Carnival Sail & Sign Card in Holder

I’m getting ready for my first cruise and am considering a lanyard. I’ve seen several types, but two that I’m interested in using. One with the card in an attached clear plastic holder and one on a retractable reel. Just wondering if these two options are worth using.

1. Do you have to take it out of the holder to use it?

2. If using a retractable reel type, do you have to remove the card from the reel to hand to bartender/wait staff?

Thoughts?

5 Answers

I have used both. On our last cruise the plastic "envelope" finally had it and split. Thankfully, it also had a reelie doo-hickie and a clip that I could put through the pre-punched hole. We also had the plastic waterproof phone cases, but it was a pain to open it every time we needed to use our card. I preferred the reelie doo-hickie thing over the envelope once I had to use it that way.

Enjoy your cruise!!

Use whatever method you find more accommodating to you.

On Carnival, like most cruise lines, your cabin key is used for just about everything on board the ship. In addition to being needed to open your cabin, it's your on board ID, your ship's charging privileges card, you on off the ship access card, and in ports of call a way to get back in to the secured gated dock area (along with a picture ID).

Personally I used to use a coiled wrist "key" holder, but since the introduction of the (free) Carnival HUB app and it's ($5/device/voyage) on board chat feature I've started using a crossbody phone wallet w/ easy access ID window. My DH now uses a belt clip phone holder with slots on the screen flap for credit cards. Prior to that he used either his (otherwise emptied) wallet or a fast clip ID card holder without a plastic sleeve.

Use whatever method you think will work best for you to be able to take the card and hand it to crew members as needed.

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These work really well. They attach to a lanyard on either side, hold 2 cards (one on each side). So you can have a sail away card and another on a single holder. And they easily slide in/out (as opposed to the think plastic holders that tear. No need to punch any holes either.

Your card should already have a hole punched into it, this might change the way you look at lanyards. They need the card to run through their machine (like a credit card reader in a store). If you have it in a sleeve you will have to remove it, if it is on a retractable reel, depends on how far and easily it reaches the machine.

I tend to remove mine and hand to whoever needs it. Hope this helps.

Welcome to the wonderful world of cruising. Enjoy your first cruise!Big Smile

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