How much $ do i need

[Guy2073]

Hello, my wife, son and i are cruising for the first time on the pride in may. How much money do we need to take with us? We prepaid gratuities and we are not gamblers or drinkers.

 

Thank you in advance

[Monalis]

How long is your cruise going to be? I do know that on 7 day cruises they put a hold on your CC or Debit for $200 per person.

 

You also have to figure in what your going to do at each port, drinks (water, smoothies, sodas, ect...), tips above what you pre paid (bar tenders, room service, Camp Carnival), souviners, pictures....

 

I would say at least the $200 per person, including your son.

 

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[floppyMARCO]

There is no cash used on the ship besides personal tips you may want to hand out to servers, housekeepers, and other staff members depending if you feel they deserve them. You might want to bring at least $200 per person per port, depending on what you plan on spending in each place.

[HawkIVette]

Hello, my wife, son and i are cruising for the first time on the pride in may. How much money do we need to take with us? We prepaid gratuities and we are not gamblers or drinkers.

 

Thank you in advance

If you have prepaid gratuities, and don't order any drinks etc, you will NOT need any money. Have you linked your onboard Sail & Sign acct to a Credit Card? Then your bill (if any) will automatically go on your credit card.

If you do want to gamble, buy a drink, a souviner, they go on your S & S acct too.

 

 

Any things you do off ship (in the ports, including parking or transportation after getting off the ship) is your own cost. Bring money for that.

 

 

Now during the cruise, if you need money and have an ATM card, you can get cash at the ATM onboard. I think it was $6.95 a transaction. You can also get money from the Casino that will go on your S & S acct for a 3% fee (little trick to it, but it works).

[Momma1980]

I use my credit card for all onboard purchases such as prepaid gratuities, pictures, drinks, specialty dining and Funshops shopping.

 

I bring cash for ports; smaller bills so that I do not need to worry about vendors having correct change or accepting credit. To help myself budget, I put a set amount into an envelope for each port. I pre-determine as best as I can how much I will need for that particular port depending on our plans for that port. Whatever cash is left over from first port can be carried over to the next port's envelope and so on.

 

 

Ask yourself how much you will spend off the ship for food, drinks, excursions, taxis, tips and souvenirs.

 

I also bring some cash so that I can tip the bartenders, room steward and dining staff beyond the set gratuities if they do a great job for me.

[volmoma]

I concur with Momma1980.... [emoji41]

 

 

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[Oceans100]

I do know that on 7 day cruises they put a hold on your CC or Debit for $200 per person.

 

 

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I was told today it is usually $350-$500 hold for a 7 day? I hope you are right about the $200 though.

 

 

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[Loudermont]

You don't need a card if you put down cash

 

 

Have had the pleasure to enjoy:

Carnival Celebration 07

Carnival Victory 16

Carnival Valor 17

[Guy2073]

Thank you all, i am an all cash type of guy. I even Gave the travel agent cash. I guess i will need to order a debit card from the bank.

[Loudermont]

Thank you all, i am an all cash type of guy. I even Gave the travel agent cash. I guess i will need to order a debit card from the bank.

 

 

You can put cash down on your account instead of using a card. At the end of cruise you can go get back what you did not use.

 

 

Have had the pleasure to enjoy:

Carnival Celebration 07

Carnival Victory 16

Carnival Valor 17

[dawnjam1]

No. Just take cash to put on your S&S equalling what you think you will spend. And then more to keep in your safe for the ports.

 

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[easyboy]

If you don't plan to bring a credit card, do you have a travel insurance that will cover emergency medical expenses in case you need one?

[GUT2407]

You a put down cash how much you need depends on what you are going to spend.

 

My final bills have ranged from $8 to a few thousand.

 

Plus you will probably want some money for in port.

