Carnival cruise cash?

[ronkonkoma]

Has anyone used Carnival Cruise Cash to pay in advance for bar tab or photos? I'm just wondering if it is a good way to pay for some things in advance a little at a time. Does Carnival do a good job keeping track of this or does it become a headache?

 

Also, has anyone ordered sodas on the Carnival website? Do they get delivered to your room? Thanks for any input you can give me.

[Lovefuninthesun]

We bought some cruise cash before our last cruise, so had that on our account when we boarded.

 

They did an excellent job of withdrawing funds in the correct order and keeping our S&S account straight: First they used up the cruise cash which is non- refundable, then OBC we had banked from price drops, then cash deposit we made at boarding.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone 5 using Cruise Critic App

[tracier66]

I have used cruise cash also. I would get the general cruise cash that you can use for any type purchase on the ship versus the type you have to use only on photos or for bar purchases.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[ronkonkoma]

Thanks for your reply. I think I will get the general cruise cash also.

[KARTI1955]

Usually get a little cruise cash. The general type. Never had a problem with it. I order soda and water from the Fun Shop and it has always been in the cabin as soon as I arrive. I am too lazy to drag it on board myself Lol!

[firemanbobswife]

You might want to get a gift card instead. That way if you don't use it all, it will be put on another gift card. Cruise Cash is use it or lose it. Doesn't transfer to another cruise.

[EdmundXXIII]

I got some cruise cash for my next cruise, which is coming up in just a few weeks! :D

 

From those who have done this before - Is it available to use as soon as I'm on board? That's what it sounded like...

 

I don't plan to use a credit card or put down cash for any onboard spending. I bought the amount of cruise cash that I budgeted for my vacation. I hope it works out well.

[KARTI1955]

I got some cruise cash for my next cruise, which is coming up in just a few weeks! :D

 

From those who have done this before - Is it available to use as soon as I'm on board? That's what it sounded like...

 

I don't plan to use a credit card or put down cash for any onboard spending. I bought the amount of cruise cash that I budgeted for my vacation. I hope it works out well.

 

Yes, it should be available immediately. Make sure that you take your email confirmation with you, just in case. I have usually gotten a little card in the cabin showing the amount.

 

Also, as said earlier, use it or lose it. If you have money left over you can go to the casino, put the balance on your sail & sign in a slot machine and then just cash out at the cage. I would then check the kiosk or guest services to make sure the balance on the sail & sign was zero.

[n6uqqq]

Cruise cash is just giving Carnival your hard earned money and then getting it back later. There is no benefit and you could lose money if you don't use it all. Me thinks a piggy bank would be a better bet ;) .

[tonyhoop]

I'll just buy some bottles of booze with any unused portion

[EdmundXXIII]

Cruise cash is just giving Carnival your hard earned money and then getting it back later. There is no benefit and you could lose money if you don't use it all. Me thinks a piggy bank would be a better bet ;) .

 

But it does offer a convenience for some people.

 

I didn't want to use my credit card, because I don't want holds placed on it for amounts which are somewhat ambiguous.

 

I could use cash, but that would mean that one of the first things I'd have to do onboard would be go to guest services and handle the transaction. It's a minor hassle, but if it can be avoided, all the better.

 

As far as I can tell, the only downside to cruise cash is that it's non-refundable. But that doesn't really bother me. I've been on enough cruises to know what I'm going to spend on board given the length of trip.

[firemanbobswife]

But it does offer a convenience for some people.

 

 

 

I didn't want to use my credit card, because I don't want holds placed on it for amounts which are somewhat ambiguous.

 

 

 

I could use cash, but that would mean that one of the first things I'd have to do onboard would be go to guest services and handle the transaction. It's a minor hassle, but if it can be avoided, all the better.

 

 

 

As far as I can tell, the only downside to cruise cash is that it's non-refundable. But that doesn't really bother me. I've been on enough cruises to know what I'm going to spend on board given the length of trip.

 

 

If you set up a cash account, you can put money in at a kiosk. I do it every time and it takes no more than 5 minutes the first time because you set up a PIN for your account. After that maybe 2 min at the max. Just thought I would let you know in case you wanted to go that route.

[Carnival Cutie]

I use cruise cash to defray the cost of drinks onboard. I also gift my cruise companions with cruise cash (in a lesser amount) as a surprise gift. Of course, as others have stated, you need to keep track of it but I don't add an amount I'm not prepared to use. Makes the final bill smaller.:D

[ZoeyVictoria]

Is it possible to use cruise cash towards gratuities?

[jcearth]

One thing that can be a little confusing is that the refundable and non-refundable OBC show up in different places on your account. I was freaking out on the Dream last year, because only half of my OBC was showing, but as I made purchases, my balance never decreased -- I found out it was only showing me the refundable portion. As previously stated, the non-refundable comes off of your account first.

[Carnival Cutie]

Pre-paying your gratuities is probably preferable to using cruise cash for them. You can do that at any time. Use your cruise cash for other things.

[lovecarnivalcruises]

If you set up a cash account, you can put money in at a kiosk. I do it every time and it takes no more than 5 minutes the first time because you set up a PIN for your account. After that maybe 2 min at the max. Just thought I would let you know in case you wanted to go that route.

 

Is this available on all ships?