So...Is It a Hassle to Put Down Cash on Sail and Sign?

[TwinMom7]

If I'm reading the posts correctly, we will check in through the normal lines and then we'll have to go to the Purser's Desk and establish our account with cash or traveler's checks?

 

Is this correct? The regular check-in counter will not accept our traveler's checks rather than credit card info?

[dan40]

Correct.

 

Dan

[TwinMom7]

So......DH will NOT be able to head straight to the bar! He'll have to wait until I get through the line at the Purser's Desk.

 

Is this the same line we'll wait in to book excursions? If so, we'll do it all at once.

[firefly333]

Not only that, but then you gotta stand in line at the end of the cruise to get any usused money back as in a check form.

 

Dont you have a debit card??

 

No, you book excursions at another desk, to answer the post above me, just posted while I was posting lol

[PJBUCHEIT]

If I'm reading the posts correctly, we will check in through the normal lines and then we'll have to go to the Purser's Desk and establish our account with cash or traveler's checks?

 

Is this correct? The regular check-in counter will not accept our traveler's checks rather than credit card info?

 

It is rather painless applying cash to your sail and sign account. We have done it all three cruises as soon as we board the ship, and hardly have to wait at all.

[cruisinjerseygirl]

I think it's a hassle we tried it last cruise and we didn't enjoy it really...we ran out of cash on the S&S and would have to go down and replenish, I just think that it's a waste of time...if you can put it on your cc then do that in my opinion

[deborahjo]

On the liberty they had a Cash Desk set up by the casino to set up a cash account. Not the Purser's Desk. But is extremely simple. We did on our last cruise.

[PJBUCHEIT]

Not only that, but then you gotta stand in line at the end of the cruise to get any usused money back as in a check form.

 

Dont you have a debit card??

 

No, you book excursions at another desk, to answer the post above me, just posted while I was posting lol

 

 

They have always put a check for our remain balance in the box by our door on the morning of debarkation.

[TwinMom7]

One more thing - we are starting off with a $150 OBC. When we check in at the main area, will we be handed our Sail and Sign Cards? Will that credit already be on it?

 

We are then planning to go wherever directed and put down $1000 worth of Traveler's Checks.

 

I was also informed that they will put your refund check (if there is one) in your mailbox on the final morning - so that you don' have to wait in line for the refund.

[TwinMom7]

Not only that, but then you gotta stand in line at the end of the cruise to get any usused money back as in a check form.

 

Dont you have a debit card??

 

No, you book excursions at another desk, to answer the post above me, just posted while I was posting lol

 

Yes, but I don't want to have to worry about a $400 hold, (PLUS all of my onboard expenses) on my checking account for a week after a get home.

 

From what I've read on dozens of posts, it seems like cash is the safer way to go.

[qalo]

Why not go ahead with a CC and pay cash on it before you dismebark or a little after you're at sea?

[firefly333]

Yes, but I don't want to have to worry about a $400 hold, (PLUS all of my onboard expenses) on my checking account for a week after a get home.

 

From what I've read on dozens of posts, it seems like cash is the safer way to go.

 

If there is a hold on a debit card, I have yet to be affected by it. Maybe there are folks with so little in their checking accounts it affects them. Personally, I would rather carry less cash. I have now changed to a RCL card where I earn points toward a OBC on that ship, but I can use the card for anything, but had used a debit card without any problems up until now. No holds, nadda. I suspect you hear about the rare person who had a problem, not the normal person using a debit card.

 

Iv seen one $4 hold, never a $400 hold, much less for a whole week, it dissapeared one day after I got back.

[bab15316]

Cash is a good option as long as you realize you have to have EXTRA cash for tips and expenditures off the ship, gambling, etc. And a little bit more EXTRA cash to replenish once you use this up. As long as you budget well, this is a great way not to exceed your set spending limit. I have used cash as well as a c/c and really liked not having a huge c/c bill to pay after I got home. The downside is going thru your cash too fast and not having any money to get home on :(. We just went to the pursers desk and made the deposit we wished to make (which I believe was $200 pp) and went about our business. When our account ran low, we received a message and went down to put more money on the card. No problems. As far as waiting in line, we were sure to only add a small amount towards the end so we wouldn't have a large remaining balance. Then, we just bought a drink or two, or a souvenier and our balance was used down to $0. I know this isn't for everyone, but we didn't mind and might use this method again in April!

 

Happy Sailing everyone!

