Using my ship account for gambling cash?

[erdoran]

If I don't want to set up a line of credit at the casino, but I want to play blackjack, can I charge chips to my onboard account? Will I be charged extra, or is it dollar for dollar? If I buy say $500 of chips, will my account (assume zero OBC) be charged JUST $500, or will there be extra fees? I will be leaving a credit card on file to pay my account, so ultimately that $500 will go on my credit card.

 

If it matters, this is Bliss. Thanks

[NLH Arizona]

If I don't want to set up a line of credit at the casino, but I want to play blackjack, can I charge chips to my onboard account? Will I be charged extra, or is it dollar for dollar? If I buy say $500 of chips, will my account (assume zero OBC) be charged JUST $500, or will there be extra fees? I will be leaving a credit card on file to pay my account, so ultimately that $500 will go on my credit card.

 

If it matters, this is Bliss. Thanks

Yes, you can charge $'s to your account. When you do you will be charged 3%, so if you charge $500, your account will be charged $515. Be thankful you won't be on Celebrity, as they charge 5%.

[erdoran]

Thanks, NLH. If I win and go right back to the cashier and repay that $500 is the 3% removed or am I stuck with it no matter what?

[NLH Arizona]

Thanks, NLH. If I win and go right back to the cashier and repay that $500 is the 3% removed or am I stuck with it no matter what?

Unfortunately your are stuck with the 3%.

 

In the olden days, they use to let you charge your account and not charge you a fee, but because folks were going to the casino to charging money to spend ashore and, I think the thing that broke the camel's back, they were pulling out large amounts of cash from the casino, so that it was charged against their credit card in order to get credit card points and then they would take the cash home and immediately pay their credit card bill with it. Like all things, some people who want to cheat the system, hurts it for everyone.

[Paul Bogle]

The 3% has been paid. It isn't refunded.

[erdoran]

Thanks, guys, glad to know in advance. Either I bring cash or establish a line of credit then....I'm too cheap to pay the 3%.

 

I heard someplace I have to have a minimum $10k line of credit, is that right? IF I decide to do that (no decision yet) do I have to provide a blank check, like I used to have to do at Atlantic City casinos? What do I need to do in order to be prepared to establish this line of credit, if that's what I want? Should I do it in advance? If I don't use it, or repay 100% of it on the ship, does it get shut down so it doesn't show up on my credit report as unused credit? thanks

[NLH Arizona]

Thanks, guys, glad to know in advance. Either I bring cash or establish a line of credit then....I'm too cheap to pay the 3%.

 

I heard someplace I have to have a minimum $10k line of credit, is that right? IF I decide to do that (no decision yet) do I have to provide a blank check, like I used to have to do at Atlantic City casinos? What do I need to do in order to be prepared to establish this line of credit, if that's what I want? Should I do it in advance? If I don't use it, or repay 100% of it on the ship, does it get shut down so it doesn't show up on my credit report as unused credit? thanks

https://www.ncl.com/casino/apply

[Paul Bogle]

I do not know what the rules are for establishing a line of credit but I'm sure many here will answer. I bring $1000 to gamble with and when it's gone, it's gone. One thing you should know about blackjack on NCL; you will need to play at a $25 minimum table to get 3:2 on blackjack. On the smaller stakes tables they only pay 6:5.

 

I'm guessing this probably won't be an issue for you if you are thinking about a 10K credit line, just a head-up.

[erdoran]

NLH, thanks and duh, I should have done my homework! Paul Bogle, nope, I don't want to gamble anywhere close to $10k and I actually do care about the 3:2 payout. I'm rusty - I really learned how to play when I was in grad school and especially liked Spanish blackjack. Been many years, I have to brush up before playing. If I decide to do a line of credit I don't have to use all of it :> - I can use $1k on a $10k line, or even $100 :>

[esm54687]

If I don't want to set up a line of credit at the casino, but I want to play blackjack, can I charge chips to my onboard account? Will I be charged extra, or is it dollar for dollar? If I buy say $500 of chips, will my account (assume zero OBC) be charged JUST $500, or will there be extra fees? I will be leaving a credit card on file to pay my account, so ultimately that $500 will go on my credit card.

