Casino 3 percent charge

[rockgarden]

First, does Princess still have their own tokens to play in the casino?

If so, I guess that the 3 percent still applies even with U.S.D.?

[Baxter]

Yes, the casino uses tokens for play. Yes, there is still a 3% charge if you charge cash against your account.

[rockgarden]

Well, thanks for that - I thought that Princess might just be the same as Celebrity or RCCL - no charge - they just change your money to whatever you need. So, the way to go is to charge it to our Visa and we will get the miles. I suppose the next thing will be that the other cruise lines will start doing the same once they start changing their machines over to newer models.

[Baxter]

We don't like travelling with a lot of cash so the 3% charge is a small price to pay for convenience.

[rockgarden]

Baxter, you are right, but I still think it is a cheapskate way to handle cash in the casino.

[johnql]

Just to be clear, there is no 3% surcharge if you're simply asking for change or buying chips with cash. The charge only applies if you're charging chips to your onboard account.

[DSavard]

A little trick to get around the 3% surcharge is to send yourself a gift of chips through Princess. You prepurchase them and give your credit card number. The chips are in your cabin when you arrive. You may pay some interest this way, but it will be less than the 3%.

[OrangeAndBlue]

DSavard,

 

Thanks for the great tip. I will keep that in mind for the next cruise...

 

Paul

[Hot2Travel]

Will the casino raise an eyebrow when you cash in the 'gift chips'?

[cherylandtk]

Nope, some folks find the 3% charge less than the ATM charge, so use casino chips as a way to walk out with cash: Get chips, cash in, leave casino.

[West Coast]

Will the casino raise an eyebrow when you cash in the 'gift chips'?

 

No. Once you place the order with Princess (before the cruise) there will be a small slip of paper in your cabin when you arrive. Just take this piece of paper to the Casino and you will receive cash in exchange. Note: there is a maximum of $1000 per person that can be sent as "Casino Gift" per cruise.

[Hot2Travel]

WOW!! Thanks a bunch for the 'chips tips'. Great way to transfer cash as we are going to the Med. in August. Any idea if the exchange rate would be favorable if we asked for € (euro) instead of US$ when cashing in?

[West Coast]

Any idea if the exchange rate would be favorable if we asked for € (euro) instead of US$ when cashing in?

 

All services onboard the ship are in US dollars - so the casino does not offer a foreign exchange service. You would need to 'get' your US cash from the casino and then exchange it elsewhere. I believe there is a currency conversion (ABM-like) machine onboard where you 'feed' in US dollars and the machine dispenses Euros.

[Details]

No. Once you place the order with Princess (before the cruise) there will be a small slip of paper in your cabin when you arrive. Just take this piece of paper to the Casino and you will receive cash in exchange. Note: there is a maximum of $1000 per person that can be sent as "Casino Gift" per cruise.

 

Do you have to phone Princess this order or can you do it securely online? Seems like a great way to avoid carrying a lot of cash and earn miles at the same time.

[West Coast]

Do you have to phone Princess this order or can you do it securely online? Seems like a great way to avoid carrying a lot of cash and earn miles at the same time.

 

The full details on ordering 'gifts' is on the Princess website:

 

http://www.princess.com/onboard/sendagift/casino.html

 

Once you've found the 'gifts' you want to send, you need to download this form:

 

http://www.princess.com/onboard/sendagift/Order_Form.pdf

 

And fax it to Princess at: 661-284-4885

[lbhafen]

The other way to get around the 3% charge is to establish credit with the Princess casino. It works just like credit at any other casino. You can draw checks or markers against your account and then settle up with a personal check at the end of the voyage. You have to fill out a form, much like applying for a credit card, and then they give you an established limit that you can't go over, same as a credit card. You can search the Princess web site for "casino credit". The form that I found says casino credit may be subject to the 3% charge, but I know I have never been charged.

 

Keith