Casino Credits versus Travelers Checks

[bruru]

Pia, in another thread, mentioned the concept of buying Casino Credits as a way of managing cash on the cruise. Can these be redeemed only at the casino or can they be redeemed at the Purser's desk. Are they easier to manage than Traveler's Checks?

[ohioNCLcruiser]

I would think that cashing travelers checks at the front desk would be the best bet. Worst comes to worst and you want to cash some off the ship the casino ships would be worthless.

[Carolyn R]

Giving casino credit elimates the need to buy Travelers Checks. You just call Princess and give them a credit card number. You will find a certificate in your cabin to redeem for cash in the casino. You do not have to spend it there.

[coo359a2]

Casino credit is really easy and no need to buy the traveler's checks. Cash them in at the casino cage and usually there is no line like at the Purser's desk. Plus if you have the Princess Visa credit card, you get double points if you use the card to purchase the casino credits. I've done it this way for my last 4 cruises.

[Luke gs Daddy]

Pertaining to the 2 above posts.

 

I called Carnival Copr. Casino which handles all of the ship lines casinos. A rep. told me if you buy Casino Credits they can not be purchased with a credit card.

I wanted the points also.

[Plainsman]

Pertaining to the 2 above posts.

 

I called Carnival Copr. Casino which handles all of the ship lines casinos. A rep. told me if you buy Casino Credits they can not be purchased with a credit card.

I wanted the points also.

I just purchased 5 with my AMEX card last weekend for my Crown Cruise

[scottam]

We have used casino credits as a means of getting cash on our last two Princess cruises and it worked great. For our next cruise in Feb, I ordered casino credits by faxing the downloadable form to Princess. Go to http://www.princess.com/learn/onboard/services/gifts/casino/index.jsp for the form. Also on the form is a phone number to call if you prefer to order that way. In all cases, I have paid with my credit card (Discover, so I'm also getting cash back) and asked for an e-mailed confirmation, which I have received. Hope this helps.

 

Tammy:)

[DanJ]

Pertaining to the 2 above posts.

 

I called Carnival Copr. Casino which handles all of the ship lines casinos. A rep. told me if you buy Casino Credits they can not be purchased with a credit card.

I wanted the points also.

 

Far as I can tell, there is no other way to pay for them but with a credit card. A casino credit is the same as buying any of the other gifts on board, which are usually bought for a passenger by somebody else.

[coo359a2]

Hi Plainsman

 

Did you call 1 800 Princess - number I always call to buy casino credits . Dan and Tammy are correct about using credit cards. If you go to the download form at the website Tammy posted, it shows all the credit cards you can use. The Princess Visa is on of the ones listed. I'm calling tomorrow to "buy" my casino credits.

 

See that you are just a few miles up the road from where I live - Pinson.

[Id rather be diving]

We bought casino credits on our transatlantic cruise in 2007. It was way better than carrying travler's checks and much easier to cash. I have found that traveler's checks have become difficult to cash because they are so many times fradulant. My bank strongly discourgages the use of traveler's checks.

 

The casino credits were great. We didn't have to carry a lot of cash with us while we did pre-cruise travel in Venice. We knew that we would have American $ on the ship once we got onboard.

 

On a separate note, we used our ATM cards to get Euros out of the ATM in Europe. We planned how much we could get out at each port and how much we would need ahead of time. It all worked out very easily.

 

I will use casino credits from now on. I really like that I don't have to take money with me, but I know that I have money waiting for me onboard. I also don't have to "save" cash for any extra tips throughout the cruise.

 

Just my 2 cents!

[coo359a2]

Ditto and agree with your 2 cents.

 

I even had a hard time finding the denominations I wanted the last time I bought Traveler's checks at my bank.

[Plainsman]

Hi Plainsman

 

Did you call 1 800 Princess - number I always call to buy casino credits . Dan and Tammy are correct about using credit cards. If you go to the download form at the website Tammy posted, it shows all the credit cards you can use. The Princess Visa is on of the ones listed. I'm calling tomorrow to "buy" my casino credits.

 

See that you are just a few miles up the road from where I live - Pinson.

Hey Tina and Ken, yes that is the number I call for all things Princess, flowers, casino credits and all. I have see that you are from Pinson I go thru there regulary. Maybe we will meet on a cruise some day.

 

Walt & Helen

[afiremedic323]

I have been buying my self on board gift card's over the past 2 months just a 100 bucks from each paycheck so far im up to 400 dollars, This way it should help off set some of the many charges I will run up when on board. the gift card's are not really a gift card just a letter you will recive when you first arrive in your cabin that advises you how much obc you have. the gift cards can be used for anything on board, casino, shore excursions, tips, sabatinies, etc.

[-Lew-]

We don't use travelers checks or casino credits. A couple hundred dollars in cash along with credit cards has always been the most convenient way to go for us.

 

The casino is closed while the ship is in port rendering your funds unavailable. Also the line at the purser's desk can get quite long at times making the cashing of travelers checks somewhat of a hassle.

 

There are ATMs convenient to many ports...a quick and easy way to obtain cash.

 

Lew

[caribill]

There are ATMs convenient to many ports...a quick and easy way to obtain cash.

 

Much depends what currancy you are looking for. At the Purser's desk or the casino, you can get USA $. At land based ATM's, you will get the local currency.

 

When the onboard ATM is working, in some cases it will have the currency of the next port, using a very poor exchange rate and having a service charge. If it has US $, you will still have a service charge.

