Physical cash for the casino?

[Vikstar]

This has probably been answered before but I cannot find it. Will I need physical USD cash for the casino or can I play with OBC or my onboard account?

 

Thanks!

[Project_gal]

For the table games, you definitely need cash. You can get cash off your on board account at the Casino but you will be charged an additional 5%. Essentially the same applies for the slot but you MAY also be able to just use your Seapass card [not sure as I do not play the slots] but I imagine that you will still be charged the 5%. I am sure someone will correct me, if I am wrong.

[bobsfamily]

This has probably been answered before but I cannot find it. Will I need physical USD cash for the casino or can I play with OBC or my onboard account?

 

Thanks!

 

Some types of OBC can be removed as cash at the cage in the casino, no charge. I seem to remember a thread about this and one type of OBC could only be used for purchases or to pay tips/upgrade drink package. I don't remember the difference.

 

As for the onboard account I think the fee is 5% now.

 

Have a wonderful cruise!

[Project_gal]

Some types of OBC can be removed as cash at the cage in the casino, no charge. I seem to remember a thread about this and one type of OBC could only be used for purchases or to pay tips/upgrade drink package. I don't remember the difference.

 

As for the onboard account I think the fee is 5% now.

 

Have a wonderful cruise!

 

The only OBC that can be withdrawn from the Casino without the 5% penalty is "Casino OBC" because you pay the 5% up front instead.

[ghstudio]

Since I am always uncomfortable carrying significant cash on cruises because I don't want to pay 5% (or might exceed some guest services limit)...is there some way to make a deposit to a "casino" account of some sort in advance and use that money without the 5% charge?

Edited February 5, 2015 by ghstudio

[cherylroslyn]

Since I am always uncomfortable carrying significant cash on cruises because I don't want to pay 5% (or might exceed some guest services limit)...is there some way to make a deposit to a "casino" account of some sort in advance and use that money without the 5% charge?

No, no account, but you can buy yourself casino gifts pre-cruise and use that.

[ghstudio]

No, no account, but you can buy yourself casino gifts pre-cruise and use that.

 

I can't find any place on celebrity's site to do this....can you give me a hint...

[cb at sea]

Cash is the easiest way to gamble!

[justcrusn]

This will sound like a blast from the past to many but, we take travelers checks for the casino.

Our bank does not charge for them, and we cash them at guest relations on the ship with no fee. If you want say $1,000 cash for a cruise (as an example)we would take $500 cash and $500 travelers checks.

We spend the cash down first, then cash in travelers checks as needed.

Of course if you are good at the tables, your problem will be how to get all your winnings home.....

[Project_gal]

I can't find any place on celebrity's site to do this....can you give me a hint...

 

You can buy OBC at the Gifts by Celebrity link - usually at the bottom of the page. [i am from the UK and often not able to get to the US site these days.] Follow the links for Delivery On Board, On Board Credit and |Casino OBC.Casino OBC has a 5% surcharge built into the price per US$25 unit.

 

In Australia, Canada and the UK, it is better to telephone Celebrity to order OBC because the process is not totally automatic and requires human intervention. The manual processing takes place in sailing date, rather than order date, order. Some orders can be lost in the process. At present, due to extremely preferential exchange rates, there are a lot of orders, in non-US Celebrity offices there is probably a backlog of orders. Despite receiving a confirmation of your order online, your order is not processed until you see the charge hit your credit card.

 

Final note: As pre-purchased OBC was originally intended to be for friends/family to buy as a gift, it will not show on your online account or on your confirmation invoice.

Edited February 6, 2015 by Project_gal

[bobsfamily]

The only OBC that can be withdrawn from the Casino without the 5% penalty is "Casino OBC" because you pay the 5% up front instead.

I don't remember the 5% charge but then again the OBC was "free" and maybe I didn't care at the time. This time we have "OBC" directly from the casino and there is NO fee for that.

[blindrid]

Cash is the easiest way to gamble!

 

What she said. I've signed for gambling when I was too lazy to go to cabin. But why pay anything for your cash.

[MadManOfBethesda]

I debarked yesterday from Solstice and the casino had a promotion whereby they not only didn't charge the 5%, they gave you an additional 15% bonus for playing the slot machines! For example, you signed a receipt to have $500 charged to your on board account and they loaded your card with $575 to be used on the slot machines. And before anyone asks, no you couldn't just go to a machine and cash out the money, you had to run it through. But you could cash out your winnings (if any) from any spin or session.

[MadManOfBethesda]

I debarked yesterday from Solstice and the casino had a promotion whereby they not only didn't charge the 5%, they gave you an additional 15% bonus for playing the slot machines! For example, you signed a receipt to have $500 charged to your on board account and they loaded your card with $575 to be used on the slot machines. And before anyone asks, no you couldn't just go to a machine and cash out the money, you had to run it through. But you could cash out your winnings (if any) from any spin or session.

 

I should add that the casino only offered that bonus during the first five or so days of the cruise. After that, it cost the usual 5% to have money charged to your account.

[cherylroslyn]

I debarked yesterday from Solstice and the casino had a promotion whereby they not only didn't charge the 5%, they gave you an additional 15% bonus for playing the slot machines! For example, you signed a receipt to have $500 charged to your on board account and they loaded your card with $575 to be used on the slot machines. And before anyone asks, no you couldn't just go to a machine and cash out the money, you had to run it through. But you could cash out your winnings (if any) from any spin or session.

I did that two years ago on Summit. It was a fantastic deal. Then, last couple times they dd not offer it. i hope it is back when I sail in April:)

[wrk2cruise]

The did this on Eclipse on the Nov TA for the duration of the cruise. I was wondering if they were doing this as a way to avoid people withdrawing cash from the casino. By either loading your card for slot play or buying chips for table games.

[jmdlv1]

You can also open a line of credit through the Blue Chip Club.

 

I did this for my 2/14 sailing on Reflection.

There is no surcharge.It works just like a line of credit at any land based casino.

 

You have to be approved and I believe there is a minimum amount but not sure how much.

At the end of the cruise you write one check to settle up if you need to.

[bighairtexan]

I always do the cash advances through the Blue Chip Club or Casino Royale on RCI. No 5% and whatever I took out was added on to my account just like any other purchase. I didn't write a check for anything.

Ok I guess I did write a virtual check when I did online bill pay for my credit card at the end of the month.

 

Prior to invitation to the BCC I did just bring cash, which sometimes made me a bit uneasy, especially as a woman traveling alone (or heck.... even w/ friends). Mostly b/c I can be so absent minded when it comes to "where did I hide that money?"

[MicCanberra]

Cheers, looks like it will be a %5 fee for me.:D