Know This Before Buying a Cruise Gift Card | ShermansTravel (2024)

FAQs

Do gift cards work on cruises? ›

Gift Cards are redeemable for cruise reservation or onboard spending only, and there is no cash back.

Royal Caribbean

They can be used to pay the cruise fare, with some restrictions, or toward onboard credit to cover specialty dining, beverage packages, spa treatments, gift shop purchases and other items.

Many people suggest $100 per day, and this has generally worked well for me in my cruising experiences, but there are a lot of variables to consider. Here are some guidelines to help you decide how much money to bring on a cruise.

As a general rule, plan to have $50 to $100 each day in the local currency. Also, you may want to bring an extra $20 a day for tipping crew members. Make sure to include smaller bills for tips. Fifty to a hundred dollars a day should be enough to cover small purchases, tips and snacks at each port.

Standard Gift Cards have no expiration date. Promotional Gift Cards may carry an expiration date which will be printed on the Gift Card. Gift Cards do not incur dormancy fees for non-use.

You'll get more for your money if you use local currency, as the conversion rates will be more favorable. If you do pay in dollars, expect to get your change back in local currency. Your daily cruise planner will generally let you know what the official currency is in each port of call.

Certificate is transferable only by gift and bears no expiration date. Certificate is nonrefundable, has no cash value, and will be not replaced if lost, stolen or if the reservation is cancelled. Certificate shall be void where prohibited or restricted by law and if sold for cash or other consideration.

Here's the short answer: You don't actually need any cash when on a cruise ship. Most cruise lines operate on a cashless system. This allows you to pay for any and all of your onboard charges using your room key rather than bringing extra cash.

You are certainly welcome to bring cash to enjoy your vacation experience. There are ATM services onboard and limited currency conversion services.

Many river cruise lines include the gratuities, but for those that don't, the suggested range is between $10 and $20 per passenger, per day. Similarly, some expedition cruise lines include gratuities while those that don't recommend a gratuity of around $10 to $15 per person, per day.

What is the average tip on a cruise? ›

In general, plan on giving $16–$23 in gratuities per day for each passenger. Note that the amount should be tabulated for each individual in your party—don't try to tip once per couple or group. So if you're planning to go on a 7-day cruise, expect to give a total of between $112 and $161 per person in gratuities.

As US Dollars are so widely used across the Caribbean, a secure currency card can be really handy for your holiday spends. Simply load it with dollars before you go and you can top up while you're travelling, withdraw money from cash machines and make contactless payments.

Yes, food can be delivered to your cabin 24/7 on most major cruise lines' ships. Typically, the room service menu features a Continental breakfast (some lines offer a few hot items, sometimes for an extra fee), plus an all-day menu of sandwiches, salads, pizza, perhaps a few hot items or appetizers, and dessert.

To help you plan, we suggest you limit your luggage to a maximum of one bag per person if you're travelling on a cruise of 3-5 nights, and to no more than two bags per person, for cruises of 6 days or longer.

There is no real limit on how much luggage can be brought on a cruise. Most cruise lines encourage passengers to limit luggage to less than 100 pounds (around 2 suitcases). You can also bring carry-on luggage.

Carnival Gift Cards can be used on almost anything: towards the purchase of a Carnival cruise and redeemed onboard toward the Sail & Sign account for gifts, drinks, and fun.

Cruise Cash provides an immediate credit to a guest's Sail & Sign account. This credit is good for any charge made to their account including taxes and gratuity charges. Cruise Cash is valid for a single voyage and cannot be transferred to future bookings.

Does cruise cash work in the Casino? It's actually pretty straightforward- everything you buy- cruise cash, gift cards, even onboard credit- goes on your S&S card. Some of that can only be used in certain ways (cruise bar cash can only be used for bar purchases).

Proof of identity, such as a certified copy of a U.S. birth certificate, U.S. passport, employment authorization document, permanent resident card, or foreign passport with an approved form I-94. Proof of your Social Security Number, such as an SSN card, W-2, or paystub with full SSN.

