Gift card question

[ranchette]

When should I give the front desk the gift cards to apply to my sail & sign account?

[chrislo]

I apply mine using the kiosk at the begining of the trip so I dont forget or lose the gift card. The kiosk is very easy to use and faster than waiting on line at the desk.

[CRU1Z1N]

We do it on embarkation day. That way anything we purchase on board is taken first from the gift card, when we use that balance up then they start to use our cc

[ranchette]

Thanks for your replies

[mikel24m]

You can also use them to budget yourself and use one a day or whatever your budget is and have GS apply them daily.We try to do that for gambling so we don't over spend .Once our budget for the day is gone we are done until the next day.You can also take any money you have left out at the casino the last day too.All you do is put your card into a slot machine and download whatever the balance is and play a spin or two then cash out and go to the cage and ask to cash out and they will give you the cash

[Vitamin_Sea]

When should I give the front desk the gift cards to apply to my sail & sign account?

 

I go the first day when the line is short

[NCTattoo]

Kiosk. First day. So easy.

[ranchette]

Kiosk. First day. So easy.

 

I never used the kiosk how does that work?

[NCTattoo]

I had never used one prior to the last cruise. When I went the first day, Carnival had a worker stationed beside it who helped show people how to use it.

 

Even if he wasn't there, it was easy and anyone could have figured it out. You use your Sign and Sail Card to start the process and it gives you a number of choices, including adding a gift card. Was very easy, I promise.

[arby70]

All this info is so good to know. I have some gift cards I will take to the kiosk the first day and put them on to draw off. Thanks everyone.

[stargate fan]

Let me share our experiences with using a gift card for the first time on Legend in July.

 

We purchased a $500 gc through Verizon Wireless. We always use a credit card for S&S account. On the second day of the cruise, we went to GS to put the gc on our account, even though we knew we'd not use the whole $500.

We also had $275 in obc credit due to stockholder benefit, booking this cruise on a previous cruise, and a gift from a friend.

 

Fast forward to the last night of the cruise. We had about $285 of the gc unused. I called GS to inquire if we needed to come to have the funds returned to the original gc. I was told it would happen automatically.

 

The day we returned home from the cruise, there was a FedEx slip on our door. (We visited Oregon for a few days post-cruise so didn't come home right away.) The next day we picked up the package that FedEx wouldn't leave for us due to needing a signature. In the envelope was a Carnival gift card with the amount that was supposed to have been returned, according to GS.

 

A few days later, we received mail from Carnival. Enclosed was a check for the refundable portion of the obc, that should have been used on our S&S account.

 

When we crunched the numbers, the gc should have had more money left on it. But we got a check instead. No biggie.

 

Moral of our story-from now on we're taking the gc to Carnival on the last night, not on the first.

[Jenner9]

So they use the gift card funds before OBC?

[sarmat1]

When we crunched the numbers, the gc should have had more money left on it. But we got a check instead. No biggie.

 

Moral of our story-from now on we're taking the gc to Carnival on the last night, not on the first.

 

I'm a bit confused - they basically "cashed out" some of your gift card. I'd much rather have an unrestricted check over a gift card tied to one company. Was this a problem or am I reading it wrong?

 

That being said, I'm not really following why they did it that way for you as opposed to applying OBC first.

 

We had $100 GC's, 2 of which I applied midway through the cruise. We also had $200 OBC from future cruise and shareholder. Once gratuities posted combined with our small S&S charges, we had a balance of $77. I went and attempted to apply another $100 GC on the last night, but GS said they didn't think it worked since they thought our credit card would be charged the balance, but the GC apparently did take and it zeroed out our balance. Carnival returned the remaining $23 by check in the mail a week later. Credit card wasn't charged at all.

Edited September 1, 2015 by sarmat1

[Brighton Line]

All tied to refundable and nonrefundable on board credit what non-refundable OBC can't be used for.

When you apply gift card your account should be credited with refundable OBC.

They are supposed to charge non-refundable OBC first.

Should work, had issues when a Shore-X was cancelled paid with non-refundable OBC near the end of the trip and then the gratuities, don't remember if non-refundable OBC could be used for that.

Confusing...