 

If it matters, this is Bliss. Thanks

The 3% is also applicable if you sit at a slot machine and charge your room.

[cb at sea]

Just bring cash...you'll have a safe to store it in....cash is always the best option for gambling!

[tempus137]

I do not know what the rules are for establishing a line of credit but I'm sure many here will answer. I bring $1000 to gamble with and when it's gone, it's gone. One thing you should know about blackjack on NCL; you will need to play at a $25 minimum table to get 3:2 on blackjack. On the smaller stakes tables they only pay 6:5.

 

I'm guessing this probably won't be an issue for you if you are thinking about a 10K credit line, just a head-up.

 

The $15 tables also pay 3:2. At least that was on the Bliss TA in April.

[Paul Bogle]

The $15 tables also pay 3:2. At least that was on the Bliss TA in April.

 

On the Pearl in March there were no $15 tables. The smallest stakes were $10 paying 6:5. The next step up was $25 paying 3:2. Unsurprisingly the $25 tables were empty every afternoon. If I had the option of a $15 table I probably would have played. The $25 tables are too rich for my $1000 bankroll so I didn't play. The house enjoys a nice edge, paying 6:5 is pure greed in my view.

 

I like to spend my casino time in the late afternoon when the room is less crowded and far less smokey. I look forward to sailing on Bliss or newer ships where the casino is divided into smoke free and smoking enclosed spaces but have not yet had the pleasure.

[erdoran]

Paul, you seem like you know your blackjack. How are the rules for the items like splitting and doubling down and hitting soft 17's?

[Paul Bogle]

Paul, you seem like you know your blackjack. How are the rules for the items like splitting and doubling down and hitting soft 17's?

 

Some NCL ships have a separate high stakes area where I have not played so things may be different there. In the peanut gallery where I can be found you have:

 

Continuous shoe, probably six to eight decks, don't know, don't really care.

Dealer hits on soft 17.

Split any pair, Aces get one card, four hands max.

Double down on first two cards.

Splits can be doubled after first new card also except for on an ace where it's one and done.

[erdoran]

Sounds like standard old time Vegas blackjack. Reasonable and fair. Just that $25 minimum to get the 3:2 blackjack payout. thanks, good to know in case I decide to gamble. How's your luck been? Assuming you're a reasonably competent player with a mastery of basic strategy and some feel for the way the cards should fall, are you finding it's consistent with landside casinos, or do you see weird patterns beyond what's normal and reasonable?

[Paul Bogle]

I'm a pure basic strategy player. It's entirely rote. I like to play for an hour or two on sea days before getting ready for the evening. My wife likes to nap and relax in the cabin at this time so it's a win win for us.

 

I enjoy the excitement of a lively table. I'm not superstitious and not bothered by poor players. If the guy next to me won't hit a hard sixteen against a dealer face card, I'm not bothered. Cards are always and everywhere streaky.

 

I don't cruise to gamble so it doesn't bother me to pass on the casino. On the Gem and Jade there was a video blackjack table in the Spinnaker lounge which offered standard Vegas payouts for a $5 minimum. I really liked this as an alternative as the venue was smoke free and had a bar three steps away plus terrific sea views. I was disappointed to not find one of these machines on the Pearl. (all three ships are the same class) I do prefer the real thing of a true casino table but 6:5 really chaps my hide.

[erdoran]

Worst table I was ever at was at AC, some guy split 5's! I don't remember if he doubled down after, or routinely split 10's, it's that play that sticks i my mind...worse even than splitting 4's. I get that it's pure mathematics and probabilities, but there seems to be some intangible element about where if you are pretty much making your stiffs and then all of a sudden you get some sort of abysmal play like that, all of a sudden you can't win for beans, and every 10 the dealer shows turns out to be a blackjack!

[Paul Bogle]

I hear you. In the 1990s casinos first opened in Louisiana. I went to Coushatta with a friend of mine. A guy at our table split a pair of jacks against a dealer face card. This older women sitting next to us turned and whispered to us in a thick southern drawl "if that man had a 10 inch d*** he would cut it in half". I almost passed an entire gin and tonic through my nose.