pre purchasing cheers with Gift Card, looks like you can

[cruizinisthebest]

Don't they limit you to $500 in gift cards on your S&S?

Would you go to the Casino to take cash out?

 

No such limit with gift cards. You can load as many and as much as you want. Cruise cash has a max of $500 per person.

Edited August 3, 2016 by cruizinisthebest

[kylesplash]

No such limit with gift cards. You can load as many and as much as you want. Cruise cash has a max of $500 per person.

 

I bet that is what I was thinking of. Thanks!

[psikic]

Just noticed this at the bottom of Carnival's Gift Card page...

 

"To purchase Cheers or Bottomless Bubbles, please call 1-800-845-2599 if you would like to use a Carnival Gift Card to purchase Cheers or Bottomless "

http://www.carnivalgiftcards.com/

[kylesplash]

Just noticed this at the bottom of Carnival's Gift Card page...

 

"To purchase Cheers or Bottomless Bubbles, please call 1-800-845-2599 if you would like to use a Carnival Gift Card to purchase Cheers or Bottomless "

http://www.carnivalgiftcards.com/

 

Yeah, I had no such luck when I called that number. They told me I had to use them on the ship.

[psikic]

Yeah, I had no such luck when I called that number. They told me I had to use them on the ship.

 

OK, wasn't sure if it was a different number. Someone should let them know to update their website.

[cruizinisthebest]

OK, wasn't sure if it was a different number. Someone should let them know to update their website.

It's the same number posted in the first post. And yes they should scrub this from the gift card site too. They hurried and took it off the beverage page.

 

On another note, I think it sucks that the minimum gift card purchase is $100!

 

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

[psikic]

On another note, I think it sucks that the minimum gift card purchase is $100

 

You can buy cards down to $25 on eBay.

[MriDude]

Just noticed this at the bottom of Carnival's Gift Card page...

 

"To purchase Cheers or Bottomless Bubbles, please call 1-800-845-2599 if you would like to use a Carnival Gift Card to purchase Cheers or Bottomless "

http://www.carnivalgiftcards.com/

 

Just called 800 number and was told they cannot process gift cards for Cheers but it can be purchased on board at the discounted rate of 49.95 with gift cards.

[T's MOM]

Has anyone had any luck trying to use gift cards on board for the Cheers Package and had them honor the $49.95 price.

 

I called today and was told that they will honor the price on board, but nothing in writing says that from Carnival.

[cmukid87]

Has anyone had any luck trying to use gift cards on board for the Cheers Package and had them honor the $49.95 price.

 

I called today and was told that they will honor the price on board' date=' but nothing in writing says that from Carnival.[/quote']

 

It seems silly that they have the price increase on board but will honor the prepay price. I guess I will try it when we board. In your opinion, who would be the best person to talk to once onboard to sign up for CHEERS! at the "prepay" price?

[T's MOM]

It seems silly that they have the price increase on board but will honor the prepay price. I guess I will try it when we board. In your opinion, who would be the best person to talk to once onboard to sign up for CHEERS! at the "prepay" price?

 

I would say Guest Services or the atrium bar, since it is right there when you board.

[cmukid87]

I would say Guest Services or the atrium bar' date=' since it is right there when you board.[/quote']

 

I'll try the atrium bar. I guess I didn't really think that is something guest services would do. I figured it had to be done at the bar.

[firemanbobswife]

I know there was a different thread on this, but it looks like it's been removed or I can't find it. We decided after going back and forth many times to get Cheers on our upcoming cruise. There are a lot of us going, and figured there may be a few nights we decide to have a good time :). Just easier than having to keep a mental note of what we're spending. By the time you take out the BB package which we would have gotten anyway, we only need to average about 5 foo foo drinks a day to break even and that's only counting alcoholic drinks.

