Gift cards for sail and sign

[landsear]

I'd love to use the AARP gifts cards for our sail and sign. I am not even sure where to start this, outside of buying them. Is this going to be a pain in the butt and should I just use our credit card?

[ibbarry]

AARP gets you a 10% discount of everything! I always buy gifts cards and have them loaded to my sign and sail during check in or soon after boarding. Any amount left at the end of the cruise can be returned to you in a gift card (for balances over $10), or you can find info about the 'casino cash out' trick in other threads on this board.

[mdsgu]

The gift cards are very much worth the 10% you save. We used a few on our most recent cruise (Dream in June). Combined with our OBC from our TA and the fact that we pre-purchased all our shore excursions and drink packages, it was the first time ever we've walked off the boat owing $0. In fact, I used the casino cash-out "trick" late on the last night and pocketed $200.

[landsear]

The gift cards are very much worth the 10% you save. We used a few on our most recent cruise (Dream in June). Combined with our OBC from our TA and the fact that we pre-purchased all our shore excursions and drink packages, it was the first time ever we've walked off the boat owing $0. In fact, I used the casino cash-out "trick" late on the last night and pocketed $200.

 

How do I actually use them though? Do we still need a credit card on file for our Sail and Sign?

[tigermom67]

I bought gift cards at the local grocery store (fuel perks) and bought cruise cash with them, it was applied to our account.

[flounder315]

How do I actually use them though? Do we still need a credit card on file for our Sail and Sign?

 

Yes, put your credit card on file. Then once onboard have the gift cards posted to your account. Towards the end of the cruise, if you have excess money on the sail & sign card, go to the casino cage and cash it out. If you owe money, it will be charged to your credit card.

[bingomamma19]

Yes, put your credit card on file. Then once onboard have the gift cards posted to your account. Towards the end of the cruise, if you have excess money on the sail & sign card, go to the casino cage and cash it out. If you owe money, it will be charged to your credit card.

 

You do not need to put a credit card on file if using cash or gift cards or cruise cash as your sign and sail account.

[Cherries Jubilee]

I’m cruising with 2 other people in my room. If I load gift cards to my sign and sail card can I make it only for my use or would it apply to everyone in the room?

[bingomamma19]

I’m cruising with 2 other people in my room. If I load gift cards to my sign and sail card can I make it only for my use or would it apply to everyone in the room?

 

Each sign and sail is different. You load only for yourself. They will set theirs up with whatever payment method they want

[cruising maniac]

I bought 2 e-mail delivery AARP gift cards for $180 and used them to purchase $200 of cruise cash through my cruise manager. It's done. It's refundable and all ready to go. No messing with it on the ship.

[Purvis1231]

I bought 2 e-mail delivery AARP gift cards for $180 and used them to purchase $200 of cruise cash through my cruise manager. It's done. It's refundable and all ready to go. No messing with it on the ship.

 

I bought some Cruise Cash with the AARP gift cards but I was told the Cruise Cash was non-refundable (no big deal since there is no problem spending it.)

 

We also used a gift card on the ship but we did not spend on of this so the overnighted us a card with a refund after the cruise.

[maryred]

I’m cruising with 2 other people in my room. If I load gift cards to my sign and sail card can I make it only for my use or would it apply to everyone in the room?

When you setup your Onboard Expense during the online check-in, just indicate your want a cash account. Also make sure you do not authorize the others in your cabin to charge against your account.

Once on board you can apply the gift cards either through the S&S kiosk or at Guest Services. On a cash account you will for embarkation day the ability to spend $50 on your account until you must make some sort of deposit to your S&S folio. After embarkation day, unless a credit card is put on as a backup payment method, a cash based S&S account is treated like a debit account. Once your available balance reaches 0 your ability to purchase anything will be suspended and you will need to deposit more funds, be it actual cash or more gift cards or put a credit card on file.

