Pre-paying OBC

[thekings23]

I keep reading on here that using a debit card is not a great idea due to holds that are placed. I am a big "anti" credit card guy so only have 1 which is never used and because of that has a lower limit. Rather than traveling with a few thousand in cash, or scrambling to get to the banker before boarding, is there a way to just put a grand or so on my S&S account before boarding? If so whats the best way?

[Aeeo]

I always use my debit card for my S&S account, and they tell me there will be a hold placed on it. I have never seen it on my on-line bank account while cruising or had anything charge other then the amount I owed at the end. I use a local bank, and my debit card is offered through Master Card. Maybe each bank is diffrent or the debit cards through Visa?

 

Once I over paid my cruise thinking they would credit it to my OBC, but they refunded to my acount with-in a week.

 

Jay

[hermitstyle]

i've used my debit card as well, and i've never had an extra hold either, and my bank uses visa. if you want to have some money on your account before you sail, you can buy funship dollars through carnival.com. i would link you, but carnival seems down right now. you will still have to put either $200 cash, or a credit/debit card linked to your S&S account, but they will/should take out of your OBC before charging your credit card.

[luv2cruzfrmtx]

We have never had a problem with holds on our debit card. Usually everything clears the day after we get home. When we get on ship we usually go put a couple hundred on our ss account. Check with Carnival. There is a way to prepay your ss account but I don't know how to do it. I'm sure someone will educate both of us.

[hermitstyle]

ok, got it here:

http://www.carnival.com/BonVoyage/AddToCart.aspx?cat=giftcertificates&pid=FSD

 

it's from the bon voyage package, and go from $25 up to $500. says phone orders are accepted up to one week prior to sailing, not sure where the cut off date to put money as OBC on your account though.

[Gloria765]

you can also tell them after boarding that you want to set up cash account if you need to put on more you cann add at any time

[mscreneet]

Thats exactly what we did the last time intead of using our CC.

I like that way a lot better. I seemed to be more aware of what I was spending with the cash account than I was when I just used my CC.

 

you can also tell them after boarding that you want to set up cash account if you need to put on more you cann add at any time

[croozluv]

Are Funship dollars refundable if the whole amount is not used?

[hermitstyle]

Are Funship dollars refundable if the whole amount is not used?

yes. any funship dollars not used should be returned to you in check form on the last day of the cruise

[silkhair1]

Good to know!!!!!!!!

 

yes. any funship dollars not used should be returned to you in check form on the last day of the cruise

[Le Cruiser]

I keep reading on here that using a debit card is not a great idea due to holds that are placed. I am a big "anti" credit card guy so only have 1 which is never used and because of that has a lower limit. Rather than traveling with a few thousand in cash, or scrambling to get to the banker before boarding, is there a way to just put a grand or so on my S&S account before boarding? If so whats the best way?

 

 

What we've started doing is going to the purser's desk once we board and putting say, $500.00 on our S&S account. Then by the time we've gotten through that amount, we don't have to worry about the "hold" on our debit card.

[Time2CruiseAgain]

We started last year prepaying on our S&S account - I just called Carnival, told them what I wanted to do, they put me through to the right person and I put money on my account - I am doing that now as we prepare for our cruise in May! A great way to save! But we also went to the pursor's desk and put cash on it as well - I have never given my debit card.

[ErikNYC]

Here's another way to go about it.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=28235054&postcount=2

[jolyroger]

yes. any funship dollars not used should be returned to you in check form on the last day of the cruise

I'm telling you the information that I come across here is so helpfull I need a business card for cruisecritic thats how many times I give the name of this site out!!

[nevadabadgirl]

I bought funship dollars for our cruise and had it applied as OBC. The guy I talked to said they could be used for anything but gambling, so I would double check on that if the casino is one of the places where you want to spend.

 

After 22 years in the casino business, I doubt I'll spend much time there...but that might make some of you want to put less on your OBC and put more in your pocket :)

[croozluv]

yes. any funship dollars not used should be returned to you in check form on the last day of the cruise

 

Awesome! Thanks so much!

[cruisingtodive]

I would absolutely do the OBC, I like to have all my cruise paid for upfront, even gambling - and nothing on my CC. I don't want to vacation on credit. I have never had a problem pre-paying some OBC.