Sail and Sign Card Questions

[travelguy83]

I've got a couple of questions about setting up a sail and sign account with Carnival:

 

1. If I want to setup my account with cash instead of a credit card, can I deposit the cash at embarkation? I read somewhere that you have to go to guest services to setup an account, but I don't want to create a delay for my fellow cruisers by having to stand in a long line once on-board.

 

So, can you just open your account with cash as part of the check in process?

 

2. I also thought about using a prepaid visa to open my account. (I don't want to use my normal credit or debit card because I heard it can take a long time for the holds they put on your card to drop off).

 

Anyway, it seems based on the Carnival website that prepaid cards are ok. However, others have said that these types of cards are sometimes not accepted. I have heard that your name must appear on the card, and this isn't always the case with a prepaid card. Also, I heard that prepaid cards may not allow holds, and if that is the case they will not work for setting up a sail and sign account.

 

Does anyone have any experience with using a prepaid visa for their sail and sign account? If so, where did you buy your card that worked?

 

Thanks!

[joeyancho]

I think your best bet is cash. We always use credit cards and have zero issues.

[Vitality08]

I've got a couple of questions about setting up a sail and sign account with Carnival:

 

1. If I want to setup my account with cash instead of a credit card, can I deposit the cash at embarkation? I read somewhere that you have to go to guest services to setup an account, but I don't want to create a delay for my fellow cruisers by having to stand in a long line once on-board.

 

So, can you just open your account with cash as part of the check in process?

 

2. I also thought about using a prepaid visa to open my account. (I don't want to use my normal credit or debit card because I heard it can take a long time for the holds they put on your card to drop off).

 

Anyway, it seems based on the Carnival website that prepaid cards are ok. However, others have said that these types of cards are sometimes not accepted. I have heard that your name must appear on the card, and this isn't always the case with a prepaid card. Also, I heard that prepaid cards may not allow holds, and if that is the case they will not work for setting up a sail and sign account.

 

Does anyone have any experience with using a prepaid visa for their sail and sign account? If so, where did you buy your card that worked?

 

Thanks!

 

Some of the ports have kiosks in the check in area where you can load cash. I'm not sure if the clerks can take cash or not. Either way, you will be allowed to make purchases up to a certain amount before you are required to deposit cash. So you can go to guest services at your leisure. Also, there are kiosks around the ship where you can also add cash to your account and there are rarely lines at those machines.

 

I don't have any experience with the prepaid debit cards.

[ready2cruzagain]

Here is a link that might help:

 

https://help.carnival.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1138/~/sail-%26-sign-on-board-account

[riffatsea]

Only holds on debit cards take a while to drop off.

Holds on actual credit cards should not be noticeable.

[sc4125]

The last few times that I have used cash, they took care of it at check in and gave me a receipt (just in case). This was at Miami, Ft. Lauderdale and Port Canaveral. I believe Tampa also does this. Maybe all of them do now. Works great - just make sure you get a receipt.

 

The other times I've used a regular credit card, and as already mentioned, there isn't a problem with a hold after you disembark - they charge your card for purchases on that day. I've never used a Debit card because I've heard there can be a problem with the hold.

 

Using cash is nice because you can add (or subtract) at the kiosks onboard during the cruise. For example, I won $600 on a slot machine on one of my cruises - deposited it onto my sail & sign before I was tempted to give it all back to the casino - in the end, I got a decent check back under my door on the last night of the cruise.

[sailor_jimc]

Like another said .. the holds only come into play when using a debit card. We always use a credit card and have never had an issue in 28 cruises. The only other issue with a credit card is if for some reason the card you use is near it's credit limit. then the pre charge holds may get declined.

 

But if you wish to use cash, you can deposit cash at embarkation. The issue becomes "how much"? If you run through your deposit, they will shut off your charging privileges until you deposit more money. If you deposit too much then you get a check back at the end of the cruise (instead of cash) which you then have to go deposit in a bank.

 

it is much easier to just use a credit card.

[dd2355]

I don't want to use my normal credit or debit card because I heard it can take a long time for the holds they put on your card to drop off

 

The duration a hold stays on your account is up to your card issuer, not the merchant.

 

Call whatever bank issued your credit card and ask them about their hold policy and timeframe. You might also see if they'll raise your limit a bit to give you additional headroom if you're running a high enough balance that holds matter.

 

I'd also suggect, if you have enough time, that you go open a new credit card that offers zero percent foreign transaction fees (Bank of America's Travel Rewards card is free of annual charges) and use that. You won't have to worry about holds consuming available headroom on the card, plus you get the bonus of saving the 3% fee on anything you buy while at foreign ports.

[MsTee]

For all my cruises, the representative was able to accept cash deposit during check in. Also, you have the option of 'cashing out' at the end of your cruise. Just visit the guest services desk. You do not have to wait for a check.

