Typically where do you use Disney gift cards on the ship?

[Ahoyhoy]

We are not planning to go any upscale dining, or any upgraded experiences (BBB, etc) - if you aren't doing anything upgraded or extra, do most people just use their Disney gift cards for the gift shop pretty much?

 

[DCL58]

We just put them on our onboard account and they pay for tips plus whatever shopping, dining, excursions, or drinks we purchase.

 

[Mommb]

The only place to directly use gift cards is in the shops (and I'm not sure it's possible even there). The easiest way to use gift cards is to bring them to Guest Services to be applied to your account as soon as you have an amount equal to the gift card value on your account.

Charges to your onboard account include excursions booked through Disney, which will be on your account when you board; gratuities, which will be on your account a few days before debarkation; and onboard activities (nursery, spa, adult dining, beverage tastings, BBB, extra-cost beverages, shops, and so on), which will be on your account when they occur/are purchased.

 

[CamColt]

I agree with the above posts...just put them on your account and they are good for anything. We have also recently started putting some on our account before sailing as it saves a trip to Guest Services.

 

[SL6827]

You can't use them on the islands? Cove Cafe or the dessert shops? Only in the gift stores on the ship?

 

[lanejudy]

You can't use them on the islands? Cove Cafe or the dessert shops? Only in the gift stores on the ship?

The ship is cash-less meaning pretty much everything is charged to your stateroom account. You can use gift cards to pay off the stateroom account. I believe the gift shop is the only location that accepts gift cards as direct payment (instead of charging to your stateroom).

 

[SL6827]

The ship is cash-less meaning pretty much everything is charged to your stateroom account. You can use gift cards to pay off the stateroom account. I believe the gift shop is the only location that accepts gift cards as direct payment (instead of charging to your stateroom).

Ughhhh. I was hoping that wasn't the case. How in the world can you keep straight who charges what to your room? I guess there is a way, hopefully an extremely easy way to do so. I was planning on just me and my husband to have such ability.

 

[Skippyboo]

When you do your onboard check in, approximately a month before your cruise, you set up your onboard account and who is covered.

For example, cabin 1234 has 3 people
You can set up that the onboard account of Cruiser A will cover the charges of cruiser B. Cruiser C set up a different payment on their account not linked to the other cruisers.

 

[Mommb]

Ughhhh. I was hoping that wasn't the case. How in the world can you keep straight who charges what to your room? I guess there is a way, hopefully an extremely easy way to do so. I was planning on just me and my husband to have such ability.

The account statement available in the DCL Navigator app, or by going to Guest Services, will separate the account charges by guest.

When you do your onboard check in, approximately a month before your cruise, you set up your onboard account and who is covered.

Also, if you are traveling with kids and don't want them to be able to make charges on their own, you can indicate that during online check-in.

 

[lanejudy]

I was planning on just me and my husband to have such ability.

If you have adult children, you can set their accounts to their own credit cards. Or set it to cash which maxes out at (maybe) $400 or $500. If you had planned to give them the gift cards those can be pre-loaded. Just let them know that they are responsible for any charges over-and-above the gift card. And they will need to settle the account before they are allowed to debark at the end of the cruise.

Also be aware that unless you pre-paid gratuities, those will be charged to each guest's onboard account.

Also, if you are traveling with kids and don't want them to be able to make charges on their own, you can indicate that during online check-in.

Yes, you can turn off charging for kids' (minors) accounts. But I don't know if it's possible to turn off charging for an adult "child" (age 18+).

 

[erionm]

Ughhhh. I was hoping that wasn't the case. How in the world can you keep straight who charges what to your room? I guess there is a way, hopefully an extremely easy way to do so. I was planning on just me and my husband to have such ability.

During online check-in, you designate what credit card will be used for purchases and who you are going to be responsible for. If there are multiple adults in the room, each can have their own CC attached to their room account for their purchases. You can also setup individuals as cash and they would need to go to guest services to fund their shipboard account.

 

[SL6827]

OK, so me and hubby as one account. Then my adult daughter and her friend who are 21 and do not have any credit cards. We will charge to the room with separate pin numbers and it will separate each purchase with the pin? Or what? Then each person can take thier gift cards to pay off thier balance on the room?