$1000..enough spending money?

[lilpinklady]

We're going on a 5 day cruise stopping in Cozumel and Costa maya...Will $1000 be enough spending money for tips,excursions,alcohol,etc...for the trip or should we plan on bringing more??

[serene56]

how many people?? Depends on your sepdning habits and what you like to do.

Me--Im cheap and frugal. I dont drink much and maybe ONE foo foo drinka day. and gamble for the heck of it.

 

I get drink copupons and photo coupons before we leave. Formal pictures are 20 bucks each. embarkation is 9.95

 

foo foo drinks are 2.95 for the drink of the day-- I got 20 bucks a day for gambling. My sign and sail card has not topped over 300 for 2 people for a 7. day cruise. We did all the excursions privavtly so that was prepaid also.

 

figure on 10.00 a day for tips per person.. 5 days= 50 bucks per person.

 

Here is a bar menu to price your drinks. http://community.webshots.com/album/37944457xihAnV

 

I think that 1000 for two people is more then enough and would bet that you come home with a lot left over.

[kitty9]

Are you bringing that much in cash? Bringing that much cash isn't a good idea--a credit card is much better and better protection for you. As for how much you need, a lot depends on you. Do you drink? Alcohol can add up. Will you purchase anything on the ship like t-shirts or photos? Those things can be expensive. Are you taking any ship's tours? Unless you drink a lot, and buy every photo, I think $1000 is a lot of money for a five day cruise. Plus, your tips can be added to your shipboard account, so you don't even need cash for that. Remember, you don't pay for anything on the ship in cash except for the casino---everything is charged to your shipboard account and that account is backed by the credit card you give them at the beginning of the cruise.

[CruiseFever]

We're going on a 5 day cruise stopping in Cozumel and Costa maya...Will $1000 be enough spending money for tips,excursions,alcohol,etc...for the trip or should we plan on bringing more??

 

I think so.

 

As noted above that's a lot of cash to walk around with, I'd spread it out over 2 or 3 forms of payment. Some cash, some credit card, some debit card or travelers checks, etc. For additional security I'd keep as much as possible in your cabin safe.

 

But I suspect your question is more about budgeting than security so here's more on budgeting. www.lifeiscruising.com/how_much_cash_

[Princess Chatterer]

Everything on the ship and cruise ship excursions goes on your credit card via your cruise card. I take about $400. $200 or so for me and $200 for my wife. I always come back with left over cash. If you buy diamonds at Diamonds International after the mandatory haggling, they'll always take plastic and the currency exchange rate will be done by your credit card company. On Princess you can buy foreign money typically from the on board money exchange machine. You can buy foreign stamps at the pursur's desk.

[bUU]

Seems to me that the main use for cash, besides gratuities, is for taxis and maybe some soft drinks while out-and-around in port. Anything else that folks should plan on bringing cash to pay for?

[happy cruzin]

I would have to agree with the other posts here. I would not take that much cash.

 

On carnival, you can not really use "cash" on board. Everything except the casino is charged to your "sign and sail" card.

 

If you have a credit card they will approve an amount ($200.00 per person to start...I think) when you get close to using the pre-approved amount they will get approval for another $200.00. The account is finalized the final night of the cruise and a copy is delivered to your cabin overnight.

 

I think if you do not have a credit card then you will have to put a cash on deposit with the pursers desk - but I have never done it that way. Maybe someone who has could share the details.

 

I too spend very little on board. We have a few drink and a few pictures. So our bill is minimal - less that 200.00 for us for 7 days.

 

I think carrying that much cash is just asking for trouble ;) . There are certainly other ways to cover your spending needs.

[lilpinklady]

I didn't mean actually carrying $1000 in cash. I just meant would that be enough to get us through the trip aside from the money to get the tickets. Would it cover things like tips,drinks,fun,a little shopping,etc.?? I think my question has been answered though...thanks!

[HMCruzer]

From what I hear, there are no phone lines in Mahajual, so no way to use credit cards. You will need a little cash for taxis, shopping and lunch if you are not doing an excursion there but just hanging out in town. In Cozumel, most of the restaurants can take credit cards, some of the smaller shops may not. So maybe a little there for taxi's and some shopping. What cruise are you on, mine also stops in Cosumel and Majahual. Grand Princess - Feb. 19, 2005

 

Cruz'n Mommy

[lilpinklady]

carnival 05-07-05 costa maya,cozumel

[teacup754]

We're going on a 5 day cruise stopping in Cozumel and Costa maya...Will $1000 be enough spending money for tips,excursions,alcohol,etc...for the trip or should we plan on bringing more??

