New Gift Card policy? Adding multiple to sail & sign?

[Drazil65]

I have successfully cashed out the remaining dollar amounts on our S&S account in the casino or at GS the night before we leave. This INCLUDES cruise cash on the account. Has not been any issues with getting the cash left on my S&S account.

[Gma&Gpa]

I'm not sure what "cruise cash" is - but do I understand that I can go purchase carnival gift cards at the store, between now and when we sail in April - then once onboard - I go to the desk and have them apply them to my sign and sail? Then if I don't use it all - I will be refunded the balance? We usually have just carried cash to apply but I would rather not carry all that cash with us.

[pacruise804]

I'm not sure what "cruise cash" is - but do I understand that I can go purchase carnival gift cards at the store, between now and when we sail in April - then once onboard - I go to the desk and have them apply them to my sign and sail? Then if I don't use it all - I will be refunded the balance? We usually have just carried cash to apply but I would rather not carry all that cash with us.

 

If you purchase a gift card and apply it onboard, any balance will be refunded the balance to another gift card, unless you "cash it out" at the casino. If you know you will sail again with Carnival this is a good option.

 

Cruise Cash is non-refundable onboard credit. It can be in the form of General Cruise Cash or area specific (Bar Cruise Cash, Photo Cruise Cash). Specified Cruise cash can only be used in that area. Some people receive this as a gift, or like to purchase this way to aid in their budgeting. I would be hesitant to use this in case at any point Carnival removes the option to use the casino work around (I don't know exactly how that works, but have seen it mentioned on the boards - I think you load your account onto a slot machine and do one or two pulls then cash out. It might cost you a few dollars or you might win a few dollars.)

 

Our grocery store sells Carnival gift cards and offers gas points for them, so we purchased a $500 card to apply for our on-board spending. We won't purchase Cheers, but figure we can drink as much as we want for $500. If we have a light drinking day and have extra left over we might spend it at a specialty restaurant or in the shops. If nothing appeals we will just get the refunded gift card.

[nychad10]

True, but the casino trick works with Cruise Cash.

 

 

Does the casino trick still work? I did it in 2016 but forgot how it works...

[Schoifmom]

Does the casino trick still work? I did it in 2016 but forgot how it works...

 

Yes. I did it in October. You can load your player's bank with any funding source from your S&S. Carnival doesn't care what the source is, as long as the money is there.

 

Just load your player's bank from your S&S at a slot machine. Load the money to the slot machine and take a pull or two. (this is a step that a few people forget to take). Load the money back to your player's bank. Go to the cashier and cash out.

[nychad10]

Yes. I did it in October. You can load your player's bank with any funding source from your S&S. Carnival doesn't care what the source is, as long as the money is there.

 

Just load your player's bank from your S&S at a slot machine. Load the money to the slot machine and take a pull or two. (this is a step that a few people forget to take). Load the money back to your player's bank. Go to the cashier and cash out.

 

 

 

Thank you!

[Drazil65]

but do I understand that I can go purchase carnival gift cards at the store

Or purchase them at a discount from somewhere (ie: AARP) and pay less for them but apply full amount to your account ...

[lady_cruiser]

Can the Carnival Gift cards be applied to your account through Manage My Cruise or must it be down once you get onboard?

I applied three $100 gift cards to our cruise before we set sail on our Triumph cruise on January 15th.

[Shaded Lady]

The reason I use my gift cards to buy cruise cash is that I can use the gift cards as soon as I buy them. I’ve read so many stories about people getting caught by gift card fraud- they hold their cards for months and when they go to finally use them, there’s a zero balance....

 

This has even happened when buying them from a reputable source. So if I use them right away I have recourse with my bank or credit card company. But in some cases people have waited as much as a year only to find out that there were no funds on the card, and it’s too late for anyone to help.

 

So I’ll keep buying them, but I’ll use them to pay my balance, pay for excursions, Cheers, Cruise Cash- anything I can pay for before the cruise.

 

 

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[jessykaw]

I have 4 $100 gift cards right now and plan to get another 3 gifts cards this week. We set sail on Monday. Can I load a couple on each of our accounts at check in and then add the rest while on the ship?

[Sparky2]

If you apply more than 3 gift cards to your S&S account, shoreside has to be contacted to verify the cards. It’s an anti-fraud type thing. May take overnight to verify and get the amounts on your account

I had guest services apply 4 $100 GCs with no problem.

 

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[n6uqqq]

One shouldn't have to perform tricks to keep their own money ;p!

[prestige809]

If you have a physical gift card do they have to apply the whole balance?

 

 

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[lady_cruiser]

I have 4 $100 gift cards right now and plan to get another 3 gifts cards this week. We set sail on Monday. Can I load a couple on each of our accounts at check in and then add the rest while on the ship?

Yes you can. And if you decide to leave one or two at home they will still be good for another cruise. What is nice about them is that they have no expiration date.

[crooooze]

If you have a physical gift card do they have to apply the whole balance?

 

 

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Nope. You can ask guest services to apply a specific amount from the gc.

[teknoge3k]

but do I understand that I can go purchase carnival gift cards at the store

 

Or purchase them at a discount from somewhere (ie: AARP) and pay less for them but apply full amount to your account ...

 

If you go to any brick and mortar store you can buy Carnival gift cards for face value. You can buy a $100 gift card for $100 and that gives you $100 to spend with Carnival any way you see fit.

 

If you get the discounted gift cards from AARP or Allstate, you pay $90 for a $100 gift card (or $450 for a $500 gift card) and you get a $100 gift card (or $500 gift card). Then you can use that $100 (or $500) to spend with Carnival any way you see fit.

 

If your entire cruise + gratuities + on board spending ends up being $4,000, with the gift cards you get at some brick and mortar store you need to pay $4000 even up. With the discounted cards you would only pay $3600.

[pacruise804]

If you know have to cancel your cruise, any refund will be in the form of another gift card. If you know you will take another Carnival cruise it makes sense to get as much discounted gift cards (only from reliable sources like AARP) as possible. If you think you there is a reasonable chance that if you do not take that cruise you might not do another Carnival cruise you should probably limit your exposure to gift cards.

[dengirl69]

I am interested in the gift cards and how do they benefit ? I have not used them before but I have seen lots of mention about them. What is the purpose?

 

 

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[pacruise804]

I am interested in the gift cards and how do they benefit ? I have not used them before but I have seen lots of mention about them. What is the purpose?

 

 

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Carnival gift cards can be used to pay towards the balance of a cruise, shore excursions, prepaid gratuities, cruise cash, or applied onboard as onboard credit. They can be given as any other gift card (wedding/honeymoon gift, graduation, Christmas, birthday) to a recipient who you know cruises with Carnival. They can also be purchased by the end user, usually with some type of discount (AARP) or perk (grocery store) rather than purchasing directly through Carnival.

 

Most of what is posted are Carnival gift cards with a 10% discount through AARP (and in the past Verizon Wireless). The purpose of these are to save 10% on your cruise/any other Carnival purchases you make with them.

 

Some others (myself included) can get a Carnival gift card from their grocery store and get reward points to the store or affiliated gas station.

 

Gift cards cannot be refunded for cash, any unused portion (canceled cruise or remaining onboard balance) are returned in the form of another gift card.