What is the point of cruise cash?

I'm trying to understand why so many people choose to buy cruise cash. It is non-refundable, so you lose it if it's not spent. Why would you just not pay after with your credit card? Why not buy a gift card?

I believe that the actual intent of Cruise Cash is to be able to gift OBC to another person. I, personally, will buy a little bit of cruise cash for each cruise in case I am cruising out of a port where they don't like to take gift cards at the port (instead making you go to Guest Services). That way, I can wait until a the lines at GS have died down and it is quieter to apply my gift cards.

You could buy it as a gift for someone else. Maybe you aren't good at saving, so you buy a little Cruise Cash each month before you sail. Perhaps you just want to feel like everything is covered before you ever set foot on the ship. CCL must make money off of it or they wouldn't offer it.

I use Cruise Cash in lieu of buying the Cheers Package. My husband doesn't drink, so there's zero point in buying that since he won't utilize it and I don't drink enough to get any value out of the Cheers Package. Also, it offsets the little things my kids want to do on the ship like the kid's camp babysitting services.

I can speak only for myself, but I buy discounted Carnival gift cards, then purchase cruise cash on line with those gift cards. I also back my S&S card with a credit card.

I have a very good idea of how much I will spend on board. Chef's Table and one night in the Steakhouse are costs certain. I never buy more cruise cash than I know I will spend, so being nonrefundable isn't an issue.

It's easy and convenient.

I have the same questions. I would just set the cash aside and bring it or use a card and pay it off when I get back. No way am I taking cash and turning it into non-refundable company credit.

The day that I can't spend $500 in general onboard credit is the day I need to stop cruising. But seriously, I like to by a little cruise cash before we go in order to lessen the hit on the credit card. I never buy more than I've budgeted to spend.

I buy about $100-150 in cruise cash. It covers some drinks, souvenirs, a spa appointment, etc. If I buy it ahead of time in $50 increments. Then there's less money on the credit card bill that month.

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Purchased Cruise Cash as a gift for someone's upcoming cruise instead of gift card since the gift card minimum is $100. Cruise Cash I can purchase in $25 increments. :)

Purchased Cruise Cash as a gift for someone's upcoming cruise instead of gift card since the gift card minimum is $100. Cruise Cash I can purchase in $25 increments. :)

I think that makes the most sense so far. Other than that, is it because it's easier to apply to your account instead of a gift card?

I think that makes the most sense so far. Other than that, is it because it's easier to apply to your account instead of a gift card?

It is easier to apply to your account prior to sailing.

If purchased with discounted Carnival gift cards, it is a nice savings on on-board expenses.

I do what makes sense for my own situation and don't try to convince anyone else that what works for me should work for them.

Happy sailing.

I usually buy a little bit at a time and apply it to my account in the months leading up to the cruise. I use it for my pictures and coffees that I buy onboard

My reason is that I’m always looking for a bargain. My credit cards give me usually 1% cashback. If I purchase gift cards for carnival through AARP and use them to pay for the cruise cash, I get a better discount, 10% off. And what I don’t spend on board I will just throw into a casino machine on the last night, do 1 pull for the minimum amount, and then cash out.

I can speak only for myself, but I buy discounted Carnival gift cards, then purchase cruise cash on line with those gift cards. I also back my S&S card with a credit card.

 

I have a very good idea of how much I will spend on board. Chef's Table and one night in the Steakhouse are costs certain. I never buy more cruise cash than I know I will spend, so being nonrefundable isn't an issue.

 

It's easy and convenient.

I am happy your system works for you, but I don't see how that is any easier or convenient than just funding your S&S with your credit card and letting the system bill you after the cruise. You're already doing that, but also adding extra steps in between that don't seem to accomplish anything? I must be missing something.

The day that I can't spend $500 in general onboard credit is the day I need to stop cruising. But seriously, I like to by a little cruise cash before we go in order to lessen the hit on the credit card. I never buy more than I've budgeted to spend.

EXACTLY!!!! ;p

I am happy your system works for you, but I don't see how that is any easier or convenient than just funding your S&S with your credit card and letting the system bill you after the cruise. You're already doing that, but also adding extra steps in between that don't seem to accomplish anything? I must be missing something.

The Carnival gift cards are bought at a 10% discount. Buy them with your credit card and still get the points.

The day that I can't spend $500 in general onboard credit is the day I need to stop cruising. But seriously, I like to by a little cruise cash before we go in order to lessen the hit on the credit card. I never buy more than I've budgeted to spend.

Amen!! What I don't spend, I cash out at the casino (but I always spend it). I like to have my cruise completely paid off. Why make payments after when I can make them before?

I am happy your system works for you, but I don't see how that is any easier or convenient than just funding your S&S with your credit card and letting the system bill you after the cruise. You're already doing that, but also adding extra steps in between that don't seem to accomplish anything? I must be missing something.

For me, when the cruise is over I don't have to worry about "billing afterwards". It's a relief not having to come home to a bill. Also, planning the cruise (for me) is some of the fun. The more I pay off before the cruise, the more accomplished I feel. I don't look at it as an extra step at all!

So many of you are using a gift card to buy the cruise cash to avoid the wait in the guest services line? Do you limit/force yourself to that amount? What happens if you go over/under?

Still seems like a peculiar system to me. I guess this explains why it isn't super simple to apply a gift card to your account.

So many of you are using a gift card to buy the cruise cash to avoid the wait in the guest services line? Do you limit/force yourself to that amount? What happens if you go over/under?

 

Still seems like a peculiar system to me. I guess this explains why it isn't super simple to apply a gift card to your account.

If one goes over than it goes on the credit card on the account and with only being able to buy $500 in cruise case going over is what typically happens for us. If one goes under (still don't understand that concept;)) as others mention use the "casino trick" to cash out the account. It's not that hard to apply a gift card to one's account onboard but it does require one to either visit guest services or the kiosk to do so and if you have a number of cards you have to put each one on the account. The key though is it is something that has to be done onboard, which means you are using your vacation time to do it. I'd rather spend that 15 minutes having a drink on the pool deck.:cool:

Cruise Cash is a marketing program designed that to ensure the passenger spend money.

If one goes over than it goes on the credit card on the account and with only being able to buy $500 in cruise case going over is what typically happens for us. If one goes under (still don't understand that concept;)) as others mention use the "casino trick" to cash out the account. It's not that hard to apply a gift card to one's account onboard but it does require one to either visit guest services or the kiosk to do so and if you have a number of cards you have to put each one on the account. The key though is it is something that has to be done onboard, which means you are using your vacation time to do it. I'd rather spend that 15 minutes having a drink on the pool deck.:cool:

I've never been able to apply a gift card to my S&S account at a kiosk. The kiosk won't take it. I've always had to visit Guest Services onboard to get my gift cards applied.

Is there a dollar limit on how much cruise cash you can purchase per cabin or per person?

Cruise Cash is a marketing program designed that to ensure the passenger spend money.

Yup....convincing people to turn cash that can be spent anywhere for anything into a non-refundable credit is marketing genius. You make people think it is for their convenience so they can justify it in their own mind but really you have just reached into their wallet and guaranteed revenue.

Is there a dollar limit on how much cruise cash you can purchase per cabin or per person?

The dollar limit is per cabin, though you can purchase each type of cruise cash to it's limit. Just don't buy more than you know you will spend on the department specific cruise cash.

One thing to remember is that if you do not designate an individual passenger(s) as the recipient when making the purchase, the FunShops will evenly split the value to all cabin occupants.