On Board Credit Question

[pyropoodle]

I apologize if this has been asked before...i tried searching, but......here goes anyway

 

So, i have cruised with Carnvial several times and I usually call the 800 number and add on board credit to my booking number and OBC to anyone who might be travelling with me (they usually separate it for us)

 

I just noticed that the Carnival website has something called Cruise Cash now. I was wondering if anyone has had experience with this or if they will still allow you to add OBC to over the phone to your booking the regular old way. I know with OBC in the past, if you didn't use it all, they just provided a check with the remaining balance to your stateroom, but the Cruise Cash claims that any funds not spent will just be lost. I'm not sure if i want to chance that, but I'd like to give the two ladies travelling with me some OBC...but if they don't spend it for some reason, i don't want to just be out those funds if that makes sense.

 

I know I can always call the hotline and ask, but I'm at work pretending to be busy so I don't want anyone overhearing me talking about my vacation (which is 59 days away.....woot, woot) so I thought i'd ask this amazing community for guidance.

 

Thanks in advance for taking the time to read.

[Out to sea!]

I've never used Cruise Cash so I can't tell you the ins and outs. But I just can't help but wondering why anyone would want to buy OBC? It doesn't change the cost of things and you're giving up your money before you have to.

[Sparky2]

I apologize if this has been asked before...i tried searching, but......here goes anyway

 

So, i have cruised with Carnvial several times and I usually call the 800 number and add on board credit to my booking number and OBC to anyone who might be travelling with me (they usually separate it for us)

 

I just noticed that the Carnival website has something called Cruise Cash now. I was wondering if anyone has had experience with this or if they will still allow you to add OBC to over the phone to your booking the regular old way. I know with OBC in the past, if you didn't use it all, they just provided a check with the remaining balance to your stateroom, but the Cruise Cash claims that any funds not spent will just be lost. I'm not sure if i want to chance that, but I'd like to give the two ladies travelling with me some OBC...but if they don't spend it for some reason, i don't want to just be out those funds if that makes sense.

 

I know I can always call the hotline and ask, but I'm at work pretending to be busy so I don't want anyone overhearing me talking about my vacation (which is 59 days away.....woot, woot) so I thought i'd ask this amazing community for guidance.

 

Thanks in advance for taking the time to read.

 

That's true - it's use it or lose it. Do not buy more than you know you'll spend. However, I think that this OBC can be used at the casino in a slot machine and cashed out. Someone will post how you can do it.

 

Somebody has mentioned Gift Cards, but I'm not sure if they are refundable.

[ready2cruzagain]

Carnival no longer allows you to buy obc to add to your account. Now they want you to buy the Cruise Cash. The Cruise Cash is nonrefundable and a "Use it or Lose it" meaning if you don't use it all...Carnival keeps it!:eek::eek:

 

You can go to the casino on the last night and somehow play and then cash out at the casino cage instead of losing it.

[CoconutJD]

That's true - it's use it or lose it. Do not buy more than you know you'll spend. However, I think that this OBC can be used at the casino in a slot machine and cashed out. Someone will post how you can do it.

 

Somebody has mentioned Gift Cards, but I'm not sure if they are refundable.

Gift cards, if there is any remaining balance, it will be put on a new gift card for you to use in the future. So, while not technically "refundable", you do at least get to use the credit on a future cruise.

[pyropoodle]

Carnival no longer allows you to buy obc to add to your account. Now they want you to buy the Cruise Cash. The Cruise Cash is nonrefundable and a "Use it or Lose it" meaning if you don't use it all...Carnival keeps it!:eek::eek:

 

You can go to the casino on the last night and somehow play and then cash out at the casino cage instead of losing it.

 

well, that's good to know. thanks so much for that info.

 

 

But I just can't help but wondering why anyone would want to buy OBC? It doesn't change the cost of things and you're giving up your money before you have to.

 

people buy it for all sorts of reasons. some people like to pay a little bit at a time if they know money is tight so by the time the cruise rolls around, it's all paid for and they can just sit back and enjoy without having a bill to worry about after the cruise.

 

in my case, i am buying for 2 other people in my room. my mom and her friend. i wanted them to have a little extra spending cash to spend on photos or sodas or whatever the heck they want to spend it on....but my mom probably won't drink $25.00 or $50.00 worth of sodas. if she spent $10.00 on soda and they gave her the rest in cash, that would be great. but, if she spends 10 bucks on soda and Carnival keeps the other 15, then that just sucks. it would just be better for them to buy what they want and then i worry about the bill when it's all over myself.

 

 

this has been very helpful, so thanks everyone.

Edited November 13, 2013 by pyropoodle

[pyropoodle]

Gift cards, if there is any remaining balance, it will be put on a new gift card for you to use in the future. So, while not technically "refundable", you do at least get to use the credit on a future cruise.

 

having never used a gift card before, do you know if those have an expiration date? or if they are transferrable from person to person?

 

for example, if i buy a gift card for my mom and she doesn't use it all and she decides she never wants to cruise again, but I love to cruise, can she give it to me for a future cruise?

 

i am soooo full of questions. I feel like a NOOB :D

[Out to sea!]

well, that's good to know. thanks so much for that info.

 

 

 

 

people buy it for all sorts of reasons. some people like to pay a little bit at a time if they know money is tight so by the time the cruise rolls around, it's all paid for and they can just sit back and enjoy without having a bill to worry about after the cruise.

 

in my case, i am buying for 2 other people in my room. my mom and her friend. i wanted them to have a little extra spending cash to spend on photos or sodas or whatever the heck they want to spend it on....but my mom probably won't drink $25.00 or $50.00 worth of sodas. if she spent $10.00 on soda and they gave her the rest in cash, that would be great. but, if she spends 10 bucks on soda and Carnival keeps the other 15, then that just sucks. it would just be better for them to buy what they want and then i worry about the bill when it's all over myself.

 

 

this has been very helpful, so thanks everyone.

 

Yes, I understand saving a little each week/month but instead of giving that money to Carnival and letting them earn interest on it, put it in savings and you earn the interest on it. Add each week/month and then take it all on board and put it on your account (which also makes it refundable OBC as well) or pay the CC bill with it when you return. It's the exact same principle, save a little each week/month for your cruise bill but you get to earn the benefits of your saving habits, not Carnival and you also get to keep what you don't use without jumping through hoops to get it back.

 

 

For those you want to know how to pull your OBC the last night in the Casino, simply go to any slot machine (may work on other machines as well). Insert your S&S card (required) and make a withdrawal from your account to "gamble" with ($10, $20, or however much you have left in OBC on your account). Immediately (without actually playing the slots), "use the cash out option and then head over to the cashiers cage to collect your "winnings" (your leftover OBC). This is what I did on the Liberty (had $74 in unused OBC) so I had a $6 S&S bill when I left the ship (I believe you can only pull even dollar amounts).

Edited November 14, 2013 by Out to sea!