load gift card at kiosk?

I have a gift card that I intend to use to fund my sail and sign account.

I can't load that while checking in or by calling carnival, right?

Can I load them using the kiosk or do we need to stand in the line at guest services when we board?

What else should I know about using a gift card in this way?

We will be on the imagination DEC 1 if that matters.

Thanks!

You can load them onto your account at the Kiosk or at Guest Services once onboard. You can also choose to put a credit card on your account via Online Check-In and then wait to put the gift cards on your account later in the cruise. Although there will be holds on your credit card until the end of the week, nothing it actually charged to your credit card until the end of the cruise, so as long as you apply the gift cards before then at the Kiosk or Guest Services you will be fine.

ok, so we could go at any time and they will always use the gift card amount before the credit card, no matter when we add it?

We will definitely hit the bar first thing then and not worry about the kiosk until the lines die down.

thanks for the tip!

My experience is gift cards are hit first, then any cash balance, and then credit card if there is any balance due at the end.

If there is a credit balance at the end, you can either go to the casino and use the slot machines to cash it out, go to guest services and get a check, or sometimes it is mailed to you.

Don't worry yourself with where the money is coming from. If you have a credit card on your account then you don't have to think about it until the end.

...Now if it is a cash account (no credit card on it) things are a little different. You will have to go to Guest Services and deposit cash before the account can be used, and in that case you would put on your gift cards then.

ok, so we could go at any time and they will always use the gift card amount before the credit card, no matter when we add it?

 

We will definitely hit the bar first thing then and not worry about the kiosk until the lines die down.

 

thanks for the tip!

This is correct. Think of your S&S card as a running tab. Nothing is charged until the very end. Definitely wait until lines are short, or use one of the many kiosks to load your gift card. The kiosks by Guest Services almost always had people using them, but the others located randomly around the different decks hardly ever had people on them.

I'm sure this varies ship to ship, but just have fun when you board and worry about adding your gift card later. You'll have plenty of time. Just don't forget like I did. But that gave me a reason to book another cruise ;)

I've tried to apply gift cards to my S&S account from the kiosks on five different ships: Freedom, Conquest, Splendor, Sunshine, and Vista.

It's never worked. When I've gone to the desk to do it and told them that I couldn't get the kiosk to work, I've been told - on each ship - that, no, it doesn't work!

It's rather frustrating to stand there and swipe, have it not work, then try another couple of times (when you have to start at the beginning) to key in the 16-digit card number only to have it still not work.

At least I'm Platinum and didn't have to stand in line for a long time. But the kiosks have never worked for me (or anyone I've sailed with).

So I know it isn't just me. Don't know which ships this actually works on, but I've given up even trying and just go to the service desk.

I've tried to apply gift cards to my S&S account from the kiosks on five different ships: Freedom, Conquest, Splendor, Sunshine, and Vista.

 

It's never worked. When I've gone to the desk to do it and told them that I couldn't get the kiosk to work, I've been told - on each ship - that, no, it doesn't work!

 

It's rather frustrating to stand there and swipe, have it not work, then try another couple of times (when you have to start at the beginning) to key in the 16-digit card number only to have it still not work.

 

At least I'm Platinum and didn't have to stand in line for a long time. But the kiosks have never worked for me (or anyone I've sailed with).

 

So I know it isn't just me. Don't know which ships this actually works on, but I've given up even trying and just go to the service desk.

I'm sorry it didn't work for you. On the Conquest a few years ago, I put 3 gift cards on my account using the kiosk. On the Splendor just a year ago, I put 7 gift cards on my account using the kiosk (both physical and printed from email). I do know that it does work. Maybe the machines were not working when you tried?

I've never tried the kiosk, but since I'm able to go to the shorter line it's just easier to have them do it.

I've tried to apply gift cards to my S&S account from the kiosks on five different ships: Freedom, Conquest, Splendor, Sunshine, and Vista.

