Cruise Cash questions

[LMaxwell]

If you purchase Cruise Cash on the website does it show as Carnival Cruiselines on your statement or a third party vendor?

 

It says Cruise Cash is nonrefundable and will be forfeit. Is that right? This is onboard credit that you are pre-funding prior to cruise, how can it be forfeit if it wasn't OBC from an agency or from Carnival as a promo? I understand those cases losing it if you don't use it, but do you really lose your own money if you don't use it up?

 

Can Cruise Cash be used in the casino and can it be cashed out or does it just go back to your account as credit that you could end up having to forfeit?

[cb at sea]

Use it or lose it. Why anyone would buy that is beyond me. If you have the extra money...just stash it and use it to pay your account!

[joepeka]

As CB mentions, it's definitely use it or lose it. I was considering it for an upcoming cruise but after talking to our PVP (who was very honest about it), I decided against it. Like the OP I truly don't understand why anyone would buy it unless they were absolutely certain they would use it all during the cruise and forfeit nothing. Sorry I cannot answer your questions about how it appears on your cruise documents or if you can cash it out in the casino - we've never bought it. :(

[LMaxwell]

Thanks too risky for me if I can't cash out of casino

[Schoifmom]

Thanks too risky for me if I can't cash out of casino

 

 

You can cash out using the casino trick.

 

 

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[bmar808]

If you purchase Cruise Cash on the website does it show as Carnival Cruiselines on your statement or a third party vendor?

 

It says Cruise Cash is nonrefundable and will be forfeit. Is that right? This is onboard credit that you are pre-funding prior to cruise, how can it be forfeit if it wasn't OBC from an agency or from Carnival as a promo? I understand those cases losing it if you don't use it, but do you really lose your own money if you don't use it up?

 

Can Cruise Cash be used in the casino and can it be cashed out or does it just go back to your account as credit that you could end up having to forfeit?

 

We bought it for an Inspiration cruise where we "knew" we were going to use it all. Turns out, we didn't and we cashed out the remainder in the casino. On our statement when we purchased, it showed up on our statement as 'Carnival'.

[bury me at sea]

From what I have read it is a use it or lose it proposition. Save your money and use cash to fund your S&S account, or buy discounted Carnival gift cards.

[Purvis1231]

You can only buy $500.00 and I never heard of anyone having a hard time spending $500.00 on a cruise ship.

[gdisney]

You can only buy $500.00 and I never heard of anyone having a hard time spending $500.00 on a cruise ship.

 

 

 

I usually prepay gratuities, and we typically don't spend more than 200-300 on board. But I'm sure if I had 500 sitting on the account I would...lol

 

 

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[firemanbobswife]

It shows as a Fun Shop purchase. I get $200-$250 with of Cruise Cash ahead of time because I do a cash account that way I don't have to add Gift Cards at check in or later. I buy it with the 10% or more off Gift Cards and it can be used for anything you charge your S&S card for including the casino.

 

It's no different as far as being able to cash out the same as the Gift Cards. If you cancel your cruise beforehand, it's refundable just as all Fun Shop purchases are.

 

I was against it before I understood it totally and before you could buy it ahead of time with the Gift Cards. It didn't make sense to do it at full price when I wasn't receiving the savings.

[n6uqqq]

You aren't buying anything when you get cruise cash. You are simply lending Carnival money and getting it back later. No more, no less. I can see purchasing cruise cash as a gift for someone but that's it.

[LMaxwell]

You can only buy $500.00 and I never heard of anyone having a hard time spending $500.00 on a cruise ship.

 

Yes up to a $500 purchase, 1 per room.

 

If it shows as carnival cruise line on statement I'd qualify for $100 reduction on my Amex bill for a $500 purchase. I could let gratuities and incidentals go against the that and that would still leave me with approx 370.

 

I'd play a while in casino and cash out the remainder when I've had my share of entertainment, will Carnival take a percentage at that point? I wouldn't think so because at that point it is gambling winnings (losses? Remaining?:'))

 

I just don't think I could spend a whole 500 onboard. Really don't drink or buy gifts. At least if I can cash out whatever isn't against the account I've got pocket cash for ports and staff.

 

I'll have to give it more thought.

 

Can cruise cash be used towards a future cruise deposit booking made onboard?

[LMaxwell]

You aren't buying anything when you get cruise cash. You are simply lending Carnival money and getting it back later. No more, no less. I can see purchasing cruise cash as a gift for someone but that's it.

 

I would tend to agree with this statement although see above regarding the Amex $100 off offer for spending $500. I thought I had it in original post but didn't . Oops!.

 

We are paid in full already so I don't really need to spend $500 but if I can lend Carnival 500 on Amex, pay Amex 400 for that, and Carnival give me back 500 I basically make $100 on the cruise and that excites me. Lol.

 

That's just for discussion sake, I'd let regular charges accrues against it since I have to pay those anyways but basically as long as I cash out any remainder penalty free I'm still up $100 on the whole deal.

 

Paging firemanbobs wife, paging firemanbobs wife.

[n6uqqq]

I would tend to agree with this statement although see above regarding the Amex $100 off offer for spending $500. I thought I had it in original post but didn't . Oops!.

 

We are paid in full already so I don't really need to spend $500 but if I can lend Carnival 500 on Amex, pay Amex 400 for that, and Carnival give me back 500 I basically make $100 on the cruise and that excites me. Lol.

 

That's just for discussion sake, I'd let regular charges accrues against it since I have to pay those anyways but basically as long as I cash out any remainder penalty free I'm still up $100 on the whole deal.

 

Paging firemanbobs wife, paging firemanbobs wife.