 

 

 

Anyway, back to the point of my post. I know Gift Cards can't be used to pre purchase Cheers, but I have also seen where people have said that they will honor the discounted price onboard if you pay with GCs. Well since I haven't seen an official statement from Carnival, I wrote them and got the following response:

 

 

 

 

Just a warning to those that may be looking to try and do it. I didn't want to take a chance and have to mess with it once I got there since there's no guarantee, so went ahead and bought them now. I also saw that Carnival can increase the price of the package without notice and that whatever price they say once you board is what it will be if you didn't buy it already. Being it's Spring Break, if there's a lot of demand, I suppose they could make it even higher then we would be stuck.

 

 

 

So just be aware if you were thinking about getting the discounted price onboard with Gift Cards. I know others have reported no problems, while others have said it was a big hassle. It appears Carnival is once again inconsistent in their policies. Don't want to start any debates, just thought I would make people aware of what the latest response from them is. Happy cruising!

Edited January 17, 2017 by firemanbobswife

[CruzCrazy]

I know there was a different thread on this, but it looks like it's been removed or I can't find it. We decided after going back and forth many times to get Cheers on our upcoming cruise. There are a lot of us going, and figured there may be a few nights we decide to have a good time :). Just easier than having to keep a mental note of what we're spending. By the time you take out the BB package which we would have gotten anyway, we only need to average about 5 foo foo drinks a day to break even and that's only counting alcoholic drinks.

 

 

 

Anyway, back to the point of my post. I know Gift Cards can't be used to pre purchase Cheers, but I have also seen where people have said that they will honor the discounted price onboard if you pay with GCs. Well since I haven't seen an official statement from Carnival, I wrote them and got the following response:

 

 

 

 

Just a warning to those that may be looking to try and do it. I didn't want to take a chance and have to mess with it once I got there since there's no guarantee, so went ahead and bought them now. I also saw that Carnival can increase the price of the package without notice and that whatever price they say once you board is what it will be if you didn't buy it already. Being it's Spring Break, if there's a lot of demand, I suppose they could make it even higher then we would be stuck.

 

 

 

So just be aware if you were thinking about getting the discounted price onboard with Gift Cards. I know others have reported no problems, while others have said it was a big hassle. It appears Carnival is once again inconsistent in their policies. Don't want to start any debates, just thought I would make people aware of what the latest response from them is. Happy cruising!

 

Typical...I see they are actually even writing contradictory e-mails about this. I've seen lots of copied-and-pasted responses here (including one of my own) that directly contradict the response you received. I've been told in a direct reply to the same question that says you absolutely can purchase Cheers on board at the pre-purchase price, and others have posted the same on this board. I'm going to take a copy of my e-mail from Guest Solutions and see what happens. See their reply to me on 11/04/16 below:

 

 

"Hello Lisa,

 

I Hope your day is going well.

 

Yes, you can purchase the Cheers program on board at the pre-cruise price using gift cards. The bar staff are well aware of this and there should be no problem with your purchase. Just be sure to mention it to them when you do purchase it.

 

The crew of the Magic look forward to welcoming your on board. Have a great cruise!

 

 

Kind regards,

 

Gail

 

Carnival Cruise Line | 3655 NW 87th Avenue | Miami, FL 33178"

[firemanbobswife]

Typical...I see they are actually even writing contradictory e-mails about this. I've seen lots of copied-and-pasted responses here (including one of my own) that directly contradict the response you received. I've been told in a direct reply to the same question that says you absolutely can purchase Cheers on board at the pre-purchase price, and others have posted the same on this board. I'm going to take a copy of my e-mail from Guest Solutions and see what happens. See their reply to me on 11/04/16 below:

 

 

"Hello Lisa,

 

I Hope your day is going well.

 

Yes, you can purchase the Cheers program on board at the pre-cruise price using gift cards. The bar staff are well aware of this and there should be no problem with your purchase. Just be sure to mention it to them when you do purchase it.

 

The crew of the Magic look forward to welcoming your on board. Have a great cruise!

