Is there a 3% charge if you get cash for the casino?

[MichTraveler]

We don't gamble but we do always have some OBC dollars left at the end of the cruise. I go to the casino slot machine, open an account, and put an amount of money on my cruise card then walk to the cage and get cash with no 3% surcharge,

 

We did something like that on our last cruise. I had more OBC than needed and the DH had less. So we went to the slots. Unfortunately the DH hit the spin button a few times to try his luck (or lack of). But no 3% charge this way.

[Belle]

When I said money (other post) I meant chips

like someone else said. No charge of 3%.

Was in July.

[teacherD1]

I'll be waiting for the posts after the upcoming cruises to see what is being done. I also meant getting chips or playing the slots charged to my OBC.

[Pia1913]

I'll be waiting for the posts after the upcoming cruises to see what is being done. I also meant getting chips or playing the slots charged to my OBC.

 

There is no concern with playing the slots and charging it to your cruise card. This definitely has no surcharge, as long as you get the money from the machine and not from the cage.

 

There seems to be some debate about the table games, though I've never gotten my chips with anything other than cash.

[betterthanworking]

There was no surcharge on the Emerald in March when I cashed out some leftover OBC on a slot.

[AndyTheK]

Either things have changed, or there is some confusion over the difference between charging at slots versus tables.

 

I just looked at my account statement for our previous cruise on the Crown. The entries are dated 17 OCT 2010.

 

This was obtaining chips while playing at a blackjack table.

 

There is am entry for $200.00 CASINO CHARGE.

The next entry is labeled SURCHARGE for $6.00.

 

I have to get to dinner now so I haven't typed in the EXACT wording (and code) of the entries, but they are there.

 

Ladies and gentlemen, whatever the policy may be now, and on whatever ships, I can say that on the Crown last October, there was a surcharge! Those who contradict this are invited to refund these SURCHARGES to me - I will accept them gladly.:):)

 

Caveat emptor.

 

Shalom, Andy.

[Pia1913]

There was no surcharge on the Emerald in March when I cashed out some leftover OBC on a slot.

 

There never is or was a surcharge when cashing out from a slot. However, if you just cash out and don't play, that is what's going to change.

[Toto2Kansas]

Ladies and gentlemen, whatever the policy may be now, and on whatever ships, I can say that on the Crown last October, there was a surcharge! Those who contradict this are invited to refund these SURCHARGES to me - I will accept them gladly.:):)

 

Caveat emptor.

 

Shalom, Andy.

Andy, nobody is doubting that you were charged. I think what some of us are trying to say is that either you shouldn't have been, or the rules have now changed. ;)

Edited August 26, 2011 by Toto2Kansas

[Pia1913]

Either things have changed, or there is some confusion over the difference between charging at slots versus tables.

 

I just looked at my account statement for our previous cruise on the Crown. The entries are dated 17 OCT 2010.

 

This was obtaining chips while playing at a blackjack table.

 

There is am entry for $200.00 CASINO CHARGE.

The next entry is labeled SURCHARGE for $6.00.

 

I have to get to dinner now so I haven't typed in the EXACT wording (and code) of the entries, but they are there.

 

Ladies and gentlemen, whatever the policy may be now, and on whatever ships, I can say that on the Crown last October, there was a surcharge! Those who contradict this are invited to refund these SURCHARGES to me - I will accept them gladly.:):)

 

Caveat emptor.

 

Shalom, Andy.

 

What this proves Andy, is that different casinos on different ships are doing different things. I'm sure that on your next cruise you will be more proactive, now that you know about it. Then again, perhaps each casino manager has a certain amount of carte blanche.

[betterthanworking]

There never is or was a surcharge when cashing out from a slot. However, if you just cash out and don't play, that is what's going to change.

 

 

Do we know that for sure?? "All Princess ships are not created equal". Let''s hear from somebody currently on board!

[cattolica]

My DH plays nothing but craps and has always either purchased some casino credits before leaving home or makes sure he has the cash already with him. 18 cruises many different ships........every one of them would have charged him the 3% surcharge whether he got the money from the cage or buying chips at the craps table. He asks on every single cruise and always gets the 3% surcharge answer.

So, if someone isn't being charged the 3% charge it is either a mistake or they are probably a big gambler. The casinos will most likely bend the rules if they are dealing with someone who is going to drop a lot of cash.

[AndyTheK]

What this proves Andy, is that different casinos on different ships are doing different things. I'm sure that on your next cruise you will be more proactive, now that you know about it. Then again, perhaps each casino manager has a certain amount of carte blanche.

