Cruise Cash question

[ParrotRob]

If one purchases "Cruise Cash" from the fun shops online prior to sailing, is it simply applied to your Sail & Sign account as a credit?

I ask this because a local grocery store offers a boatload of gas points for gift card purchases and I was curious if I bought, say, a $500 carnival gift card using my AmEx rewards if I could basically turn around and use that to buy cruise cash, essentially getting $500 worth of gas points and my AmEx rewards versus just charging the cruise directly to the AmEx.

Thoughts?

[mdsgu]

Yes, Cruise Cash is applied to your S&S account. Before you buy it, though, realize that it is non-refundable -- use it or lose it. Personally, I would take the Carnival Gift Card onboard with me and apply it to my S&S account either at Guest Services or at one of their kiosks.

[ParrotRob]

Yes, Cruise Cash is applied to your S&S account. Before you buy it, though, realize that it is non-refundable -- use it or lose it. Personally, I would take the Carnival Gift Card onboard with me and apply it to my S&S account either at Guest Services or at one of their kiosks.

 

Thanks for the warning! When you say "use it or lose it", can you not pull it out as cash in the casino?

[d12j28]

Thanks for the warning! When you say "use it or lose it", can you not pull it out as cash in the casino?

Yes, you can do that.

[Schoifmom]

Thanks for the warning! When you say "use it or lose it", can you not pull it out as cash in the casino?

 

Yes, you can use the casino trick to cash CC out. Sounds like you have a plan to maximize your benefits. Go for it.

[Shaded Lady]

Another counterpoint to the argument of save the gift card til you're onboard as opposed to Cruise Cash- I've read so many stories about people buying gift cards, holding onto them for months, only to find out that there was a zero balance on them when they went to use them- too late to go back to whoever sold it to them to get a refund.

 

So I'll use the gift cards, but cash them in right away for my outstanding balance, water, Bottomless Bubbles, Cheers- whatever I will purchase in advance... and when those are done, I'll buy Cruise Cash, knowing I can cash out in the casino when my cruise is done.

 

Also I'd rather have cash than another gift card after my cruise, which is what you would get from Carnival if you had an outstanding balance from a gift card at the end of the cruise. I never know exactly when my next cruise will be so hanging onto a gift card for months/years is a pain to me.

[ParrotRob]

Yes, you can use the casino trick to cash CC out. Sounds like you have a plan to maximize your benefits. Go for it.

 

I mean why not? I can pay $500 for booze or pay $500 for booze and a free tank of gas.

 

I did the same thing last year when I had to make a major purchase at Lowe's - I bought $2000 worth of Lowe's gift cards at the grocery store, then turned around and immediately spent them at Lowe's.

[sparks1093]

Thanks for the warning! When you say "use it or lose it", can you not pull it out as cash in the casino?

 

Not directly, you have to add it to your player bank in a slot machine, spin a couple of times and then cash out from the machine, then take that to the cashier.

[cmichael1279]

I personally don't see the point of Cruise Cash, when you're buying if for yourself (Others can gift it to you and it shows up on your onboard account). I agree to simply take the gift card with you and apply it once you're onboard. I do that every cruise and never run into any issues. You can check the gift card balance on Carnival's website after you buy the card and right before you leave, just to make sure everything is in order.

 

Remember with the casino trick too, you have to spin a couple of times on the slot or risk getting your card shutoff so you can't charge anymore in the slots (happened to me, had to get casino manager to fix it!)

[ParrotRob]

I personally don't see the point of Cruise Cash, when you're buying if for yourself (Others can gift it to you and it shows up on your onboard account). I agree to simply take the gift card with you and apply it once you're onboard. I do that every cruise and never run into any issues. You can check the gift card balance on Carnival's website after you buy the card and right before you leave, just to make sure everything is in order.

 

Remember with the casino trick too, you have to spin a couple of times on the slot or risk getting your card shutoff so you can't charge anymore in the slots (happened to me, had to get casino manager to fix it!)

 

Personal preference. I'd rather have the money in my S&S account three days before I leave than show up in Miami and realize I left the gift card on my desk in Maryland.

[cmichael1279]

Personal preference. I'd rather have the money in my S&S account three days before I leave than show up in Miami and realize I left the gift card on my desk in Maryland.

Good luck! I don't trust the use it or lose it with Casino Cash.

[ParrotRob]

Good luck! I don't trust the use it or lose it with Casino Cash.

 

Besides, there's extremely little chance I won't spend what's pre-paid in my account, trust me. If I have to, I'll burn it down buying liquor in the duty-free shop.

[cmichael1279]

Besides, there's extremely little chance I won't spend what's pre-paid in my account, trust me. If I have to, I'll burn it down buying liquor in the duty-free shop.

 

I hear you on that! I hate relying on the casino trick... I usually snap a photo of gift cards too, just in case - as long as you have the number and PIN, guest services should be happy!

[ParrotRob]

I hear you on that! I hate relying on the casino trick... I usually snap a photo of gift cards too, just in case - as long as you have the number and PIN, guest services should be happy!

 

Great tip, thanks.

[jgh1204]

Personal preference. I'd rather have the money in my S&S account three days before I leave than show up in Miami and realize I left the gift card on my desk in Maryland.

I put my gift cards in my passport.