[sc4125]

For all my cruises, the representative was able to accept cash deposit during check in. Also, you have the option of 'cashing out' at the end of your cruise. Just visit the guest services desk. You do not have to wait for a check.

 

 

Another option to cash out is - if you play in the casino, you can get $ from your sail & sign and cash out what you don't use at the cashiers' desk. All you need to do is make sure of what your remaining balance is. I normally check my balance on the last sea day, download most of it at a slot machine and then I wait until right before I go to bed that last night to cash it out in the casino.

[surfjock27]

We always use cash and put it on during checkin.

I like to bring big bills so it's easier and not holding the lines up.

 

I've never used my debit/credit card.

I personally like knowing how much I have to spent (a limit).

With a card, you can go wild!

[Jenhem31]

We purchased Carnival gift cards last cruise and applied them at check in. We have used a debit and credit card before and had holds but had enough of a balance that it didn't effect us. We will probably do gift cards again as we like the fuel perks.

[keepap]

We purchased Carnival gift cards last cruise and applied them at check in. We have used a debit and credit card before and had holds but had enough of a balance that it didn't effect us. We will probably do gift cards again as we like the fuel perks.

 

I used the Carnival gift card my last cruise as well and it was so easy and they even gave me cash back at the end as I did not use it all!:D

[Troublemaker47]

We use a prepaid Walmart money card. Has my name on it and hold is normally released once the charges are finalized, or within 48 hrs at least. In past normally 1-2 days after back from cruise. If I go over, I put extra on s&s at the kiosk with cash.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[travelguy83]

Thanks for the information everyone!

[PomSaysOm]

We use a prepaid Walmart money card. Has my name on it and hold is normally released once the charges are finalized, or within 48 hrs at least. In past normally 1-2 days after back from cruise. If I go over, I put extra on s&s at the kiosk with cash.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I too have used a Walmart money card with no problems. Great option when you don't want to use a credit/debit card, or if you don't have one.

 

Sent from my LG-AS991 using Tapatalk

[Drazil65]

We only use cash and you give it to them at the desk when you embark. You can add more if you need to during the cruise, just go to guest services, it is easy. We prepay everything before the cruise so don't really need a lot of cash in our account but have extra in the safe in case we do.

[RuthlessBoss]

I just followed the easy instructions at a kiosk. Somehow it recognizes money,

[vamartha]

We use cash, but we don't use physical cash. I know that sounds odd, but I prepay using a combination of Cruise Cash and Carnival Gift cards.

 

For example, we are leaving in about 40 days on a Journey's cruise. Because it is over 9 days in length, we must have $350 each in our S&S accounts. Even though we have prepaid our tips, Carnival still requires $350 each. So, I have purchased Cruise Cash of about $300. The balance I've purchased in Carnival Gift Cards (at Lowes, thank you Lowes for carrying these) and I did this over time, making a purchase every couple of weeks as my paycheck allows.

 

(We don't have credit cards, don't want them and don't want to get into a debate about having them please)

 

Once I visit either a kiosk or Guest Services on board the ship, I'll have satisfied the cash deposit requirement. We have FTTF so I can get this taken care of almost immediately. I don't worry about the use it or lose it aspect, if you purchase Cruise Cash and you have to cancel your cruise, the full amount is refunded to your purchase method (in my case, a debit card) immediately and I know this to be true because I had to cancel a cruise last fall about 4 days before sailing.

 

We aren't big drinkers, don't book Carnival excursions but we do visit specialty restaurants, gamble a little and usually have a couple of drinks each day. I will use every bit of the $350 and maybe a little more but if I don't, I just cash out any extra through the casino. I keep a good eye on my account (wish the Sunshine had a way to see through the TV like the Dream class ships) and budget accordingly. I've had good luck using this method.

[watermelonqueen99]

We always use cash for our S&S. On whether or not you can deposit your money at check-in, it depends. On our April 2015 cruise, we were able to deposit our money right there at check-in. On our cruise a couple of weeks ago, the lady checking us in said she would need to summon a supervisor in order to take our cash for our S&S, so we opted to deposit it at the kiosk once on board so as not to delay our boarding or the boarding of our fellow passengers behind us. Just be ready to roll with the punches, and don't get too flustered.

[GabbyCooks]

You don't have to deposit right away if they won't take it at check in. You have until like 10 pm or so the first evening to make a deposit and you will still be able to use your sail and sign until then. You can easily just deposit it at a kiosk at your leisure instead of going to guest services. I have always used cash. Never deposited at check in or guest services. I always use kiosks. Very easy.

[michelle1836]

you can deposit cash at check in up to a certain point. and we cant take cards without your name on it