Thanks. Pia. Already done that! ("fool me once...":D)

 

@Toto: I'll accept the possibility that things might have changed, though I doubt that Princess Casinos would change to a policy more generous toward players - that would be highly unusual. As far as the possibility that I "shouldn't have been charged", I don't accept that for two reasons. For one thing. this surcharge has been pretty standard aboard cruise ships for many years, and across more than one cruise company (NCL, RCL, CCL brands). Secondly, it kind of makes business sense to charge a fee for this type of transaction... for examples, ATM withdrawal. Slots are a different matter, since you don't actually get anything other than electronic blips in a data base. Casino checks (chips) are traditionally considered "good as cash" - any waiter will accept a chip as a tip without batting an eyelash, and I have yet to have a cage teller question the source of a chip presented for redemption, as high as purple ones.

 

Do we know that for sure?? "All Princess ships are not created equal". Let''s hear from somebody currently on board!

Not currently on board, but will be 48 hours from now. If the net is good I'll report from the ship, otherwise when I get off (Sept 14th).

[Pia1913]

Do we know that for sure?? "All Princess ships are not created equal". Let''s hear from somebody currently on board!

 

Somebody currently on board would not necessarily know, unless they are definitely just taking money out without ever playing even one round in the machine. That's the kicker. It is very difficult for us to spend down our OBC (most of the time) and if I have to take it out of the cage and pay 3%, that would be fine with me too. That's what we always had to do on the small ships, because their slots were not card oriented. It's been a few years since we've sailed on any, so I will find out what if anything they have done when we board the Ocean in October.

Edited August 26, 2011 by Pia1913

[Northender]

Somebody currently on board would not necessarily know, unless they are definitely just taking money out without ever playing even one round in the machine. That's the kicker. It is very difficult for us to spend down our OBC (most of the time) and if I have to take it out of the cage and pay 3%, that would be fine with me too. That's what we always had to do on the small ships, because their slots were not card oriented. It's been a few years since we've sailed on any, so I will find out what if anything they have done when we board the Ocean in October.

 

PIA, you just hit the nail on the head. It is a long story but folks were building "points" on credit cards. That is the long and short of it. All of a sudden the Cruise Lines got smart as they were being used.:mad:

[betterthanworking]

Somebody currently on board would not necessarily know, unless they are definitely just taking money out without ever playing even one round in the machine. That's the kicker. It is very difficult for us to spend down our OBC (most of the time) and if I have to take it out of the cage and pay 3%, that would be fine with me too. That's what we always had to do on the small ships, because their slots were not card oriented. It's been a few years since we've sailed on any, so I will find out what if anything they have done when we board the Ocean in October.

 

You are correct in that it is interest free $$ (so to speak), but we have no confirmation from anyone, unless I missed the press release, that it is happening fleetwide. I will check itt out on the Ruby in October. I guess if it comes down to that I will have to find a penny machine.

Edited August 26, 2011 by betterthanworking

[Belle]

Believe me....

You could get chips at the tables

and were not charged the 3%.

The pit boss and dealers told you this..

It was true. No charge!

I think that maybe all the ships

would be doing this..not sure.

Trying to get more people playing..who knows.

 

At least on Sea Princess at this time..

No 3% Charge!

[AndyTheK]

Just off the Crown TA 17 day. On each blackjack table there was a little sign (sorry I didn't take a photo of it) saying that cash could be obtained with your cruise card with no fee! In other words, everybody is right!!! I was reasoning from year-old data.

[Toto2Kansas]

Andy, thanks for coming back to report what you found. Glad to hear you were not charged at the tables this time. ;)

Edited September 25, 2011 by Toto2Kansas

[srpilo]

How do you get money at the tables? Thanks!

 

Bet small and win big

 

 

:D:):D

 

 

 

Sage advice

Srpilo

[bugspost]

Just off the Crown TA 17 day. On each blackjack table there was a little sign (sorry I didn't take a photo of it) saying that cash could be obtained with your cruise card with no fee! In other words, everybody is right!!! I was reasoning from year-old data.

going on Coral tomorrow.....when I called Princess a few weeks ago...they told me there was a 3% charge for chips.............will see if that is true. I did buy onboard casino credits just in case...

[fer10]

has there been changes to this at all?

I cruised in Alaska in June and charged chips at the table without the 3% charge.

 

now I am traveling again in December and want to charge more but I am afraid that I will have to pay the 3%.

Thanks

[johnmik1]

has there been changes to this at all?

I cruised in Alaska in June and charged chips at the table without the 3% charge.

 

now I am traveling again in December and want to charge more but I am afraid that I will have to pay the 3%.

Thanks

 

They dropped the 3% in the last few years.

[AliceS]

No fee to get cash at the tables on your cruise card. They are so smart to do this. I saw many people sign for cash. Wow! I think that makes it way too easy

 

You can still use your room card to charge in the machines.

 

One guy told me that he charged all of his casino play to get the miles on the credit card. Maybe better to buy a ticket???? don't get me wrong, I like to play, but with the cash budget for that trip or their money.

[fer10]

They dropped the 3% in the last few years.

 

Thanks