cash on cruise

[xyzcruiser]

I am taking a significant amount of cash to use in the casino on my upcoming cruise. In the old days I would just take a travelers check and cash it with the purser. The past few years I have cruised from my home state and since I was driving to the port I wasn't that concerned about carrying a large amount of cash. But on this cruise I am driving to the airport and flying into New Orleans where I will be staying for a couple of days before the cruise. I have asked CAS if there was any  other way that doesn't involve fees (credit or debit card) to get cash once on the ship and their answer was no.  I'm already gambling, I really don't want to waste an extra 3%. Anybody have any suggestions or work arounds for this issue? At this point I just figure a money belt is my best option. Thanks for your help.

[zqvol]

You can still get travelers checks, try AAA.

[Kalum]

Had them on my last cruise with the BA, but noone wanted to take them onboard

[xyzcruiser]

I asked NCL  about travelers checks and was told they would not cash them on board. OP

[Son of a son of a ...]

Cash in a money belt

[rtkenmore]

1 hour ago, xyzcruiser said:

I am taking a significant amount of cash to use in the casino on my upcoming cruise. In the old days I would just take a travelers check and cash it with the purser. The past few years I have cruised from my home state and since I was driving to the port I wasn't that concerned about carrying a large amount of cash. But on this cruise I am driving to the airport and flying into New Orleans where I will be staying for a couple of days before the cruise. I have asked CAS if there was any  other way that doesn't involve fees (credit or debit card) to get cash once on the ship and their answer was no.  I'm already gambling, I really don't want to waste an extra 3%. Anybody have any suggestions or work arounds for this issue? At this point I just figure a money belt is my best option. Thanks for your help.

 

What about just getting cash from a bank or location in New Orleans?  Or take travelers checks with you to NOLA and then cash them there the day before you board or something.

 

[xyzcruiser]

Good  idea. My cruise leaves on a Thursday, so the banks should be open. I'll  check and see if there are any banks near my hotel which is right across from the port. Thanks for the suggestion.

[Hooked Already]

Bundle the cash very carefully. If done in $100.00 bills the size of the bundle will be easily manageable and hidden.

Try to find out in advanced if your hotel room has a safe. I stayed at the Drury Inn in New Orleans last year, and they had no safe.

Not a couple of fun days.

Also make sure to be aware of the $10k limit to walk around with. This can cause trouble at airports and customs on return to port. 

[BirdTravels]

6 hours ago, xyzcruiser said:

I am taking a significant amount of cash to use in the casino on my upcoming cruise. In the old days I would just take a travelers check and cash it with the purser. The past few years I have cruised from my home state and since I was driving to the port I wasn't that concerned about carrying a large amount of cash. But on this cruise I am driving to the airport and flying into New Orleans where I will be staying for a couple of days before the cruise. I have asked CAS if there was any  other way that doesn't involve fees (credit or debit card) to get cash once on the ship and their answer was no.  I'm already gambling, I really don't want to waste an extra 3%. Anybody have any suggestions or work arounds for this issue? At this point I just figure a money belt is my best option. Thanks for your help.

Cash Advance on Room: $500 * 3% = $15 service charge 

ATM $500 = $5.99 service charge 

[chars]

What if you purchase on board credit before you go?

[takeadip]

10 hours ago, xyzcruiser said:

I am taking a significant amount of cash to use in the casino on my upcoming cruise. In the old days I would just take a travelers check and cash it with the purser. The past few years I have cruised from my home state and since I was driving to the port I wasn't that concerned about carrying a large amount of cash. But on this cruise I am driving to the airport and flying into New Orleans where I will be staying for a couple of days before the cruise. I have asked CAS if there was any  other way that doesn't involve fees (credit or debit card) to get cash once on the ship and their answer was no.  I'm already gambling, I really don't want to waste an extra 3%. Anybody have any suggestions or work arounds for this issue? At this point I just figure a money belt is my best option. Thanks for your help.

If by "significant" you mean $200 - $300 dollars i would get (6) $50 dollar bills and keep one bill in each of the bottoms of your socks...then i would buy a floral fanny pack with matching pleated front dressy shorts and place a crisp bill in the fanny pack and an additional bill in the "secret" inside pocket of the fanny pack...then the remaining (2) bills i would place in the 2 back pockets of your dressy shorts (but be sure to press the velcro back pockets together to seal the money from prying eyes

[Son of a son of a ...]

3 hours ago, takeadip said:

If by "significant" you mean $200 - $300 dollars i would get (6) $50 dollar bills and keep one bill in each of the bottoms of your socks...then i would buy a floral fanny pack with matching pleated front dressy shorts and place a crisp bill in the fanny pack and an additional bill in the "secret" inside pocket of the fanny pack...then the remaining (2) bills i would place in the 2 back pockets of your dressy shorts (but be sure to press the velcro back pockets together to seal the money from prying eyes

 

I’m guessing OP’s "significant" is $10k or more.  We take $2k in cash and don’t give it a second thought about carrying - we split it up as you suggest, but just in larger amounts.

[newmexicoNita]

14 hours ago, zqvol said:

You can still get travelers checks, try AAA.

We always have used them. Yes, you can get the via AAA or we get them from our bank. We have't gotten them the last couple of cruises but will this time probably. 

[Trimone]

14 hours ago, xyzcruiser said:

I am taking a significant amount of cash to use in the casino on my upcoming cruise. In the old days I would just take a travelers check and cash it with the purser. The past few years I have cruised from my home state and since I was driving to the port I wasn't that concerned about carrying a large amount of cash. But on this cruise I am driving to the airport and flying into New Orleans where I will be staying for a couple of days before the cruise. I have asked CAS if there was any  other way that doesn't involve fees (credit or debit card) to get cash once on the ship and their answer was no.  I'm already gambling, I really don't want to waste an extra 3%. Anybody have any suggestions or work arounds for this issue? At this point I just figure a money belt is my best option. Thanks for your help.

What roads will you be travelling on, and dates please

[beerman2]

8 hours ago, chars said:

What if you purchase on board credit before you go?

There is a limit on the amount of OBC you can purchase. Guessing tthe OP is above that limit.

If I remember correctly the limit was started because of the exchange rate  of a country that pax were making money with the conversion rate.

[vpearlkc]

I know that any major land based casino offers lines of credit for high level players. Is this option available at NCL onboard casinos?

[phoenix1181]

Last time I used travelers checks it was a real PITA.  They wouldn't take them at the tables & the cashier had me standing on my head if I wanted to cash more than $500 at a time.  Cashing them at a bank in New Orleans is probably the route I'd take.

 

[JohnChiang]

Here is the link that Norwegian emailed me to apply for Casino Credit. Minimum is $5,000 and you need to bring a personal check. I haven't use it, so do not know if any other fees apply.

 

https://www.ncl.com/casino/apply?cheetahid=5000009703236&cid=EM_MKO_BKG_TRI_CHE_LRN_EML_OBCHAPTER_03STARTPLANNING-CAS_cas1_BWY

 

[BirdTravels]

13 hours ago, vpearlkc said:

I know that any major land based casino offers lines of credit for high level players. Is this option available at NCL onboard casinos?

Yes. You can request a line of credit with the casino in advance. 

 

Yes. If you are in a higher tier of their player's program, they will waive the 3% service, so you can charge your room for cash without paying any cash advance fee (looks like a room charge from NCL to your credit card company).