The NEW Carnival Gift Cards Site is open

[spiritweevil]

Can you use these in the casino? this would be a great way to get some points on my credit card

 

My understanding is you put the gift card amount onto your sail and sign card. So if you use your S & S card in the casino I would think the answer is yes. I never do the casino.

[mikesteg]

I agree with SpiritWeevil, but you might want to reconsider. You presumably would get the same points on your credit card for the spending on the ship... but without paying in advance. If you have a card that gives bonuses for travel spend you would be better off spending on the ship. Conversely, you might do better if you have a card that given extra points for grocery... but enough to justify the advanced expenditure and risk of carrying cash instruments?

 

I do not believe that you can use these directly in the casino to avoid withdrawal fees, if that is what you are going for. I spend very little time in the casino so can't say for sure, but they do charge when buying chips at a table, don't they? You might want to ask on the casino boards.

 

That said, if you're trying to meet a minimum spend or otherwise need the points now then this might be a decent mechanism for money you'd spend anyways. If you wouldn't have spent the money otherwise, no value of points is enough to justify spending.

[AEPi71]

If you book your cruise through a TA, can you use the carnival giftcard to pay off the booking?

[heatherbean]

Just an FYI, if you have a CitiBank credit card where you get points towards things (not free, just discounted), they now offer the Carnival Ecards. It's $90 in for $100 ecard. I purchased $750 worth of the ecards and only paid $670 for them. I had no problems applying them to make my final paymeny (I did it online). It saved me $75 and will be doing this to pay off my April cruise as well. We have an account we put money in everyweek, so I just transferred the money and the credit card is paid off.

Just to be clear these are not those voucher things that many card companies have been offering, but the Carnival eGiftCards. Also, you can get them in $50 denominations for $45.

[spiritweevil]

If you book your cruise through a TA, can you use the carnival giftcard to pay off the booking?

 

We booked thru a TA and they did a 3 way call with Carnival and applied the gift cards to our final payment. We did final payment on 3 different bookings. We do have a points card that we get 2 points on groceries, so we got double the points on the card, we would have only received 1 point without using the gift cards. Then because we get gas points at the grocery store we got that benefit as well. Received double the gas points which will average about $1 off per gallon for 4 fill ups. Overall it will end up saving us $175 just for doing the gift cards.

[cynthe66]

This is just an idea. Canadians who know people in the States that they trust, send the people the money and have them purchase the cards for you. I use to send my mom money and she would order something for me and then when she got it would send it to me. The card can be used by anyone so it wouldn't matter if you're in Canada or the US, just seems the system isn't set up for order from Canada.

[cynthe66]

This is just an idea. Canadians who know people in the States that they trust, send the people the money and have them purchase the cards for you. I use to send my mom money and she would order something for me and then when she got it would send it to me. The card can be used by anyone so it wouldn't matter if you're in Canada or the US, just seems the system isn't set up for order from Canada.

 

This is from the website about who can use it:

Q: Can anyone use my Carnival Gift Card?

A: Yes. Because your name does not appear on the card, you may use it yourself or give it to anyone you choose.

[shipty2]

I am Canadian and ordered these for a wedding gift for a relative. I purchased the gift card option so the recipient was emailed the gift card number so no need to involve mailing at all. I did enter a U.S. State in that section on the form.

 

 

The only fly in the ointment came when they had to cancel their cruise months prior to the final payment date. The money was not returned to the e gift card balance. That was only discovered a later when I checked the balance online myself. To resolve this issue took many hours over several days and calls back and forth to Carnival- who blamed the third party gift card company and the gift card company blaming Carnival.

 

In the end Carnival sent my relative new gift cards-actual plastic cards with a verbal spanking to me if you can believe it. I was told by someone higher up the chain that when the cruise was canceled my nephew should have specifically asked to have the money put back on the gift card.

[DKNE]

Yes, the Carnival Gift Card can be purchased in approximately 9,000 retail locations including Kroger, Giant Eagle, Hyvee, Price Chopper, Safeway, Meijer, Albertsons, Lowes, Winn Dixie and Office Max. Publix will join the list of retail locations in the 1st quarter of 2015

 

This is from Carnival FAQ. I guess you could always call the stores across the border and see if they have them.

 

That's awesome. Thanks so much for the list !!:D

[theeddie]

well i'm going to max 5 cards out apply to my sail and sign and cash out at the casino. wish me luck.

[Oppalopa]

Just an FYI, if you have a CitiBank credit card where you get points towards things (not free, just discounted), they now offer the Carnival Ecards. It's $90 in for $100 ecard. I purchased $750 worth of the ecards and only paid $670 for them. I had no problems applying them to make my final paymeny (I did it online). It saved me $75 and will be doing this to pay off my April cruise as well. We have an account we put money in everyweek, so I just transferred the money and the credit card is paid off.

Just to be clear these are not those voucher things that many card companies have been offering, but the Carnival eGiftCards. Also, you can get them in $50 denominations for $45.

Thank you, that was very helpful information.

[mikesteg]

well i'm going to max 5 cards out apply to my sail and sign and cash out at the casino. wish me luck.

 

I hope you are exaggerating a bit... or you have really low credit limits. Carnival is on to that particular trick and will not allow you to continue cashing out while you are not gambling. Once you start gambling, the small return on the strategy goes away pretty quick.

 

If you insist on giving it a go, I'd suggest that you use the cards to pay down your balance onboard as you go, rather than buying gift cards which you'd possibly get stuck with. I've never user more than one card on an account, but I'd guess it's possible to do at guest services.

[mikesteg]

Just an FYI, if you have a CitiBank credit card where you get points towards things (not free, just discounted), they now offer the Carnival Ecards. It's $90 in for $100 ecard. I purchased $750 worth of the ecards and only paid $670 for them. I had no problems applying them to make my final paymeny (I did it online). It saved me $75 and will be doing this to pay off my April cruise as well. We have an account we put money in everyweek, so I just transferred the money and the credit card is paid off. ,

Just to be clear these are not those voucher things that many card companies have been offering, but the Carnival eGiftCards. Also, you can get them in $50 denominations for $45.

 

 

That is a great tip! Can I ask what card you are using? I have ThankYou and AAdvantage linked cards and don't see this as an option. Citi doesn't seem to have a Citi-points type program, so I'm guessing you have one of the cash rewards cards (but the rewards are expressed as points on the website)? If not, please let me know which 'benefits' category this falls under on the website. I owe a bit over $3k on our upcoming Alaska cruise, plus excursions and onboard spending, so 10% would probably be worth acquiring a new card.

[heatherbean]

That is a great tip! Can I ask what card you are using? I have ThankYou and AAdvantage linked cards and don't see this as an option. Citi doesn't seem to have a Citi-points type program, so I'm guessing you have one of the cash rewards cards (but the rewards are expressed as points on the website)? If not, please let me know which 'benefits' category this falls under on the website. I owe a bit over $3k on our upcoming Alaska cruise, plus excursions and onboard spending, so 10% would probably be worth acquiring a new card.

 

I have the City Diamond Preferred. The points are linked to Citi Easy Deals. This used to be my primary card so I have a couple thousand points and it only cost 10 points per $100 ecard you buy for $90. I'm so glad I stumbled unto it.

 

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[mikesteg]

I have the City Diamond Preferred. The points are linked to Citi Easy Deals. This used to be my primary card so I have a couple thousand points and it only cost 10 points per $100 ecard you buy for $90. I'm so glad I stumbled unto it.

 

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Ah OK, thank you. It's perhaps not such a good deal if you don't already have the points. The best I can tell, you earn 10 points for $200 of spending? If so, the same $200 of spending would get me $6.80 of benefit on my Sapphire. Plus I'd earn another $3.40 for putting the $100 on the Sapphire. Net/net I'm slightly better off charging on the Sapphire. I guess the $100 and $250 stack through multiple transactions, but still tough to justify the GC route here.

 

At ~2% rewards (for instance Cap1 Venture, or Barclay Arrival), the $300 of spending amounts to $6. Probably not worth the risk and hassle, and the credit hit for a new card, for the difference. The Cap2 and Arrival have annual fees, but those are washed out for several years by the sign on bonus (when they are good) and extra earnings on other purchases.

 

Still, this is a great option for people who have the points already. Thanks!

Edited November 14, 2014 by mikesteg

[heatherbean]

Ah OK, thank you. It's perhaps not such a good deal if you don't already have the points. The best I can tell, you earn 10 points for $200 of spending? If so, the same $200 of spending would get me $6.80 of benefit on my Sapphire. Plus I'd earn another $3.40 for putting the $100 on the Sapphire. Net/net I'm slightly better off charging on the Sapphire. I guess the $100 and $250 stack through multiple transactions, but still tough to justify the GC route here.

 

At ~2% rewards (for instance Cap1 Venture, or Barclay Arrival), the $300 of spending amounts to $6. Probably not worth the risk and hassle, and the credit hit for a new card, for the difference. The Cap2 and Arrival have annual fees, but those are washed out for several years by the sign on bonus (when they are good) and extra earnings on other purchases.

 

Still, this is a great option for people who have the points already. Thanks!

 

To be honest I wasn't sure how I earned the points. Per the site once you open the account you are given points and it looks like you get 10 for every $100. If you go to citieasydeals dot com and click get started there are two cards you can apply for. It states you get 1000 bonus points when you are approved for the card. So that might help after all.

 

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[ccruisequeen]

That's awesome. Thanks so much for the list !!:D

 

 

I found one Ralph's close to me that have them but I hope others closer will also carry them.

 

 

I still cruise for Warm Chocolate Melting Cake (with 2 sugar-free vanilla ice-creams)

[sjcruiser]

Thanks for the heads up. I have been checking all of the gift card kiosks around here, and haven't seen one yet. This makes it easier, especially since almost everyone in our group going on the Sunshine in July wants these either for Christmas or Birthday gifts. The e-Cards make shopping a whole lot easier!!!

[PittsburghGirlee]

DH surprised with me with my first CCL Gift Card last evening, purchased at our local Giant Eagle:D. I have been looking for a few weeks now and they FINALLY got them in... YIIIPPEEE

 

I am hoping it is the first of many. Just in time for Christmas since I have an April cruise booked;).

 

LET THE GIFT GIVING BEGIN!!!!!

[Boozebabe]

There is a line on the order form for Shipping Fee---

The initial amount also shows as sub-total......

Wondering how much that shipping fee is?

Interesting, as it costs soooo little to mail an envelope :rolleyes:

Does anybody know? :confused:

 

Check the big gift card kiosks at your grocery store. they are selling them at Kroger in my area which is Ohio. But there is no way I'll let Carnival hold my money. What if someone buys hundreds of dollars worth of these cards for an upcoming cruise and they die before they use them? What happens if they are lost or stolen? Too many things could go wrong. This is the very reason I don't buy gift cards.

Edited November 15, 2014 by Boozebabe

[mikesteg]

To be honest I wasn't sure how I earned the points. Per the site once you open the account you are given points and it looks like you get 10 for every $100. If you go to citieasydeals dot com and click get started there are two cards you can apply for. It states you get 1000 bonus points when you are approved for the card. So that might help after all.

 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Forums mobile app

 

Yes, definitely a possibility. Thanks again!

[mikesteg]

Check the big gift card kiosks at your grocery store. they are selling them at Kroger in my area which is Ohio. But there is no way I'll let Carnival hold my money. What if someone buys hundreds of dollars worth of these cards for an upcoming cruise and they die before they use them? What happens if they are lost or stolen? Too many things could go wrong. This is the very reason I don't buy gift cards.

 

Probably Carnival's big driver for these is the idea that a fair percentage will never get used. I'd agree that there is a big risk if you buy these for people who aren't regular cruisers. For those of us who cruise at least once a year, it should be relatively safe. Not that we will be asking for these, but I could see it working.

 

For someone who dies I wouldn't think this would be a huge concern. :eek: For those they leave behind, the cards could be used or sold... but again I don't think it would be a big deal to them in light of other concerns.

[jon46]

Was wondering if there is a limit to the number of gift cards you can use each time to book a cruise. I would like to buy one each time i have a little extra money. Then hopefully have enough for most of the cruise cost. With only the port fees and taxes to pay?