Confused-Cruise Cash / Sail and Sign

[ATX_CRUISER]

Am a newbie going on our first cruise in August. Have read the boards learning a lot of information. This topic is one that still confuses me though.

 

• I know Cruise Cash is "use or lose"
  

• I see people talk about putting "Cruise Cash" on Sail&Sign.
  

• I see people talk about using credit card on S&S.
  

• I see the option of putting money on your S&S when you are doing your online check in.
  

 

Why would you choose something you can't get back? What am I missing?

 

Just haven't been able to get my head around it. Maybe I am overthinking it.

 

PAM

[lizardhowson]

Many people are afraid to carry cash.

Many are afraid to use credit cards (even if they pay off full balance at statement date).

Not to worry, I can't wrap my head around those either.

[Purvis1231]

Cruise cash is actually designed as an opportunity for non-cruisers to buy a gift for someone going on a cruise. Some people buy it to fund the ship account. It is use it or lose but nobody really has any trouble spending the money (max $500.00). If for some reason you have not spent it, go to the casino and cash it put in a slot machine.

 

I have found that funding the ship account with a credit card is the easiest way to go but you can pay down cash once you get on the ship.

[deborahjo]

We use Carnival Gift Cards. We buy them along the way then add them to our account when we board. We always open a Cash Account when checking in.

 

 

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[kona_wahine]

Our last cruise was a back to back. I bought $100 cruise cash and also several gift cards. We also had OBC. I wanted as much paid for as possible. I don't want to come home to a bill. The OBC and cruise cash shows up and is used first. Towards the end of the first leg I checked how much we were still owing. I applied enough gift card to pay it off. I ended up owing $8 which was applied to my credit card. The second leg we had some OBC, and I applied the rest of the gift cards. I then didn't have to worry about drinks and even used some on slot machines. And we both had lobster the he last night of the cruise. ($20 tails) we ended up with about a $60 charge for the 2nd leg of our cruise.

[MMastell]

I've used the Carnival Gift cards before because they are nice to keep the final bill as small as possible.

 

Now, I just buy a Cheers package, pre-pay the gratuities and the final bill is very small. Perhaps the steakhouse and tips for the bartenders.

 

I personally wouldn't think of using a debit card to secure my Sign and Sail. There is a daily hold that will lock up funds for a few days and it can get up to $600 or $700 before the first hold comes off. You won't have this with a credit card unless it's maxed out.

 

On our last cruise there was a family on their first cruise. The husband tried to get money from the ATM in Puerto Vallarta and it said insufficient funds. He needed $500 to pay for his two day tour. He came back on board to get money, that was on his S&S, but it was casino winnings. The casino was closed and Guest Services will not give you casino winnings. Only the casino can.

 

I had talked to him a few times in the casino and in other parts of the ship and knew that this was a rookie mistake. I then did something I would not do but I had a good feeling about him. I gave him $500 to pay for the tour. The driver was waiting outside the ship.

 

I have to say that my intuition was good. He paid me back the next day and also sent us a very nice note on the ship and then, a couple of weeks later, a nice card from him and his wife. I had given him my address in the event he could not get his casino money or he would not have any cash left in his account to enjoy the rest of the cruise. I said he could mail me a check.

 

His lesson was learned the hard way and if I hadn't fronted him the $500 the police would have arrested him. His tour operator never threatened that but I've seen it happen.

 

So: Don't use a debit card unless you have a large balance in your checkin or savings.

 

Take care,

Mike

[DenaInWyo]

Wow Mike, that was REALLY nice of you! Not many people out there would do that kind of thing for someone.

 

I applied some cruise cash to my sail and sign last time just because I wanted as much paid ahead of time as possible and wanted to avoid any holds on cards. I've heard some real horror stories about that.

[funnyfarm9988]

I used cash on my cruise. I heard stories about holds on your debit card up to 2 weeks after the cruise. It was easy. When our cruise was finished we went to guest services and they refunded what money was not used. I have heard people using the carnival cards as well. I use cash on the islands as well. I didn't want any problems over there. I didn't spend much there anyway.