cruise cash vs. CCL giftcards

[ineedadisplayname1Vbbjhju]

I was wandering, if I buy Cruise cash which is limited to 500 a cabin, that can be used for whatever. like a credit on your sail sign card.The general CC not like bar. Or can I buy AARP gift cards which are digital not physical, and my cruise is paid off, can I still add those gift cards also? Like can I have a big credit on my sail and sign card before i cruise? I cruise in December and March 2025, so I would like to build up my money pot for excursions , casino. And put these on my account? Is there a limit of gift cards  if so? I would like more than 500$ 

[pcvtmom]

The problem with cruise cash is "use it or lose it". With the gift cards,  you can apply them onboard , as needed. You can pay off your cruise and prepay items with them. You cannot put them on your account ahead of time, but it's quite simple to do once you are on the ship (via guest services or the kiosks). There's no limit, as far as I know. We always use them to pay our S and S expenses. 

[ineedadisplayname1Vbbjhju]

17 minutes ago, pcvtmom said:

The problem with cruise cash is "use it or lose it". With the gift cards,  you can apply them onboard , as needed. You can pay off your cruise and prepay items with them. You cannot put them on your account ahead of time, but it's quite simple to do once you are on the ship (via guest services or the kiosks). There's no limit, as far as I know. We always use them to pay our S and S expenses. 

but if they are digital, I can just goto a guest service and on like a Tuesday put the digital gift cards on my account, I dont care about use it lose it, i def will use it. I was just worried because they are digital, not a physical card

[kdr69]

19 minutes ago, pcvtmom said:

You can pay off your cruise and prepay items with them. You cannot put them on your account ahead of time,

Unsure how you can pay off your cruise and prepay items with them if you cannot put them on your account ahead of time?

[kdr69]

2 minutes ago, ineedadisplayname1Vbbjhju said:

but if they are digital, I can just goto a guest service and on like a Tuesday put the digital gift cards on my account, I dont care about use it lose it, i def will use it. I was just worried because they are digital, not a physical card

Cruise cash is digital as well you dont actually get a card.  Once you purchase it will automatically show up on your account as Credit when your oboard.  Not before.  I usually only buy like 100 cruise cash for my kid's spending money onboard so they know how much they can spend. It is use it or lose it but you can take out the balance in the Casino so its not a big thing to worry about unless you forget.  Also, It is limited to 500 dollars so if your wanting more than 500 i would buy the AARP cards.   Ive never used the AARP cards cause they dont sell them in Canada but i understand you just go to Guest services once onboard with the printout of the numbers and they will add them to your account whenever you like. You can also use them before you board to pay off your cruise or to pay off items you want to purchase before your cruise so again better than the cruise cash in that regard.

[pcvtmom]

25 minutes ago, kdr69 said:

Unsure how you can pay off your cruise and prepay items with them if you cannot put them on your account ahead of time?

You can use the Aarp gift cards when you make your final cruise payment, at home. You can also use them, ahead of time, to pre-book excursions,  spa services,  Cheers, etc. You cannot add them to your onboard account to pay your S and S card expenses until you  are on the ship.

 

The Carnival website gives you the option to pay by gift cards.

[kdr69]

2 minutes ago, pcvtmom said:

You can use the Aarp gift cards when you make your final cruise payment, at home. You can also use them, ahead of time, to pre-book excursions,  spa services,  Cheers, etc. You cannot add them to your onboard account to pay your S and S card expenses until you  are on the ship.

 

The Carnival website gives you the option to pay by gift cards.

ok sorry misread your statement 

Edited January 26 by kdr69
word error

[pcvtmom]

34 minutes ago, ineedadisplayname1Vbbjhju said:

but if they are digital, I can just goto a guest service and on like a Tuesday put the digital gift cards on my account, I dont care about use it lose it, i def will use it. I was just worried because they are digital, not a physical card

Yes, the digital ones work just fine!

[Joebucks]

Do not buy anything that isn't at a discount. If you're buying them to trick yourself into thinking you have some package, that is silly. Newegg has or at least had $500 Carnival cards for $50 off. That or AARP are really the only scenarios where it's a good idea to do this. 

[TravelWith FunShips]

Is Cruise Cash good for the casino slot machines

[tw67]

On 1/26/2024 at 9:47 PM, TravelWith FunShips said:

Is Cruise Cash good for the casino slot machines

Yes

[tw67]

I buy my AARP gift cards then I buy cruise cash with them. This avoids me having to worry when on the ship that I need to apply the gift cards. If I am on a longer cruise I might have more digital cards to put on the cabin if I have gone through my cruise cash. I always keep an eye out before the last day to make sure that I have used up the cruise cash. If I hadn’t usually a quick trip to the casino takes care of it!