Cruise cash?

[Ms. Solarin]

Hi. I'm new here.

 

Can anyone tell me the benefit (if there is any) to purchasing cruise cash? It doesn't make sense to me. If we have to register a credit card anyway, what is the point?

[Essiesmom]

You don't have to register a credit card. Some folks don't have one and need to pay cash. Or they only have a debit card, which is always a bad idea to register it. So, instead of bringing a large amount of cash, they can pre-load their onboard account by buying cruise cash. Or you can buy it as a gift for someone. EM

[cruizinisthebest]

It's a way to save money for onboard spending. It's also commonly used as a gift to someone just like all of the other items available for purchase in the fun shops. Not everyone attaches a credit card to their onboard account. You can also fund it with cash or gift cards. It's up to the individual. Cruise cash is just an option.

 

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[easyboy]

Hi. I'm new here.

 

Can anyone tell me the benefit (if there is any) to purchasing cruise cash? It doesn't make sense to me. If we have to register a credit card anyway, what is the point?

Some does it for controlled spending.

[n6uqqq]

Hi. I'm new here.

 

Can anyone tell me the benefit (if there is any) to purchasing cruise cash? It doesn't make sense to me. If we have to register a credit card anyway, what is the point?

 

There is no benefit. You give Carnival 100 dollars you get that same 100 dollars back later. I call that a loan! With some credit cards you actually get decent money back. I get 3% back with my Costco Citibank visa. Also using gift cards from AARP or Verizon provide a real benefit of getting a 10 percent discount. Even regular gift cards are better than cruise cash for those who can only work with cash. No use it or lose it with gift cards.

[ItsAllAboutTheSass]

There is no benefit. You give Carnival 100 dollars you get that same 100 dollars back later. I call that a loan! With some credit cards you actually get decent money back. I get 3% back with my Costco Citibank visa. Also using gift cards from AARP or Verizon provide a real benefit of getting a 10 percent discount. Even regular gift cards are better than cruise cash for those who can only work with cash. No use it or lose it with gift cards.

 

What if I buy gift cards from AARP and then purchase cruise cash with that? I can add the money to my account and not have to deal with Guest Services or the kiosk.

[Sizzlechest]

What if I buy gift cards from AARP and then purchase cruise cash with that? I can add the money to my account and not have to deal with Guest Services or the kiosk.

 

I'd like to know this, too. I'm fearful that I end up on the ship with my printouts and then find out they can't be used because of Internet issues or something.

[sparks1093]

I like to have some onboard credit before boarding so I will purchase cruise cash in the weeks following final payment. I am aware of the limitations and am okay with it (although I do wish the whole non-refundable thing didn't exist).

[ItsAllAboutTheSass]

I'd like to know this, too. I'm fearful that I end up on the ship with my printouts and then find out they can't be used because of Internet issues or something.

 

Save your receipts from your cruise cash purchases and take them with you

[Badfinger]

Hi. I'm new here.

 

Can anyone tell me the benefit (if there is any) to purchasing cruise cash? It doesn't make sense to me. If we have to register a credit card anyway, what is the point?

 

I don't see any. I just let everything charge to my S&S account, let that roll to my credit card and pay it off a couple weeks after I get home when the dust settles. Since I don't gamble or drink on a ship, or have any desire to buy jewelry or a watch, not much of a chance for any out of control spending.

[cruizinisthebest]

What if I buy gift cards from AARP and then purchase cruise cash with that? I can add the money to my account and not have to deal with Guest Services or the kiosk.

That's exactly why I buy cruise cash. I like to have money on my account when I board and since we fund our s&s with gift cards, I usually buy some cruise cash. It prevents me from having to rush to go to guest services or the kiosk. Now that gift cards can be used for fun shop purchases, I used a couple to buy cruise cash for our next cruise. As always I keep all my receipts, and I never throw away gift cards until well after the trip is over. You never know. But I've never had a problem with cruise cash or gift cards.

 

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[lizardhowson]

Hi. I'm new here.

 

Can anyone tell me the benefit (if there is any) to purchasing cruise cash? It doesn't make sense to me. If we have to register a credit card anyway, what is the point?

 

There is no benefit. You give Carnival 100 dollars you get that same 100 dollars back later. I call that a loan! With some credit cards you actually get decent money back. I get 3% back with my Costco Citibank visa. Also using gift cards from AARP or Verizon provide a real benefit of getting a 10 percent discount. Even regular gift cards are better than cruise cash for those who can only work with cash. No use it or lose it with gift cards.

 

I agree, there is no benefit !

As you can see by the responses in this thread, people "invent" all sorts of reasons why they need to buy cruise cash. The truth is, every single single reason they promote can be accomplished without ever buying cruise cash.

[Schoifmom]

I believe that the original intent behind Cruise Cash was enable someone to give a gift of OBC to someone else.

 

As you can see above, many people have different reasons for using it.

 

I, personally, use gift cards to fund my S&S. I rely on whatever OBC I have to get me through the first day or so, then go add them to my account. If I don't have OBC (hasn't been the case lately), I may consider purchasing some Cruise Cash just to get through that period.

[sparks1093]

I agree, there is no benefit !

As you can see by the responses in this thread, people "invent" all sorts of reasons why they need to buy cruise cash. The truth is, every single single reason they promote can be accomplished without ever buying cruise cash.

