NCL casinos... are they cash only

or can you use your card like on Carnival:confused:

or can you use your card like on Carnival:confused:

I was just about to come up here and ask the exact, same question! DW and I are booking our first NCL cruise this weekend! :D

You must put cash in the machine to play. Casinos on NCL are some of the best on sea. Not to compare them to land based casinos, of course, but comparing them between different ship lines, NCL has a very good product.

BTW, if you are a frequent player, be sure to sign up for a player's card and use it at all times to reap the full benefits.

You can borrow cash to your room. Its not actually cash, its a $1000 charge to your card which you can pay at the end with cash or pay to credit card, no borrowing fees.

You can put on your sign and sail card which is linked to your credit card. I did this for $200 on The Pearl last October. Thought it might bring me luck but I lost that too! That casino was the worst I have ever encountered on a cruise. Very few people were winning that cruise.

Hi All,

Ok you must get a players card but I did win $1800 playing Keno on the Pearl last year..It was in October too...

Pete

Just to clear all this up (as frequent NCL cruisers & casino players):

1. You do not have to use a "Casinos at Sea" card to play. But, if you're more than a very casual player, it helps you - it allows the casino to track your play and offer you "comps" (from free drinks to free meals or spa treatments) based on your level of play.

2. Slots are cash or ticket in, ticket out. Redeem the ticket at the cashier cage when you're done.

3. Table games are cash in, chips out. Redeem the chips at the cashier cage.

4. On NCL you can go to the casino cashier cage, and by authorizing a charge against the credit card associated with your room, get cash for gambling. The advantages to doing this as opposed to using the on-board ATM are: no fees and higher cash limits. This is different from Carnival's system, where you authorize the charge, and the available dollars are placed on your "Sign and Sail" card, which is then used in the machine.

Hope that all makes sense!

I have a very stupid question that im sure i know the answer to already. Can you drink for free in the casino aboard the NCL Jewel? I saw something about booking with a Harrahs card that will allow you to get a drink card. I would appreciate any help,

Thanks!

I have a very stupid question that im sure i know the answer to already. Can you drink for free in the casino aboard the NCL Jewel? I saw something about booking with a Harrahs card that will allow you to get a drink card. I would appreciate any help,

 

Thanks!

If you join NCL's Casinos At Sea program, I believe they will give you a card that entitles you to drink free in the casino. It may be only after you establish a certain level of play, though - I'm not sure.

If you come into the CAS program from Harrah's Total Rewards program, with your level of play established by your Harrah's activity, they will give you the card automatically.

Just to clear all this up (as frequent NCL cruisers & casino players):

 

 

4. On NCL you can go to the casino cashier cage, and by authorizing a charge against the credit card associated with your room, get cash for gambling. The advantages to doing this as opposed to using the on-board ATM are: no fees and higher cash limits. This is different from Carnival's system, where you authorize the charge, and the available dollars are placed on your "Sign and Sail" card, which is then used in the machine.

 

Hope that all makes sense!

No fees? Just got off the Gem, 3% charge if you want to buy chips with the credit card linked to your onboard account.

No fees? Just got off the Gem, 3% charge if you want to buy chips with the credit card linked to your onboard account.

Those fees were put in place after the date of my original post. Don't know if it's fleet-wide now, but I suspect it is. Unfortunately, that's one of the drawbacks when a lot of people start using what was previously a free service, and the cruise line realizes they've got another profit center they can tap.

OK - I am totally confused after reading these posts :confused:. Can you put in your own cash that you bring on the cruise with you into the slot machines? Or do you have to "buy" the cash from the cashier which to me would mean some type of special playing money. I really prefer not to charge on my credit card any gambling money and just bring what we plan to spend in the casino and when it is gone that is the end of the gambling, this is the way we do it when going to Vegas also. Can we use the Harrahs Total Rewards card while gambling in an NCL casino? If yes, would the credits add up as if we were playing at Harrah's, therefore contributing to our Harrah's free rooms, etc. offers? Also, while gambling in the casino on NCL, are alcoholic or any other beverages free as in Vegas or is there a charge for them? Thanks so much - first cruise and lots of questions :o

