How much cash should I bring?

[RLA2010]

I know this question is probably asked a lot but I truly have no clue how much to bring. We're cruising on the Carnival Liberty Sep 11 to Cozumel, Grand Cayman & Ocho Rios.

 

Here's some details about us:

 

We're going to auto pay tips on our credit card after the cruise. We've already paid for our excursions. We don't drink (alcohol or soda), gamble and don't plan on going to the spa. If we buy something from the shops on the boat we'll use our sign and sail card. Basically we'll only need cash for tips on the ship and buying stuff at the ports (unless there's something else I'm forgetting). Does $300 sound like enough for 2 people? Is that too much? I don't want to carry around all this cash if I don't end up needing it...

 

Can we use credit cards at the ports anyway? They will take US dollar if we bring cash, right?

[Keith1010]

Remember when you go into port you can leave some of the money on the ship in the safe.

 

Also bring a credit card and if you have one an ATM card.

 

Be sure to contact the banks for these cards before you leave for the trip to give them your itinerary and dates of the trip so they don't think there is fraud.

 

You can also charge your tips on the ship to your shipboard account. If you are taking any tours you will use a little cash for a tip.

 

You wil need to give a tip when you check in your luggage at the pier and if you are taking a taxi over to the pier you may need cash for that.

 

There have been some changes in Cozumel so I think that USA currency is no longer accepted there.

 

In stores just use a credit card.

 

I think the amount of cash you are taking sounds good.

 

Enjoy!

 

Keith

[operafan]

Just remember, if you bring too much you can always bring it home.

[cb at sea]

I would bring more, and take any unused $$ home. Better to have more than you need, than not enough! You don't need to "carry it around"...stick it in your cabin's safe! Bring large bills (easier to carry than wads of smaller denominations) and break them down as needed on the ship. Any larger purchases ashore can be bought with a credit card, if you want to.

[ZIPPY5150]

I usually bring about $100 in $1's and $5's for tips and on shore small trinket purchases. I also bring another $200 in $10's & 20's for larger tips (Room Steward, and Wait staff) plus it will cover any slightly larger purchases on shore. If my on shore purchases are over $100 I use a credit card. That will usually cover it on a 7 day cruise if you don't plan on gambling.

 

I tip my room steward and the wait staff on the first day. That way they will really go out of their way for you for the rest of the week. I also tip once or twice during the week. An extra $5 or $10 tip here or there is well worth it as far as I'm concerned.

 

Zippy

[Keith1010]

I just want to note that one can just charge their on board tips to their shipboard account so that cash would not be needed for that and most people tip at the end of their cruise.

 

Keith

[ZIPPY5150]

I just want to note that one can just charge their on board tips to their shipboard account so that cash would not be needed for that and most people tip at the end of their cruise.

 

Keith

 

True, But a face to face tip is always more personal. I do leave the automatic tips on my account at the end of the cruise, but I also tip face to face during the cruise. A small tip goes a long way, as far as "extra" service.

 

Zippy

[uppitycats]

I know this question is probably asked a lot but I truly have no clue how much to bring. We're cruising on the Carnival Liberty Sep 11 to Cozumel, Grand Cayman & Ocho Rios.

 

Here's some details about us:

 

We're going to auto pay tips on our credit card after the cruise. We've already paid for our excursions. We don't drink (alcohol or soda), gamble and don't plan on going to the spa. If we buy something from the shops on the boat we'll use our sign and sail card. Basically we'll only need cash for tips on the ship and buying stuff at the ports (unless there's something else I'm forgetting). Does $300 sound like enough for 2 people? Is that too much? I don't want to carry around all this cash if I don't end up needing it...

 

Can we use credit cards at the ports anyway? They will take US dollar if we bring cash, right?

 

I personally don't think $300 is enough for 2 people. I'd be a lot more comfortable with $300 each! You can always bring the cash home.

 

While you can use credit cards at the ports (I'm assuming you're going to the Caribbean?) there are lots of small vendors that don't take cards. And if you only want small items, like under $10 (a bottle of water, a juice drink...it's HOT down there!), it seems unweildly to pull out the credit card.

