Cash on Sail & Sign Card

[Yvonne]

Does anyone know if you can go to guest services on the ship and get cash off your Sail & Sign card if you're using a credit card for that?

I know you can cash a traveler's check at guest services, as we've done that before to get extra cash for more tipping.

But this time we're just using credit cards and I'm trying to decide how much cash to take as we'll actually be on vacation about 3 weeks. If we need more I'm hoping we can just put that on the Sail & Sign card on the ship, so figured I better ask.

[Purvis1231]

There are ATMs on the ships, and guest services will cash personal check for a fee. We try to bring what cash we plan but we have also purchased on board credit in advance to cover the tips and what we budgetted for spending on the ship.

[Yvonne]

Originally Posted by Purvis1231

There are ATMs on the ships, and guest services will cash personal check for a fee. We try to bring what cash we plan but we have also purchased on board credit in advance to cover the tips and what we budgetted for spending on the ship.

I don't think the ATM would help us, as we don't use one at home so wouldn't have a PIN code for it. I guess I should pack the checkbook. Seems odd they would cash a personal check though, but not let you get cash off the Sail & Sign card when you've given them a credit card to use. Oh well.

[maryred]

You can if the card is one that Carnival allows a cash advance from. Be warned though not only might you have a cash advance fees from the cc based on your credit agreement, but the processing company Carnival uses charges a good 5.5% or more for this convenience.

From the Carnival FAQs :
"Guest may use a debit or credit card, while on board, to obtain a cash advance. Global Cash Access (GCA) provides guests with cash advance services by using the guest’s credit card or debit card, provided that the guest has an available limit.
For this service, GCA charges 5.5% of the value of the cash advance requested or a flat fee of $5.50 USD if the amount requested is $100 USD or less. There could be additional fees charged to the guest's account by the credit card issuer.
Both the Guest Services Desk and the Casino offer this service.
Types of credit and debit card accepted:
Visa
MasterCard
The Discover Novus Card
Diners Club International
The American Express Card
JCB Card
Arriva (GCA's own credit card which guests may apply for, on board, in the casino).
Maestro
Interlink
Star
Pulse Pay
NYCE
MAC
Cash Station"

At that percent it out weigh's any reward program benefits you may receive back from the cc. Call your cc company 7/or a major bank in port to double check if you can get a cash advance at a lower processing rate than what Carnival charges in the ports your visiting.

[sliema3]

I would take it out on a slot machine then cash out with the cashier. No charge!