S&S card & room assignment

[awsmrn]

First timer here. Our group includes me, DH, and 2 children and 18, 19. Will we be required to place $250.00 on each of our cards or can we adjust the 18 and 19 year old to a smaller deposit? Also, each adult has been booked with each child in seperate rooms. Will it be a big deal once we are there to switch so the girls can be in one room and DH and I in another. Our rooms are across from each other. Thanks for any info!!!!

[GoinCruisin]

They just announced a new policy about adults over 21 in the cabins... not sure how much they will enforce it...

 

As for the deposits, some have had their S&S adjusted down for children, but since yours are older, I'm not sure... if you were all in one cabin, I have heard they will do $500 total, but in two cabins, I don't know... it is just a "hold" against your credit card, but if you are paying cash, typically it is $250 each.... talk to them and see what they say... you may be able to have them adjust it.... good luck and have fun!

[countercast]

I bet if you asked for it to be adjusted, they would but you can definitely have them 'inactivated' altogether. You talk to the rep at the terminal when checking in.

 

You will not have a problem putting the teens together. We are also a family with 17 and 18 year old boys and I can assure you that there is no-one spying on the cabins and enforcing rules on who shares with who! Have a great time!

[serene56]

Its usually a 250 cash down per card. (dont forget the tips of at least 70.00) I had my kids card turned off. They werent old enough to get drinks at the time.

[helicopter]

I am just curious, if Carnival has a $250.00 per person deposit for S&S and someone walked up with cash ... and had 2 children, and knew the tips would be $280.00 for all four, don't you think they'd take the say $500.00 someone wanted to put down? I think they would because you've covered the tips, and if you run low on what is over they inform you so you can add more money. To some people, 4 people = $1000.00 down on S&S (with 2 children) may not be much, but to a lot of people who have already paid a lot of money for their vacation this is ALOT of money. Afterall, everyone one doesn't spend a ton of money on the ship. Many have sailed before and know pretty much what they spend and keep that amount low.

[helicopter]

After I posted my response above I thought I'd call Carnival and hear what they had to say. I was told that if you are using a check/debit or credit card they will hold $250.00 per person automatically. However, if you are using a cash deposit it is any amount over what you know the tips will be. Since you can't charge if you don't have the money on your account you can always add cash if you run low (and they will let you know when you are low).

[MizzouMary]

Its usually a 250 cash down per card. (dont forget the tips of at least 70.00) I had my kids card turned off. They werent old enough to get drinks at the time.

I thought the deposit amount for the Sail & Sign card is $200, not $250 for a 5-8 day cruise. I contacted Carnival and if you are using cash for your deposit, it is still $200 pp or card. However, if you are using a credit card, they hold $250 pp.

[GoinCruisin]

From Carnival.com and brochure:

 

For your convenience, charges for most of your onboard purchases are made to your Sail & Sign® account. A required application form will be included with your documents. Registration for this program will occur at the time of embarkation. Carnival accepts American Express, Visa, MasterCard, Discover Card and cash for deposit on your account. A deposit (ranging from $100 to $350 depending on cruise duration) will be required for cash accounts.

 

If you are using a credit card or debit/check cashing card please be advised that there will be a hold placed on your account as a deposit for your onboard purchases. During your cruise additional holds will be added if your Sail & Sign® account exceeds the amount of deposit Carnival has on file. If you presented a credit card, this will reduce the amount available on your credit card for other purchases. If you presented a debit/check cashing card, the hold will restrict the available cash in your checking account. All charges will be billed to the credit card or debit/check cashing card at the end of the cruise.

[vesw01]

I am bringing a credit card with a low limit ($800) to use on the ship. We are 4 ppl traveling. When do they put the hold on your account. Is this something that you sign up for on the ship. I would turn off the S&S cards for the children, but now I am concerned

 

btw would they really issue an SS card for a 2 yr old?

[vesw01]

So basically I should just assume that they are going to max out with holds on my card and then when I leave the ship they will just actually charge what is on my account and the rest will be freed up...?

