Is the casino cash advance fee still waived in a suite?

[andnosyd]

I know this fee was waived last year on our cruise, just wondering if they still waive the 3% transaction fee for a cash advance in the casino if you are staying in a higher end suite? Also, if you have OBC do you have to use that up before you take a cash advance? Thanks!

[need2bespoiled]

The fee has been 5% for a few years. I'll try and come back here and report in the next few days (am onboard now) and let you know if they're still waiving it for upper end suites.

 

Happy sailing,

Jenna

[andnosyd]

That's right, 5%. Thanks for correcting

[pmcue]

If you are Mlife Platinum the fee is waved and you get a free specialty dinner for 2.

 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Forums mobile app

[Project_gal]

The fee has been 5% for a few years. I'll try and come back here and report in the next few days (am onboard now) and let you know if they're still waiving it for upper end suites.

 

Happy sailing,

Jenna

 

Jenna

 

I had though that it was no longer possible to withdraw cash in the Casino. I understood that promotional chips/credit for slots was all you can get. Any clarification would be gratefully received but not at the detriment of your cruise enjoyment..

[Texed]

I had though that it was no longer possible to withdraw cash in the Casino. I understood that promotional chips/credit for slots was all you can get...

 

That was the case on Equinox in July. :)

[Duanerice1]

Jenna

 

I had though that it was no longer possible to withdraw cash in the Casino. I understood that promotional chips/credit for slots was all you can get. Any clarification would be gratefully received but not at the detriment of your cruise enjoyment..

 

I think that was for cashing in OBC, not getting a cash advance.

[bigbenboys]

Jenna

 

I had though that it was no longer possible to withdraw cash in the Casino. I understood that promotional chips/credit for slots was all you can get. Any clarification would be gratefully received but not at the detriment of your cruise enjoyment..

 

I thought they were asking about cash advance, not OBC withdraw.

[wrk2cruise]

I think the problem is Celebrity systems. From what I understood IF you had OBN OBC on your account then you could not get a cash advance.

 

Now you would think that if your current balance exceeded the amount of OBN then they should be happy to do a cash advance.

 

BUT I think that's just to complicated for them and they go by the simple rule of OBN = No Cash Advance

[Project_gal]

I thought they were asking about cash advance, not OBC withdraw.

 

This is a misunderstanding.

 

There was never "OBC withdrawal" per se. You could withdraw cash at the casino - in theory to play with in the casino. It (and the surcharge) was a debit on your account. How that withdrawal was paid - OBC, credit card, cash - for was entirely separate.

 

On the past, people sometimes used it to withdraw OBC. Because some were using it to withdraw non-refundable OBC, the ability for anyone to withdraw cash in the casino was stopped.

[scanditaly]

This is a misunderstanding.

 

There was never "OBC withdrawal" per se. You could withdraw cash at the casino - in theory to play with in the casino. It (and the surcharge) was a debit on your account. How that withdrawal was paid - OBC, credit card, cash - for was entirely separate.

 

On the past, people sometimes used it to withdraw OBC. Because some were using it to withdraw non-refundable OBC, the ability for anyone to withdraw cash in the casino was stopped.

 

Thank you Project Gal; your response was succinct and clear. The questions still remains whether a high-end suite occupancy will........

A. Allow for withdrawal and

B. Waive any fees

[kk99]

Silhouette Feb 2016 Penthouse Suite

 

No 5% fee charged to suite occupants, but given either the promo slot chips or table promo chips to play for charges to the seapass but not cash. One room occupant was a Blue Chip casino player, and one was not.

 

The promo chips can be swapped out for regular(cashable) chips on your winnings on either the slots or table play.

 

 

We had others on this sailing not in suites and not part of the Casino Blue Chip program, and they were charged the 5%. They received promo chips either for slots or tables for the amount charged to their seapass plus the 5% charge

 

For Blue Chip (casino players club) no matter what category of room booked

no 5% charge for withdrawal, but advances were given in promo chips unless you previously had a line of credit set up with the casino tied to your bank account . Then you could get cash from the cage up to your line of credit, and not promo chips.

 

 

Silhouette, Royal Suite June 2016

 

Same results as in February. We had both a royal suite and nonsuite cabins on this sailing and both Blue Chip members and non members.

 

 

We were also on Constellation in late November 2015 and December 2015 sailings, and the same casino rules on withdrawals applied on those sailings, and we and and our friends were in the higher suites.

[wrk2cruise]

Wow I think it really stinks to charge 5% to use OBN for casino play with promo chips or slot credit on your seapass card. That would be like adding 5% to items in the shops if you have OBC. I've not experienced this but have been in a Sky Suite or higher since they changed the rules, so maybe it was waived?

 

I understood the 5% when it was just being charged to the seapass since in theory it was coming from your credit card which charges Celebrity a percentage.

