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When booking a cruise with Carnival Cruise Line, it is important to know which payment methods you can use for your reservation and onboard expenses. Carnival accepts several payment options, including major credit cards, eligible debit cards, PayPal for certain direct bookings, Carnival Gift Cards, personal checks, bank transfers, and other approved payment methods.
The payment options can vary depending on whether you are paying for your cruise reservation, purchasing shore excursions before sailing, or setting up your onboard Sail & Sign account. Carnival also has specific rules for last-minute bookings and certain payment methods.
This guide explains the payment methods accepted by Carnival Cruise Line, how they work, and what you should know before making a payment.
Carnival Cruise Line accepts a variety of payment methods for cruise reservations and selected pre-cruise purchases.
According to Carnival's published payment information, accepted options can include:
Visa credit cards
Mastercard credit cards
American Express
Discover
Diners Club
Visa debit cards
Mastercard debit cards
PayPal for eligible direct bookings
Carnival Gift Cards
Certain prepaid or network-branded gift cards
Personal checks
Cashier's checks
Bank checks
Certified checks
Money orders
Bank wire transfers
Certain money-transfer services
BACS and CHAPS for eligible GBP payments
Approved Flex Pay financing
The exact method available depends on the type and timing of the payment.
Yes. Credit cards are one of the primary payment methods accepted by Carnival Cruise Line.
Carnival lists the following credit card networks for cruise reservations and certain other purchases:
Visa
Mastercard
American Express
Discover
Diners Club
Credit cards can also be used for eligible online shore excursion purchases, spa services, Fun Shop purchases, and as a funding method for a Sail & Sign account.
Yes. You can connect an eligible credit card to your Sail & Sign account. Instead of paying separately for each onboard purchase, eligible expenses are charged to your Sail & Sign account.
Carnival uses Sail & Sign as its onboard cashless payment system.
Yes. Carnival accepts eligible Visa and Mastercard debit cards for cruise reservations and certain pre-cruise purchases.
Debit cards can also be used to fund a Sail & Sign account. However, travelers should understand that Carnival may place authorization holds on credit or debit card accounts during the cruise.
For example, Carnival states that an initial bank hold can apply when a credit or debit card is used for Sail & Sign. Additional holds may occur as onboard spending increases. The bank, rather than Carnival, controls when those pending holds are released.
You can, but it is important to consider how authorization holds may affect your available bank balance.
If you are using a debit card, make sure you have enough available funds to cover both your expected spending and any temporary authorization holds.
Yes, Carnival accepts PayPal for eligible cruise reservations made directly with Carnival.
Carnival states that PayPal payments can be made online through Manage My Booking by selecting Pay Now.
There is an important restriction: PayPal cannot be used for a reservation that is part of a group booking.
Depending on your PayPal account, PayPal may allow you to select an available funding source, such as:
A credit card
A debit card
A bank account
An available PayPal balance
The PayPal option must be available for your particular Carnival reservation and payment transaction.
Yes. Carnival accepts Carnival Gift Cards for eligible payments.
Carnival states that its gift cards can be used toward:
Cruise reservations
Online shore excursions
Spa services
Fun Shop purchases
Deposits toward a Sail & Sign account
Carnival Gift Cards are accepted in USD.
If a refund is due after using a Carnival Gift Card, Carnival states that the refund will be issued as a new Carnival Gift Card rather than returned as cash.
Carnival also advises that such refunds can take several business days to be mailed.
Yes, certain network-branded gift cards may also be accepted.
Carnival lists eligible gift cards associated with:
American Express
Mastercard
Visa
Discover
Diners Club
Carnival Corporation Reward Card from American Express
There are restrictions on how some gift cards can be used. For example, Carnival specifically notes that an American Express Gift Card cannot be used as a deposit toward a Sail & Sign account.
It is therefore important to check the specific card type before relying on it for your cruise payment.