 

It's never worked. When I've gone to the desk to do it and told them that I couldn't get the kiosk to work, I've been told - on each ship - that, no, it doesn't work!

 

It's rather frustrating to stand there and swipe, have it not work, then try another couple of times (when you have to start at the beginning) to key in the 16-digit card number only to have it still not work.

 

At least I'm Platinum and didn't have to stand in line for a long time. But the kiosks have never worked for me (or anyone I've sailed with).

 

So I know it isn't just me. Don't know which ships this actually works on, but I've given up even trying and just go to the service desk.

Don't know why it dosnt work for you. I only use the kiosks to enter my gift cards and cash. I never go to guest services.

Don't know why it dosnt work for you. I only use the kiosks to enter my gift cards and cash. I never go to guest services.

Same here - I only use the kiosk to load the gift cards. Locations of the kiosks on the imagination are:

Deck 7 lobby near Guest Services

Deck 5 port side near The Fun Shops

The one away from Guest Services should be the one less used.

Well, one would think that out of multiple tries on multiple machines on various ships that I'd eventually run into a kiosk that would take my card. Right?

Like I said, when I mildly complained at the service desk, I was told, on all the ships I tried it on, that it didn't work. Even I shouldn't have that much bad luck/timing!

I'll try next time on Splendor. Again. But I'm not going to try multiple times and certainly won't do it if there's anyone waiting to use it.

Well, one would think that out of multiple tries on multiple machines on various ships that I'd eventually run into a kiosk that would take my card. Right?

Like I said, when I mildly complained at the service desk, I was told, on all the ships I tried it on, that it didn't work. Even I shouldn't have that much bad luck/timing!

 

I'll try next time on Splendor. Again. But I'm not going to try multiple times and certainly won't do it if there's anyone waiting to use it.

I don't know what to tell you. On my last 4 cruises including the Valor 2 weeks ago it worked fine for me and I always have multiple cards to enter. The swiping method usually dosnt work. You will have to enter the numbers on the back of the card manually.

I don't know what to tell you. On my last 4 cruises including the Valor 2 weeks ago it worked fine for me and I always have multiple cards to enter. The swiping method usually dosnt work. You will have to enter the numbers on the back of the card manually.

Agree - swiping the gift cards usually doesn't work for me. I usually end up entering the numbers manually, but this is much easier than going to Guest Services. I've successfully entered gift cards using a kiosk on multiple ships this way. Good luck!

thanks for the manual entry tip! I would be there swiping away thinking that should work! And likely after several cocktails at 2am when there's no line, then my husband would say, let me do it, you must be swiping it wrong....lololol

If you're planning to use gift cards to pay for your S&S account, here's a tip. Go to Guest Services mid afternoon, or early evening while most people are at dinner, on the last day of your cruise. The line will be much shorter than if you wait until after the second seating is over. We went around 8:00 p.m. and there was hardly any line. By 10:00, forget it. While others were waiting in a long line, we were at the Atrium bar having cocktails and relaxing. ;)

Every time I have used gift cards they would apply them to my account during embarkation and give me receipts for each card showing the amount of the gift card prior to giving me my sail and sign card. We cruise out a Galveston so not sure if it works differently at different ports. I also go to the Casino and cash it out before the end of the cruise if there is anything left.

thanks for the manual entry tip! I would be there swiping away thinking that should work! And likely after several cocktails at 2am when there's no line, then my husband would say, let me do it, you must be swiping it wrong....lololol

As a matter of fact, the very first time I took gift cards was my first Premier Casino cruise on Freedom. I'd had a couple too many blue margaritas and stopped on my way back to the cabin and tried to use the kiosk. Neither swiping nor entering the numbers worked. Since I might have had a little blurred vision by that point, I decided to try the next day.

Still didn't work for me. :p

OK, I'll give it one more try. Like I said, I'm Platinum so at least I don't have to stand in line too long if the kiosks refuse to cooperate.