[wemjam]

I find it is just easier to apply them as I need them, either at GS or at a kiosk. Once my account tops $100 or more due I go apply one. This way I am never applying more than I need and have to worry about getting it back. The last night if it is under $100 owing (I usually have $100 gift cards), I decide to either just let it go to my CC or to go down and ask them to apply only EXACTLY the balance left owing - that way I don't ever have to worry about "how" I am getting money back from them. I make a note of the odd balance left on the card and save it for next time.

 

Same thing applies if you have a bigger card, just because it is a $500 card doesn't mean you have to apply it all... just apply as you need exactly that amount.

 

Even when booking and using them I do the same thing. I had a $100 card, and decided to use $50 off it to prepay part of my gratuities on my Oct cruise coming up, and then put the gratuities balance of $22 on my credit card - then gave the $50 left on the gift card to my mom as a gift for her birthday this past weekend so she has it to use for our December cruise together (typed a little sticker up and put it on there that said $50 so she would know the amount). Did it specifically like this so I had exactly $50 to give to her.

[sailor_jimc]

I apply them as I need them. The first time we used them we had a $25ish balance left and they were quick enough in sending a new gift card. However, when they do you needed to be home for the Fed-Ex signature or go pick up the package. Both a pain for us. So I would rather only use what I know we will need and then on the last day take one to GS and have them "charge" any balance on the card that I can then take with me.

 

Of course if you use them all up its not a problem either way.

[Georgia Peach 4]

So, if I buy a gift card at Kroger for example, take it with me upon embarkation, as I check in, instead of a credit card, I can apply the gift card as our onboard expense account? Gratuities are already paid, so we would only need for drinks and other purchases.

Edited September 1, 2015 by Georgia Peach 4

[sailor_jimc]

No.. you still need a CC Peach.... I don't think they can take the gift card at embarkation check in.. but then I have not tried. You take it to the Guest services counter or use a Kiosk and the card amount is put on your Sign and Sail account as a refundable OBC..

[cb at sea]

Sounds like using cash would be an easier option!

[Georgia Peach 4]

Thank you for the clarification Sailor - some friends are cruising with us who do not have a credit card and I have warned them against using their debit card as the onboard expense account. How much cash is minimum to put down for that?

[RaiderFaninNM]

So, if I buy a gift card at Kroger for example, take it with me upon embarkation, as I check in, instead of a credit card, I can apply the gift card as our onboard expense account? Gratuities are already paid, so we would only need for drinks and other purchases.

 

IF you do not want to place a CC on your S&S acount, then tell them at embarkation you want a cash account, then when you get on board use either a kiosk or GS, simple I have never used a CC on any of my cruises and no problems. Best thing about a gift card is one does not have to handle so much cash, that is never a good idea.

[Georgia Peach 4]

Thanks Raiderfann

[bumbles]

Is this kiosk down in the Guest Services area as well? I thought I saw a machine down in that area but thought it was an ATm???

[wemjam]

There is usually one close to GS, but there is usually others around too. Sometimes in the photo area, sometimes by the coffee shop area... have seen them in several places. They do look a lot like the ATM though, so same idea, just different machine.

[stargate fan]

When we crunched the numbers, the gc should have had more money left on it. But we got a check instead. No biggie.

 

Moral of our story-from now on we're taking the gc to Carnival on the last night, not on the first.

 

I'm a bit confused - they basically "cashed out" some of your gift card. I'd much rather have an unrestricted check over a gift card tied to one company. Was this a problem or am I reading it wrong?

 

No, it was not a problem, it was just something we weren't expecting. We too liked having the money from the check rather than more on the gift card.

 

That being said, I'm not really following why they did it that way for you as opposed to applying OBC first.

 

That's exactly my point. We didn't understand why it was done how it was done. We scrutinized our S&S bill on our TV every day. It looked like all $275 obc was used first. I guess something went wonky on Carnival's end.

 

We had $100 GC's, 2 of which I applied midway through the cruise. We also had $200 OBC from future cruise and shareholder. Once gratuities posted combined with our small S&S charges, we had a balance of $77. I went and attempted to apply another $100 GC on the last night, but GS said they didn't think it worked since they thought our credit card would be charged the balance, but the GC apparently did take and it zeroed out our balance. Carnival returned the remaining $23 by check in the mail a week later. Credit card wasn't charged at all.

 

It was interesting and confusing indeed. We'll see what happens when we use gift cards on our next cruise. :eek: