Celebrity Likely Adding Casino Surcharge For Cash Advances

[FinelyCruising]

[quote name='SusieV']That's not necessarily true... I wouldn't want to get anyone in trouble, but on one of our recent previous cruises, my husband and I got at least one free drink per night on the house. And if they know you're celebrating a special occasion, you seem to get something for that as well.

Of course, we spend just about every evening in the casino after dinner.
[/QUOTE]

I have heard this perk exists however it is now widely known. We do participate in the casino games and I am certain that in the future I will be expecting to be participating in the lesser known opportunities in that venue. I don't mean to appear to sound uppity about it, but the one way street is over.:D

[Schplinky]

That's too bad, really. We appreciated that service and it was one of the things that set them apart from comparable lines like HAL, Princess and Carnival.

[ISABELLA]

X might go to the same system as Princess, using you PASS CARD to play, using money from on board account - stick the card into machine, pick the $$ amount you want to play and off to go - no fees. But if I want to take cash to play - they will charge 3%.

[gracecarmo]

Put the card into the machine, select to play with $100, spin, cash out for $99. There's your cash.

[Desertbelle]

Hmmm, guess I will need to bring cash to cover any gaming expenses I expect. I refuse to pay for the "privilege" of gambling in their casino. It's bad enough you don't get free drinks while gambling. I live in Las Vegas so that's a rough one to take, IMHO.

Too bad about this, it was one of the things I liked about Celebrity. :(

[claud925]

[quote name='gracecarmo']Put the card into the machine, select to play with $100, spin, cash out for $99. There's your cash.[/quote]

Great idea, Grace - are you saying that slot machines on X are operated by seapass, as well as cash, now?

[gracecarmo]

Roxanne: no, I was just refering to one of the previous posts that mentioned the possibility of using the seapass for machines in casino.
In some casinos (mostly Indian Casinos here in Kansas) you use a card and there is really no money that comes out, just a slip of paper that you then have to redeem at the Cash desk. It's a pain.

I always bring my own "gambling stash" and use that, but DH uses the card.
Oh well....

[Deeliteful]

Did'nt want to start a separate thread for this but as casino lovers are likely to be reading this one can anyone tell me if poker is played on Century and if they have a tournament on a longer (14 day) cruise?

Thanks for your help.

[Schplinky]

[quote name='gracecarmo']Roxanne: no, I was just refering to one of the previous posts that mentioned the possibility of using the seapass for machines in casino.
In some casinos (mostly Indian Casinos here in Kansas) you use a card and there is really no money that comes out, just a slip of paper that you then have to redeem at the Cash desk. It's a pain.

I always bring my own "gambling stash" and use that, but DH uses the card.
Oh well....[/quote]

We noticed when we were in Las Vegas a week or so ago that most of the casinos using ticket systems have installed machines like ATMs on the floor, that take the ticket and dispense cash. I really like that a lot better than scooping dirty coins out of the machine.

[Karynanne]

[quote name='Schplinky']We noticed when we were in Las Vegas a week or so ago that most of the casinos using ticket systems have installed machines like ATMs on the floor, that take the ticket and dispense cash. I really like that a lot better than scooping dirty coins out of the machine.[/QUOTE]


I agree with you. There another factor here....one way to avoid norovirus, is to eliminate the handling of coins. Paper receipts will be ideal.

[d&a Delaware]

I was charged and later refunded this 3% charge on Millennium last week (March 23 sailing). On March 25 I went to the casino cashier to use my seapass for $300, and I was informed of the 3% charge (told that it was new policy from "corporate"), and my account was charged $309. Later in the week, when I wanted just $30 cash I asked if the charge applied to such small amounts as well, and I was told that the charge was no longer being imposed, and that the previous 3% fee had been refunded to my account. When I checked, yup -- the $9 had been refunded. Don't know what's happening on Millennium this week.

David

[CaroleSP]

I have always taken advances from the casino and may have to rethink this. But, the net is actually a 1% fee as I get 2% from the Celebrity Amex card. Between credits for onboard bookings and shareholder, I may stop using the reward points for OBC. I remember hearing that once you reach a certain level of points, you can opt to receive a check at face value. I think for smaller amounts, the reward is less. Guess I have to check the website before I cash any points in.

[Luckyladym]

[quote name='Host Andy']Hi Finely !

If you want comps and cocktails in a Celebrity Casino, you have about as much chance of that, as winning the lottery :). Celebrity really gives nothing away in the Casino. Good luck ![/quote]

Maybe they just like to see my smiling face and my DH as well (winning or losing). We play because we enjoy it and we don't dance..

So, we are nightly visitors to the casino..and sometimes in the daytime on sea days. And, we have been treated to a drink of our choice from time to time.

The casino manager also has hosted free drinks for those who have hit certain jackpots at the tables, and big payoffs at the slots.

Of course, this is not a regular practice but it does happen on X on occasion.

And no, we've never hit the lottery...did have 4 numbers once ($ 56.00) and got so angry that it wasn't 5 or 6 that we went cold turkey for about 6 months. LOL

Happy voyages,
Marilyn

[Luckyladym]

[quote name='Drew B']The dealers/floormen regularly give me coupons for free drinks. Usually averages out to about a drink a day. Not a ton, but still nice...[/quote]

Me, too.
Marilyn

[HLN500]

Atlantic City casinos have been using those paper redemption machines for some time.
Casino managers on X have told me they'll eventually switch from coin to Seapass. We'll see when the Solstice debuts what the slots are like. Must remember to ask.

