Casino Charge

[springclean02]

Last year when we were on the Epic they said we could get cash to play int he casino from our ship card w/o any feee. I have been reading that some ships have have now imposed a 3% fee. Is this fleet wide on NCL or just certain ships ?

[SuiteCruiser]

Last year when we were on the Epic they said we could get cash to play int he casino from our ship card w/o any feee. I have been reading that some ships have have now imposed a 3% fee. Is this fleet wide on NCL or just certain ships ?

 

It's fleet wide, BUT is not in effect for European sailings. We had the same experience last year on the Epic, but we were on a Mediterranean cruise.

[springclean02]

That really stinks. I really enjoyed not having to travel with large amount of cash. So this is confirmed that there is a 3% charge fleet wide ?

[SuiteCruiser]

That really stinks. I really enjoyed not having to travel with large amount of cash. So this is confirmed that there is a 3% charge fleet wide ?

 

Yes, unfortunately it's true.

 

They used to allow it but too many people took advantage of it, pulling the cash daily off of the sail and sign and then using the cash to pay off their credit card bill when they got home. A nice way to build up points without purchasing anything. As usual, the few bad apples spoiled the barrel for the rest of us.

[Pokeraddict]

There is a way around it and it certainly works for us. Buy x # of dollars through NCL bon voyage On-board Credits/Casino Credits, buy them on your cc at such a time as to miss your billing till you get back.

Play these credits and if you can't get through them by the end of cruise cash them all out via cash at casino wicket if they hassle you then purchase slot vouchers, feed them into machine then press cash out button and take new voucher to wicket and cash out for cash.

Works for us because we get double points on our cc for all travel charges and also avoid the 3% fee and/or any cash advance interest charges.

[sjbdtz]

There is a way around it and it certainly works for us. Buy x # of dollars through NCL bon voyage On-board Credits/Casino Credits, buy them on your cc at such a time as to miss your billing till you get back.

Play these credits and if you can't get through them by the end of cruise cash them all out via cash at casino wicket if they hassle you then purchase slot vouchers, feed them into machine then press cash out button and take new voucher to wicket and cash out for cash.

Works for us because we get double points on our cc for all travel charges and also avoid the 3% fee and/or any cash advance interest charges.

 

 

With the exception of the fact that you can now only buy 1 each of the denominations, it was an excellent workaround.

 

But you're limited to 1 x 100; 1 x 50; 1 x25, etc.

 

 

Stephen

 

 

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[Pokeraddict]

With the exception of the fact that you can now only buy 1 each of the denominations, it was an excellent workaround.

 

But you're limited to 1 x 100; 1 x 50; 1 x25, etc.

 

 

Stephen

 

 

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When did that go into effect? The last time we did it was on the Epic in January 2011. We were just on the POA but they don't have casino.

In any event If thats the case I'll have to figure out another way lol.

[salty dingo]

It makes sense... there were bone-heads who would charge the max allowable every day, and not gamble. They just wanted a free airline ticket from their airline miles card.

 

It's good they shut that down. If you do not want to carry cash, I think you could carry a traveler's check. Or just put cash on your account ahead of time. It's really not a big deal.

[Pokeraddict]

Yep that was us! Sorry that you can't take advantage or know how to play the points game. Whats that old saying old saying "you snooze you lose".

[garycarla]

Sadly, they now charge a fee to use your CC. We just take a few thousand and cash.

[sjbdtz]

When did that go into effect? The last time we did it was on the Epic in January 2011. We were just on the POA but they don't have casino.

In any event If thats the case I'll have to figure out another way lol.

 

 

Honestly, I don't recall. Last year I was on the Spirit for New Year's, the EPIC in May, the Sun in October, and the Spirit in November..... at some point, I was told that my order for $5k in "casino gift certificates" would not be fulfilled, that the policy was you could only buy one of each.

 

I had successfully done it before (and had 50 $100 certs in my cabin on embarkation day)....but have been told: "no longer".

 

 

 

On the other hand, and I'm not sure whether it's because I played over a certain unknown threshold, or if they just took pity on me...but I was not charged 3% either at the tables, nor at the cage. Not saying this is the rule...I'd sailed with several of the hosts & pit managers before.....they might have exercised some discretion. I'm not expecting it every time.

 

 

 

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[Pokeraddict]

On the other hand, and I'm not sure whether it's because I played over a certain unknown threshold, or if they just took pity on me...but I was not charged 3% either at the tables, nor at the cage. Not saying this is the rule...I'd sailed with several of the hosts & pit managers before.....they might have exercised some discretion. I'm not expecting it every time.

I suspect the latter to be true, we were comped drinks on the Epic and we were b2b, but this was January 2011.

I know your from Toronto and we bank Amex/Aeroplan miles so even having to pay the 3% we are still ahead, I can't buy points that cheap on the open market.

[sjbdtz]

[quote name=Pokeraddict;32606809

 

I suspect the latter to be true' date=' we were comped drinks on the Epic and we were b2b, but this was January 2011.

I know your from Toronto and we bank Amex/Aeroplan miles so even having to pay the 3% we are still ahead, I can't buy points that cheap on the open market.[/quote]

 

On b2b 7 day trips, if you borrow $2k/day, that's $28k total cash (how do you carry it?).

 

I have a platinum Aeroplan Plus Amex, which gives me 1.5x points.... so 42,000 points for that 28k in "spending". With a 3% charge, the $28k costs me an actual cash outlay of $840.

 

 

42,000 points gets me (almost) a trip for 2 to NYC. Porter Airlines would take me for $99 each (or $400 round trip).

 

 

I'm not sure that I see a clear benefit to spending 3% just for points accumulation. Typically with most card reward programs, the benefit is ultimately worth about 1 - 1.5% return.