 

If you are going on non-ship excursions in ports, a lot of those people want cash and don't take credit cards. the shops all take credit cards as far as i saw in cozumel..just be aware the slip will show in pesos so it looks like a lot, but your credit card company will convert it all to dollars on your bill.

[JanetScho]

I have the same question!

I need to know (for budgeting purposes) approx. how much more money we will spend not including our air/cruise ticket and shore excursions? We are not big drinkers,will shop for a few gifty things, !

[lilpinklady]

so i should put aside say 500 on my debit/credit card for use and bring the other in cash..maybe one traveler's check too to be extra safe

[madelinerose]

That'll work. ;)

 

so i should put aside say 500 on my debit/credit card for use and bring the other in cash..maybe one traveler's check too to be extra safe

[lilpinklady]

thanks! i just wanted to make sure saving 1000 for the trip would be good enough. we want to be able to enjoy ourselves but not go overboard...hopefully we'll have some left for our weekend after in new orleans!

[cruisead]

There's one big problem with using a debit card. Most cards have a very low daily limit to charge, and if your total ship's purchases go over that amount, you're going to have a problem. Most debits have around a $200 daily, one purchase at a time limit, so you need to find out what your bank does. Ships add up all your purchases, and then submit that amount to the bank---they don't submit charges each time you charge something. A regular credit card is much easier, and has a higher charge limit than a debit card.

[lilpinklady]

that won't be a problem....thanks for the info guys!

[royandjenn]

My husband and I just returned from a 7 day cruise and our tab came to 1400.00, which was pretty good compared to others. Shore tours were in that too... which on average worked out to $80 per person per excursion. Pictures $20 each, pop card(38.50), some souvenirs... and drinks... if u can avoid the alcohol... then u should not be too bad. That was just what we spent on the ship though... All together it was about 2400 for on and off shore things...

[lilpinklady]

My husband and I just returned from a 7 day cruise and our tab came to 1400.00, which was pretty good compared to others. Shore tours were in that too... which on average worked out to $80 per person per excursion. Pictures $20 each, pop card(38.50), some souvenirs... and drinks... if u can avoid the alcohol... then u should not be too bad. That was just what we spent on the ship though... All together it was about 2400 for on and off shore things...

 

 

That's alot...2400 for two people. or maybe I just don't know. I wish I had that much to put aside.I'll keep on saving!!!

[serene56]

My husband and I just returned from a 7 day cruise and our tab came to 1400.00, which was pretty good compared to others. Shore tours were in that too... which on average worked out to $80 per person per excursion. Pictures $20 each, pop card(38.50), some souvenirs... and drinks... if u can avoid the alcohol... then u should not be too bad. That was just what we spent on the ship though... All together it was about 2400 for on and off shore things...

 

 

wowsers-- I dont even come close. I think the most we spend was 300.00 and yes that included tips for the two of us. We are very cheap. But also prepay alot of our stuff.

[Sheffie]

Another thing to know is that if you want to buy anything on the islands from a vendor, you will want to have cash.

[beaming90]

Is our money really safe in the in room safe? Just kinda wondering about that...!

 

And having never used travelers checks before, can they be cashed on the ship or used in port? We will be in Nassau and Freeport. Thanks for all the great ideas!!

[serene56]

Beam: your safe is as safe as you make it. Do not use your sign and sail card. If you lose whatever card you used to secure it --it will take awhile for someone to get it opened. Cabin steward do not have access to that.

 

As far as travelers check--- pursers desk will cash them for free.

[beaming90]

That is good to know, thanks! Someone else said that on the fantasy you do not use a card, you program in a series of numbers on the safe. Thanks!!

[Yohimbe35]

Just a point of information. Make sure and call your banks and find out your limit on your debit cards. I was all worried about not having enough of a limit until I called today. $500 available per day out of a ATM, and $1500 a day for purchases. This is available of course if you have that amount in your account.

So a debit card would work just fine for me.