Prepay for cruise cash?

[Rich_NY]

I'm being serious...not a wise guy. Why would anyone do this? You lose what you don't spend, as opposed to charging to cabin as you go? I don't cruise often, haven't in years....I'm being 100% serious.:confused::confused:

[jjennings1990]

Probably if you didn't want to overdraw your bank account I would think . I probably spent $300 on the ship in total between drinks, food, souvenirs , midnight and 4 AM room service calls easily because I charged everything to my room . For me that wasn't a big deal but for other people that could be massive. I didn't realize how much I'd spent until we got that final bill manifest on the last day .

[Rich_NY]

That makes sense...thanks. I understand the HUB app you can see a running total...I'd hate for people to lose what they didnt use.

[cruizinisthebest]

You don't lose what you don't spend. All you have to do is cash out at the casino. I use gift cards so I like to buy a little cruise cash to get me started since it's already on there. Gift cards have to be loaded.

 

They're also nice to give as a gift.

 

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[OldSaltyCruiser]

Rich, they are sold for the same reason most retailers and restaurants sell gift cards. Buying them for yourself doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me as you are taking perfectly good money and restricting it to one vendor (unless you cash in the unused portion as the cashier's cage). Merchants love that as it improves their chance of making a sale in the future.

 

People will tend to spend money on a gift card more easily than giving up their greenbacks. Plus, a lot of people will not go through the effort to cash in a small remaining balance on a card as it takes a little effort. But for many people, giving a relative or friend a gift card instead of cash has become very popular.

 

Hope that helps.

[lizardhowson]

I'm being serious...not a wise guy. Why would anyone do this? You lose what you don't spend, as opposed to charging to cabin as you go? I don't cruise often, haven't in years....I'm being 100% serious.:confused::confused:

 

I agree with you. Just take cash.

[firemanbobswife]

I buy a couple hundred dollars to load my account ahead of time and I buy it with my 10% or more off carnival gift cards. I do a cash account so this saves me some time in the fact that I don't have to load them to my account and I also don't have to worry about losing them, or having a glitch in the amount available on the card. If I don't use it all, I'll cash out in the casino just like I used to do with the gift cards.

[Rich_NY]

TY everyone!!

[maryred]

First off Cruise Cash and Carnival Gift Cards/eCertificates are completely different. Cruise Cash can only be used on board within the specifications of the terms of use, by the person it is assigned to, and only on a single voyage. That is the use it or lose it option and why Carnival limits the purchase of it to $500 per category (general, bar, photo) per booking. But the big advantage of it is once you check-in it is already on your S&S account, ready to use just like any other OBC.

Carnival GCs and eCs are just like any other company's gift card, it can be used to purchase anything including the cruise itself, pre-cruise purchases including Cruise Cash, and on board expenses including the art auction and booking on board. Any amount not used either stays on the card or if downloaded to the S&S account refunded on a new card (as long as it's $10 or more). It then can be used for another cruise. Also funds from a GC can be split as needed between people on separate S&S accounts (think a child w/o charging privileges but wants to play in the arcade sans mom or dad).

Either method allows for those with little spending restraint to put aside a some funds each pay period towards their vacation spending fund. For others that know the system we can use our loyalty points to get these at a discount to completely free adding to our spending power with the cruise line.

 

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[Purvis1231]

I would not worry about the use it or lose it- who cannot spend $500.00 on a cruise ship? Pictures, drinks, tips, slot machines, shore excursions, Dr. Seuss, inch of gold, perfume, watches, t-shirts, and on and on.

[sanger727]

I would not worry about the use it or lose it- who cannot spend $500.00 on a cruise ship? Pictures, drinks, tips, slot machines, shore excursions, Dr. Seuss, inch of gold, perfume, watches, t-shirts, and on and on.

 

 

 

I've never spent close to $500 on a cruise ship. I'd rather keep the cash to use in port than HAVE to buy t shirts and perfume I don't need.

 

 

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[TxDevil]

I'm not good at saving. AT ALL. For my birthday, I asked for cruise cash. I also ordered a GC with points that I bought cruise cash with. I would occasionally buy cruise cash as a method of saving up for onboard expenses. I'm pretty sure that I won't forfeit any of it. If I'm not coming close to my balance, SPENDING SPREE!! 😉

[cruizinisthebest]

I would not worry about the use it or lose it- who cannot spend $500.00 on a cruise ship? Pictures, drinks, tips, slot machines, shore excursions, Dr. Seuss, inch of gold, perfume, watches, t-shirts, and on and on.

Agreed. We spend alot onboard. Family of 4. But we spent big even before we started bringing the kids. And neither one of us gambles either. I don't worry about losing anything. It's either spent or cashed out.

 

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[blarko]

I would not worry about the use it or lose it- who cannot spend $500.00 on a cruise ship? Pictures, drinks, tips, slot machines, shore excursions, Dr. Seuss, inch of gold, perfume, watches, t-shirts, and on and on.

Agree. My final bill has never been less than $500, and I don't even go to the casino. Have never had a problem spending that amount.

 

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[Tiger0613]

I go on mostly 4 or 5 day cruises. I cruise with my mom or solo. My account charges have only gone over $500 once($522.37). That was an 8 day Alaska cruise with my mom.

