Cashing out OBC during a cruise?

[GeezLouise1]

Can on board credits be cashed out during a cruise? If I buy additional on board credits before departure, can I go to the front desk and take some out in cash as required in various ports? These amounts would be to pay private tour guides, etc. so not huge amounts but more cash than I want to carry around. Seems to me I read something about this recently, but it may have been an old post....tried to search and came up with nothing.:confused:

[DaveOKC]

Can on board credits be cashed out during a cruise? If I buy additional on board credits before departure, can I go to the front desk and take some out in cash as required in various ports? These amounts would be to pay private tour guides, etc. so not huge amounts but more cash than I want to carry around. Seems to me I read something about this recently, but it may have been an old post....tried to search and came up with nothing.:confused:

 

I am fairly certain that if you take out cash at the front desk they charge you 3%. However, since this is OBC you bought and not from HAL, you can "work" the casino to get cash. When you start to play a slot machine, tell it you want to charge your gambling to your cabin. Play a bit and then go to the casino desk and ask them to cash you out. Whatever casion credits you have left on your cabin card they wil give you in cash.

[GeezLouise1]

Thanks for your help! I did find the previous post about using the front desk as a bank. :o I don't really wish to give them 3% for each "withdrawal" and the casino seems like a bit of a nuisance to me. Back to the drawing board....

Edited August 5, 2016 by GeezLouise1

[kazu]

Thanks for your help! I did find the previous post about using the front desk as a bank. :o I don't really wish to give them 3% for each "withdrawal" and the casino seems like a bit of a nuisance to me. Back to the drawing board....

 

The casino is so easy with a bit of common sense. Why is it a nuisance? You don't have to stay there for hours.

 

Go one night, charge to your room, spin a couple and come back the next night and cash out. What's the big deal?

 

Those are the two options.

 

I've never had OBC leftover, but I have used the casino to access cash for tours, tips, etc. To me, it's a no brainer.

[DaveOKC]

The casino deal works for me as we play a little almost every day anyway, so its no bother.

[GeezLouise1]

No brainer? I guess that's me then:D I've never even been in the casino except to pass through it. Sounded like I'd have to cuddle up with a one armed bandit to access any funds. The bank (RBC)just advised me that travellers cheques are no longer available and won't be processed anywhere after Nov. 1/16. I guess I'm going to have to explore a relationship with a slot machine after all!

[alwaysfrantic]

Really? I still have a few hundred in TC from a cruise years ago. I just would sign them to get cash as needed.

 

If you don't win at the casino, how do you cash out? Cleary I am not a gambler.

[alwaysfrantic]

I just pulled up the Amex TC page and it doesn't say anything about them no longer being honored or processed. Still says never expires.

[Topsham]

I don't get this.

 

If you need cash for various purposes when going ashore that is fine.... if you are going to use US dollars. That cash coming out from the Casino will be in US dollars. If you going to the Caribbbean... that is fine. What about Europe? The US dollars will be useless. Easier to go the first ATM when you get ashore and get local... Euros ,pounds etc.

[silvercruiser]

On my April cruise I just went down to the front desk the night before we disembarked and asked for my OBC that was left. No problem. They just peeled off the bills and gave them to me, about $300.

[GeezLouise1]

The bank (RBC)just advised me that travellers cheques are no longer available and won't be processed anywhere after Nov. 1/16.

 

Just to clarify the matter, I called the bank again and it is Royal Bank of Canada that will no longer be selling or processing travellers cheques. So I'll just have to find another vendor. Amex cheques will still be around, just a little more difficult to find and cash.

 

Thanks for all the suggestions! Appreciate it!.

Edited August 5, 2016 by GeezLouise1

[GeezLouise1]

I don't get this.

 

If you need cash for various purposes when going ashore that is fine.... if you are going to use US dollars. That cash coming out from the Casino will be in US dollars. If you going to the Caribbbean... that is fine. What about Europe? The US dollars will be useless. Easier to go the first ATM when you get ashore and get local... Euros ,pounds etc.

 

 

Various Asian operators request USD. Some of the ports are basically industrial ports with no ATM's available.

