Limiting on board spending

[Cordoch]

Is it possible to be on board a cruise ship without a credit card on file? I want to limit my casino spending and do not want to have a big credit card bill after the cruise is over. The long days at sea are usually spent in the casino and I need help limiting my gambling amount. I usually cruise on Princess and NCL. Thanks!

Edited August 15, 2022 by Cordoch
Spelling error

[CruiserBruce]

You usually need to put down some money somehow. By cash, or by buying on board credits,  for example. 

[mom says]

Agree with Cruiser Bruce. If you aren't giving them a credit card for on board expenses (including the daily gratuities), they will require a certain amount of cash deposited on your account. Check the cruiseline website to see if they have a minimum amount.

[navybankerteacher]

52 minutes ago, Cordoch said:

Is it possible to be on board a cruise ship without a credit card on file? I want to limit my casino spending and do not want to have a big credit card bill after the cruise is over. The long days at sea are usually spent in the casino and I need help limiting my gambling amount. I usually cruise on Princess and NCL. Thanks!

Yes - if you are willing to deposit the amount of cash they require (I believe generallly  a certain amount per day).  The last thing lines like Princess and NCL want is a passenger who does not spend on board.  NCL, I believe, will automatically charge your account for the service charges - and only permit you to reduce/remove such daily service charges by submitting a form after you debark, and will then refund you.

[Heidi13]

Princess will accept cash up front, but once your account is at zero balance, your cards can no longer be used for purchases, until you provide more cash.

 

Might want to consider a cruise line with no casino.

[evandbob]

1 hour ago, Cordoch said:

Is it possible to be on board a cruise ship without a credit card on file? I want to limit my casino spending and do not want to have a big credit card bill after the cruise is over. The long days at sea are usually spent in the casino and I need help limiting my gambling amount. I usually cruise on Princess and NCL. Thanks!

I congratulate the OP for recognizing that casino gambling can be problematic and asking for help in limiting any potential damage.

 

The OP can ask the casino manager for guidance as well.  If the OP can limit his daily "contribution" to $100/per day, maybe he can just bring seven $100 or $50 bills and use one each day of a week long cruise?

 

However, if the gambling issue is more deep seated, then setting a limit on how much is usually as effective as an alcoholic trying to have just 3 beers/drinks a day.  Once that part of the brain gets activated and excited, all bets are off!

 

 

[AmazedByCruising]

I asked the same question before: 

 

Somewhat useful answers were: sail Disney (that doesn't have a Casino), or ask the purser (guest relations) to block your card. 

 

I don't see why the ships don't make it easier to simply set a limit. They have limits on drinks, and some might want to protect themselves by not cruising at all. Also, the Casino is not the huge money maker on ships believe it to be. 

[Cordoch]

I had an online chat with a Princess Representative. It was nearly identical to CruiserBruce and Heidi13’s responses. They require $300 in cash or travelers checks to be deposited with Guest Relations per person and they will inform you of a near zero balance. All casino charges can only be paid for by cash and no credit will be allowed. I will have a prepaid gratuities and drink package, so this will work out fine. Thanks to all who submitted an answer or opinion.

Edited August 17, 2022 by Cordoch

[Mary229]

On 8/15/2022 at 6:02 PM, Heidi13 said:

Might want to consider a cruise line with no casino.

Does that exist?  It is such a big revenue generator 

[crystalspin]

8 minutes ago, Mary229 said:

Does that exist?  It is such a big revenue generator 

Disney, I hear.

[Philob]

9 minutes ago, Mary229 said:

Does that exist?  It is such a big revenue generator 

As mentioned above, Disney and the NCL ship that sails around Hawaii (state  law prohibits gambling).

Edited August 17, 2022 by Philob

[Hlitner]

33 minutes ago, Mary229 said:

Does that exist?  It is such a big revenue generator 

Viking has no casinos.  But you are right in that gambling generates lots of revenue for the owners of the casino.  And just imagine,,,..that everyone who gambles also say they win :).   Everytime DW and I are in Las Vegas I look around and wonder how on earth they could build those cities when all the gamblers win.  Can't be anything left for the casinos.  And yes, the worst odds in any casino are the slot machines and Keno.  The casinos cannot lose with slots since they are mathematically programmed to make the casino the overall winner.    And the slots on cruise ships are entirely unregulated which means they can be programmed (with EPROM chips) to give a greater return to the casino then in some States where there are various controlling regulations.  In Nevada the average slot makes about 7 cents on the dollar for casinos.  On cruise ships?  Who knows.   But I will happily give any slot player 93 cents for a dollar bill 🙂

In my State the slots give casinos about 10 cents on every dollar played.  Ouch.

Hank

[aungrl]

1 hour ago, Mary229 said:

Does that exist?  It is such a big revenue generator 

Viking has no casinos.

[LHT28]

3 hours ago, Mary229 said:

Does that exist?  It is such a big revenue generator 

Viking & Azamara

[sparks1093]

15 hours ago, AmazedByCruising said:

 

 

 

 

I don't see why the ships don't make it easier to simply set a limit. 

Because if passengers are spending money they aren't making money. 

[SbbquilterUT]

On 8/17/2022 at 5:03 PM, Mary229 said:

Does that exist?  It is such a big revenue generator 

Viking does not have casinos.