Gift card question

So I purchased 2 gift cards for my boys to spend on our cruise that's coming up, my question is, how do they use them, like a normal gift card to make purchases or does it have to be added to the sail and sign account? Does anyone know how this would work? Thanks!! 😃🚢

So I purchased 2 gift cards for my boys to spend on our cruise that's coming up, my question is, how do they use them, like a normal gift card to make purchases or does it have to be added to the sail and sign account? Does anyone know how this would work? Thanks!!

They would need to take the gift cards to Guest Services and have the amounts applied to their on board account(s).

They have to be applied to your onboard account from my understanding. You can either do this at Guest Services or some ships have self serve kiosks you can do it at.

Im actually about to go to Kroger at lunch and buy one myself.

You can either go to the Guest Services desk and have them applied there or there are self service kiosks where you can do it yourself (in my experience they are located close to the GS area).

So I purchased 2 gift cards for my boys to spend on our cruise that's coming up, my question is, how do they use them, like a normal gift card to make purchases or does it have to be added to the sail and sign account? Does anyone know how this would work? Thanks!!

Ok, thanks everyone, that's what I thought but I wanted to be sure.

Is there some advantage to buying gift cards if you are just going to use it yourself? as opposed to just adding cash or credit card onto a S&S account.

Does someplace sell these gift cards at reduced prices?

Is there some advantage to buying gift cards if you are just going to use it yourself? as opposed to just adding cash or credit card onto a S&S account.

Does someplace sell these gift cards at reduced prices?

The advantage to buying them at a grocery store such as Kroger, Giant Eagle, etc. is for the fuel points. Just a heads up. Gift cards purchased at Kroger on Valentine's weekend will be worth 4 times the fuel points. And no, Carnival gift cards are not sold at a reduced price.

If you are a member of AARP or a Verizon customer they have a rewards club where you can sometimes get Carnival gift cards at a 10% discount. I've heard of other periodic promotions too. Otherwise its just like any other gift cards. You can give people part of their cruise expenses.

I think sometimes AARP and Verizon offer 10% off on Carnival gift cards so you could get a 500.00 gift card for 450.00 if you have either of those services.

Im going to buy the gift card from Kroger because of fuel points! Thanks to the OP above mentioning the 4X points on Valentines day weekend! :)

If you look back and search for other threads regarding Verizon gift cards or AARP gift cards there is a lot of information explaining the benefits and methods of obtaining them. The AARP site is a better alternative incase you don't have Verizon cellphone service. I purchase these from both for all of my cruises, the 10% off can really add up on your total cruise cost.:)

I was planning on using gift cards for my onboard account. If I put too much on the account, will I get the remainder refunded back to me? I'm assuming I would in the form of a gift card, but has anyone had this experience?

I am interested to know can they be refunded also as I plan to do this for my son on the NCL Epic

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

Is there some advantage to buying gift cards if you are just going to use it yourself? as opposed to just adding cash or credit card onto a S&S account.

Does someplace sell these gift cards at reduced prices?

If you have a Citibank credit card you can buy them for 10% off from Citi Easy Deals.

If you have a Citibank credit card you can buy them for 10% off from Citi Easy Deals.

Very interesting... Thank you !

Is there some advantage to buying gift cards if you are just going to use it yourself? as opposed to just adding cash or credit card onto a S&S account.

Does someplace sell these gift cards at reduced prices?

Do a quick and easy search of the forums. You shall find your answers.

We are new to cruising, I purchased them for my boys as spending money as they are young (10 & 8) and thought it would be fun for them, then realized and learned after the fact that everything is done with this sail and sign account, so therefore just wanted to confirm that I can just add them to the account as they can't physically spend with them.

If you have a Citibank credit card you can buy them for 10% off from Citi Easy Deals.

Thanks! I had no idea. I just found it and I can buy a $100 for $90 plus they will email it or mail as well. I know someone was hoping for email recently.

I am interested to know can they be refunded also as I plan to do this for my son on the NCL Epic

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

The rules are different for NCL than for Carnival. You might try asking on that board.

I was planning on using gift cards for my onboard account. If I put too much on the account, will I get the remainder refunded back to me? I'm assuming I would in the form of a gift card, but has anyone had this experience?

Per Carnival's FAQ, they will refund the remainder to you via a new gift card (mailed to you later). I have seen on the boards people having experience of getting the refund via check on the last day of the cruise.

I used all gift cards for my onboard account in December, and used the casino trick to obtain all of my remaining funds in cash without any problems.

I purchase mine as $100 gift cards through my daughters school scrip. I receive a $100 Carnival gift card and they apply 8% toward my daughter's band fees.

Last year and this we'll completely pay her $300 through this process and have some fun trips we'd do anyways.

If you are a member of AARP or a Verizon customer they have a rewards club where you can sometimes get Carnival gift cards at a 10% discount. I've heard of other periodic promotions too. Otherwise its just like any other gift cards. You can give people part of their cruise expenses.

You don't have to be a member of AARP. I think you also only have to be over 18.

Per Carnival's FAQ, they will refund the remainder to you via a new gift card (mailed to you later). I have seen on the boards people having experience of getting the refund via check on the last day of the cruise.

 

I used all gift cards for my onboard account in December, and used the casino trick to obtain all of my remaining funds in cash without any problems.

They actually don't issue a refund check on the last day of the cruise, they mail the check to your home within a week of disembarking. However we have also just gotten the cash back the last night of the cruise at the front desk as well. We have never received a gift card for our refund on our last 5 cruises.

Question. Unless you were getting a discount or miles for purchasing the gift card, why wouldn't you just go online to the funshops and load cruise cash onto your shipboard account. That way you do not have to go buy the card or go stand in line at Guest Services to have it put on your account? I do realize the cruise cash is not refundable if not left over but I just would not purchase too much of it. Seems easier to me. Am I missing something? Marilyn

Question. Unless you were getting a discount or miles for purchasing the gift card, why wouldn't you just go online to the funshops and load cruise cash onto your shipboard account. That way you do not have to go buy the card or go stand in line at Guest Services to have it put on your account? I do realize the cruise cash is not refundable if not left over but I just would not purchase too much of it. Seems easier to me. Am I missing something? Marilyn

According to carnival.com FAQ for cruise cash, there is a $500 per category limit on cruise cash (cruise cash, bar cash and photo) AND cruise cash is "use it or lose it" (their words, not mine)

Although they also say any unused gift card will be refunded as a gift card (which we have been told is not exactly true).

Question. Unless you were getting a discount or miles for purchasing the gift card, why wouldn't you just go online to the funshops and load cruise cash onto your shipboard account. That way you do not have to go buy the card or go stand in line at Guest Services to have it put on your account? I do realize the cruise cash is not refundable if not left over but I just would not purchase too much of it. Seems easier to me. Am I missing something? Marilyn

Many people on here do buy the gift cards discounted. And on the rare occasion I have no obc to start me off, I will buy a little cruise cash so that my s&s account has some funds on there to get us started without having to wait in line at guest services to load cards. We only use gift cards and cash on our s&s accounts these days.