kiosk located right across from the guest services and close out your account.

 

or you can go to the casino and cash out using a slot machine-- not the cashier in the casino-- that will charge you 3% but taking money off your sign and sale card-- moving it to the casino side of your card-- then taking the card to the cashier.

 

Easiest way-- the kiosk

[serene56]

Thank you all. My dad is traveling with us and he has a credit card so emergencies are covered. So if I buy obc before, they will actually give me a check if I don't use it all? That seems to be a way to go.

 

 

if you leave your money on your account they will send you a check for whats leftover-- Unless its 5.00 or lower then they send that amount to the St Jude fund.

You will not get your money right then.

[Flatbush Flyer]

Thank you all. My dad is traveling with us and he has a credit card so emergencies are covered. So if I buy obc before, they will actually give me a check if I don't use it all? That seems to be a way to go.

 

 

You may want to talk with dad about this. Whatever travel benefits his card may have (e.g., trip cancel/delay etc with something like United Airlines Explorer Visa) only applies to tix et al. purchased with that card and, even then, there are limits to that coverage.

 

Then there is the question of his credit limit. Do you know that med evac from a ship can top $50-100k? Is your trip insured? Does your regular health insurance cover incidents abroad?

 

I ask all these questions because the original statement of "no credit card" (even when someone else in the party has one) really is an unwise practice.

[GUT2407]

Why not use. Dads cc to book in hen go down lat day and pay your account off with cash, then you will still have an open account and if you spend anything a small amount may his dads cc.

[TBone2K]

I can't speak for Carnival for sure, but other cruise lines you can also take out cash against your account at the casino. Some lines charge a little bit for this service (3%), but it might beat waiting in line.

 

Many people also buy a prepaid credit card at their bank to use to pay their account. Then whatever you have left over you can use up when you get home.

[Cuizer2]

Getting closer to our first cruise!! The biggest question I am thinking about right now is the sail and sign card. I understand that it is your way of charging things on the ship etc. What I am confused about is putting money towards the card and receiving it back (if you put cash on it).

I have no credit cards and don't see myself getting one before this cruise. I want to use cash. I saw that carnival has a required deposit of $100 for 3-5 day cruises and ours is a 5 day cruise. I am going to put more than that on it, but will I have to wait in those dreadful lines that I have read so much about on the last day/night to get those unused funds that were placed on my card? Or will they put a check with my statement? Also, trying to make the check-in process as easy as possible, and I read on carnival's website that I can set up the card account, but my guess is that I can't do that because I am using cash? Thank you in advance. Any information at all about cruising is very appreciated and welcomed :)

 

In life there are choices and some of those choices carry risk and some of those choices have a cost. I assume you understand the risks of a credit card. However, the trade off is the convenience factor. You have chosen to avoid the risks of a credit card. However, that choice has a cost. The cost is the inconvenience factor. If you use cash then yes, you will have to stand in line.

[MrsPhoenix91]

Getting closer to our first cruise!! The biggest question I am thinking about right now is the sail and sign card. I understand that it is your way of charging things on the ship etc. What I am confused about is putting money towards the card and receiving it back (if you put cash on it).

I have no credit cards and don't see myself getting one before this cruise. I want to use cash. I saw that carnival has a required deposit of $100 for 3-5 day cruises and ours is a 5 day cruise. I am going to put more than that on it, but will I have to wait in those dreadful lines that I have read so much about on the last day/night to get those unused funds that were placed on my card? Or will they put a check with my statement? Also, trying to make the check-in process as easy as possible, and I read on carnival's website that I can set up the card account, but my guess is that I can't do that because I am using cash? Thank you in advance. Any information at all about cruising is very appreciated and welcomed :)

 

Congratulations on your first cruise! We had our 1st cruise 3 months ago, also on Carnival. We were able to set up our Sail & Sign card account online with the Cash option. Once onboard, we used Carnival's kiosks to add cash to our S&S card, avoiding the need to go to Guest Services right away. For cash accounts, any refundable overages greater than $10 USD will be refunded via check mailed within 7 days after the cruise to the guest’s home address on file. Overages less than $10 USD will be donated to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital (excluding the Carnival Spirit Australia). If a guest wishes to have the full overage in cash, they may retrieve it from one of the Sail & Sign Kiosks or the Guest Services Team. Outstanding account issues must be settled with Guest Services before 8:30am.

Edited August 11, 2015 by MrsPhoenix91

[trish1c]

Thank you all. My dad is traveling with us and he has a credit card so emergencies are covered. So if I buy obc before, they will actually give me a check if I don't use it all? That seems to be a way to go.

 

My suggestion: tie everyone's on board account to dad's card. Skip the disembarkation lines. The day you get home from the cruise write your dad a check payable to his credit card company for your charges or give dad cash if you prefer. Traveling with cash is dangerous. Too much can go wrong with little recourse. Also my way you skip the lines and avoid the possibility that your card will be cut off because you didn't fund it enough but you still don't incur interest.

[MrsPhoenix91]

Traveling with cash is dangerous.

 

With respect, traveling with cash is dangerous if you don't behave wisely and draw undue attention to yourself.

[trish1c]

With respect, traveling with cash is dangerous if you don't behave wisely and draw undue attention to yourself.

 

That is true of life in general. But I prefer to minimize risk. I can get replacement credit cards in an emergency. Whether it was stolen or misplaced, cash doesn't get replaced. On the theory that it's better to be safe then sorry, tying everything to the CC then paying it in full when you get home is more prudent then cash.

[Cuizer2]

That is true of life in general. But I prefer to minimize risk. I can get replacement credit cards in an emergency. Whether it was stolen or misplaced, cash doesn't get replaced.

 

It does if you are friends with the printer. :D

[Jeepenfun]

I have a question. everyone keeps saying "credit card" now are we talking about a real credit card for lines of credit or VISA debit card tied to your banks checking account? does carnival require a real credit card or can you use your banks VISA debit card that just comes directly out of your checking? That's what I plan on using for our cruise is just our VISA debit card.

[navybankerteacher]

I have a question. everyone keeps saying "credit card" now are we talking about a real credit card for lines of credit or VISA debit card tied to your banks checking account? does carnival require a real credit card or can you use your banks VISA debit card that just comes directly out of your checking? That's what I plan on using for our cruise is just our VISA debit card.

 

I believe a credit card is required because the line has access to your credit - not just to your bank balance. If you insisted on using a debit card, the line might go along, but they would want to access the actual finds.

[PomSaysOm]

I have a question. everyone keeps saying "credit card" now are we talking about a real credit card for lines of credit or VISA debit card tied to your banks checking account? does carnival require a real credit card or can you use your banks VISA debit card that just comes directly out of your checking? That's what I plan on using for our cruise is just our VISA debit card.

I have never had an issue using my visa debit card from my bank for my sail and sign account.

 

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[Cuizer2]

I have a question. everyone keeps saying "credit card" now are we talking about a real credit card for lines of credit or VISA debit card tied to your banks checking account? does carnival require a real credit card or can you use your banks VISA debit card that just comes directly out of your checking? That's what I plan on using for our cruise is just our VISA debit card.

 

You can use a debit card, but I would not recommend it.