 

 

Kind regards,

 

Gail

 

Carnival Cruise Line | 3655 NW 87th Avenue | Miami, FL 33178"

 

I know :( . I was hoping to get one of the same emails as you. Maybe too many people are doing it causing the Bar Managers to be crazy busy on embarkation so they want to stop the practice. If they would just allow you to do it online like with Shore Excursions, they wouldn't have to deal with it.

 

I could always try, but quite frankly, I don't want to start my cruise off with possible aggravation if they say no or if they decide to increase the price due to Spring Break. I'll just bite the bullet and get it ahead of time. I hope you have an easy time of it!

[CruzCrazy]

I know :( . I was hoping to get one of the same emails as you. Maybe too many people are doing it causing the Bar Managers to be crazy busy on embarkation so they want to stop the practice. If they would just allow you to do it online like with Shore Excursions, they wouldn't have to deal with it.

 

I could always try, but quite frankly, I don't want to start my cruise off with possible aggravation if they say no or if they decide to increase the price due to Spring Break. I'll just bite the bullet and get it ahead of time. I hope you have an easy time of it!

 

Point well taken. I think if it's too much hassle, I'll just walk away and they'll just lose a sale. I don't want to start off on the wrong foot either, and I've done without Cheers before. Not that the small price difference would be a deal breaker, but just that I'm not going to like it if they put it in writing and then try not to honor it. Not good business IMHO. It is ridiculous that they don't have it set up to use gift cards online for Cheers. Enjoy your cruise!!

[firemanbobswife]

Point well taken. I think if it's too much hassle, I'll just walk away and they'll just lose a sale. I don't want to start off on the wrong foot either, and I've done without Cheers before. Not that the small price difference would be a deal breaker, but just that I'm not going to like it if they put it in writing and then try not to honor it. Not good business IMHO. It is ridiculous that they don't have it set up to use gift cards online for Cheers. Enjoy your cruise!!

 

I would feel the same if I got a letter saying the would honor it as well. But since I was denied, I wouldn't have anyone to blame but myself.

 

It probably works out to about the same with the pre purchase price vs paying full price onboard with discounted GCs, but if I was counting on spending "x" then had to pay "y" I wouldn't be happy.

 

You have a great cruise as well! :D Let me know what happens!

[Sugaree5335]

I got the email saying that the pre-cruise price would be honored. And they did honor it. BUT....it took a whole lot of running around that I'd rather have not done right after embarkation. I hope that it's fixed by the time I take my next cruise.

[zookeeper]

Used our carnival gift card on our Sunshine cruise last month. Went first to the Pursers desk and loaded them onto our account. Then were directed to the Casino bar where we had to wait for a specific person to add the cheers. It was a hassle but we did get it at the pre-cruise rate and I don't believe we paid tax either. If I was doing Cheers on my Feb. cruise, I'd do it again but this time traveling with grandkids.

 

We did take a copy of an email we received from Carnival stating they would honor the lower price once on board -- but we didn't even have to show it.

[firemanbobswife]

Used our carnival gift card on our Sunshine cruise last month. Went first to the Pursers desk and loaded them onto our account. Then were directed to the Casino bar where we had to wait for a specific person to add the cheers. It was a hassle but we did get it at the pre-cruise rate and I don't believe we paid tax either. If I was doing Cheers on my Feb. cruise, I'd do it again but this time traveling with grandkids.

 

 

 

We did take a copy of an email we received from Carnival stating they would honor the lower price once on board -- but we didn't even have to show it.

 

 

It looks like they may be changing their stance from the email I got. Glad you were able to take advantage of it but I don't think it would be worth the hassle for me so I just bought it anyway. Especially since I couldn't get the same email.

 

BTW you're never charged tax on Cheers or BB no mater when it's purchased. Only on individual drinks while in a US Port. But there is always the 15% gratuity added.