Using ship card to get "casino" money

[Penguin69]

Hello, I've heard that you can use your ship credit card to get money at the cage in the casino (verses say using a cash station card or bring extra cash from home). Does anyone know if this is true on RCCL- Explorer of the Seas and if so, is there a charge of this service? And would your credit card company then treat it as a "cash advance" and charge you another fee?

 

Thanks and Happy Cruising to all:p

[sscruising]

I am just off the AOS and used my Sea Pass card to get cash in the casino. There is no charge for this as opposed to the $5.50 fee to use the ATM. I have done this on my last few cruises and it beats taking a bunch of cash or travellers checks with you. You just have to make sure you know when the casino is open so you can plan when to withdraw money.

[Penguin69]

Hello and Thank you sscrusing, Now I can breath more easily and not have to worry about taking extra cash with me.

 

Happy cruising to all

[jean-lynd]

The other great thing about it is that it goes on your credit card as a purchase so you earn awards on it if you have a rewards card. I'm sure they will figure this out one of these days and stop the practice but for now it is pretty nice. I hope this helps!

[wulicny]

The other great thing about it is that it goes on your credit card as a purchase so you earn awards on it if you have a rewards card.

 

As I recall, there is a single charge on your credit card for the amount. It appears as a "purchase" from the cruiseline - in one lump sum!

 

Happy travels,

Bill

[Penguin69]

:cool: Thanks everyone for the great information. I'm really excited now, because I'll be using my RCCL credit card, so I'll be getting extra bonus points for using their credit card.:D

 

Happy cruising and thanks again,

[kitty9]

The limit from the casino is $1500 a day from your sign and sail pass.

[imsulin]

Gee! "Only" $1500.00 a day? That does it! I'm bring a million in Travellers' Checks.

[bUU]

I suspect that this is not the service-offering credit card companies were intending to offer. Since it can readily eat-into the profit from another of their service-offerings, I think folks should expect the credit card companies someday to place a restriction on vendors that will close this loop-hole.

[springtxbill]

The credit card companies will not stop this as they still get a couple of percent of this cash outlay. The cruiselines will probably not stop it because for that same couple of percent, you still must walk out of the casino with all of that fresh cash in your hands. There is a very good chance you will leave that amount with them before you get out.:)

[injunjoe]

I think you may want to check with the cruise line directly. I thought I had heard that the cruise line charges a substantial "service fee" for such transactions.

[sscruising]

I have used my Sea Pass card on my last 3 cruise to obtain cash & I have never been charged any type of fee. The only fee I encountered was when I made the mistake of using my ATM card & was charged $5.50.

[springtxbill]

No fee as of the first week of June.:)

[bUU]

I see what you're saying: The cash advance fee is because they're not getting a commission from the vendor for the sale. With the casino withdrawal, RCI is paying the credit card company for the privilege of giving you cash. And you're right, RCI can probably bank (pardon the pun) on you spending most of that cash on them. Makes sense.

[kitty9]

From experience, Princess has been the only cruise line that has charged a fee to receive cash from the casino. RCCI, Celebrity, Carnival, Crystal and HAL did not charge any service fee to take cash out from the casino on a sign and sail card.

[springtxbill]

They actually want you to get the money from the tables, but you can get a couple of hundred dollars directly from the cashier. I tell them it is for the slots if they ask and get it in $50s. :)

[smudge's mom]

Getting cash is easy as long as you phrase your request properly. The reason you can get cash in the casino is for gambling - not to use them as a free ATM - so if asked, you are getting cash to gamble with. And, unfortunately, when I tell them that - I'm not lying. A substantial portion of my "cash" seems to somehow end up in the poker machines. :D

[sscruising]

I've never been asked why I wanted cash in the casino! I guess they see me in there a lot so figure it is for gambling.

[bUU]

For some reason, I thought the casino trafficks in chips, not cash...

[BottledRed]

For some reason, I thought the casino trafficks in chips, not cash...

But can you use chips in a slot machine?

[kitty9]

You have a choice of chips for table games and cash for slot machines.