dst87 Posted October 29, 2014 #1 Share Posted October 29, 2014 Hi guys, I'm new to Royal and boarding Splendour on Saturday. I quite like the odd flutter in the casino, and when I sailed with Cunard you could just stick your Sea Pass into the slots or hand it over to a cashier and they'd charge USD to the account (with no additional charges). My first time with Celebrity I realised they didn't do this and I was unprepared. I was unwilling to pay their fees for cash withdrawals so I didn't bother. I assume Royal is the same as Celebrity? It bugs me having to get USD at a crappy exchange rate in the UK when I have a card that gives me perfect exchange rates on foreign currency - useless though as there will be no regular ATMs on board!! SUPER EXCITED! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarea Posted October 29, 2014 #2 Share Posted October 29, 2014 Royal charges 5% to get cash against your SeaPass card. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dst87 Posted October 29, 2014 Author #3 Share Posted October 29, 2014 Royal charges 5% to get cash against your SeaPass card. Thanks for that - all I needed to know. You'd think they'd get more people spending if they just allowed USD withdrawals for free... :-S Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare silentbob007 Posted October 29, 2014 #4 Share Posted October 29, 2014 Thanks for that - all I needed to know. You'd think they'd get more people spending if they just allowed USD withdrawals for free... :-S The charge is because people used to take advantage of it when it was free. They'd take out the limit in currency each day, charge it to their RCI reward card, then deposit the cash when they returned home ... making Royal not only eat the reward costs but also the fees to the credit card. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dst87 Posted October 29, 2014 Author #5 Share Posted October 29, 2014 The charge is because people used to take advantage of it when it was free. They'd take out the limit in currency each day, charge it to their RCI reward card, then deposit the cash when they returned home ... making Royal not only eat the reward costs but also the fees to the credit card. I guess that makes a lot of sense actually. It's effectively a cash advance on your CC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joepeka Posted October 29, 2014 #6 Share Posted October 29, 2014 (edited) Hi guys, I'm new to Royal and boarding Splendour on Saturday. I quite like the odd flutter in the casino, and when I sailed with Cunard you could just stick your Sea Pass into the slots or hand it over to a cashier and they'd charge USD to the account (with no additional charges). My first time with Celebrity I realised they didn't do this and I was unprepared. I was unwilling to pay their fees for cash withdrawals so I didn't bother. I assume Royal is the same as Celebrity? It bugs me having to get USD at a crappy exchange rate in the UK when I have a card that gives me perfect exchange rates on foreign currency - useless though as there will be no regular ATMs on board!! SUPER EXCITED! We too were disappointed on our first RCI cruise last year to discover that you could not use your on-board account (backed by a credit card) to charge casino gaming. Like you on Celebrity, we were caught a little short on cash that trip and just had to watch it more closely. But now we (and you) know - just one area where I wish the Royal lines were more like Carnival. Edited October 29, 2014 by joepeka Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dst87 Posted October 29, 2014 Author #7 Share Posted October 29, 2014 We too were disappointed on our first RCI cruise last year to discover that you could not use your on-board account (backed by a credit card) to charge casino gaming. Like you on Celebrity, we were caught a little short on cash that trip and just had to watch it more closely. But now we (and you) know - just one area where I wish the Royal lines were more like Carnival. I've only sailed with Cunard under the Carnival banner, but are all Carnival brands the same with regard to casino charging? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joepeka Posted October 29, 2014 #8 Share Posted October 29, 2014 I've only sailed with Cunard under the Carnival banner, but are all Carnival brands the same with regard to casino charging? Carnival is for sure and it's been a while since were were on HAL so I'm not sure but I would guess that they are. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bighairtexan Posted October 29, 2014 #9 Share Posted October 29, 2014 Since you only do the "odd flutter" (I like that term. Made me smile), this probably won't make a difference to you but just in case... if you gamble enough that you're invited to become a Casino Royale member (Blue Chip Club on Celebrity) they will waive the fee. Up to like $2,000 per day. Trust me if I'm taking out $2K/day I'd have a LOT more trouble than that 5% fee. :eek: :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cb at sea Posted October 30, 2014 #10 Share Posted October 30, 2014 (edited) Cash is the best way to gamble...bring the cash you can afford to lose, as that is the most usual outcome. If you have to pay a "fee" to gamble, you've already lost. Edited October 30, 2014 by cb at sea Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCruisers Posted October 30, 2014 #11 Share Posted October 30, 2014 Cash is the best way