Ways to get Cash

[HPEmom]

We (2 adults and 3 kids) are crusing in December and for the first time will do excursions on our own. The excursion companies all indicate they accept cash upon arrival or at the conclusion of the excursion. That would mean we will need to carry or have access to getting cash.

 

How do most people do this? Just bring cash and put it in the safe, taking just what you need for each excursion? Will the ship cash personal checks, give cash against a credit card or use local ATM's? I don't want to pay ridiculous fees but am a little uncertain about carrying lots of cash around. It seems like a lot of cash for a 7 day cruise (porters in Port Canaveral, 3 excursions at at least 150/day, taxis, food ashore, etc...)

 

Thanks to all of you in the know:)

[*Mach*]

I bring cash and lock it in the safe... I've never had a problem.

There is an ATM on board but the transactions are quite expensive and the thing runs out of money fairly early on in the cruise.

You can get cash from the casino. Insert your card in a slot machine, set up an account with however much money you want, cash out and go to the teller's window with the receipt you get and turn it in for cash.

You can cash personal checks on board. Here's what Carnival has to say about that:

Can I cash checks on board?

 

Guests may use their personal checks on board to acquire a cash advance. Global Cash Access (GCA) provides this service by debiting the guest's checking account, using the account number on the check. Limits are determined by the monies currently available in the guest's checking account that the check is drawn on. Just like a debit card transaction, the money is immediately debited from the guest's account.

 

For this service, GCA charges 5.5% of the value of the cash advance requested or a flat fee of $5.50 if the amount requested is $100 or less. As part of this transaction, a new GCA check is generated for the transaction amount and the guest is requested to endorse it over to CCL in order to receive the cash. The guest's personal check is returned to them after the bank account number is obtained from the bottom of the check.

 

Both the Guest Services Desk and the Casino offer this service.

 

http://www.carnival.com/cms/faq/default.aspx?icid=CC_Header_466#q-678102

[firefly333]

Host Mach .. thats really odd. I tried to cash a check on Ecstasy. (forgot my credit card, had pulled it out to book parking from home and left it sitting at home on my chair).

 

They said you cant cash a personal check onboard.. wonder why they said no if it says you can? They said absolutely no. I would have paid any fee at that time, as I didnt know if I could get home and we arrived back in port on July 4th and the banks were closed to boot.

[BigDfromTN]

Good response Mach.

 

We take the cash from home and lock it in the safe as well.

 

Enjoy your cruise.

[Brendarudd28]

On our first cruise last year, we actually pre-paid for our excursions (one through Carnival and two through independents). But we did bring quite a bit of cash with us. DBF really prefers cash over credit card.

I do know that they'll cash traveller's checks. However, they may charge a fee for cashing personal checks.

I know this is kind of tricky, but what I did on our last cruise was sit down at a slot machine. I put my S&S card in and downloaded cash onto the slot machine and then cashed out. I took my S&S card to the cashier in the casino and was given cash for the amount I cashed out for on the slot machine. This gave me some pocket money. I'm sure there's a limit somewhere, but it's a good choice for reasonable supplies of cash. Plus, you avoid the charge from the cruiseline. And, best of all, you avoid the cash advance fee on the credit card that's tied to your S&S card because it just looks like a regular charge, not a cash advance.

[*Mach*]

Host Mach .. thats really odd. I tried to cash a check on Ecstasy. (forgot my credit card, had pulled it out to book parking from home and left it sitting at home on my chair).

 

They said you cant cash a personal check onboard.. wonder why they said no if it says you can? They said absolutely no. I would have paid any fee at that time, as I didnt know if I could get home and we arrived back in port on July 4th and the banks were closed to boot.

 

 

I believe that this system was just very recently implemented. It might not have been available on your cruise.

[firefly333]

I believe that this system was just very recently implemented. It might not have been available on your cruise.

 

 

thanks .. I was desperate, and they said flat out no.

 

I hated to be on a cruise and not able to buy anything.

[InEEDofAcruise]

Host Mach, I assume using this slot machine "trick" would avoid the 3% fee that I get charged everytime at the table games? Can you confirm this is a "fee free" way to get cash while on board?

 

I bring cash and lock it in the safe... I've never had a problem.

