Do I need a S&S account?

[Beachfrog]

I know there are hundreds of Sign and Sale questions, but cannot find an answer to this. If I already purchased the Cheers package, pre-paid gratuities, and purchasing excursions off site, do I need to put money onto my Sign & Sale card? What other purchases could I be paying for?

[grandmarnnurse]

I just put a credit card to be used. They do require a form of payment. This way if there are any purchases on the ship, they go right to my credit card and I just pay the bill once it comes to my home. You must have your S&S backed up by some form of payment.

 

 

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[Brooke71991]

I know there are hundreds of Sign and Sale questions, but cannot find an answer to this. If I already purchased the Cheers package, pre-paid gratuities, and purchasing excursions off site, do I need to put money onto my Sign & Sale card? What other purchases could I be paying for?

 

You will still be paying tax likely on some of the cheers drinks and I used my S&S to tip bc no way am I carrying around a bunch of $1 bills at all times. Also, it might be good to at least put a small amount in the off hand chance you decide to buy something on the ship. I particularly bought drinks in souvenir cups because the monkey coconut cups were too cute to pass up and cheers does not cover them. If nothing else, fund it with cash and then cash out at end of cruise.

[LaShelle2]

I know there are hundreds of Sign and Sale questions, but cannot find an answer to this. If I already purchased the Cheers package, pre-paid gratuities, and purchasing excursions off site, do I need to put money onto my Sign & Sale card? What other purchases could I be paying for?

 

Items from the gift shops and drinks above your allowance on Cheers.

[myfuzzy]

Do what my DIL did, use cash. When wanting to purchase, just figure out how much it costs, run down to the PSD and add that cash to your account......Drove me nuts....use a CC

[Beachfrog]

Drove me nuts....use a CC

 

Ha, Myfuzzy! Would drive me nuts as well. I think I will just add a credit card.

 

You guys rock! Thanks for the replies!

[riffatsea]

Everyone needs to have a sign n sail account.

The ship is your hotel and even on land when you book a hotel they need either a credit card or some cash as an insurance guarantee that you won't wreck the room or spend money on the mini bar or on pay tv or anything else that is possible. You don't have to spend anything more but giving them your credit card is easier than figuring out how much cash to put down.

[cruisenurse1]

Hello,

I have heard that if you wanted you can put say for example $500 dollars cash on your sign and sail card. I used my debit card as my sign and sail card. I don't believe in credit cards. I have read on this board, that someone did that and at the end of the cruise there were pending charges and it made a mess at their bank. The individual has a hard time covering their other expenses. I used my mom's credit card. This is was another line. Guess what appeared on her card when we got back. A charge for $100. I might add we settled up the night before disembarkation and paid off the balance. We got a receipt. Well surprise , surprise , we were upset. We had to call the customer service line and told them what had happened . They fixed it. They told us that the $100 was to cover any alcohol or missing towels from our room. We are not drinkers , nor did take anything off of the ship that we did not pay for! So, basically, a beautiful cruise , until we found this situation. So, please check with the cruise line.

Regards,

Cruise nurse 1

[sanger727]

Yes, you must set up a S&S account even if you don't plan on spending a dime. It's kinda like checking into a hotel or renting a car and having to put a credit card down in case of incidentals or damage. Mini bar purchases, missing towels, etc.

 

Plus keep in mind that outside of guest services, the ship is entirely dependent on the S&S card. No cash, no credit. So if you order a drink in port that you owe $1.25 in tax on, the S&S card is the only way to pay that. Or if you need to see the ship's doctor for anything or need Advil from the gift shop.

 

 

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[grandmarnnurse]

Hello,

I have heard that if you wanted you can put say for example $500 dollars cash on your sign and sail card. I used my debit card as my sign and sail card. I don't believe in credit cards. I have read on this board, that someone did that and at the end of the cruise there were pending charges and it made a mess at their bank. The individual has a hard time covering their other expenses. I used my mom's credit card. This is was another line. Guess what appeared on her card when we got back. A charge for $100. I might add we settled up the night before disembarkation and paid off the balance. We got a receipt. Well surprise , surprise , we were upset. We had to call the customer service line and told them what had happened . They fixed it. They told us that the $100 was to cover any alcohol or missing towels from our room. We are not drinkers , nor did take anything off of the ship that we did not pay for! So, basically, a beautiful cruise , until we found this situation. So, please check with the cruise line.

