Carnival GC or cruise cash?

[JillMcC]

What's your opinion on either? Trying to decide if we want to purchase gift cards and fund our S&S card on embarkation or purchase cruise cash through the website. Thanks!! [emoji846]

 

 

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[Cody Miles]

Cruise Cash is non refundable if you do not use all of it. Gift Cards can be used again.

[KCruizer]

Not sure why anyone uses either unless there is a discount. I use gift cards because I buy them 10% off, otherwise I just use a credit card. Is there some benefit to cruise cash that I'm missing?

[kabux]

For gift card you have to go to guest services to apply the money to your account. We had one last week and there was an issue with it initially, which took about 15 minutes to work out. luckily there was no line when we approached, there was when we left ;)

 

Cruise cash is automatically applied to your account on first day.

[nychad10]

For gift card you have to go to guest services to apply the money to your account. We had one last week and there was an issue with it initially, which took about 15 minutes to work out. luckily there was no line when we approached, there was when we left ;)

 

Cruise cash is automatically applied to your account on first day.

 

 

You can also use the kiosks that are on board to load your carnival gift card's to your account.

[JillMcC]

Not sure why anyone uses either unless there is a discount. I use gift cards because I buy them 10% off, otherwise I just use a credit card. Is there some benefit to cruise cash that I'm missing?

 

 

Im assuming with cruise cash, I can purchase it online (on Carnivals website) with a debit card and wouldn't be subjected to any 'holds' by Carnival as opposed to using my debit card to load my S&S card on the ship on embarkation day.

Experienced cruisers, is that correct?

 

 

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[Gr8DanesMom]

We use gift cards. We just handed them over to the check in person when we set up our S&S cards before we got on the ship. She had them loaded to our account in less than 5 mins. When the cruise is over, you can let them either send you a check for the balance (ours came in less than 5 days) or you can cash out your account at the casino.

 

The advantage to gift cards is that I buy them at a discount or I get fuel points at Kroger. Filling up my car for $1 a gallon is sweet! LOL. I try to wait for the 4x fuel point sale.

 

 

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[nychad10]

Im assuming with cruise cash, I can purchase it online (on Carnivals website) with a debit card and wouldn't be subjected to any 'holds' by Carnival as opposed to using my debit card to load my S&S card on the ship on embarkation day.

Experienced cruisers, is that correct?

 

 

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I assume you can buy cruise cash using your debit card. But you can also buy carnival gift cards from most online sites using your debit card with out the extra holds. And if you have Allstate Rewards, Verizon Rewards, or AARP Rewards you can buy them at 10 % off when in stock. Also if you have a Kroger near you they give you points towards gas.

[KCruizer]

We use gift cards. We just handed them over to the check in person when we set up our S&S cards before we got on the ship. She had them loaded to our account in less than 5 mins. When the cruise is over, you can let them either send you a check for the balance (ours came in less than 5 days) or you can cash out your account at the casino.

 

The advantage to gift cards is that I buy them at a discount or I get fuel points at Kroger. Filling up my car for $1 a gallon is sweet! LOL. I try to wait for the 4x fuel point sale.

 

 

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Do they allow you to do this at all ports? We mostly cruise from New Orleans. I didn't know you could fund your account before you get onboard. That would be easier than going to guest services or the kiosks.

[maryred]

Do they allow you to do this at all ports? We mostly cruise from New Orleans. I didn't know you could fund your account before you get onboard. That would be easier than going to guest services or the kiosks.

When we sailed the Dream out of NOLA in 2015 they did not take the gift card at check-in. You needed to deposit them once on board either at the Guest Services desk or the S&S kiosk. In 2 years maybe they updated the landside system.

[Schoifmom]

Just a note ... you can now purchase Cruise Cash with GC (discounted, in my case). Skip the lines and use the casino trick to cash out at the end.

[nychad10]

Just a note ... you can now purchase Cruise Cash with GC (discounted, in my case). Skip the lines and use the casino trick to cash out at the end.

 

Schoifmom,

 

What's the benefit of using the gift cards to buy the cruise cash? Can you cash out the cruise cash? I read many times that you have to use it or lose it when it comes to cruise cash.

