How Much $ should I need for Sign & Sail / Onboard Credit

[outatouch0]

On 1/31/2020 at 8:20 PM, ejnsb said:

What's the amount of hold Carnival puts on your cc embarkation day?

GREAT Question, I hadn't thought of that. 

Thank you so much for all of your input everyone. That gives me great insight on what to plan for. 

I was thinking at least $100 in small bills cash for tips. We will have a few hundred more on hand for contingency.

Obviously the credit card will cover whatever we should decide to do. I assume I can use it at Margaritaville, etc. ?

 

My main purpose of the question was geared towards how much to put on the S&S which I understand to be a use it or loose it deal. Planning on buying discount Carnival gift cards to fund it. I don't want to put too much on it and then have to buy stuff I don't want in order to keep from loosing the money.

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

9 hours ago, outatouch0 said:

GREAT Question, I hadn't thought of that. 

Thank you so much for all of your input everyone. That gives me great insight on what to plan for. 

I was thinking at least $100 in small bills cash for tips. We will have a few hundred more on hand for contingency.

Obviously the credit card will cover whatever we should decide to do. I assume I can use it at Margaritaville, etc. ?

 

My main purpose of the question was geared towards how much to put on the S&S which I understand to be a use it or loose it deal. Planning on buying discount Carnival gift cards to fund it. I don't want to put too much on it and then have to buy stuff I don't want in order to keep from loosing the money.

If you buy cruise cash that is use it or lose it (unless you use the casino trick).

 

But if you fund your account with gift cards st guest services while on board , if you have anything left over they will mail you a gift card that can be used on a future cruise, or you can still use the casino trick. 

[lostsoulcruiser]

On ‎1‎/‎30‎/‎2020 at 10:29 PM, outatouch0 said:

Just trying to get an idea of what to expect for our first crise this summer on Carnival Magic. How Much $ should I need for Sign & Sail / Onboard Credit? 

We are a family of 4, children 5 and 8.

I am thinking maybe we buy 1 soda a day each at most. Maybe a virgin pina colada or two. Possibly speacialty coffee each morning.

Our gratuties are pre-paid.

Not planning on Spa, picture pachages, alcohol, etc.

 

thanks as always

If I understand your proposed spending properly, you are probably looking at approximately $20 per day per person or $80 to $100 per day.  For a 7 day cruise, the total is $700. 

A suggestion, start with $500 on the account and keep track of spending on your TV in the cabin. this way you can see if you need to add more money to the account.   

 

Don't forget to enjoy the cruise.

[Organized Chaos]

13 hours ago, outatouch0 said:

I was thinking at least $100 in small bills cash for tips. We will have a few hundred more on hand for contingency.

Obviously the credit card will cover whatever we should decide to do. I assume I can use it at Margaritaville, etc. ?

 

Yeah, you can use your credit card at Margartiaville. I'm sure you know to do this, but don't forget to let your credit card company know you'll be using it on your trip. If you're going to use cash off the ship, it also helps to have smaller bills while in ports of call ($1, $5, $10). If you use larger denominations, I've heard there are some vendors who will give change back in the form of their own national currency.

[Florings]

Definitely take more than you think you need.  You could see some souvenir in the Fun Shops you want, or decide to do the Build A bear for each of your kids, or a night in the steakhouse.  Or spend a few dollars in the steakhouse.  Much better to take a bit extra and take it back home - then not to have enough for something special.

 

I would take a 12-pack of soda onboard and not spend the money to buy them.

[pacruise804]

44 minutes ago, Florings said:

Definitely take more than you think you need.  You could see some souvenir in the Fun Shops you want, or decide to do the Build A bear for each of your kids, or a night in the steakhouse.  Or spend a few dollars in the steakhouse.  Much better to take a bit extra and take it back home - then not to have enough for something special.

 

I would take a 12-pack of soda onboard and not spend the money to buy them.

Unless the OP doesn't have a credit card linked to the account, why would they need more cash for the items listed?  I personally travel with an emergency back-up of cash, but I'm surprised how many say to take extra $ when they also say to charge everything to a credit card.

[Florings]

52 minutes ago, pacruise804 said:

Unless the OP doesn't have a credit card linked to the account, why would they need more cash for the items listed?  I personally travel with an emergency back-up of cash, but I'm surprised how many say to take extra $ when they also say to charge everything to a credit card.

I suppose I should have used the words budget more,  rather than take more.  

[cruisingguy007]

On my 7 day I had all gratuities prepaid, Cheers package prepaid, $50 cruise cash and still ended up with over $500 in charges from incidentals like drink taxes while in US port, Dr. Seuss breakfast, gambling, a little shopping, an excursion, and additional tips for drink runners when I ran out of small bills and didn't feel like going to guest services for change. It really just depends on what you will do while cruising. If you will use a lot then get gift cards to load up, if not much then simply use a credit card. 

[cruisingguy007]

6 hours ago, lostsoulcruiser said:

If I understand your proposed spending properly, you are probably looking at approximately $20 per day per person or $80 to $100 per day.  For a 7 day cruise, the total is $700. 

A suggestion, start with $500 on the account and keep track of spending on your TV in the cabin. this way you can see if you need to add more money to the account.   

 

Don't forget to enjoy the cruise.

 

The Hub app will keep a running tab for each person and it updates almost instantaneous with each transaction. Much better than the TV. 

[lindsay0526]

I like to make a rough plan for what we plan to spend money before we go. We also plan to take some sodas, sparkling waters, and 2 bottles of wine on board. 

 

For DH and myself- I planned $50 per day for embarkation day and port days (roughly 2 drinks each) and $100 for sea days (1 specialty coffee, and 3 drinks). For our upcoming 5-day trip, that is $350, and I don’t think we will spend that on drinks, but it’s nice to have it sorted out in my head. This isn’t counting in a spa day, which I haven’t decided if I will do one (maybe a discounted one when we are in port), or any gambling we may do. We are light drinkers but like to enjoy ourselves especially when we are sans kiddos and aren’t big gamblers.  

 

Gratuities are pre-paid. And our excursions are TBD. 

[coevan]

1 hour ago, pacruise804 said:

I'm surprised how many say to take extra $ when they also say to charge everything to a credit card.

 

 

tips, taxis, buying trinkets ashore to name a few and yes I charge everything

[HillBilly Bob]

On 1/31/2020 at 8:48 AM, Schoifmom said:

If this is your first cruise, take whatever you plan to spend and double it.  

You got that right....and maybe a little more!!  

[HillBilly Bob]

On 1/31/2020 at 2:49 PM, Organized Chaos said:

Out of curiosity, I looked at my S&S statement from last month's cruise. One of my milkshakes was $5.31, the other was $5.71. Now that makes me wonder if I've ever been charged two different prices for the same item with other purchases.

If you were at your embark port, most likely the difference is sales tax that the ship is required to collect while in the port.  At sea, they do not collect the local sales tax.  

[pacruise804]

17 hours ago, coevan said:

 

 

tips, taxis, buying trinkets ashore to name a few and yes I charge everything

 

But the post is about the sign and sail card, not on shore spending.  I agree about having cash for shore even if you routinely charge everything as the smaller places might bargain for cash or not even take credit.