Because of being treated as a debit account it is important to make sure, that there is enough funds on your folio to cover the total amount of $12.95/day for the auto-gratuities. On day 2 or 3 the full amount of the auto-grats is posted to everyone's folio, if the auto-gratuities were not prepaid prior to boarding.

[Cherries Jubilee]

When you setup your Onboard Expense during the online check-in, just indicate your want a cash account. Also make sure you do not authorize the others in your cabin to charge against your account.

Once on board you can apply the gift cards either through the S&S kiosk or at Guest Services. On a cash account you will for embarkation day the ability to spend $50 on your account until you must make some sort of deposit to your S&S folio. After embarkation day, unless a credit card is put on as a backup payment method, a cash based S&S account is treated like a debit account. Once your available balance reaches 0 your ability to purchase anything will be suspended and you will need to deposit more funds, be it actual cash or more gift cards or put a credit card on file.

Because of being treated as a debit account it is important to make sure, that there is enough funds on your folio to cover the total amount of $12.95/day for the auto-gratuities. On day 2 or 3 the full amount of the auto-grats is posted to everyone's folio, if the auto-gratuities were not prepaid prior to boarding.

 

Thank you, I have already paid my gratuities.

[Setlok]

The gift cards are very much worth the 10% you save. We used a few on our most recent cruise (Dream in June). Combined with our OBC from our TA and the fact that we pre-purchased all our shore excursions and drink packages, it was the first time ever we've walked off the boat owing $0. In fact, I used the casino cash-out "trick" late on the last night and pocketed $200.

 

 

Ok, new to the boards so need a bit of translating...OBC- On Board Credit? TA=?

 

I have sailed a few times but still learning board lingo.

 

TIA

[teague38]

How do I actually use them though? Do we still need a credit card on file for our Sail and Sign?

 

I bought the ecards from AARP and used them as soon as they were available in my email to purchase cruise cash so I didn't have to bother with the kiosk or guest services once on board. I know they say non refundable but everybody says you can go to casino and do cash out trick. You do not have to put a credit card on file. I was getting low on funds with about 2 days to go so I went and added my credit card then, but I also could have just added cash.

[teague38]

Ok, new to the boards so need a bit of translating...OBC- On Board Credit? TA=?

 

I have sailed a few times but still learning board lingo.

 

TIA

 

 

TA= Travel Agency or Agent

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

If you know you'll be spending the gift cards, might as well use them to buy cruise cash. This way you don't have to worry about having them applied to your account after boarding.

 

While you would need the casino trick to get money back (assuming you were wrong about using it all up), the same is somewhat true for gift cards applied to your sail and sign after boarding. If you have gift card funds left over, they will give you the refund in the form of a gift card. Great if you have a cruise planned for the near future, otherwise, you need the same casino trick.

[pacruise804]

I bought 2 e-mail delivery AARP gift cards for $180 and used them to purchase $200 of cruise cash through my cruise manager. It's done. It's refundable and all ready to go. No messing with it on the ship.

 

As previously stated, cruise cash is not refundable. It is eligible for use at the slot machines though;)

 

Ok, new to the boards so need a bit of translating...OBC- On Board Credit? TA=?

 

I have sailed a few times but still learning board lingo.

 

TIA

 

TA can vary based on content. In your case it meant Travel Agent/Travel Agency, but is also used for Trans-Atlantic sailings.

 

I did find it humorous that a post questioning board lingo has a sign-off of TIA (Thanks in Advance):D

 

HTH (Hope that helps/helped)

[Twinzma]

Do the AARP Cards expire? I can't remember. I purchased one last year and have did not use it as we had to cancel our trip. Thinking of booking a quick cruise this fall since I still have the remainder of our deposit and the gift card laying around somewhere.

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

Do the AARP Cards expire? I can't remember. I purchased one last year and have did not use it as we had to cancel our trip. Thinking of booking a quick cruise this fall since I still have the remainder of our deposit and the gift card laying around somewhere.

They shouldn't. You can go to Carnival's site to check the balance on gift cards.