What is the point of cruise cash?

[bobandsherry]

I'm hazarding a guess that getting the 1000 "points" for one card probably takes at least three hours(?) over the course of a week which comes out to $5 per hour. I've got better things to do with my time (and I'm retired). No thanks.

Your guess would be wrong then.

 

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[sparks1093]

When you purchase cruise cash, does it just go on your account or do you receive physical "cash"?

 

It goes on your account.

[blarko]

I've been intrigued by the idea of going thru the AARP site to obtain 15% off gift cards. Thank you for the information, but reading your review of how it works makes me realize it's not for me.

 

I'm hazarding a guess that getting the 1000 "points" for one card probably takes at least three hours(?) over the course of a week which comes out to $5 per hour. I've got better things to do with my time (and I'm retired). No thanks.

 

 

 

Nope. Takes about 1 minute, tops, to do one of the quizzes and you get anywhere from 50-500 points per quiz. The points add up very quickly. To me, it’s worth it, to save 10% off a cruise. But to each his own.

[Lhound92]

So can you have cruise or bar cash on top of a credit card on file?

 

 

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[blarko]

I've never been able to apply a gift card to my S&S account at a kiosk. The kiosk won't take it. I've always had to visit Guest Services onboard to get my gift cards applied.

 

 

 

Same

[ParrotRob]

I'm with you Sparks! I purchase Cruise Cash because it works for me. I will never have a problem not spending it, because I can always "cash it out" in the casino on the last day if I need to; although I haven't had that problem yet. Not sure why the concept bothers some people, but like I said it works for me.

 

I don't think it "bothers" people, per se. I think some people, myself included, just don't understand why you would lend your money to Carnival for months, completely interest-free, when you don't have to.

 

If I know I'm going to spend $500 on-board, it makes MUCH more sense to buy a $500 gift card at a 10% discount right before the cruise, then pay the credit card bill when you come home. That way the money works for YOU in the 6 months or whatever before the cruise, not for Carnival.

 

I suppose it's the same mentality that leads people to overpay all year on their tax withholding, let the IRS hold their money interest-free, then call it a "refund" when they get their own money back with no interest.

[ParrotRob]

I've been intrigued by the idea of going thru the AARP site to obtain 15% off gift cards. Thank you for the information, but reading your review of how it works makes me realize it's not for me.

 

I'm hazarding a guess that getting the 1000 "points" for one card probably takes at least three hours(?) over the course of a week which comes out to $5 per hour. I've got better things to do with my time (and I'm retired). No thanks.

 

It takes about 3 minutes to get $10 worth of savings, buy the card, and apply it to your account. If your time is worth more than $200 / hour, then yes, it's not for you.

[sparks1093]

I don't think it "bothers" people, per se. I think some people, myself included, just don't understand why you would lend your money to Carnival for months, completely interest-free, when you don't have to.

 

If I know I'm going to spend $500 on-board, it makes MUCH more sense to buy a $500 gift card at a 10% discount right before the cruise, then pay the credit card bill when you come home. That way the money works for YOU in the 6 months or whatever before the cruise, not for Carnival.

 

I suppose it's the same mentality that leads people to overpay all year on their tax withholding, let the IRS hold their money interest-free, then call it a "refund" when they get their own money back with no interest.

 

I don't know about anyone else but I don't buy cruise cash until there's a month and a half to go to the cruise. I might be foregoing all of a penny in interest in that time. What I do makes sense for me, it doesn't need to make sense to anyone else.;)

[bobandsherry]

I'm hazarding a guess that getting the 1000 "points" for one card probably takes at least three hours(?) over the course of a week which comes out to $5 per hour. I've got better things to do with my time (and I'm retired). No thanks.

Just added 1200 points to my account, took 3 minutes. I did it while I was waiting and doing a whole lot of nothing. Works out to over $300/hr. Picked up $1500 in cruise cash for $1350 for my next cruise. I'll take $150 in free cruise cash for about half an hour of my time. [emoji765][emoji857][emoji765]

 

 

 

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[sgttami]

So can you have cruise or bar cash on top of a credit card on file?

 

 

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Yes.

I've had OBC

Cruise Cash

Cruise Bar Cash

AND a credit card on file...

 

Used it all...:D:D:D:D

[grandmarnnurse]

I apply cruise cash to my account by cashing in reward points on my credit card. It doesn’t cost me anything to do that, as I already earned those points through my purchases. I know I will use it, because I do not have the Cheers package, so it will be used up through the week. But I do not purchase any cruise cash. Whatever I spend over the OBC I’ve applied from reward points, I pay after cruise with my credit card. I earn double points using my Carnival Mastercard onboard.