[sparks1093]

I personally count anything as a benefit if it makes my life easier so I do purchase Cruise Cash and Bar Cash prior to the cruise. I don't have to worry about losing a card nor do I have to worry about visiting Guest Services or a kiosk. I use one of my reward cards for the purchase and earn cash back. The risk of me not using it all onboard is practically nil (it's actually a concept that I don't understand;)). We are contemplating Cheers for our upcoming cruise in which case I would forego the Bar Cash.

[Qchell]

We are contemplating Cheers for our upcoming cruise in which case I would forego the Bar Cash.

 

If you are waiting to purchase Cheers until you get onboard you can put your Bar Cash towards the purchase. However they do charge a higher price for Cheers onboard now versus pre-paid.

[Qchell]

Not sure why anyone uses either unless there is a discount. I use gift cards because I buy them 10% off, otherwise I just use a credit card. Is there some benefit to cruise cash that I'm missing?

 

When we are not purchasing Cheers I often purchase Cruise/Bar Cash throughout the year so I have sort of an OBC already built up on my account prior to the cruise and its credited without having to take any further action. However, if you do not use all of it, you will lose it, so you have to ensure you will spend more than the cash you purchased.

[sparks1093]

If you are waiting to purchase Cheers until you get onboard you can put your Bar Cash towards the purchase. However they do charge a higher price for Cheers onboard now versus pre-paid.

 

That's what I thought, thanks for confirming. If we do get it then I'll likely pre-purchase a week before the cruise.

[Schoifmom]

Schoifmom,

 

What's the benefit of using the gift cards to buy the cruise cash? Can you cash out the cruise cash? I read many times that you have to use it or lose it when it comes to cruise cash.

 

Use it or lose it? Yes. Can you cash it out? Yes. Find the nearest slot machine, put the money in your player's bank. Spin a couple of times. Go to the cashier and grab your cash.

 

The benefit would be for those who complain about having to stand in line to apply their gift cards. Alternatively, you could purchase a little cruise cash to use when you first board, so that you can find a time when GS is not busy to apply your GC. You can try the kiosks, but I, personally, have never been able to get them to work with GC.

[nychad10]

Use it or lose it? Yes. Can you cash it out? Yes. Find the nearest slot machine, put the money in your player's bank. Spin a couple of times. Go to the cashier and grab your cash.

 

The benefit would be for those who complain about having to stand in line to apply their gift cards. Alternatively, you could purchase a little cruise cash to use when you first board, so that you can find a time when GS is not busy to apply your GC. You can try the kiosks, but I, personally, have never been able to get them to work with GC.

 

I have done the casino cash out tip before without a problem but I didn't know you could do that with the cruse cash as well. Can you apply cruise cash on your booking now even though its several moths away? thank you

[Schoifmom]

I have done the casino cash out tip before without a problem but I didn't know you could do that with the cruse cash as well. Can you apply cruise cash on your booking now even though its several moths away? thank you

 

You can only use the casino cash out trick with the general Cruise Cash (not Photo Cash or Bar Cash). Yes, when you buy Cruise Cash it will automatically appear in your S&S account when you arrive.

[sparks1093]

You can only use the casino cash out trick with the general Cruise Cash (not Photo Cash or Bar Cash). Yes, when you buy Cruise Cash it will automatically appear in your S&S account when you arrive.

 

Can't you also just withdraw it from the kiosk?

[KCruizer]

Can't you also just withdraw it from the kiosk?

No you can't withdraw cruise cash or gift card funds from the kiosks anymore. The first time I funded my account with gift cards I was able to withdraw it from the kiosk. I thought that was awesome because you could then in theory buy enough discounted gift cards to cover spending money for ports (or anything really) too! 10% off CASH! Of course they fixed that loophole quickly. 😊

[Smithkids5521]

I thought that was awesome because you could then in theory buy enough discounted gift cards to cover spending money for ports (or anything really) too! 10% off CASH! Of course they fixed that loophole quickly. 😊

 

Technically you could still do this, but instead of the kiosk you would have to cash out at casino, right? So- buy discounted gc, fund your account- and the night before heading into port, transfer a certain amount to your casino account and then cash out...that would work also, right? :)

[KCruizer]

Technically you could still do this, but instead of the kiosk you would have to cash out at casino, right? So- buy discounted gc, fund your account- and the night before heading into port, transfer a certain amount to your casino account and then cash out...that would work also, right? :)

Yeah I guess it would! I've never tried the casino thing myself.