On a Princess Cruise, the daily maximum casino advance you can charge to your room is $5,000 per day. There are no additional fees for doing this, which surprises many first time cruisers.
When you charge casino funds to your stateroom, Princess runs a credit card authorization each day. The final charge typically settles after the cruise and shows up as a travel related charge, not as a cash advance. This is an important distinction, since cash advances often come with extra fees or higher interest rates from credit card companies.
If you prefer not to charge to your room, the casino also accepts cash, and there are ATMs available onboard. Just keep in mind that ATM fees can add up quickly, especially if you make multiple withdrawals.
Another option some cruisers use is Princess gift cards. These can be applied to your onboard account and then used for casino charges. Princess gift cards can be purchased through AARP at a discount, which makes them especially appealing for frequent cruisers or anyone planning casino play. Each gift card has a maximum value of $500.
AARP limits purchases to five gift cards per user per month, which means a maximum of $2,500 per month per AARP account. If you plan to rely on gift cards for casino play, it can be smart to start purchasing them a few months before your cruise so you have enough balance available.
As with anything casino related, it is a good idea to understand your limits ahead of time and plan accordingly. Princess makes it relatively easy to fund casino play, but knowing your options can help you avoid surprises once you are onboard.