to gamble...bring the cash you can afford to lose, as that is the most usual outcome. If you have to pay a "fee" to gamble, you've already lost. You are SO right! Totally Agree! LuLu Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pmkejk Posted October 30, 2014 #12 Share Posted October 30, 2014 Hi guys, I'm new to Royal and boarding Splendour on Saturday. I quite like the odd flutter in the casino, and when I sailed with Cunard you could just stick your Sea Pass into the slots or hand it over to a cashier and they'd charge USD to the account (with no additional charges). My first time with Celebrity I realised they didn't do this and I was unprepared. I was unwilling to pay their fees for cash withdrawals so I didn't bother. I assume Royal is the same as Celebrity? It bugs me having to get USD at a crappy exchange rate in the UK when I have a card that gives me perfect exchange rates on foreign currency - useless though as there will be no regular ATMs on board!! SUPER EXCITED! Actually there are ATM's on board in the casino. I just let my bank know the amounts I would be withdrawing each day. I have free ATM withdrawals from my bank, so no fee to do this. I hate to carry a lot of cash on a trip. Check with your bank in advance as mine has a $765 limit each day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
readytolose Posted October 30, 2014 #13 Share Posted October 30, 2014 We too were disappointed on our first RCI cruise last year to discover that you could not use your on-board account (backed by a credit card) to charge casino gaming. Like you on Celebrity, we were caught a little short on cash that trip and just had to watch it more closely. But now we (and you) know - just one area where I wish the Royal lines were more like Carnival. You CAN use your onboard account and have it charged to your credit card, you just have to pay 5% to do it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trev71 Posted October 30, 2014 #14 Share Posted October 30, 2014 Cash is the best way to gamble...bring the cash you can afford to lose, as that is the most usual outcome. If you have to pay a "fee" to gamble, you've already lost. That is what the DW and I do we set aside ahead of time the amount we want to gamble and once its gone its gone. We try to make it strech out for a few nights of fun Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dst87 Posted October 30, 2014 Author #15 Share Posted October 30, 2014 Actually there are ATM's on board in the casino. I just let my bank know the amounts I would be withdrawing each day. I have free ATM withdrawals from my bank, so no fee to do this. I hate to carry a lot of cash on a trip. Check with your bank in advance as mine has a $765 limit each day. The last time I was on a Celebrity ship there was also a USD ATM, but it had a transaction fee for using it (or an exchange load). Maybe US banks offer some sort of rebate on ATM charges, but UK accounts don't offer that for ATM fees. I'll just take cash for the Casino - I don't need cash for anything else though, and generally HATE dealing with cash for anything. I'm a 21st century guy, clearly :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dst87 Posted October 30, 2014 Author #16 Share Posted October 30, 2014 Cash is the best way to gamble...bring the cash you can afford to lose, as that is the most usual outcome. If you have to pay a "fee" to gamble, you've already lost. Yeah I've just bought US$200 which I always consider an entertainment expense. I gamble for fun, not to make money! Though on my Celebrity Infinity cruise I turned $200 into $300 at the Roulette wheel and used it towards my on board account at the end of the cruise! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joepeka Posted October 30, 2014 #17 Share Posted October 30, 2014 (edited) You CAN use your onboard account and have it charged to your credit card, you just have to pay 5% to do it. Correct and I guess that's where I was going when I said I wished RCI would do it like Carnival - no additional fee to charge to your on-board account (unless CCL has changed their policy since I last sailed with them). Edited October 30, 2014 by joepeka Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gfkr2 Posted November 7, 2014 #18 Share Posted November 7, 2014 Cash is the best way to gamble...bring the cash you can afford to lose, as that is the most usual outcome. If you have to pay a "fee" to gamble, you've already lost. So, cash is preferred? I heard a strange rumor there was NO cash in the RCCL casinos which made absolutely zero sense to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarea Posted November 7, 2014 #19 Share Posted November 7, 2014 So, cash is preferred? I heard a strange rumor there was NO cash in the RCCL casinos which made absolutely zero sense to me. You can still use cash in the casino. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GP Cruiser Posted November 7, 2014 #20 Share Posted November 7, 2014 Can I go to a blackjack table and get $500 worth of chips with my sea pass card and not be charged the 5% fee? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarea Posted November 7, 2014 #21 Share Posted November 7, 2014 (edited) Can I go to a blackjack table and get $500 worth of chips with my sea pass card and not be charged the 5% fee? No, I believe you must buy the chips with cash. Edited November 7, 2014 by clarea Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now