 

There is an ATM on board but the transactions are quite expensive and the thing runs out of money fairly early on in the cruise.

 

You can get cash from the casino. Insert your card in a slot machine, set up an account with however much money you want, cash out and go to the teller's window with the receipt you get and turn it in for cash.

 

You can cash personal checks on board. Here's what Carnival has to say about that:

 

Can I cash checks on board?

 

Guests may use their personal checks on board to acquire a cash advance. Global Cash Access (GCA) provides this service by debiting the guest's checking account, using the account number on the check. Limits are determined by the monies currently available in the guest's checking account that the check is drawn on. Just like a debit card transaction, the money is immediately debited from the guest's account.

 

For this service, GCA charges 5.5% of the value of the cash advance requested or a flat fee of $5.50 if the amount requested is $100 or less. As part of this transaction, a new GCA check is generated for the transaction amount and the guest is requested to endorse it over to CCL in order to receive the cash. The guest's personal check is returned to them after the bank account number is obtained from the bottom of the check.

 

Both the Guest Services Desk and the Casino offer this service.

 

http://www.carnival.com/cms/faq/default.aspx?icid=CC_Header_466#q-678102

[*Mach*]

Host Mach, I assume using this slot machine "trick" would avoid the 3% fee that I get charged everytime at the table games? Can you confirm this is a "fee free" way to get cash while on board?

 

 

I seldom gamble and have not used this technique myself but many of my friends have used this method to avoid the fees and say that it works.

I'll be glad to check with them to verify!

:)

 

[cuyahoga11]

Host Mach, I assume using this slot machine "trick" would avoid the 3% fee that I get charged everytime at the table games? Can you confirm this is a "fee free" way to get cash while on board?

 

No fee if done at the machines

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

We bring cash and use ATM where US dollar will not work.

[dwayneb236]

Brought cash and travelers checks for the S&S card account. Already had cash on it from Early saver stuff and Funship Dollars too. If I wanted cash, I just went to the service desk and made a withdrawal. Easy as Pie.

[SadieN]

Host Mach, I assume using this slot machine "trick" would avoid the 3% fee that I get charged everytime at the table games? Can you confirm this is a "fee free" way to get cash while on board?

 

I seldom gamble and have not used this technique myself but many of my friends have used this method to avoid the fees and say that it works.

 

I'll be glad to check with them to verify!

 

:)

 

 

Yes! I have been at the tables and the PitBoss recommended this to another player at the table. It is better for Carnival to have the player go the self-serve route than to stop play at the table while the transaction is happening.

[woodey]

No fees if you charge your sail and sign account though slots..yoh can go through the casino cashier or rable games with a 3% fee

[near the beach]

I have cashed personal checks on board at guest services without being charged any fees.

[HPEmom]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone! I knew I could find answers here.

[golfb4cruzing]

Cash and room safe. Never any worries. We bring several thousand for a 7 day because we try not to use credit cards and avoid any bills after cruise is done.

[cuyahoga11]

Host Mach .. thats really odd. I tried to cash a check on Ecstasy. (forgot my credit card, had pulled it out to book parking from home and left it sitting at home on my chair).

 

They said you cant cash a personal check onboard.. wonder why they said no if it says you can? They said absolutely no. I would have paid any fee at that time, as I didnt know if I could get home and we arrived back in port on July 4th and the banks were closed to boot.

 

Can I cash checks on board?

Guests may use their personal checks on board to acquire a cash advance. Global Cash Access (GCA) provides this service by debiting the guest's checking account, using the account number on the check. Limits are determined by the monies currently available in the guest's checking account that the check is drawn on. Just like a debit card transaction, the money is immediately debited from the guest's account.

For this service, GCA charges 5.5% of the value of the cash advance requested or a flat fee of $5.50 if the amount requested is $100 or less. As part of this transaction, a new GCA check is generated for the transaction amount and the guest is requested to endorse it over to CCL in order to receive the cash. The guest's personal check is returned to them after the bank account number is obtained from the bottom of the check.

Both the Guest Services Desk and the Casino offer this service.

[okwriter]

I stash cash in the safe but mostly use my S&S card in the slot machines, as others have explained.

My "stash 'o cash" is a backup plan. :)