[maryred]

This is something that's hard for a bunch of strangers to tellyou: How much money you need on your S&S account and in port will depend onmultiple factors including but not limited to: 1) Have you prepaid yourexcursions, will be purchasing once on board, or have plans to purchase themthrough 3rd party agents once in port? 2) Do you plan on any special purchaseswhile on board, ex. build a bear for the kids, spa/salon services for theadults, wine package, bingo, specialty dining etc.? 3) Did you forget to packsomething and need to buy it on board or in port? 4) Are you venturing farenough from the ship that you will need to purchase snacks, beverages or mealswhile in a port of call?

 

Start by reading Carnival's FAQs ontheir website for important requirements and general info and "Explore ->Our Ships"ship specific information. Then research you ports of call as if you were goingto just spend the time there booked to a hotel without any amenities onsite foryou.

 

Spending more money once aboard the ship is completely optional,once the auto gratuities have been paid. It will be up to you to determine yourspending limits. Having cash on hand for in port is a given even if no"formal" excursion or tour is planned, as anything beyond just windowshopping will cost you something and in some ports things are more expensivethan at home (ex. taxis & food) and in others they could be cheaper (ex.liquor & fashion clothing) . See below for some general info on the cost ofcruising beyond your actual fare.

 

Though this might not completely up to date (it was accurate asof Nov 2016 on the Vista) or cover everything that is included with yourCarnival booking price vs. what can be purchased. It should give you a generalidea of what any EXTRAS, on your trip should run you should you choose topurchase them for them on your cruise:

Included with each passenger's fare price: All food and snacks onboard from the buffet (including pizza, deli, & omelet station), theTaste Bar, and main dining room is covered by the booking price for aminimum of 3 meals a day. Room service for the majority of food items isfree though there are a few upgraded items with a charge (cash for tips isnice). Specialty dining is extra and the more expensive ones generallyrequire reservations or other arrangements

 

Assorted drinks - Self-service coffee, hot tea, iced tea, hotchocolate, lemonade, water, sometimes a juice blend (like Hi-C or HawaiianPunch) are free at the Lido deck buffet 24/7, with boxed milk visibly availableat all main meal times (at other times just ask for it) and several juicesavailable during breakfast gratis. Iced tea, milk, water, coffee, hotchocolate, and hot tea (juices at breakfast only and sometimes lemonade atbrunch or dinner) are also served without a charge in the MDR during sit downmeals, but other drinks will be at the "bar" prices. You can bring atravel mug or your own capped tumbler to fill up gratis drinks at the buffetdrink stations (use the plastic cups to fill from the dispenser then pourinto you own cup). Any drinks ordered from any bar, lounge, or wanderingserver, even soft drinks (including the ones you could get at the self servicearea of the Lido) will likely be charged to your S&S account with a 15%auto gratuity added to the menu price.

 

All the lounge shows and entertainers, including the comedyshows(but not the CD/DVDs the comedian or bands may try to sell). There aremultiple activities of every type offed all day long on board fromarts-n-crafts for adults to sport challenges to silly contests, to name thattune and trivia quizzes participate in or just watch, all of it will all belisted in your FunTimes schedule delivered daily to the cabin and freelyavailable around the ship. There is even an electronic version of the dailyactivities available on the Carnival HUB app. Though there are a few activitiesthat do have a participation fee which will be charged to the S&S accountlike the martini tasting or bingo these will be noted w/ * or + in the FunTimesschedule.

 

All the pools, hot tubs, loungers, gym equipment, and sportsequipment are free to use. Some things may require a "deposit" onyour S&S card to ensure equipment return (like the towels from the pooltowel hut, mini golf equipment). Some things are popular so there may be a waitto get the equipment or time on the sports area.

 

All the standard children's supervised camp &/or clubactivities are free to use if registered for. There are extended services likelate night babysitting that do have a charge, but anything with a extra feewill be explained at the orientation meeting or tour on embarkation day. Evenif on the fence about your child(ren) attending the camps/clubs do registerthem before boarding this will save time if you/they do decide they want toattend some (or all) of the camp involved activities including the after hoursbabysitting or at pay activities.

