Buying on board credits

[phabric]

Thanks for this info. A few questions, when you cash out at the casino do they charge you a % for cashing it out? I know that Celebrity charges a 5% fee (don’t know if that is still the case or if the fees are higher now). And what is the maximum $ amount you can cash out or can you do that a few times during the cruise.

 

I set up a casino account and transfer OBC money from my sail account to the casino account. I always play a little so they can not say I was using the casino as a cash machine. When I am finished playing, I transfer the amount left in the machine to my casino account, go to the cashier to cash out. They swipe my sail card, I add my Pin Number and they give me cash. No service fee on Princess as of July 2018. It is as if I have won the money. I usually do this a couple of times during the cruise as I gamble.

 

I have done this on Princess, I don’t know about other lines.

 

I believe before, Princess casino used to charge a service fee if you took cash from your sail card.

[99Cruiser]

I always buy casino credit before I leave and do it for a few different reasons.

 

1) I'm a big gambler and don't have to carry the cash to the ship....and just hope I have to carry A LOT of it off the ship.

2) I purchase the credit on my Princess credit card so get double points. Because I pay off my card every month I always buy more credits than I actually need (bought $5k on my last cruise) and just cash them out in the casino and take the cash home....it gets me more points on my card.

[mbottoms66]

First time on Princess. Can't you just have a debit or credit card and have all your charges paid that way without going to the Service desk to settle your account?

[meatloafsfan]

I always buy casino credit before I leave and do it for a few different reasons.

 

1) I'm a big gambler and don't have to carry the cash to the ship....and just hope I have to carry A LOT of it off the ship.

2) I purchase the credit on my Princess credit card so get double points. Because I pay off my card every month I always buy more credits than I actually need (bought $5k on my last cruise) and just cash them out in the casino and take the cash home....it gets me more points on my card.

 

I'm loading up my account with OBC/Casino credit before our big trip in November/December as well. For my mother and I, it makes sense since we're both gamblers and I can buy the OBC/Casino Credit at a favourable exchange rate. Plus using my credit card, I'm loading up on Air Miles which is covering some hotel stays before/after the cruises.

 

It's already a win situation for me; let's hope my luck holds on the ship :cool:

[Croptop]

First time on Princess. Can't you just have a debit or credit card and have all your charges paid that way without going to the Service desk to settle your account?

 

Absolutely. That is the normal procedure. Building up an OBC balance just reduces (or eliminates) the amount of charges to your credit/debit card at the end of the cruise.

[mbottoms66]

Absolutely. That is the normal procedure. Building up an OBC balance just reduces (or eliminates) the amount of charges to your credit/debit card at the end of the cruise.

 

Thank you for that info!