How much cash do you take?

[ruascott]

I am doing some last minute preparations, but am still unsure how much cash/traveler's checks we should take.

 

We are doing all our excursions through non-ship operators. I can pay using a CC in Grand Cayman, but cash is required in Jamaica. I'd want to use cash as well in Cozumel. But beyond the excursion prices, which I know about....how much actual cash do you take for incidentals, tips, lunch in port, souveniors, etc....oh and then there's the gambling budget :D.

[Grand Prix Racer]

Now that is a very loaded question. First I would have travelers checks for most the amount and $200 in US dollars. The amount is going to be determined by how much you gamble, how much you want to tip, items bought in port and other expenses. Most places take AMex or Visa. Anything on board you will be able to charge to your sea pass.

[ruascott]

Yeah, obviously the gambling budget was kind of in jest, because that could range greatly from $0 - unlimited. So, besides gambling how much would you take? Also, is there anyway to get cash on the ship? ATMs, etc...?

[andersonrm]

Yeah, obviously the gambling budget was kind of in jest, because that could range greatly from $0 - unlimited. So, besides gambling how much would you take? Also, is there anyway to get cash on the ship? ATMs, etc...?

 

Well, not knowing how many are in your party, and what activities you've planned while in port, perhaps $50/day per person? That should cover lunch, tips, and a couple of souvenirs for each person. I know that traveler's checks are considered 'old school', but we always bring them, keep them in the safe, and cash as needed at Guest Relations. Avoids the 3% casino fee, and ATM fees (yes, ATM's are available onboard). Any leftover is brought home and deposited back into our account.

[waterrats]

We gauge our cash on what we expect to spend at the ports. For our September cruise we are on RCCL's private island (only place to spend cash is in the market. We usually bring about $40 if any. The market sellers are ruthless), Cozumel ( I go diving plus wife gets a massage, couple hundred here) and then Costa Maya (never been here so probably $200). Lately I have been bringing a check or two with me. There is no fee at the service desk to gain cash from cashing a check. Depending on your bank, you may have to pay a fee to use the ATM.

 

Joe

[daleb85]

We only take "tip money" and get other cash as needed from the ATM's.

It helps that I don"t have to pay any ATM fees so I'm never far from a

supply of cash.

[Aubiecruiser]

We've only done long cruises since 2003 so for our 11 day cruises in the Caribbean I take about $4000 cash. On our 12 day Med cruise I took 1000 euros (about $1400 us) and $5000 u.s. in cash. We set a rule and save up for our vacations and only use credit cards for pre and post cruise hotel rooms and pay cash for everything else.

Gary

[FreshOffTheBoat]

We've only done long cruises since 2003 so for our 11 day cruises in the Caribbean I take about $4000 cash. On our 12 day Med cruise I took 1000 euros (about $1400 us) and $5000 u.s. in cash. We set a rule and save up for our vacations and only use credit cards for pre and post cruise hotel rooms and pay cash for everything else.

Gary

 

Thats a lot of money to be talking.

 

I don't gamble but I am taking $500 for a weeks cruise.

[cruisebunnies]

Take every penny you can get your hands on,if you come back with any money you didn,t have enough fun!

[cb at sea]

It's the gambling budget that will determine how much you should take....you can probably get by with about $100 or less per port day (not including excursions)....but how much you can afford to lose gambling isn't anything we can speculate about!

 

We usually take about $1500 per week on vacations (more if it includes gambling!)...and we seldom spend it all. Our bank is happy for us to redeposit that which we don't spend!

[sealeggs]

I usually take exactly what I need.

[bluegirlum]

I got a great suggestion here on CC for Oasis--envelopes for each day/port. One for pre-cruise, one for first day (luggage guys at port, taxi to port, etc), tips for room service in one envelope so we didn't have to search for singles ($5 each day), then an envelope for each port. We put aside the cash we needed for the excursion in Cozumel plus $100 for lunch/drinks/souvenirs, $100 for Costa Maya (no excursion) and $40 for Labadee (for market--only spent $10). I put aside what I wanted to spend in Casino and BF had his own envelope for that. Finally, we had a separate envelope for steward and waitstaff tips, and a "last day" envelope for the taxi to the airport, lunch, and parking at the airport. It was really helpful to have it all set out in advance.

 

BF and I won enough in the casino to pay off our seapass account in cash, and to pay all our tips, so that was nice! :)

[waterrats]

It's the gambling budget that will determine how much you should take....you can probably get by with about $100 or less per port day (not including excursions)....but how much you can afford to lose gambling isn't anything we can speculate about!