I don't want to apply them all at the beginning. I like to apply as needed. I don't want a credit balance at the end (which has only happened when I used a $500 card and then had free drinks). Part of the reason to buy the cards (besides the 10% discount) is to NOT have to carry wads of cash while traveling. That applies to both traveling to the port and on the way home.

ok, so we could go at any time and they will always use the gift card amount before the credit card, no matter when we add it?

 

We will definitely hit the bar first thing then and not worry about the kiosk until the lines die down.

 

thanks for the tip!

That is correct. They will use the gift card up first before charging your credit card because the gift card will create a credit on your account until it is used up (and thus there is no balance to charge to your credit card). If you don't apply the gift card until later in your cruise, Carnival will place a hold amount periodically on your credit card based on your spending. That happens at intervals during your cruise.

I've tried on 2 different ships to apply a gift card at the kiosk, but the kiosk wouldn't take it. Both times I had to take the gift card to Guest Services to have it applied to my sail and sign account.

I would go sometime in the middle of the cruise... don't wait until the end!!!!

I kept forgetting my cards in the cabin, but finally got to Guest services about 2:00am towards the end of the trip. The first 5 went through immediately when swiped, but the ship lost contact with the satellite, and the last one would not connect.

Unfortunately, when I took the last card back the next night, the gratuities had just hit the accounts, and there was a long line of folks removing them. I had to grit my teeth, hold my tongue and wait for a bit.

Carnival gift cards are available through 'Rewards for Good' for 10% off face value and points (double points for AARP members). There is a thread on this board called "AARP gift cards" for more info.

Wendy

So when checking in, would I be able to put a small amount if cash ($50) on my S&S at checkin, then add the gift cards onboard at the kiosks? Or is it better to put a credit card on the account at checkin?

I'm trying to be responsible and avoid having any charges go on the credit card.

Every time I have used gift cards they would apply them to my account during embarkation and give me receipts for each card showing the amount of the gift card prior to giving me my sail and sign card. We cruise out a Galveston so not sure if it works differently at different ports. I also go to the Casino and cash it out before the end of the cruise if there is anything left.

That is what I am wondering about. We have already prepaid tips, bought Cheers! and I got $1000. in gift cards from AARP for 900. I had heard to use the kiosks, but then so many say they don't work. I will also be sailing on the Freedom and have never used gift cards before. I got them as a surprise for my husband as our vacation will continue on after the cruise. He will have the option of holding on to the money, for the next thing we do, after the cruise, or gamble it. I had gathered from what I have read, that I could load them at the kiosk and then cash them out at the casino. Now, I'm a bit worried. Any advice, thanks in advance.:) I figure he will gamble his, but, mine (that I haven't mentioned:eek:) I want to get the cash for.

We use gift cards every cruise and have no issues loading them at check in. Every time we've used the kiosk they've showed a zero balance and we have to go to guest services. Just do it at check in and avoid the hassle

I just used 5 gift cards in June on the Magic. I used the kiosk and just swiped them, and I guess I was lucky, because they worked just fine. I had put a credit card on the account when registering and then when I checked in, I changed the credit card to a different one. After the cruise, they charged my balance on to the first card that I used during registering online! During check in, the clerk swiped my new credit card, so I don't know how this happened.

That is what I am wondering about. We have already prepaid tips, bought Cheers! and I got $1000. in gift cards from AARP for 900. I had heard to use the kiosks, but then so many say they don't work. I will also be sailing on the Freedom and have never used gift cards before. I got them as a surprise for my husband as our vacation will continue on after the cruise. He will have the option of holding on to the money, for the next thing we do, after the cruise, or gamble it. I had gathered from what I have read, that I could load them at the kiosk and then cash them out at the casino. Now, I'm a bit worried. Any advice, thanks in advance.:) I figure he will gamble his, but, mine (that I haven't mentioned:eek:) I want to get the cash for.

There is nothing to worry about. If the kiosk doesn't work for you, just go to Guest Services and have them applied to your account. You can cash out at the casino with no problems.

They tend to not work very often