Out of money

[Ferry_Watcher]

On 5/15/2018 at 3:05 AM, sparks1093 said:

 

I know that if I were in this position and the options were to sign the paper or have the authorities called that I'd be signing the paper.:')

Maybe a CC like sparks1093 can answer this:

 

How does Carnival handle a passenger who doesn't have a credit card on file and sets up a bare minimum cash account with only $20 in it?

How does the cruise ship get the mandatory tips paid if a bare minimum cash acc't is set up (assuming that the tips were not pre-paid)?

 

What other function (besides accepting cash towards your sign&sail acc't) dose the Kiosk provide?  Can you view your spending on the kiosk screen?

[sparks1093]

6 minutes ago, Ferry_Watcher said:

Maybe a CC like sparks1093 can answer this:

 

How does Carnival handle a passenger who doesn't have a credit card on file and sets up a bare minimum cash account with only $20 in it?

How does the cruise ship get the mandatory tips paid if a bare minimum cash acc't is set up (assuming that the tips were not pre-paid)?

 

What other function (besides accepting cash towards your sign&sail acc't) dose the Kiosk provide?  Can you view your spending on the kiosk screen?

Since the tips are voluntary the cruise line cannot compel you to pay them. I'm not an expert on the kiosk but I do know that you may view your balance on the screen including transactions since I have done that. If someone put down a minimum amount their charging privileges would be suspended until they added more. $20 of course wouldn't buy very much.

[Ferry_Watcher]

5 minutes ago, sparks1093 said:

Since the tips are voluntary the cruise line cannot compel you to pay them. I'm not an expert on the kiosk but I do know that you may view your balance on the screen including transactions since I have done that. If someone put down a minimum amount their charging privileges would be suspended until they added more. $20 of course wouldn't buy very much.

 

Thanks for the info.  I have wondered how the cruise-line handles the tips when passengers put down so little in their cash account.  I wonder if some of these the passengers even are aware of the expected daily tip expectation.  Thanks again!

[sfaaa]

7 minutes ago, Ferry_Watcher said:

 

 I wonder if some of these the passengers even are aware of the expected daily tip expectation.  

I suspect some don't but many are just plain cheap. Have you noticed the long lineup to remove DSC at guest service on last sea day? Happened on every cruise. 

[Organized Chaos]

49 minutes ago, Ferry_Watcher said:

What other function (besides accepting cash towards your sign&sail acc't) dose the Kiosk provide?  Can you view your spending on the kiosk screen?

 

Not only can you deposit cash onto your S&S from the kiosk, but you can also withdraw your cash from it as well, like an ATM (obviously it can't do change). You're also supposed to be able to deposit Carnival gift cards into your S&S account from the kiosks, but there's many reports of it not working. You can check your account balance. You can set spending limits for kids (or adults if necessary LOL). Allow/deny charging privileges to someone in your booking. You can check your balance and at the end of your cruise, or anytime, it can print out your account statement for your own records.

 

Fair warning, be careful when you bring up the subject of paying/not paying tips. It tends to get real ugly, real quick (as seen with the last comment above).

Edited August 1, 2019 by Organized Chaos

[Schoifmom]

3 minutes ago, Organized Chaos said:

 

Not only can you deposit cash onto your S&S from the kiosk, but you can also withdraw your cash from it as well, like an ATM (obviously it can't do change). You're also supposed to be able to deposit Carnival gift cards into your S&S account from the kiosks, but there's many reports of it not working. You can check your account balance. You can set spending limits for kids (or adults if necessary LOL). Allow/deny charging privileges to someone in your booking. You can check your balance and at the end of your cruise, or anytime, it can print out your account statement for your own records.

 

Fair warning, be careful when you bring up the subject of paying/not paying tips. It tends to get real ugly, real quick (as seen with the last comment above).

The kiosk can also break larger bills down into smaller ones (in denomination, not size 😉).

[Organized Chaos]

4 minutes ago, Schoifmom said:

The kiosk can also break larger bills down into smaller ones (in denomination, not size 😉).

 

Yeah, don't worry, it's not a shredder. 🤣 "Excuse me, ma'am, but I just tried to break a $20 bill in the kiosk and it cut it in half."

[sammee]

Last year we prepaid everything, tips, internet, excursions, etc and I plopped $800 cash boarding Pride. We had a couple drinks, luggage came in later. My husband cut himself  on the luggage, because they broke the handle and he didn't see it until he lifted it. We used our supply of band aids. The following morning we went down to buy an $8.00 box and were declined. We tried to go back to room, to verify my balance and grab the receipt, but they even deactivated our cards. We went to guest services, they  confirmed we had no money and than after me raising my voice, they finally decided to let us in the room to grab the proof. I have no idea why they gave us grief on that, what would we do the rest of the cruise with no room.