 

 

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[bury me at sea]

I've been intrigued by the idea of going thru the AARP site to obtain 15% off gift cards. Thank you for the information, but reading your review of how it works makes me realize it's not for me.

 

I'm hazarding a guess that getting the 1000 "points" for one card probably takes at least three hours(?) over the course of a week which comes out to $5 per hour. I've got better things to do with my time (and I'm retired). No thanks.

 

First, AARP gives a ten percent discount as numerous posters have said.

 

Second, I probably spend a total of about 10 minutes a week to earn 1,000 points, including the seconds it takes to log in daily.

 

Granted some people are slower than others but for me it's an easy, quick way to save ten percent off my cruise fare and pre-paid grats, and Cheers and excursions, and yes, even purchases made on board.

 

Do whatever works for you.

 

Happy sailing.

[Joebucks]

I suppose it's the same mentality that leads people to overpay all year on their tax withholding, let the IRS hold their money interest-free, then call it a "refund" when they get their own money back with no interest.

 

I know of people who will rack up tons in credit card debt throughout the year, and then use the refund to pay it down. It helps them "save". One thing I learned in life that there is no rhyme or reason to what lots of people do financially. No offense, but this thread is a lot of that. I guess whatever makes you happy, makes you happy.

[tidecat]

 

I'm hazarding a guess that getting the 1000 "points" for one card probably takes at least three hours(?) over the course of a week which comes out to $5 per hour. I've got better things to do with my time (and I'm retired). No thanks.

 

 

Two quizzes should take you about 10 minutes total. Log in once a day for another 50-75 points, and you could bag 1,000 points every two days.

 

AARP (and Allstate and Streetwise) also send out promo codes by e-mail. There are typically three a week for 150 points each. Obviously you have to login to the site on those days, so that’s 50-75 points more when you enter the promo code.

 

 

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[sparks1093]

I know of people who will rack up tons in credit card debt throughout the year, and then use the refund to pay it down. It helps them "save". One thing I learned in life that there is no rhyme or reason to what lots of people do financially. No offense, but this thread is a lot of that. I guess whatever makes you happy, makes you happy.

 

I buy the cruise cash with my cash back credit card and make 2% on the transaction which is way more than the paltry .25% or whatever it is that my savings gives me. The card is paid off at the end of every month too.

[firemanbobswife]

I buy my Cruise Cash with my 10% off Gift Cards which I buy with my 2 points per dollar spent Credit Card. That is still way better than any tiny amount of interest I could be accruing. And no, it doesn’t bother me that I pay Carnival early because the Gift Card people already have my money when I buy the Gift Cards. So it doesn’t matter if people don’t like or understand it, I’m on the good end of that deal!

[Joebucks]

I buy the cruise cash with my cash back credit card and make 2% on the transaction which is way more than the paltry .25% or whatever it is that my savings gives me. The card is paid off at the end of every month too.

 

What I was referring to was people paying credit card interest on their balances (which is big money) instead of lowering their withholding and taking the money up front to pay off said credit card earlier to avoid the interest.

 

I agree that I don't like the comparison where people talk about "interest free loans" to a business or government like they were going to invest that money for 4 months. And good job to those who saved up to pay for their vacation instead of paying interest on it later.

 

Good job using rewards to your benefits and paying off your balance. It absolutely boggles my mind that more people don't do it. The reasonings by and large make no sense. My rewards paid off two round-trip airline tickets to Puerto Rico on my last cruise. I did nothing other than choose how I pay for my purchases.

[grandmarnnurse]

What I was referring to was people paying credit card interest on their balances (which is big money) instead of lowering their withholding and taking the money up front to pay off said credit card earlier to avoid the interest.

 

I agree that I don't like the comparison where people talk about "interest free loans" to a business or government like they were going to invest that money for 4 months. And good job to those who saved up to pay for their vacation instead of paying interest on it later.

 

Good job using rewards to your benefits and paying off your balance. It absolutely boggles my mind that more people don't do it. The reasonings by and large make no sense. My rewards paid off two round-trip airline tickets to Puerto Rico on my last cruise. I did nothing other than choose how I pay for my purchases.

I know I commented earlier about using reward points to buy cruise cash, but after reading your comment, I think I should add that I cashed in $1200 of reward point dollars to pay on my cruise. I booked my cruise, paying it in full, with my reward card, earned double points with that booking of $1926 on my inside cabin for two, pre paid gratuities, and trip insurance. After booking it, my reward points balance gave me $1200 to pay towards my credit card bill. PLUS Carnival gave me an extra $100 off cruise just for using my reward card, leaving me a grand total of everything of just $626, which I paid off when bill came. I NEVER maintain a balance on my credit card, and I use it for EVERYTHING. By doing this, I can get a cruise pretty cheap. I’ve already cashed in more reward points for OBC, and will continue to do so as I earn more points.

