Can you purchase cash at the purser's desk?

[ewlj]

Can you purchase cash in dollars against your cruise ship account from the cruise purser on cruises? (Specifically Princess).

 

We want to do some independent excursions that require a cash payment in dollars after the excursion, but we don't want to walk around with a lot of $$ on us from the beginning of the trip, so we thought if we could purchase it from the purser, that would be better.

 

Thanks for your input.

[Krazy Kruizers]

I have never heard of a cruise that will let you purchase cash through your onboard account.

Why not take travelers checks and cash them at the front desk whenever you need cash?

[DanJ]

They have ATM's on board, which have fees, as does the cash advance from the casino.

 

What I did was use the player bank on the slot machines. You put your sign and sail card in the slot machine, set up the player bank following the instructions on the machine, deposit whatever amount you want, which gets charged to your sign and sail account, then go to the cage and tell them you want to cash out your player bank.

[matj2000]

It is very simple. Bring your $$, put it in the room safe. You don't have to walk around with it. I don't know why such things are made so complicated.

[Toto2Kansas]

Keep in mind that on Princess you can also send yourself casino credits before the cruise in any amount you would like. You will find vouchers in your stateroom which you take to the casino cage and can cash in a little at a time, or all at once. No service fee for these at all, and what you do with the cash is your own business.

 

Just keep in mind that when you order them, the charge will immediately be placed on your credit card and does not get charged to your shipboard account. We find this works out well as we can pay off the credit card charges even before we leave for the cruise. And it is not added as a cash advance on the credit card, but only as a purchase. ;)

[DanJ]

It is very simple. Bring your $$, put it in the room safe. You don't have to walk around with it. I don't know why such things are made so complicated.

 

It's what happens between leaving home and getting to the room that a lot of people don't like risking.

[simplelife]

They have ATM's on board, which have fees, as does the cash advance from the casino.

 

What I did was use the player bank on the slot machines. You put your sign and sail card in the slot machine, set up the player bank following the instructions on the machine, deposit whatever amount you want, which gets charged to your sign and sail account, then go to the cage and tell them you want to cash out your player bank.

That works.

[simplelife]

It is very simple. Bring your $$, put it in the room safe. You don't have to walk around with it. I don't know why such things are made so complicated.

That works too.

[simplelife]

Sorry, I sent that last one before I was finished.

That works, but you do have to carry the cash from the time you leave home until arrival in your stateroom. If you have a pre-cruise stay or long flight, I can see how you might be uncomfortable carrying cash.

DH and I divide our cash between us, and we put some in out wallets, and some in our carry-ons.

[smeyer418]

I have never heard of a cruise that will let you purchase cash through your onboard account.

 

Why not take travelers checks and cash them at the front desk whenever you need cash?

I have been on different cruise lines where you could get cash from the Casino as a charge on your on board account as a purchase and NOT a cash advance. Some cruise lines charge a fee(1-3%) and some charge nothing. Some cruise lines will allow you to cash a small personal check. The ATM's on most cruise lines are a rip off charging 5-10 for the money. So if your cruise line charges 1% and you need $500 its cheaper than almost any ATM to get the cash from the casino.

 

I have totally stopped carrying travelers checks and use local ATM's off the ship or the Casino- I never need that much cash anyway.

 

I don't know Princess rules exactly but I do know RC9for a fee) and NCL for no fee allows you to get cash from the Casino. You just tell them you will be using it the slots and they give you cash.

 

Most cruise lines will change currency at the pursers office but at horrible exchange rates.

[Putterdude]

No, Princess will not give you a cash advance on your cruise card....been there tried that. You can use thier ATM which I think has a $6 service charge plus your own bank fee, you can get a cash advance at the casino cage for a 3% service charge or you can get get it on your cruise card on the slot machines. I ran short of cash in January because I had refused to pay a commission for travellers checks....learned my lesson I will now carry an extra $500 in travellers checks this winter.:rolleyes:

[ewlj]

It is very simple. Bring your $$, put it in the room safe. You don't have to walk around with it. I don't know why such things are made so complicated.

 

We will be in Rio de Janeiro for 2-1/2 days prior to the cruise, which has a reputation for theft, that's why I asked the question.

[ladycaveat]

Just curious . . . how many ones, fives, tens and twentys do ya all take on a cruise?

[smeyer418]

Just curious . . . how many ones, fives, tens and twentys do ya all take on a cruise?

generally I take 100 1's and 100 in 5 and 10's...

[emdia43]

SMeyer- do you have any knowledge of a luggage storage facility in NYC- it is called Schwartztravel and the location and rates look reasonable for pax facing a late pm flight home after disembarking early am...:) Thanks

[klfrodo]

Sorry, I sent that last one before I was finished.

That works, but you do have to carry the cash from the time you leave home until arrival in your stateroom. If you have a pre-cruise stay or long flight, I can see how you might be uncomfortable carrying cash.

DH and I divide our cash between us, and we put some in out wallets, and some in our carry-ons.

