First time cruiser-sail and sign card

[Happy1318]

I am traveling on a seven day carnival cruise with my family of 4. My husband and I plus our two teenage boys. I purchased the cheers and soda package. I purchased our excursion already. How much should I put on the sail and sign card. I know they recommend 200 a person but since I purchased our drinks/excursion already I was wondering if 600 would be good.

[Unclearnie]

Most people just use a credit card. On debarkation day, they just put your charges on your card. If you are planning on using cash, I believe they start with $500 and if you exceed that, they ask you to put up more cash. I have been on five cruises. Twice we here held on the ship until a cash customer cleared their balance - don't be that person please.

[TxDevil]

I am traveling on a seven day carnival cruise with my family of 4. My husband and I plus our two teenage boys. I purchased the cheers and soda package. I purchased our excursion already. How much should I put on the sail and sign card. I know they recommend 200 a person but since I purchased our drinks/excursion already I was wondering if 600 would be good.

 

The requirement on a 7 day is $200 per S&S card. Then you can add cash as you see fit at a kiosk.

[roofergal3030]

I am traveling on a seven day carnival cruise with my family of 4. My husband and I plus our two teenage boys. I purchased the cheers and soda package. I purchased our excursion already. How much should I put on the sail and sign card. I know they recommend 200 a person but since I purchased our drinks/excursion already I was wondering if 600 would be good.

 

 

 

Since you've prepaid for your beverage packages and excursions, the other expense to deduct is gratuity. After that it's up to you how much you think you'll spend on shopping onboard, spa services-if any, specialty restaurants, etc. You can always add more cash or use a credit card.

 

 

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[Schoifmom]

The requirement on a 7 day is $200 per S&S card. Then you can add cash as you see fit at a kiosk.

 

 

That is the RECOMMENDATION, not a requirement.

 

Since you are first time cruisers, don't forget that your gratuities will be charged to your S&S (unless you pre-paid them). That is $12.95 per day per person. Think about how much you might spend in the casino, bingo, shopping on board, specialty dining, spa services, arcade and add all of that amount to your account. Honestly, I always use cash/gift cards and over-fund my account. It's easy to get the excess funds back on the last night.

 

 

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[TxDevil]

That is the RECOMMENDATION, not a requirement.

 

Since you are first time cruisers, don't forget that your gratuities will be charged to your S&S (unless you pre-paid them). That is $12.95 per day per person. Think about how much you might spend in the casino, bingo, shopping on board, specialty dining, spa services, arcade and add all of that amount to your account. Honestly, I always use cash/gift cards and over-fund my account. It's easy to get the excess funds back on the last night.

 

 

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Although they use the term "recommended", I was not allowed to put less than $100 on mine in 2010 (3 day cruise). They say it's the "minimum recommendation", if it's a recommendation why say minimum? I was just stating my experience and that they're wording is confusing.

[Schoifmom]

Although they use the term "recommended", I was not allowed to put less than $100 on mine in 2010 (3 day cruise). They say it's the "minimum recommendation", if it's a recommendation why say minimum? I was just stating my experience and that they're wording is confusing.

 

I have gotten on board before on a 7 day with nothing put on my account (I added GCs at GS). If you have not prepaid grats and have no existing OBC, I can see them getting a little bit more strict about that. OP didn't give the impression that they were intending to try to put nothing down on their card.

[sparks1093]

I am traveling on a seven day carnival cruise with my family of 4. My husband and I plus our two teenage boys. I purchased the cheers and soda package. I purchased our excursion already. How much should I put on the sail and sign card. I know they recommend 200 a person but since I purchased our drinks/excursion already I was wondering if 600 would be good.

 

 

As stated it's easiest just to use a credit card and then if you wish you can pay off your balance in cash before disembarking.

[dmdiver]

We have always just used a credit card for the onboard account. No worries about getting a refund of an overage and no worries about not having put enough on the account. One cruise in particular we ended up purchasing a gopro on board after the camera we brought with us flooded. It actually worked out well, as the gopro was the same price as on land, but we didn't have to pay sales tax on it. Anyway, if we had just put cash on the account, we probably would not have had enough, since that was a completely unexpected expense.

[Schoifmom]

Another option is to use both cash and a credit card (we have also done this before). Carnival uses all of the cash before they even put a hold on your credit card. That way you are covered if you over-spend (if, hah!).

[Happy1318]

Thank you everyone for the feed back. We were unfortunately had a serious plumbing issue in our home recently. It took part of our vacation budget. Yes insurance paid but we had some items not covered. Live and learn. We do have more than the 600I just want to make sure we our cover. I won't be that person I guess the best thing for us is to add as we need or do as one poster said have credit card have cash.