kelkel2 Posted December 2, 2015 #1 Share Posted December 2, 2015 So I have set my on board expenses to be paid with a credit card, but I also have whole slew of gift cards that I have been given as gifts throughout the year. My question is, on the first day of the cruise the last thing I really want to do is stand in line at guest services or wait in link at the kiosk. If I don't see a line, certainly I will do it, but We all know how that first day is... If I just just my sign and sail the first day with my credit card set up to make purchases and then on the second day add the gift cards once things have calmed down a bit, would the charges i make get apple to the gift cards or to my credit card? Ultimately it really doesn't matter as we are paying no matter what, but I really want to use up the cards first... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canadian_J Posted December 2, 2015 #2 Share Posted December 2, 2015 If I'm not mistaken, nothing is "charged" to your credit card until after the cruise. Meaning they charge your card if no other form of payment (cash, OBC, gift cards, etc) are on the file. So you should be fine to apply the gift cards at any time before the sailing ends. I know members of our group did this on the last night of our cruise and had no issues covering the week's charges. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelkel2 Posted December 2, 2015 Author #3 Share Posted December 2, 2015 Thanks! I just don't want to spend my first day waiting in a long line for nothing... You confirmed what I suspected as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngAndBoys Posted December 2, 2015 #4 Share Posted December 2, 2015 I've done same set up and waited til late in a 7 day cruise to give the gift cards to pay. There was no charge on my card. I think it was 5th day of 7. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PAPERBKWRITER Posted December 2, 2015 #5 Share Posted December 2, 2015 About waiting in line. Go to GS before retiring for the night. They usually aren't very busy then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moondog73 Posted December 3, 2015 #6 Share Posted December 3, 2015 I had several Carnival gift cards to use in Sept on the Sunshine. I added $100 gift cards as I had that much on the s&s card. Did that a few times throughout the 8 day cruise. Nothing is charged to you credit card until you debark. Go CARDS!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troublemaker47 Posted December 3, 2015 #7 Share Posted December 3, 2015 Or you can think about buying cruise cash online with your gift cards and have it waiting for you. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelkel2 Posted December 3, 2015 Author #8 Share Posted December 3, 2015 Or you can think about buying cruise cash online with your gift cards and have it waiting for you. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Can cruise cash be used on more than one cruise? Like what if I don't use all of the gift card money? I have like $400 in gift cards. I was going to apply them as needed. If I buy $400 in cruise cash and don't use it all can I save it for next years Vista cruise? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kierra Posted December 3, 2015 #9 Share Posted December 3, 2015 You set up S&S with a credit card then go to GS and cash out the account using the gift cards. They tell you to keep the gift cards in case there was an issue and check your CC statement to verify but I did and it all went through ok. With me, all I charged the whole week was the Spa on the dream, and I'd been saving the cards just for that. I had the control and willpower to not use the S&S card after I'd cashed it out or you need to do it again or charges go to the CC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theriac Posted December 3, 2015 #10 Share Posted December 3, 2015 Can cruise cash be used on more than one cruise? Like what if I don't use all of the gift card money? I have like $400 in gift cards. I was going to apply them as needed. If I buy $400 in cruise cash and don't use it all can I save it for next years Vista cruise? Cruise cash can only be applied to the cruise it was purchased for. Just keep the giftcards! From my experience you can apply giftcards or cash at any time and that will be the payment. The credit card will only be charged if you use up all the cash/gift card value and there's still a balance. The kiosks don't usually have a line after sail away. In fact ive never seen a line at the kiosk that's usually by the casino except for one person waiting behind the person using it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DevCruise Posted December 4, 2015 #11 Share Posted December 4, 2015 Do keep in mind that even though there isn't a charge, Carnival will place a hold on the card and that hold may be adjusted based on first day charges. Not a big deal if you have room on your credit card, but if you're close to your limit or have a low limit.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccruisequeen Posted December 5, 2015 #12 Share Posted December 5, 2015 In long beach, you can even apply cash,/gift cards at time of check in at the port before you even board. My Cruise Countdown | I'm sailing to Mexico on 01/11/2016 aboard the Carnival Inspiration! Visit Carnival.com to see all Mexico cruises I cruise for Creme brulee, chocolate melting cake and lobster! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hazelroo Posted December 5, 2015 #13 Share Posted December 5, 2015 You can also enter your gift cards at the kiosk, so no waiting in line at GS. That is what I usually do. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
royalcruz Posted December 5, 2015 #14 Share Posted December 5, 2015 What happens if I apply a $100 gift card to my account and then don't spend it all? If I have a $100 gift card, can I ask the person at the desk to just use some of it to pay on my account? Do gift cards expire? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosesgt Posted December 6, 2015 #15 Share Posted December 6, 2015 We used 10 $100.00 gift cards on our Conquest cruise in Nov. We we're able to apply them when we checked in on Embarkation. It took a little longer, but we still had to wait to board so it was worth it. We purchased them through Verizon so we saved 10%. I like saving $$$.:D Happy cruising Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dioxide45 Posted December 6, 2015 #16 Share Posted December 6, 2015 What happens if I apply a $100 gift card to my account and then don't spend it all? If I have a $100 gift card, can I ask the person at the desk to just use some of it to pay on my account? Do gift cards expire? I know at the kiosk that you can specify the amount of the gift card you want to apply to the account. So if you have a $100 card, you could apply just $50. I would suspect you can do the same at GC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
royalcruz Posted December 7, 2015 #17 Share Posted December 7, 2015 I know at the kiosk that you can specify the amount of the gift card you want to apply to the account. So if you have a $100 card, you could apply just $50. I would suspect you can do the same at GC. Thank you. That's great! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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