It's best to use a credit card without a foreign transaction fee when on a cruise. That way you will earn rewards on your purchases. If you don't have a credit card with no foreign transaction fees, a debit card is your best choice, as those usually do not charge foreign transaction fees.

How does the gift card system work? ›

The card is presented to the system (swiped or read) and the unique card number is confirmed in a database. The dollar amount to load on the card is input to the database and is associated with the unique card number within the database. The card is now activated or loaded.

Consider using a padded envelope. Select an envelope that is strong enough to hold the card or attach the gift card to a thin piece of cardboard. Place an extra label or notice on the gift card with the delivery or return address; this ensures the safe return should the outside label become damaged or fall off.

Redeeming a gift card

Merchant selects program on terminal or POS system. Merchant inputs clerk ID and swipes the card through the terminal. Merchant keys in dollar amount to redeem off the card. The terminal processes transaction and the amount is subtracted from balance on the card.

There is a $6.50 fee per transaction for this service. Fee Notification: The operator of the ATM will charge a fee for a cash withdrawal. This charge is in addition to any fees that may be assessed by the guest's financial institution.

The problem with debit cards

While hold amounts can easily be taken off credit cards, it takes longer with debit cards, often leaving the account holder without access to their money for up to 10 days - and sometimes much longer.

All onboard purchases are paid for using your cruise card, which doubles as your room key. This card is set up before boarding and serves as your ID to get on and off the ship, provides you access to your cabin and makes for easy swiping when you decide you need a pina colada.

Many luxury cruise lines, higher-end river lines, and some British and Australian lines have a no-tipping policy, and gratuities are not required. You can always tip at your discretion, though some crewmembers are not allowed to accept monetary gifts.

You'll find the majority of cruise lines operate in USD and there will be a service charge from the ATM to withdraw funds.

Sail & Sign® is Carnival's cashless on board credit program, which allows guests to charge onboard purchases and gratuities directly to a personal account for convenience. The Sail & Sign Card must be utilized for all money transactions on board as cash will not be an accepted form of payment.

What happens if you don't tip on a cruise? Most cruise lines work on the basis that the crew members' pay structure is based on receiving tips. If you choose not to tip, for whatever reason, you are impacting the salaries of the crew who have served you so well during your cruise.

Do you tip housekeeping on cruise? ›

As for daily housekeeping gratuity, $2 to $5 per person per day is a good rule of thumb. For help with your luggage when boarding and disembarking, tip the luggage handler immediately following the service. Beyond the day-to-day staff, you may also want to tip out specialized crew members you encountered regularly.

However, most cruise lines are based in the U.S., where the crew members' pay structure is based on tips. If you refuse to tip on principle, you are impacting the salaries of the people who have served you well onboard.

Typical extra tips may be $15-20 per passenger for a seven-day cruise paid to the cabin steward for exceptional work, or an extra $10-20 per passenger to a waiter who offered spectacular dining service. Similarly, it is often acceptable to tip $1-3 when room service is delivered depending on the size of the order.

For most, prepaying gratuities is a great way to keep track of your overall cruise budget. If they're paid for and out of the way, you won't accidentally spend your gratuity money while onboard or in port or receive a large(r) bill at the end of the sailing.

So the 3-1-1 rule is the TSA's quick reminder: 3 ounces, 1 quart bag and 1 bag per traveler. Note that food items, such as peanut butter, sauces or beverages need to fit within this 1 bag and larger items will be confiscated and discarded.

On most cruises, nobody will object if you take food from the buffet or another casual restaurant and bring it back to your room. However, you can always ask your server to plate up your meal to take with you or if you need to sit down at a specialty venue early for some reasons or leave the main dining room.

At night for dinner guests can go for casual or smart casual clothes at most of the restaurants. Although for specialty restaurants in cruise ships a formal dress code is suggested. The cruise line does not have any kind of formal nights but 'Norwegian's night out' can be considered as the formal night.

