Applying e-gift cards to room before you leave?

[gazingm42]

Since we can purchase carnival gift cards at a discount rate.

 

If we have our cruise paid in full, Can we still apply a carnival E-gift card

online to apply to our room OBC?

 

Thanks

 

 

[shof515]

no online, only onboard the ship using the kiosk or the guest services

[sunshower9]

As the other poster said, you have to wait until you're onboard to apply them as OBC, but you can use them to prepurchase items from the website for your sailing (e.g., Cheers, internet, etc.). 

[gazingm42]

OK,  So I normally don't prepay the tips.  Pay the tips via my bill.  So out late can I add the prepay tips before I sail?

[ober134]

In the past I used gift cards to buy cruise cash. I don't see why you couldn't use e-card as well.

[_rusty_shackleford]

1 hour ago, ober134 said:

In the past I used gift cards to buy cruise cash. I don't see why you couldn't use e-card as well.

I have done this as well. OP, if you go this route I'd highly recommend only doing standard Cruise Cash. This can be used anywhere on the ship unlike (I believe) the bar and photo Cruise Cash. Please make sure you're going to spend it all though- you can always use your unused gift card balance at a later date but all CC is non-refundable. The good news is Carnival prioritizes usage of your non-refundable OBC first but still make sure you're going to spend all of the Cruise Cash you buy. 

[shof515]

1 hour ago, ober134 said:

In the past I used gift cards to buy cruise cash. I don't see why you couldn't use e-card as well.

cruise cash only comes in 25,50,75 and 100 amounts. if you have a gift card with a weird balance like 34.34 it could be hard to use it all up in cruise cash

[Joe817]

Why do all of that at all? Why not just buy the e-gift card before your cruise, save it, and when you board, go to Guest Services, and apply that e-gift card to your S&S account? That way, if you don't spend it all, Carnival will send you a hard plastic gift card, for what you didn't spend. You don't lose any money that way. 

[TerReuv]

They can add it to your account when you check in at the port too.  One time I had several of those gift cards (all sorts of discounts & such) and they added all of them when we check in at the port.  Then there was no need to go to GS.  Just like adding cash to your S&S account before you board.

[ober134]

13 hours ago, Joe817 said:

Why do all of that at all? Why not just buy the e-gift card before your cruise, save it, and when you board, go to Guest Services, and apply that e-gift card to your S&S account? That way, if you don't spend it all, Carnival will send you a hard plastic gift card, for what you didn't spend. You don't lose any money that way. 

personally I hate wasting time waiting at Guest services... and those kiosks - forget about it. My next cruise I'll be platinum, do my opinion may change.

[nascartim]

I usually have multiple cards on me, I keep tabs on my acct throughout my cruise and periodically go to a kiosk(at my convenience, usually no line) and add cards as needed. I waited in the guest services line once, I'll try to avoid it at all costs. Once you get the kiosk trick down, it's pretty easy. I've helped other people figure out how to use it, it can be finicky at times.

[mz-s]

The key is assuming you have your S&S account backed with a credit card, you only need to enter your gift card(s) into the kiosk (or guest services crew) once at some point before you disembark, as your credit card is not charged until you disembark.

[nascartim]

18 minutes ago, mz-s said:

The key is assuming you have your S&S account backed with a credit card, you only need to enter your gift card(s) into the kiosk (or guest services crew) once at some point before you disembark, as your credit card is not charged until you disembark.

Of course I am assuming that most people do that. Maybe the OP is trying to avoid putting a cc down by having plenty of obc, but that is a whole other question; is a cc a requirement to put down?

[mz-s]

2 minutes ago, nascartim said:

Of course I am assuming that most people do that. Maybe the OP is trying to avoid putting a cc down by having plenty of obc, but that is a whole other question; is a cc a requirement to put down?

no, you can use a gift card or cash to fund the S&S account. But then you have to deal with refunds or topping off rather than just letting carnival settle up automatically when you disembark. 

[Brkintx]

I use the GC to reduce the cost of my onboard gaming (AARP max GC purchase of $2500/month net's savings of $250/month).

 

I do as Tim says above (use the kiosk) now that I understand the process well. Goes pretty quick and I choose a time when there's no one at the kiosk.  I won't ever go to GS if I can help it.

 

As for the account - my account is always backed by a CC that earns rewards, as even the casino slot play charged to the S&S card charges as a purchase.

 

 

[Brkintx]

20 hours ago, Brkintx said:

I use the GC to reduce the cost of my onboard gaming (AARP max GC purchase of $2500/month net's savings of $250/month).

 

I do as Tim says above (use the kiosk) now that I understand the process well. Goes pretty quick and I choose a time when there's no one at the kiosk.  I won't ever go to GS if I can help it.

 

As for the account - my account is always backed by a CC that earns rewards, as even the casino slot play charged to the S&S card charges as a purchase.

 

 

 

At risk of being scolded for replying to my own post - AARP lifted their max # of cards per month for Carnival from 5 to 25.  Still offering $500 cards as well. 

[snowdogsmm]

On 7/18/2022 at 11:34 AM, nascartim said:

I usually have multiple cards on me, I keep tabs on my acct throughout my cruise and periodically go to a kiosk(at my convenience, usually no line) and add cards as needed. I waited in the guest services line once, I'll try to avoid it at all costs. Once you get the kiosk trick down, it's pretty easy. I've helped other people figure out how to use it, it can be finicky at times.

Can you clarify the trick to using the kiosk please?

[Brkintx]

2 minutes ago, snowdogsmm said:

Can you clarify the trick to using the kiosk please?

At the kiosk, after you log in, and manage account, click add funds. Options include CC, Cash, and Carnival Gift Card (choice obvious). Then it asks for the GC number and pin. Then enter and it provides you with the balance. Click to apply the entire (or partial) amount to your S&S account. Done with card 1. Repeat for other cards.

 

When you have more than a couple, the screen will show them by last four and dollar amount. In this case you have to scroll the screen to the bottom to find the add funds button. The screen scrolls like a computer or android phone and not like an apple phone (where you scroll the view instead of the content).

The trick isn't really a trick, it's learning where the navigation buttons are. My description above makes it seem simple, but the buttons to select aren't the most obvious and can blend in.