Cruise Cash

[jdcml]

Why use Cruise Cash as opposed to the various ways of getting gift cards at a 10% savings?  Yes, they have to be applied when you get on, but you don't have to do it the very first day.  There is plenty of opportunities on any given day with 1-2 people in line at guest services, or you can use the kiosk.  It doesn't really take too much of your vacation time, and it saves you 10% so that seems like a pretty worthwhile trade off.  We used the gc for the entire fare, Cheers, Bubbles and gratuities.  Have a little left over that we will apply at some point during the week to our folio to offset any charges that we might have for a few pictures.

[sparks1093]

47 minutes ago, simplynewt said:

Ok so let me see if I have this right. Cruise Cash in all three of its forms can only have $500 in each of them. Can you transfer funds between them. Say I have $500 on the Cruise Pics and do not use it. Can I then move it over to the Cruise Bar one?

 

If when it is all said and done and I still have Cruise Cash remaining, doubtful but none the less, how would I get this money back? Go to the Casino and ask to cash it out?

 

Gift Cards can also be used but will only lead to another gift card with remaining funds?

 

I can also bring cash and turn it into Cruise Cash ... How? Kiosk? 

 

Thanks for your replies everyone. They are helping me out a lot. 

I don't believe that you may transfer funds between the types, what you have is what you have. The only way to cash out is using regular cruise cash, I don't believe that you can cash out Cruise Cash Bar or Photo. Unused funds from gift cards are given back in the form of another gift card. If you bring cash you just apply it to your onboard account and there are no restrictions on it's use and it is fully refundable.

Edited January 12, 2020 by sparks1093

[simplynewt]

24 minutes ago, sparks1093 said:

I don't believe that you may transfer funds between the types, what you have is what you have. The only way to cash out is using regular cruise cash, I don't believe that you can cash out Cruise Cash Bar or Photo. Unused funds from gift cards are given back in the form of another gift card. If you bring cash you just apply it to your onboard account and there are no restrictions on it's use and it is fully refundable.

 It was said earlier in the thread that if running low in the CC Bar that the CC can be applied to your drinks. That was what I understood but may mistaken what was a actually said or meant. Seems like bringing Cash might be the way to go and just have it applied to the S&S Account. 

[bury me at sea]

53 minutes ago, jdcml said:

Why use Cruise Cash as opposed to the various ways of getting gift cards at a 10% savings?  Yes, they have to be applied when you get on, but you don't have to do it the very first day.  There is plenty of opportunities on any given day with 1-2 people in line at guest services, or you can use the kiosk.  It doesn't really take too much of your vacation time, and it saves you 10% so that seems like a pretty worthwhile trade off.  We used the gc for the entire fare, Cheers, Bubbles and gratuities.  Have a little left over that we will apply at some point during the week to our folio to offset any charges that we might have for a few pictures.

 

You can buy cruise cash with Carnival gift cards.  Get the discount on the gift card and have the cash already on your account when you board.

[simplynewt]

How do I get that 10% Savings? Nothing about that is said online where I can purchase those gift cards. Do I have to wait until I board the Ship?

[Joe817]

3 minutes ago, simplynewt said:

How do I get that 10% Savings? Nothing about that is said online where I can purchase those gift cards. Do I have to wait until I board the Ship?

The discounted gift cards are available from several places. Right now the most popular is the Allstate Drive Wise program that you must sign up for then enter promo codes to be accumulated until you have enough points to purchase a Carnival G.C. at a 10% discount:

 

 

[ibarrio]

26 minutes ago, bury me at sea said:

 

You can buy cruise cash with Carnival gift cards.  Get the discount on the gift card and have the cash already on your account when you board.

This seems the way to go. And I assume the casino trick still allows you to cash out cruise cash.

[sparks1093]

38 minutes ago, simplynewt said:

 It was said earlier in the thread that if running low in the CC Bar that the CC can be applied to your drinks. That was what I understood but may mistaken what was a actually said or meant. Seems like bringing Cash might be the way to go and just have it applied to the S&S Account. 

Yes, Cruise Cash may be used at the bar when the Cruise Cash Bar is gone, but it's not transferred into Cruise Cash Bar, it's just that Cruise Cash may be used for anything onboard with no restriction.