 

 

Now I can totally agree with you that it would be worth it in this circumstance ;)! That is money gained and a fair amount at that. If you are before final payment you can get Carnival to refund part of your payment. Then recharge it with your AMEX card. I once had 1000 dollars refunded so I could pay with the gift cards I got from Verizon.

[LMaxwell]

Now I can totally agree with you that it would be worth it in this circumstance ;)! That is money gained and a fair amount at that. If you are before final payment you can get Carnival to refund part of your payment. Then recharge it with your AMEX card. I once had 1000 dollars refunded so I could pay with the gift cards I got from Verizon.

 

I got the discount on two Amex cards when I booked, left very little remaining to pay off after that. I am past final payment at this date. My options are limited but I'll always take a 20pct return.

 

I wonder if a fun shop purchase triggers the right vendor name for the discount, maybe I'll test it out and order a $4 case of water...

[n6uqqq]

I got the discount on two Amex cards when I booked, left very little remaining to pay off after that. I am past final payment at this date. My options are limited but I'll always take a 20pct return.

 

I wonder if a fun shop purchase triggers the right vendor name for the discount, maybe I'll test it out and order a $4 case of water...

 

That puts you in a tough situation with this cruise. Book another one! :D

[GlamorousGirl]

Setting money aside or just having plenty sitting in the bank account is easier said than done for some of us living paycheck to paycheck. By paying things in advance or buying onboard credit I guarantee I will have spending money and mitigate risk of the bank account being short. Some cruise lines let you pay more things in advance, which I prefer. But barring that I'd rather reserve credits ahead than worry about being shocked by a huge bill at the end. The ability to pay ahead and not worry about money throughout the trip is the biggest advantage of cruising in my opinion. It minimizes stress. And what I got in credits becomes the budget, not something vague like "the bank account" which would be too easy to get carried away with.

[firemanbobswife]

I would tend to agree with this statement although see above regarding the Amex $100 off offer for spending $500. I thought I had it in original post but didn't . Oops!.

 

 

 

We are paid in full already so I don't really need to spend $500 but if I can lend Carnival 500 on Amex, pay Amex 400 for that, and Carnival give me back 500 I basically make $100 on the cruise and that excites me. Lol.

 

 

 

That's just for discussion sake, I'd let regular charges accrues against it since I have to pay those anyways but basically as long as I cash out any remainder penalty free I'm still up $100 on the whole deal.

 

 

 

Paging firemanbobs wife, paging firemanbobs wife.

 

 

Cruise cash isn't eligible for the $100 off $500 Amex offer because it shows as a Fun Shop purchase instead of a reservation. It needs to show as the latter for it to qualify.

[firemanbobswife]

You aren't buying anything when you get cruise cash. You are simply lending Carnival money and getting it back later. No more, no less. I can see purchasing cruise cash as a gift for someone but that's it.

 

Normally I would agree, but for people like me that do a strictly cash only account, it saves me a little time and hassle of having to go through another step of applying the gift cards either at the port or on the ship. The gift card people already have my money so it makes no difference to me if I'm giving it to Carnival ahead of time. It's the convenience factor.

[n6uqqq]

Setting money aside or just having plenty sitting in the bank account is easier said than done for some of us living paycheck to paycheck. By paying things in advance or buying onboard credit I guarantee I will have spending money and mitigate risk of the bank account being short. Some cruise lines let you pay more things in advance, which I prefer. But barring that I'd rather reserve credits ahead than worry about being shocked by a huge bill at the end. The ability to pay ahead and not worry about money throughout the trip is the biggest advantage of cruising in my opinion. It minimizes stress. And what I got in credits becomes the budget, not something vague like "the bank account" which would be too easy to get carried away with.

 

I can understand your point but you sure have a lot of cruises listed to be living paycheck to paycheck ;p

[robin13]

Someone gave me a $50 Visa card so I used it to buy Cruise Cash. Also, I sail every year around my birthday so my mother gets me the Cruise Cash for my birthday. I have no problem spending all of my cruise cash and my stock OBC as I will be getting the drink package.

[rocketship]

I know alot of people on here have negative comments about cruise cash "dont let carnival hold your money" "just stash extra away" "shouldnt be cruising if you live paycheck to paycheck" etc. I think its all about preference.

 

Here is the reality. Your $500 isnt going to earn much in any sort of savings account you have for a couple of months. Maybe a dollar? Cruise cash allows you to budget for a cruise, while "paying as you go" so the hit isnt as significant at the end.

 

I do not live paycheck to paycheck and I use cruise cash. Why? Because I know I will spend $500 on a cruise no problem. What I do is when I get a paycheck, I put in $100. I do this 5 times. Seeing $100 come out of my account isnt a big deal at all. I wont miss $100. However, at the end of the cruise, seeing $500 come out of my account is a little noticeable.

 

I think this scales with anyone honestly. In my method, for 10 weeks, I put back $100 every other week and that is no big deal. Depending on your situation, someone could do that with lets say $25 every other pay check. If $500 is alot of money to that pereson, then in less than a year, you have put back $500 for your vacation, without really hurting your day to day life.

 

But, there will always be the people who think they know your money situation better than you do.

[LMaxwell]

I'm just interested in it if it's a money maker deal for me. Being charged at the end doesn't have any impact on me; I can't mentally psyche myself out with prepaying things. I would have gone for the CC if it showed up on reservation as CCL and that I could refund the unused portion without penalty. This is about taking advantage of a money maker deal, not about budgeting pre-cruise.

[quest2best]

Is cruise cash automatically put on the sail and sign account when purchased? It has cabin listed as the delivery method, so I'm wondering if the recipient then has to do something else to have it applied?

[firemanbobswife]

Is cruise cash automatically put on the sail and sign account when purchased? It has cabin listed as the delivery method, so I'm wondering if the recipient then has to do something else to have it applied?

It's automatically there and you don't need to do anything.