Razor_Poke Posted August 8, 2016 #1 Share Posted August 8, 2016 I forgot to mention this in my recent review of the Dream. I had $525 in gift cards upon check in, some of the PayPal digital gift cards and the others were the real cards from AARP. When presented at the counter, the lady said she didn't know how to do gift cards and told me to go to guest services once on board. Luckily I had FTTF so i got service quickly. Those things are understandably a pain because each one has to be entered individually. It probably took a good 15 minutes to enter the 9 that I had. Anyway, just a heads up. I'm not sure if the agent was straight with me or if she just didn't want to deal with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
splintz Posted August 8, 2016 #2 Share Posted August 8, 2016 i have used many on the computer or phone to book a cruise or pay for excursions. have not used them on board yet. can you put them in yourself at the kiosks? or does it have to be done by guest services. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crusinpsychRN Posted August 8, 2016 #3 Share Posted August 8, 2016 They are a pain. I tried to use it online to pay for cruise. 1 card worked, 2 others showed nothing on them. Called and Carnival rep got them to work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
babs125 Posted August 8, 2016 #4 Share Posted August 8, 2016 i have used many on the computer or phone to book a cruise or pay for excursions. have not used them on board yet. can you put them in yourself at the kiosks? or does it have to be done by guest services. You can do it at the kiosks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerReuv Posted August 8, 2016 #5 Share Posted August 8, 2016 We used gift cards for our S&S card on our last cruise and the check in person was not able to apply them. We, too, had to go to GS to apply them. That was before I knew I could apply them at the Kiosk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firemanbobswife Posted August 8, 2016 #6 Share Posted August 8, 2016 (edited) The lady that checked me in in February straight up asked me if I had any gift cards when she saw my cash account. She offered to apply them right then and there. I was a little surprised since every other time I had to go to GS or the kiosks. She printed out a receipt for each one and had me sign. She asked if I gambled much and said she loves to go cruising and spends a ton of time in the casino and gets free cabins all the time. I would have loved to been on the ship with her. It would have been a blast! Anyway, I think it depends on who you get. Edited August 8, 2016 by firemanbobswife Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dec2007w3boys Posted August 8, 2016 #7 Share Posted August 8, 2016 kiosk worked great on board! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bar1068 Posted August 8, 2016 #8 Share Posted August 8, 2016 With regards to the kiosks, are they any better with being able to swipe the magnetic strip on the gift card? My experience has not been good, and had read here others said the same. I mostly get ecards rather than the physical plastic cards when I can, unless a good deal on the physical card, if I gotta type in the number, don't really need the card for that with an ecard....but if the kiosks have improved could get plastic next time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winddawn Posted August 8, 2016 #9 Share Posted August 8, 2016 i have used many on the computer or phone to book a cruise or pay for excursions. have not used them on board yet. can you put them in yourself at the kiosks? or does it have to be done by guest services. Gift cards cannot be applied to S&S at the kiosks onboard. You have to take them to Guest Services. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firemanbobswife Posted August 8, 2016 #10 Share Posted August 8, 2016 Gift cards cannot be applied to S&S at the kiosks onboard. You have to take them to Guest Services. Worked for me on Glory. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bar1068 Posted August 8, 2016 #11 Share Posted August 8, 2016 Gift cards cannot be applied to S&S at the kiosks onboard. You have to take them to Guest Services. Hmmmm....not too sure thats true...I've input them to kiosks on the Pride, Sunshine and Breeze..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JaniceB Posted August 8, 2016 #12 Share Posted August 8, 2016 Thanks for sharing your experience with the gift cards, I have some for the first time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psikic Posted August 8, 2016 #13 Share Posted August 8, 2016 Gift cards cannot be applied to S&S at the kiosks onboard. You have to take them to Guest Services. Incorrect. Source: I have done this myself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmukid87 Posted August 8, 2016 #14 Share Posted August 8, 2016 I don't bother until I'm onboard. I'm just ready to get on the ship and I know that will delay me and others in line behind me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zdcatc12 Posted August 8, 2016 #15 Share Posted August 8, 2016 I mostly get ecards rather than the physical plastic cards when I can, unless a good deal on the physical card, if I gotta type in the number, don't really need the card for that with an ecard....but if the kiosks have improved could get plastic next time. Just curious about this, what is the difference whether you type in a number off an e-mail printed out or on your phone or type in a number off the card, isn't it the same thing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
