Soda Card

[dolphins76]

Can you purchase the soda card before cruising?

[panoramaofthepast]

Can you purchase the soda card before cruising?

Not on Carnival. There will be stations set up all over the ship on Embarkation day and the second day; if you wait until Day 2, no tax!

[riclop]

Wait until you board.

[platinum.wannabe]

My understanding is that you can, you just have to call the 800 # and ask a rep to take care of that for you. :)

[S.S.Oceanlover]

My understanding is that you can, you just have to call the 800 # and ask a rep to take care of that for you. :)

 

That is correct. They will connect you to the Bon Voyage dept. and get you set uo.

 

I believe they leave a paper in your cabin that you have to take to a bar to get it setup so if you can't get into your room until 1:30pm and you board early you might want to get cruise cash instead and just go right to the bar and get it as soon as you board.

 

Most ports will also charge you sales tax if you haven't left yet which is about $3.00 per adult sticker.

 

Bill

[oldrailfan]

That is correct. They will connect you to the Bon Voyage dept. and get you set uo.

 

I believe they leave a paper in your cabin that you have to take to a bar to get it setup so if you can't get into your room until 1:30pm and you board early you might want to get cruise cash instead and just go right to the bar and get it as soon as you board.

Even when you get to your cabin and pick up the letter, you sometimes have to wait until a particular bar opens... we had to wait until after muster on one cruise.

 

As a side note, don't use Cruise Cash - they are a good deal for Carnival, but the passenger gets left holding the bag if you don't spend it all. Just use your Sail & Sign card to buy it on board.

 

Most ports will also charge you sales tax if you haven't left yet which is about $3.00 per adult sticker.

 

Bill

 

If you buy the card through Bon Voyage, they charge you the applicable sales tax for the Port of Departure... the only way you can beat the sales tax is to wait until you're at sea before you buy the card.

 

If you do buy it through Bon Voyage, be sure to ask for "Bottomless Bubbles." Otherwise, they may sell you the soft drink coupons. IIRC, or unless they've changed the price, Bottomless Bubbles should cost you $6.50 per day, or 4.50 for a child's card (under 13) plus 15% gratuity for either card. (and sales tax if you buy it thru BV or while you're still in port)

[S.S.Oceanlover]

Even when you get to your cabin and pick up the letter, you sometimes have to wait until a particular bar opens... we had to wait until after muster on one cruise.

 

As a side note, don't use Cruise Cash - they are a good deal for Carnival, but the passenger gets left holding the bag if you don't spend it all. Just use your Sail & Sign card to buy it on board.

 

 

 

If you buy the card through Bon Voyage, they charge you the applicable sales tax for the Port of Departure... the only way you can beat the sales tax is to wait until you're at sea before you buy the card.

 

If you do buy it through Bon Voyage, be sure to ask for "Bottomless Bubbles." Otherwise, they may sell you the soft drink coupons. IIRC, or unless they've changed the price, Bottomless Bubbles should cost you $6.50 per day, or 4.50 for a child's card (under 13) plus 15% gratuity for either card. (and sales tax if you buy it thru BV or while you're still in port)

 

 

If you have extra cruise cash you can get the $$$$ back from the casino by uploading the amount of OBC you had left and getting it at the cashiers cage.

 

Bill

[oldrailfan]

If you have extra cruise cash you can get the $$$$ back from the casino by uploading the amount of OBC you had left and getting it at the cashiers cage.

 

Bill

 

From the Carnival Website: "Cruise Cash is valid for a single voyage and cannot be transferred to future bookings. Cruise Cash is non-refundable and any unused credits will be forfeited." (emphasis added)

 

You can do as Bill suggests, but it's one more thing to remember on the last night. I guess that if you plan to spend a lot of time in the Casino this would be OK, but how 'bout those of us that don't gamble? I'd rather just "save up" before the cruise and put cash on my S&S account. They put a check for any unused amount under the door on the last night, and you don't have to go through the "cash out" procedure described.

