Another stupid Cheers Question; Am I missing something?

[Schoifmom]

1 hour ago, beerman2 said:

If you purchase "Bar Cash" it is non-refundable , use it or loose it! Purchase  OBC certificate(s) which ARE refundable .

 

OBC can be used in shops or drinks whereas " Bar " cash is exactly that.

 

Not sure what cruise line you are referring to, but Carnival does not have OBC certificates.

[ray98]

 

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Edited March 20, 2019 by ray98

[beerman2]

3 minutes ago, Schoifmom said:

 

Not sure what cruise line you are referring to, but Carnival does not have OBC certificates.

Oops you are correct was mixing up Norwegian with OBC certificates.

 

Should have just left it at Bar cash is non-refundable 

[Kirbit62]

Well, thanks to the good advise from all the fine people from this board, I am an official member of AARP.  I already have accumulated enough points on the "Rewards for Good" program to get my $700 worth of gift cards (It's really easy).  Here's the plan:  I will buy $500 in cruise cash (this is the limit per cabin).  I can use this for buying some souvenirs, Pixels, etc. and drinks (buckets of beer, shot glasses at MDR, souvenir cups, etc)  I will also buy $200 in bar cash.  Obviously, this goes specifically for our alcohol consumption.  With everything paid before I board the ship, I feel this is a better financial plan than paying up for Cheers and feeling "obligated" to reach my limit in order to get my money's worth.

[bahacca]

34 minutes ago, Kirbit62 said:

Well, thanks to the good advise from all the fine people from this board, I am an official member of AARP.  I already have accumulated enough points on the "Rewards for Good" program to get my $700 worth of gift cards (It's really easy).  Here's the plan:  I will buy $500 in cruise cash (this is the limit per cabin).  I can use this for buying some souvenirs, Pixels, etc. and drinks (buckets of beer, shot glasses at MDR, souvenir cups, etc)  I will also buy $200 in bar cash.  Obviously, this goes specifically for our alcohol consumption.  With everything paid before I board the ship, I feel this is a better financial plan than paying up for Cheers and feeling "obligated" to reach my limit in order to get my money's worth.

Just take the gift cards with you to customer service when you board and apply to your account. Any balance left will be refunded on a gift card. You can spend any amount on anything. I think bar cash is non refundable. Not sure about the other.

Edited March 20, 2019 by bahacca

[mapman_2004]

1 hour ago, Kirbit62 said:

Well, thanks to the good advise from all the fine people from this board, I am an official member of AARP.  I already have accumulated enough points on the "Rewards for Good" program to get my $700 worth of gift cards (It's really easy).  Here's the plan:  I will buy $500 in cruise cash (this is the limit per cabin).  I can use this for buying some souvenirs, Pixels, etc. and drinks (buckets of beer, shot glasses at MDR, souvenir cups, etc)  I will also buy $200 in bar cash.  Obviously, this goes specifically for our alcohol consumption.  With everything paid before I board the ship, I feel this is a better financial plan than paying up for Cheers and feeling "obligated" to reach my limit in order to get my money's worth.

 

Sounds like a smart plan to me.  Doubt you'll get anywhere near the value of Cheers drinking on your own

[Organized Chaos]

1 hour ago, Kirbit62 said:

Well, thanks to the good advise from all the fine people from this board, I am an official member of AARP.  I already have accumulated enough points on the "Rewards for Good" program to get my $700 worth of gift cards (It's really easy).  Here's the plan:  I will buy $500 in cruise cash (this is the limit per cabin).  I can use this for buying some souvenirs, Pixels, etc. and drinks (buckets of beer, shot glasses at MDR, souvenir cups, etc)  I will also buy $200 in bar cash.  Obviously, this goes specifically for our alcohol consumption.  With everything paid before I board the ship, I feel this is a better financial plan than paying up for Cheers and feeling "obligated" to reach my limit in order to get my money's worth.

 

Glad to hear you got it all situated to what you're comfortable with. Sounds like you made the right choice by not buying Cheers. As bahacca was suggesting, if you want to skip purchasing the Cruise & Bar Cash, you can take those gift cards with you and deposit them to your S&S account either at Guest Services or from a kiosk. Reason being, Cruise & Bar Cash or both non-refundable. But if you want to have funds waiting for you when you get on board, then Cruise/Bar Cash is the only option.

 

You can always use the "casino trick" to cash out your S&S account and turn any remaining funds into cash, regardless of how you put them on the account.

[EngineCo52]

On 3/19/2019 at 4:41 PM, Kirbit62 said:

You are all correct.  I am not worried about a limit I will, most likely, never reach.  However, with Cheers you cannot buy a bucket of beer for your friends when it's your turn to buy.  You cannot buy room service beer when you are in your room.  You cannot buy the "drink of the day" souvenir cup.  Also, with Cruise Cash and/or Bar Cash, you can pay this ahead of time, just as you would when you buy Cheers.

Coeven, you mentioned 10 drinks per day would add up to roughly $100 per day.  $700 for a 7 day cruise.  If I buy $500 Cruise Cash and $200 Bar Cash it would still be less expensive than Cheers, with no restrictions. (sorry for the math lesson, I'm still trying to work this out myself) 

 

you are allowed to buy buckets of beer and I'm pretty sure it doesn't count towards your 15. however you pay for the bucket of beer it will not be covered under your cheers package. they do this so people can buy friends rounds of beers 

[PalmTree601]

9 hours ago, bahacca said:

Just take the gift cards with you to customer service when you board and apply to your account. Any balance left will be refunded on a gift card. You can spend any amount on anything. I think bar cash is non refundable. Not sure about the other.

 

Agree!  I recommend OP skip the cruise and bar cash, and just apply the gift cards you bought to your Sail&Sign card account once onboard.  That way, you can use it for any types of purchases, and anything you don't use will be refunded to you in gift card form after the cruise. 

 

Edited March 21, 2019 by PalmTree601