Gift Cards, OBC, Cruise Cash

[Beeslilmama]

My cruise is coming in February, what is the best way to build up a credit so I can minimize the use of my credit card? Where can I get gift cards? How do you get OBC? Cruise cash is the only one I have managed to figure out. Thanks!

[elainmir]

I will say if you purchase Carnival Gift Cards from Lowes or Kroger,etc..those will work fine. I purchased cruise cash with some MasterCard GC's I had gotten and when I was onboard they shorted me on my Cruise Cash...something with the MasterCard and VISA GC's doesn't work, it should it's an online purchase. I bought a 12 pk of water for the last cruise using a VISA GC..it was never delivered because they said it was never purchased...it was and I had the receipt and item number even though it said it went through, Carnival said it didn't. Didn't do me any good once I was off the cruise...so...I used the Carnival GC's from the Verizon rewards site and they work fine..mostly we use cash. I don't want holds on my debit or Credit card...and don't want to many prying eyes on my cards..

[ohiowilly]

To me, the gift cards are the most versatile, and easiest to use.

 

Also, and I'm sure that someone will correct me if I am wrong, but some Cruise Cash is non-refundable, some can be refunded if not totally used during your cruise. Cruise cash can be bought for specific purposes, like bar purchases, or onboard photos, or for general use onboard. I believe that the same holds true for OBC - depending on the source of the OBC, which comes normally from Carnival. On our last cruise, our OBC was "use it or lose it."

 

Gift cards can be found in some retail stores - in Ohio, they're available at Kroger stores. They can also be bought directly from Carnival. AARP and Verizon also have programs where gift cards can be bought at a 10% discount.

 

Which ever form you use, I would check on whether they are refundable, if they're not totally spent or used during your cruise.

[Missileer]

Carnival gift cards work. Take them to the Guest Services Desk and they will add them to your account. OBC can be done several ways one of which is to purchase 100 or more shares of CCL stock. Then each cruise you will receive an OBC for $50.00 or $100.00 depending on the length of your cruise. We have done this for years and it works every time.

Enjoy your cruise.

[Beeslilmama]

To buy a GC from Verizon do you have to be a "subscriber" or a member? What about the AARP? How does one buy them? Online?

[Rod in Az]

To buy a GC from Verizon do you have to be a "subscriber" or a member? What about the AARP? How does one buy them? Online?

 

In short, for Verizon, yes you have to be a customer. This link is to a forum where the Gift Cards thru Verizon are discussed at length:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2273611&highlight=verizon

 

For AARP, you do not have to be a member, but members earn more points to use to redeem for stuff (including Carnival Gift Cards) in the "Rewards for Good" program. This link is to a forum where the Gift Cards thru AARP are discussed at length, including several posts describing how the site works:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2208976

[ladygal4.4]

There's not many ways to get free money. The gift cards from Verizon or AARP or if there's a price drop is about the only way. Start putting aside spare change and cash to put on the account to minimize what is put on your card.

 

For Verizon, you have to be a Verizon subscriber and have lots of points to buy the gift cards at a 10% discount (a $100 card cost $90) They're not easy to get, and sell out within minutes of being posted.

 

To find the price drops, you will need to watch the website diligently to see if/when that happens. Then fill out the form and email it in.

 

Shareholder credit requires a 100 shares, and that is around 5-6k right now to purchase it.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Edited November 9, 2015 by ladygal4.4

[jks336]

My cruise is coming in February, what is the best way to build up a credit so I can minimize the use of my credit card? Where can I get gift cards? How do you get OBC? Cruise cash is the only one I have managed to figure out. Thanks!

 

This is what i did last cruise.

I went to carnival.com and my cruise and purchase $400.00 in cruise cash, it will be on your s & s when on ship. ( i save recpts of purchase) I also had $200.00 in Carnival Gift cards I kept until I was on the ship. My credit card as back up. I had $100.00 obc from the booking i did.

 

They work off the obc first, then they work off the cruise cash. I needed more, so i put my carnival gift cards on my account. At the end of the cruise I have $84.00 on my credit card. Its a nice way to have your vacation pre-payed as much as possible :) :D

 

I word of warning. Cruise cash is NON refundable. If you purchase too much, you will NOT get a refund. So either purchase only so much or just make sure you pay attention to your s & s account. If you find you will have some left over, go to the casino, swipe your card and pull out that money on the slot. maybe run a few spins. Cash out and go to the casino cage and get your cash back in hand. :D

 

If you use the Carnival Gift cards (some stores carry them) and you have money left in s & s, they will give you back the amount in the form of a Carnival gift card. (keep your cards just in case).

 

I am a Best Western Rewards member and i can use my points to get Carnival gift cards, woohoo lol. I have been working on getting them through this last year so i can have my cruise taken care of. Also, some companies, ie: aarp or verizon has an option for getting Carnival gift cards too.

[jks336]

dbl post. removed

Edited November 11, 2015 by jks336