Put $$ on my S&S card... Why?

[Homer714]

This will be my first cruise in April, with carnival on the Freedom, I'm reading that people want to put money on there card ahead of time, why?

 

I thought that we, a family of 4 would just do our thing, charge to the card as needed and pay at the end with a credit card.

 

Am I missing something?

[Gypsywych]

No, you're not missing a thing. I'd say that most people do it that way.

 

However, there is the option to add money to your S&S card early, so you owe less later.

 

Your choice! :)

[waldocruiser1]

This will be my first cruise in April, with carnival on the Freedom, I'm reading that people want to put money on there card ahead of time, why?

 

I thought that we, a family of 4 would just do our thing, charge to the card as needed and pay at the end with a credit card.

 

Am I missing something?

 

There are several reasons people do this,

 

For us, we find it helps us "pace" the expenses of the vacation

 

At the end of the week, if you did not spend it, you get it back in a check on the last night.

 

If you want to use a credit card, they take the number up front and put holds on the card from time to time of the week, and depending on your card, it can cause delay problems if you want to use the card for otherthings while on vacation, or if you have any autobill pays with that card

 

If you are using your bank visa/debt card it will cause big problems when the holds have not cleared when you get home for a few weeks,

 

The biggest reason I have read about is the pre-paying for your vacation expenses.

[okgirl]

I just like having prepaid most of what I know that I'm going to spend....I've not always done that and in the past hated having a large balance to pay off in the end.

[Rudyard]

However, there is the option to add money to your S&S card early, so you owe less later.

 

This. It makes it nice to have one less thing to worry about, like having to pay the credit card bill after the cruise.

[Roxymax]

Maybe it would be easier to send a prepayment to your credit card then you would not have to worry about getting your money back on the last night of the cruise?

[Homer714]

It will be a regular card, so any "hold" wont be an issue. I will be sure it has a decent available balance though. :D

[Kudos2Fly]

My husband and I have gotten away from using credit cards. So our last few cruises we have put cash on account when we come on the ship. That way we don't have any "bills" at the end and it's all paid for. We generally no what we spend. So I predict how much we spend on the ship and on shore.

 

Feels good at the end of the trip knowing nothing was put on a credit card. But we don't pay ahead of our trips. We just wait to we get on the ship and put the money on account then.

[canadiangal40]

I have done this with winnings from the casino on the cruises. Just pays some of your shore excursions and end of the week bill. Worked out well for me. Any shopping money I didn't spend at he end of the week went on the S&S card before settling up with my credit card.:)

[Frank12]

Putting money on your S&S just helps to ease the pain a little at the end of the cruise when the bill comes.:)

[MrPete]

This will be my first cruise in April, with carnival on the Freedom, I'm reading that people want to put money on there card ahead of time, why?

 

I thought that we, a family of 4 would just do our thing, charge to the card as needed and pay at the end with a credit card.

 

Am I missing something?

 

Nope. Makes as much sense as overpaying your creditcard bill.

 

In fact, I never understand why those that want to "pre pay" anything don't do just that. Pre pay your own credit card. Same result. It's still just a debit and a credit.

 

Then the psycological reasons start coming out.

 

It's weird, but I don't need to understand it.

[RWolver672]

For us, we'd rather put it on our AMEX card, pay it off after the cruise and accumulate Delta Skymiles. It does have a higher interest rate but as long as we pay it off right away, we've never been charged any interest and we still get the miles.

[Wildgrits]

Also, some of us do not use credit cards.

[choclitsnda]

I have a "Vacation Fund"bank acct.... I use that bank card.

 

Don't have to worry about any "holds" placed on the card because that card is for VACATION ONLY.

 

It does NOT affect the auto-bill payments in the other acct. (insurance, phone, etc) :)

[wecca]

If using a credit card, call your credit card company and let them know the dates of your saliling and where you will be. We use one credit card for the complete trip and may use it in ports. Letting the credit card company know where you are will not place any holds on the credit card for spending out of the ordinary. I have had no problems so far but do know of others where the credit card company froze their accounts while they were on vacation.

[Athankfulheart]

I have a "Vacation Fund"bank acct.... I use that bank card.

 

Don't have to worry about any "holds" placed on the card because that card is for VACATION ONLY.

