Drink Coupons- Can you get them as soon as you board the ship?

[sea_u_onboard]

My SIL put money on our account for Christmas one year (for a New Years cruise). It was just a direct payment towards our S&S. We didn't know about it until we boarded. Fun Dollars are a nice gift if you get them in time to mail them in - but I wouldn't risk taking them once on board and trying to apply them.

[SxyEbnyFem]

Can you buy coupons w/o a booking number? (We're part of a group also.) I haven't gotten one yet, but want to either purchase or have people purchase for us. If so how? Thanks

Donnask8pro - Might want to check with your TA about your individual booking number. Last week after I calling our TA, she called Carnival & was able to get our individual booking numbers (we had booked with a group as well). Now, we are able to share that booking number with our families in hopes for some Christmas goodies!!

 

Don't worry about mailing them in if you get them for christmas.Just bring them with you and take them to the pursers.They will apply them to your account. If you get them soon enough you can mail them but there is a problem.The USPS will not let you insure them thru Certified mail so in order to protect (insure them) them you must mail them Registered mail.

CCL does let you use them for the casino and for tips charged to the S&S.

Steve[/quote]

I don't know that I would take the chance of taking them to the pursers desk.... we saw people being told they could not use them because they did not follow the instructions (to mail them in), also, they state clearly that you cannot use them in the Casino or for onboard gratuities, so I'm not sure I would take my chances there...

Steve & GC - I called Carnival last week to inquire about ordering Funship Dollars & was told they would hold them at the pier for us to pick up since it is close to Christmas & that we would be allowed to use them onboard. Go figure.

serene56 - How do you get the funship dollars applied directly to your account. I would love to do this rather than order them and just have to send them back. Thanks,

Blndiebby25 - The number to call to do what you mentioned is: 1-800-906-7603.

Happy sailing,

T.

[steveaaaa]

I don't know that I would take the chance of taking them to the pursers desk.... we saw people being told they could not use them because they did not follow the instructions (to mail them in), also, they state clearly that you cannot use them in the Casino or for onboard gratuities, so I'm not sure I would take my chances there...

GC,

I know they state that in the fine print but if you think about how it really works, it only makes sense. As a rule I apply a few thousand onto my ship board account in fun ship dollars.This is nothing more than a S&S credit.The tips and casino charges are debited off the S&S.Whatever $$ I don't use.I get a check for the unused balance at the end of the cruise.If they did not allow the tips and casino to be counted, it would be a moot point as they are giving me a check back for even more at the end and I would just use the funds to pay the CC off.

I have applied credit at the pursers 5 times now without any problems...yet:eek:

Steve

[GoinCruisin]

Just going by what WE SAW happen at the pursers desk, the couple was told that they could not use the fun ship dollars, there is a process for how these are applied at Carnival (I'm not sure what that is, nor did I hang around to find out if they were ever allowed to use them, for all I know, they may have... but even if they did, they went through a hassle, and I don't go on vacation to encounter hassles :D ). I personally don't listen to what anyone at Carnival says when calling on the phone, we all know you can get 20 different answers. For me, I think I'll follow what the fun ship dollars actually say (to mail them in for credit)... as much as I love this board, when it comes to money, I don't want to take my chances on the word of one or two people... I would much rather just call Carnival and have them apply money (prepay) to my account than risk getting the FS dollars, not following what was said on them and just "taking my chances"... but then again, that's just me :D Guess I'm just funny when it comes to my money ;)

[serene56]

Steve: I also asked a few different people at the 1-800 number (its a different number then what one calls for gifts) and each one said the funships $$ can not be used at the pursers desk- I dont want to take chances. So I just call the number thats above and get an amount placed for shipboard credit. (one time I called I didnt need my booking number- only my name and sailing date as I didnt have the booking number with me)

Keep all confirmation numbers so if there is a problem that you are missing a deposit then the pursers desk will have something they can check.

[steveaaaa]

Just going by what WE SAW happen at the pursers desk, the couple was told that they could not use the fun ship dollars, there is a process for how these are applied at Carnival (I'm not sure what that is, nor did I hang around to find out if they were ever allowed to use them, for all I know, they may have... but even if they did, they went through a hassle, and I don't go on vacation to encounter hassles :D ). I personally don't listen to what anyone at Carnival says when calling on the phone, we all know you can get 20 different answers. For me, I think I'll follow what the fun ship dollars actually say (to mail them in for credit

I don't doubt it.They don't know what they are doing or saying.On my cruise this past August, they had $2700 worth of fun ship dollars mailed in from me (because they expired in 10 days so I could not chance it) and even my docs showed $1200 worth on the on board credit line, but when I got on board it was not there.It took a few days in order for them to even find it. Talk about a hassle.:mad:

Steve

[helen from Ohio]

I am going on my first cruise in less than two weeks. Could someone kindly tell me what the advantage is in getting drink coupons. I am clueless.

