Cruise Cash ?

[Thad409]

Is cruise cash worth the trouble, have always just deposited cash to my S and S account. Just thinking about buying some Cruise cash so we are already set when we get on board. I just don't want to have to forfeit any unused portion that we don't spend.

[Drazil65]

Put a minimal amount in to get your S & S account started as they will pull from any cruise cash amount and use that up first. 

 

I am sure you can easily use up $100 or $200 depending on what you typically purchase on a ship.  Its really not a big deal and it gets your account started plus you can always add money at guest services or a kiosk should you need more.  

Edited April 23, 2023 by Drazil65

[CruizinSusan70]

Don't think it's worth the hassle unless they are running a promotion that you can obtain it at a discount.  Was able to purchase 500 worth at a 20% discount during a short window purchasing opportunity a few years ago.  Ended up saving 100 per 4 different cruises we had booked at that time.

[mz-s]

Some people like it because it allows them to pre-pay for things they know they'll buy onboard. Spreads out the expense of their vacation through out the year. Not worth the hassle to me personally.

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

Also cruise cash allows you to avoid having to go to guest services/kiosk to deposit money for the first few days, when the lines are longer.

[Drazil65]

No hassle involved as you can purchase online from home before you go and start using it the minute you board for that first DOD to celebrate your cruise!   Do what makes you comfortable.

[ray98]

Not worth it for me.  I will just take the cash with me if I need to save up instead of turning it into restricted Carnival Monopoly money.

[Thad409]

2 hours ago, ray98 said:

Not worth it for me.  I will just take the cash with me if I need to save up instead of turning it into restricted Carnival Monopoly money.

makes a lot of sense

[wemjam]

I like having things set in place too, makes me feel good to know when I get on I have X amount sitting waiting to spend.  So cruise cash works for me.  My reason is more so because I also use discounted gift cards to buy it and don't like sitting on or holding the gift cards for long periods of time.

 

You do not have to "forfeit" any unused portion.

 

If I don't happen to use it all I cash it out in one of two ways.  Either in the casino, or I go to Cherry on Top and buy a new gift card to use on my next cruise.

[mmtska]

I used Cruise Cash last cruise as a way of saving up for my spending on the cruise. It was just easier because I bought it with discounted gift cards and knew I'd be spending it. I only ended up having like $80 charged to my credit card at the end of the cruise, so that was nice! We didn't have the drink package, so I knew I was going to be using it for some drinking. The package wasn't worth it, but adding the Cruise Cash was. Doing it again for our next cruise. 

[kdnurs]

Thise Cruise4 Cash is new to me...What is it? and why do I need it? 

[CruizinSusan70]

31 minutes ago, kdnurs said:

Thise Cruise4 Cash is new to me...What is it? and why do I need it? 

One, you don't need it.  It's a gimmick from Carnival that lets you put money on you sail n sign account before your cruise.  It's for those that like to plan ahead and know what they're going to spend.  You do lose it if you don't spend it all.  

Only used it once when there was a 20% off sale for a couple of days a few years ago during the pandemic so Carnival could generate some cash flow.

[kdnurs]

1 hour ago, CruizinSusan70 said:

One, you don't need it.  It's a gimmick from Carnival that lets you put money on you sail n sign account before your cruise.  It's for those that like to plan ahead and know what they're going to spend.  You do lose it if you don't spend it all.  

Only used it once when there was a 20% off sale for a couple of days a few years ago during the pandemic so Carnival could generate some cash flow.

so its alsmost like onboard credit only you pay for...can it be used in gift shops or photo gallery?

[Schoifmom]

2 minutes ago, kdnurs said:

so its alsmost like onboard credit only you pay for...can it be used in gift shops or photo gallery?

https://help.carnival.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/3602/~/cruise-cash-program

 

[kdnurs]

1 minute ago, Schoifmom said:

https://help.carnival.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/3602/~/cruise-cash-program

 

THANK YOU

 

[wemjam]

21 minutes ago, kdnurs said:

so its alsmost like onboard credit only you pay for...can it be used in gift shops or photo gallery?

