Casino Funds Question

[mikemary945]

This will be our first cruise with a sign and sail card, and we understand that everything purchase on board goes to that, but what about money for the Casino? I'm trying to plan our funds, and figured that the Casino is not sign and sail. I know we can use our debit card to get cash in the Casino, so I assume this is the only thing on board that requires cash?

Mike and Mary

7/6 Flight to Venice -7/8 Millie Venice to Barcelona - Retirement Reward
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[HP_Lovecraft]

You can use your sign and sail card for cash to use at the Casino.
Its just like an ATM, except there is no fee.

In fact, you don't have to use the cash AT the casino either.

Nick

[mikemary945]

Thanks for the info. Keeps things simpler this way. Think we'll take a few hundred Euros with us, use a CC for the sign and sail account, and use the ATMs as needed.

Mike and Mary

7/6 Flight to Venice -7/8 Millie Venice to Barcelona - Retirement Reward
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[Joe_Antonelli]

Been waiting a while to post this for you - did you know you can send yourself casino credits by ordering it from the bon voyage gift site? [url="http://www.celebrity.com/prepare/bonvoyage/giftssurprises.asp?s=CEC61E77FC"]Click Here to be taken to the Celebrity site[/url] then scroll down and you will see casino credits. You can buy as many $25 gift certificates for yourselves as you need and this way you pay no ATM advance fees! Hope this helps.

Joe

[iamirish]

Does anyone know what the ATM fees are??

Tom

[Guest]

Don't bother with the ATMs, take your money from the Casino, back it up with a credit card with incentives. Everything is sent in as a purchase therefore you get miles or whatever incentives.

Don

[alcpa1]

Mike and Mary,
Use your credit card in the casino, it's an easy way to avoid the ATM charges and if you give your tips in cash it is the fastest way to get the $$$. Report back to us after your cruise. We just booked her for next summer and I want all the feedback to share with our sailing buddies. Have a great cruise.

[mikemary945]

Well, options huh? As I see it:

1. ATM would cost us our banks foreign ATM fee of $1.50, which is next to nothing.

2. Charge to sign and sail card (Can do this, right?), which would cost nothing.

3. Use CC, but would that be charged as a cash advance with the resulting fee from the CC company?

Almost seems like sign and sail is the way to go. So many choices! LOL

Mike and Mary

7/6 Flight to Venice -7/8 Millie Venice to Barcelona - Retirement Reward
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=800000&cdt=2004;7;6;17;0;00&timezone=GMT+0200[/img]

[smudge's mom]

The cash you get at the casino is handled just like you were purchasing a bottle of suntan lotion on board. There is no differentiation when it is posted on your sign and sail card. Therefore, the only thing you will see on your credit card bill is one charge - the total from the cruise ship's sign and sail account.

There are no fees from the cruise ship - no cash advance fees or any other fees on your credit card - nothing.

Some lines are starting to charge fees, so make sure Celebrity still offers this "free service" when you cruise.

[Guest]

Just to clarify, take the money out on your sign and sail card in the casino NOT A CREDIT CARD. Using a credit card will be a cash advance and not a purchase and will involve a large fee. Using your sign and sail card does not involve a fee.

[iamirish]

I guess my previous post was not very clear. I know what fees my bank charges for using an ATM, but my question is . . . “Does Celebrity charge an additional fee to use their ATM?”

Tom

[raudacruise]

Tom, from foggy memory we think the ATM fee was either $5 or 5% (on top of what your bank might charge). Either way, its much cheaper (i.e. 0%) to get a cash advance at the casino using your cruise card (not credit card). As others have mentioned, it gets charged directly to your stateroom account with no fee on Celebrity. Other cruiselines do charge for this, for example Princess charges 3%.

George & MaryBeth

[stomsf]

One thing, last time we took out $$ from the casino the teller was raising eyebrows asking, "Do you plan to use this cash for gambling in the casino?? That's what you're SUPPOSED to do!"

I hung around and played a few hands just to make her happy. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

[smudge's mom]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> One thing, last time we took out $$ from the casino the teller was raising eyebrows asking, "Do you plan to use this cash for gambling in the casino?? That's what you're SUPPOSED to do!"

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I think that's why some cruiselines are starting to charge a fee - they are realizing we are using the cashier window at the casino as our free ATM.

Oh well. Take advantage of the free cash while you can.

[Birdmom]

One other interesting thought. The cash taken from the casino on your ship account is charged to your credit card along with the rest of your shipboard charges as a "purchase", not a cash advance. Thus, if you get air miles, or some other bene on your credit card, the money taken from the casino will count.