Cruise Cash Nitty Gritty

[sparks1093]

So looking ahead to our Fascination cruise that seems like it will take place next millenia I was looking at the possibility of purchasing Cruise Cash in advance to help offset the final invoice. I am aware that any unused portion is forfeited and that there is a limit of $500 per cabin, but other than that are there any issues with using Cruise Cash? Anyone not have it show up on their account and have to fight to get it added? If you have cancelled your cruise did the Cruise Cash go poof? Thanks for your insights!

[Frank12]

I have used it on each cruise since it came out. It has always been on my folio when I boarded, but I do always take a printed copy of my receipt just in case.

It has never gone unused and I have never cancelled a cruise so I cannot speak to those items.

No other issues with it I can think of. Just make sure to not buy more than you will use.

[KatRat416]

We used it on our last cruise. No problems at all. However, this time we've gone with gift cards. You can put all or as much as you want on your account on board. Add more as you go if needed and you have them. We got some at Kroger when they did their special as well as some from the Verizon deal. Even if you don't get any at a discount, if you want to slowly "save" for the trip, instead of having to call and put money down you can find somewhere that sells the cards and get one each pay day for whatever amount you want. Then you have the money saved in a way that you can't use it except for your cruise :) They don't expire either!

[vamartha]

I have canceled a cruise where I had purchased Cruise Cash. It was IMMEDIATELY refunded without my asking. I fully expected to lose the entire amount and was very pleasantly surprised when the credits started to show up in our accounts. It was refunded right back to the individual cards used to purchase it.

 

I use it for the same reason, pay a little each pay period and I have most of my onboard purchases already paid for, even a little extra socked away for the casino. For the last four cruises I have exceeded the amount Carnival requires for a deposit to your onboard account if you set up a cash account (instead of putting a credit card on file) and I've also used the "cash out through the casino" unofficial way of making sure that I get any unused portion back. I use the Cruise Cash, not the Cruise Photo nor the Cruise Bar.

 

We had to cancel last fall due to complications with my Mother's heart surgery (should have been about a five day hospital stay, instead it was 37 days in ICU). She had also purchased Cruise Cash for my sister as a birthday gift, her card was refunded as well.

 

On the other hand, with the number of rules changes Carnival is making at a record rate, what worked or was the policy yesterday may indeed change tomorrow.

[Bases5]

We use it every cruise and love it.

All the previous posters are spot on.

I'm not sure where the $500 limit came from but I can assure you we have had a great deal more than $500

I'm thinking we had about $1200 on our last cruise.

[mzlinda]

You might want to hold out till next week to see if carnival offers the gift card bonus deal again for Father's Day. Last year I bought a $500 gift card and got a &50 free gift card bonus. I used part of it to make final payment on my cruise and applied the rest to my S&S account once onboard the ship.

[cruizinisthebest]

The description says cruise cash is non refundable and non transferable. That's great if it really isn't, but I use gift cards just to be sure. The only advantage to cruise cash as opposed to gift cards that I can see is the cruise cash is automatically applied. Gift cards have to be loaded. Plus if you don't mind the chase, you can get the gift cards discounted.

[Bases5]

They both have there advantages.

What I don't like about gift card is it ties up our money.

We bought some and the ways things turned out we sailed other lines and carnival held our money for a couple years, I couldn't get it back.

Cruise cash is non refundable to a point. But that's only after you start your cruise.

If you cancel your cruise before sailing it's fully refundable.

with a gift card it just goes' back to the gift card. (no cash back)

After you start your cruise Carnival uses cruise cash first before any cash or credit card you might apply.

On your statement it's a separate line item so you can check at the kiosk or guest services to keep track of how much you have left.

If for some reason you have extra cruise cash left near the end of the cruise you can always get cash at the casino so you don't lose it.

very simple.

We only buy cruise cash closes to sail date, That way we don't have to carry large amount of cash with us.

We don't have credit cards and don't use our debit card.

 

I understand people like to buy both a little at a time as they can afford it. I get that.

We opened a separate cruise account at the bank. So instead of buying $50 cruise cash this week We just transfer $50 into this account.

[edbro]

So looking ahead to our Fascination cruise that seems like it will take place next millenia I was looking at the possibility of purchasing Cruise Cash in advance to help offset the final invoice. I am aware that any unused portion is forfeited and that there is a limit of $500 per cabin, but other than that are there any issues with using Cruise Cash? Anyone not have it show up on their account and have to fight to get it added? If you have cancelled your cruise did the Cruise Cash go poof? Thanks for your insights!

 

I can't understand why you would convert completely flexible cash into a non-flexible vehicle. Unless you are getting cruise cash at a discount. All you are doing is tying your own hands. If you are worried that the money won't be there when you cruise then just create a cruise only fund or CD.

[JMHAM1]

Can the cruise cash be used to pay for the per person/per day gratuities?

[Bases5]

Can the cruise cash be used to pay for the per person/per day gratuities?

 

Yes It goes into your on board account. Any thing you use your sail and sign accout for uses cruise cash first. Including tips

 

It will not only be used for tips it will be used for everthing.

 

You can pre pay your tips by calling carnival if you already booked.

