Mardi Gras - 75th Milestone sailing - a great cruise. Always interesting things going on :)

[go fish 44]

On 3/6/2023 at 9:06 PM, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

 

We've never left any OBC on the table. We'll spend a portion of it the first night - treating my office staff to the Steakhouse (13 of us) along with a couple nice bottles of wine. I love the 50% discount on bottles the first night, and the first elegant night.  🙂

 

It's not uncommon for me to purchase a pile of chips in a sitting (which is why I don't play blackjack as much as I used to) and it does not take much to put a sizable enough portion of it into play to essentially turn it into cash. Carbon copy that for enough evenings... 

 

Plan B:  we'll go purchase a couple of watches, or other stuff - if need be. 

 

Plan C : I like the gift card idea too. 

 

One way or another, there will be nothing left of our OBC after 8 nights.  🙂 

 

Tom

Tom, when you purchase the gift cards using OBC’s at Cherries on top, can you use them to pay for a cruise you have booked for next year.

 

sue

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

20 minutes ago, go fish 44 said:

Tom, when you purchase the gift cards using OBC’s at Cherries on top, can you use them to pay for a cruise you have booked for next year.

 

sue

 

Although I've never purchased them there, I assume that they're all the same. So, yes - those are good for virtually anything "Carnival". I purchased 20 of the $500's through AARP (@$450 each - a $50 savings!), and have paid towards cruises, excursions, dining, etc. 🙂

 

In the past I've used my 3% (for travel charges) cash back card for all things cruising. However, with the gift cards, getting 10% instead of 3% is an easy call, all day long !

 

Tom

[Cayman1]

@Tom-n-Cheryl Are these new cards they are using, or is it because you were in a suite?

 

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

1 hour ago, Cayman1 said:

@Tom-n-Cheryl Are these new cards they are using, or is it because you were in a suite?

 

The 75-Diamond-Milestone on my card temporarily (on the Milestone sailing) replaces the VIFP Club/Funnel image. Well, it's supposed to be temporary,-- lol to @DGP1111

 

Cheryl is actually 4 sailings ahead of me, so she received the "regular" Diamond card. She has sailed a few times with girlfriends. I, on the other hand, have never sailed with girlfriends...

 

 

Tom

[TxTeach79]

On 3/5/2023 at 11:02 AM, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

I've had pretty good luck (shot down a couple of times - more often with Royal Caribbean).

 

Here's what shows on mine as of today. They won't apply the Milestone credit until the week prior to the sail date.

 

 

 

Tom

 

Does the Milestone credit show up anywhere before you get on board?

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

9 hours ago, TxTeach79 said:

 

Does the Milestone credit show up anywhere before you get on board?

 

It did for my 50th. Cheryl utilized hers on a charter sailing - VH1 Best Cruise Ever II. I was thrilled (and shocked) that they would allow it to be applied to a charter sailing. I'm a little confused now, as below I see I captured an image of the notice I received in our cabin upon embarkation for her OBC, but I also see that I had a Milestone S&S card that trip - those cards stood out, owing to the color - this was about a year before the current VIFP program was rolled out (with the white Diamond card, for example). Perhaps we, since Cheryl is ahead of my cruise count, opted to delay my rewards OBC for a more expensive sailing.

BTW - I highly recommend going on a music chartered sailing, at least once. Check out my REVIEW of that cruise as well as PHOTOS. I still remember that sailing well. Literally "best cruise ever"!

 

 

 

 

 

At any rate, yes, I'm told that it will be applied for both of us for our 5/20/23 Celebration cruise in the week prior to sailing. I'll be keeping a close eye on that, and probably touch base with them a couple days before the cruise if it hasn't yet shown up.

 

Tom

[Crusin Karen]

On 3/6/2023 at 9:06 PM, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

 

We've never left any OBC on the table. We'll spend a portion of it the first night - treating my office staff to the Steakhouse (13 of us) along with a couple nice bottles of wine. I love the 50% discount on bottles the first night, and the first elegant night.  🙂

 

It's not uncommon for me to purchase a pile of chips in a sitting (which is why I don't play blackjack as much as I used to) and it does not take much to put a sizable enough portion of it into play to essentially turn it into cash. Carbon copy that for enough evenings... 

 

Plan B:  we'll go purchase a couple of watches, or other stuff - if need be. 

 

Plan C : I like the gift card idea too. 

 

One way or another, there will be nothing left of our OBC after 8 nights.  🙂 

 

Tom

I'd like to apply for a position on your office staff.  I'll even sweep floors if I have to! 

[MonaCD]

12 hours ago, Crusin Karen said:

I'd like to apply for a position on your office staff.  I'll even sweep floors if I have to! 

Get to the back of the line 😆

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

On 3/4/2023 at 1:37 PM, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

...

 

I never noticed the top of this can before... LOL

 

...

 

 

 

Tom

 

BTW -- that's a damn good beer, if I do say so myself. Just following up with one (or, perhaps a second) today, to make sure it was not just the "haze" of being in cruise mode that made me think it was good!

 

🙂

 

Tom

[WhiteOptima]

On 3/8/2023 at 1:10 PM, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

 

Although I've never purchased them there, I assume that they're all the same. So, yes - those are good for virtually anything "Carnival". I purchased 20 of the $500's through AARP (@$450 each - a $50 savings!), and have paid towards cruises, excursions, dining, etc. 🙂

 

In the past I've used my 3% (for travel charges) cash back card for all things cruising. However, with the gift cards, getting 10% instead of 3% is an easy call, all day long !

 

Tom

Tying to decide how many gift cards to buy vs bringing cash for casino.  I know I used OBC in casino but wondered if I can add the gift cards to my account then transfer to use in casino?  Have you done that?

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

46 minutes ago, WhiteOptima said:

Tying to decide how many gift cards to buy vs bringing cash for casino.  I know I used OBC in casino but wondered if I can add the gift cards to my account then transfer to use in casino?  Have you done that?

 

I have not, but it's my understanding that you can do that (from what other CC'ers have posted regarding gift cards in past threads).

 

Tom

[jennas_mum]

8 hours ago, WhiteOptima said:

Tying to decide how many gift cards to buy vs bringing cash for casino.  I know I used OBC in casino but wondered if I can add the gift cards to my account then transfer to use in casino?  Have you done that?

 

You can download money on your players bank at a machine and then cash out at a table. You have to make sure you ask for money from your players bank. 

 

I put a credit card on my account and go down periodically to guest services or a kiosk and add my gift cards. They do not charge my credit card. 

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

7 hours ago, jennas_mum said:

 

You can download money on your players bank at a machine and then cash out at a table. You have to make sure you ask for money from your players bank. 

 

I put a credit card on my account and go down periodically to guest services or a kiosk and add my gift cards. They do not charge my credit card. 

 

At the kiosks (having never used one on Carnival) do you just manually enter the gift card number and PIN, or do you swipe the card? My cards are all virtual, as I assume most are.

 

Tom

[jennas_mum]

3 hours ago, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

 

At the kiosks (having never used one on Carnival) do you just manually enter the gift card number and PIN, or do you swipe the card? My cards are all virtual, as I assume most are.

 

Tom

Yes, you enter everything manually. You may be able to swipe if you have an actual gift card but the last few cruises I’ve only had e gift cards. They actually had a kiosk in the casino on the Sunshine. 

Edited March 19, 2023 by jennas_mum