It's been 10 years

[mekia2001]

**I wasn't able to edit my title but apparently it's been 8 years since our last cruise(feels like 10 though)

 

We haven't cruised in 8 years and it seems like some things have changed. I want to add money to our account before our October cruise. I thought I just called in to carnival in the past and said put this $100 on my account, but I could be wrong. Is cruise cash the thing to buy now? Or should i buy carnival gift cards and have them applied when we board? Or is that the same? I only want to put enough in there to cover gratuities and give our first time cruising DD's some spending money. We'll add more cash for ourselves later. I know I could just wait and add it all at one time but I am wanting to do it this way just to ease my mind. LOL

 

Also does the soda/ bubbly package cover coffees and specialty non alcoholic beverages? My girls love flavored lemonade and my oldest likes to start her day with a cup of coffee(preferably a flavored latte or something)

 

TIA 😊

Edited September 8, 2018 by mekia2001
Correction

[joepeka]

I see you edited your post so it makes it a little simpler for me to respond. As to the on-board credit, Cruise Cash goes into your account when you purchase it BUT it is non-refundable so anything you have left over at end of cruise will be forfeit. You can use gift card for the same purpose and though you cannot apply them to your account until embarkation, it is refundable so any left over balance will be refunded (in the form of another gift card).

 

As to the non-alcoholic drink package (Bottomless Bubbles), here's a link to Carnival's web site page for that but it does not appear that specialty things like flavored lemonade is covered nor is specialty coffee drinks. For the latter, you would have to purchase the Cheers alcoholic beverage package but it's very expensive if you (as the purchaser, assuming your daughters are both under 21) do not plan to have quite a few drinks every day.

 

https://www.carnival.com/FunShops/item/10B/bottomless-bubbles

[mekia2001]

Thanks! I thought I was going to do cheers but since we can bring 1 bottle of wine per adult I don't think I'll drink enough to get my money's worth. I also don't want to get it and 'share' it with the kids(they're 13 and 17) to get the specialty coffee and flavored lemonade. We'll factor their drinks into their spending money. I don't think they will spend a lot of time worrying about the drink choices though.

 

I'll do cruise cash but still get some gift cards, mostly for the fuel points, when there's a good deal on them. Anything left over I'll use for my mom's birthday cruise in January.

[coevan]

**I wasn't able to edit my title but apparently it's been 8 years since our last cruise(feels like 10 though)

 

We haven't cruised in 8 years and it seems like some things have changed. I want to add money to our account before our October cruise. I thought I just called in to carnival in the past and said put this $100 on my account, but I could be wrong. Is cruise cash the thing to buy now? Or should i buy carnival gift cards and have them applied when we board? Or is that the same? I only want to put enough in there to cover gratuities and give our first time cruising DD's some spending money. We'll add more cash for ourselves later. I know I could just wait and add it all at one time but I am wanting to do it this way just to ease my mind. LOL

 

Also does the soda/ bubbly package cover coffees and specialty non alcoholic beverages? My girls love flavored lemonade and my oldest likes to start her day with a cup of coffee(preferably a flavored latte or something)

 

TIA 😊

 

 

Why not just deposit the money in your savings account and withdraw before you leave. Gift cards, cruise cash, or adding to account, all the same thing. We personally use credit cards for the travel benefits. So, we save the money in the bank, charge everything and pay it off when we get home.

[Denise72]

Cruise cash really is all risk, no reward. I would not but any amount of cruise cash. Gift cards yes, but never cruise cash.

[dsotm73]

Consider buying gift cards at a 10% discount (e.g., from AARP's Rewards for Good) rather than using cash or cruise cash.

[pacruise804]

Cruise cash really is all risk, no reward. I would not but any amount of cruise cash. Gift cards yes, but never cruise cash.

 

What is the risk (beyond non-refundable)? Gift cards are only refundable to another gift card. If you cruise and decide you hate it, you are out that money too (unless you use the casino trick, which can also be done with Cruise Cash). If you know you will have some charges - gratuities, a few pay drinks, some arcade games - Cruise Cash can pay for these the same as any other OBC.

 

Gift cards also have the risk of forgetting it, being fraudulent (has happened to others in the past), or just the hassle of having to apply at guest services or a kiosk after boarding. Plus GC have a $100 minimum vs. $25 for Cruise Cash (some people gift CC).

 

I actually wouldn't use Cruise Cash either, but can understand the appeal and "reward" of it despite its risks.