Pre-purchase casino credits....still available?

[rbt001]

I sit down at the tables and plunk my cash down. They never asked for my card (Royal - June). Not once. I do see how it would help me to be tracked, but my point being, no one asked.

 

I also don't see the difference between gifting myself OBC or Casino credit. My $, my decision how to use it or not use it.

 

Indeed, that is an oddity with respect to your card... unless you're a known player. Out of habit I pull out my card and place it on the table. There have been times a pit boss will just waive okay and manually enter me, since they know me.

 

Yes, whether it's just Generic OBC or Specific Casino Credit it doesn't matter, I believe, simply because both are consumer paid, as opposed to some promotional types of OBC which are non-refundable and have restrictions.

Edited August 12, 2016 by rbt001

[jagoffee]

You're welcome to cash out any time, but need to do so by the last evening of the cruise. Most wait to cash out their virtual slot bank at the end of the cruise. Charging to your room for slot play, then immediately cashing out with block the ability to do further room charges.

 

That's because the casinos CURRENTLY do not charge a "convenience fee" or "surcharge" to charge to your room account for money to play.

 

Thanks, again.

[easyboy]

For my Coral Princess cruise at the end of April 2016, I went online and purchased casino credit. This amount was applied to my room account as credits and was offset by my Casino Charges to the room account. The credits appeared embarkation afternoon/early evening. Because of the amount, I had inquired in port while I could still contact Princess, since they initially were not on my account at 2pm. I did receive a message in my room later from the purser's desk, confirming that they were applied. I believe I still received by turn down time voucher-like receipts on my bed. I think they were similar to the old ones that had to be signed over in the casino for cash, but I knew they'd be no cash in the casino since it was applied to my account already.

 

The problem for big gamblers is we are held to the limits. It used to be a max daily amount of $1,500, but now has been raised to $3,000 daily. And there's a $21,000 per cruise maximum. The old way allowed big gamblers to exceed the limits by buying vouchers per sailing. Now as credits on the room account the daily and per cruise max amounts cannot be exceeded.

Thanks for the insight. Learned a lot!

[feedmytummy]

hi, all... I'm new to princess and find this thread very interesting. i wanna make sure I'm understanding correctly. if I buy casino credits ahead of time, that is charged to my card as a purchase (as opposed to a cash advance)? on other cruise lines, I've put my room key in the machine and charged a certain amount to be played. this was charged as an onboard purchase (as opposed to a cash advance). does princess also offer this in addition to the pre-purchase option? any fees? the cruise I'm eyeing starts and ends in Singapore. when I cash out (assuming any winnings, of course), what currency will I be paid in? thanks in advance!

[99Cruiser]

I recently called Princess and purchased $5000 in casino credit for an October cruise and I do this so I don't have to carry the cash with me (my goal is to carry that plus more home) and was told that it was strictly for the casino and not onboard credit. I'm fine with that as I'm a gambler and when I asked if I can cash in the chips for cash I was told of course. So yes, you can get casino credit, go to the tables ask for chips and then go to the cage and cash them in for cash.

[Lucky TGO]

I recently called Princess and purchased $5000 in casino credit for an October cruise and I do this so I don't have to carry the cash with me (my goal is to carry that plus more home) and was told that it was strictly for the casino and not onboard credit. I'm fine with that as I'm a gambler and when I asked if I can cash in the chips for cash I was told of course. So yes, you can get casino credit, go to the tables ask for chips and then go to the cage and cash them in for cash.

I just like to say GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!

Tony

[rbt001]

hi, all... I'm new to princess and find this thread very interesting. i wanna make sure I'm understanding correctly. if I buy casino credits ahead of time, that is charged to my card as a purchase (as opposed to a cash advance)? on other cruise lines, I've put my room key in the machine and charged a certain amount to be played. this was charged as an onboard purchase (as opposed to a cash advance). does princess also offer this in addition to the pre-purchase option? any fees? the cruise I'm eyeing starts and ends in Singapore. when I cash out (assuming any winnings, of course), what currency will I be paid in? thanks in advance!

 

There's always the possibility that Princess has different rules and procedures for their Asian Cruises.

 

Elsewhere, purchasing casino credit prior to embarkation is treated as a PURCHASE, and the same is true for on board ROOM CHARGES in the casino to your room account: PURCHASES.