[need2bespoiled]

I am sitting in the Casino waiting fir a drawing :)

 

1. They have to add a fee if you take a Cash out if the Casino because it could be going against a credit card and they pay fees for those, sometimes significantly especially for cash advances. If you have OBC the "Rule" has always been no cash in exchange for OBC so the fact they give you promo chips and the opportunity to win / get cash is a bonus.

 

2. You can do a a huge withdrawal if you do not have OBC. You will not get promo chips if you don't have OBC. At least on Connie right now.

 

3. The 5% fee is still waived for upper suites. At least it is for my cabin. I'm registered for Blue Chip but at at a very, very low level as I don't play the minimum $50/ hand average fir 2 hours per day and have only evervreveived one offer. I think it's the cabin and not blue chip in my case.

 

Happy sailing,

Jenna

 

 

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Edited November 3, 2016 by need2bespoiled

[andnosyd]

I am sitting in the Casino waiting fir a drawing :)

 

1. They have to add a fee if you take a Cash out if the Casino because it could be going against a credit card and they pay fees for those, sometimes significantly especially for cash advances. If you have OBC the "Rule" has always been no cash in exchange for OBC so the fact they give you promo chips and the opportunity to win / get cash is a bonus.

 

2. You can do a a huge withdrawal if you do not have OBC. You will not get promo chips if you don't have OBC. At least on Connie right now.

 

3. The 5% fee is still waived for upper suites. At least it is for my cabin. I'm registered for Blue Chip but at at a very, very low level as I don't play the minimum $50/ hand average fir 2 hours per day and have only evervreveived one offer. I think it's the cabin and not blue chip in my case.

 

Happy sailing,

Jenna

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Great, thanks for the update. So I can ask for a cash withdrawal and not have the 5% fee if OBC is exhausted?

[need2bespoiled]

Great, thanks for the update. So I can ask for a cash withdrawal and not have the 5% fee if OBC is exhausted?

 

 

 

The fee is irrelevant of OBC. You pay the fee at the casino regardless of how the money is funded, unless it is waived.

 

Happy sailing,

Jenna

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Project_gal]

Silhouette Feb 2016 Penthouse Suite

 

No 5% fee charged to suite occupants, but given either the promo slot chips or table promo chips to play for charges to the seapass but not cash. One room occupant was a Blue Chip casino player, and one was not.

 

The promo chips can be swapped out for regular(cashable) chips on your winnings on either the slots or table play.

 

 

We had others on this sailing not in suites and not part of the Casino Blue Chip program, and they were charged the 5%. They received promo chips either for slots or tables for the amount charged to their seapass plus the 5% charge

 

For Blue Chip (casino players club) no matter what category of room booked

no 5% charge for withdrawal, but advances were given in promo chips unless you previously had a line of credit set up with the casino tied to your bank account . Then you could get cash from the cage up to your line of credit, and not promo chips.

 

 

Silhouette, Royal Suite June 2016

 

Same results as in February. We had both a royal suite and nonsuite cabins on this sailing and both Blue Chip members and non members.

 

 

We were also on Constellation in late November 2015 and December 2015 sailings, and the same casino rules on withdrawals applied on those sailings, and we and and our friends were in the higher suites.

 

Many thanks for the clear clarification. I was sure that was the case but it a shame.

 

My husband will only play the slots with cash because, that way, he feels more in control. (As we are not from the USA, it already is a little like plying with monopoly money.) I would rather not bring large amounts of cash but that is what Celebrity seems to want us to do.

[kk99]

Project gal,

If your husband wants to gamble and does not want to bring cash onboard, he could sign up a for a line of credit with Celebrity. The catch is that the bank account has to be from a US bank( to my knowledge). I have had several friends who are from the UK establish a US Bank account for various reasons, including being able to pull from a line of credit on cruise ships or resorts with casinos. Here is the link:

 

http://www.celebritycruises.com/media/en_US/pdf/casino/Casino_Credit_Form.pdf

 

At the end of the cruise, they will either want a check written on the account to repay the casino for the draw or it will go to the credit card of your choice that you may have used on your seapass account.

 

For instance , the charges from the casino do not show up as cash advances on our US Celebrity Visa credit card account but just as regular charges. So when you get home, you pay off the balance of your cruise charges on your credit card, and you get the points can be accumulated and then converted to obc or dollars off your next Celebrity cruise. The Celebrity Visa points are paid at two to one for any Celebrity Cruise charges.

 

Your husband might check with Celebrity UK about the availability of having the line of credit issued with a UK Bank. You are not required to play or pull from the line of credit any predetermined amount, just up to the limit they have authorized. It does require getting authorization to open an account with a $10,000 US dollar limit or higher, but that does not mean that the person actually has to pull any of that amount.

 

It is convenient to not have to bring cash with you, no five percent charge(again in our experience), no promo chips, and hopefully he wins as well as having a good time.

