Carnival Sign and Sail Account Clarification

[jmb5081]

Hello, I’ve been all over trying to figure something out about Carnival’s sign and sail account. I’m sailing on my very first ever cruise to the Western Caribbean on 1/25/2020 out of Miami on Conquest. I’m hoping someone here can shed some light on this topic. I understand this is part ID and part payment option on board since the cruise is cashless. However, I am not too fond of using/swiping a card to have a hold placed on my bank account during embarkation. Reading on Carnival’s website, and asking family and friends that have cruised hasn’t helped, so I’m still trying to understand...if I choose to fund my sign and sail account via cash the website states that theyrecommend a balance of $200 per person on cruises that are 7+ days. Is this amount a requirement? I know it seems like a silly question, but it’s not entirely clear to me, and I don’t want to be caught off guard while embarking with a money issue. I’ve already prepaid my gratuities, and plan to keep a strict tight budget while on board. If I’m allowed to simply put down $100 cash during embarkation that would be so much less stressful for me. Or even $200 but rather than placing a hold on my account just using guaranteed CASH funds. Hopefully this makes sense. I’d like to complete my check in by the end of this week, and need to get an idea of what to expect next week. Thank you so much in advance for any assistance! 🙂

[bury me at sea]

You can fund your account using only cash.  Your purchasing ability will be cut off if you spend what's on your account.

 

The recommended amount of $200 is just that - recommended.  It is not a requirement.  If your gratuities are already paid it's possible to cruise without spending anything on board (theoretically - I've never done it).

 

Happy sailing.

[jmb5081]

Bury me at sea...you have just made my ENTIRE DAY with this information! Thank you SO much! 😄😄😄

I feel so much less anxious about this now. Thank you again!

[lissajeff24]

On my first cruise in 2017, I used cash.  When I was checking in at the terminal, I gave them $300 cash, and they applied it to my account.  That was used for my gratuities, first day drinks and some silly souvenir items for my nephew.  It was plenty for me because I also had purchased the drink package already, so those were covered after day 1.  Hope this helps and happy first cruise to you! 

[bury me at sea]

You might want to have a little cash in your pocket for porters, room service, or other extremely helpful employees.

 

If you run low on your card you can add to your account at Guest Services any time during the cruise.

[dmdiver]

We always use a credit card for cruising.  Yes, they will put a couple hundred on, which is pending.  It's never been a problem for us, as our card is not near the limit.  Even though we typically prepay gratuities, we still end up spending $300 or so on board buying pictures, drinks and sometimes the chat feature on the hub app.  Where this has been especially useful, is when hubby's underwater camera flooded during his scuba trip, we were able to buy a gopro on board.  Since we had previously researched them, we knew the pricing was the same as on land. Bonus was that we had no taxes to pay.

 

I do not recommend ever using a debit card for onboard accounts.  It can wreak havoc on your bank account if you don't keep a good bit in it.  I know someone who was unable to fill up their car when leaving the port because the temporary holds had not yet dropped off.

 

Cash works well to help you keep your spending in check and you can get more from the onboard atm.  However, the fees are pretty high, I hear.

 

If you are concerned about your credit card being abused, if you have one that you don't use often & don't have any bills connected to it, that may be the way to go.

[bobsfamily]

Many people have a credit card just for these occasions. If you have a card not connected to your bank account that would be the way to go.

if not I would ask your bank to increase your limit for the time you are away, then after the initial deposit you can always go the ATM onboard to funds if needed... I would highly agree with bury me at sea, take some "pocket" change (1's, 5's 10's) to "tip" the porters (luggage) or other crew members that go above and beyond.

 

From what you are saying I gather very little drinking is the idea.  Remember that if not buying the "all you can drink" option the per drink price can rival a bar in a big city, 5-7+ for beer, a bit more for mixed drinks.

[bobsfamily]

3 minutes ago, dmdiver said:

Cash works well to help you keep your spending in check and you can get more from the onboard atm.  However, the fees are pretty high, I hear.

 

I think it's either 5.99 or 6.99... if you are getting out $20 that's high, $500 it's a bit more normal.

[Organized Chaos]

Welcome to Cruise Critic and to cruising, jmb5081. I'm pretty frugal on our cruises (i.e. cheap). I usually start with $100 and don't always spend that much.

 

Another option you can do is Cruise Cash. That's bought prior to your cruise from the online FunShops. It can be bought in $25 increments, up to $500 per cabin. It'll be on your S&S account when you get onboard, that way you don't have to go to Guest Services (or one of the kiosks, which are like atm's for S&S accounts) to deposit cash. You can also take extra cash if you run out of Cruise Cash. Just be aware that Cruise Cash in non-refundable, use it or lose it, so you wouldn't want to buy a lot more than you think you'd spend. There is a "trick" to cash out any leftover Cruise Cash in the casino, though.

 

Hope you enjoy your first!

[drcs1995]

We always use cash to fund our sail and sign account. We take a set amount of cash and when we set up our account before boarding we give them an amount that we think will last about 3/4 of the cruise and keep the rest of the cash with us in the safe. Then we just monitor our sign and sail account and when we need to add more we do (at guest services). Then before going to bed on the last night we cash out our account at one of the kiosks. That works well for us. Hope this info helps!  And have a great cruise!

[jmb5081]

Thank you everyone! All of these tips and tricks are SUPER helpful. I haven’t been drinking since I got pregnant and was nursing my son until late month. So even though he’s one now, and I’m good to go I’m still not a drinker. 🤷🏽‍♀️
I think I’m most concerned about the pictures more than anything. But I think we can get through this regardless. I would like to avoid using my debit card for this, and due to some unforeseen circumstances recently my CC isn’t the option to go with this time. But my biggest issue during the search for all of this great info you guy gave me was the verbiage. Debit/credit REQUIRED that hold, and cash/traveler’s checks RECOMMENDED that amount. I didn’t know how strict they were about that amount, and that’s what confused me. Thank you all so much! I’m so excited to go on my trip!

 

[2wheelin]

A couple of years ago when I was using a cash account, I was REQUIRED to put in $200 before being allowed to board. This required an extra trip to the desk as all other check in was done and S&S cards were at the cabin.

This year I bought cruise cash ahead of time to avoid that stop. I have also just entered a CC number and then changed to cash once on board. There was no hold on the CC.

[Organized Chaos]

13 minutes ago, 2wheelin said:

A couple of years ago when I was using a cash account, I was REQUIRED to put in $200 before being allowed to board. This required an extra trip to the desk as all other check in was done and S&S cards were at the cabin.

This year I bought cruise cash ahead of time to avoid that stop. I have also just entered a CC number and then changed to cash once on board. There was no hold on the CC.

 

They made us fund our three cash accounts in NOLA last month before boarding. They didn't say it had to be $200. I've always used cash for mine and have never been forced to add a minimum. They just said that we had to do it in the terminal first. Like you, I won't do that again. We normally do put Cruise Cash on, but we didn't bother last month and it bit us. However, another user told me that some terminal employees do try that, but we aren't required to fund a cash account in the terminal. She said they tried to do it to her and she told them no, they're faster onboard and know what they're doing so she's waiting. So they let her go.

 

I didn't realize it at the time, but each of us did have $9.88 OBC because of adjusted taxes/port fees, so technically our accounts were already funded, little as it may have been.

[coevan]

we only use credit cards for the mileage=free flights, no balance, no interest

[Galatz]

1 hour ago, jmb5081 said:

Thank you everyone! All of these tips and tricks are SUPER helpful. I haven’t been drinking since I got pregnant and was nursing my son until late month. So even though he’s one now, and I’m good to go I’m still not a drinker. 🤷🏽‍♀️
I think I’m most concerned about the pictures more than anything. But I think we can get through this regardless. I would like to avoid using my debit card for this, and due to some unforeseen circumstances recently my CC isn’t the option to go with this time. But my biggest issue during the search for all of this great info you guy gave me was the verbiage. Debit/credit REQUIRED that hold, and cash/traveler’s checks RECOMMENDED that amount. I didn’t know how strict they were about that amount, and that’s what confused me. Thank you all so much! I’m so excited to go on my trip!

 

If you are concerned about pictures, you might want to buy a package so there is no unforeseen charges for it 

[coevan]

14 minutes ago, Galatz said:

I think I’m most concerned about the pictures more than anything.

