No more cash from Casino Teller

[RFerrington]

They also won't give you table chips off your account either.

 

 

So are they saying that we can no longer go to a table, present our SeaPass card and get chips to play with ?

[MADflyer]

As you describe it, that system sounds fairly sophisticated. Judging from the RCI website, in its current sorry state, I'm having trouble thinking that it would work very well.

 

I only noticed that the Casino Hosts on Liberty were using some new system, when they had direct access to my MLife information onboard and then observed them checking various statistics throughout the cruise.

 

These systems are developed by major software suppliers. I am imagining that RCI are using a system from Oracle as they use that for several of the management systems onboard the ship.

 

There are about 70+ systems running on any RCI ship and the new Casino Management System is just one of many enhancements they have done to shipboard technology that fortunately have no relationship to RCI's rather poor website.

[nolimits]

Having better systems in there casinos is much better for table players ,for ratings.I know cash rebates are being phased out but on Oasis and Allure rebates always better.I can't imagine a casino not letting you get chips at a table.

[squadron]

I just got off the Oasis yesterday. We had no issue withdrawing cash from the casino. Our account was set up as cash and we had pre purchased OBC

 

Glad to hear that - I don't gamble but like to take out OBC from my cash account for various reasons. Don't want to bother with a "voucher" - I wouldn't know what to do with it anyway!

[js]

So are they saying that we can no longer go to a table, present our SeaPass card and get chips to play with ?

 

 

I have OBC that I plan on taking out in the casino. I hope this isnt correct. Ill sit at a table ask for chips and then change my mind and cash out. How can they then deny me to cash out?

[Clarea]

I have OBC that I plan on taking out in the casino. I hope this isnt correct. Ill sit at a table ask for chips and then change my mind and cash out. How can they then deny me to cash out?

They cannot. Ultimately you will get the cash.

[pilotboy1985]

I'm glad there have been more reports from people on my cruise confirming the same thing I posted originally. Good to know I'm not going crazy. :)

 

You can still get chips if you sit at the table, but the cashier won't give out chips anymore like they once did.

[Patty00]

OBC from VISA points is completely refundable and any unused portion can be redeemed at Guest Relations for cash the day prior to debarkation. Have been doing that for some time now.

 

 

I have been doing that as well but did not know that you could go anytime to the casino and get the money and not have to pay the 5%....did you?

[MisterBill99]

A couple of days after we got home, the OBC was refunded back to our credit card. The downside: it was our Royal Caribbean Visa, so the refund diminished our RCCL Visa points balance on the account.

 

In the future, if you have a situation like that, tell them to change the credit card they have on file to something that doesn't get rewards (or gets a lesser amount), so you don't lose them when a credit hits. you might even be able to change it to a debit card.

[MisterBill99]

I would NEVER pay 5% to get cash...bring what you need! If it's unused OBC..use it!

So you'd rather spend money on something you may not need and not end up with any cash than paying 5% to get the cash? Strange logic.

[Clarea]

I have been doing that as well but did not know that you could go anytime to the casino and get the money and not have to pay the 5%....did you?

You can only avoid the 5% fee if you have a cash type onboard account or you are a member of the casino player's club.

[Grandma Petania]

I would NEVER pay 5% to get cash...bring what you need! If it's unused OBC..use it!

 

So you'd rather spend money on something you may not need and not end up with any cash than paying 5% to get the cash? Strange logic.

 

Not my kind of logic either. I have no interest in the merchandise available on board; I don't drink alcohol or soft drinks; I don't eat in the specialty restaurants; I don't gamble; and I prepaid gratuities for my Feb. 2016 cruise before the rates went up. I have $300 in non-refundable OBC from when I booked this cruise a year ago, and I will happily give up $15 to walk away with $285 cash, rather than spending the $300 in the casino or arcade, or for items I don't want to purchase.

[molly361]

Not my kind of logic either. I have no interest in the merchandise available on board; I don't drink alcohol or soft drinks; I don't eat in the specialty restaurants; I don't gamble; and I prepaid gratuities for my Feb. 2016 cruise before the rates went up. I have $300 in non-refundable OBC from when I booked this cruise a year ago, and I will happily give up $15 to walk away with $285 cash, rather than spending the $300 in the casino or arcade, or for items I don't want to purchase.

 

I would rather pay the fee as well!!!

Edited December 10, 2015 by molly361

[MicCanberra]

I would rather pay the fee as well!!!

 

If I have any OBC left, I would do it as well.:D

[travelgoddess1]

Not my kind of logic either. I have no interest in the merchandise available on board; I don't drink alcohol or soft drinks; I don't eat in the specialty restaurants; I don't gamble; and I prepaid gratuities for my Feb. 2016 cruise before the rates went up. I have $300 in non-refundable OBC from when I booked this cruise a year ago, and I will happily give up $15 to walk away with $285 cash, rather than spending the $300 in the casino or arcade, or for items I don't want to purchase.