Cash is accepted for funding an onboard Sail & Sign account, subject to Carnival's procedures.
Carnival states that guests can make a cash deposit in U.S. currency at Guest Services on the first day of the cruise. Traveler's checks in U.S. currency are also listed as an option.
However, Carnival describes Sail & Sign as a cashless onboard credit system. Guests use their Sail & Sign card for onboard transactions rather than handing cash directly to individual onboard venues.
No. You generally fund your Sail & Sign account rather than paying cash directly for individual onboard transactions.
Once the account is funded, your onboard purchases are recorded against the account.
Yes, Carnival accepts personal checks in U.S. dollars for cruise reservations, but timing restrictions apply.
Carnival states that mailed personal checks can be accepted up to 21 business days before sailing. Check-by-Phone payments are preferred and can be accepted up to 10 business days before sailing.
A returned check due to insufficient funds can result in a $25 USD charge.
Because check payments require processing time, they are not suitable for many last-minute bookings.
Yes. Carnival lists bank wire transfers among the additional payment methods accepted for cruise reservations.
Other listed payment options include:
Cashier's checks
Bank checks
Certified checks
Money orders
Credit-card-issued checks
Western Union Quick Collect
MoneyGram Express Payment
Bank wire transfers
Many of these additional methods are specified as USD payment options.
For eligible British banking payments, Carnival lists both BACS and CHAPS.
These are GBP-based banking payment methods:
BACS: Carnival notes that processing can take up to three days.
CHAPS: This is intended for urgent payments and may involve a bank fee.
Carnival states that BACS and CHAPS cannot be accepted within seven days of sailing.
Carnival also lists Flex Pay as a financing option.
With approved Flex Pay financing, guests can make monthly payments. Carnival states that the initial down payment and subsequent loan payments can be made using a debit card or ACH payment.
Approval and financing terms are subject to the applicable financing arrangement.
Payment choices can become more limited when a cruise is booked very close to the sailing date.
Carnival states that when payment must be received in less than 24 hours, it accepts:
Eligible credit cards
Eligible gift cards
Eligible debit cards
Western Union Quick Collect
MoneyGram Express Payment
Bank wire transfer
Personal checks and certain slower payment methods are therefore not suitable for every last-minute reservation.
Sail & Sign is Carnival's onboard account system. It allows guests to charge eligible onboard purchases and gratuities to an account rather than making individual cash payments.
You can set up your account before the cruise or at embarkation. Carnival says guests can use eligible credit cards, debit cards, cash, or traveler's checks to fund the account.
Your Sail & Sign account can be used for eligible onboard expenses such as:
Food and beverages
Shopping
Spa services
Entertainment and activities
Other onboard purchases
Applicable gratuities
Your account activity can be reviewed through Carnival's HUB app, Sail & Sign kiosks, or Guest Services.
One important consideration when using a credit or debit card is temporary authorization holds.
Carnival explains that an initial hold can be placed on the card used for Sail & Sign. Additional holds may be placed as onboard spending accumulates.
For cruises of two to six days, Carnival lists an initial hold of $100 per stateroom when the same credit or debit card is used. For cruises of seven days or longer, the listed initial amount is $200 per stateroom.
The final amount and timing of released holds can depend on the card issuer's policies.
A debit-card authorization hold can temporarily reduce the amount of money available in your checking account.
For this reason, travelers using debit cards should maintain enough available funds for normal expenses during and immediately after the cruise.
Carnival notes that it cannot expedite the release of bank holds because the issuing bank controls the release process.
Yes, Carnival provides a process for allowing a non-sailing person to use their credit card to establish an onboard expense account for a guest.
Carnival requires documentation for this arrangement, including a completed authorization form, a copy of the card, and identification for the non-sailing cardholder.
This can be useful when a parent, family member, or another person is paying for a guest's onboard expenses.
There is no single payment method that works best for every traveler. Your choice depends on how you plan to pay and how you want to manage your spending.