 

We usually take about $1500 per week on vacations (more if it includes gambling!)...and we seldom spend it all. Our bank is happy for us to redeposit that which we don't spend!

 

That is a lot of cash if you are on a cruise. Most cruiselines don't offer a way of spending cash unless you are paying your cruise account off with the cash before leaving. I charge our expenses to our RCCL card so that we can earn double points while on the cruise. We are also at another free cruise.

 

Joe

[cynt]

I take $100 cash - small bills. I put everything else on the credit card and payoff when I get home. Personally, I don't like carrying around cash.

[waterrats]

We've only done long cruises since 2003 so for our 11 day cruises in the Caribbean I take about $4000 cash. On our 12 day Med cruise I took 1000 euros (about $1400 us) and $5000 u.s. in cash. We set a rule and save up for our vacations and only use credit cards for pre and post cruise hotel rooms and pay cash for everything else.

Gary

 

Just remember that how ever much money you take that most insurance would only cover a loss of about $250 if mugged. I would constantly be looking over my shoulder if bringing that much cash. Credit cards are much safer when traveling over seas especially to some of the islands. If I get mugged for $40, at least it is only $40 and not $500 cash. That would make the experience that much worse.

 

Joe

[Aubiecruiser]

Just remember that how ever much money you take that most insurance would only cover a loss of about $250 if mugged. I would constantly be looking over my shoulder if bringing that much cash. Credit cards are much safer when traveling over seas especially to some of the islands. If I get mugged for $40, at least it is only $40 and not $500 cash. That would make the experience that much worse.

 

Joe

 

I didn't say I walk around with that much cash on me. I keep it in the safe, except for what I think I might need that day. I give myself $100 to gamble on per day and don't go over it even if I'm ahead for the week. It's nice to bring some cash back home since our "bar tabs" usually

run over $1800 for a cruise.

Aubie

Aubie

[catlady27]

I am doing some last minute preparations, but am still unsure how much cash/traveler's checks we should take.

 

We are doing all our excursions through non-ship operators. I can pay using a CC in Grand Cayman, but cash is required in Jamaica. I'd want to use cash as well in Cozumel. But beyond the excursion prices, which I know about....how much actual cash do you take for incidentals, tips, lunch in port, souveniors, etc....oh and then there's the gambling budget :D.

 

A boat load :D Usually about $1,500 to $2,000.

[windjammerB&C]

Just remember that how ever much money you take that most insurance would only cover a loss of about $250 if mugged. I would constantly be looking over my shoulder if bringing that much cash. Credit cards are much safer when traveling over seas especially to some of the islands. If I get mugged for $40, at least it is only $40 and not $500 cash. That would make the experience that much worse.

 

Joe

You also should be very careful using your charge cards I have heard some pretty bad stories of those beautiful islands we all go to.

[lovemylab]

How much I take is not really going to tell you how much you need.

 

I research to determine what I will be doing in each port and then figure out how much it will cost.

 

Lunch's in port can be very cheap or very expensive depending on where you plan on eating (and the ports you are visiting). Personally, I have never had lunch in a port - we usually eat a big breakfast onboard and then have a late lunch once we return back to the ship. Since we have late dinner seating we find this works well.

 

As for souvenirs, if you plan to buy little knick knacks than you don't have to allow much. But if your idea of a souvenir is a new pair of earrings from Diamonds International than you will need to budget more. I generally buy edible souvenirs such as rum cakes, spices and candy. On a 7 day cruise I doubt I would spend more than $100 on these things.

 

We generally take about $1500 in cash/travellers cheques for a 7 day cruise. We only take onshore the amount that we will need for that day - the rest stays in the safe. While I do take my credit card, I prefer not to use it. Whatever is leftover at the end of the week gets applied towards our seapass card.

[HoneyDad]

I will be taking $80,000 USD and staying in room 1684. I never use the safes I don't trust them. ;)

[Bakincakes]

I will be taking $80,000 USD and staying in room 1684. I never use the safes I don't trust them. ;)

 

 

I don't blame you.

 

Leave your door ajar too...can't trust those darn seapasses either.;)

[rubrrick]

I don't blame you.

 

Leave your door ajar too...can't trust those darn seapasses either.;)

 

 

Bakincakes........have you already checked what cabins are left....and are you booked???:D:D:D

 

LOL

 

Rick

[bluegirlum]

I will be taking $80,000 USD and staying in room 1684. I never use the safes I don't trust them. ;)

 

HA. I was thinking the same thing!