Bar Cash?

[boobear1]

Can someone please tell me what Bar Cash is and how it works. Also where do you buy it at. We are not heavy drinkers, maybe 3-4 pp each day so the Cheers we don't feel is worth it for us, but Bar Cash has my interest peaked.

 

Thank you!

[firefly333]

Ive never heard of it either. I bring some $1 bills for tipping, so I bring my own cash, does that count?

 

Ill watch this thread and see what someone else says it is.

[WifeynMe]

You buy it on the Carnival website in the Fun Shops. It's on board credit that is applied to bar purchases only. You can also purchase Cruise Cash which can be used for any onboard purchases.

[sc4125]

I've purchased it several times along with Cruise Cash. The only thing you have to remember is that it is non-refundable, so if you don't use it, you lose it. Besides drinks, it can also be used as extra tips for the bar waiter or bartender (I learned this when I realized I still had $50 left the last night of the cruise - the bar waitress that had been serving us in the casino got a really big tip that last night).

 

Cruise Cash is also non-refundable - however, you can use it to play in the casino and after playing for awhile, you can cash out any balance with the casino cashier.

 

The maximum amount that you can purchase of either is $500 per cabin, not per person.

[coevan]

why not buy drinks on your S&S card and pay at the end with the money you saved as "bar cash"

[CincyBoston]

why not buy drinks on your S&S card and pay at the end with the money you saved as "bar cash"

 

This! I always thought cruise/bar cash was for gifts. I don't really see much upside to buying restricted money with non-restricted money if it for yourself.

[crewsweeper]

I use bar cash. Not a heavy drinker and wife doesn't drink so Cheers is out. The Bar Cash allows me a beer or two in the afternoon, glass of wine at dinner, couple of Alchemy drinks or a single malt each night. Becomes part of the pre-cruise expenses, versus post cruise expenses. And since it does cover the coffee shop purchases, helps that way too.

[Jerseygirl1416]

I bought cruise cash for upcoming cruise because I had bought discounted gift cards and wanted to use them right away in case there was a problem with them. I’m sure we’ll use it up and anything else can get charged to credit card on file. If we don’t use it I’ll just cash it out in the casino. Also saves a trip on ship to apply gift cards.

[mikesteg]

 

The maximum amount that you can purchase of either is $500 per cabin, not per person.

 

I believe it's actually $500 per type (cruise cash, bar cash, photo cash), so $1500 total. Though, if it's truly restricted to those items I can't imagine anybody doing $500 for photos.

 

Like others, I don't see the point in buying for self... except that I did buy $225 on our past cruise in order to use gift cards where I had no physical card. I think they came from eBay at 15% off, so worth a bit of effort. I had previously had issues adding GCs via kiosk and didn't want to deal with trying to use eGCs at GS if there was an issue.

 

Also: apparently you cannot add a GC under $10 to your account via the kiosk OR at guest services. I had (still have) one with $5.04 on it, since I could not apply it on the ship. Next time I'll buy cruise cash with it prior to the cruise.

 

Note the kiosk actually says "for gift cards under $10, enter $10 as the value"... and then rejects it because the card doesn't have $10 on it. :eek: :confused:

[Florings]

The benefit of Bar Cash or Cruise Cash is if you like to plan and pay ahead.

 

We might purchase $100 in Bar Cash one paycheck and $100 in Cruise Cash here and there from other paychecks. Not because we can't afford to take it from savings, but just because it's a quick and easy buy now and then when we have a bit of extra spending money on payday.

 

We still put the bulk of our spending money in cash when we board, but these little "pre-buys" are a handy way to spread out the expense.

[Treyatl2006]

The only time I purchased it was from my rewards points from my credit card. Some people like buying it because they dont trust themselves to save enough money for their vacation. And of course you can used them for gifts.

 

Me personally' Id rather just put money on my account when I get on the ship that way I can get a refund on any unused funds.

[Kirbit62]

Now THAT is a great idea. Thanks!!

 

 

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[mikesteg]

The benefit of Bar Cash or Cruise Cash is if you like to plan and pay ahead.