[mustgo]

Am I missing something? If I buy casino credits before the cruise, they get charged to my credit card and I spend the casino money on the ship. If I do not do that, I just spend the money on the ship. It still comes out of my account and I still pay with a credit card. What is the difference? I am probably talking about only spending $200 to $300, not thousands.

[bulldog on water]

Am I missing something? If I buy casino credits before the cruise, they get charged to my credit card and I spend the casino money on the ship. If I do not do that, I just spend the money on the ship. It still comes out of my account and I still pay with a credit card. What is the difference? I am probably talking about only spending $200 to $300, not thousands.

 

Your not missing anything.....most of the people who buy casino credits (like myself) do it because we like to gamble and for various reasons ( mine being I may be already on vacation before I get to my cruise) need more cash to gamble with than they normally carry. For us we buy (purchase) casino credits, which we will get in some form ( I guess it changes by ship) when we get on board. We take those credits to the casino and they give you cash to gamble with, or you go the table and say"... I want $1000, or whatever amount you want" they give something to sign, which charges your room acct where your credits are and they give you $1000 in chips. You can do this even if you did not buy casino credits. You basically bought chips that will be on your credit card. What you do with the chips is your discretion. They want you to gamble, I believe, that is why they are trying to make it easy. If you play the machines, slots, poker table, you insert your card and enter how much you want charged to your room account, limit is $300 at a time with daily max of ( I see stated above) is now $3000. Hope this helps, hope Lady Luck smiles on you.

[rbt001]

Hi, Coo359a2.

 

How did that work. I usually get the vouchers and have purchased quite a bit for several upcoming cruises. I liked the fact that I could take the number that I wanted each evening and leave the rest in the safe. It was a great way to keep track of how many that I had left. Now do you just download from your card on the machines and cash out any extra?

 

Any info would be appreciated as I did notice the change of nomenclature on the onboard reservation purchase page.

 

Thanks, Paul

 

I used to do the same thing, keeping my vouchers in the safe and rationing my play.

 

The DOWNSIDE to this new procedure is that we are limited in how much we can charge to the room: MAX $3,000 per day and MAX $21,000 per cruise. The previous method allowed for those maximums to the room PLUS whatever vouchers were purchased prior to sailing.

 

Sadly the change is to prevent non-players/gamblers who treated the casino as an ATM with their schemes to get cash.

[feedmytummy]

re-read this thread and still unclear on a few things... on another cruise line, you could put your card into slots and purchase credits but if you bought chips at the table then they would charge you a service charge (3%?) on top of that. the way I understand these posts, pre-purchasing casino credits means I can use them either for slots or table games without any kind of additional charge, is that correct? it also sounds like I can purchase chips using my room card (even without casino credits) and that is also surcharge free? sorry to rehash what is probably clear to everyone else. just trying to decide how I will fund my gambling on my upcoming cruise... thanks in advance.

[bulldog on water]

you are correct in your understanding.

[feedmytummy]

you are correct in your understanding.

 

thank you!!

[Plainsman]

Just off the Regal Saturday, As I usually do to have extra cash and to add to my points on my credit card, I went online about a month before the cruise and ordered 5-$100 casino credits. When we got to our cabin there were 5 vouchers which I took as needed to the Casino and cashed them.

[sandyoftheseas]

I recently called Princess and purchased $5000 in casino credit for an October cruise and I do this so I don't have to carry the cash with me (my goal is to carry that plus more home) and was told that it was strictly for the casino and not onboard credit. I'm fine with that as I'm a gambler and when I asked if I can cash in the chips for cash I was told of course. So yes, you can get casino credit, go to the tables ask for chips and then go to the cage and cash them in for cash.

 

99Cruiser,

I have a hypothetical that I'd like to run by you based on your actual experience on your October cruise. I'm not sure if you experienced a similar situation but if you did, I'm curious to know how it was handled.

 

I'll use round numbers for simplicity. Say you use a credit card to purchase $10,000 in casino credit for a 10 day cruise (budgeting for average losses of $1000 per day at the table games). Say you do better than expected and only lose an average of $500 per day leaving $5000 of the original $10000 in purchased credit remaining on your account at the end of the cruise. How would the $5000 be refunded? Cash from the casino cage, cash from the guest services desk, via check mailed to your home, or a refund back to the credit card originally used to purchase the credit?