[n6uqqq]

The day Carnival allows one to add gift cards to the onboard account created on their website is the day cruise cash becomes mostly obsolete except for those buying gifts for others. So far Carnival has resisted stepping into the 21st century and allowing me to set up my onboard account with gift cards. Most people don't lose cruise cash by not using it but I am certain there is a percentage that do. Maybe this is why they are reluctant to allow gift cards to be used when setting up the online accounts.

[simplelife]

Cruise cash makes good gifts, Our children usually give us cruise cash for birthdays, mothers and fathers day, anniversary, etc in the years we have a cruise scheduled. We appreciate it. No need to ever "lose" it - just downlead to casino account and cash out.

[sc4125]

I am planning on doing bar cash for our October cruise. DW does not drink, so I cheers is not an option as I would never drink enough to make it worthy paying for two. I see many keep talking about it being non-refundable, but then so is cheers.... with that you are essentially prepaying for your drinks and you don't get a refund if you end up not drinking your limit. I can put $200 on bar cash which would be about the most I would drink, and if it is last day and I still have money on it, then come find me because I will be buying drinks for whoever wants one till its gone :D:D:) What appeals to me is I can just put money in during months leading to cruise and then that reduces the amount that goes on credit card to be paid when we get home. I am thrifty by nature and if I have it prepaid and must use it I will be more free with my drink spending.

 

 

I've also done this instead of CHEERS. I know, I know, why not Cruise Cash - I actually purchased $500 in Cruise Cash and $200 in Bar Cash.

 

FYI - If you don't use it all, you can actually add it as tips for your favorite waiter/waitress/bartender. This happened to me and my sister - because we earned Drinks On Us earlier than usual for that cruise, just didn't spend as much as I thought I would of the Bar Cash, so, on the last day, I tipped my favorite Casino bar waitress $50 for one drink order. I didn't know that any tips you added came from the Bar Cash, so I was tipping throughout the cruise in cash. So, remember, you can use your Bar Cash as tips.

[Keys2Heaven]

Why don’t you just do regular cruise cash? Then you can use it on anything

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Because you can only put $500 on each type of cruise cash. It is easy for us to spend $500 on general stuff (gifts, sundries, specialty dining, etc).

 

We apportion an amount we know we will spend for our bar tab separately.

Edited May 29, 2018 by Keys2Heaven

[asalligo]

Have to agree with the OP, never seen value in non-refundable cruise cash. I set aside actual cash for the cruise and then pay card when I get home.

[Keys2Heaven]

Have to agree with the OP, never seen value in non-refundable cruise cash. I set aside actual cash for the cruise and then pay card when I get home.

 

You can cash out from the Casino the last night. Or, just purchase an amount you know you will spend. If you purchase with discounted GC, you're getting free money. What's not to like about that?

[a1m1y9]

I thought cruise cash was a good idea until we didn't spend all of the cruise cash.

 

Although, I researched in advance about going to the casino to get the cash back, when I learned I still had cruise cash available it was too late!

 

In our particular situation we had too many cruise ports vs sea days and I was slightly off on what I thought we would drink vs what we actually did. We did follow the Carnival App on our phone or our TV to see how our spending was going each day of the cruise. The TV and App both showed a balance that was really low and with one specialty coffee drink on debarkation, we thought we would have no cruise cash left.

 

Went to bed on the last night, our bill summary came in our door but didn't match our TV or App Balance. Low and behold if we would have manually added up each drink vs cruise cash we would have noticed a bigger remaining balance.

 

I was later told it has something to do with how OBC is applied first then cruise cash. Not sure if I completely understood the explanation. Anyway, we failed to spend $65 of cruise cash but didn't learn of it until at port and now unable to cash out at the casino.

 

After a bit of frustration and anxiety that morning, I figured lesson learned. However, I called Carnival when I arrived home. After about a 10 minute hold time and a stern talking to by actually a very helpful Carnival Rep, they said they would transfer the $65 this "one time only" to a cruise I had already booked for the following year. So, I think for some people, cruise cash is great and for others not. For us, I have opted to just buy gift cards and apply them at GS once or twice throughout the cruise.

 

So there is validity to every side but for us it just didn't work out as planned. I almost lost $65 and created a bit of a damper during cruise debarkation.

 

PS. NEVER go to GS on the last night as the wait is often significant.