Casino Royal level question (maybe I"m asking something never asked before ;) )

[dodgestang]

So I've been Prime in Royal C's Casino for several years.  I didn't cruise last year so now I'm back down to choice because my last time out was August 22.  I've grown accustomed to simply taking cash out via my room account (AT NO FEE) because I was prime.  This means carrying a lot less cash for me (and the BS of going to the bank to get it).  But now I'm back to choice.  Has anyone talked to casino host/concierge/club royale email/operator and discussed having fee waived prior to cruise start?  I know by the third/fourth day they usually start waiving it based on your gambling........but I"m not sure I want to bring enough cash to get there.  PNC literally closed my local branch so now I have to drive 25 minutes one way if i need more money than an ATM will give me (yes I live in the country)

[WAAAYTOOO]

UGH.  I don't know what I would do without the fee waiver perk.  The thought of carrying cash onboard.  <shiver>

I have never known the casino to waive the 5% convenience fee until/unless the player reaches Prime.  I'm not saying it can't be done....I have just never heard of it being done.

A bit of a hijack here, but this very problem is the reason I am hesitant to begin cruising on Celebrity with the new status match.  I do NOT want to have to start from the ground up with another casino program.  If Celebrity would just waive the convenience fee, I would be on a Celebrity cruise in a heartbeat.  I don't need the other perks....just the convenience fee waiver.

[dodgestang]

Maybe if i ask the Genie to ask the host.........it sucks that deep down I already know the answer I'm going to get.

[WAAAYTOOO]

5 minutes ago, dodgestang said:

Maybe if i ask the Genie to ask the host.........it sucks that deep down I already know the answer I'm going to get.

Hmmm....this is probably one thing that I would NOT ask the Genie to intervene for....but that's just me.  I doubt he has any jurisdiction or influence whatsoever with the casino.  Never hurts to try, I guess....

[Matt]

16 hours ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

I have never known the casino to waive the 5% convenience fee until/unless the player reaches Prime. 

Slot machines don't take the 5% fee, regardless of status. You can withdraw money and then immediately cash out and redeem for cash at the cashier.

[Bob Burd]

I do that all the time. I learned this tip on this blog and it saves me from bringing a lot of cash on board. 

[Riley]

44 minutes ago, Matt said:

Slot machines don't take the 5% fee, regardless of status. You can withdraw money and then immediately cash out and redeem for cash at the cashier.

I use the slots as ATM too, but note: if you do this throughout the cruise plan to draw a fairly low amount at a time as the system locks down future room charges until/unless you have played 50% of what you draw.

If you pull out $40 and don't play through $20 of it (you don't have to go down to a $20 balance as winnings count) then you have to play cash the next time.  I usually get around this by pulling $40 or $60 at a time and then popping a $20 into the machine the next time I go to the casino and playing a few hits. That should "break" the block and reset you, even if you don't play the whole $20.

Alternately I bring enough with me for bar tips then hit the slots ATM the last couple of days to prep for tipping out everyone else. I don't gamble much, so blocking me from a room charge at the casino the last few days isn't any problem. 

 

[sleepy425]

On 6/3/2024 at 9:28 AM, Riley said:

I use the slots as ATM too, but note: if you do this throughout the cruise plan to draw a fairly low amount at a time as the system locks down future room charges until/unless you have played 50% of what you draw.

If you pull out $40 and don't play through $20 of it (you don't have to go down to a $20 balance as winnings count) then you have to play cash the next time.  I usually get around this by pulling $40 or $60 at a time and then popping a $20 into the machine the next time I go to the casino and playing a few hits. That should "break" the block and reset you, even if you don't play the whole $20.

Alternately I bring enough with me for bar tips then hit the slots ATM the last couple of days to prep for tipping out everyone else. I don't gamble much, so blocking me from a room charge at the casino the last few days isn't any problem. 

 

Well this explains why I randomly couldn't withdraw last cruise!  I got confused when the option wasn't there after I had used it earlier in the day to grab tip money. But then my friend handed me money to gamble with, and when I lost that I tried again and the option had reappeared.  I never connected the dots, so thanks for the info!

[Matt]

On 6/3/2024 at 9:28 AM, Riley said:

I use the slots as ATM too, but note: if you do this throughout the cruise plan to draw a fairly low amount at a time as the system locks down future room charges until/unless you have played 50% of what you draw.

Interesting, I was not aware of this, but how the heck would they know it? Slots, sure you could do that but table games arent nearly as well tracked.

I'm just curious how this is tracked on the backend with any kind of accuracy, or if there's just a threshold you could hit from withdrawals in the same way a credit card notices unusual activity.

[AshleyDillo]

53 minutes ago, Matt said:

Interesting, I was not aware of this, but how the heck would they know it? Slots, sure you could do that but table games arent nearly as well tracked.

I'm just curious how this is tracked on the backend with any kind of accuracy, or if there's just a threshold you could hit from withdrawals in the same way a credit card notices unusual activity.

They don't track play through on tables..but there's the 5% fee for charging to the room if you don't have casino status there.

It's definitely done on slots. I always take out a large sum at first at the slots, usually $500.  I've had it locked for further withdrawals until I've played through $250..sometimes I can do multiple withdrawals the first day without playing through but it will be locked out the following day when I try.

[billdauterive]

9 hours ago, AshleyDillo said:

They don't track play through on tables..but there's the 5% fee for charging to the room if you don't have casino status there.

It's definitely done on slots. I always take out a large sum at first at the slots, usually $500.  I've had it locked for further withdrawals until I've played through $250..sometimes I can do multiple withdrawals the first day without playing through but it will be locked out the following day when I try.

Correct.

[Pattycruise]

15 hours ago, Matt said:

Interesting, I was not aware of this, but how the heck would they know it? Slots, sure you could do that but table games arent nearly as well tracked.

I'm just curious how this is tracked on the backend with any kind of accuracy, or if there's just a threshold you could hit from withdrawals in the same way a credit card notices unusual activity.

Your card is tracked along with the play.  “They” are watching!

[Thoodt]

I just posted this same ? a few mins ago - thx all for info!