 

As someone else mentioned earlier, this is probably why the policy seems to be changing -- RCI is promoting OBC's as enticements to book, and they want people to use it and not cash it out. JMO :)

Edited December 10, 2015 by travelgoddess1

[ronandannette]

I would NEVER pay 5% to get cash...bring what you need! If it's unused OBC..use it!

 

They certainly won't charge a percentage to cash out your winnings....at least, I hope! That would mean you're a loser, even if you win!

 

As someone else mentioned earlier, this is probably why the policy seems to be changing -- RCI is promoting OBC's as enticements to book, and they want people to use it and not cash it out. JMO :)

 

Or better still, not use it and not cash it out (in the case of people who really don't want to buy anything on-board). Then why not just go ahead and make those OBCs the "non-refundable" type? That I would completely understand doing. But as long as OBC can be purchased (through Gifts and Gear), that type must remain "cashable".

 

And as for the reason Canadians use this system, it's definitely to benefit from the artificially low exchange rate RCCL gives. I'm not really sure why they offer it at all since I can't imagine the possible benefit to the bottom line. It would essentially be the same as selling OBC to Americans for $.80 on the dollar. I'll be :( if they discontinue the practice but not surprised...it's really been almost too good to be true.

Edited December 10, 2015 by ronandannette

[monctonguy]

Don't even give them a reason or idea to cancel this for Canadians.

 

I am guessing the reason why they do it, is at a 40% exchange rate through my bank or on my CC I would spend very little..prob none onboard to be honest. And the same would be true for a lot of people.

 

So yes, they are getting less but they are getting something.....it's like selling us he drink package at a discounted price...but better than not selling it at all I suppose.

 

Which reminds me, I need to call asap to get some OBC for my upcoming cruise..:D

[CVU]

You can only avoid the 5% fee if you have a cash type onboard account or you are a member of the casino player's club.

Do a cash acct as we usually booked in US$ and have M life!!!:)

Edited December 10, 2015 by CVU

[js]

I have a mixture of Visa, RCCL and purchased OBC. How would I make sure the RCCL OBC is used first? Im only asking since others have said they go to Guest Services to cash out Visa points but what if RCCL said you used all yr Visa points but there is still non refundable OBC left?

[Clarea]

I have a mixture of Visa, RCCL and purchased OBC. How would I make sure the RCCL OBC is used first? Im only asking since others have said they go to Guest Services to cash out Visa points but what if RCCL said you used all yr Visa points but there is still non refundable OBC left?

You could talk to Guest Services at the beginning of your cruise and confirm the OBC policy.

[molly361]

I have a mixture of Visa, RCCL and purchased OBC. How would I make sure the RCCL OBC is used first? Im only asking since others have said they go to Guest Services to cash out Visa points but what if RCCL said you used all yr Visa points but there is still non refundable OBC left?

 

They use the non-refundable OBC first, which is any RCL promo OBC

[marci22]

They use the non-refundable OBC first, which is any RCL promo OBC

 

Yes, that is what we have always been told.

[madeph]

Do a cash acct as we usually booked in US$ and have M life!!!:)

 

Interesting....I have mLife but I think it doesn't really matter if you are only holding a Sapphire tier level....like I do, unfortunately. Unless that level actually does help...?

[MicCanberra]

Or better still, not use it and not cash it out (in the case of people who really don't want to buy anything on-board). Then why not just go ahead and make those OBCs the "non-refundable" type? That I would completely understand doing. But as long as OBC can be purchased (through Gifts and Gear), that type must remain "cashable".

 

And as for the reason Canadians use this system, it's definitely to benefit from the artificially low exchange rate RCCL gives. I'm not really sure why they offer it at all since I can't imagine the possible benefit to the bottom line. It would essentially be the same as selling OBC to Americans for $.80 on the dollar. I'll be :( if they discontinue the practice but not surprised...it's really been almost too good to be true.

 

The same for Aussies in relation to gifting OBC and then cashing out, apart from the monetary benefits, there is also not having to worry about bill shock at the end of the cruise or having to carry wads of cash (for spending off the ship) on the journey to the trip.:D

[Willow45]

Just throwing in something new. Im going on my first cruise on Explorer and we are in Australia. My husband is an avid gambler and will be in the casino a bit. Do I need USA dollars for him to use or can we use our sea pass card. OR is there an ATM on board to get more USA dollars. I just don't want to take too much cash and it not used or the other side run out of cash and have a sad husband..