 

Of course, anyone else with actual experience of this situation, or one similar, please chime in as well. I'm just not interested in speculation of what might happen or what people think would happen. I'm curious about what actually has happened in this type of scenario now that it appears as though Princess has switched over from the "casino vouchers for cash" system to the "casino credit on your shipboard account" system.

 

I look forward to some enlightening information.

 

Rob (Sandy's DH)

[pablo222]

I sit down at the tables and plunk my cash down. They never asked for my card (Royal - June). Not once.

 

That has been my experience as well.

 

Walk up with cash. Money plays. No card.

 

Walk up with cash. Buy chips. Play. No card.

 

Walk up and get cash from shipboard account ...

card required, of course.

 

Maybe if you're rated, or want to be rated, you show

your card. For casual players, no.

[jennymaxgirl]

I recently called Princess and purchased $5000 in casino credit for an October cruise and I do this so I don't have to carry the cash with me (my goal is to carry that plus more home) and was told that it was strictly for the casino and not onboard credit. I'm fine with that as I'm a gambler and when I asked if I can cash in the chips for cash I was told of course. So yes, you can get casino credit, go to the tables ask for chips and then go to the cage and cash them in for cash.

 

Hi 99Cruiser. I would like to do the same as you outlined with the casino credit. Did you have any problem cashing out your casino credit for dollars?

 

Much appreciated, Jennifer

[jeanandjim]

Got vouchers on our Crown Princess trip in November 2016, just as we always have had on many different Princess ships. Perhaps the difference is attributed to the itinerary as I see that the 'new system' seems to be with Australian dollars. I anticipate that on our upcoming trip in March we will have the vouchers.

[mnocket]

I'm sorry to resurrect this old thread, but I've read through it twice and just want to clarify my understanding of Casino Credit vs OBC.

 

• Casino Credit: Can only be used for Casino spending (yes I realize I can cash out chips and get dollars)
  
• OBC: Can be used for any on board spending including at the casino.
  
• There is no additional fee for using either Casino Credit or OBC in the casino
  

If my understanding is correct.... Why would you but Casino Credits (whose use is limited) when you can buy OBC to use in the casino and elsewhere?

[Steelers36]

I'm sorry to resurrect this old thread, but I've read through it twice and just want to clarify my understanding of Casino Credit vs OBC.

 

• Casino Credit: Can only be used for Casino spending (yes I realize I can cash out chips and get dollars)
  
• OBC: Can be used for any on board spending including at the casino.
  
• There is no additional fee for using either Casino Credit or OBC in the casino
  

If my understanding is correct.... Why would you but Casino Credits (whose use is limited) when you can buy OBC to use in the casino and elsewhere?

 

Technically, OBC cannot be used in the Casino, per Princess written policy. However, as you have read, many cruisers report being able to spend excess OBC by drawing down funds at a slot machine, playing a bit and then cashing out. I'd be careful trying to do this repeated times as cruisers have reported having cards blocked.

 

 

If your situation is not trying to use up excess OBC, but want to send OBC to the ship, you can purchase Casino Credits as an alternative (I do this). It is a way to send cash to the ship without carrying as much. Once you cash in the casino credits (with casino cashier), then you can use the funds to buy chips at the tables, or add it to your cruise card for use in slots or at the poker table. You can cash out from your cruise card at the casino cashier window and then re-deposit funds back to on-board account at the Passenger Services Desk (PSD).

 

 

It is neither here nor there, but I used to receive cards in my cabin upon embarkation for each $100 I ordered. I think two years ago, I just went to the casino (they have a record of your order there in any case). I am not sure whether the credits are posted automatically to on-board account now, or if still go to cashier cage (I suspect still the latter).

 

You can also purchase extra OBC for the cruise. In that case it is just extra cash in your on-board account. So you go to casino and present card and ask for $X and it is charged to your on-board account and offsets the credit you pre-purchased. Either way works.

 

I like the system - it works for me as I play in the casino. Some other notes. What you pre-purchase to be "sent" to the ship, goes on your credit card and earns points like any other Princess purchase. The resulting credits are refundable OBC (it's your money; not something Princess gave you). Reduces the amount of cash to travel with (at least going to the ship - after that it depends what you spend or gamble away).

Edited December 29, 2017 by steelers36