janjan3839 Posted August 8, 2016 #16 Share Posted August 8, 2016 We were able to put the gift cards into our accounts at the kiosks on the Breeze in July. No problem. I ended up putting in more than I used, and about week later received a refund in the mail. A gift card, that I can use in January on the Vista! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firemanbobswife Posted August 8, 2016 #17 Share Posted August 8, 2016 Just curious about this, what is the difference whether you type in a number off an e-mail printed out or on your phone or type in a number off the card, isn't it the same thing? It's the same thing. With the cards you get via email you can print them or just save the pics on your phone. It doesn't matter either way and I have done it both ways. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bar1068 Posted August 8, 2016 #18 Share Posted August 8, 2016 (edited) Just curious about this, what is the difference whether you type in a number off an e-mail printed out or on your phone or type in a number off the card, isn't it the same thing? Point was if the cards would load at the kiosk by swiping the magnetic strip, I would get cards. That way should be more efficient, less room for error. Since they don't swipe, I get ecards. Store the emails on my phone, enter the numbers when I get onboard. Not a huge deal, just prefer not to carry cards. But, seems most of the deals ie. AARP or Verizon are only for physical cards, not ecards.....Carnival has run a couple of deals, and with those I've been able to get ecards in the past...not seen any Carnival deals lately. This is, you know, like a preference thing...kinda like the discussion about carrying your s&s card in a pocket or lanyard...its whatever works best as perceived by the individual. Edited August 8, 2016 by bar1068 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firemanbobswife Posted August 8, 2016 #19 Share Posted August 8, 2016 I had a couple plastic cards before and I couldn't get them to work by swiping so I had to manually enter them. Now I use an old one for my safe key. My good old Victoria's Secret Gift Card bit the dust 2 cruises ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firemanbobswife Posted August 8, 2016 #20 Share Posted August 8, 2016 Oh and just in case someone doesn't have AARP or Verizon or what have you, eBay has 8% back in eBay bucks today in case anyone is interested. Check your email and click the offer. Buy them from PayPal Digital Gifts. They are egift cards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mistyinca Posted August 8, 2016 #21 Share Posted August 8, 2016 Good idea!! I'm gonna bring blanks for that and for the light slot!! Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freckle53 Posted August 8, 2016 #22 Share Posted August 8, 2016 Gift cards cannot be applied to S&S at the kiosks onboard. You have to take them to Guest Services. I was able to apply an e-gift card at a kiosk on the Pride nearly 2 years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruizinisthebest Posted August 8, 2016 #23 Share Posted August 8, 2016 Gift cards cannot be applied to S&S at the kiosks onboard. You have to take them to Guest Services. Not true. At least not for the Freedom or the Sunshine for me. A friend of mine had no trouble on the Splendor back in May. Not every port allows you to load them there. Sometimes you have no choice but to do it on the ship via kiosk or guest services. Being that they could never be loaded ahead of time, I don't find the process an inconvenience. Comes with the territory. I do purchase a little cruise cash for all of us so that I don't NEED to load them right away. Usually by the evening, the kiosks and lines have died down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simplelife Posted August 8, 2016 #24 Share Posted August 8, 2016 Gift cards cannot be applied to S&S at the kiosks onboard. You have to take them to Guest Services. We are just off Magic. The kiosk would not process our cards so we went to guest services and had them applied. The person who assisted us said that the kiosks could not process gift cards because a signature was needed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ray98 Posted August 8, 2016 #25 Share Posted August 8, 2016 Incorrect. Source: I have done this myself. Yup....just did my own not long ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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