Lastest on Cash from Casinos

[MontessoriMom]

I had read that RCL was charging a 3 % surcharge to get cash from your credit card in the casino and then that it was recalled. As of late, has anyone been charged this fee to get cash in the casinos? Thanks!

[debshomespun]

Was just on the Radiance 5/3/08 10 night sailing to Hawaii, and no transaction fee.

[PudgiPoo]

Use your sea pass not your credit card. The Credit Card company will charge you a cash advance it you use it in the casino.

[cruisenfever]

On Splendour this past March & April and took cash out of Casino against our SeaPass. No service charge.

 

If you use a credit card, I believe that is when you will assessed the service charge.

[Grandeur]

....charging cash to your seapass card. I always do this instead of carrying around cash for islands and tips. A couple times I mispoke and said credit card but was told about the fee and realized what I had said. This last cruise I did have a problem getting smaller bills on the last day - Purser's desk was out of small bills as well....

[MontessoriMom]

Thanks all! I did mean the sea pass, not my credit card. Glad to hear that they aren't charging to do this.

[isujim]

No transaction fee last month on Voyager of the Seas

[Saintsfan007]

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they don't start charging a fee.

[boomhaursgrl]

I was wondering about this too, and I couldn't find the post I had read the other day... thanks for all of your updates!

[Andy]

Hi Everyone !

 

What might have started this conversation, is that Celebrity just started charging a 3% service charge for cash advances at the Casino. This was effective April 1st.

 

Perhaps Royal Caribbean is waiting to see if there is any backlash on the Celebrity ships before the initiate the fees on their ships. While I do not feel the fee is a good idea, the reality is that many other lines do it too. It is probably only a matter of time before Royal Caribbean adds the fee.

[KelJ]

No charge last month on Enchantment.

[Cruising89143]

Hi Everyone !

 

What might have started this conversation, is that Celebrity just started charging a 3% service charge for cash advances at the Casino. This was effective April 1st.

 

Perhaps Royal Caribbean is waiting to see if there is any backlash on the Celebrity ships before the initiate the fees on their ships. While I do not feel the fee is a good idea, the reality is that many other lines do it too. It is probably only a matter of time before Royal Caribbean adds the fee.

 

If they implemented this policy on Celebrity then I think that it's just a matter of time until they expand to include RCI.

[kc320]

No surcharge on AOS earilier this month... I took cash out twice..but I agree if they are charging on Celebrity it won't be long before they are charging on RC as well...

[kauppias]

On jewel OTS as of may 19th 2008 they ARE CHARGING A 3 % "convinience" fee for charging chips to your seapass account! the casino manager said they are doing this testing process on 4 RCCL ships! On my last cruise with the jewel I spent 2700$ in the casino, on this cruise I spent 100$ so I guess the 3% charge is going to do them alot of good atleast when it comes to stubborn idiot like me :D

[VernRDH]

No charge on Explorer this month-I took $250 at the cashiers window and DH and I both bought chips at tables.

[jms2362]

I heard that you can get it and put it on your room tab. Then it will go on your final bill and that there is no charge for this money. Don't know if this is true or not read it last week.

[negc]

Hi Everyone !

 

What might have started this conversation, is that Celebrity just started charging a 3% service charge for cash advances at the Casino. This was effective April 1st.

 

Perhaps Royal Caribbean is waiting to see if there is any backlash on the Celebrity ships before the initiate the fees on their ships. While I do not feel the fee is a good idea, the reality is that many other lines do it too. It is probably only a matter of time before Royal Caribbean adds the fee.

 

Andy, if Celebrity started charging a 3% service charge for cash advantages at the casino, effective April 1st, the word never made it to the casino staff in the Century's casino, where I took a cash advance on my seapass card in April and no fee was charged. I believe that what started this conversation was a combination of posts that claimed that if cruisers abused the system to increase the points that they received on their RCI credit cards, or took the money and didn't use it in the casino, RCI was likely to start charging a fee. Subsequently someone erroneously posted that there RCI had begun charging such a fee, and others seized on this assertion as confirmation of their fears. That was followed by a series of posts from individuals indicating that no such fee was being charged. RCI never instituted such a fee only to recall it later, and based on my personal experience, Celebrity was not charging any such fee as late as April 5th. It is interesting to see how rumors develop and evolve but it is also a bit disheartening how much erroneous information can be spread on these boards.:rolleyes:

[jms2362]

I think that if you use some there in the casino they don't charge??

[lv2bcruzin]

I was told that for our Brilliance cruise that there will be no charge because they will not be allowing you to draw on your sea pass account. It was a CSR for C&A and we all know how reliable they are, so I am hoping that he is incorrect.

[negc]

I think that if you use some there in the casino they don't charge??

They really don't monitor people that closely and if they were going to assess a fee they would have to do it when you sign for the advance and post a notice to that effect. There would be little they could do to assess the fee after the fact, as even if I took the money and immediately left the casino I might always return later during the cruise to use the funds for gambling.:rolleyes:

[killian25]

I had read that RCL was charging a 3 % surcharge to get cash from your credit card in the casino and then that it was recalled. As of late, has anyone been charged this fee to get cash in the casinos? Thanks!

 

NO I was taking cash out the hole trip at the casino.......No fee at all

[Tucker in Texas]

Monarch of the Seas started charging two weeks ago.

 

Tucker in Texas

[MontessoriMom]

Was it the 3%? Thanks!

[Tucker in Texas]

Yes, 3%

 

Tucker in Texas

[happygal1]

Radiance Alaska 5-23 and YES there is now a casino surcharge of 3%. I pitched a huge fit and they would not waive it.

 

First night on the boat and first $100 out no surcharge. 1/2 hour later another hundred and they informed me that there is a 3% charge. I asked when it started and they said today. I pointed out that the first one did not have the surcharge and they said it was a mistake. I asked how was I supposed to know and there was no answer. I called BS and nothing came of it.

 

2 days later guest services called our room and asked how the cruise was going. I informed them that the surcharge was BS. They called the casino manager and refused to waive it. She then said "is there anything else I can help you with?" I said no, you have been less than helpful already.

 

The next night the casino manager pulled me aside and offered me some free drink tickets which would have been ok compensation in the first place IF it hadn't taken multiple complaints and followups.

 

This was our third RCCL cruise and after the fuel surcharge incident after booking (even though it was refunded) and this kind of nickel and dime BS, it may be our last on this line.