Jump to content
Cruise Critic Community

3% fee in casinos - read & contribute if you JUST got back from a cruise

Merion_Mom

By Merion_Mom,
in Royal Caribbean International

Recommended Posts

GXmanDC

GXmanDC

Posted
Posted

I don't understand the problem. Why not bring cash or travelers' checks with you?

 

I'm not surprised they instituted the fee. Prior to my first cruise, lots of friends and co-workers told me that I could get cash for free in the casino and avoid ATM charges on the ship and on shore. At the time I was surprised that the cruise ship did not charge for cash advance/withdrawls. Why should RCI eat these fees?

Link to comment
Share on other sites
TEXASMUNK

TEXASMUNK

Posted
Posted

If I go to the casino cage, they charge 3%, right?

 

If i sit at the $25 minimum blackjack table, pull out my card and ask for $500 in chips...do they charge me 3%

 

 

BOTTOM LINE: Is it 3% across the board or only for those attempting to use the ship at a free ATM?

Link to comment
Share on other sites
G'ma

G'ma

Posted
Posted
Good grief Grandma!! It was NEVER a cash advance until people abused the system...Sheesh :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :eek:

 

###

 

I agree that it was probably the abuse that finally turned RCI's head on this matter. It is usually abuse by the few who cause cruiselines (and others) to change policy (and prices) which then affects everyone. No arguement here on that.

 

However, other cruise companies have been charging this fee for years.

 

My comment simply outlines the case for bringing and using cash instead of always hitting a credit card or ATM machine. Plan ahead, budget for the cruise, set a limit at the casino, take cash or traveler's checks. All the noise about this "sudden" fee could certainly be avoided by bringing your own cash onboard with you....no fees to worry about.

 

As others have said, the casino is not a bank. They offered cash for people to gamble with....and it was "fee-less" because the expectation was the money would be used in the casino. When gambling revenues and balance sheets showed an imbalance somewhere, the bean counters quickly figured it out....and changes were made. Consequently, everyone is paying for the actions of a few.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
6MonthsHere6MonthsThere

6MonthsHere6MonthsThere

Posted
Posted
If I go to the casino cage, they charge 3%, right?

 

If i sit at the $25 minimum blackjack table, pull out my card and ask for $500 in chips...do they charge me 3%

 

 

BOTTOM LINE: Is it 3% across the board or only for those attempting to use the ship at a free ATM?

 

 

 

Yep, $500 in chips at the tables will show up as $515 on your Sea Pass account, although they do normally mention it to you that do you realize there is a 3% charge.

Heard someone say they didn't but it didn't stop them from charging it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Morecruisesplz

Morecruisesplz

Posted
Posted
I do think you are wrong.

 

The money at the casino is for gambling. Many pax were using it for anything but.

 

RCI is not a bank and should not be treated as such.

 

Especially when posters were bragging here on the boards about how they get up to $1,000 per day in cash on their cruises and use it to build points on their RCCL credit cards because it didn't show up as a cash advance on their statements but simply an onboard purchase. Did they think no one was listening?

Link to comment
Share on other sites
lance32

lance32

Posted
Posted
According to the cashier in the casino on the Liberty tonight, ALL ships started charging 3% last week to get money in the casino.

 

If you have JUST returned from a cruise that left August 16th or later, please describe your experience here.

 

Is this woman's assertion correct? Is it now truly fleet-wide?

 

:mad: :mad: :mad:

yes on FOS 8/31/08-9/7/08

 

My Fellow CC'S Here is the latest which is not all that bad. The 3% is still less than either the onboard ATM i think 7.50/ or the 3$ yes on top of a normal ATM fee for International ATM'S for all Americans travelling outsie The US, and its territories/commonwealths. My point is 3% is still less than atms, and much more conveneant oops spelling

peace

lance32:)

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Lightsluvr

Lightsluvr

Posted
Posted
According to the cashier in the casino on the Liberty tonight, ALL ships started charging 3% last week to get money in the casino.

