Question about cash on sail and sign card

[Krunu15]

Hello all...I've searched through the board and I have found that you can use cash on your sail and sign card instead of a credit/debit card and that you must put $250.00 down per person. I plan on using cash. I still have a few unanswered questions regarding this process that I was hoping someone could clear up for me. It is my understanding that as part of the check-in process they take your credit card for the sail and sign card. I would rather not put a credit card in, is it possible to either use cash at this point or skip over this part if you don't want to use/don't have credit cards. When/Where do you go about putting cash on your sail and sign? Once your account is all set up and you are spending I understand they will let you know when you are low. What do they consider to be low? Is 100 dollars for 2 people low, or are they going to let us know when there are 10 dollars left. Thanks in advance. Kerri

[3boysvus]

We have used cash several times, I believe that the deposit is $250 per person, but they'll let you do less (at least for kids). You just tell them at embarkation you're using cash, they still have you sign the card in your ticket, but don't take credit card info. On board you can spend a little before you put cash on your account, but then they'll tell you to go see the purser. You give cash to the purser and you can check your account daily on the TV. They'll let you overspend a little, but on the last night when you run out of money they won't serve you (bars), basically they cut you off. If you have $ left over they slide a check under your door. If you owe money they page you and won't let you off the ship until you settle your bill, and you will settle the bill - even if it means authorizing future charges to your card from Carnival, they're almost pleasent about it.:rolleyes:

[PINEVIEW01]

3boysvus that was a very good explanation!

[Giggles2007]

Hello all...I've searched through the board and I have found that you can use cash on your sail and sign card instead of a credit/debit card and that you must put $250.00 down per person. I plan on using cash. I still have a few unanswered questions regarding this process that I was hoping someone could clear up for me. It is my understanding that as part of the check-in process they take your credit card for the sail and sign card. I would rather not put a credit card in, is it possible to either use cash at this point or skip over this part if you don't want to use/don't have credit cards. When/Where do you go about putting cash on your sail and sign? Once your account is all set up and you are spending I understand they will let you know when you are low. What do they consider to be low? Is 100 dollars for 2 people low, or are they going to let us know when there are 10 dollars left. Thanks in advance. Kerri

 

 

I always use cash, never a cc. When I check in to get my S&S card, I let them know that I will be using cash. I usually put $500 on to start. That will take care of the gratuity and my excursions. The last time after gratuity, excursions, pictures and shopping on board I bought some money home. The last night before we are due to go home, I go to the purser's desk and settle my account and they close it and give me whatever balance that's left. I also keep some cash for when I get off at the ports. But using cash is very easy. No one in my party ever uses a cc.

[LornaT]

If others are listed on the S&S Document in your package, they all need to sign it, you initial in the block at the end of the signature line, then print and sign your namein the Credit Card block, then where it asks for Credit Card number write in CASH is big letters ............. have done this on my last 10 Carnival Cruises and it works everytime. The embarkation folks have a signed document and you aren't giving them a CC number.

Once on board go to the Purser's (unless that ship has a special area for doing this) and open your S&S Acciount with the Cash (or Traveler's Checks). Anything left over will be given to you the last morning by way of a check either under the door or in the cabin mail-box. You can take the check to the Purser's Desk and they will cash it before you leave the ship. They don't advertise tthat they do this, but they do ........... then you don't have to deposit a "Out-of-State" check when you get home.

[ChristieDawn]

I have a question and I have called Carnival twice about this and each time it seems they do not want to answer the question and then they give me a different answer.

 

We are going to use cash for our S&S card. We prepaid grats when paid for the trip. We are not booking any excursions. Do we still have to apply the $200 pp (5 day cruise)? Or can we apply $150 pp sice our grats are already paid for? Also, if we spend all of our cash during the time on the cruise can we use our cc at any point to add to our S&S card?:confused:

 

Thanks in advance!

[bubbles1209]

I have a question and I have called Carnival twice about this and each time it seems they do not want to answer the question and then they give me a different answer.

 

We are going to use cash for our S&S card. We prepaid grats when paid for the trip. We are not booking any excursions. Do we still have to apply the $200 pp (5 day cruise)? Or can we apply $150 pp sice our grats are already paid for? Also, if we spend all of our cash during the time on the cruise can we use our cc at any point to add to our S&S card?:confused:

 

Thanks in advance!

You apply the $200pp. Had you not have pre-paid the gratuities, that would have been the first thing deducted. Now that they are pre-paid, they just deduct from your deposit what you spend. I'm sure you could add with a cc at any point, but, if you want to add to the S&S with a credit card, why not just do that to begin with? They'll put a hold on it no matter when you use it.

[LornaT]

Currently on the phone with my friend (and CVS at Carnival) who says you can open the S&S Account with any amount as long as the Purser agrees, I would show your Pre-Paid Tips confirmation and then you can open the account with as little as $50.00.

[ChristieDawn]

Thank you for your responses!:)

[alwaysmomof1]

Pensgrl,

 

This is how we did it and will be doing this for Oct.07. We paid for our trip in advance. Take your booking number on Carnivals sight and use that number. Go to the gifts selection and order gift certificates, add your name but when it come to your home address put your booking number in that spot. They will email you a confermation number. I get paid weekly and this helped me save the money for the trip. We didn't use the credit card we had a deposit on our account even before we left Arizona. It worked well for us.( This way nothing could get to this money I was trying to save for the cruise):D I even got a $3.25 check left under our cabin door! We used it for all drinks (we smuggled our hard bottles on) shopping on board, bingo and the casino.:o

[SunnyinMA]

I always use the credit card at check-in and then on the last day go to the pursers desk and use my left over cash to pay down (or off) the balance. Then I don't have to worry about the dreaded "Visit the pursers desk to buy this" speach. Plus I know I have enough cash in case there is anything I need it for.

[mom2NnB]

Is it possible to put $100-150 on kids S & S cards and link whatever other expenses to DH & my card? We will prepay tips at final payment. We aren't taking any Carnival excursions so what else would be added for them onto our cards? I know DH and I will have shopping, drinks, etc. Kids should only have sodas & video games.

[jlfros1]

i dont know the answer but I hope someone answers you because I would like to know also :o

[Krunu15]

Thanks 3boysvus and giggles 2007. That was a lot of great information

[3boysvus]

Yes they will let you limit the amount your kids can spend, but mistakes happen so we always put cash on the kids accounts with no link to the credit card. As for sodas you can buy fountain fun cards for sodas and give them cash for the video games and never activate their s&s account, we've done that too.

[ChristieDawn]

I have another question. If I were to use my check card how much of a hold will they put on it? The full $200 pp? Or will it put a hold on the entire account for the time we are on the ship? The reason I ask is because I pay all of our bills online through our bank. If I use our check card for the S&S card and they hold all of the funds while we are gone then my bills will not go through but if they only put a hold on the $200 pp then we will be fine!

Did that make any sense?