OK - I am totally confused after reading these posts :confused:. Can you put in your own cash that you bring on the cruise with you into the slot machines? Or do you have to "buy" the cash from the cashier which to me would mean some type of special playing money. I really prefer not to charge on my credit card any gambling money and just bring what we plan to spend in the casino and when it is gone that is the end of the gambling, this is the way we do it when going to Vegas also. Can we use the Harrahs Total Rewards card while gambling in an NCL casino? If yes, would the credits add up as if we were playing at Harrah's, therefore contributing to our Harrah's free rooms, etc. offers? Also, while gambling in the casino on NCL, are alcoholic or any other beverages free as in Vegas or is there a charge for them? Thanks so much - first cruise and lots of questions :o

Hi,

I just got off the Star a couple of months ago....1st you must get their players card. 2nd the machines take cash. 3rd they put out a free book on the first day for comps. 4th free drinks would be after you have 2500 in play that the will give you free drinks unless it came with Harrahs...5th there is no such thing as free drinks on the cruise ship. 6th good luck because they were really tight the week that I went....the biggest jack pot that I had seen was $1800 on a nickel video poker machine right in front...Dont get suckered into those progressive machines buy the cage and players club.....I was watching people dump money into those and no payout....Last but lest you need to talk to the players club about your play to harrahs.....:eek: GOOD LUCK....

Pete

OK - I am totally confused after reading these posts :confused:. Can you put in your own cash that you bring on the cruise with you into the slot machines? Or do you have to "buy" the cash from the cashier which to me would mean some type of special playing money. I really prefer not to charge on my credit card any gambling money and just bring what we plan to spend in the casino and when it is gone that is the end of the gambling, this is the way we do it when going to Vegas also. Can we use the Harrahs Total Rewards card while gambling in an NCL casino? If yes, would the credits add up as if we were playing at Harrah's, therefore contributing to our Harrah's free rooms, etc. offers? Also, while gambling in the casino on NCL, are alcoholic or any other beverages free as in Vegas or is there a charge for them? Thanks so much - first cruise and lots of questions :o

Yes, NCL's casinos use normal cash - just bring along what you want to play with and you'll be fine. No, you cannot use your Total Rewards card on an NCL ship - you can get a Casino At Sea players card once you're on board and you'll use that. Once you've sailed (completed a cruise) and used your players card, you may be eligible to book your next cruise through NCL's Casino At Sea - depending on your play you may be able to get a comped cruise or a discounted cruise. When you book through CAS (or Harrahs) you will be given a 'drink card' that entitles you to free drinks in the casino. You also can get a drink card on your first cruise (not booked thru CAS or Harrahs) once you've reached a certain amount of points ( I can't remember how many). Hope that makes sense!

Hi,

It's 2500 points

Just to clear all this up (as frequent NCL cruisers & casino players):

 

1. You do not have to use a "Casinos at Sea" card to play. But, if you're more than a very casual player, it helps you - it allows the casino to track your play and offer you "comps" (from free drinks to free meals or spa treatments) based on your level of play.

 

2. Slots are cash or ticket in, ticket out. Redeem the ticket at the cashier cage when you're done.

 

3. Table games are cash in, chips out. Redeem the chips at the cashier cage.

 

4. On NCL you can go to the casino cashier cage, and by authorizing a charge against the credit card associated with your room, get cash for gambling. The advantages to doing this as opposed to using the on-board ATM are: no fees and higher cash limits. This is different from Carnival's system, where you authorize the charge, and the available dollars are placed on your "Sign and Sail" card, which is then used in the machine.

Hope that all makes sense!

Ok, can someone make sure I understand this correctly, please? So you go in and authorize a charge to the card associated with you room. Is this amount taken out of your obc, or will is show up as a separate charge on your card?

Thanks!

Sorry,

I do not know I just play with cash...when it's gone I am done...

@ Video Tech

You were recently on the Escape? Can you update me on the casino information? Is it best to bring cash now as it looks like they have a 3% charge if you use your sail and sign card? I assume you can put cash in the slots? Do they have a craps table? We sail the middle of July.

Thanks for your reply

@ Video Tech

 

You were recently on the Escape? Can you update me on the casino information? Is it best to bring cash now as it looks like they have a 3% charge if you use your sail and sign card? I assume you can put cash in the slots? Do they have a craps table? We sail the middle of July.

Thanks for your reply

The Casino accepts US Dollars.

If you take an advance against your room, you are charged a 3% processing fee (e.g., $30 on a $1000 advance).

ATMs charge a $5.50 service charge for withdrawals.Withdrawals are made through US banks. Withdrawal limits are set by your bank.

Yes, there are craps tables. Like any land-based casino, you put US dollars on the table and you get chips in return.