[Project_gal]

Project gal,

If your husband wants to gamble and does not want to bring cash onboard, he could sign up a for a line of credit with Celebrity. The catch is that the bank account has to be from a US bank( to my knowledge). I have had several friends who are from the UK establish a US Bank account for various reasons, including being able to pull from a line of credit on cruise ships or resorts with casinos. Here is the link:

 

http://www.celebritycruises.com/media/en_US/pdf/casino/Casino_Credit_Form.pdf

 

At the end of the cruise, they will either want a check written on the account to repay the casino for the draw or it will go to the credit card of your choice that you may have used on your seapass account.

 

For instance , the charges from the casino do not show up as cash advances on our US Celebrity Visa credit card account but just as regular charges. So when you get home, you pay off the balance of your cruise charges on your credit card, and you get the points can be accumulated and then converted to obc or dollars off your next Celebrity cruise. The Celebrity Visa points are paid at two to one for any Celebrity Cruise charges.

 

Your husband might check with Celebrity UK about the availability of having the line of credit issued with a UK Bank. You are not required to play or pull from the line of credit any predetermined amount, just up to the limit they have authorized. It does require getting authorization to open an account with a $10,000 US dollar limit or higher, but that does not mean that the person actually has to pull any of that amount.

 

It is convenient to not have to bring cash with you, no five percent charge(again in our experience), no promo chips, and hopefully he wins as well as having a good time.

 

Thank so much for the advice. I will see if my husband is interested in following this up but I know that we have looked at setting up a US bank account in the past and the cost are prohibited for our once a year use. Still, things can change and it may be worth checking things out again.

[FeelingCruisy]

Cash advanced fee of 5% is waived when we were a suite 3 days ago~. This is nothing to do with OBC.

OBC can be taken out from casino (no fee) but depending on the type of credit, you will either get cash (for refundable credits) or casino play chips (for non refundable)

[Project_gal]

Cash advanced fee of 5% is waived when we were a suite 3 days ago~. This is nothing to do with OBC.

OBC can be taken out from casino (no fee) but depending on the type of credit, you will either get cash (for refundable credits) or casino play chips (for non refundable)

 

Is that definitely true about refundable credit? Others have reported otherwise. Is it possible that it has been belatedly realised that the two types of OBC should be treated differently?

[need2bespoiled]

Is that definitely true about refundable credit? Others have reported otherwise. Is it possible that it has been belatedly realised that the two types of OBC should be treated differently?

 

 

 

I'll try and ask. I wouldn't be surprised if the poster who differentiate was correct and previous posters lumped all OBC together.

 

Happy sailing,

Jenna

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Project_gal]

I'll try and ask. I wouldn't be surprised if the poster who differentiate was correct and previous posters lumped all OBC together.

 

Happy sailing,

Jenna

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Jenna

 

Hoping you are correct and that your theory is correct. I will grateful if you are able to find out but, as I said before, only if it does not put you under any pressure

[SusieV]

On Summit on the Oct 2016 repo sailing I was given regular chips and not promotional chips when I took cash against my Seapass. I had OBR and not OBN if that matters.

 

I would have been decidedly unhappy to get promotional chips. I still think it's disgusting that they not only charge you a fee but expect you to be okay playing with funny money you can never cash out. OBC is still real money. As long as you win, they should change the promo chips to real chips.

[need2bespoiled]

Jenna

 

Hoping you are correct and that your theory is correct. I will grateful if you are able to find out but, as I said before, only if it does not put you under any pressure

 

On Summit on the Oct 2016 repo sailing I was given regular chips and not promotional chips when I took cash against my Seapass. I had OBR and not OBN if that matters.

 

I would have been decidedly unhappy to get promotional chips. I still think it's disgusting that they not only charge you a fee but expect you to be okay playing with funny money you can never cash out. OBC is still real money. As long as you win, they should change the promo chips to real chips.

 

The policy of OBC (regardless of type) has been clear since at least 2012 when we first sailed on Celebrity, that it was not available for gambling in the casino, or for cash. It was a nice benefit to be able to use it in that way, and Celebrity can make the rules, their ship, their rules and the intenet (at least in our mind) is that OBC is for onboard spending.

 

That being said, I will share what my experience is, and what the actual rules, as they have been communicated to me, are.

 

Basically, it is true that:

 

1. If you ask for cash in the casino, regardless of type, you are supposed to get promotional chips or promo spending for slots that must be gambled REGARDLESS of OBC Type.

 

2. In practice, if you have OBC R you may get regular chips. If you have OBC N I would not expect promotional chips, but it may happen. This is why some travel agents are given gift/cash cards instead of OBC.

 

3. If you ask for cash at the cashier window, the above policy is most likely to be followed as this is where they keep promotional chips. if you sit down at a table, especially if they know you, you are most likely to get regular chips if you ask the pit boss or one of the supervisors for chips as they still hand the receipt to the dealer who takes chips off the table and hands them to you.

 

4. You will not be charged the standard percentage if you are in an upper suite. This has not changed.

 

Of course, any of this could change at any time.

 

Happy sailing,

Jenna