Cruise Cash Nitty Gritty

[sparks1093]

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

 

We may buy some of both, once I finalize a budget for the cruise I'll know how much of each we're likely to need. Since I had $1100 in pre-paid OBC on our cruise with NCL and we had no problem spending it I doubt that we would have trouble spending $500 of each type of Cruise Cash.

 

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

 

It could be another thing that CCL doesn't enforce;).

[sparks1093]

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.

 

It is true that the website says you can only add $500 per cabin for each type of Cruise Cash, but not sure if that is an actual limit or not. (It could be that they have a limit listed so if a passenger buys more than that and doesn't spend it all it would help forestall any complaints about the non-refundable policy, but that's the only reason I can think of for a limit.)

Edited June 14, 2015 by sparks1093

[Bases5]

It could be another thing that CCL doesn't enforce;).

 

It says $500 limit in the FAQ. I guess that's why I never seen it before (never read FAQ before)

I just bought $800 cruise cash this morning for our July cruise, No where thru the procedure did it say a $500 limit. It already Charged my card and I have received a receipt.

 

I still would only buy cruise cash as not to limit my spending to the bars just in case I broke both arms and my drinking was slowed down having to use a straw.

 

Oh by the way you will love that southern Caribbean cruise out of San Juan. We just did that cruise on the Valor last Oct.

Also please don't compare the Fascination with the Breakaway.

 

I personally love the Fantasy class but lets face it the are becoming very dated with very few bells and whistles.

The one nice thing is that cruise is so port intensive the ship really doesn't matter as much.

[sparks1093]

It says $500 limit in the FAQ. I guess that's why I never seen it before (never read FAQ before)

I just bought $800 cruise cash this morning for our July cruise, No where thru the procedure did it say a $500 limit. It already Charged my card and I have received a receipt.

 

I still would only buy cruise cash as not to limit my spending to the bars just in case I broke both arms and my drinking was slowed down having to use a straw.

 

Oh by the way you will love that southern Caribbean cruise out of San Juan. We just did that cruise on the Valor last Oct.

Also please don't compare the Fascination with the Breakaway.

 

I personally love the Fantasy class but lets face it the are becoming very dated with very few bells and whistles.

The one nice thing is that cruise is so port intensive the ship really doesn't matter as much.

 

I enjoy the older, small ships and do realize they don't have all of the bells and whistles of the newer ones, but we did choose this cruise more for the itinerary.

[undercat]

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.

 

Sorry to bump this old thread, but I'm considering purchasing some cruise cash and/or gift cards to fund our S&S for our upcoming cruise. I already put a credit card on file for my S&S account in Cruise Manager, but would rather avoid seven days' worth of (albeit temporary) daily holds Carnival may put on my credit card.

 

If I opt to purchase, let's say $300 in Cruise Cash but keep the credit card on file in case my purchases exceed the Cruise Cash amount, and let's say I don't deplete that $300 until Day 3 of the cruise, might you know if Carnival will still place daily holds on my credit card starting with Day 1, or not until Day 3 once the Cruise Cash balance is depleted (and assuming I don't replenish it beforehand with real cash)?

 

I'm also considering purchasing and applying Carnival Gift Cards because any unused balance would go back to the gift card, just in case the casino cash-out option doesn't work for any excess Cruise Cash (not that I doubt cruiser experience, but Carnival could change their policy at any time).

 

I saw info online that Cruise Cash cannot be used for excursions, but then there's this from Carnival Fun Shops' website: "This credit is good for any charge made to their account including taxes and gratuity charges." In your experience, are there any S&S purchases for which regular Cruise Cash cannot be used?

 

Sorry for all of the questions, but I would trust actual cruiser experience over calling a random Carnival agent and hoping to get the real deal answer.

Edited November 8, 2015 by undercat

[Bases5]

Sorry to bump this old thread, but I'm considering purchasing some cruise cash and/or gift cards to fund our S&S for our upcoming cruise. I already put a credit card on file for my S&S account in Cruise Manager, but would rather avoid seven days' worth of (albeit temporary) daily holds Carnival may put on my credit card.

 

If I opt to purchase, let's say $300 in Cruise Cash but keep the credit card on file in case my purchases exceed the Cruise Cash amount, and let's say I don't deplete that $300 until Day 3 of the cruise, might you know if Carnival will still place daily holds on my credit card starting with Day 1, or not until Day 3 once the Cruise Cash balance is depleted (and assuming I don't replenish it beforehand with real cash)?

 

I'm also considering purchasing and applying Carnival Gift Cards because any unused balance would go back to the gift card, just in case the casino cash-out option doesn't work for any excess Cruise Cash (not that I doubt cruiser experience, but Carnival could change their policy at any time).

 

I saw info online that Cruise Cash cannot be used for excursions, but then there's this from Carnival Fun Shops' website: "This credit is good for any charge made to their account including taxes and gratuity charges." In your experience, are there any S&S purchases for which regular Cruise Cash cannot be used?

 

Sorry for all of the questions, but I would trust actual cruiser experience over calling a random Carnival agent and hoping to get the real deal answer.

 

Cruise cash cannot be used for pre purchases shore excursion but can be used while on the ship.

 

I have never had a hold put on my debt/credit as long as I had cash/ cruise cash/ Gift card on my account with value left.

Carnival always (at least my experience) charges towards the non refundable parts of your credits first.

 

As long as you play a few pulls in the casino the cash out option works.

 

Cruise cash is the same as regular cash to fund your sail and sign account. It can be used for everything.

The only difference (as you know) is cruise cash is non refundable.

[undercat]

Cruise cash cannot be used for pre purchases shore excursion but can be used while on the ship.

 

 

 

I have never had a hold put on my debt/credit as long as I had cash/ cruise cash/ Gift card on my account with value left.

 

Carnival always (at least my experience) charges towards the non refundable parts of your credits first.

 

 

 

As long as you play a few pulls in the casino the cash out option works.

 

 

 

Cruise cash is the same as regular cash to fund your sail and sign account. It can be used for everything.

 

The only difference (as you know) is cruise cash is non refundable.

 

 

Thank you Bases5!