Question re: withdrawing money at Casino (Indy in Europe)

[masonpips]

We need quite a bit of Euros for one of our tours next month. I don't like to carry a lot of cash while traveling from the US, 2 days in London, then to Southampton and onto the ship, so have debated several options. Looking for info/feedback on the questions below (thanks in advance)

 

We are US based (dollars), we board in England (pounds) but travel to all other places (Italy, France, Spain and Portugal) using Euros

 

We have an OBC (from RCCL for booking onbaord) of $150

We have BOA reward points of $450 as OBC

 

1. My understanding is that RCCL will use first the $150 (non refundable), then the BOA points (refundable) against our ship charges. Is this correct?
    
   
2. If we withdraw money at the casino (charging to our SeaPass card) will it be given in Euros? At the "current" ship exchange rate? This saves us from finding/dealing with ATMs in port (although I realize the exchange rate can suffer)
    
   
3. If the casino is an option, I can purchase myself some more $ before we travel as OBC, then cash it out on the ship (again realizing the exchange rate is the loss here) OR just take out cash in the casino during the trip and pay via my credit card.
   

 

I have more BOA points available and debating submitting these to be used as cash we need during trip versus just finding an ATM and dealing w/taking out amounts.

[Clarea]

...

 

 

1. My understanding is that RCCL will use first the $150 (non refundable), then the BOA points (refundable) against our ship charges. Is this correct? Yes
   
2. If we withdraw money at the casino (charging to our SeaPass card) will it be given in Euros? At the "current" ship exchange rate? This saves us from finding/dealing with ATMs in port (although I realize the exchange rate can suffer) I could be wrong, but I believe the casino will only give USD as that is what is used for gambling.
   
3. If the casino is an option, I can purchase myself some more $ before we travel as OBC, then cash it out on the ship (again realizing the exchange rate is the loss here) OR just take out cash in the casino during the trip and pay via my credit card. I'm lost on this question.
   

 

I have more BOA points available and debating submitting these to be used as cash we need during trip versus just finding an ATM and dealing w/taking out amounts.

 

See what I could answer in RED above.

 

I don't know why you feel that using an ATM is inconvenient. We usually see them all over, and they give the best exchange rate. We will generally use our credit card for all we can and only use Euros when there is no other choice.

 

If you use a credit/ATM card from certain banks (like Capital One), there is no foreign transaction fee and Capital One refunds ATM fees up to $30 per month.

 

Remember that the casino charges 5% for cash advances.

Edited May 5, 2016 by clarea

[masonpips]

Ok, thank you! I hate ATMs (we have Capital One and our bank doesn't charge a fee and refunds what other banks charge us) in general but I see the need/reasoning behind using.

 

I was just hoping to "pad" my account a bit and pull cash on the ship (#3, prepay myself) just to avoid another stop in port! But I will suck it up and deal! LOL

 

Thanks again

[Clarea]

Ok, thank you! I hate ATMs (we have Capital One and our bank doesn't charge a fee and refunds what other banks charge us) in general but I see the need/reasoning behind using.

 

I was just hoping to "pad" my account a bit and pull cash on the ship (#3, prepay myself) just to avoid another stop in port! But I will suck it up and deal! LOL

 

Thanks again

Maybe someone else will chime in about getting Euros from the casino, that may change your point of view.

 

Also, I do know that the ship will take Euros to pay your SeaPass bill, so if you end up with extra Euros, the ship will take them. However, their exchange rate will not be good.

[wotaripper]

You can purchase euros at guest services you can also use euros in UK so don't need to worry about pounds.

[OldSeaDog1969]

Maybe someone else will chime in about getting Euros from the casino, that may change your point of view.

 

Also, I do know that the ship will take Euros to pay your SeaPass bill, so if you end up with extra Euros, the ship will take them. However, their exchange rate will not be good.

 

The casino definitely does not sell Euros. Onboard FX can only be bought at Guest Services.

[OldSeaDog1969]

You can purchase euros at guest services you can also use euros in UK so don't need to worry about pounds.

 

Not entirely true. Some places will accept Euros but the majority do not.

[wotaripper]

Not entirely true. Some places will accept Euros but the majority do not.

 

I am from the UK originally and travel there regularly nearly all atms in u know dispense euro and pound and most stores display both prices only place we found some stores didn't like euro was Scotland.

[powelweb]

We did a combination of travelers checks (purchased for no fee in advance at our local AAA office) as well as pre-purchasing some euros to have upon landing when we did 5 days in Ireland and 12 night Med cruise last year.

 

We then cashed the travelers checks at guest services onboard (check RCCL website for max per day/ per cruise) and obtained euros to pay for tours, and could still supplement that if needed with local ATMs, but I think we even came home with some checks that we just deposited back into our bank account.

[BMT]

I live in London. Most shops do not take Euros - perhaps touristy places do. But if you want to sit and have a coffee somewhere, do not rely on euros.

 

If you take OBC out of the Casino, it will be in dollars as far as I am aware. And yes, they will possibly deduct 5% - but as I always have a cash account, I believe that 5% is not deducted because there is no credit card. But possibly depends on which kind of OBC you have!! All confusing.

[kernow]

I am from the UK originally and travel there regularly nearly all atms in u know dispense euro and pound and most stores display both prices only place we found some stores didn't like euro was Scotland.

 

Whereabouts in the UK are you travelling to? I live here and have never seen a shop displaying prices in Euros (apart from maybe the odd tourist place in London).

 

We have a retail business in a tourist town and certainly don't accept Euros or know anyone else who does.

 

OP you are correct, you need pounds in the UK:) If anyone will take Euros they will probably give you a rubbish exchange rate.

 

Julie

[BMT]

Just to add that most places in the UK take credit cards - but these are chip'n'pin - much safer to have a bit of sterling currency to hand.

[ChipLondon]

Many shops ( M&S etc ) do display the price in pounds and Euros on the price tag, but you are correct very few happily take Euros.

I always rely on using my bank card to pay for items in countries where I do not want to have left over money. However sometimes it is wise to have local money for taxis, and small purchases like coffee. In which case I use a local ATM to get the small amount needed.

 

Whereabouts in the UK are you travelling to? I live here and have never seen a shop displaying prices in Euros (apart from maybe the odd tourist place in London).

 

We have a retail business in a tourist town and certainly don't accept Euros or know anyone else who does.

 

OP you are correct, you need pounds in the UK:) If anyone will take Euros they will probably give you a rubbish exchange rate.

 

Julie

[Biker19]

Tell your bank/CC that you are going overseas, don't get cash in the US, get cash (only what's really needed) at an ATM (not the hotel, exchange booth, the ship, vendors - all will typically have worse exchange rate than ATM) - use CC for anything else. Use the leftover cash UK pounds at your hotel when you check out. Ensure you know your CC PIN (you do have a PIN+chip card right?) - might be needed at POS machine when you try to charge something (sometimes they still have old school signature). Rinse and repeat in different countries.

[PompeySailor]

Having lived in UK and the family having completed many Europen Cruises this is what I have experienced.

Also being a casino VIP, also can vouch for how the casinos work:)

 

UK £ pounds only

Casino USD $ only

ALL ATM's in England dispence in UK £ pounds.

 

On the OBC

Non-Refundable 1st

Refundable 2nd

 

Yes you can add more CASH OBC to your account, before you sail and this is obviously all refundable.

That cash can be withdrawn from Casino without 5% fee if your folio is set up as a cash account

The 5% fee will be charged if folio is set up on a credit card.

 

Also if you are a CR VIP member 5% fee is waived on all transactions.

 

Have a great cruise:)