Beware Cruise Cash!

[gargoyle999]

Just got burned for $160!! My Platinum but first cruise since cruise cash came about. Turns out it is not refundable!!! We have always paid for OBC ahead of the cruise then gotten the leftover back at the end of the cruise.

 

Got a check for $5.32 that must have been tax/port fee reduction. Called about the remaining cruise cash and was just told that there is no way to purchase OBC ahead of time that is refundable. Has to be used on that sailing. Can't cash out on the ship either.

 

First time in 10 Carnival cruises I am actually :mad:

[CoconutJD]

Always read the fine print... which in this case isn't too fine and is easily readable. (emphasis mine)

 

Cruise Cash provides an immediate credit to a guest's Sail & Sign account. This credit is good for any charge made to their account including taxes and gratuity charges. Cruise Cash is valid for a single voyage and cannot be transferred to future bookings. Cruise Cash is non-refundable and any unused credits will be forfeited.

 

Carnival gift cards are a much better option. You don't get the cash back, but you get any leftover credit on another gift card you can use in the future.

[2 cruzen]

Sorry you didn't notice that. I always liked to buy the drink coupons but won't do that anymore either since it's non-refundable. I think if no one buys these products than it will go the way of FCC and end of cruise party...which I LIKED! :eek:

[ladylikes2cruise]

So sorry this happened to you:(

We use cruise cash the last 2x on our last 2 cruises.....

We always (after checking our S&S, for any balance left on the last night) down load any left over cash to our casino players account and after a couple cheap spins, cash out at the casino cashier......have lost any $$ that way;)

Edited October 29, 2013 by ladylikes2cruise
Idk

[FireMedT]

That stinks that you can't get your money back, but on the Carnival site it's in plain view. I don't think I would ever purchase cruise cash just because of that last sentence. Why risk having to spend left over money on whatever I can think off to avoid leaving it behind? Just use a credit card. But I can understand that some people don't want to or can't.

 

"Cruise Cash provides an immediate credit to a guest's Sail & Sign account. This credit is good for any charge made to their account including taxes and gratuity charges. Cruise Cash is valid for a single voyage and cannot be transferred to future bookings. Cruise Cash is non-refundable and any unused credits will be forfeited."

[gargoyle999]

My wife bought all of it and obviously didn't see the 'fine' print. That is a major change. At the very least it should show as non-refundable on the charge summary we get every couple days while on the ship! All it showed was cruise cash and unused balance.

 

Other items are listed as refundable or non-refundable. Why not this?

[Rirruto]

It seems like the gift cards are a better bet. I don't see why they have to sell both cruise cash and gift cards. Just leads to confusion.

[wmowan8485]

So sorry that you lost money but I did use cruise cash on my August sailing fully aware that it was not refundable. Made sure that I was very conservative with the amount purchased. I wasn't going to use it again but thanks for the tip about cashing out at the casino. What a bummer!:(

[CRUZBUDS]

Sorry, that does stink

 

We had T/A, Early Saver and Share Holder credit on our last cruise. We were confused about what was refundable and what wasn't. We were down to about forty dollars left and we figured we would have not trouble using it up with a day or two left.

 

Then we got an additional $166 OBC from Guest Services because of a problem with our room. We immediately went down to the service desk and cashed it all out --- "a bird in the hand" :)

[MissKIA]

So sorry this happened to you:(

We use cruise cash the last 2x on our last 2 cruises.....

We always (after checking our S&S, for any balance left on the last night) down load any left over cash to our casino players account and after a couple cheap spins, cash out at the casino cashier......have lost any $$ that way;)

 

 

I was wondering if that would work! I asked on here once before but I got all kinds of answers that had nothing to do with what I was asking. lol :rolleyes:

 

That's good to know, thanks for verifying it for me!

[cruizinisthebest]

Sorry that happened to you OP. That info is all over this board and not really concealed on the website, which is why I refuse to buy it. Gift cards is a safer option to save up if you wanna go that route. How much did she buy that you guys had that much left over? Again, sorry that happened to you. :(

[Noel182002]

That does stink... Always read the fine print

[jks336]

I always purchased the drink coupons and photo coupons. the drink coupons gave me an advantage, prepay and actually saved almost a dollar on my jack n cokes. when I came back to the forums I found that they no longer carried them. yeah, less money out of their pocket.. I can see why they did.

 

the coupons they used to use that you got a check back at the end of the cruise is gone as well.

 

as to the cruise cash cards, I'm sorry for such a big loss, but I even read a post about that im trying to remember, but when I went to the BV page I did see it was non refundable nor carried over to another card or future cruise. I will purchase an approximate of what I will spend and that way know I will use it.

 

I will not spend for the bar card nor the photo card when the cruise cash covers all that because I did not want to not have $$ I didn't get to use.

[jks336]

So sorry this happened to you:(

We use cruise cash the last 2x on our last 2 cruises.....

We always (after checking our S&S, for any balance left on the last night) down load any left over cash to our casino players account and after a couple cheap spins, cash out at the casino cashier......have lost any $$ that way;)

 

very smart of you.. now that's an idea to hang on to.. I know a lot will do that to get some cash verses paying the high ATM fee's on the ship. lol.

