Acquiring Cash Onboard

[IrieMRP]

Other than the onboard ATM ( there is one right? [emoji1]), are there any other ways to get extra cash onboard? We are headed out on the Summit soon, and I just want to make sure we have a means to get extra cash should we need to. Will they still cash US travelers checks onboard ?

 

 

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[cruisestitch]

AFAIK they still cash traveler's checks. The trick is finding a place that will sell you any.

[IrieMRP]

I actually did find a bank willing to issue them for 1$, I was shocked too [emoji16] I'm wondering if that might be the easiest way to go.

 

 

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Edited December 5, 2016 by IrieMRP

[EmeraldCoastCruisers]

Casino usually has an ATM machine.

 

 

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[4774Papa]

I haven't used traveler's checks for almost 30 years. Why would anyone want to use them? I remember in the early 90s having a hard time in Spain trying find a place that would cash them.

 

What is wrong with ATMs, I have used them all over the World.

[EmeraldCoastCruisers]

Oops, I obviously didn't read the OP correctly!!! [emoji33]

 

 

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[cheersforbeers]

I have gotten cash from the casino against my card for the on board account

 

 

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[cruisestitch]

Regarding travelers checks "Why would anyone want to use them?"

 

They can be a back-up in case of emergency, or what if you lose your ATM card, or it is denied for some reason

 

Also, since an ATM has a daily withdrawal limit, and a (relatively) high fee for each use, they can be an inexpensive way to get a large amount of cash for those private excursions which ask to be paid in cash, especially handy if you have a large family group.

 

When interest rates are low to non-existent, if you can find free travelers checks through a bank or credit union, they may still be a useful tool, especially when traveling on a cruise ship that cashes them for no fee.

[jelayne]

There is an ATM by Guest Services; they charge a $6.00 transaction fee plus any fee that your bank may charge.

Edited December 5, 2016 by jelayne
Typo

[cruisestitch]

The OP is looking for something other than an ATM.

[IrieMRP]

Thanks for all the replies! Good to know for certain that there is an ATM available just in case.

 

Cruisestitch pretty much outlined a few of the reasons we are considering even using travelers checks ( for non cruise travel I probably wouldn't even consider it)! I just wanted to have a back up in the event the ATM is out of service or something. We DIY all of our port activities so cash is usually king.

 

 

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[stevea36]

Other than the onboard ATM ( there is one right? [emoji1]), are there any other ways to get extra cash onboard? We are headed out on the Summit soon, and I just want to make sure we have a means to get extra cash should we need to. Will they still cash US travelers checks onboard ?

 

 

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They will cash one personal check for, I believe, up to $200. I also believe that the check must be drawn on a US bank.

 

Steve

[GottaKnowWhen]

Other than the onboard ATM ( there is one right? [emoji1]), are there any other ways to get extra cash onboard? We are headed out on the Summit soon, and I just want to make sure we have a means to get extra cash should we need to. Will they still cash US travelers checks onboard ?

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

I have a spreadsheet of anticipated cash expenditures including on-board tips, excursions and related tips ashore, some (very little) extra for shopping ashore. I take that anticipated required amount out of the bank, put it in my wallet, and go cruising (with the cash in the cabin safe until needed). Since any shortfall is likely to be ashore (except at the casino, where can you use cash aboard other than for tips?), I will use a local ATM ashore if/when I ever run short. The onboard ATM would serve as a high-cost emergency backup.

 

Stan

[jb008]

Can't you get cash from the Pursers Desk charged back to your room account (at a nominal fee)? I got cash at the casino (again 5% fee) charged back to my room to "play slots". It may not be cheaper than the ATM fee, but since I don't carry an ATM/Debit card it was the best way I could see to draw cash against a credit card.

 

I've also been able to get some hotels to give me cash and charge it back to my room account, usually not a large amount (e.g., a Hilton in Barcelona was limited to 40 or 50 euros without a fee, and then had a ~5% fee to cover their credit card processing fee). This may be less helpful unless you're doing a pre/post cruise stay though.

[stratixman]

Visit the Casino and make sure you win.

[sanger727]

I have a spreadsheet of anticipated cash expenditures including on-board tips, excursions and related tips ashore, some (very little) extra for shopping ashore. I take that anticipated required amount out of the bank, put it in my wallet, and go cruising (with the cash in the cabin safe until needed). Since any shortfall is likely to be ashore (except at the casino, where can you use cash aboard other than for tips?), I will use a local ATM ashore if/when I ever run short. The onboard ATM would serve as a high-cost emergency backup.

 

 

 

Stan

 

 

This is what I do. Generally bring extra in small bills for tipping since those wouldn't be accessible from the ATM anyway.

 

 

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[wrk2cruise]

The rules in the casino changed early this year. Now if you have OBC they will not allow you to draw cash against your seapass card even with the 5%.

 

There is a sign posted and they are strict about it.

 

You can "play slots" or table games by using your seapass card but they give you promotional chips (which can't be cashed in) or load $$ on your seapass card to be used in the slots. Only profits can be cashed out. All the OBC must be bet or lost (well lost!).