[catl331]

If you don't win at the casino, how do you cash out?

To begin, you charge money to your on-board account to put in your key-card "bank". As you win or lose that bank balance goes up or down. Whenever you choose you can take your key card to the cashier and withdraw any or all of that balance as cash. Edited August 6, 2016 by catl331

[Cruising Is Bliss]

I just pulled up the Amex TC page and it doesn't say anything about them no longer being honored or processed. Still says never expires.

 

Amex TCs really don't expire. I took $1000 in Amex travelers checks on a trip ten years ago and didn't use them. Broke my foot on the trip and when I got home I put the TCs away to eventually take back to the bank. I put them in a safe place! :)

 

I found them recently and called Amex. They said outstanding TC numbers stay active in their system forever so just go ahead and use them. I deposited them and my bank credited it as a no hold deposit.

[Wehwalt]

I also use this technique. You must gamble at least once, or your card is blocked. You will still get the money, but you may get a comment from the casino manager, which as I recall was "We're not a bank!" I've heard that it can make it hard if you want to use the slot machines again later in the cruise. I find the best to use is the Jacks or Better poker game. A pair of Jacks or better pays back your stake, and that counts as the single gamble that will get you paid off routinely. That's the best game I know of for trying not to lose any money by a single spin of the wheels (so to speak). Deuces Wild is also good.

 

I usually just go right over and cash in, I don't wait a day like one poster mentioned. Except for that one time, none of the cashiers has said a word. Either they don't know that you just opened a casino account, or they don't care.

Edited August 6, 2016 by Wehwalt

[kazu]

The bank (RBC)just advised me that travellers cheques are no longer available and won't be processed anywhere after Nov. 1/16.

 

Just to clarify the matter, I called the bank again and it is Royal Bank of Canada that will no longer be selling or processing travellers cheques. So I'll just have to find another vendor. Amex cheques will still be around, just a little more difficult to find and cash.

 

Thanks for all the suggestions! Appreciate it!.

 

Thanks for the heads up on this. Will be checking with my branch.

 

If you are a CAA member,I believe they are still selling travellers cheques.

 

Will be checking into it myself ;)

[Topsham]

 

 

Various Asian operators request USD. Some of the ports are basically industrial ports with no ATM's available.

 

 

First: You didn't say where you were going to Asia.

 

Second: Are you staying for the entire stay inside the industrial area? If not, go to the closest hotel or ask your 'operator' to tell you where to get the loot.

[PatsyAnne]

Can on board credits be cashed out during a cruise? If I buy additional on board credits before departure, can I go to the front desk and take some out in cash as required in various ports? These amounts would be to pay private tour guides, etc. so not huge amounts but more cash than I want to carry around. Seems to me I read something about this recently, but it may have been an old post....tried to search and came up with nothing.:confused:

 

 

I understand about not wanting to carry a lot of cash around, but I'm also lazy. If you aren't spending much time traveling before your cruise, consider taking the cash you want for your tours and using the safe in your stateroom (and also the safe in any pre-cruise hotel). If you have much left over towards the end of the cruise, you can use it to pay down your onboard account if you don't want to carry it home.

[DaveOKC]

I also use this technique. You must gamble at least once, or your card is blocked. You will still get the money, but you may get a comment from the casino manager, which as I recall was "We're not a bank!" I've heard that it can make it hard if you want to use the slot machines again later in the cruise. I find the best to use is the Jacks or Better poker game. A pair of Jacks or better pays back your stake, and that counts as the single gamble that will get you paid off routinely. That's the best game I know of for trying not to lose any money by a single spin of the wheels (so to speak). Deuces Wild is also good.

 

I usually just go right over and cash in, I don't wait a day like one poster mentioned. Except for that one time, none of the cashiers has said a word. Either they don't know that you just opened a casino account, or they don't care.

 

Like noted above, Jacks or Better Video Poker is a good game to play as there are frequent "wins" and you can play just one quarter at a time. $5 an last you quite awhile on this game. However, be sure to understand how to play the game before you sit down, as you have to make decisions on what card to hold, unlike a normal slot machine which is just a handle "pull". I am sure you can find some free online programs for this.