Question about Final onboard bill

[RysMomma]

My mom is taking my family and my brother's family on our cruise in 18 days! We are definitely thankful (and my family paid to have her room decorated to say thank you!) It's a bittersweet occasion as this should have been my parents' 50th Wedding Anniversary Cruise back in 2020 but my dad passed away in 2020 and the world shut down, so we are all finally going away this year! But here is my question-when we set up the accounts for the three rooms, she wanted her credit card as the default one for all of us. Again, very thankful but we want to pay for our own photo package and a few other things here and there. We figured we would just write her a check at the end (which she may or may not accept). So I'm curious if there's any way that we can pay with gift cards before we disembark? We don't want her paying for certain things and this way those few things do not show up on her card? Any idea?

Thanks!

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Even if you list your mom's cc as the card to bill, Disney waits until some charges accummulate before charging your cards. It's done at certain intervals, the first at $400 IIRC. Honestly, I don't watch it that closely but others here probably know that. I also believe you can't apply a gift card unless there are some charges to your stateroom account. Maybe I'm remembering this from WDW, not DCL. I do remember once wanting to unload my Disney gc on first day of a trip to get it over with so I don't forget later and was told I couldn't yet. I guess this is the same way you can't make a cc payment if your balance is $0.
I would stop at GS once onboard and explain to them you'd like to make payment for x dollars and give them the cc/gc. Then whatever amount is not covered by your payment, would be charged to your mom's cc at the end, or sooner if your balance reaches their pre-determined point to charge the cc on file.

 

[lanejudy]

Yes, you can stop by Guest Services at any point during the cruise to have a gift card applied to the balance. I suggest doing so sooner rather than later before the charges are actually sent through to the credit card.

ETA Disney gift cards can be pre-loaded to your account, they will be used (used up) before a credit card charge. No need to have anything charged first (WDW does that).

 

[TestingH2O]

You can also purchase stateroom credits before you leave via the Onboard Gifts portion of the website. You can set whatever dollar amount you want and pay with credit card, gift card, or rewards card. If you select it as a gift for your room, you will have a card waiting in your room on the day you board, but your mom won’t see anything until she pulls the folio.

 

[auntlynne]

Easiest way is as described above - do an online credit on your room.

But also let your mother know that you have done it, so she doesn’t go to a Guest Services to try to straighten out her bill.

Or just let her cover the expenses (if she can afford it). It might help her with the grieving process. Just throwing that out there.

Hope you have a lovely cruise, celebrating the life you had with your dad.

 

[Doingitagain]

I had this situation with my families staterooms. I wanted to pay for excursions, but have them pay for lounge and shopping. I calculated the cost of what I wanted to pay for and used the online gifts to buy a stateroom credit for that amount.

 

[RysMomma]

Easiest way is as described above - do an online credit on your room.

But also let your mother know that you have done it, so she doesn’t go to a Guest Services to try to straighten out her bill.

Or just let her cover the expenses (if she can afford it). It might help her with the grieving process. Just throwing that out there.

Hope you have a lovely cruise, celebrating the life you had with your dad.

Thank you so much! Their dream was to always travel with their kids and grandkids. We’re lucky we had two amazing trips with him! (One to just the parks and one to the parks and cruise). We miss him every single day and all of my Disney memories revolve around my parents because they made me the Disney kid/adult I am today, so I know there will be many tears!!

 

[Cruzin’Sisters]

Yes, you can stop by Guest Services at any point during the cruise to have a gift card applied to the balance. I suggest doing so sooner rather than later before the charges are actually sent through to the credit card.

ETA Disney gift cards can be pre-loaded to your account, they will be used (used up) before a credit card charge. No need to have anything charged first (WDW does that).

Where does one pre-load gift cards? Please advise.
Thank you lane Judy.

 

[Intr3pid]

Where does one pre-load gift cards? Please advise.
Thank you lane Judy.

No need to pre-load a gift card - unless you already have one. Instead buy an onboard credit like you'd other gifts:
https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/gifts-and-amenities

 

[Cruzin’Sisters]

No need to pre-load a gift card - unless you already have one. Instead buy an onboard credit like you'd other gifts:
https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/gifts-and-amenities

I wasn’t clear, sorry. I received a gift card for Christmas and wanted to avoid waiting in line at Guest services. Thought lanejudy said it could be done online.
TIA

 

[auntlynne]

Where does one pre-load gift cards? Please advise.
Thank you lane Judy.

i searched the internet for Disney Cruise Line Onboard Gifts. Got this:




If you get this page, click on the blue underlined words or http address.

It will take you to the page to enter your reservation # Or Embarkation Port
which leads you to this:




Click on the 3 horizontal bars in the upper left and get this:




Choose “Onboard Credit“ for:

 

[auntlynne]

It’s possible you can access it through the My Disney Experience (MDE) app or online reservation.

Bottom line, it’s under ONBOARD GIFTS and then look for a menu that takes you to a Onboard Credit.

 

[auntlynne]

If you want to save some money, Don’t forget to look for discounts through credit card cash back or % off Disney Gift Cards. You can use them to pay for pretty much everything about the cruise. Caution: if you cancel your cruise, the refund will go back on the cards - which require spending that $ amount at some place / on something Disney.

(Target Red Card saves you 5%, COSTCO earns you % back on a shopping card, Sam’s has discounted price - and a high-yield credit card for payment and it’s probably better than Target).

 

[Cruzin’Sisters]

i searched the internet for Disney Cruise Line Onboard Gifts. Got this:


View attachment 688649

If you get this page, click on the blue underlined words or http address.

It will take you to the page to enter your reservation # Or Embarkation Port
which leads you to this:

View attachment 688650


Click on the 3 horizontal bars in the upper left and get this:


View attachment 688651

Choose “Onboard Credit“ for:

View attachment 688652

I see it now. Late here, now. Thanks for taking the time to help me. There are so many helpful people here that share their experience with those asking questions.
Thanks so much!