 

If you have an ATM card, it'll work to get cash, too, should you run out.

 

You don't have to carry around all that cash. You'll have a small safe in your room quite adequate to keep your cash and other valuables, and you can only pull out what you'd need for each port...probably less than $50, given what you've said.

 

But it's always better to have too much cash than not enough, and have to scramble to find an ATM, or cash a check, or withdraw cash through your credit card!

[Juls22]

RLA2010! I'm going on that same cruise! BUT I drink, gamble and maybe visit the spa! I'm hoping $300 will be enough just for me but I know that is wishful thinking!! Not to change the subject but how do you get your cruise countdown on your signature?

[uppitycats]

RLA2010! I'm going on that same cruise! BUT I drink, gamble and maybe visit the spa! I'm hoping $300 will be enough just for me but I know that is wishful thinking!! Not to change the subject but how do you get your cruise countdown on your signature?

 

Countdown clock: Go to the top of the page, and look for a beige colored horizontal column (column running across the page). One of the entries there is "countdown clock". Click on that, and you'll be directed to a page where you can set it up.

[Juls22]

got it thanks!!

[Chopola]

My husband and I took 500 total last year and bought one shirt, the rest of it went on booze and I think we brought some home.

 

It really depends on if you like to buy trinkets or gifts for people.

 

If we werent drinkers 300 would have been more than enough for us.

[BruceMuzz]

How much cash should you bring?

 

Twice as much as you think you will need.

[CapKAOS]

When my wife and I went on our first cruise in January we took $200. We found out that you can go to the Purser's desk and they will give you an advance on your shipboard account.

 

We told our bank where we were going, but when I went to use an ATM, it was denied. We found out after we got back home that the bank had not noted it in their computer system.

[RLA2010]

Thanks for all the advice everyone!! I suppose it is better to bring extra and not use it...I wasn't planning on walking around with all $300 everywhere but I will be carrying it from the time I leave my house to when I board the ship ;) I just get anxious about walking around with wads of cash. If I lose my purse, the cash is gone. The cards I can cancel. Guess I'm just not a cash gal! :cool:

 

Maybe we'll up it to $400 but I can't imagine us using much more than that.

 

And HEY Juls22! Have you posted on the rollcall board for our cruise?

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1163149&page=5

[JenniJ2]

We will be going on our first cruise in October and I was wondering the same question about the cash. Thanks to all for their tips.

 

 

 

 

[griffy116]

We book a couple of excursions through the cruise line just because I'm lazy and don't want to research and o them online. We have a few drinks during the day, buy a soda card, do a little in the casino (which gets away from you fast), buy a few things from the shops on board and in ports (Christmas Ornament, shot glasses, t-shirts, rum cake, a little liquor), pay for a few taxi rides to beach or wherever, get a lounge/umbrella rental on the beach, buy a couple of bottles of wine, do the tips (which I assume you didn't take from the $200), pay for parking at pier (maybe you don't add that either), few light refreshments in some of the ports, drink or 2 at shows like ice show and Quest and one or two photos. You do the math, but it always costs more than I think I'll spend. I know it's more than $200 for the two of us. Everyone's different, though by the time you pay for parking and tips to waiters, asst. waiters, stewards, etc. that's pretty near impossible to achieve. Even without those two items, I still think my list exceeds $200. Most excursions are around $50-$75 pp. Drinks, even w/o the souvenior glass (which we DON'T get) are around $5.75-$6 each out by the pool. That's about $24 per day by itself. No alcohol, no gambling still leaves the excursions, taxi's, lounge chair/umbrella rentals, soda card, a few souveniors. How do you keep the total so low???

[Happy ks]

I tip my room steward and the wait staff on the first day. That way they will really go out of their way for you for the rest of the week. I also tip once or twice during the week. An extra $5 or $10 tip here or there is well worth it as far as I'm concerned.