 

The lowest I have gone is about $179 on a 4 day Bahamas cruise with my mom.

 

I could go as low as $90.66(auto gratuities and drinks) on a solo 4 day cruise on the Triumph. I have already done the Behind The Fun tour on that ship, and I already have the ship postcard and shiny ship magnet postcard. I would prepurchase value internet and an excursion. I wouldn't need to charge anything else since I would bring cash for the casino and extra tips.

 

Having said all that, I could definitely find a way to spend $500 if I had to.

[Crusingdiva62]

I would not worry about the use it or lose it- who cannot spend $500.00 on a cruise ship? Pictures, drinks, tips, slot machines, shore excursions, Dr. Seuss, inch of gold, perfume, watches, t-shirts, and on and on.

 

 

 

Carnival owed me 12 cents when I settled my account. With pics , steakhouse, drinks and pure white Hennessy to bring home I did well lol

 

 

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[TheCaveman]

We approach this from a different angle.

 

We use Euro’s, and on board cash is in dollars. So if the rate drops, we will top up our account with $100. We will do that a few times before the cruise.

 

Our next cruise depart from Vancouver.

So we will fly over from Dublin, spend a few days in Vancouver, than get on the ship.

 

 

Once we get on the ship, everything will be prepaid. Tips,Cheers, Internet, and say $300 of On Board cash.

 

And once the cruise is over should anything be left on board the last night, we will either go to the casino, and cash out ( yes i know we will lose 5%) or the wife will get another handbag, or perfume. ( other cruise lines will refund you the OBC that you paid for)

 

and, although it never happened, if we were to lose our bankcards, well, everything is covered.

 

 

And, we started doing this after like the 3rd cruise... it feels so much better after an amazing holiday, on the last night to get a refund from the cruise, than having to pay off a larger balance.

[firemanbobswife]

I've never spent close to $500 on a cruise ship. I'd rather keep the cash to use in port than HAVE to buy t shirts and perfume I don't need.

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There's no rule saying you have to get $500 worth of Cruise Cash. It's available in increments of $100 with a max of $500. You also don't HAVE to buy stuff. You go to the casino and cash out as has been stated quite a few times already.

[sanger727]

There's no rule saying you have to get $500 worth of Cruise Cash. It's available in increments of $100 with a max of $500. You also don't HAVE to buy stuff. You go to the casino and cash out as has been stated quite a few times already.

 

 

 

I understand that. I would never actually buy cruise cash anyway. Just disagreeing with the blanket statement that $500 is normal spending anyway.

 

 

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[sparks1093]

There's no rule saying you have to get $500 worth of Cruise Cash. It's available in increments of $100 with a max of $500. You also don't HAVE to buy stuff. You go to the casino and cash out as has been stated quite a few times already.

 

Actually it's the gift cards that are $100 to $500 (at least the ones in our supermarket work that way). Cruise Cash and Bar Cash start at $25 and up and Photo starts at $10 and up. The casino trick doesn't work for the Bar Cash (and presumably the Photo Cash also).

 

As for the original question I like to put the money in a place where it's not easily spent and typically won't put any on the account until we're inside final payment. I am mindful of the "use it or lose it feature" so I make sure we're planning on spending the money before I'll add it to the account.

[Havingfun2010]

Will power and my credit card is all I need. It's easy to track what you spend, because you are spending it.

[firemanbobswife]

Actually it's the gift cards that are $100 to $500 (at least the ones in our supermarket work that way). Cruise Cash and Bar Cash start at $25 and up and Photo starts at $10 and up. The casino trick doesn't work for the Bar Cash (and presumably the Photo Cash also).

 

 

 

As for the original question I like to put the money in a place where it's not easily spent and typically won't put any on the account until we're inside final payment. I am mindful of the "use it or lose it feature" so I make sure we're planning on spending the money before I'll add it to the account.

I forgot the CC came in the lower amounts. I just get the $100x2. I would never buy the Bar or Photo CC so that doesn't even come to mind. And yes, you're right it can't be cashed out in the casino and that's precisely why I would never consider it. I think it's foolish to be limited to either drinks or photos. Never in a million years would I do that.

[Purvis1231]

I've never spent close to $500 on a cruise ship. I'd rather keep the cash to use in port than HAVE to buy t shirts and perfume I don't need.

 

 

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Carnival Cruise Cash is a Carnival marketing, they know if someone buys it, they will spend it, and probably some more.

 

We never buy cruise cash, but for us, as a family of three, we usually spend at least $500.00 bucks on the ship. Gratuities, Bubbles program, excursions, and other items.

[lizardhowson]

I've never spent close to $500 on a cruise ship. I'd rather keep the cash to use in port than HAVE to buy t shirts and perfume I don't need.

 

 

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Agree, other than paying for Wifi, there is nothing for sale on the ships that is worth buying (and neither of us drink alcohol). I spend my money enjoying the ports !!

[Schoifmom]

I think that most people miss the point that Cruise Cash was around long before gift cards were available. It was a way to make a gift of spending money for a cruise. As a vehicle for that, it has probably lost it's usefulness, unless someone wanted to surprise a person with a gift once on the ship.