Gift cards.. when to use them

[hlb76]

Hi all,

 

We have been hoarding gift cards for some time now and just wondering the best way to use them. I did put a CC on file when I did my boarding pass. When I arrive should I have the agent add my gift cards then? Or is it better to wait until we board the ship? I just want it to be a quick and painless transaction for everyone involved.

 

years ago I had some GC I received as a Bday gift I added at some point during the cruise. It wasn't enough to cover my bill so it took the gift cards first then my card was charged the rest.

 

Thanks

[jh2360]

Have them added whenever you want. The end result is the same.

 

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[Saint Greg]

I had mine added at guest services during the cruise.

[Debra Lynn]

I have added them successfully at check-in once and then the next cruise the check in agent didn't know what to do with them so I had to take them to guest services.... a friend of mine had them once and tried to add them at check in and they totally screwed her account up and she had to go to guest services to add them to her account. My suggestion, is if you are going to use them for onboard expenses, going to guest services to have them added would be the best route to go. If you have not completely paid for your cruise yet, you can use them to pay the balance of your cruise as well...

[AOYAS]

Sorry, accidental post. Is there a way to delete?

Edited September 21, 2016 by AOYAS

[Saint Greg]

If I have a $1600 balance due in Nov for my cruise, and I have three separate $500 Carnival gift cards from my Verizon rewards, can I use all three of them at one time to pay down my balance (effectively leaving a $100 balance to pay on my credit card), or am I limited to one gift card at a time to pay for my cruise?

 

You can do that online. I used a bunch of gift cards on my upcoming cruise and left a $42 balance. The trick is if you're using 3 x $500 cards at the same time you need to put in that you are making a $1,500 payment...then enter the card numbers...then submit the payment. If you don't put in the amount you're paying or the cards don't add up to the amount you put in....it won't take.

Edited September 21, 2016 by Saint Greg

[cruiser fanatic]

The check in agent can add the gift card for you. It is much easier doing it at check in then doing it onboard and having to stand in a long line.

[hlb76]

The check in agent can add the gift card for you. It is much easier doing it at check in then doing it onboard and having to stand in a long line.

 

Not when you have FTTF! I don't mind using the kiosk either. I just don't want to hold up check in if I get an agent whom does not know what to do.

[Xyla]

I added my gift cards at the kiosk after boarding the ship, no lines to wait in.

[Ruby0704]

We sail out of Galveston and have always added them at check in however I have read where other ports will not allow you to add them at that time so procedures followed are different at different ports. Just a heads up is to check your cards and make sure the balances are correct before going to the ship. You can do that on the carnival website.

Edited September 22, 2016 by Ruby0704

[easyboy]

Hi all,

 

We have been hoarding gift cards for some time now and just wondering the best way to use them. I did put a CC on file when I did my boarding pass. When I arrive should I have the agent add my gift cards then? Or is it better to wait until we board the ship? I just want it to be a quick and painless transaction for everyone involved.

Either way is possible. Whatever will be convenient for you.

[Athankfulheart]

+1 for adding gift cards at the kiosk. Works perfectly =)

[mitsugirly]

I didn't realize you could add gift cards at the kiosk? Thanks for that information. Do all the Carnival ships have this?

[BuckeyeCruiseGuy]

I didn't realize you could add gift cards at the kiosk? Thanks for that information. Do all the Carnival ships have this?

Carnival Ecstasy, Carnival Elation, Carnival Fantasy, Carnival Fascination, Carnival Imagination, Carnival Inspiration,Carnival Paradise and Carnival Sensation

 

Deck 7 lobby near Guest Services

 

Deck 5 port side near The Fun Shops

 

Carnival Legend, Carnival Miracle, Carnival Pride and Carnival Spirit

Deck 2 midship inside the Casino

Deck 2 forward near the Promenade Cafe

 

Carnival Breeze, Carnival Dream, Carnival Conquest, Carnival Freedom, Carnival Glory, Carnival Liberty, Carnival Magic, Carnival Splendor, Carnival Sunshine, Carnival Triumph, Carnival Valor and Carnival Victory

 

Deck 3 lobby near Guest Services

 

Deck 5 port side near The Fun Shops

Edited September 23, 2016 by BuckeyeCruiseGuy

[mitsugirly]

Carnival Ecstasy, Carnival Elation, Carnival Fantasy, Carnival Fascination, Carnival Imagination, Carnival Inspiration,Carnival Paradise and Carnival Sensation

 

Deck 7 lobby near Guest Services

 

Deck 5 port side near The Fun Shops

 

Carnival Legend, Carnival Miracle, Carnival Pride and Carnival Spirit

Deck 2 midship inside the Casino

Deck 2 forward near the Promenade Cafe

 

Carnival Breeze, Carnival Dream, Carnival Conquest, Carnival Freedom, Carnival Glory, Carnival Liberty, Carnival Magic, Carnival Splendor, Carnival Sunshine, Carnival Triumph, Carnival Valor and Carnival Victory

 

Deck 3 lobby near Guest Services

 

Deck 5 port side near The Fun Shops

 

So...is this all of the Carnival ships? :eek:

[cruizinisthebest]

I didn't realize you could add gift cards at the kiosk? Thanks for that information. Do all the Carnival ships have this?

 

The kiosks work sometimes adding the cards. Sometimes they don't. On the Sunshine I was able to add cards using the kiosks; couldn't on the Magic.

 

Couldn't add them at check-in at Port Canaveral either a few weeks ago. I think normally you can. Agent said the system was down.

Edited September 23, 2016 by cruizinisthebest

[mitsugirly]

The kiosks work sometimes adding the cards. Sometimes they don't. On the Sunshine I was able to add cards using the kiosks; couldn't on the Magic.

 

Couldn't add them at check-in at Port Canaveral either a few weeks ago. I think normally you can. Agent said the system was down.

 

 

Ok. Good to know. Maybe I'll just stick to having them apply them when we check in. It does take a lot of time and not everyone there knows how to do it, but there has always been "someone" there that will show them how. I just get so anxious standing there while they do it and all I want to do is just get on the ship.

[cruizinisthebest]

Ok. Good to know. Maybe I'll just stick to having them apply them when we check in. It does take a lot of time and not everyone there knows how to do it, but there has always been "someone" there that will show them how. I just get so anxious standing there while they do it and all I want to do is just get on the ship.

Me too. I always apply them once onboard. I just wanna go! The agent that checked us in asked me about my account cause it was listed as cash. I told her I had gift cards and that's when she said the system was down.

 

I also try and have some obc on everyone's account so I don't have to load them right away.

 

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