Casino funds

[Jenhem31]

I am going on my very first cruise in April. I'll be going on the Carnival Paradise. I understand that it is a cashless boat, so do we need to take out a bunch of money for the casino before we go? Obviously we will be bringing cash for extra tips and shopping at ports of call, but if rather not travel with a bunch of cash. Is there a way to get money for the casino once on board?

 

 

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[SteelerCruiser]

if you are securing your account with a credit card then your room key will work for your casino spending......also you can load funds onto a slot machine then cash back out to your room key then go to the casino cage to get cash as well.

[Jenhem31]

Are there only slots or table games as well?

 

 

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[HawkIVette]

Not sure about slot machines as I don't play them, but on table games, you can get cash and put it on your sail & sign card if linked to your credit card. I believe it is limited to $1000 a day and they will charge you a 3% fee for each transaction. The transaction comes across as entertainment and your credit card will not charge you as a cash advance, but still paying $30 for $1000 is more than the ATM's they have onboard ship. I think the ATM's charge around $6 per transaction.

Otherwise I just bring cash for the casino.

Edited February 28, 2014 by HawkIVette

[Namelocg]

If you want to get cash from the credit/debit card you used for your sail and sign while playing table games the casino will charge you 3% so $100 will cost you $103, $200 will be $206, etc. If you download the money at a slot machine and cash it out at the casino cage there will be no charge. You can also take travelers checks and cash them at the casino cage.

[Colonel Angus]

Colonel Angus recommends having cash if you play table games. Carnival charges a 3% fee for purchasing chips at the table using your Sail & Sign card.

[Jenhem31]

Thank you everyone!

 

 

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[HawkIVette]

Are there only slots or table games as well?

 

 

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Blackjack, three card poker, roulette, craps and those cool little "drop the quarter into the little shovels trying to push the stacks of $100 bills off the shelf" thingys. Also they have a dealerless poker table.

[RWolver672]

Don't forget the "Keyhole Game".

[sailor_jimc]

You other option is (if you plan on spending a lot of money) is to call the Carnival Players Club and getting set up with a line of credit. You provide them with your credit info and then you get pre-approved to get money from the cage with the understanding that you pay it off via credit card or check at the end of the cruise.

 

That way you don't have to bring cash and you don't get stuck with a 3% advance fee...

[mepclu]

Can I just use my S&S card for the casino table games if it is linked to my credit card without a fee or is a cash linkage required?

 

Sorry -- I am now very confused!

[kmc500]

Can I just use my S&S card for the casino table games if it is linked to my credit card without a fee or is a cash linkage required?

 

Sorry -- I am now very confused!

 

You can use your S&S card at the cage to get cash, and you will be charged a 3% fee. In my experience you will not be able to use it at the table, unless you have a line of credit with the casino.

 

As was stated previously, if you have a line of credit, you will not have to pay the 3%, and you can draw cash while at a table game. Understand it does take a couple of minutes to get cash that way, and sometimes holds up the game.

 

Kevin C

[Sue Do-Over]

The phrase cashless boat refers to everything else -- all beverages, shopping, excursions, steakhouse fees, gratuities, bingo cards, etc. get charged to the S&S card.

 

The casino takes cash or your S&S card at the tables (but charges a 3% service charge). As with land-based casinos, chips are converted back to cash at the cashier/cage.

 

If you take a cash advance to buy chips for table games, you pay the service charge, even if you apply your winnings back to your S&S account. The final balance of your S&S account is what gets charged to your personal credit card; it doesn't show up there as a cash advance, but as a purchase.

 

We take cash for the casino... it keeps those funds separate from our other expenses (and ensures we stay within our limits).

Edited February 28, 2014 by Sue Do-Over

[near the beach]

You can cash a personal check at the guest services desk for cash.

[pops72106]

If u play no limit poker, u charge the money to ur sail & sign card and there is no fee for that, then u can cash out at the cage and they will pay u in cash

[Cruisegirl6]

I wasn't aware that the guest services cashes our check?

[HawkIVette]

Can I just use my S&S card for the casino table games if it is linked to my credit card without a fee or is a cash linkage required?

 

Sorry -- I am now very confused!

 

In my experience you will not be able to use it at the table, unless you have a line of credit with the casino.

 

 

Kevin has it right with the exception of.. ... You can use your S&S card at the table games to get chips. It gets charged to your account along with the 3% fee and at the end of your cruise gets charges to your credit card. I have done it several times at the craps table.

I find it easier than bringing a lot of cash with me on the cruise. I look at it this way. I start with $1000. Cost me $30. That is one of my bets. So, if I lose my $1K, small price to pay for the convenience of not bringing cash onboard. If I win in the casino, it really doesn't matter to me about the $30. Also, I get some perks from my credit card for the "purchase" to help offset the $30.

[kmc500]

Kevin has it right with the exception of.. ... You can use your S&S card at the table games to get chips.

 

Funny, I play craps as well, and had seen people use their S&S card on prior cruises, but on my last two cruises (b2b last April) the boxman told players who tried to get cash from their S&S cards to go to the cage, thus why I mentioned it.

 

Maybe they were cranky, or the rules are different on shorter cruises. Normally I settle my credit line when I get home, by sending a check to Carnival. On this cruise they wanted payment the last night of the 2nd leg. I did not even have a check with me; luckily I had the cash to pay it off, or I would still be on the ship washing dishes! :)

 

Kevin C

[michaelandjoanne]

I bring American Express travellers cheques. There are no fees to buy them from my bank and they are as good as cash but have the safety of being insured against theft/loss. I have never had issues cashing my travellers cheques in the casino.