Can the Conceirge do a cash advance?

[Drew358]

I know they can cash checks, but I'm wondering if they can also do a cash advance from your onboard account, or is the casino the only place that you can get a cash advance?
Thanks.

[localady]

My understanding is that you have to go to the Casino even if you are a Suite passenger.

[Sunshine91]

Do you mean "cash advance" on your credit card? I've never done one of those so don't know exactly how they work, but would guess there are fees involved.

For the Caribbean, we've taken traveller's checks, which we purchase fee-free, which the front office will cash for no fee.

For Europe, we plan to use ATMs, which will dispense local currency.

[sail7seas]

I don't think HAL cashes personal checks on the ships; no matter suite guest or not. They (including Concierge) will cash Traveler's Checks.

[Drew358]

That's correct, a cash advance on a credit card. I didn't want to carry too much cash with us, and I think there is a 2% fee with a cash advance. I was just looking at it as an alternative to travelers checks or cash, as a way to access money if we needed it.

[sail7seas]

I think credit card cash advances would have to go through the Casino....if they even do them. We have never done anything like that.
Every cabin has a safe so you can lock up traveler's checks and extra cash.

[spcl4cs_gal]

Actually a cash advance on your credit card CAN be done in the Neptune Lounge but there is a service charge of some kind that is applied to it as well. To get a cash advance in the casino, they take your sign and sail card, run an amount check on it, and then give you cash for however much you wished to use at the tables. There is also a service charge added to your amount as well. I did it twice last week on the Westerdam.

[betonic]

A couple of weeks ago on the Westerdam I ran out of cash for extra tips. I went to the front desk and they gave me a cash advance from the credit card I had registered (amex). I got $100 and they charged me 2% I think. Whatever it was I didn't think it was bad and in a pinch I was happy for the service.

[Starr Mtn]

A couple of years ago we did get a "cash advance" on our online account.
The Concierge provided this service. I don't recall the exact terminology,
but it went on our ship board account just like a regular charge, with a small
charge which I believe was 3%. Much better than a cash advance on
your credit card which would have been more expensive. We just needed
an additional $100 for possible miscellaneous expenses for our one-night
post-cruise expenses - so think the charge was only $3.00 !

I hadn't been aware of this service except one day I happened to hear
another suite passenger asking about obtaining $1,000 !

[leoandhugh]

If the concierge in the Neptune lounge can not do it, all you have to do is go to the Guest Relations desk and they will give you a cash advance on the credit card you have used to establish your onboard tips and purchases; the fee is 3% or that is what it was on Oosterdam 2 weeks ago. If you think your requirements are going to be considerable, call your credit card company before leaving home,telling them you will be travelling HAL and let them establish a reasonable amount for you.:)

[dakrewser]

It isn't actually a "cash advance on your credit card" which would involve extra charges and (possibly) a higher interest rate on your card. It's a cash advance which posts to your ship board account (with a 3% fee) and is then taken care of as part of the charge for your cruise. To the credit card company it looks like any other purchase.

I've only done this in the Casino, but I understand it's possible to do at the front desk. Since the lovely ladies in the Neptune can do anything that you would normally have to go to the desk to do, I'm sure they could do this also.

[Two if by Sea]

If the onboard currency is US dollars only, but your entire cruise is in foreign waters where you have plenty of access to ATMs but not dollars.... then what? How do you get extra stacks of one-dollar bills for tips, etc.? Or can you tip in Canadian and European currency?

[sail7seas]

When you are ashore, you certainly can visit any bank....bring your passport for most banking in Europe.

Every time we cruised on HAL in Europe, they had an 'on board bank' for money conversion. That was before the Euro and we were using about 5 currencies on each cruise. The rates weren't wonderful but the convenience made it worth it for us and we used the ship's money conversion.

Now, of course, a great deal of Europe uses the Euro.

[jamscckmc]

Is there a charge on cash advance on your key card in the casino? posters on the RCCL site say on RC there is a charge at the desk. but you can get cash on your seapass card at the casino without a charge. They want to encourage you to spend at the casino but you don't have to. I thought it would be the same on HAL.

[dakrewser]

Is there a charge on cash advance on your key card in the casino? posters on the RCCL site say on RC there is a charge at the desk. but you can get cash on your seapass card at the casino without a charge. They want to encourage you to spend at the casino but you don't have to. I thought it would be the same on HAL.

As I said above, there is a 3% charge.

[dakrewser]

If the onboard currency is US dollars only, but your entire cruise is in foreign waters where you have plenty of access to ATMs but not dollars.... then what? How do you get extra stacks of one-dollar bills for tips, etc.? Or can you tip in Canadian and European currency?

A tip is a tip no matter what currency it's in. And if conversion is needed, the crew member will be back "in country" long before you will. Since banks won't convert coins (only paper currency) but most countries (Canada, Australia, UK, Euro-zone, etc.) have replaced their equivalent of our $1 and $2 bills with coins, we always use the leftovers for tipping...