 

While I understand the apprehension, in reality, the concern is unrealistic. The odds of getting robbed or just plain losing the money do not add up.

 

What? Do people think that when others go to Vegas, we all have open lines of credit at the casino's?

No.

Wife and I usually travel with a couple of thousand split between us.

 

Could travel with travellers checques, but once again, the numbers don't add up.

What are they good for? If they are lost or stolen? Great. 99% of us don't keep the appropriate records straight that would allow the replacement. OK, I properly kept the records. On a 4 hour port visit to Costa Rica on a Sunday, where do I go to receive replacements?

Nope, numbers don't add up for me.

[leeanninfla]

SMeyer- do you have any knowledge of a luggage storage facility in NYC- it is called Schwartztravel and the location and rates look reasonable for pax facing a late pm flight home after disembarking early am...:) Thanks

 

 

I myself used them when in NYC last year. The man was really nice, the office we used was 3 blocks from Penn station, and quite convenient.

[chipmaster]

Can you purchase cash in dollars against your cruise ship account from the cruise purser on cruises? (Specifically Princess).

 

We want to do some independent excursions that require a cash payment in dollars after the excursion, but we don't want to walk around with a lot of $$ on us from the beginning of the trip, so we thought if we could purchase it from the purser, that would be better.

 

Thanks for your input.

 

I think when you look at all the options it comes down to two ( if you are talking serious cash )

 

Take it with you in a money belt. Yeah it can seem dangerious, but if its in a body belt under your shirt they'd have to more then pickpocket you. I took > 5000 Euros this way.

 

Or take that amount in Travel's checques and cash them. If all you need is USD there won't likely be any exchange fee.

 

If you need foreign currency and need lots of it some here say ATMs are the way, but I prefer not having to look to make multiple ATM stops in every port. Yes ATMs are everywhere but on vacation looking for ATMs isn't what I'd want to plan.

 

Good luck

[rdr525]

I know RCCL gives cash advances at the casino (it used to be free but now there is a small charge) Cunard also does this. If you dont want to carry the cash, it is worth the charge

I have cashed a Travellers ck at the Purser's desk on RCCL.

[ladycaveat]

generally I take 100 1's and 100 in 5 and 10's...

 

Thanks . . . :p

[paul929207]

It depends on where and how lon the cruise is. I tend to take more than I need just to be safe. I take lots of ones - Often 100 of them. and $100 of fives and of tens. The small bills make tipping wasier on tours and such. They also make purchases simpler in ports where US$ are accepted. In many foriegn ports, they will take US$ but give change in local currency. Having small bills allows you to get close and thus get little foriegn change.

[cruisemom42]

Some cities do have a significantly higher risk of pickpocketings than others. Sounds like Rio may be one such spot. If you do need to carry cash/credit cards, I would certainly take precautions such as using a money belt/pouch, just as I would in places like Barcelona, Rome, and other areas of high risk.

 

If your hotel has a safe, I would recommend that you use it if you have more cash than you want to carry around. It's also the best place to leave your passport until you need it to board your ship. Passports are a common target for theft.

 

Others have accurately mentioned ways to get cash on board your Princess cruise. Enjoy!

[ewlj]

Keep in mind that on Princess you can also send yourself casino credits before the cruise in any amount you would like. You will find vouchers in your stateroom which you take to the casino cage and can cash in a little at a time, or all at once. No service fee for these at all, and what you do with the cash is your own business.

 

Just keep in mind that when you order them, the charge will immediately be placed on your credit card and does not get charged to your shipboard account. We find this works out well as we can pay off the credit card charges even before we leave for the cruise. And it is not added as a cash advance on the credit card, but only as a purchase. ;)

 

I like the casino credit idea the best. I just called Princess and they said you can order them over the phone before you go. (At least 7 days before). Either that or fill out a gift form that's in your cruise document book and fax it. I think calling is easier.

 

We will be using money belts in Rio, but still don't like having too much cash on us. I guess that's a personal preference. I suppose we are learning this is one disadvantage to taking private excursions. Doing excursions through the cruise company makes it nice and convenient and cashless, although perhaps more expensive. You pay for convenience. :)

[kitty9]

We will be in Rio de Janeiro for 2-1/2 days prior to the cruise, which has a reputation for theft, that's why I asked the question.

 

 

I've been to Rio three times and yes, it is very dangerous. Some of our fellow passengers were robbed at the Maracana Soccer stadium, we were warned not to wear any jewelry off the ship, not to carry any more than just a couple of dollars in cash and keep credit cards in one of those flat wallets that you wear under your clothes. On this same cruise, the ship's photographer was attacked by two men with broken beer bottles. You have to be VERY careful in Rio.

 

You can get cash from the casino, for a charge. The purser's desk will not give you money and put that charge on your on board account.

[smeyer418]

SMeyer- do you have any knowledge of a luggage storage facility in NYC- it is called Schwartztravel and the location and rates look reasonable for pax facing a late pm flight home after disembarking early am...:) Thanks

not personally but I have heard that others have used it. The other way is to go to any major hotel and give a nice tip to the bellman...