Sorry, the search is not working, or maybe nobody posted before... I was on a cruise, but didn't pay much attention to the casino.

How do you keep track of how much is spent? I assume, the key card is used for slot machines?

In a regular casino, I would just put a paper bill in the slot, and play till it's over. How would I know how much spent on a ship?

I'll be going with at least one gambler (more may join us) Dawn Princess San Francisco RT to Alaska in June.

We've been on both the Dawn, and the Sun, sister ships. We used coins or bills in the slot machines, not our key card.

In the 3 ships I've been on, you used cash in the slot machines. The way you keep track of how much you spent is to know how much you had in your pocket when you go in, and how much you have when you leave... . I've never seen a "key card" used on a cruise ship. In casinos in Vegas, etc in the US - you get a "card" that builds up points for you, but you still have to put in cash to get it started. I don't remember seeing that in any of the cruise ships..... Where ever you go, you still need cash to gamble..... There are ATMs in the casino to help you in case you run out of money....

Oh, this is great, thank you both! I thought somehow the whole cruise is cashless as one can make purchases in on-board stores only using the key card!

This is good news as I'm trying to get our relatives to go with us, let me put it this way, they leave all cards at home before going to a casino as they get too "excited" and did spend too much in the past.

So, cash is needed for tips if I don't want to put it on the credit card, for casino... That's it for on-board, right?

On the Princesss cruise, you can use your key card to get gambling money and get charged to your cabin (and in turn on your "registered" credit card on file). In a sense, you can really crusie cashless.

There is a limit of $1,000 per day and $5,000 maximum for a 7 day cruise. Of course, if you win money at the casino, that is your cash right there.

Tips get charged to your cabin at $10 per day per person. You can change that amount if you wish. Any drinking tabs that you signed gets 15% tips added on. There are ATM machines on the ship so you really don't need to bring cash. However, when you leave the ship for shore excursions, you do need money to tip the tour guides and drivers.

We heard of a lady on one of our cruises that thought she was really winning. It turned out the slot player at 'her' slot machine had forgotten to take her card out of the machine when she left. The 2nd lady thought she was winning because she could keep pulling the handle! When the 1st lady realized her card was still in the machine, there was nothing anyone could do as to the new losses the 2nd lady had!

Wow, Bonnie, this sounds scarry!

Faina,

Only on certain Princess ships can you use your key card to transfer money from your account to the machine. The newer ships I'd assume. I don't believe the older ships have been refitted.

If you get your gambling money thru your Princess account (as eschew mentioned) they will charge you something like 3% for the service. Not a deal in my book.

You can play all your slots with cash and not worry about leaving your card behind and someone else using your money. So it's not really a worry.

You'll be on Princess, we were just on Carnival and they were really hyping using your Sign and Sail Card. "Just slip it in the machine, transfer funds into and out of the machine from your account" etc.
They run almost non-stop promo's for it on one of the TV channels in your room.

We avoid ship casinos since they have no competition (where else are you going to gamble when at sea?), lower odds, etc. but... to each his own, so enjoy and have fun on your cruise to Alaska. Sounds like a beautiful trip you have planned.

My husband is the type who never asks for directions And his English is so low, he wouldn't even care to find any info. So my concern is he'll put a card in thinking this is the best way to play the sluts

All I have to do is to explain everything you've said, no problem, thanks all!

I didn't know the sluts are now accepting Sign & Sail card!!! I'm booking this cruise right now!!!

I am not sure about the 3% surcharge on the Princess key card as I don't use it in the casino anyway. I usually "tag" $100 for entertainment (gambling) and once it is spent, I'm done. Best Casino deals are the tournaments. You put a little money in the pot and can play for a lot longer than with the actual money.

The odds should be the same for the table games. As to the slots ... who know what the odds are.

I can't comment on the "So my concern is he'll put a card in thinking this is the best way to play the sluts" as it is strictly "personal choice" - to coin a phrase from the Princess lingo.