[bury me at sea]

53 minutes ago, ibarrio said:

This seems the way to go. And I assume the casino trick still allows you to cash out cruise cash.

 

Correct.

[Organized Chaos]

2 hours ago, simplynewt said:

Ok so let me see if I have this right. Cruise Cash in all three of its forms can only have $500 in each of them. Can you transfer funds between them. Say I have $500 on the Cruise Pics and do not use it. Can I then move it over to the Cruise Bar one?

 

If when it is all said and done and I still have Cruise Cash remaining, doubtful but none the less, how would I get this money back? Go to the Casino and ask to cash it out?

 

Gift Cards can also be used but will only lead to another gift card with remaining funds?

 

I can also bring cash and turn it into Cruise Cash ... How? Kiosk? 

 

Thanks for your replies everyone. They are helping me out a lot. 

 

Think of the three different categories of Cruise Cash as gift certificates, of sorts. They can't be transferred into one another. Regular Cruise Cash is good for any and all purchases, the other two are specialized.

 

Cruise Cash can only be purchased prior to the cruise, online or by phone. You can deposit straight cash into your S&S account using the kiosks. Some kiosks will allow you to use gift cards to deposit funds, but success with that varies. You'll more than likely have to go to Guest Services.

 

When cashing out any remaining Cruise Cash in the casino, what you have to do is, go to a slot machine, swipe your S&S card and transfer the funds to your Player's Bank. Then spin once or twice on the slot and cash out. This will also work with funds deposited using gift cards. As others have said, remaining gift card funds will be refunded on a new gift card (mailed to you), but you can use the casino "trick" to cash those out too.

[simplynewt]

26 minutes ago, Organized Chaos said:

When cashing out any remaining Cruise Cash in the casino, what you have to do is, go to a slot machine, swipe your S&S card and transfer the funds to your Player's Bank. Then spin once or twice on the slot and cash out. This will also work with funds deposited using gift cards. As others have said, remaining gift card funds will be refunded on a new gift card (mailed to you), but you can use the casino "trick" to cash those out too.

 Thanks O.C. This is a very good bit of information and very helpful. Just wondering if I could blow through $1000 in Cruise Cash on a 7 day adventure.

[1GaPeach]

22 minutes ago, simplynewt said:

 Thanks O.C. This is a very good bit of information and very helpful. Just wondering if I could blow through $1000 in Cruise Cash on a 7 day adventure.

It would say it is very doable to spend $1K in a week depending upon your spending habits and/or if you have not prepaid certain things such as your gratuities/drinks. If you have prepaid a lot, then think about what is left that you need to have $ accessible for.

 

[simplynewt]

I have already prepaid the FTTF Package. Will also prepay any excursions that I may want to take. Still looking into them though. 

[1GaPeach]

5 minutes ago, simplynewt said:

I have already prepaid the FTTF Package. Will also prepay any excursions that I may want to take. Still looking into them though. 

For me, I have not prepaid gratuities nor am I doing cheers but I know about how much that will cost me so that gives me a decent idea of how much $ I will need by the end of the trip. (give or take)

And when doing the excursions really do your homework.  I have found cheaper comparable excursions outside of CCL and submitted the price guarantee form and got the difference+ added to my OBC.

[simplynewt]

6 minutes ago, 1GaPeach said:

I have found cheaper comparable excursions outside of CCL and submitted the price guarantee form and got the difference+ added to my OBC.

 In doing this, would you have to book an excursion through CCL and then show them the cheaper price elsewhere? I have found a place or two online where the excursion cost is sometimes almost half of what it costs on CCL. 

[1GaPeach]

3 minutes ago, simplynewt said:

 In doing this, would you have to book an excursion through CCL and then show them the cheaper price elsewhere? I have found a place or two online where the excursion cost is sometimes almost half of what it costs on CCL. 

Yes

https://www.carnival.com/content/shore-excursion-best-price-guarantee.aspx

Just make sure it is comparable and read the rules.  Submitting for the difference is an easy form and I got an determination pretty quickly.

[thesmiths]

Does Cruise Cash come up prior to sailing on your docs?