 

Items that have a charge and must go on your S&S account once onboard, no cash accepted at time of purchase except in the casino & on someships the arcade, you must fund the account w/ cash, travelers cheques, cruisecash or Carnival gift card(s) for as you go spending, or back it with acredit/debit card for last day of cruise billing. A few costs maybe prepaidprior to boarding so you final S&S bill does not seem so large. Basically anythingthat will cost you something extra will have a price on the menu or pamphletit's advertised on, or the item itself will have a price tag or sign.

Auto- gratuities are currently $12.95 ($13.95 for suitepassengers) per person per day. These can be prepaid or left to be added toyour S&S account for end of the cruise billing. This may come out as earlyas your 2nd day on board or as late as the 2nd to last day on board if notprepaid. On some ships, if you prepay these, you may see an immediate OBC on yourS&S account in the amount equal to the pre-payment with the actual chargefor the gratuities coming out on a later date.

 

Excursions (perhaps the biggest non-included expense) = WithCarnival anywhere from $30 to $500 per person. These can be prepaid prior toboarding to reduce charges to your S&S account. Do read the cancellationand refund policy if "on the fence" about a particular excursion, asmany popular ones tend to sell out before the cruise and may be worth bookingthen cancelling and absorbing the fees if you change your mind. Independenttours can be arranged either in advance or right on the pier w/ prices varyingwildly, but do research your ports ahead of travel & be careful aboutreturning on ship's time.

 

Drinks (I have included the auto gratuity as part of the total):

Soda cans, basic bottled water, and glasses of juices (from a loungeor bar) = $2.24.

**Available for those that drink a lot of soda or juices (bottledwater is not included) is the Bottomless Bubbles sticker at a charge of $6.90(adult) or $5.18 (17 & younger) per day for the length of the cruise.The BB sticker may also be prepaid through your Cruise Manager or purchased onboard the day of embarkation and the first full day of the cruise only.**

Powerade = $3.39

Imported & sparkling bottled water = $3.73 -$5.46

Espresso = $2.01 - $2.30 + flavor shots @ $0.58 each

Iced Coffees, Lattes, Cappuccino, and Chai = $2.88 - $3.74 + flavorshots @ $0.58 each

Liquored Coffee = $5.17 + flavor shots @ $0.58 each

Milkshakes = $4.54

Smoothies and virgin drinks = $5.46

Beer = $5.69-8.92 per can/bottle you can save $2 off buy purchasinga bucket of 4 at a time (mix & matching allowed), self-service dispensersand draft beers (if available on your ship) are less.

Cordials & Shots = $6.03 - $13.75

Mixed drinks & cocktails served in a normal glass = $8.34 -$11.44

Souvenir glass drinks either regular menu items or the DODs types =$10.29 - $16.04. Refills can be less if you re-use the souvenir glass, most ofthe time for a couple of dollars off the original price but sometimes thenormal menu prices.

Wine per glass= $6.33 - $12.08

Wine per bottle = there are many choices but they tend to startat around $32 per bottle and go up from there. Depending on the cruise thereare 3 & 5 bottle wine programs that can be purchased the first day aboard,this generally saves 25% off the per bottle price, but you are limited topicking wines from a pre-set list at each price point. Remember you are allowedto carry on from your home port 1 bottle per adult over 21, but the MDR andspecialty dinning reserve the right to charge a corkage fee of $15.