Before sailing, consider having:
An eligible credit or debit card for your primary payment method
A backup payment method
Some U.S. cash for situations where cash is useful
Your Carnival Gift Card, if you plan to use one
Access to your banking or PayPal account if making online payments
If you are using a debit card, allow extra funds for possible authorization holds.
| Payment Method | Cruise Reservation | Sail & Sign | Important Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa Credit Card | Yes | Yes | Eligible card |
| Mastercard Credit Card | Yes | Yes | Eligible card |
| American Express | Yes | Yes | Accepted |
| Discover | Yes | Yes | Accepted |
| Diners Club | Yes | Yes | Accepted |
| Visa Debit Card | Yes | Yes | Authorization holds may apply |
| Mastercard Debit Card | Yes | Yes | Authorization holds may apply |
| PayPal | Yes, for eligible direct bookings | No as a direct Sail & Sign method | Not available for group bookings |
| Carnival Gift Card | Yes | Yes, for eligible deposits | USD only |
| Cash | Limited for reservation payments | Yes | USD cash deposit for Sail & Sign |
| Traveler's Checks | Limited | Yes | USD |
| Personal Check | Yes, with timing restrictions | No | Advance processing required |
| Bank Wire Transfer | Yes | Not listed as direct onboard funding | Timing matters |
| BACS/CHAPS | Eligible GBP payments | No | Cannot be accepted within 7 days of sailing |
| Flex Pay | Yes, if approved | No | Financing terms apply |
The availability and restrictions shown above are based on Carnival Cruise Line's published payment and Sail & Sign guidance.
Carnival lists Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, and Diners Club among the accepted credit cards for eligible cruise and other purchases.
Yes. Carnival accepts Visa and Mastercard debit cards for eligible cruise reservations, selected purchases, and Sail & Sign funding.
Yes, if the reservation is made directly with Carnival and the PayPal option is available. Carnival states that PayPal payments are made online through Manage My Booking. PayPal cannot be used for group bookings.
Yes. Carnival accepts its gift cards for eligible cruise reservations and several other purchases. Carnival Gift Cards are accepted in U.S. dollars.
You can use U.S. cash to fund a Sail & Sign account. Carnival's onboard system is otherwise designed around Sail & Sign rather than paying cash directly for each onboard transaction.
Yes, for cruise reservations, subject to Carnival's processing deadlines. Carnival states that mailed personal checks are accepted up to 21 business days before sailing, while Check-by-Phone payments are accepted up to 10 business days before sailing.
Yes. Carnival accepts eligible debit cards for Sail & Sign, but authorization holds can temporarily reduce the available balance in your bank account.
Carnival lists bank wire transfers as an accepted payment method for cruise reservations. Other bank-related methods, including BACS and CHAPS, are available for certain eligible payments.
Payment options can be more restricted when payment must be received within 24 hours. Carnival lists credit cards, eligible gift cards, debit cards, Western Union Quick Collect, MoneyGram Express Payment, and bank wire transfers for these situations.
Carnival lists Flex Pay as an available financing option for approved guests. Payments can be made using a debit card or ACH, subject to the applicable financing arrangement.
Yes. Carnival has a third-party credit-card authorization process that allows a non-sailing individual to establish an onboard expense account for a guest, subject to the required documentation.
Carnival Cruise Line accepts a broad range of payment methods, including major credit cards, eligible debit cards, PayPal for qualifying direct bookings, Carnival Gift Cards, checks, bank transfers, and other approved options.
For onboard spending, Carnival uses the Sail & Sign system. Guests can fund this account with eligible cards, cash, or traveler's checks, while onboard purchases are charged through the account.
The most important thing is to check the payment rules for the specific type of transaction you are making. Payment options can differ for a cruise reservation, pre-cruise purchase, onboard account, or last-minute booking. Checking Carnival's current payment requirements before submitting a payment can help prevent delays or rejected transactions.
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