 

One more question, if I wanted to, can I activate the S&S card and then pay my account down with cash as the week goes on? I would like to just pay the majority of the "suggested" tips right away, so my S&S bill won't be scary at the end....is this possible?

[serene56]

Yes, even a two year old is issued a sign and sail card. This card is used to take your child on and off the ships- so you see--its not just used for buying stuff. Make sure you have that card with you when getting off- I hate to see someone running back to the cabin because you didnt think it was needed.

 

On our Victory cruise we placed cash down on our cabins. I paid the 210 into my three kids account for tipping then had the card closed out. (they had a seperate cabin from me)

 

As far as a credit card hold-- its mostly for debit cards that prove scarey.

I have a daily limit of 400. on my debit card. The cruise lines do NOT put in on a daily basis and holds it to the end. If that amount goes over I was introuble. I am on vacation and dont want to have to worry about my cards. Now what we do is contact the bank and take that hold off for the duration of the cruise- and a week later.

[helicopter]

I can only go by what I was told by Carnival (above) - but I still say that they are not going to refuse someone putting down $500.00 cash (for 4 people) when that will cover the tips and leave a little. After all the person has paid for their cruise, the S&S card is covered ($500.00 for tips and a little extra), you can't charge on the card if you don't have money on your account - so what are they going to do not let you board. NCL's deposit in cash is $100, the lines want to make sure the tips are covered if it's auto tipping. If you have a low limit card (say 800.00, and have 4 people, they are going to take that card for $800). I'm not sure about the deduction (daily or at the end) I know own NCL we used our check card and it was deducted daily. Total S&S a little over $6200.00 (16 people) with a little over $2000.00 held for about a week. I guess they saw how we were spending. I might add that if 10 people called Carnival you would probably get 10 different answers. But not to worry if you've covered the auto tips and have a little over, you WILL get on that ship.

[aceinnw]

I am planning on doing cash (actually travellers checks), I had heard you have to do that at the pursers desk after you board, not where they issue the S&S card. Is that true, will I have to wait in an additional line or can I use cash where they issue the S&S cards. I know that if I need to add $ to it during the cruise that is at the Pursers desk.

 

I have pre-paid tips so I won't need much on my S&S, just enough for foo-foo drinks ;)

[GoinCruisin]

As I stated in the post above, I believe for a family in one cabin, many people have said that it is just a $500 deposit... I'm not sure about two cabins, but seems to be $500 for a family... not sure if there are age limits on that. Just something you can see when you get to the ship. If you call Carnival 15 times, you will get 15 answers... PVP's seem to know very little about what actually happens on a ship, many of them have never even cruised...

[GoinCruisin]

I am planning on doing cash (actually travellers checks), I had heard you have to do that at the pursers desk after you board, not where they issue the S&S card. Is that true, will I have to wait in an additional line or can I use cash where they issue the S&S cards. I know that if I need to add $ to it during the cruise that is at the Pursers desk.

 

I have pre-paid tips so I won't need much on my S&S, just enough for foo-foo drinks ;)

They will issue your cards at check in, tell them you are using cash. You will then go to the pursers desk, with your S&S card and set up your account.

[serene56]

Yep- you will need to stand in another line after you get onboard-- but you dont have to do it right away. anytime the first day is good. Wait til dinner time....or while the show is going on-- less crowded.

[GoinCruisin]

Unless you are like us and want to order a cocktail once you board :D

[vesw01]

What if I don't have enough money available on my credit card? If they want $250 ppp - that is over my limit and I have nothing on the card. I won't have $1000 in cash to put down - maybe cruising is a big mistake for me <sigh>

[GoinCruisin]

You are all staying in one cabin. You can ask them a) to just do a $500 hold as stated above and b) call your credit card company and ask for a temporary increase on your line just in case... you want to make sure you have enough money for an emergency anyway...

[helicopter]

Jan at Carnival told me that cash deposit was done at issue of S&S card just like with credit card. I know that on our last cruise our friends used cash and the Purser (or maybe asst. Purser) was behind the counter and they just called her to which ever person was putting up cash. Is this not the way it is being done now?