 

They put our money on someone elses account. They had to call that other passenger down to have him sign a release.  What a crap show for their errors. Always keep those receipts for your deposits whether they are gift cards, ccs, debits or cash. I also keep a couple blank checks in my wallet for emergencies. You never know if your credit or debit card will be compromised and shut down.

[coevan]

5 hours ago, sfaaa said:

I suspect some don't but many are just plain cheap. Have you noticed the long lineup to remove DSC at guest service on last sea day? Happened on every cruise. 

 

 

How do you know why they are in line? There are many reasons. I have never removed tips and have been on the guest service line.

[rs45thompson]

6 hours ago, sfaaa said:

I suspect some don't but many are just plain cheap. Have you noticed the long lineup to remove DSC at guest service on last sea day? Happened on every cruise. 

They may not be removing the tips. I use a cash account when I cruise. On the last Sea day I usually have to stand in line to Close my account and to pick up the balance that is left on the account. I never remove gratuities but you will see me in that line.

[Shaded Lady]

They will allow you to go over on your S&S cash account, I just don't know by how much or under what circumstances, but here are my 2 examples...

 

2017 cruise on Breeze, we were cashing out in the casino and thought we had about $200 left in cash. Put that much into our casino account, played for a bit then cashed out. Turns out we only had about $175 left in our account, so we were now $25 in the hole. Fortunately I saw our final statement the morning we disembarked and I was able to settle up before getting the famous 'ding' while getting off the ship.

 

Last month, I used a Visa gift card at Guest Services to deposit money on my S&S cash acct. It showed as Pending. 2 days later, still pending. I went online and it showed as cleared. I took my iPad to Guest Services the last night and showed them that it had cleared, but my account still showed as short by that amount because the card was still Pending after almost a week! GS told me not to worry, it would probably clear after we got home. 

 

To my dismay the next morning my S&S final bill shows that amount still owing and I was convinced that they would stop me from getting off, but they didn't. When I got home I called Carnival and they looked into it. They said that it cleared the day after I got off the ship, but that they wouldn't have stopped me from disembarking, that most likely the GS person I spoke to flagged the account as not being delinquent somehow.

[scpirate]

On 5/3/2018 at 6:42 PM, bury me at sea said:

I agree with Nic. I believe if you have a cash only account, not backed by a debit or credit card, your charging privileges are suspended if you run out of cash.

My oldest grandson ran out of money a couple of times they still have him the internet and other things.he had his own cabin with the other two hoodlums.they call grandpa to guest services twice.i told them at check in the boys nor my wife have charging privileges I told them again the first time I got called to guest services.then I got called to guest services to settle a bill as we were getting ready to disembark.im pretty much through with carnival after this one last cruise that I had gift cards for otherwise I'd cancel and book with celebrity.

[Organized Chaos]

6 hours ago, sammee said:

Last year we prepaid everything, tips, internet, excursions, etc and I plopped $800 cash boarding Pride. We had a couple drinks, luggage came in later. My husband cut himself  on the luggage, because they broke the handle and he didn't see it until he lifted it. We used our supply of band aids. The following morning we went down to buy an $8.00 box and were declined. We tried to go back to room, to verify my balance and grab the receipt, but they even deactivated our cards. We went to guest services, they  confirmed we had no money and than after me raising my voice, they finally decided to let us in the room to grab the proof. I have no idea why they gave us grief on that, what would we do the rest of the cruise with no room.

 

They put our money on someone elses account. They had to call that other passenger down to have him sign a release.  What a crap show for their errors. Always keep those receipts for your deposits whether they are gift cards, ccs, debits or cash. I also keep a couple blank checks in my wallet for emergencies. You never know if your credit or debit card will be compromised and shut down.

 

Why in the world would they keep you out of your cabin? Even if you didn't have any money in your S&S account, the cabin is paid for ahead of time.

[Schoifmom]

12 hours ago, rs45thompson said:

They may not be removing the tips. I use a cash account when I cruise. On the last Sea day I usually have to stand in line to Close my account and to pick up the balance that is left on the account. I never remove gratuities but you will see me in that line.

 

FWIW, you can also cash out at the kiosk or casino.

[coevan]

12 hours ago, Organized Chaos said:

Why in the world would they keep you out of your cabin?

 

 

They wouldn't, can you imagine?

