Cashing check on board

[joetop2467]

In the past I have cashed a personal check or travelers check on board. Does anyone know if Celebrity or Royal Caribbean still let you cash a personal check for $200. I hate paying ATM fees. I can get travelers checks free but that requires going to the bank and it seems like I always have leftovers which no one at home knows what to do with.

[Bailey & Sophie]

In the past I have cashed a personal check or travelers check on board. Does anyone know if Celebrity or Royal Caribbean still let you cash a personal check for $200. I hate paying ATM fees. I can get travelers checks free but that requires going to the bank and it seems like I always have leftovers which no one at home knows what to do with.

I believe you can cash traveler's checks. Don't know about personal checks.

[WestLakeGirl]

Travelers checks yes, personal checks no

[joetop2467]

I just finally got through to Celebrity after 20 minutes on hold and was told that I could cash one personal check up to $200 on any of their three brands-Celebrity, Royal Caribbean or Azamara. We will be going on Liberty of the Seas followed by Celebrity Century next week. This should be plenty cash to cover us in the ports.

[cruisestitch]

Be aware that you may be caught in the no-mans-land between what Customer Service tells you on the phone, and what happens in reality on board, so have a plan B if they will not cash your check.

 

And know that they may quote this from the Celebrity website:

 

 

"Only U.S. currency is accepted aboard the ships, and personal checks are not accepted. Credit cards can be used to secure cash by using the ATM located near the casino onboard."

 

 

Now, they may be wanting that statement to refer to paying your SeaPass account, but they may also be meaning that no checks can be cashed on board. The latter has been most cruiser's experience.

 

The ATM fee, if that is your back up plan, is $6 per transaction (on top of any fee your bank charges). The fee to withdraw cash from the casino cashier is 5% of the transaction.

 

So, all things considered, if you can get no-fee travelers checks at home, that is by far the safest and most reliable way to get cash on board, since Guest Relations will exchange those for cash at face value for no fee.

 

(There may be a daily limit for this, so do ask about that)

[spammie]

I have always been able to cash a personal check on each cruise. I hate paying ATM fees.

[AlanAllyn]

I just finally got through to Celebrity after 20 minutes on hold and was told that I could cash one personal check up to $200 on any of their three brands-Celebrity, Royal Caribbean or Azamara. We will be going on Liberty of the Seas followed by Celebrity Century next week. This should be plenty cash to cover us in the ports.

That has always been the policy, although it have changed. The limit was $250 if you had an American Express card.

[kokopelli-az]

I don't know what your itinerary is, but we used an ATM at Banco Popular in St Thomas (last week) and it was only $2.50, which was charged by Banco Popular. We saw quite a few banks on our cruise but waited for St Thomas so we could get US dollars.

[gimletgal]

I have never had a problem cashing a check on any Celebrity ship or Celebrity cruise.

[bigbenboys]

In the past I have cashed a personal check or travelers check on board. Does anyone know if Celebrity or Royal Caribbean still let you cash a personal check for $200. I hate paying ATM fees. I can get travelers checks free but that requires going to the bank and it seems like I always have leftovers which no one at home knows what to do with.

 

What about getting cash at home from your bank. Bring your check book with checks and the banking routing numbers on your checks might not be a good idea. Or getting a draw from the casino on your ship and sail card. It does cost 5% though. Richard

[purrlinda]

What are these "check" things, of which you speak? :D

[MTemple212]

I have the Schwab Atm card which charges no atm fees! The atm bank itself may charge a fee but that is also reimbursable back to your account at the end of each month.

 

Not sure if you can still get this card though or you may need to have a brokerage account as well.

Edited February 5, 2014 by MTemple212

[ghstudio]

I have the Schwab Atm card which charges no atm fees! The atm bank itself may charge a fee but that is also reimbursable back to your account at the end of each month.

 

Not sure if you can still get this card though or you may need to have a brokerage account as well.

 

Schwab offers two cards...one tied to your brokerage account, the other tied to a schwab bank account. You want the schwab bank account card which refunds ATM fees (where they are identified as ATM fees, or if you have the receipt) and charges 0% on currency conversion.

[MTemple212]

Schwab offers two cards...one tied to your brokerage account, the other tied to a schwab bank account. You want the schwab bank account card which refunds ATM fees (where they are identified as ATM fees, or if you have the receipt) and charges 0% on currency conversion.

 

You are correcto mundo! I do have both cards but only use the bank card one for atm withdrawls.

[bigbenboys]

Schwab offers two cards...one tied to your brokerage account, the other tied to a schwab bank account. You want the schwab bank account card which refunds ATM fees (where they are identified as ATM fees, or if you have the receipt) and charges 0% on currency conversion.

 

I have a SPC account with Schwab. I've looked at Schwab Bank. But there interest rate on the CD's are to low. The 0% on currency sounds great. I might have to look into it again. I use my BECU ATM card that has no fees on their side. Richard

[Wine-O]

Yes, I understand all about Mr. Schwab, but can you cash a personal check or not cash a personal check? I know the ship will cash travelers checks at no fee.

 

Some say you can, and some say you can't. Anybody done it recently, or is it on a case-by-case or ship-by-ship basis?

[gimletgal]

Yes, I understand all about Mr. Schwab, but can you cash a personal check or not cash a personal check? I know the ship will cash travelers checks at no fee.

 

Some say you can, and some say you can't. Anybody done it recently, or is it on a case-by-case or ship-by-ship basis?

 

Once again - yes you can cash a personal check - any ship, any sailing.

[swigso]

Why don't you just take the $200

.??

[simon stingray]

Why don't you just take the $200

.??

 

I was also wondering this.

 

I apreciate that one should avoid carrying large amounts of cash but is $200 (or $400 for both cruises) considered a lot of money these days:confused:

 

Wherever we travel in the world we always have a couple of hundred pounds in cash (in local currency) for Taxis, tips drinks etc.

[Wine-O]

Just in case you need extra $'s, it's nice to know you can get them without spending the $6 to use their ATM.

[joetop2467]

We never carry much cash and would never carry more than a couple of hundred dollars at a time. We got pick pocketed once in Rome right out of a fanny pack (fashionable at the time) and didn't even know it until we went to pay for something.