  

 

What are referring to? You do not have to buy any pictures. When the photographer comes along, we just say no thank you. I hate when they hold up the gang way taking pictures

[jmb5081]

I think I might be tempted to want to buy pictures, but it sounds like being able to politely decline will become my mode of operation. Lol

 

I did consider the photo package, but again the verbiage was confusing as it sounded like if they took 100 photos I could only pick 5 to print. I didn’t know what would happen with the rest. But I changed my mind in order to save money.

[Galatz]

2 minutes ago, coevan said:

  

 

What are referring to? You do not have to buy any pictures. When the photographer comes along, we just say no thank you. I hate when they hold up the gang way taking pictures

The OP said they were most concerned about them. I understand that you might not buy them, but that is not their concern.

 

If they are nervous about charges on their S&S charge, they can buy https://www.carnival.com/pixels-photo-packages/pixels-D2A in advance and then know they are limited to 5 pictures and that way they are tempted to buy more

[Galatz]

Just now, jmb5081 said:

I think I might be tempted to want to buy pictures, but it sounds like being able to politely decline will become my mode of operation. Lol

 

I did consider the photo package, but again the verbiage was confusing as it sounded like if they took 100 photos I could only pick 5 to print. I didn’t know what would happen with the rest. But I changed my mind in order to save money.

The others would need to be purchased individually or else they will be thrown out at the end of the trip.

 

Always select that you are traveling for someone's birthday. They typically do something for you, not always the same. Last time we got 50% off 1 photo.

[jmb5081]

Thank you. All of this is still very helpful. My initial question was abundantly answered, and I’m very grateful for that. Everything else I’m keeping notes on for tips and tricks 😏😄

[hockeyluver]

We always put our credit card down but pay off our balance with cash the last night. Don't want to run low on money and have to use the atm.  Not only are the fees crazy but so is the exchange rate!

 

[canes20]

1 hour ago, jmb5081 said:

I think I might be tempted to want to buy pictures, but it sounds like being able to politely decline will become my mode of operation. Lol

 

I did consider the photo package, but again the verbiage was confusing as it sounded like if they took 100 photos I could only pick 5 to print. I didn’t know what would happen with the rest. But I changed my mind in order to save money.

The $99 package is a pretty good deal. You can have as many pictures taken as you want, just remember the more they take, the more you have to narrow down. Pick 5 and then decide which one you want as a canvas. 5 pictures purchased individually will more than likely cost more than $99 depending on which ones you choose.

 

As a side note. order as much as you want in the dining room for dinner. You are not limited to only one of each course, you can try as much as you like, just don't hold up the rest of the table if you are not at a table for 2. YTD is our favorite and we ask for a table for 2.

[Elaine5715]

1 hour ago, jmb5081 said:

I think I might be tempted to want to buy pictures, but it sounds like being able to politely decline will become my mode of operation. Lol

 

I did consider the photo package, but again the verbiage was confusing as it sounded like if they took 100 photos I could only pick 5 to print. I didn’t know what would happen with the rest. But I changed my mind in order to save money.

You can have all the pictures taken you want at all the stations they set up.  None of the photographers will ask you to purchase them.  You go to the Pixel Gallery, look through the developed photos, purchase the ones you want and toss the ones you don't.

 

[jmb5081]

22 minutes ago, canes20 said:

The $99 package is a pretty good deal. You can have as many pictures taken as you want, just remember the more they take, the more you have to narrow down. Pick 5 and then decide which one you want as a canvas. 5 pictures purchased individually will more than likely cost more than $99 depending on which ones you choose.

 

As a side note. order as much as you want in the dining room for dinner. You are not limited to only one of each course, you can try as much as you like, just don't hold up the rest of the table if you are not at a table for 2. YTD is our favorite and we ask for a table for 2.

I have heard the dinner part from a friend who js cruised before. She also mentioned that the food is great, and not to worry about fine dining. Because at one point I was exploring that too. 
 

Regarding the pictures...I had read somewhere that on certain ships (I believe Conquest was one of them) they don’t do physical prints anymore, and just do digital. I didn’t know if that changed the amount you were able to choose either.

[jmb5081]

And we did choose YTD because I didn’t think we could manage one set time for dinner each day. Between snacks and tons of things to do on our first cruise...I thought it was better this way. 🙂