 

 

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[smeyer418]

Celebrity just raised it to 5%

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1579037

 

Since it cost the cruise company about 2-3%, its now a profit center.

 

Those who did it as a cash advance pay even more. Besides what the cruise line charges, most credit cards charge an initial fee(2-4% minimum of $10 on some) and interest starts immediately...

[sjbdtz]

Celebrity just raised it to 5%

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1579037

 

Since it cost the cruise company about 2-3%, its now a profit center.

 

Those who did it as a cash advance pay even more. Besides what the cruise line charges, most credit cards charge an initial fee(2-4% minimum of $10 on some) and interest starts immediately...

 

 

When I ran my business, our discount rate was 1.25% for Visa, 1.25 for MasterCard, and 1.75 for Amex (as memory serves).

 

I'm surprised that a company doing $10B in business (probably mostly through credit cards) would have such a high discount rate.

 

I suspect that at 3%, it's already a profit centre.

 

 

 

Stephen

 

 

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[SuiteCruiser]

When I ran my business, our discount rate was 1.25% for Visa, 1.25 for MasterCard, and 1.75 for Amex (as memory serves).

 

I'm surprised that a company doing $10B in business (probably mostly through credit cards) would have such a high discount rate.

 

I suspect that at 3%, it's already a profit centre.

 

 

 

Stephen

 

 

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Those are GREAT rates! Most of my clients are RCAAAs which give them charitable status. Even the charity rates for Visa & MC are over 2% and Amex is pushing 3%.

 

Of course, don't have much volume going through, but I was was under the impression that we were getting a break on the fees.

[NMLady]

That really stinks. I really enjoyed not having to travel with large amount of cash. So this is confirmed that there is a 3% charge fleet wide ?

 

In order not to carry large amounts of cash, we take travelers' checks which can be cashed at the front desk, and probably also in the casino.

[sjbdtz]

Those are GREAT rates! Most of my clients are RCAAAs which give them charitable status. Even the charity rates for Visa & MC are over 2% and Amex is pushing 3%.

 

Of course, don't have much volume going through, but I was was under the impression that we were getting a break on the fees.

 

 

Maybe you can use this as ammunition: http://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=visa%20discount%20rate%20crfa&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CCQQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.crfa.ca%2Fmembership%2Fbenefits_chase_offer.pdf&ei=I4FKT6OeGub50gHm2dSuBg&usg=AFQjCNGy4Lyji3g8hn-nYCqz2fr00YI4YQ

 

 

The rates are STILL under 2%....through the CRFA. Our own franchisor's rates were even better.

 

Here's another example: http://www.groupex.com/benefits_financial.asp

 

 

 

Stephen

 

 

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[Deadahead Neil]

So now that NCL want 's to charge me 3% to get money from them to gamble in their casino, which in most cases, are stacked in their favor anyway, I feel great a bout this new policy. I will take some cash for gambling, but when that is gone, instead of getting more from the casino, I will just forego getting additional money to gamble with. That way, I save not only the 3% charge, but the other 97% when I don't loose the money to the casino. So I am up 97% over what I would have had I gambled and lost. NCL is down 100%. Hope they do a lot of 3% commissions to make it up! :D

[SuiteCruiser]

So now that NCL want 's to charge me 3% to get money from them to gamble in their casino, which in most cases, are stacked in their favor anyway, I feel great a bout this new policy. I will take some cash for gambling, but when that is gone, instead of getting more from the casino, I will just forego getting additional money to gamble with. That way, I save not only the 3% charge, but the other 97% when I don't loose the money to the casino. So I am up 97% over what I would have had I gambled and lost. NCL is down 100%. Hope they do a lot of 3% commissions to make it up! :D

 

I agree, but if you read the whole thread, you will see that too many people were doing this and not gambling with it. It was an expense to NCL in that case, so they stopped it. I wish those booked through Casinos at Sea or those who spend a lot of time in the casino could be given a break on it, and those not using it the casino could be charged.

[sjbdtz]

I agree, but if you read the whole thread, you will see that too many people were doing this and not gambling with it. It was an expense to NCL in that case, so they stopped it. I wish those booked through Casinos at Sea or those who spend a lot of time in the casino could be given a break on it, and those not using it the casino could be charged.

 

I think you're right. It seems to me that because I was "PLAYING", I wasn't charged the 3% charge.

[time2cruise1]

So now that NCL want 's to charge me 3% to get money from them to gamble in their casino, which in most cases, are stacked in their favor anyway, I feel great a bout this new policy. I will take some cash for gambling, but when that is gone, instead of getting more from the casino, I will just forego getting additional money to gamble with. That way, I save not only the 3% charge, but the other 97% when I don't loose the money to the casino. So I am up 97% over what I would have had I gambled and lost. NCL is down 100%. Hope they do a lot of 3% commissions to make it up! :D

 

Just as a point of reference NCL was the last major line to add the fee. In fact Celebrity just raised it to 5%.

[SuiteCruiser]

I think you're right. It seems to me that because I was "PLAYING", I wasn't charged the 3% charge.

 

I will probably give it a try on the Gem in a couple of weeks. I'm traveling on my own, with my kids, and staying in NYC for a couple of days first. I'm not comfortable traveling with large sums of money in the best of circumstances. I will go in assuming the 3% and be pleasantly surprised if they waive it based on my play.

 

Ironically if I win big, I will be traveling home with large sums of money, but I will cross that bridge later ;)

[SuiteCruiser]

Just as a point of reference NCL was the last major line to add the fee. In fact Celebrity just raised it to 5%.

 

Thanks, I was going to say that and then questioned myself. I thought that was the case.

[VideoTech]

 

Agreed. We're CAS cruisers, and it would be nice if NCL would waive the fee for those who are definitely using the money in the casinos.