Can you eat in your room on a cruise ship? ›

Another option on many cruises is to eat in your room by ordering room service. This is usually included in your fare, so feel free to satisfy late-night cravings or indulge in breakfast in bed after dancing the night away in the cruise ship disco or nightclub.

Most guests bring $50-$120 cash per day to spend during the cruise. You will have many opportunities to purchase duty free goods, take exciting shore excursions, buy local souvenirs, play your chance in the casino, or enjoy some pampering in the spa.

As a general rule, plan to have $50 to $100 each day in the local currency. Also, you may want to bring an extra $20 a day for tipping crew members. Make sure to include smaller bills for tips. Fifty to a hundred dollars a day should be enough to cover small purchases, tips and snacks at each port.

Casual Looks: Pack at least 4 pairs of shorts, 5 – 7 t-shirts, 3 pairs of pants, 3 skirts, and a couple of day dresses. Dinner Attire: Bring enough smart-casual looks for 7 nights.

There are closets in every cabin that can hold a suitcase or two. You can also store them under the cabin bed so that you don't have to worry about it taking up valuable space.

You also have the option of carrying your own luggage off the ship. However, this is only recommended if you are able-bodied and can haul your bags down flights of stairs on the ship and at the cruise terminal. Elevator banks on both will be extremely crowded.

Bringing food on a cruise recapped

That said, generally speaking, liquor and spirits are never permitted; wine, champagne, beer and nonalcoholic beverages are allowed only occasionally in limited quantities; and while fresh, homemade or perishable foods are forbidden, packaged snacks are just fine.

Use your Disney Gift Card to apply payment toward your shipboard account during your cruise for spa treatments, shore excursions, photographs at Shutters and onboard merchandise. Also use your Disney Gift Card toward your Disney Cruise Line reservation by calling 1-866-784-1628 or online at DisneyCruise.com.

Here's the short answer: You don't actually need any cash when on a cruise ship. Most cruise lines operate on a cashless system. This allows you to pay for any and all of your onboard charges using your room key rather than bringing extra cash.

Once onboard, your Disney Gift Cards or other cards like a Visa gift card can be used to add to your Stateroom Account.

Can you use gift cards to pay for Disney Cruise? ›

A: Disney Gift Cards can be used as a form of payment on your shipboard account; however, they must be purchased prior to sailing.

Is Costco Worth It to Book Disney? Costco frequently offers Disney trips at a lower price than Disney directly or through a Disney travel agency. However, there are significant downsides to booking with Costco. The packages offered by Costco are less flexible than those provided by Disney or Disney travel agencies.

If you have multiple Disney Gift Cards, you can combine them into one for a total of $1,000 maximum on the Disney Gift Card website. This is a good idea because you can only apply one gift card at a time online when making a payment on your vacation.

Once onboard the ship, you will use your "Key to the World" card for all purchases; if you link your debit card to your stateroom account during the online check-in, that will be the card that is charged for all onboard purchases, including Port Adventures.

Carnival operates on a cashless credit program on board which allows you to charge all your services, gratuities and purchases during your cruise to your stateroom. All locations on board will accept your Sail & Sign card (onboard expense account) for payment; the casino will also accept cash.

Most cruise lines don't allow that. Just cash them out (most banks will cash out Visa/MC cards....and use the cash. Cash accounts are quite common.

Both Visa gift cards and Visa TravelMoney cards can be excellent choices for travelers. They are safer than traveling with cash.

Deposits for all reservations will be 20% of the voyage fare. The total voyage fare DOES include port fees but DOES NOT include insurance, transfers, taxes, or airfare. Also, everyone will be charged a deposit, including children 12 weeks and older.

A: At check-in, all Guests must present valid passports or other acceptable proof of citizenship. All travelers are required to have a valid passport to enter or re-enter the United States by air.

Ships & Cruises – Frequently Asked Questions

Your cruise price includes almost every part of your onboard experience, such as: Your stateroom along with all applicable taxes and port fees. Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Soft drinks served at meals and at each ship's beverage station.