[rs45thompson]

3 hours ago, Schoifmom said:

 

FWIW, you can also cash out at the kiosk or casino.

I may try that on our next cruise in September but you know what they say it’s hard to teach old dogs new tricks 🤣😊

[sammee]

13 hours ago, Organized Chaos said:

 

Why in the world would they keep you out of your cabin? Even if you didn't have any money in your S&S account, the cabin is paid for ahead of time.

I wish I had an answer, I was so PO'd at the time. I was ready to scream "get me off this ship!".  It all worked out, but the first worker treated me like it was my fault. After they let me in, I was able to retrieve my wallet in the safe which was now reset back to default. 

[Jerseygirl1416]

13 hours ago, Organized Chaos said:

 

Why in the world would they keep you out of your cabin? Even if you didn't have any money in your S&S account, the cabin is paid for ahead of time.

To force them to go to guest services I’d imagine.

[Organized Chaos]

2 hours ago, rs45thompson said:

I may try that on our next cruise in September but you know what they say it’s hard to teach old dogs new tricks 🤣😊

 

To withdraw cash from the kiosk is pretty simple. They're all touchscreen and you just choose the option you want. To do it in the casino is a little more complicated, but not much. You insert your S&S card into a slot machine and transfer whatever amount from your S&S account to your player's bank. Take a spin or two on the machine, choose to cash out, and go to the cashier.

[AmBear]

30 minutes ago, Organized Chaos said:

 

To withdraw cash from the kiosk is pretty simple. They're all touchscreen and you just choose the option you want. To do it in the casino is a little more complicated, but not much. You insert your S&S card into a slot machine and transfer whatever amount from your S&S account to your player's bank. Take a spin or two on the machine, choose to cash out, and go to the cashier.

The conversations about waiting in lines, running out of cash, etc.,,,Sounds like seeing someone with a headache banging their head against a wall to relieve it!-))

Just put your expenses on a credit card and pay it off when you get home! Simple!

[grandmarnnurse]

25 minutes ago, AmBear said:

The conversations about waiting in lines, running out of cash, etc.,,,Sounds like seeing someone with a headache banging their head against a wall to relieve it!-))

Just put your expenses on a credit card and pay it off when you get home! Simple!

Totally agree! I don’t understand why anyone would use cash! Everything goes on my credit card, and I just pay it off when I get home. And because I use a Carnival Mastercard, I accrue double points to use on my next cruise!

[VentureMan_2000]

I get 5% cash back when I use my credit card to book the cruise... and it also includes travel insurance.  That's $200 cash on a $4000 cruise. 

[amyotravel]

8 minutes ago, grandmarnnurse said:

Totally agree! I don’t understand why anyone would use cash! Everything goes on my credit card, and I just pay it off when I get home. And because I use a Carnival Mastercard, I accrue double points to use on my next cruise!

Not everyone uses credit cards. I would hate the hassle if I didn't.

 

We do use the Carnival card also, because the points get you more OBC on the cruise! Wooo!

[Organized Chaos]

1 hour ago, AmBear said:

The conversations about waiting in lines, running out of cash, etc.,,,Sounds like seeing someone with a headache banging their head against a wall to relieve it!-))

Just put your expenses on a credit card and pay it off when you get home! Simple!

 

One of the reasons I like to get FTTF is to be able to use the priority line at Guest Services. I think the longest I've ever waited in "line" was behind one person. If I didn't have FTTF and there was a long GS line, I'd come back later. The same goes for one of the kiosks, there's never a time when I need to use one right that minute. I use cash everywhere I go, it's very simple for me, and I manage just fine. I don't run out of cash onboard because I can manage it properly. I know how much I want to spend, maybe give myself a little cushion, and I don't overindulge.

 

1 hour ago, grandmarnnurse said:

Totally agree! I don’t understand why anyone would use cash! Everything goes on my credit card, and I just pay it off when I get home. And because I use a Carnival Mastercard, I accrue double points to use on my next cruise!

 

I guess you don't have to understand, but just because someone else does it differently doesn't mean it's difficult for them or the wrong way to do it. It's not like I have to dedicate a lot of extra time managing a cash S&S account.

 

1 hour ago, amyotravel said:

Not everyone uses credit cards. I would hate the hassle if I didn't.

 

I haven't used a credit card in several years and I haven't missed it at all. I'm a cash person. To me, it's not a hassle. When I absolutely need to, I'll use my debit card. I know all the warnings and possible risks, but I'm a very careful and secure person. I'm not opposed to using another credit card in the future, but for now, I don't need nor want one.

[amyotravel]

Whatever floats your particular boat!! 🛳️