***There is the Cheers program available, see the FAQs for pricing,for all people over 21 in a cabin, prices seem to fluctuate with the seasons soconsult the FAQs. The program is great for those that know all adults in theircabin will drink more than 5-6 cocktails or 9-10 bottles of beer or a mix ofvarious alcoholic and other at cost bar drinks every day including port days.This covers up to 15 alcoholic drinks per person in a 24 hr period, and alsoincludes an unlimited amount of sodas and frozen non-alcoholic drinks like aNADA Daiquiri. Covered is any spirits, wine by the glass, single beers, softdrinks, virgin drinks, mocktails like a Shirley Temple, and mixed drinks thatare listed at $50 or less on the bar menu (it does not cover souvenir glassdrinks, mini bar offerings, or orders from room service). The Cheers programcan be purchased on board the day of embarkation and the first full day of thecruise only and is retroactive to previous covered bar orders prior topurchase, older qualified drink orders will be refunded and the program will bebackdated to the start of the cruise. All adults in a cabin over 21 mustpurchase the program. Departures from Texas have some special rules.***

+++When in port & applicable, sale tax will be charged per drinkordered at the rate current to the local port, even to those using a drinkpackage.+++

 

Specialty Food: some of the newer &upgraded ships now have a Steakhouse, Sushi Bar, Oriental, and/or Italianrestaurant that have up charges for dinner time (some are open for lunch forfree) but I do not have those amounts here are the other ones I do have...

The Chef's Table = $75 per person a great time if you’re a gourmand.Limited to 10-16 passengers per voyage.

The steakhouse (if available on your ship) = $35 per person (andwell worth IMHO for a special occasion or romantic evening)

Snacks and sweets from the coffee shop, the Shake Spot, theFunShops, & Cherry On Top = from $1 (a big cookie) to $65(canapes in cabin). Anything taken from the mini-bar/fridge (if stocked) thatthe room steward can not reconcile between Carnival stocked & passengercarried-on items. A price menu is provided though on a few occasions we had tohunt it down as it was not where it should of been (in the mini-fridge or onthe counter by the water bottles).

 

Photos: 5x7 = $11.99 6x9 = $14.99 Portraits 8x10 = $21.99 Reprints =$11.99 per full sheet after buying the original picture The gallery has amultiple purchase loyalty card that as you buy more photos Touch-ups andspecial effects are available at an extra charge as well as special photos likea 16x20 canvased portrait ($69.99). Also you can have you own film printed fromyour camera (sorry don't have the prices for these other services). Frames andother photo equipment is available for purchase at various prices, the noveltyframes & single use cameras cost as much as any land side resort areashop about $7-$20 and the scrapbooking supplies are not too badly priced butsometimes they have decent deals on the electronic equipment (new cameras andequipment). Scrapbooking classes are sometimes also offered through the galleryfor a fee.

 

Spa and Salon: Anywhere from<strong>$45 - $400+, and they could pester you when having certaintreatments (and afterwards) to buy the (overpriced IMO) products they justused. I've seldom use the salon services since the on board price is double ortriple what I pay near home, though I've been treating myself lately to atleast 1 spa treatment when they run some sales or specials for appointmentsespecially on port days. Do look for flyers to be delivered w/ the FunTimeslisting special, if looking for a "deal". Some of the services can bepre-booked under "My cruise manager" but I'm unsure if payment is requireby credit/debit card in advance or if they wait to charge you once on board.

Exercise classes: instructor lead = $10 -$20, but use of the gym equipment on your own is free to use. The standardsauna or steam rooms found in the changing areas are also free to enter. Thespecialized therapy pool and aromatherapy heat & steam rooms on Cloud 9 equippedships require the purchase of a spa pass. Also available on some itineraries ispersonal trainer sessions at something like $85 per hour.

 

Bingo: A 3-5 game book of 3 boards per game runs about$25 to a 9 boards per game was $40, Also available is the Carnivals versions of"scratch off" lottery tickets and win a cruise raffle tickets ($5).

 

The "Fun Shops": These are the on boardstores and many times the gift/souvenir prices are better than in the USA andCanada, but not always as inexpensive as in port (especial the Caribbeanislands). A few things are outrageously price like toiletries ($15 for a bottleof aloe) and sundry goods ($2- $5 packaged snacks you could buy at aconvenience store for a $1-$3) w/ souvenir prices about what you would expectthem to be ($20 graphic tees, $3 keyrings), but you can find decent buys onjewelry, liquor, and tobacco. They do run sales and specials while at sea solook for them in the FunTimes or in any flyers you receive in your cabin.