Many thanks

Helen

[serene56]

drink coupons can be ordered ont he carnival web page under gifts. You have until 7 days before your cruise to get them. Basically drink coupons prepays some of your bar bill. you get 4 coupons for 20 bucks so you can drink any drink that cost 4.50 or less. First day you buy a sovenier cup-the rest of the week you get your refills using that cup. The drinks sold are 4.95 plus 15% gratuity. (you are already ahead. You dont save huge amounts of money-- just prepays a lot. Now if you drink just plain drinks like rum and cokes... 2.95. drinks of the day-- 2.95.

here is a bar menu to see if the coupons are good for you.

http://community.webshots.com/album/37944457xihAnV

 

coupons can not be used for drinks that cost 5$ or more. But can be combined for a bottle of wine.

 

Carnival also has photo coupons for 15 bucks. Dont get nothing at all -- these just prepay your photos once onboard.

[Markk]

How much will I save if I order drink coupons? Otherwise what is the point?

[GoinCruisin]

Just depends on what you drink and how much. The major point is paying down your S&S bill beforehand... but you can save money on drinks over $4.50... we have had great bartenders that didn't put a limit on the amount of drink we ordered with the coupons, but some do... on average, you may save a buck or so per 4 coupons... but for me, that is a decent savings over several days :D

[serene56]

what is the point?

 

 

my point of buying drink coupons is to pre pay as much of my cruise as possible. SInce I only drink the frozen foo-foo drinks those are now paid for. Using coupons I dont have to hand over my sign and sail card-- nor do I have to sign a slip. (not much)

Buying drink coupons do NOT save a lot of moeny at all. maybe at most 50 cents.

[sgriff17]

Goincruisin -

 

What ship was it on that you saw someone having trouble at the Purser's desk? :confused: We have over $600 Fun ship dollars that we are now just receiving from relatives for our 12/18 cruise. Although they have been ordered and we have confirmations via email that they will be sent ASAP, there is no way that we can send them back to Carnival by next Friday, so we have no other option than to get them applied at the purser's desk. Last year on the Paradise we had no problem doing this. We are going on the Triumph this year, so I hope that is not the ship you are refering too! ;)

[sgriff17]

Hey all -

 

 

My Fiance just called up Carnival since we have a significant amount of money in fun ship dollars as the holiday approach like explained in the above post and this is what they said. "Bring them to the purser's desk to be applied to your S&S card." This is what we did last year on the Paradise and had no problems. :D Has anyone had any problems on the Triumph?? :confused: :confused:

[GoinCruisin]

Goincruisin -

 

What ship was it on that you saw someone having trouble at the Purser's desk? :confused:

The Sensation...

[serene56]

I have placed cash by calling that number 5 times and all those times each person was different and told me to mail them since the pursers office cant take them. Isnt it funny how we all get different answers from the people who are supposed to know.

[sgriff17]

But here is my main question? If you need to mail them in, why in the world did they let my mother in law purchase $400 worth of fun ship dollars for a cruise that is sail date 12/18/04 - They know what our sailing date b/c you have to enter it in as well as the booking number. So why ask and why sell them a week out if you can't use them? I guess that is my main question? :confused:

[serene56]

Griff= I guess we will wait and see what happens with your dollars. Once ya turn them in==could you ask for the rest of us too?

[steveaaaa]

[quote name='sgriff17']But here is my main question? If you need to mail them in, why in the world did they let my mother in law purchase $400 worth of fun ship dollars for a cruise that is sail date 12/18/04 - They know what our sailing date b/c you have to enter it in as well as the booking number. So why ask and why sell them a week out if you can't use them? I guess that is my main question? :confused:[/QUOTE]
Because they are redeemable at the pursers and if anyone has a problem all it takes is a call to CCL headquarters and someone to speak to the "Promotions department". The fine print is also fluff. There are laws in this country over the use of gift certificates and even in some states like mine, there is no expiration on them either.
The certificates do not have the date of your sailing on them or any other info of yours.The certificates have a few lines on them which you play "fill in the blank" You imput your booking number and sailing date.When you bring these on board,do not fill them in until you get to the pursers. What if for some reason you never made the cruise?? This way you can either sell them or use them on another cruise.
Steve