Regards,

Cruise nurse 1

 

In all the years I've been cruising and using a credit card for my sail & sign card, I have never had an issue with unwanted charges. Not to mention, you can check your charges on your account frequently on the TV or with guest services. I'm not saying it can't happen--I'm sure it does--but if you check your balance on your account frequently, you can monitor the situation. I would never use a debit card. I don't even use one anywhere anymore. Way too easy for fraud, and to clean out your accounts. A credit card offers much more protection, and to never be responsible for charges that you did not make.

[deborahjo]

We just set a cash account up. What we don't spend we get back at end of cruise. Easy peasy

 

 

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[Drazil65]

Just setup a cash account, you can load it once you get on board at a kiosk if you do not want to stand in line at GS. Put $50 down if you do not want to put much down, you will get it back at end of trip (go night before you leave to casino cashier or GS and cash out S&S acct). It really is not a big deal.

[Schoifmom]

Hello,

Guess what appeared on her card when we got back. A charge for $100. I might add we settled up the night before disembarkation and paid off the balance. We got a receipt. Well surprise , surprise , we were upset. We had to call the customer service line and told them what had happened . They fixed it. They told us that the $100 was to cover any alcohol or missing towels from our room. We are not drinkers , nor did take anything off of the ship that we did not pay for! So, basically, a beautiful cruise , until we found this situation. So, please check with the cruise line.

Regards,

Cruise nurse 1

 

Chances are that the $100 "charge" was a hold. They do appear as charges in the pending state until they drop off, which can be anywhere between 7-14 days after the cruise ends. Given that it was exactly $100, I would think that is what it was.

[Havingfun2010]

Hello,

I have heard that if you wanted you can put say for example $500 dollars cash on your sign and sail card. I used my debit card as my sign and sail card. I don't believe in credit cards. I have read on this board, that someone did that and at the end of the cruise there were pending charges and it made a mess at their bank. The individual has a hard time covering their other expenses. I used my mom's credit card. This is was another line. Guess what appeared on her card when we got back. A charge for $100. I might add we settled up the night before disembarkation and paid off the balance. We got a receipt. Well surprise , surprise , we were upset. We had to call the customer service line and told them what had happened . They fixed it. They told us that the $100 was to cover any alcohol or missing towels from our room. We are not drinkers , nor did take anything off of the ship that we did not pay for! So, basically, a beautiful cruise , until we found this situation. So, please check with the cruise line.

Regards,

Cruise nurse 1

 

First as a correction, when you check into a hotel, or cruise line, a deposit is always recorded on your CC or Debit card as an hold. A hold is not the same as a charge. So a "hold" made you unhappy, when this has been a standard practice for the last 2 decades?

 

Credit cards are not always for "credit". When traveling, or purchasing, they offer protections that cash can't. Pay off your card monthly, and all and any negatives of a credit card go away. Plus, many things you can't do unless you have a CC. Such as car rental etc.

 

You should also never use a debit card, unless you have lots of money in the bank. Debit card holds will always cause issues for those living paycheck to paycheck.

[Earthworm Jim]

We just set a cash account up. What we don't spend we get back at end of cruise. Easy peasy.

 

Not difficult, but for most people it's even more "easy peasy" to just hand them your credit card when you check in and not worry about carrying the cash. Though if you have credit card issues, there might be reason to do your cash approach.

[trixiefan]

If you use a Carnival gift card for your S&S account and don't use it all, how will you be refunded at the end of the cruise?

[myfuzzy]

I don't know the exact situation, but wouldn't the daily service charge be added to the account, unless they were pre paid? I WISH I could get away with just $50 in charges on my account.

 

I have hear horror stories with people who believe that using a debit card for the on board account is the best thing because they don't believe in CC's. Some people have had their accounts held for as long as two weeks after the cruise. Didn't matter how much money they had in their account. A hold is a hold. Cruise line blames banks, banks blame cruise line...by the time it's "straightened" out, the two week time frame is up.

