Paying for stuff

[Along for the Ride]

I tried searching but couldn't find a good answer to my question, I'm a bit of a newbie so please forgive me if this has been answered already.

 

I have my first carnival cruise coming up. I had only cruised once before on NCL when my family was paying for things and now I'm on my own and a little confused as to how buying things works while on board.

 

Do I need to buy enough cruise cash credits ahead of time to make sure I cover everything I'll need to buy on the ship? Can I use a credit card while I'm there and/or charge things to my room? If I want to buy something and there isn't enough cruise cash credits what happens?

I saw it's a use it or lose it system and I don't want to get too many credits, but I am still not sure what I could possibly spend money on. I might gamble a little or maybe get a glass of wine but that's all I can foresee spending money on at the moment.

[Singer4Him]

With Carnival, you can do this a couple of ways. The quickest and easiest is to link your account to a credit card. Once on board, you will use your Sail & Sign card for all purchases (it also acts as your room key).

 

The second way is to go to guest services once you board and put cash on your account. Warning: The line at guest services may be long bc it seems that there's always a lot of people doing just this.

 

If you have trouble over-spending, this may be the best way to go so that you won't be shocked when you get the final bill at the end of the cruise.

 

Hope this helps!

[poison7fl]

I attach a credit card to my sail and sign account, but pay off the balance before debarkation with cash. Easy, and no worries later on.

[forwardcabin]

...and use a credit card that gives you points toward future travel. Using a debit card can cause unintended consequences.

[dolphin2012]

We use our credit card tied to the ship card . Its a good idea to check the balance of your account while on the ship. I also prepay my excursions and sometimes the tips. If you budget there shouldnt be any surprizes. The ship card will be used to pay for everything on the ship such as drinks, casino, gift shops, bingo, arcade, tours,and lot of photos!

[Quilcruisers]

Very easy to manage now. We link credit card to our sign and sail card. We go to the kiosk daily and deposit cash to pay towards our bill . At the end of the cruise we come out ahead. We spend money on camp carnival after hours for our son, drinks for me, gambling for me and husband. And usually let my son spend some money in stores or candy shop as a treat. My daughter pays cash and does same on her card throughout the cruise. It is very easy to manage. Just go deposit cash each day on the machine and you may have a small bill at the end that goes to the credit or debit card. We start out by bringing cash to cruise then deposit it each day we have leftover.

Edited April 18, 2015 by Quilcruisers

[GUT2407]

With Carnival, you can do this a couple of ways. The quickest and easiest is to link your account to a credit card. Once on board, you will use your Sail & Sign card for all purchases (it also acts as your room key).

 

The second way is to go to guest services once you board and put cash on your account. Warning: The line at guest services may be long bc it seems that there's always a lot of people doing just this.

 

If you have trouble over-spending, this may be the best way to go so that you won't be shocked when you get the final bill at the end of the cruise.

 

Hope this helps!

 

 

We need a best answer button.

[snowskier]

I use a credit card and pay the bill when it comes. I don't have any reason to pay any thing before or use cash during the cruise or try to figure cruise credits out. Credit card works at sea just like it does on land - make the purchase, pay off the card when the bill comes.

[lizardhowson]

I use a credit card and pay the bill when it comes. I don't have any reason to pay any thing before or use cash during the cruise or try to figure cruise credits out. Credit card works at sea just like it does on land - make the purchase, pay off the card when the bill comes.

 

^^This^^

 

Sadly, all these other "do this, do that" responses you are likely to see in a thread like this are the result of people's idiosyncrasies.

[mississauga]

I tried searching but couldn't find a good answer to my question, I'm a bit of a newbie so please forgive me if this has been answered already.

 

I have my first carnival cruise coming up. I had only cruised once before on NCL when my family was paying for things and now I'm on my own and a little confused as to how buying things works while on board.

 

Do I need to buy enough cruise cash credits ahead of time to make sure I cover everything I'll need to buy on the ship? Can I use a credit card while I'm there and/or charge things to my room? If I want to buy something and there isn't enough cruise cash credits what happens?

I saw it's a use it or lose it system and I don't want to get too many credits, but I am still not sure what I could possibly spend money on. I might gamble a little or maybe get a glass of wine but that's all I can foresee spending money on at the moment.

 

As others have said, linking a credit card to your account is the best way to go.

 

You did not say if using cash is your preference ( maybe because you thought it had to be done this way? ) but if it is, there is no need for you to buy cash credits ahead of time as you will lose them if not used. However, if you wait until you are on the ship and want to use cash, any cash you put on your account is refundable if not used.

 

If you have not prepaid your tips, that will probably be your biggest expense as you say you will not be spending much otherwise.

 

Enjoy your cruise!

[mississauga]

I use a credit card and pay the bill when it comes. I don't have any reason to pay any thing before or use cash during the cruise or try to figure cruise credits out. Credit card works at sea just like it does on land - make the purchase, pay off the card when the bill comes.

 

 

Best way to do it.

[bar10der421]

Best way to do it.

 

Agree. Leave the cash in the bank at home where you know it is safe. Use the credit card's money for the month it takes for the bill to come in and then pay it.

[bar10der421]

I use a credit card and pay the bill when it comes. I don't have any reason to pay any thing before or use cash during the cruise or try to figure cruise credits out. Credit card works at sea just like it does on land - make the purchase, pay off the card when the bill comes.

 

sorry, this is the one I agree with

[RuthlessBoss]

Very easy to manage now. We link credit card to our sign and sail card. We go to the kiosk daily and deposit cash to pay towards our bill . At the end of the cruise we come out ahead. We spend money on camp carnival after hours for our son, drinks for me, gambling for me and husband. And usually let my son spend some money in stores or candy shop as a treat. My daughter pays cash and does same on her card throughout the cruise. It is very easy to manage. Just go deposit cash each day on the machine and you may have a small bill at the end that goes to the credit or debit card. We start out by bringing cash to cruise then deposit it each day we have leftover.

 

Why bother doing this?

[SadieN]

Instead of brings by cash you could purchase Carnival Gift Cards at retailers, I've seen them at our local Vons Or you can purchase OBC thru Carnival

If purchasing through Carnival, make sure you purchase the refundable kind.

[seacat66]

what do you do with these gift cards from carnival? how do you redeem them?

[Sparky2]

...and use a credit card that gives you points toward future travel. Using a debit card can cause unintended consequences.

 

Because of "holds" put on the debit card by Carnival to make sure there are enough funds in the bank account.

[Quilcruisers]

Why bother doing this?

 

 

We bring cash on any vacation. When we check in we don't put cash on our sail and sign card, we use amex for any charges. As the week progresses, we will take any cash we didn't spend that day at port or winnings from the casino to pay towards our bill. At the end of the cruise we usually end up with a very small bill charged to our credit card. Basically the credit card is there in case we spend the money we budgeted. Sometimes we budget more than we actually spend and sometimes we can offset expenses by casino winnings. Or we had cash earmarked for spending once we are in port and do not end up spending it. So we just put it on the bill to pay it down. Our last cruise bill ended up being about 30.00 charged to our card. We had paid everything in cash.

[Quilcruisers]

Although cash is not used on the ship, it is useful when you are in the Ports. If you go to the beach and take a taxi or buy food drinks water or anything you will want to use cash.. Before you get on the ship and after you get off the ship you will need cash to tip and pay for parking taxis, cash is used at the casino on the ship and those are the reasons we have cash.

[Singer4Him]

We need a best answer button.

 

Why, thank you!! :)