 

How do I get onboard credit before boarding if I haven't purchased it first? It's purely personal preference and since it's what I prefer to do I hardly need to invent a reason for doing it. I also recognize it's something that I don't need to do.

[beerman2]

I agree, there is no benefit !

As you can see by the responses in this thread, people "invent" all sorts of reasons why they need to buy cruise cash. The truth is, every single single reason they promote can be accomplished without ever buying cruise cash.

The benefit to some may be they can afford to buy 100.00 a month in cruise cash months before sailing.

 

That way the money is there and they don't have to worry about it.

 

It's not invented , it is a way of life for some!

[BoDidly]

Really people :D just go to Walmart and get one of their cash cards. Put five hundred or so on it and use that as a credit card. That way if your not wanting to use cash or your debit card you will have your new Walmart Credit card for Walmart of the seas ,problem solved.

 

Me ,I'll use cash. :cool:

[cruizinisthebest]

I agree, there is no benefit !

As you can see by the responses in this thread, people "invent" all sorts of reasons why they need to buy cruise cash. The truth is, every single single reason they promote can be accomplished without ever buying cruise cash.

People can do whatever they want with their own money. The OP asked a good question and people are giving answers based on what they do and their own experience. They aren't inventing anything. As if they need to. Not everyone spends the same. And I'm not sure why you needed to offer such a snarky remark.

 

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[Drazil65]

No inventing, just the way I do it, I purchase a couple hundred in bar cash strictly for the bar, end of story. So I know that a certain amount is already sitting there for bar use only, its not hard. We use cash in our everyday lives for everything and we do not have any debt so it is very easy to provide the cushion strictly to use at the bar. Not a big deal, just they way I do things and it works for us very well. I am not one that ever wants a bill to come at the end of vacation, the vacation is much more enjoyable when you already "own it" before you go.

 

With the comments regarding not being able to refund the cruise cash, the night before we leave the ship I go to the cashier at the casino and cash out my S&S acct (we usually have money left on the account), have always rec'd everything back that is left, including any cruise cash amount. They just give me cash back for the entire remaining amount. Maybe this was an oversight on their part in the past but have also rec'd the cash back at GS the last night as well. Just be aware of the restrictions they post about using all of the cruise cash and you should be fine.

[lizardhowson]

How do I get onboard credit before boarding if I haven't purchased it first? It's purely personal preference and since it's what I prefer to do I hardly need to invent a reason for doing it. I also recognize it's something that I don't need to do.

 

I can do this by giving the check-in desk whatever amount of funds I choose as I check in,

 

The benefit to some may be they can afford to buy 100.00 a month in cruise cash months before sailing.

 

That way the money is there and they don't have to worry about it.

 

It's not invented , it is a way of life for some!

 

And I can toss the $100 bill in the desk drawer as I save up. I don't have to worry about it either.

 

As I said, it is easily possible to do every one of these things without buying cruise cash for your self.

[Georgie562]

Is more of a convenience than a benefit.

 

A colleague of mines is going on her first cruise for her birthday and I wanted to give her a Carnival gift card they sell from Kroger/Ralph's but the minimum purchase is $100.

Even buying online minimum is $100.

 

So I opted to send some Cruise Cash to her stateroom my budget was $50 so that worked fine since the minimum for cruise cash is $25.

[MissKIA]

I can do this by giving the check-in desk whatever amount of funds I choose as I check in,

 

 

 

And I can toss the $100 bill in the desk drawer as I save up. I don't have to worry about it either.

 

As I said, it is easily possible to do every one of these things without buying cruise cash for your self.

 

And some people prefer to buy cruise cash. It doesn't make it wrong. What's works for you doesn't necessarily work for someone else.

[sparks1093]

I can do this by giving the check-in desk whatever amount of funds I choose as I check in,

 

 

 

And I can toss the $100 bill in the desk drawer as I save up. I don't have to worry about it either.

 

As I said, it is easily possible to do every one of these things without buying cruise cash for your self.

 

Yes, but how do you put money on your account before the cruise? As I said once final payment has gone by I start buying cruise cash in the weeks leading up to the cruise and the goal is to have cash onboard. Yes, I could put it in the bank or in the drawer but then it could get spent. If it's in the account it can't be spent until I get there.

[sparks1093]

And some people prefer to buy cruise cash. It doesn't make it wrong. What's works for you doesn't necessarily work for someone else.

 

Exactly.

[lizardhowson]

And some people prefer to buy cruise cash. It doesn't make it wrong. What's works for you doesn't necessarily work for someone else.

 

I don't believe myself or anyone said it was wrong, the discussion (and threadstarter's question) was if there is any benefit in buying it for yourself.

 

Obviously, when used as a gift for another, it has merit.

[n6uqqq]

What if I buy gift cards from AARP and then purchase cruise cash with that? I can add the money to my account and not have to deal with Guest Services or the kiosk.

 

That's not a bad idea. You would then have the tangible benefit of a 10% discount. On my last cruise my daughter had purchased $500 in Verizon Carnival cards and had them applied at check in before we boarded which was fast and convenient. Using gift cards doesn't necessitate a trip to the kiosk or guest services. Also I have read here that you can only have 500 dollars in cruise cash per room so if you spend more than that you will have to find an alternate way to get the additional funds on the sail and sign account.