 

Internet minute packages: The most current pricescan be found in the Carnival's FAQs most ships an unlimited use plans, butlimited to certain websites.

 

Cabin to land phone calls which I believe are now$1.99/ minute. For some this price is better than the combined price of theircarrier's contract per roaming minute rate plus the extra fees charged perminute or byte by CellularAtSea for the use of the satellite transmission.

 

The Park West Auctions: These are the on board art& collectible "sales" that they get you to attend by offeringfree champagne (it's just barely drinkable BTW). We have done some withoutpurchasing but that was only after attending in the past and getting caught upin the bidding. Prices can be as low a $35 for a small print to severalthousands of dollars for original oils or autographed sports memorabilia. Butwhere they really get you is on the framing, insurance appraisal certificate,and shipping, which has the potential of doubling some purchase prices.

 

Places you could spend cash (sometimes you have the option ofusing your S&S card or a credit/debit card).

On board:

Casino -

Slots and Poker Machines = Startat a penny per play and go up to $5 machines. Remember to insert your S&Scard because even though you can pay in cash to play, the payout is cashlessand tallied as a Player's Bank. You will need the S&S card to withdraw anyfunds from the Player's Bank from the casino cage cashier. Funds may also bewithdrawn from your S&S account w/ no fee, instead of carrying cash in tothe casino, but I have heard there is a daily limit as to how much. (open onlywhile at sea).

Casino Tables = Some start at a $5 minimum,but like w/ roulette you can spread the bet around as single $ bets (inside #sonly). You purchase the chips at the table and cash them out at the casinocage. If you pull money from the S&S account for the tables will will becharged a 3% premium, additionally cash advances from a credit/debit card canbe made at a fee from the casino cage. (open only while at sea & availableto those 18 & up).

 

The arcade (some of the newer & FunShip 2.0 revamps shipsthis must go on the S&S account) On most of Carnival'sships machine take the S&S card right at the game. But there ate stillships that still use a tokens and most games are 2 to 5 tokens per play.Not refunds given for unused tokens.

 

Room service and scattered tips:

on board - we always tip the roomservice people a $1-$2 per plate of food delivered and $1 per carafe of hotdrinks (basic coffee or tea). At fee drinks (alcohol, certain juices, andspecialty non-alcoholic drinks) will be billed at the normal bar price &have the normal 15% added. Some ships of the line are testing a new enhancedroom service menu with some at fee items.

On occasion we receive (or want to receive) exceptionalservice so we will tip drink waiters an extra $1 or $2 as we travel (especiallyat the free drink events/parties). The same for the lounge entertainers thattake our request for a specific song(s).

Another area that has conflicting reports of a tip sharingpool (which is not covered by auto-grats either) is the children's campcounselors. Some passengers always tip a specific counselor(s) inperson on the last day a child attends while some feel the staff share all tipsand just leave an envelope at the check-in desk, and yet others forgo thegratuity feeling that the activities provided there are a tradeoff for otherentertainment venues that children cannot attend because of their age.

 

All of the Carnival ships provideself-service Launderette: On most ships you willuse your S&S card pay for the use of the machines. A few ships stillrequire quarters to operate the washer and dryers on others. The machinesrun about $3.50 per use and if needed change for bills can be had from theGuest Services desk or the Casino cashier. An iron and ironing board arefree to use but are in great demand on the day of Elegant Nights, so do anypressing as early as you can.

 

In port:

Parking at the departure port mayrequire you to pay either upfront before the cruise or after it and somerequire cash as the payment. Consult the port's own website for more informationand links to follow concerning how parking is handled.

Transport/shuttle driver around the departure port. Somecruise terminals don't have parking near the actual building that you willprocess in for the cruise and use buses or shuttles to get you from the parkinglot to the terminal. Usually amount is $1 per seat taken (no tip for lapchildren) and maybe $1 per piece for any luggage/equipment (example carry-onsthey put up over head or strollers stowed under bus) the driver/monitor helpsyou with.