 

It does NOT affect the auto-bill payments in the other acct. (insurance, phone, etc) :)

 

 

This is what we do :). I also like that if these cards were lost of stolen, there is a definate limit to the damage that can be done. We only put what we plan to spend into this account. We haven't had a problem with holds in the past. I think our bank is very good about this. Additionally, because the people at our bank know us as people, we can call and speak with them and resolve any issues immediately.

[Megan_Strick]

I just like having prepaid most of what I know that I'm going to spend....I've not always done that and in the past hated having a large balance to pay off in the end.

 

 

I do it for the same reason. I dont want to have to deal with holds etc.

[cbMcruiser]

My husband and I have gotten away from using credit cards. So our last few cruises we have put cash on account when we come on the ship. That way we don't have any "bills" at the end and it's all paid for. We generally no what we spend. So I predict how much we spend on the ship and on shore.

 

Feels good at the end of the trip knowing nothing was put on a credit card. But we don't pay ahead of our trips. We just wait to we get on the ship and put the money on account then.

 

This is what Carol & I do. I understand people paying ahead, but we would rather save the money in our accounts and then bring it with us! I do agree, the best feeling is getting back home knowing the entire vacation bill is gone!

[gtalum]

This will be my first cruise in April, with carnival on the Freedom, I'm reading that people want to put money on there card ahead of time, why?

 

I thought that we, a family of 4 would just do our thing, charge to the card as needed and pay at the end with a credit card.

 

Am I missing something?

 

There is no reason to put money on your S&S account ahead of time. If you want to set the money aside, it's much smarter to put it into a savings account until the credit card bill comes due.

[rhcpchika1]

I am in the buy it ahead of time club....

As a family of 5, we don't save money well.

 

By buying it beforehand, we have NO worries about the sign and sail bill! Last cruise we bought it all ahead of time through BV and received a check for $90 when we were done.

 

I bring cash for the ports. I don't use a card at all. . .

[Ksea1961]

Don't you just love people who think their way is the only way? :rolleyes:

 

I put the deposit down on the cruise and then make payments out of each paycheck until it's paid off by the date required. That way my savings account is not touched and nothing goes on a credit card. I save up our spending money and take cash onto the ship. I put a chunk down on the S&S card the first night and keep the rest in the safe for port days. I love not having a bill to pay when I get home! I bring a credit card just in case, but rarely use it. If I could figure out the way to fund my S&S card ahead of time, I would do it. I tried last year but Carnival told me it was not an option. ?

[Shipfaced13]

I asked that same question earlier this week and I was told to buy Carnival gift cards. We are not from the states and we'll be staying in Miami for a little bit after the cruise, I do not wish to have a hold on my credit card therefore we will be using Carnival gifts cards instead for our S&S account.

[Cyber Kat]

There is no reason to put money on your S&S account ahead of time. If you want to set the money aside, it's much smarter to put it into a savings account until the credit card bill comes due.

 

This is what I do - why let someone else earn interest (such as it is) on your money. When I come home I transfer to my checking account and I'm ready for that bill!

 

Besides, I use the Carnival MasterCard for my S&S account so I'm building up double points for my next cruise!

[All4fun&fun4all]

Also, some of us do not use credit cards.

 

Same here. I havent had a credit card in over 10 years. I dont like to use my debit card either because my bank keeps the holds on my account for well past a week after sailing.

 

We use cash for our Sail and Sign and used to buy drink coupons each pay period until we sailed. I need to read about the changes with the coupons. I havent looked into it since the news broke here because I dont have a cruise booked right now. :(

[dms361]

I have done this with winnings from the casino on the cruises. Just pays some of your shore excursions and end of the week bill. Worked out well for me. Any shopping money I didn't spend at he end of the week went on the S&S card before settling up with my credit card.:)

 

This is what I do. I leave my credit card attached to my account, but after a good casino day, I'll go to guest services and put the cash I take from it on my S&S account. The casino only pays out in cash (even though you can charge your card on the machines), and there's no reason for me to be walking around with hundreds of dollars. It's just less to put on my card later.

As far as prepaying with cash in general, I don't do that. Sometimes I'll have extra cash saved up at home to put toward my bill later, but I leave onboard expenses on my card for simplicity, reward points, etc. typically I think it's people who prefer not to use credit cards that do cash deposits.