I was also surprised to find that HAL did not have ATM's on board. For the CM Hong Kong to Osaka cruise on Statendam, we will be taking travelers checks for the first time in ten years. They can be cashed at the ship's customer service desk or used on shore.
ATM's are readily available in most Caribbean and European ports and are also available in Hong Kong and Japan but are not readily available in other areas of China.
The casino is still an option and you can have cash charged to your account at the customer service desk.
Take care,
Mike