 

We might purchase $100 in Bar Cash one paycheck and $100 in Cruise Cash here and there from other paychecks. Not because we can't afford to take it from savings, but just because it's a quick and easy buy now and then when we have a bit of extra spending money on payday.

 

We still put the bulk of our spending money in cash when we board, but these little "pre-buys" are a handy way to spread out the expense.

 

Sure, but you can do that with discounted gift cards (bonus!), or just by sticking the money in a coffee can. (Do coffee cans exist any more?) The cruise cash creates a risk of losing any leftovers, or alternately creates a requirement to make sure it's all consumed.

 

I can see doing this for funds which you absolutely know will be consumed (ie. gratuities, soda cards if you buy them, St. Jude t-shirts, etc.)... after buying the CC using discounted GCs of course. :D That would alleviate the need to carry hundreds of extra dollars in gift cards onto the ship, which is a benefit.

[Florings]

The cruise cash creates a risk of losing any leftovers, or alternately creates a requirement to make sure it's all consumed.

 

True - but we load the leftovers into a slot machine late on the last night, play about $10 of it and cash out in the casino. We don't carry the bar cash onto the cruise, it is preloaded onto our sale & sign account.

 

For us, it's an easy way to prepay some bits and pieces in advance.

[pacruise804]

why not buy drinks on your S&S card and pay at the end with the money you saved as "bar cash"

 

If finances were strictly a math issue, that would make sense. Often emotions enter into financial decisions and some find it works better for them to pay the money to Carnival in advance versus risking "double spending" the money if it is sitting in an account (or even coffee can;)) at home.

 

Many buy Cheers - even if they will likely spend more on it - so they will have the "freedom" to try different drinks and not have a bill at the end. Cruise cash is simply a less expensive way of pre-paying your estimated expenses (assuming they would be less than Cheers) while still not worrying about a bill.

 

You also assume that everyone saves money for their cruises versus paying for them on credit;)

 

Sure, but you can do that with discounted gift cards (bonus!), or just by sticking the money in a coffee can. (Do coffee cans exist any more?) The cruise cash creates a risk of losing any leftovers, or alternately creates a requirement to make sure it's all consumed.

 

I can see doing this for funds which you absolutely know will be consumed (ie. gratuities, soda cards if you buy them, St. Jude t-shirts, etc.)... after buying the CC using discounted GCs of course. :D That would alleviate the need to carry hundreds of extra dollars in gift cards onto the ship, which is a benefit.

 

I see the bolded mentioned a lot regarding Cruise Cash (and even agree for ourselves - we use cash or Visa), but I rarely see it mentioned for Cheers. Usually the recommendation is to get Cheers when someone is on the fence and estimates spending a few hundred less than the Cheers cost (reasoning it will be made up with coffee and water). When suggesting someone who thinks they will spend $400 on drinks buy $300 of Cruise Cash it is usually met with the argument that you risk having "leftovers" - what's the difference between overpaying for/over consuming with Cheers vs. the same thing (for less) with Cruise Cash:confused:

[dani85bri06]

I have been adding cruise cash to my account here and there for our cruise next August. For me I like things to be prepaid so I don't have to worry about budgeting what I am spending while on board. All I have to worry about come next August is money for before we board and to spend in the ports.

[pshhi2016]

Can someone please tell me what Bar Cash is and how it works. Also where do you buy it at. We are not heavy drinkers, maybe 3-4 pp each day so the Cheers we don't feel is worth it for us, but Bar Cash has my interest peaked.

 

Thank you!

 

If your cruising Carnival click this link: https://help.carnival.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/3602/kw/bar%20cash

[louanne93]

I have been adding cruise cash to my account here and there for our cruise next August. For me I like things to be prepaid so I don't have to worry about budgeting what I am spending while on board. All I have to worry about come next August is money for before we board and to spend in the ports.

I do that. I buy $500 cruise cash and $200 in bar cash.

I like to have everything paid off before!

 

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[k.davis817]

My employer offers an appreciate program where we can accumulate points. One of the redemption options for the points is Carnival gift cards. I'll cash in my points, get the GC, and apply that amount to the Bar Cash when I don't get the Cheers package. I like being able to enjoy a few cocktails knowing they're prepaid. Strictly a personal choice.