Getting cash on board

[youwash]

Do they have an ATM on board? I think I remember them having one but never used it. How much do they charge? Or am I better off taking travelers checks (do people still use them?) and cashing them on the ship.

[yogimax]

You can get cash in the casino at 3%

[GXmanDC]

The ATM is run by Bank Atlantic. I think there is an $8 transaction fee, plus anything your own bank may charge. I'd go with travelers checks or cash. We generally take cash and put it in the safe.

[youwash]

You can get cash in the casino at 3%

 

I want to use a debit card-will that work?

[pltag]

I want to use a debit card-will that work?

Casino cash is just charged to your SeaPass account. So, as long as your debit card has the limits to handle all of the spending, plus any other 'holds' then it should not be a problem.

 

I used to naively think that when you used your debit card ... that the magic world of electronic banking would just "look" into your account ...... if you had enough money, then the purchase is approved. It's not that simple. Every debit card account has a preset daily purchase and cash advance limit ...... regardless of the amount of money you have in the account. Contact your bank to see what your limits are, and to perhaps request that they be changed to better suit your needs.

[Cupcrazy]

You can get cash in the casino at 3%

 

They don't charge if you put your card into a slot machine. Put it in charge $100 and hit cash out. There is no surcharge for that transaction. I've done this on every cruise I've been on. Its a little loophole in the system.

[PhoenixCruiser]

They don't charge if you put your card into a slot machine. Put it in charge $100 and hit cash out. There is no surcharge for that transaction. I've done this on every cruise I've been on. Its a little loophole in the system.

 

You have done this on a Royal Caribbean cruise :confused:

 

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[Ashland]

Yes..take Travelers Cheques..you can order them at your bank or some banks and AAA offices have then onhand..We take a certain amount of cash and then TC's as a backup..RCI has no limit or fees to cash them onboard (unlike personal checks or ATM fees)..any unused we just redeposit them back into our bank account when we get home...

[Ashland]

They don't charge if you put your card into a slot machine. Put it in charge $100 and hit cash out. There is no surcharge for that transaction. I've done this on every cruise I've been on. Its a little loophole in the system.

Debit or credit card in a slot machine :confused:

[Eng23]

Travellers Checks! I use them every cruise I take. I had a friend that used the ships ATM and he got socked with the transaction fee from the machine ($9) and then his bank hit him with another $5 processing fee plus a international transaction fee $5. So $19 in fees :eek: for one ATM transaction. Not for me!

[Coralc]

They don't charge if you put your card into a slot machine. Put it in charge $100 and hit cash out. There is no surcharge for that transaction. I've done this on every cruise I've been on. Its a little loophole in the system.

 

You have done this on a Royal Caribbean cruise :confused:

 

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I think NOT. :rolleyes:

[pcur]

I use the ATM on board the ship for all my cruises. Schwab Bank reimburses all fees anywhere in the world. We started doing this about 2 years ago. Makes life so much easier when we travel: we get cash and local currency literally anywhere we go.

 

Just keep enough in the account to allow for fees to be charged initially, and then you get that amount credited back on your statement date.

 

I haven't used traveler's checks in about 30 years.

 

We used to use Barclay's Bank ATMs, but now with the Schwab Bank online account we don't have to even look for them. We just find a bank or use the one on board each ship.

[johneeo]

Do they have an ATM on board? I think I remember them having one but never used it. How much do they charge? Or am I better off taking travelers checks (do people still use them?) and cashing them on the ship.

 

The easiest thing to do is just take the cash with you.

[trixiegolf]

Good luck in finding a bank that will still sell travelers checks. Only 1 bank in Kansas City still has them, and you have to have an account there. Even AAA doesn't have them. I refuse to use a plastic card that will charge a transaction fee. Plus many times the ATM on the ship is out of money or out of order.

[cb at sea]

I have to agree with Johneeo...bring the cash...it's obviously in your account....just bring it. No fees!

[chipmaster]

ATM is totally YMMV, remember the cruiselines will montize everything they can for profit, ATM and money exchange on board for sure.

 

Travels cheques are still happily cashed for us dollars on every ship I've been on.

 

ATM in port with usually smaller usage surcharge is where I'd go, or cash.

[LovesCruising]

You can get cash in the casino at 3%

 

The fee will be waived if you have been gambling with your card in the machine and you have aquired points.

 

They don't charge if you put your card into a slot machine. Put it in charge $100 and hit cash out. There is no surcharge for that transaction. I've done this on every cruise I've been on. Its a little loophole in the system.

 

You can do this on Carnival - not on Royal

[pcur]

Plus many times the ATM on the ship is out of money or out of order.

 

I've never had this happen, and I use ship ATMs all the time.

[emeraldcity]

Another vote for traveler's checks! No international fees to deal with from port expenditures and the ship doesn't charge to cash them. Depending on the types of accounts you carry at your primary banks, you can probably get them for no service charge.

[cruisinfanatic]

The easiest thing to do is just take the cash with you.

I agree. Haven't screwed around with travelers checks in 20 years

[SamFritz]

So with a 3% charge in the casino and a $9 charge on the ATM it sounds like as long as you are taking out less than $300 it's less expensive to use the casino than the ATM. Does that sound right?:o

[Ruby71]

One more vote for traveler's checks. I have brought them on every cruise and have never had a problem. Easy to cash on board. Until they stop making them at my bank I will continue to bring them.

Sharon

[phoenix1181]

We always use Travelers Checks too. Easy to cash onboard & we worry less about losing them. We get the dual signature at AAA so either one of us can use them.

[Coralc]

We always use Travelers Checks too. Easy to cash onboard & we worry less about losing them. We get the dual signature at AAA so either one of us can use them.

 

I like Traveler's checks too. It's the way I budget my "gambling money". No more than one $50 TC/day. Some days I win, some days I lose, and some days I don't play.

 

Bank of America no longer carries them. 3A out here no longer carries them. The credit union (branch location in another town) has one $150 packet left and they will no longer carry them. If I go and buy that one, that will be it. Traveler's checks will no longer be an option.

 

I thought I had read that the ships are unable to accept those pre-paid travel cards anyway?

 

Not that I would use them...they don't help with budgeting at all. :rolleyes:

[olibubble]

if your seapass account is paid in cash the casino dont charge you the 3%