Beth

[LornaT]

The OBC will kick into the account once it has been activated with either a CC/Debit/Cash or Travelers Checks.

 

If you elect to use cash or Travelers Checks, any left over balance will be given back to you via a check attached to your statement left for you in the wee hours of the morning. You can take the check to the Pursers desk before disembarking to cash it on board. I have always used Travelers Checks or Cash and have had no problems doing so, even before I got to stand in the Platinum Line. After so many cruises I know about how much I need for tips, photos, shopping on board and the Hair Salon (for Mom) thta I always deposit enough to end up getting some back.

[bcs819]

we have often seen a huge wit for this when boarding. I would set it up with a credit card and then go down sporadically thru the week (at off hours at the Purser's Desk) and pay it off. We were with a friend last cruise who had a good night in the casino, and we stumbled with him to the purser around 1 am where he paid off his on-board charges. No line, no wait, no bill. We'll do it that way every time now :)

[2PinaColadas]

It is rather painless applying cash to your sail and sign account. We have done it all three cruises as soon as we board the ship, and hardly have to wait at all.

 

 

Do you have to apply it as soon as you get on board? Since they will already have my CC on account, can I not wait until the lines die down?

[2PinaColadas]

It is rather painless applying cash to your sail and sign account. We have done it all three cruises as soon as we board the ship, and hardly have to wait at all.

 

 

Do you have to apply cash as soon as you get on board? Since they will already have my CC on account, can I not wait until the lines die down?

[bcs819]

Do you have to apply cash as soon as you get on board? Since they will already have my CC on account, can I not wait until the lines die down?

 

yes, you can do it any time.

[BeCruisin]

WE have always used a credit card until our last cruise a few months ago. We used my debit card. I monitored it throughout the cruise and noticed that they hit the card in intervals. When we left the ship we received our bill and I expected that bill to be our final bill. It took me over 2 weeks to get it straightened out. Their debit to my account and the final bill did not match plus they never lifted the holds that they previously put on the account. I doubt I will use a debit again.

 

In the past, we have paid off our bill the last night of the cruise. We have the purser's desk pull up our bill and we settle the account. It has always been quick and somewhat painless!

[Cruisin Suzin]

I am going to pay with a prepaid Mastercard, it is treated just like a cc, it has your name etc. you can pre load it with up to 10,000. directly from your checking account, I have used this in the stores and when I've travelled before, I phone Carnival and asked if this would be acceptable and they said yes, this one is but not a Visa gift card, as they have no way of placing a hold on a gift card but the prepaid mastercard will let them treat it just like a cc..

[Cruisin' Ron VA]

Just out of curiosity if you say you will put a cash deposit down and then fail to do so but don't actually charge anything, will they still come looking for you?

[waterbugg]

It is rather painless applying cash to your sail and sign account. We have done it all three cruises as soon as we board the ship, and hardly have to wait at all.

I found it quite painless too..Soon as we got aboard the Sensation last Thursday we headed for the purser's desk and had it done within 10 minutes. We also waited until about midnight the last night of the cruise and cashed out our sail and sign account..We found it easy to use cash and kept us from spending too much..We have debit card but i didn't want the holds put on it..

[finoky]

We have used cash for all 10 of our Carnival cruises. It has never been a problem at all. We always arrive early on embarkation day and never have to wait more than a few minutes to activate our account with cash. At the end of the cruise I go down early the last morning and cash the check for the remaining unused amount. It usually isn't for very much anyway as we have a good idea of how much to put down at the beginning of the cruise. I know many like using a credit card for their account. Cash has always worked for us and when we get home I don't owe anything for the cruise cause it's all paid off.

[pe4all]

We use a credit card, but also put down a few hundred cash to cover tips, bingo, souveneirs, etc. We do it immediately upon boarding - have never waited more than 5-10 minutes. If there is money left over at the end, we have received it back in the form of a check the morning of debark. If we owe a bit, it is charged right onto our credit card. (never more than $20 is charged - we have it down to a science) DH doesn't like getting hit with big bills after vacation.

[FrogCWR]

Just out of curiosity if you say you will put a cash deposit down and then fail to do so but don't actually charge anything' date=' will they still come looking for you?[/quote']

I'm new to the cruising thing, but have spent many many hours reading as much as I can on this site. From what I've learned, you already have a "charge" on your account as soon as you walk in the door due to the automatic tipping. Hope that made sense.