[Colo Cruiser]

Pia, in another thread, mentioned the concept of buying Casino Credits as a way of managing cash on the cruise. Can these be redeemed only at the casino or can they be redeemed at the Purser's desk. Are they easier to manage than Traveler's Checks?

 

 

You would be better off with TC's. ;)

[Pia1913]

Pia, in another thread, mentioned the concept of buying Casino Credits as a way of managing cash on the cruise. Can these be redeemed only at the casino or can they be redeemed at the Purser's desk. Are they easier to manage than Traveler's Checks?

 

Since you're quoting me.........here I am! :D You've already gotten a multitude of responses above, so I don't need to belabor the point. There is nothing easier to manage than cash. When the casino first opens, you can cash in your chits partly or all; your choice. I cash most of it immediately and put the cash in my safe. That way it's always there if/when I decide to need/want it.

 

Travelers checks are almost obsolete; those using them are usually older and used to doing things that way. I'll bet most younger people don't even know there is such a thing as a travelers check.

[bruru]

Thanks everyone for your experience and input, and thanks Pia for popping up.

 

Bruce

[w&k]

If I understand this correctly, the Casino credits get you a 'chit' to turn in for cash, and the 'Princess Gift Card' for OBC has no 'chit' to turn in, but can be accessed without charge through the slots (right?).

 

Can you purchase these directly through Princess if you are booked through a TA?

 

Thanks for the help!

 

Wendy

[Av8tor]

I booked through a TA and while any changes to the booking itself needed to be called in by the TA, I was able to call 1-800-Princess and purchase the casino credits by myself using my credit card. Wish I could've used the TA's credit card to buy the credits though... :D

 

Happy Sailings,

Paul

[Pia1913]

If I understand this correctly, the Casino credits get you a 'chit' to turn in for cash, and the 'Princess Gift Card' for OBC has no 'chit' to turn in, but can be accessed without charge through the slots (right?).

 

Can you purchase these directly through Princess if you are booked through a TA?

 

Thanks for the help!

 

Wendy

 

Here's the difference.

 

1. When you call Princess to buy casino credit, you give them your credit card number and the amount you wish charged. Your card is charged immediately and the day you embark you will receive small cards to turn into the casino cage for your cash. The last time we did this I bought $500 and they gave me 5 $100 cards.

 

2. When you buy a gift card, this is for OBC that goes on to your shipboard account as a credit; the same as if you get on board credit from your TA, shareholder, FCC, etc. If you want this to come off your account you can fool around with it at the slot machines (instructions are available and so is help from the floor) or pay 3% at the cage. If it's your money you most likely wouldn't want to spend the 3%, which is still probably cheaper than the ATM. But that's a whole other story.

[Marmarjudy]

Another option is to set up an account with your card in the casino, which you need to do if you are going to gamble at all, then debit your onboard account for money for the casino account, then take your card to the casino cage to get the cash from your card. The charge shows up as a regular onboard charge, with no cash transaction fee.

 

We do this every cruise....we take limited cash with us. The casino is open often enough for us to easily get any cash we need. We also get the "float time" on the money and then pay it when the bill comes for the onboard charges...it's at least 30 days later before the bill is due. In my opinion this is easier and better (from a money management standpoint) than paying it as casino credits before the cruise. (Example: we are cruising early February and the credit card bill for that will drop on March 1st and won't be due until April 1st.)

 

Just a thought...and I LOVE to use someone else's money for awhile!

 

Judy

[Pia1913]

Another option is to set up an account with your card in the casino, which you need to do if you are going to gamble at all, then debit your onboard account for money for the casino account, then take your card to the casino cage to get the cash from your card. The charge shows up as a regular onboard charge, with no cash transaction fee.

 

We do this every cruise....we take limited cash with us. The casino is open often enough for us to easily get any cash we need. We also get the "float time" on the money and then pay it when the bill comes for the onboard charges...it's at least 30 days later before the bill is due. In my opinion this is easier and better (from a money management standpoint) than paying it as casino credits before the cruise. (Example: we are cruising early February and the credit card bill for that will drop on March 1st and won't be due until April 1st.)

 

Just a thought...and I LOVE to use someone else's money for awhile!

 

Judy

 

I always use someone else's money; hardly ever pay cash for anything. You should see how many charges of $2.08 I have for Starbucks. :D

[ILOVEMEXICO]

Here's the difference.

1. When you call Princess to buy casino credit, you give them your credit card number and the amount you wish charged. Your card is charged immediately and the day you embark you will receive small cards to turn into the casino cage for your cash. The last time we did this I bought $500 and they gave me 5 $100 cards."

 

 

Pia - still a little confused - once you have the 100 card, you can go to the casino and cash it in for cash and the cash doesn't necessarily have to be used in the Casino even tho it's called a casino credit.

Normally if you request cash from your credit card (here in Canada), you're not eligible for points so I assume because the charge for the casino credit is to Princess, it's not really deemed as cash - is that right??

[Colo Cruiser]

Here's the difference.

 

1. When you call Princess to buy casino credit, you give them your credit card number and the amount you wish charged. Your card is charged immediately and the day you embark you will receive small cards to turn into the casino cage for your cash. The last time we did this I bought $500 and they gave me 5 $100 cards."

 

 

Pia - still a little confused - once you have the 100 card, you can go to the casino and cash it in for cash and the cash doesn't necessarily have to be used in the Casino even tho it's called a casino credit.

Normally if you request cash from your credit card (here in Canada), you're not eligible for points so I assume because the charge for the casino credit is to Princess, it's not really deemed as cash - is that right??

 

 

I thought it was looked at as a purchase not a cash advance, maybe I am wrong??