[rskater59]

I bought enough cruise cash to cover our steakhouse dinner the first night and the gratuiities for DW and me. Little left over for a glass of wine here or there, as we are not really drinkers, so it should work out for us.

[OrlandoGirl57]

We purchased cruise cash to cover our excursions and chefs table costs ONLY. Otherwise will do gift cards for other charges.

[OrlandoGirl57]

So sorry this happened to you:(

We use cruise cash the last 2x on our last 2 cruises.....

We always (after checking our S&S, for any balance left on the last night) down load any left over cash to our casino players account and after a couple cheap spins, cash out at the casino cashier......have lost any $$ that way;)

 

How do you move the cruise cash to the casino account? Would be good to know just in case we don't spend all of ours.

[ladylikes2cruise]

How do you move the cruise cash to the casino account? Would be good to know just in case we don't spend all of ours.

 

on the slots there's a button that you push "charge to your S&S" card.....

Move any remaining cash over...spin once or twice.....cash out to your "players bank"....go to cashier and cash out

[HardToPort]

Always read the fine print... which in this case isn't too fine and is easily readable. (emphasis mine)

 

Carnival gift cards are a much better option. You don't get the cash back, but you get any leftover credit on another gift card you can use in the future.

 

Hi All,

 

Coconut, are you saying you bought $160 in Cruise Cash and never used it all up? Even on my own I generally drink more than that on a 5 day cruise. (Don't get me started on 7 and 8 day cruises!! :eek:).

 

I usually apply cash to my account at embarkation with my CC on file for back up. Then I grab the cash last night and any subsequent expenses hit the CC.

 

Please don't read anything into my query other than a desire to understand. There's nothing wrong with not drinking or keeping spending down.

 

I just don't understand the point of these other forms of payment.

 

Cheers!

HTP

:cool:

[4merlurker]

Wanted to give the kids some cruise cash for christmas. PVP just told me LAST NIGHT that anything left over would be mailed back to me in the form of a check. :mad: Good thing I decided to wait to purchase!

[CoconutJD]

Hi All,

 

Coconut, are you saying you bought $160 in Cruise Cash and never used it all up? Even on my own I generally drink more than that on a 5 day cruise. (Don't get me started on 7 and 8 day cruises!! :eek:).

 

I usually apply cash to my account at embarkation with my CC on file for back up. Then I grab the cash last night and any subsequent expenses hit the CC.

 

Please don't read anything into my query other than a desire to understand. There's nothing wrong with not drinking or keeping spending down.

 

I just don't understand the point of these other forms of payment.

 

Cheers!

HTP

:cool:

I don't buy cruise cash or any other "alternative" form of payment. It was the OP that got burned for the $160, and I'm assuming that was what was left over after all the expenses were charged towards it.

 

I don't understand the point of them either, although I do understand people wanting to "save up" in little amounts for the cruise, but what I do is just put an extra $20 or $50 (in cash) into an envelope every month or whenever I have extra money. It's hidden, so it's an "out of sight, out of mind" thing and I usually forget about it until it's time to go on vacation.

 

Gift cards do make sense, as gifts to people you know like cruising. But cruise cash, I don't understand why anyone would buy it.

Edited October 29, 2013 by CoconutJD

[ready2cruzagain]

I said when they first came out with Cruise Cash ...I wonder how long it will be before someone gets really burned.

 

OP sorry to hear about this.

[45014]

I don't understand the point of them either, although I do understand people wanting to "save up" in little amounts for the cruise, but what I do is just put an extra $20 or $50 (in cash) into an envelope every month or whenever I have extra money. It's hidden, so it's an "out of sight, out of mind" thing and I usually forget about it until it's time to go on vacation.

 

We don't spend $5.00 bills. When we get one, we put it into an envelope and deposit once a month at the bank. You would be surprised how quickly it can add up!

[cruizinisthebest]

I don't understand the point of them either, although I do understand people wanting to "save up" in little amounts for the cruise, but what I do is just put an extra $20 or $50 (in cash) into an envelope every month or whenever I have extra money. It's hidden, so it's an "out of sight, out of mind" thing and I usually forget about it until it's time to go on vacation.

 

We don't spend $5.00 bills. When we get one, we put it into an envelope and deposit once a month at the bank. You would be surprised how quickly it can add up!

 

 

Cruise cash I don’t get purchasing, because you really stand a chance of losing everything if something comes up and you have to switch or cancel your cruise. But saving up otherwise is a good thing. I love the $5 idea. I think I’ll copy off of you! That’s a good idea right there. I know I am bad at saving money once it’s in my hands or accessible. But if I stash it away…..way way away….I’m good:D. Nothing wrong with saving up. I just wouldn’t purchase credits that couldn’t be refunded if I didn’t go or use it all. OP said his wife didn’t know though…..

[MIZZ_K]

Just got burned for $160!! My Platinum but first cruise since cruise cash came about. Turns out it is not refundable!!! We have always paid for OBC ahead of the cruise then gotten the leftover back at the end of the cruise.

 

Got a check for $5.32 that must have been tax/port fee reduction. Called about the remaining cruise cash and was just told that there is no way to purchase OBC ahead of time that is refundable. Has to be used on that sailing. Can't cash out on the ship either.

 

First time in 10 Carnival cruises I am actually :mad:

 

Sorry this happened to you, but it does say that it is non refundable.