Edited June 13, 2015 by Bases5

[cantthinkofanythingfun]

What is the advantage to cruise cash over just setting up an onboard spending account?

[Bases5]

What is the advantage to cruise cash over just setting up an onboard spending account?

 

Not one thing.

 

It helps people pay a little at a time so at the end there onboard account is not so big.

[sparks1093]

We used it on our last cruise. No problems at all. However, this time we've gone with gift cards. You can put all or as much as you want on your account on board. Add more as you go if needed and you have them. We got some at Kroger when they did their special as well as some from the Verizon deal. Even if you don't get any at a discount, if you want to slowly "save" for the trip, instead of having to call and put money down you can find somewhere that sells the cards and get one each pay day for whatever amount you want. Then you have the money saved in a way that you can't use it except for your cruise :) They don't expire either!

 

Definitely something to consider, thanks!

[sparks1093]

I have used it on each cruise since it came out. It has always been on my folio when I boarded, but I do always take a printed copy of my receipt just in case.

It has never gone unused and I have never cancelled a cruise so I cannot speak to those items.

No other issues with it I can think of. Just make sure to not buy more than you will use.

 

I have canceled a cruise where I had purchased Cruise Cash. It was IMMEDIATELY refunded without my asking. I fully expected to lose the entire amount and was very pleasantly surprised when the credits started to show up in our accounts. It was refunded right back to the individual cards used to purchase it.

 

I use it for the same reason, pay a little each pay period and I have most of my onboard purchases already paid for, even a little extra socked away for the casino. For the last four cruises I have exceeded the amount Carnival requires for a deposit to your onboard account if you set up a cash account (instead of putting a credit card on file) and I've also used the "cash out through the casino" unofficial way of making sure that I get any unused portion back. I use the Cruise Cash, not the Cruise Photo nor the Cruise Bar.

 

We had to cancel last fall due to complications with my Mother's heart surgery (should have been about a five day hospital stay, instead it was 37 days in ICU). She had also purchased Cruise Cash for my sister as a birthday gift, her card was refunded as well.

 

On the other hand, with the number of rules changes Carnival is making at a record rate, what worked or was the policy yesterday may indeed change tomorrow.

 

Thanks!

[sparks1093]

We use it every cruise and love it.

All the previous posters are spot on.

I'm not sure where the $500 limit came from but I can assure you we have had a great deal more than $500

I'm thinking we had about $1200 on our last cruise.

 

The limit is listed on the Cruise Cash page.

[sparks1093]

They both have there advantages.

What I don't like about gift card is it ties up our money.

We bought some and the ways things turned out we sailed other lines and carnival held our money for a couple years, I couldn't get it back.

Cruise cash is non refundable to a point. But that's only after you start your cruise.

If you cancel your cruise before sailing it's fully refundable.

with a gift card it just goes' back to the gift card. (no cash back)

After you start your cruise Carnival uses cruise cash first before any cash or credit card you might apply.

On your statement it's a separate line item so you can check at the kiosk or guest services to keep track of how much you have left.

If for some reason you have extra cruise cash left near the end of the cruise you can always get cash at the casino so you don't lose it.

very simple.

We only buy cruise cash closes to sail date, That way we don't have to carry large amount of cash with us.

We don't have credit cards and don't use our debit card.

 

I understand people like to buy both a little at a time as they can afford it. I get that.

We opened a separate cruise account at the bank. So instead of buying $50 cruise cash this week We just transfer $50 into this account.

 

Useful insights, thank you!

[sparks1093]

I can't understand why you would convert completely flexible cash into a non-flexible vehicle. Unless you are getting cruise cash at a discount. All you are doing is tying your own hands. If you are worried that the money won't be there when you cruise then just create a cruise only fund or CD.

 

Because I can and because I want to;).

[Bases5]

The limit is listed on the Cruise Cash page.

 

I'm not at a place to look but I think it's $500 per single transaction not total

[carolinaviking71208]

I'm not at a place to look but I think it's $500 per single transaction not total

 

 

That was my impression as well.

[Singer4Him]

We opened a separate cruise account at the bank. So instead of buying $50 cruise cash this week We just transfer $50 into this account.

 

This is a great idea. Kind of like a Christmas club but for vacation. :)

[sparks1093]

I'm not at a place to look but I think it's $500 per single transaction not total

 

Maybe but it says per cabin: "*Cruise Cash Bar purchases limited to $500 per cabin."

[Bases5]

Maybe but it says per cabin: "*Cruise Cash Bar purchases limited to $500 per cabin."

 

Ok. Anyhow you don't want to buy cruise bar because it can only be used for drinks. Just buy regular cruise cash, you can use it for everything including drinks

[Bases5]

Maybe but it says per cabin: "*Cruise Cash Bar purchases limited to $500 per cabin."

 

I see where is says that. Either that's new or I have never noticed it before. Like I said last cruise (oct 2014) we had $1200. We bought cheers and a couple shore excursions and still had a couple hundred left

[deborahjo]

We bought gift cards from Carnival and just applied them to our balance when we boarded thru the kioas? machines. When we needed cash we just withdrew it from the kioas? machines. On the last night we just emptied our account no problem.

 

We applied $950 with no trouble. Is it true that they have taken the amount you can add now to $500? I hope not.