 

Get a CC for JUST vacations, have the money aside in your bank account, budget for the vacation, put everything on your CC, when you get home PAY IT OFF.

 

As a side note, even using credit cards.....Luckily...I have an opened ended American Express that I use specifically for holds on my hotels, car, cruises. The year of Super Storm Sandy, we flew into NY before the storm hit. We ended up staying in three hotels before the cruise left. Each hotel put a hold on my card. IF I had used a "normal" CC. I don't think I would be able to use them until the holds "fell off" Thank goodness I had that card.

[dmdiver]

We always use a credit card. Yes, you may see a hold on it, but that just drops off if you never spend anything on board. I would not use a debit card, as the hold will not drop off for a few days after you get back. If your bank account doesn't have a very large balance, it could cause a problem when you stop for gas, groceries, etc. until that drops off. I don't use cash simply because I don't want to deal with being sure I get it back if I don't spend it all. Credit card just seems to be the easiest, especially if any unforeseen purchases need to be made like doctor visit, laundry, shopping. You never know when luggage will be lost or something get ruined & need to be replaced. We had a camera flood on us & were able to replace it on board. We would not have been able to do that had we used cash for the account. Yes, they have ATM on the ship, but who wants to pay those fees?

[Schoifmom]

I don't know the exact situation, but wouldn't the daily service charge be added to the account, unless they were pre paid? I WISH I could get away with just $50 in charges on my account.

OP stated that their gratuities were pre-paid. I always do that as well so that I don't have to budget for it later. I like to vacation knowing that I won't have a bill at the end :)

 

I have hear horror stories with people who believe that using a debit card for the on board account is the best thing because they don't believe in CC's. Some people have had their accounts held for as long as two weeks after the cruise. Didn't matter how much money they had in their account. A hold is a hold. Cruise line blames banks, banks blame cruise line...by the time it's "straightened" out, the two week time frame is up.

I agree. Don't use a debit card. If you don't have credit cards, use cash or gift cards.

 

Get a CC for JUST vacations, have the money aside in your bank account, budget for the vacation, put everything on your CC, when you get home PAY IT OFF.

Not everyone is in a position to have credit cards, and some people simply have an aversion to them. I, personally, don't have credit cards at all. I use cash and have sufficient cushion should something happen. I use cash/gift cards and enjoy the pleasure of knowing that I won't be seeing a bill at the end.

[poz222]

The one "charge" that you should keep an eye out for is the "towel" charge... I had an unexpected charge for not returning a towel (even though it was returned to the towel desk) and have heard of several others getting this charge... seems to be a "trend" on a few ships lately. Easier to check before you leave the ship so give your final bill a scan to be sure!

[ricew001]

If you use a Carnival gift card for your S&S account and don't use it all, how will you be refunded at the end of the cruise?

 

I'm just off the Victory and they said with a credit you will either be mailed a check later (maybe a week) or if it's less than $10, they donate it to St. Jude's.

[thinfool]

If you use a Carnival gift card for your S&S account and don't use it all, how will you be refunded at the end of the cruise?

If you didn't use it, why would there need to be a refund? The card, in your possession, would still have full value.

[trixiefan]

If you didn't use it, why would there need to be a refund? The card, in your possession, would still have full value.

 

Maybe I'm not saying it right. I have a $500 Carnival "card" I got discounted from Verizon. If I use this to set up a S&S and don't spend it all, how would the remainder be refunded?

[Schoifmom]

Maybe I'm not saying it right. I have a $500 Carnival "card" I got discounted from Verizon. If I use this to set up a S&S and don't spend it all, how would the remainder be refunded?

 

Technically, they will refund any unused portion by mailing you a new gift card with that amount on it. Some people have reported receiving a check in the mail. I, personally, use the casino trick and cash it all out on the last evening of the cruise, so I don't have to be concerned about it.

[ManyMore]

Technically no you don't have to. If you have paid everything up front, they can not make you have an account. Also, they can't force you to pay the tips but well that is just rude. I work at a port and someone had everything paid but forgot their CC at home, they were still able to sail regardless.