I see my onboard Credit for owning Stock Shares but not the Cruise Cash I Applied?

 

[sparks1093]

46 minutes ago, thesmiths said:

Does Cruise Cash come up prior to sailing on your docs?

I see my onboard Credit for owning Stock Shares but not the Cruise Cash I Applied?

 

I see mine in the manager under "Booking and Order Details".

[thesmiths]

57 minutes ago, sparks1093 said:

I see mine in the manager under "Booking and Order Details".

Perfect, thank you!!

Did not look there.

 

 

 

 

[Joebucks]

Cruise cash is a silly concept. Many cruisers believe that let's say a vacation costs you $3000 that you are saving money by paying it in different intervals, especially up front. When you have, say $500 in cruise cash, you are still paying $500. The only difference is now you need to remember to cash it out or you lose it, and/or you need to monitor it and force yourself to spend $500.

 

It is marginally a better concept when you have discount gcs and want to add it to your account in advance. As some sort of "all inclusive" my opinion stands.

[sparks1093]

1 minute ago, Joebucks said:

Cruise cash is a silly concept. Many cruisers believe that let's say a vacation costs you $3000 that you are saving money by paying it in different intervals, especially up front. When you have, say $500 in cruise cash, you are still paying $500. The only difference is now you need to remember to cash it out or you lose it, and/or you need to monitor it and force yourself to spend $500.

 

It is marginally a better concept when you have discount gcs and want to add it to your account in advance. As some sort of "all inclusive" my opinion stands.

Just because you don't see the value of it doesn't mean that it's silly, different strokes for different folks. If I put $500 in cruise cash down I will spend it, there's no forcing involved (I only purchase what I know I will spend, in other words). 

[MzOhioLady]

This Thread has been so Helpful. It answered many questions that I had about Cruise Cash, Cash, Gift Cards, Savings and such. Thanks to all who replied in this thread. Now I have a few more things about cruising and money under my belt.

[thesmiths]

57 minutes ago, MzOhioLady said:

This Thread has been so Helpful. It answered many questions that I had about Cruise Cash, Cash, Gift Cards, Savings and such. Thanks to all who replied in this thread. Now I have a few more things about cruising and money under my belt.

 

One way to look at it.

 

Done with discounted Gift Cards and 2 AMEX Card Offers.

 

 $3000.00 Cruise Costs me $2520.00

$500.00 Cruise Cash cost $20.00

 

So my $3500.00 Vaca Cost $3020.00

+ +

 

 

If I use my kids Amex Cards (total of 4 Cards) which I do from time to time to pay for the cruise it self and Discounted Gift Cards..

 

That $3000.00 Cruise Costs me $2340.00

$500.00 Cruise Cash cost $0.00

 

So my $3500.00 Vaca Cost $2840.00

++

 

Plus we get $100.00 On board Credit for being stock Holders.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[simplelife]

On 1/9/2020 at 7:49 PM, snownyet said:

If I buy $500 in bar cash and another $500 in cruise cash. Will the regular cruise cash cover bar purchases if i go over my $500 bar cash?

yes.

[pacruise804]

 

On 1/24/2020 at 9:33 AM, Joebucks said:

Cruise cash is a silly concept. Many cruisers believe that let's say a vacation costs you $3000 that you are saving money by paying it in different intervals, especially up front. When you have, say $500 in cruise cash, you are still paying $500. The only difference is now you need to remember to cash it out or you lose it, and/or you need to monitor it and force yourself to spend $500.

 

It is marginally a better concept when you have discount gcs and want to add it to your account in advance. As some sort of "all inclusive" my opinion stands.

 

It may be a "silly" concept for you, but I haven't read of anyone thinking they are saving money by paying in intervals (unless to avoid finance charges).  For those who want to gift money to a cruise (and prefer a specific gift vs. cash) they can give a smaller amount with Cruise Cash ($25 start) than gift card ($100).  If you only purchase what you are pretty sure you will spend (gratuities, drinks, special dinner) then it really isn't an issue to "force" yourself to spend. If you use gift cards, you also need to cash out, or be certain you will take another Carnival cruise or lose the balance.

 

I personally don't use Cruise Cash, but can understand why some might benefit from it.