 

If you have JUST returned from a cruise that left August 16th or later, please describe your experience here.

 

Is this woman's assertion correct? Is it now truly fleet-wide?

 

:mad: :mad: :mad:

 

You are way behind the RCI sneaky curve...:rolleyes: They were charging it in January on the Voyager and in June on the Radiance. It (quietly) went into effect late 2007.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Lightsluvr

Lightsluvr

Posted
Posted
Especially when posters were bragging here on the boards about how they get up to $1,000 per day in cash on their cruises and use it to build points on their RCCL credit cards because it didn't show up as a cash advance on their statements but simply an onboard purchase. Did they think no one was listening?

 

If you got $1,000 in chips to gamble, they still stick you with the 3% surcharge.

 

Just another example of RCI cutbacks in goods and services...

 

See: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=848144

 

LL

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Lightsluvr

Lightsluvr

Posted
Posted
I don't understand the problem. Why not bring cash or travelers' checks with you? Many vendors and international locations will not accept travelers checks of any type.

 

I'm not surprised they instituted the fee. Why should RCI eat these fees?

 

They advertised for at least 5 years that guests can obtain cash at the casino cashier's cage. If you tried to get cash at the Guest Relations desk, they actually referred you to the casino... just another reduction in convenience and services.

 

I keep repeating myself...:D

 

LL

Link to comment
Share on other sites
mr jailerman

mr jailerman

Posted
Posted

I just got of Enchantment Aug 18Th. I did go to the Casino Cashier for some cash and they asked me if I had planned to use it in the Casino ? So I said "YES" and then their was no charge. Had I said no I am taking the extra cash for my shore excursions (Which I did :eek::D ) I do believe they would have charged me the 3% as well.. Always tell them it's for Casino use..:)

Link to comment
Share on other sites
PhoenixCruiser

PhoenixCruiser

Posted
Posted
I just got of Enchantment Aug 18Th. I did go to the Casino Cashier for some cash and they asked me if I had planned to use it in the Casino ? So I said "YES" and then their was no charge. Had I said no I am taking the extra cash for my shore excursions (Which I did :eek::D ) I do believe they would have charged me the 3% as well.. Always tell them it's for Casino use..:)

 

Ugh, and people wonder why RCI added the fee... :mad:

 

###

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Jeka

Jeka

Posted
Posted
I just got of Enchantment Aug 18Th. I did go to the Casino Cashier for some cash and they asked me if I had planned to use it in the Casino ? So I said "YES" and then their was no charge. Had I said no I am taking the extra cash for my shore excursions (Which I did :eek::D ) I do believe they would have charged me the 3% as well.. Always tell them it's for Casino use..:)

 

Sorry, this is incorrect info. How carefully did you count your money??

Link to comment
Share on other sites
drogerm

drogerm

Posted
Posted
I don't understand the problem. Why not bring cash or travelers' checks with you?

 

I'm not surprised they instituted the fee. Prior to my first cruise, lots of friends and co-workers told me that I could get cash for free in the casino and avoid ATM charges on the ship and on shore. At the time I was surprised that the cruise ship did not charge for cash advance/withdrawls. Why should RCI eat these fees?

 

I don't see the problem either. Take enough money to gamble with & when it's gone, stop gambling.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Forum Jump
    • Categories
      • Welcome to Cruise Critic
      • Special Event: Q&A with Laura Hodges Bethge, President Celebrity Cruises
      • ANNOUNCEMENT: Set Sail on Sun Princess®
      • Hurricane Zone 2024
      • Cruise Insurance Q&A w/ Steve Dasseos of Tripinsurancestore.com June 2024
      • New Cruisers
      • Cruise Lines “A – O”
      • Cruise Lines “P – Z”
      • River Cruising
      • ROLL CALLS
      • Cruise Critic News & Features
      • Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
      • Special Interest Cruising
      • Cruise Discussion Topics
      • UK Cruising
      • Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
      • Canadian Cruisers
      • North American Homeports
      • Ports of Call
      • Cruise Conversations
×
×
  • Create New...