 

Zippy

 

I see this written occasionally and have to politely disagree. People who accept tips for a living actually think of pre-tipping as a bribe, or worse, think that is all they are getting for the week.

 

When I see what people write here on CC about "special" service, they list exactly the same "special" things everyone receives. Try it next time you cruise and you will see....no different. We've never lacked for great service, really only a couple of minor exceptions and all our cabin attendants and dining room staff have gone out of their way to make our cruises special.

 

We usually do give the people who serve us more cash above the amount recommended, at the end of the cruise as a thank you.

[goatgoat]

I also don't like to carry cash and I don't think we have ever taken more than $300 in cash. Your credit card will be charged with everything you buy on the ship and I have never had a problem using a credit card for purcases in ports. (If you have a problem, perhaps it will help you hold down optional expenses.) We use cash for limited tips (room service, porters, taxi drivers), taxi rides, parking (sometimes cash is required) and very minor purchases on shore (i.e., a soft drink, etc.)

 

If you have a credit card and a back up debit card to hit an ATM in an emergency, you should be fine.

[armymomjarmatt]

Remember when you go into port you can leave some of the money on the ship in the safe.

 

Also bring a credit card and if you have one an ATM card.

 

Be sure to contact the banks for these cards before you leave for the trip to give them your itinerary and dates of the trip so they don't think there is fraud.

 

You can also charge your tips on the ship to your shipboard account. If you are taking any tours you will use a little cash for a tip.

 

You wil need to give a tip when you check in your luggage at the pier and if you are taking a taxi over to the pier you may need cash for that.

 

There have been some changes in Cozumel so I think that USA currency is no longer accepted there.

 

In stores just use a credit card.

 

I think the amount of cash you are taking sounds good.

 

Enjoy!

 

Keith

I have heard this several times before, however I was informed they are still taking US currency. May I ask where you heard this? The reason we will be in Mexico the end of the month, and if that is the case currency is better to be exchanged in the states, or at least that is what I remember. Do you know if that still hold true? Thanks.

[RLA2010]

I also don't like to carry cash and I don't think we have ever taken more than $300 in cash. Your credit card will be charged with everything you buy on the ship and I have never had a problem using a credit card for purcases in ports. (If you have a problem, perhaps it will help you hold down optional expenses.) We use cash for limited tips (room service, porters, taxi drivers), taxi rides, parking (sometimes cash is required) and very minor purchases on shore (i.e., a soft drink, etc.)

 

If you have a credit card and a back up debit card to hit an ATM in an emergency, you should be fine.

 

 

Ok thanks :) I figured most would be charged on my CC but I knew I needed cash for tips. I think $300 should do us just fine :cool:

[JHCALLAHAN]

Unless things have changed drastically since May, you won't have ANY trouble spending Yankee dollars on Coz! (unless you don't bring enough!) :p .

 

If perchance you see some price that looks totally off the scale, like $100 for a Mexican beer, don't panic, that will be the price in pesos. They use the same $ symbol as the U.S. dollar. It ain't THAT bad. Yet. :mad:

 

I usually like to take at LEAST $100 on shore. Taxis, eats, etc. can eat up your cash pretty quick, and you will find places (and esp. taxis) that don't take plastic. We usually take $1000 for the wife and I on a cruise. Don't think we've ever spent that much, as we like to use plastic as much as possible, but there's no substitute for cash at times, and you can always bring it home if you don't spend it all.

 

JHC

[Electricflyer]

Whatever amount of cash you take make sure you have an ample supply of small denominations. Lots of 1's and 5's. If you purchase something with dollars in a foreign port you will usally get change in the local currency so with small bills you can reduce the money you may not be able to use until your next cruise.

[janina]

Make sure to bring lots of small bills for the islands. Meaning ones and fives. You can barter everywhere, and they like to pretend they don't have change. If your worried, bring a couple hundred in travelers checks and cash them on the ship if you need more than the $300.00.

[ducklite]

My rule of thumb with cruising is to bring double the amount of cash you think you'll need, and half the amount of clothes you think you'll need.