Seapass charge for slots in casino

[RoperDK]

I have searched and searched with no definitive answer.  Simple question.  If I charge my seapass at a slot to get funds downloaded to it, do I have to pay the 5% surcharge?  I want to play with the money on the slot machine and not try to get cash for free to use elsewhere.  I don't like to travel with too much cash and would rather charge to my onboard account.  I am not a prime member and I don't play at the tables.  If there is a 5% charge, then is there a way to fund OBC for yourself prior to the cruise to use for that purpose?     

[Ken at the beach]

4 minutes ago, RoperDK said:

I have searched and searched with no definitive answer.  Simple question.  If I charge my seapass at a slot to get funds downloaded to it, do I have to pay the 5% surcharge?  I want to play with the money on the slot machine and not try to get cash for free to use elsewhere.  I don't like to travel with too much cash and would rather charge to my onboard account.  I am not a prime member and I don't play at the tables.  If there is a 5% charge, then is there a way to fund OBC for yourself prior to the cruise to use for that purpose?     

I've never been charged. 

[dad son team]

No, they only charge that at the tables and I think at the cashier.  The work around is to put the money on your card at the machine, then cash out and go to the window to get the cash

[Baowen]

On the Navigator you definitely get charged the 5% (unless you are prime and above) even when you put it on at the slot machine.   I've been at the Casino multiple trips over the last 3 months and this is my experience.

Beth

[resetjet]

1 hour ago, Baowen said:

On the Navigator you definitely get charged the 5% (unless you are prime and above) even when you put it on at the slot machine.   I've been at the Casino multiple trips over the last 3 months and this is my experience.

Beth

That makes sense,  otherwise you can max out your cards cash,  get all kinds of points and just pay it back on next statement.  I used to do this back in the day.

[RoperDK]

6 hours ago, dad son team said:

No, they only charge that at the tables and I think at the cashier.  The work around is to put the money on your card at the machine, then cash out and go to the window to get the cash

 

2 hours ago, Baowen said:

On the Navigator you definitely get charged the 5% (unless you are prime and above) even when you put it on at the slot machine.   I've been at the Casino multiple trips over the last 3 months and this is my experience.

Beth

This is the contradiction I was talking about.  We are on Odyssey next month.  Carnival and Princess allow you to charge your onboard account to download credit to slots with no surcharge and also allow you to pre-purchase OBC for use onboard which can be used on slots.  We are thinking of transitioning to Royal and I like to gamble.  Would love to have a definitive answer as I hate to carry a lot of cash and will not lose 5% off the top of the slot margin.  Thanks. 

[pcur]

5 hours ago, Baowen said:

On the Navigator you definitely get charged the 5% (unless you are prime and above) even when you put it on at the slot machine.   I've been at the Casino multiple trips over the last 3 months and this is my experience.

Beth

Are you using the "Personal Banker" function?  You put your seapass card in, select PB, establish a PIN (mo and day of birth), then select charging to your seapass card.  I did this for both cruises on the Navigator 2/11 and 2/14 with no surcharge.

 

If you are Crown and Anchor your seapass card is preloaded with free play money to start you off.  Play that, and then add more from your cabin account.

[LaCal]

Yes you can pre-purchase OBC and it can be used in the casino 

[matj2000]

Just make it easy and bring cash.

 

What do you think is going to happen to it?

[brillohead]

16 hours ago, Baowen said:

On the Navigator you definitely get charged the 5% (unless you are prime and above) even when you put it on at the slot machine.   I've been at the Casino multiple trips over the last 3 months and this is my experience.

Beth

Wow, that's interesting.  I did it on Navigator in January (and Symphony in November and Allure in December) and didn't get charged anything except for what I requested.  

And I'm definitely not "prime" for Casino... I never use a single dime of my own money in the casino.

[RoperDK]

12 hours ago, matj2000 said:

Just make it easy and bring cash.

 

What do you think is going to happen to it?

I grew up in Miami.  Lots of people target tourists.  We drive to cruises and extend our stays a few days before and after in hotels.  Not all of the hotels we stay at have safes.  I guess I'm just cautious with my hard earned cash.  That's until I throw it away in a slot machine, lol.