As long as you buy the general Cruise Cash, you can use it ANYWHERE.  Shops, casino, bars, etc.

 

There is also Cruise Cash that is JUST for the BAR and Cruise Cash just for Photos, also for  Build a Bear workshop too.  So be careful which one you buy.

 

While it is true if you don't take any action, if you have anything left you didn't use they will keep it.  However, as I have mentioned already there are easy ways to get back any money you may have left on your account the last night of the sailing.

[mz-s]

Carnival sells Cruise Cash I think mostly so people can send gifts to their family and friends going on a cruise. I don't know if they intended people to buy it for their own cruises, but it works for that and it works for some people to do things that way. Each to their own.

[Drazil65]

 You do lose it if you don't spend it all.  

 

Take note of what a previous poster said about the ways you can get your remaining cash if there happens to be any left over at end.  In all the years we have cruised using this method it has never been forfeited/lost at the end.  Never...

[kdnurs]

Thank you everyone for all the great and informative responses. ☺️ 

[ProvoAggie]

I typically use Raise to get 8% back on Gift Cards and then use them to buy a bit of Cruise Cash. I don't do a ton but I do enough to cover what I know I'll spend on board. I don't think it's worth it unless you're getting some kind of discount though.

[CruizinSusan70]

15 minutes ago, ProvoAggie said:

I typically use Raise to get 8% back on Gift Cards and then use them to buy a bit of Cruise Cash. I don't do a ton but I do enough to cover what I know I'll spend on board. I don't think it's worth it unless you're getting some kind of discount though.

You could still use those 8% discounted cards to just be deposited on your account.  Buying cruise cash with them is just an unnecessary additional step.  You of course can use those discounted cards for everything including paying for your entire cruise.  I however use the 10% discounted cards for everything associated with our cruise that I obtain through Allstate.

[wemjam]

While some think it unnecessary there are some benefits to cruise cash when using gift cards IMHO.  If I am cruising and not using gift cards, just putting a credit card on file for my account, I likely would not do cruise cash. I always have gift cards though lol!  But for gift cards I find there are many beneficial reasons.

 

1st:  For me it is a security issue.  I like knowing I have used the gift card and the money is in my on board account.  Since I usually plan in advance and purchase gift cards months before sailing, I prefer to use them as I get them and not let them sit around.  There have been many horror stories of people attempting to use their gift cards only to find out their balance was 0.  Hackers figure out things all the time and I don't want to take the chance that while the gift card sits in the safe at my home for a few months, someone figured out the number combo and used one of my particular cards.  I also always check the balance as soon as I receive them to assure it isn't a bum card that was sent to me. (I use AARP and one of Credit Cards to buy mine at 10% off).  The last thing I want is the aggravation of fighting with someone to get my money back.

 

2nd:  If you are using gift cards, you have to apply them once on board.  You can do this at the desk or at a kiosk.  I have tried the kiosk and it can be glitchy sometimes and won't work.  Either way you have to take you "vacation" time to stop and do this.  I like sitting in my Lazy Boy at home months before sailing, making a few clicks and knowing the money is there when I get on.  Even though a kiosk can be fast, there can be lines for these and certainly at the customer service desk.  Even as Diamond I find there is always a line (shorter then the normal one).  

 

3rd:  I have been told at the service desk that there is a limit to the number of gift cards I could use.  I had made a jewelry purchase over $1000 and wanted to apply gift cards to my account I had with me, and the desk agent would only allow me to use $1000 worth and not any more.  They advised me this was the limit that could be used (now I don't know if they meant at one time, and didn't push it further).

 

4th:  Finally, for major "planners" like me, there is a sense of satisfaction when I look at my booking and see all my items there lined up and waiting for me (Excursions, drink package, specialty dinning, cruise cash, etc.).  It seems to be an easier way to budget as well, a little bit here, a little bit there.