Stevedores, porters, or longshoremen: Thesepeople that meet you at the curb or parking area and in the port terminal (atthe end of the cruise) are not employees of the cruise line and do not get apiece of the auto-gratuities. In general you should tip them $1 - $2 per pieceof luggage that they handle for you. Also trust me, have them take as much ofyour luggage as possible especial if you arrive early as you don't want to haveto carry the luggage around the ship, possibly up or down stairs as most of theelevators will be in use by crew for deliveries to different decks and not opento passengers.

 

Independent tours &/or transportation around ports ofcall. Not all ports have a beach near where the ship docks so youmay need a cab or public transport to get to it. Some companies can have theirtours pre-purchased on the web via PayPal or credit/debit card, but inspecttheir refund/cancellation policy carefully, they may require 24-72 hours noticeif you will be late or not making port. Some independent tours may takecredit/debit cards once in port but most others will require cash (paid at thetime of the tour), but this should be spelled out on their website. Don'tforget that most tour guides will expect a tip at the end of the tour. Theseexcursions and tours can be as inexpensive as $1.75 (ex bus fare to a freebeach) to costing in the thousands (ex. private air tours). A third option isto arrive in port and go with the flow and just see what's available to dowithin your $ and time budget for the day. Most ports have an information boothyou need to pass by as you exit the dock. Taxis do tend to be available forhire right at most docks but do try to investigate public transportationoptions ahead of time as well, in case there are problems calling for orfinding transportation back to the ship.

 

Shopping and food on land: Someof the "chain" style retailers and restaurants will have thecapability to accept credit/debit cards (double check w/ your bank for anyassociated processing fees for foreign currencies), with the smaller shops,artisan/straw markets, & local food vendors expecting cash. Credit cards dooffer some consumer protections not available with cash or debit, and may besafer for larger purchases (jewelry, electronic, etc.), so call your CC companyto see what fees and benefits they offer. But if you prefer haggling cash willbe the easiest to deal with, though prepare to receive change the localcurrency. Purchases can range from $1 decorated sea shells to several thousandfor jewelry, high fashions, &/or artwork.

 

Also be aware many free beaches referto just the fact that there is no beach badge or entry fee. If you want a beachchair, lounger, hammock, an umbrella, use of the bath house or bath rooms therewill be a charge. Many of these beaches also allow roaming vendors to walkaround selling their wares or lack public bathroom facilities. If you opt for aresort, private, or at fee beach some of the optional activities (like waterbikes, kayaks, or snorkel equipment) could be be an additional fee but some doinclude their use in the day pass price. Most include beach chairs/loungers andtowel service with a few adding in food or drink (meal vouchers, some evenoffering complete buffets or unlimited drinks) so read the descriptioncarefully.

 

Other notes to remember: Additionally try to return/exchange thebeach towels & robes to the same location they were taken from, so thetowel hut person or cabin steward doesn't mistakenly charge the room (thebooking party) for a missing items that were actually returned to a secondlocation. Learned this one the hard way when we found out our DS's BFF wasleaving "his" pool towels on "our" side of a connectedbalcony to dry. The room steward inventoried as us using and returning towel tothe cabin, while showing their cabin as being short the towels and providingreplacements. We were able to catch the discrepancy before the final chargeswere recorded because by our 3rd day into the trip we had 8 beach towels for acabin of 2.

 

 

After cruise unexpected billing beyond Carnival's control, &may include a large mobile phone charges for texting &/or data. For thecell phones try to keep them in airplane mode w/ the data service shut off andpreferable in the cabin's safe while on vacation . In airplane mode w/ data offyou can still use the phone's camera, MP3, &/or apps that are fullyinstalled in to the phone/memory card (as opposed to ones retrieved from a"cloud") & don't require an uplink. Do take them in port along w/the port agent's phone number in case anything unexpected happens (turn offairplane mode but leave the data off so you are not flooded w/ updates @international data rates). DO check with your carrier for specific portinternational calling rates under your plan. DO NOT rely on the phone to stayon ship's time while in port.