 

On my cruise last week I had OBN credit from Celebrity and OBR credit from my TA. I did use the OBN in the casino. Since I had already spent my OBN from Celebrity I was going to try to get cash from the remaining OBR but never got to test the system. I suspect they would still deny it as they always asked if I had OBC. The remaining OBR was refunded to my credit card after the sailing.

[dodger1964]

After much research, we settled on a Charles Schwab account to get an ATM card with NO FEES...

 

You don't need to put any money into the account except for what you want to be able to withdraw...(meaning you don't actually have to have an active trading account or retirement type account funded).

 

We used it in Europe this summer and Iceland on the way back...absolutely no fees for any withdrawals.

[cjmx]

Just A FYI, I have learned this from having college kids that have traveled extensively and racked up high bank fees using ATM fees nationally, as well as internationallly , but. There are two online banks that do reverse all ATM fees when withdrawing cash.

1. Charles Schwab

2. Fidelity bank

 

Both offer online access

For international Charles is better no transaction fee.

As a family, we use both.

We can now use any ATM, anyplace, any country and the fees are refunded back to the account

Cj

 

 

 

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[4774Papa]

I remember when traveler's checks were very common and having to wait in line at a bank in Spain, Italy or Germany could take an hour (usually not nearly that long in Germany). The disadvantage there was that the exchange rate was not always the best.

 

I suppose if you by TC's and plan to cash them on the cruise ship, then you can acquire US dollars, assuming the TC's are in US dollars. If you need to convert those dollars into the local currency, then you don't get a very good rate from the cruise ship and frequently, not so good on shore compared to the ATM rate.

 

One reason that I usually don't buy foreign currency before we leave on our trips is that the banks in the US have poor exchange rates compared to the ATM rate you get overseas. I have found that sometimes the difference is 10% even after adding in a small fee on the ATM use.

 

I have found that Bank of America has a service for buying foreign money that is available to those that have accounts with BOA. The exchange rate is better than our local banks or the exchange desks at US airports. Still, it doesn't match up well with the rate from ATMs overseas.

 

I have only had an issue with ATM use once in the last 6 years of about 20 foreign trips to six continents. That was in Copenhagen, where after using my ATM at the airport was no problem, for some reason, I could not get local currency at two bank ATMS in the city. Still, I had some backup US dollars in cash that I exchanged for local currency.

 

I know paying for private tours can require a lot of cash, so I must admit that there is some safety in having traveler's checks if you are carrying $1500. Still, having organized private tours all over, I have found that the vast majority of the tours either allow payment in advance by credit card or individuals to pay in cash at time of the tour.

 

I did organize tours in Norway that required full payment in local currency payable by me, the tour organizer. That required me to collect all the cash upfront. I will never do that again.

[nparmelee]

Just be aware that traveller's checks can be very difficult to get cashed, many banks won't even help.

[IrieMRP]

Thank you for all the feedback! I wanted to provided a quick update on the traveler check situation! This morning I called the Captain's Club to verify that they will actually cash US Travelers checks to USD onboard. The rep I spoke with said that yes, they can be cashed up to $1000, but there is a surcharge of 3%. She was unsure if the $1000 limit was per day, or per cruise.

 

I know many have posted that travelers checks are difficult to use, but I just wanted to clarify we were only intending to use them directly on the ship to get extra cash in the event the ATM does not work (I saw a post awhile back where the ATM was broken onboard, so I just wanted to have a backup plan!)

[Cruise Raider]

Thank you for all the feedback! I wanted to provided a quick update on the traveler check situation! This morning I called the Captain's Club to verify that they will actually cash US Travelers checks to USD onboard. The rep I spoke with said that yes, they can be cashed up to $1000, but there is a surcharge of 3%. She was unsure if the $1000 limit was per day, or per cruise.

 

I know many have posted that travelers checks are difficult to use, but I just wanted to clarify we were only intending to use them directly on the ship to get extra cash in the event the ATM does not work (I saw a post awhile back where the ATM was broken onboard, so I just wanted to have a backup plan!)

 

I still use traveler's checks all the time and have never had an issue in finding a place to cash them. I don't know why all the criticism about using them is coming from. To each his own, I guess.

If you gamble a lot and introduce yourself to the casino host, they will sometimes waive the fee for cashing them onboard (at the casino, of course).

On the other hand, the key to getting cash in the casino is in not using your non-refundable onboard credit. If you don't gamble and aren't using your onboard credit from Celebrity, you will get your dollars in promotional credits only .... no cash. However, if you don't have any non-refundable onboard credit left, they may (I say 'may' as I have gotten it before but we gamble onboard quite often) give it to you in cash. I believe the 5% fee still applies, though. If by chance you are part of M-life (a casino corporation), they will waive that 5% fee. I can only go off of personal experience and have sailed on Celebrity as recently as last April. Just adding that disclaimer in case things have changed again.

[lvz2cruz]

We cruised the Med a few years ago and our ATM card was declined at most places over the 12 days abroad. We bank at a regional credit union that is not part of the networks most ATMs use. We found one ATM in Rome and one in Monaco that accepted it.

I never anticipated that happening. Luckily we have very old travelers checks that I store in our passport holder for an emergency such as that.

[dodger1964]

I don't know if it is universal, but calling card companies and letting them know travel countries upcoming seems to be good idea to help card acceptance.

Edited December 7, 2016 by dodger1964