Getting Cash while on board

[ladylyn915]

There are no recent threads about getting cash while Onboard.

 

I will be on the Sunshine at the end of the month. I'm trying to decide how much cash to carry with me.

I think I can get an advance against my sign and sail card in the Casino. But, are there other options? Such as an ATM or cashing a check?

If so, does anyone know what the fees are?

[Green4me]

I do believe there are cash machines but we did not use so not sure the fee I'll be on sunshine again this Friday and can check for you if no one else can confirm

[forwardcabin]

ATM onboard is pricey--like $6-$7 fee. If you take travelers checks you can cash them at Guest Services. If you take large bills, you can break them at GS also. DW "accidentally" entered 100.00 instead of 10.00 at a slot machine. We went to the Casino cage and they cashed her out--said we could go down to GS and put it back on S&S. We skipped GS and kept the cash!

[hartsnvt]

I was just on the Sunshine. The ATM fee is $6.00 plus whatever your bank charges. Just be sure to notify your bank that you will be traveling so that they do not deny the withdrawal or freeze your card.

[cccer]

Fee for cash station is $6. you can also take money out at the table for 3 percent upcharge. You need to do this at the table and not the cage since they want to make sure you play some. This is not a cash advance but a charge to your credit card.

[Hoosierpop]

If you are trying to decide how much cash to take, to me the question is, what are you using it for? To put towards your sail and sign? To buy things at ports? To gamble? I usually take cash to gamble. My wife doesn't gamble so all she takes is about $100. Guess it depends on what you are using cash for.

[cb at sea]

I just get it from my safe...I bring the cash I think i'll need.Cheaper and easier than ATM's or taking "advances" from your account!

[ladylyn915]

If you are trying to decide how much cash to take, to me the question is, what are you using it for? To put towards your sail and sign? To buy things at ports? To gamble? I usually take cash to gamble. My wife doesn't gamble so all she takes is about $100. Guess it depends on what you are using cash for.

 

Thanks, all, for your replies...

 

These days, I use very little cash - I use a debit or AMEX for just about everything. But, we need cash for taxis, tips, etc. - I'm thinking maybe $100 per day when in Port.

Another $200 for day 1 and day 8. I can always use a card for any shopping or meals when off the ship. And, then, there's the Casino for my husband - I'll just let him worry about that cash.

 

I didn't think anyone still used Travelers Checks. My preference would be to cash a check at Guest Relations - if I need it. Perhaps, someone has experience with this.

[Honolulu Blue]

There are no recent threads about getting cash while Onboard.

 

I will be on the Sunshine at the end of the month. I'm trying to decide how much cash to carry with me.

I think I can get an advance against my sign and sail card in the Casino. But, are there other options? Such as an ATM or cashing a check?

If so, does anyone know what the fees are?

 

The last thread on getting cash while onboard was less than two weeks ago: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2243926 . I consider that recent, though it's probably slipped to page 8 or something.

 

Anyway, I'm fairly certain that the answers haven't changed in the past couple of weeks, so I'll quote what I said there:

 

Carnival's FAQs provide most of your answers if you are able to sift through them: https://help.carnival.com/app/answers/category/session/L3RpbWUvMTQzODgwMTM5My9zaWQvWGNoWnVhdG0%3D/c/475 . To summarize:

 

* Casino - slots are free, table games will cost 3%. There may be consequences if you just debit and immediately cash out, but you'll have to ask a real gambler about those.

 

* ATM - Carnival will charge $6 for this privilege. Your bank will probably add an extra fee. There's a $500 daily limit.

 

* Credit/Debit card - Their charge is 5.5% with a minimum of $5.50. Your bank might charge extra interest and/or fees.

 

* Personal check - Treated like a debit card, so see above.

 

* Traveler's checks - Carnival doesn't charge a fee for exchanging these, but there's a $1000 limit per day.

[ladylyn915]

The last thread on getting cash while onboard was less than two weeks ago: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2243926 . I consider that recent, though it's probably slipped to page 8 or something.

 

Anyway, I'm fairly certain that the answers haven't changed in the past couple of weeks, so I'll quote what I said there:

 

Thank you. Of course, I agree it's very recent. I did a search and the posts that came up were from 2011. I didn't mean to waste anybody's time.

 

This is exactly what I wanted to know.

[Arizonagirl14]

Just use your sign and spend card...sign and sail card. You can go to the casino and transfer some to the casino, transfer some to your "casino account" and play a little bit, then go and cash out your casino account . It shows as a transfer from your debit or credit card to you cruise account. No fees, no cash advance fees it.. Simply a cruise ship charge. We did this 4 times on the Valor this past December. I use a debit debit card for my "card of record" so its equal to using an ATM without the fees. Just a thought.

[RaiderFaninNM]

Can you even buy Travelers checks?

[dreamers2]

is there a limit how much you can upload to casino account and then cash out?

[Arizonagirl14]

I don't think so, it comes from your attached card. We did $300 one time and $150-200 the other times.

[dreamers2]

Thank you Arizona girl for your response,have to be careful not to put it in the slots ..or maybe it will grow!..;)

[HistoryGirl4Ever]

Can you even buy Travelers checks?

 

 

I asked the same question after AAA stopped selling them. But when I went on the AMEX travelers checks site, I was able to put in my home zip code, and over a dozen banks within 3 miles of me popped up as having them available. So I guess they're out there. They just don't advertise them like they used to.

[Gardeneroflove]

I was just on the Sunshine. The ATM fee is $6.00 plus whatever your bank charges. Just be sure to notify your bank that you will be traveling so that they do not deny the withdrawal or freeze your card.

 

this, bank or cc company. Now, I notify them when I take out cash. Last time they told me I didn't need to, I let her know that if they denied my starbucks I'd be upset, she said 'let me double check for you' and then 'oh, yes, let me call this number and you can talk to them'. It was simple, i told them the days/locations I'd be traveling.

 

stupid denying my card at starbucks, thankful I had cash.

 

We always bring $500 cash, about 50 ones, 5 ten's, rest 20's for a 7 day criuse. We tend to tip room guy and wait staff extra in cash last night, assuming the service is good. We come home with cash, typically.

Edited August 20, 2015 by Gardeneroflove

[Danacat222]

Can you even buy Travelers checks?

 

Yes you can, no fee to cash it at Guest Services. They never expire.