How many people purchase fun dollars before cruising

[jaxcruiser23]

I was just wondering how many people do as I do before every cruise starting 3 months before each cruise I purchase about $150-$250 fun dollars every friday I look at it as a bill then when the cruise comes around we have over $2000 on our sale and sign card and that usually covers the whole cruise just seems easier to have funds on our account when we arrive. Anyone else do this or am I the only weirdo to do this lol

[Perfect Stranger]

If you have an emergency your money is tied up with Carnival. Why give them a free loan?

[alligirl78]

I was just wondering how many people do as I do before every cruise starting 3 months before each cruise I purchase about $150-$250 fun dollars every friday I look at it as a bill then when the cruise comes around we have over $2000 on our sale and sign card and that usually covers the whole cruise just seems easier to have funds on our account when we arrive. Anyone else do this or am I the only weirdo to do this lol

 

 

Nope. I do it too :) And I love the way it's worked out for us.

[jaxcruiser23]

If you have an emergency your money is tied up with Carnival. Why give them a free loan?

 

This is a non-issue as we have emergency funds put away in savings so...

[loxley]

If you have an emergency your money is tied up with Carnival. Why give them a free loan?

 

Not only that, but the way it is now, it is use it or lose it, so if for some reason you are unable to make the cruise, you are screwed.

[jaxcruiser23]

Not only that, but the way it is now, it is use it or lose it, so if for some reason you are unable to make the cruise, you are screwed.

 

Just one more reason to go on the cruise no matter what LOL. And to call it a free loan is ridiculous. Im sure I am missing out on a ton of interest off of this on board credit

[jsantos68]

We are going on the Sunshine in Aug. and I will definitely try this!

 

 

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[WAHMto5]

We do it as well, but with the Carnival Gift Cards. That way it is not the "Use it or Lose it" (though I have heard of people cashing out in the casino the night before) and it all stays on the cards or goes right back on the cards for the next cruise;)

Everyone saves and plans for their vacation in different ways, no right or wrong way!!

[bassmaster150]

We purchase some, but because it is non-refundable, we may only get like $500. We purchase all of our excursions up front before we get on the cruise, so the $500 is for photos, and other on board expenses. If it were refundable, we would get more.

[Kidsgoneletscruise]

We do this every cruise and love it. Whatever is "left over" they write you a check the last night of the cruise. Yes I have come home with money from vacation. :p

Edited March 6, 2014 by Kidsgoneletscruise

[maldenmusic]

What are Fun Dollars? Getting ready to take my 8th Carnival cruise and have never heard of them :confused:

[Mysticks1]

Since it is non-refundable I don't do that. I just have a set amount come out of my paycheck and go into a savings account.

[kona_wahine]

I don't either. I save up, and put everything on the S&S card on my Hawaiian miles card. Then it gets paid off. I put everything I can on my miles card. It's surprising how quick the miles add up. We are going to Hawaii next month for just a few dollars.

[Megan_Strick]

I have always done it as well. It's always worked out good for me

[klaner64]

If you like spending money why don't you apply for the Carnival credit card and start earning your tips and OBC. Every time you charge to your card for Carnival you get double points and everything else you get 1 point for every $1 you spend. Last cruise I took I had enough credits to pre pay our tips and have $200 OBC.

[MsMot]

Not only that, but the way it is now, it is use it or lose it, so if for some reason you are unable to make the cruise, you are screwed.

 

And that is exactly why I would never do it. I had considered it, but I read the fine print:eek:

[jaxcruiser23]

The use it or use it is kinda pointless all you have to do is go to the casino on the last night and cash out no biggy

[jaxcruiser23]

And that is exactly why I would never do it. I had considered it, but I read the fine print:eek:

 

This happened to a friend of mine he had to cancel his cruise he called his bank he applied the fun dollars with and explained to them his issue and bamm he got propriatary (sp?) credit and 1 week later issue resolved

[rsaban]

What I do the day we board is go straight to Guest Services and give them my cash to apply to our onboard account. I normally do $200-400. Depending on the cruise length. Its the fun days at sea is what gets you spending...

[TheCalicoCat]

I was just wondering how many people do as I do before every cruise starting 3 months before each cruise I purchase about $150-$250 fun dollars every friday I look at it as a bill then when the cruise comes around we have over $2000 on our sale and sign card and that usually covers the whole cruise just seems easier to have funds on our account when we arrive. Anyone else do this or am I the only weirdo to do this lol

 

I send money after my final payment is made.

Never enough so that I could cover an emergency. If my funds were that tight I wouldn't be going on a vacation. I too like not having a bill at the end.

I budget it fairly closely so as not to apply too much. (I've never even had to think about cashing out extra - I usually have a small bill.) Adult beverage cost x number of drinks a day x number of days.

Edited March 6, 2014 by TheCalicoCat

[cruizinisthebest]

We do it as well, but with the Carnival Gift Cards. That way it is not the "Use it or Lose it" (though I have heard of people cashing out in the casino the night before) and it all stays on the cards or goes right back on the cards for the next cruise;)

Everyone saves and plans for their vacation in different ways, no right or wrong way!!

 

I'm doing it the same way. Buying gift cards. Also saving. Using my cc for transportation to and from Florida. There are a lot of expenses for us. And I don't like having every expense piled on a credit card. My way. Everyone's is different like you said. Nothing wrong with anybody's choices so long as you haven enough to enjoy your vacation without being stressed out.

[atate75]

Can you not just tether a credit card to your S&S card and charge all of your purchases? What would be the advantage of buying fun dollars? This is our first cruise so I really don't know.

 

 

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[mizkim]

I'm travelling with my brother and niece. He's a horrible saver. I suggested he purchase a $20 egift card every he gets paid to cover what he thinks he would spend onboard. Its not a huge amount at one time that's its painful for him to purchase and it will keep his hands off of it.

 

I'm buying the Carnival egift cards because they never lose their value (carnivalgiftcards dot com).

 

 

And for those of you who say put it in the bank to earn interest, I put $1000 in a 60 month CD for our family reunion at the highest interest rate I could find at the time and this year's interest statement said we earned a whopping $9 all of last year. I probably have wasted $9 on foolishness anyway.

Edited March 6, 2014 by mizkim

[vols_159]

No way .. Why give a million dollar company my money seems silly to me

 

 

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[mizkim]

Can you not just tether a credit card to your S&S card and charge all of your purchases? What would be the advantage of buying fun dollars? This is our first cruise so I really don't know.

 

 

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Yes you can tether a credit card to your S&S card, I would say the majority of people probably do. The advantage of buying fun dollars or in my case gift cards is that I can buy them in small amounts over time and have them added to my onboard account then when I return from my trip I will not have a huge credit card bill.

 

Its really comes down to you and your preference.