[lizardhowson]

Thank you all, i am an all cash type of guy. I even Gave the travel agent cash. I guess i will need to order a debit card from the bank.

 

Just be aware that if you use a debit card for your Sign & Sail account, Carnival will place a hold on that debit card - even if you do not spend anything onboard. That hold will tie up some of the funds in the account linked to the debit card. It could take 7-10 days for the hold to drop. Those funds will not be available for your use until the hold drops.

 

As stated, you can just add cash to your Sign & Sail account and get it back the night before the cruise returns to port - but you have to withdraw it, Carnival will just let it sit there and mail you a check about 2 weeks after your cruise if you do not take it out.

[naz022292]

Don't let all of this overwhelm you. IF you have a credit card, the easiest way to handle your Sign & Sail card is to attach the credit card to it. You can pay in cash the last night of the cruise to avoid the charges going on the credit card. You can also just give them cash at check-in to be used on your sign and sail card. You would then just need to keep track of what you spend because you won't be able to charge anything if you hit the amount you gave them. One down side to cash is that any amount left over will be mailed back to you in a couple of weeks. There is a casino trick that others can tell you if you chose that method. The debit card would be the least preferred method. It takes time for some banks to release the funds that were put on hold. The holds actually start building up. When you get on, they may put a $200 hold. After you spend a certain amount they are going to put another hold of say $400. The problem is that the original $200 hold may not be released. Carnival doesn't have any control over releasing the holds. Definitely don't depend on that debit card for in port purchases or to use as an ATM card if you give it to them for your Sign & Sail card.

 

Another option is to purchase Carnival Gift Cards or cruise cash from the fun shops and put them on your sign and sail cards. That way you would be carrying less cash. As for money for ports, think of what your family normally spends when you do day trips places. We don't tend to spend a lot because we aren't shoppers and as for food, we normally just grab a snack or a sandwich. We bring more, but we normally only spend $50-$60 in most ports. If we do any excursions we prepay those.

[Drazil65]

OP: You do not need to order a debit card (and you probably do not want to use a debit card for your S&S account regardless), just mark your S & S account as a CASH account and you can put as little as $50 or $100 on it. You will get the balance of what is left on the account at the end of the cruise (you can go to GS on the last night to cash out your S&S account).

[Vinlin06]

Thank you for the detailed list on charges so informative. Best explanation I have found for new cruisers :) like me ! 43 days

[mikel24m]

alot of good answers for you to so far but I would like to add :)

 

I buy carnival cards very often and get rewards.For example I use my America express cash back card and It gives me 6% cash back from grocery stores or we use citi rewards and buy $100 cards for $90 . It doesn't seem like much but for our gambling it saves us alot.

 

This way also you can buy a card once a week or month and save your spending money painlessly

 

I learned on here many years

ago pack your luggage and then leave half home and bring twice the amount of money you think you'll need because it goes fast just on little things

 

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[sanger727]

You don't have to spend a dime on the ship. Since your gratuities are prepaid - if you are perfectly content eating at the buffet and MDR and drinking coffee, milk, juice, lemonade, iced tea, and water - you can walk away w a $0.00 bill.

 

Your biggest expenditure will be in port. Do you know what you plan to do in port? There's no reason to waste money on carnival excursions if you pre-plan. What we like to do is browse the excursions ahead of time, decide what we would like to do in port, then use the ports of call board and trip advisor to figure that out.

 

If you want to go to a beach, you'll just need taxi fare and money for food/drinks. If you want a more elaborate excursion with a catamaran ride/snorkeling you can find independent tour providers for a significant discount off what carnival charges.

 

 

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[PhotoMike]

How much money do we need to take with us?

 

All of it. ;p