 

Everyone has a different approach and no one is right or wrong it is just what you feel best with.

 

Note:  I believe there is a limit of $500 on cruise cash you can apply so keep that in mind.  I recently tried to add above this amount for the first time and it wouldn't let me 😁

[CruizinSusan70]

9 hours ago, wemjam said:

While some think it unnecessary there are some benefits to cruise cash when using gift cards IMHO.  If I am cruising and not using gift cards, just putting a credit card on file for my account, I likely would not do cruise cash. I always have gift cards though lol!  But for gift cards I find there are many beneficial reasons.

 

1st:  For me it is a security issue.  I like knowing I have used the gift card and the money is in my on board account.  Since I usually plan in advance and purchase gift cards months before sailing, I prefer to use them as I get them and not let them sit around.  There have been many horror stories of people attempting to use their gift cards only to find out their balance was 0.  Hackers figure out things all the time and I don't want to take the chance that while the gift card sits in the safe at my home for a few months, someone figured out the number combo and used one of my particular cards.  I also always check the balance as soon as I receive them to assure it isn't a bum card that was sent to me. (I use AARP and one of Credit Cards to buy mine at 10% off).  The last thing I want is the aggravation of fighting with someone to get my money back.

 

2nd:  If you are using gift cards, you have to apply them once on board.  You can do this at the desk or at a kiosk.  I have tried the kiosk and it can be glitchy sometimes and won't work.  Either way you have to take you "vacation" time to stop and do this.  I like sitting in my Lazy Boy at home months before sailing, making a few clicks and knowing the money is there when I get on.  Even though a kiosk can be fast, there can be lines for these and certainly at the customer service desk.  Even as Diamond I find there is always a line (shorter then the normal one).  

 

3rd:  I have been told at the service desk that there is a limit to the number of gift cards I could use.  I had made a jewelry purchase over $1000 and wanted to apply gift cards to my account I had with me, and the desk agent would only allow me to use $1000 worth and not any more.  They advised me this was the limit that could be used (now I don't know if they meant at one time, and didn't push it further).

 

4th:  Finally, for major "planners" like me, there is a sense of satisfaction when I look at my booking and see all my items there lined up and waiting for me (Excursions, drink package, specialty dinning, cruise cash, etc.).  It seems to be an easier way to budget as well, a little bit here, a little bit there.

 

Everyone has a different approach and no one is right or wrong it is just what you feel best with.

 

Note:  I believe there is a limit of $500 on cruise cash you can apply so keep that in mind.  I recently tried to add above this amount for the first time and it wouldn't let me 😁

You're correct about the 500 maximum with cruise cash.  The one and only time I purchased it when they had their 20% off sale, 500 was the max per cabin per sailing, so I saved another 100 bucks on top of the 10% I saved with the gift cards.

The extra 10% comes in handy while cruising Princess as well.

[squierjosh]

Do you have to have a balance on your S&S account? Can't you just charge to your credit card?

 

I get the idea of planning and setting a budget, but if you don't spend it, you lose it. Seems risky if you're not in a drinking mood or buying gifts on a certain cruise.

[diesteldorf]

2 hours ago, squierjosh said:

Do you have to have a balance on your S&S account? Can't you just charge to your credit card?

 

I get the idea of planning and setting a budget, but if you don't spend it, you lose it. Seems risky if you're not in a drinking mood or buying gifts on a certain cruise.

I purchased $500.00 cruise cash to help meet a credit card signup bonus quickly, and will have around $575.00 worth of credit on my account, after already paying for my internet and drink package in advance. 

 

However, I am planning to go to Cherry on Top and purchase 4 or 5 $100 CARNIVAL GIFT CARDS that I'll be able to use for a future cruise.  So, cruise cash isn't risky unless you disembark without using the credit, but between gift cards and using your sail and sign card to deposit money to slot machines, cashing out after 1 or 2 plays, it is pretty easy to use.

 

Does anyone know if Carnival gift cards can be used as payment on the other corporate lines, like Princess?