[jlpalmer]

From the Carnival Website: "Cruise Cash is valid for a single voyage and cannot be transferred to future bookings. Cruise Cash is non-refundable and any unused credits will be forfeited." (emphasis added)

 

You can do as Bill suggests, but it's one more thing to remember on the last night. I guess that if you plan to spend a lot of time in the Casino this would be OK, but how 'bout those of us that don't gamble? I'd rather just "save up" before the cruise and put cash on my S&S account. They put a check for any unused amount under the door on the last night, and you don't have to go through the "cash out" procedure described.

 

When we sailed on RCI we went to the Purser's desk on the last night and cashed out any remaining money. Am I able to do this on Carnival as well or is the cheque under the door reimbursement the only option?

[oldrailfan]

When we sailed on RCI we went to the Purser's desk on the last night and cashed out any remaining money. Am I able to do this on Carnival as well or is the cheque under the door reimbursement the only option?

 

I honestly don't now... We HAVE re-deposited the check into the S&S account for the second half of our Back-to-back cruises.

[matj2000]

Not on Carnival. There will be stations set up all over the ship on Embarkation day and the second day; if you wait until Day 2, no tax!

 

 

What do you do on day 1?

[panoramaofthepast]

What do you do on day 1?

You can buy the Bottomless Bubbles on Day 1 - you will just have to pay the port tax on it. You can just buy individual sodas until out of the port [usually about 30 minutes after sailing, which is when the shops and casino open as well] and then purchase the Bottomless Bubbles.

[S.S.Oceanlover]

From the Carnival Website: "Cruise Cash is valid for a single voyage and cannot be transferred to future bookings. Cruise Cash is non-refundable and any unused credits will be forfeited." (emphasis added)

 

You can do as Bill suggests, but it's one more thing to remember on the last night. I guess that if you plan to spend a lot of time in the Casino this would be OK, but how 'bout those of us that don't gamble? I'd rather just "save up" before the cruise and put cash on my S&S account. They put a check for any unused amount under the door on the last night, and you don't have to go through the "cash out" procedure described.

 

I have read recently that they no longer give you a check on the last night but instead mail the check to you at your a couple weeks after the cruise with any amount under $5.00 donated to St. Jude.

 

Bill

[S.S.Oceanlover]

You can buy the Bottomless Bubbles on Day 1 - you will just have to pay the port tax on it. You can just buy individual sodas until out of the port [usually about 30 minutes after sailing, which is when the shops and casino open as well] and then purchase the Bottomless Bubbles.

 

If you do it this way to save the $3.00 and some change tax and buy a soda before you leave the port an individual can is $1.95 plus 15% gratuity plus tax.

 

So you might possibly save a dollar.

 

Bill

[jsfromsc]

We bought ours on the first day and I know it was before muster. We saw one of the crew setting up the table with the tumblers and bought it right away. And let me also say, our recent Baltic cruise was the first one of our Carnival cruises where every bar staff we encountered was cheerful and quick to serve us our soft drinks. Previously it seemed they were avoiding those with soda cards because no extra tip was coming. Because they were so kind and cheerful this time we often tipped them in cash on the spot. It was worth it for such friendly service.

[RayJacki]

Or you can use a few of the 12 cans of soda you're allowed to bring on board ...

[LRav19]

Bottomless Bubbles should cost you $6.50 per day, or 4.50 for a child's card (under 13) plus 15% gratuity for either card. (and sales tax if you buy it thru BV or while you're still in port)

 

They consider a child to be under 17. Just in case somebody sees this and is confused.

[jaxfl]

What drinks or juices for those over 18yo are included in the Bottomless Bubbles Program besides sodas?

[jaxfl]

What drinks or juices for those over 18yo are included in the Bottomless Bubbles Program besides sodas?

 

BUMP up to the top.... still looking for an answer, thanks.

[jaxfl]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaxfl

What drinks or juices for those over 18yo are included in the Bottomless Bubbles Program besides sodas?

 

BUMP up to the top.... still looking for an answer, thanks.

__________________

 

Thanks