[kitty9]

[quote name='Host Andy']Hi Finely !

If you want comps and cocktails in a Celebrity Casino, you have about as much chance of that, as winning the lottery :). Celebrity really gives nothing away in the Casino. Good luck ![/QUOTE]


Andy, I must respectfully disagree with you on that. We've gotten free dinners in Normandie, SS United States and Ocean Liners from the casino.
We've been offered four free cruises, bottles of wine and free drinks in the casino on a lot of our cruises.

But perhaps instead of charging a 3% fee on cash takeouts, Celebrity should try and losen some of their machines and pay out a few more jackpots if they want more players in the casino. In earlier X cruises, the machines were more generous in payouts, and the casinos were jammed, but in the past 2 years, the only machine I can "win" at is the ATM. If passengers walking through the casino see a few machines hitting, it's more likely they'll stop in and play. But on our last few X cruises, the casino has been generally empty all the time because they have set the machines so tight.

[Lois R]

Free dinner at the Specialty Restaurants for playing in the casino?
You must be a high roller:D;)
I sometimes play blackjack but never play the slots. I would
rather lose with other folks than by the handle of a machine:rolleyes:.

Have never been offered anything close to a freebie for dinner
though.

And I have never taken an advance so no worries about
the fees for me either:)

[Drew B]

[quote name='FinelyCruising']I have heard this perk exists however it is now widely known. We do participate in the casino games and I am certain that in the future I will be expecting to be participating in the lesser known opportunities in that venue. I don't mean to appear to sound uppity about it, but the one way street is over.:D[/quote]

I'm not sure that I'm understanding you. Are you saying that you will now demand free drinks because others get them? Good luck with that. It has been very random as to how/when/why they have given them. I spend so many hours in the casino (usually in the same spot at the same table) that I just tend to be there when they decide to toss a little bonus.

I played last time almost every day next to a guy who was betting three hands at a time with $300 per hand. Trust me, he didn't have to sign for a single drink the whole time! Cigarettes, either...

[FinelyCruising]

Drew -- The characterization of a demand is strong and harsh, and yes you are misunderstanding me if that is the manner in which you perceive I will address this issue while I am on board:)

[kitty9]

[quote name='Lois R']Free dinner at the Specialty Restaurants for playing in the casino?
You must be a high roller:D;)
I sometimes play blackjack but never play the slots. I would
rather lose with other folks than by the handle of a machine:rolleyes:.

Have never been offered anything close to a freebie for dinner
though.

And I have never taken an advance so no worries about
the fees for me either:)[/QUOTE]


Yes Lois, my mom, sister and I love the casino. We've been offered dinner in the speciality restaurants which was a very nice gift. And, on the second night of some of our cruises, the wine steward tells us that we have a wine credit from the casino so we can pick any wine we want with that credit.

[usha]

[FONT=Comic Sans MS][COLOR=magenta]I have to ask some of these high rollers who get all the perks in the casino: Wouldn't it just be a whole lot cheaper just to save all the money you gamble away at the tables, and just [I]buy[/I] your drinks/wine/dinners in specialty restaurants? All I can think is that you must be making quite a contribution at the casino! Hope this doesn't offend anyone.:o [/COLOR][/FONT]

[FinelyCruising]

It's a form of entertainment. In many instances some pay for excursions, or dinners or land based concerts or shows. Not everyone in the casino loses. There are winners.:)

In land casinos, the atmosphere is to provide beverage service. The ships seem to limit the casino atmosphere in that regard.

[SusieV]

[quote name='usha'][FONT=Comic Sans MS][COLOR=magenta]I have to ask some of these high rollers who get all the perks in the casino: Wouldn't it just be a whole lot cheaper just to save all the money you gamble away at the tables, and just [I]buy[/I] your drinks/wine/dinners in specialty restaurants? All I can think is that you must be making quite a contribution at the casino! Hope this doesn't offend anyone.:o [/COLOR][/FONT][/quote]

Usha, the cruise we got the most freebies on is where we won enough to pay for the entire trip :)

I play mostly poker, so the house doesn't make much money on us. I'll never get any real perks like a free cruise though!

[Drew B]

[quote name='FinelyCruising']Drew -- The characterization of a demand is strong and harsh, and yes you are misunderstanding me if that is the manner in which you perceive I will address this issue while I am on board:)[/quote]

Phew! I guess the word "expecting" threw md. :p

[QUOTE][FONT=Comic Sans MS][COLOR=magenta]I have to ask some of these high rollers who get all the perks in the casino: Wouldn't it just be a whole lot cheaper just to save all the money you gamble away at the tables, and just [I]buy[/I] your drinks/wine/dinners in specialty restaurants? All I can think is that you must be making quite a contribution at the casino! Hope this doesn't offend anyone.:o[/COLOR][/FONT][/QUOTE]

I'm not a high-roller by any means, but I've recently learned that I seem to do BETTER when I bet higher stakes. For whatever reason, when I was betting $10 per hand, I found I would lose way more than I would win. Recently, I started betting $25 per hand, and I seem to be winning much more. It might be a coincidence or it might just be that playing with higher-stakes players sometimes means playing with players who know what they're doing and don't "mess up" the cards...

[FinelyCruising]

Susie I do think they watch to see if you are winning. I don't think those who are up overall benefit.