First-time Cruiser!!! Do I need CASH or is it okay to rely on my debit card? ALSO..

[Tiffknee20]

This will be my first cruise out of Miami (Victory) for Western Carribbean (7 nights). We actually live in Tampa, and will be taking a charter bus down to Miami...Has anyone had this experience? I was just wondering what to expect. Didn't know if we would be packed like sardines, or if it would be mostly empty. My other question was....About how much in CASH should I bring? I am obviously going to have my debit/credit card as well. Thanks guys! :)

[megr1125]

You'll need cash for tips (unless you are putting them on your on-board account-but you may want extra cash for room service or extra for the bartenders).

 

Also you'll need some for porters for your bags and things you want in port. You may want to use a regular credit card to secure your on board account then switch to debit near the end of the cruise. Or you can put down cash, but you'll have to keep going to the purser's desk when the funds get low. (It gets very busy too!)

 

Charges for ATMS on the ship are about $5 each...you can usually make out better in port. I didn't pay any fees on my RCL southern cruise last year, and I got US dollars, not local currency.

 

Maybe you'd need 100/per day just for expenses (not including onboard stuff).

 

Remember, the ship will take the money for your on board account out of your checking account daily so you may not want to tie up that kind of money. Not sure exactly how Carnival does this, but I think RCCL did maybe $250 authorization on a regualr credit card.

 

Can't speak about the bus but I would guess it may be crowded. (Trains and planes are packed so why should a bus be any differetn! LOL)

 

Let me know if you have any other questions...can't help much with carnival but moneywise maybe.

[Tiffknee20]

Really? $100/day? Are you including food, drinks, etc? I believe everything is pretty much paid for including food, etc. I thought we only need to pay for alcoholic beverages. I guess $100/day total is about right- but that's including EVERYTHING- not only cash, right?

 

Sorry so confusing. :)

[Tmeister]

$75-100 a day for a couple sounds like a safe amount to me, too. Many expenses (souvenirs and other shopping, drinks, food, taxis, etc.) when you're off the ship will be paid for in cash. The dollar is almost universally accepted in the Caribbean, but you may get change in local currency, so try to carry an assortment of small bills. Larger shops may take credit cards, but most small ones do not.

[trish1c]

The $100 per day per person "standard" is the overall budget for all spending beyond what you already paid for the cruise. It includes tips, excursions, photos, bingo, gambling, shopping & alcohol. Realize we're telling you that for 2 people on a 7 day cruise, you will spend approximately $1,400 more that you have already shelled out.

 

Your question seemed to be, how much CASH should enter into that mix. I don't have a universal answer for that b/c it depends on you. I will tell you that I budget for the above on my credit cards. Then I bring about $200 in cash, at least $50 of which is in small bills.

 

I hope that helps.

[Tiffknee20]

Definitely does. Thanks a bunch!

[Cotton]

Tiff, I'm a Carnival cruiser. Only YOU can determine how much you spend on the ship. $100 per day is only a guess. Personally, I spend MUCH LESS than that.

 

You're assuming correctly about most everything already being paid for. All meals and beverages (except alcohol and soft drinks) are included in your cruise. If your ship has a "specialty restaurant", there is a charge, but will go on your S&S account. However, I LOVE the dining room food, so would have no reason to eat elsewhere. Room service food/bev. are included, as well.

 

On your Sail & Sign account, your automatic tips will be the first item on the account. Anything else you purchase on the ship will be put on your account....like gift shop purchases, photos, alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, etc.

 

The only cash you will need while on board is for tips to the room service delivery person ($1 or $2 each time), extra tips for bartenders IF you want to (BUT, bear in mind that all drinks have a 15% gratuity already), so really no need to tip extra. If you go to the casino, you'll probably use cash.

 

It will be entirely up to you, but you MAY want to tip your cabin steward and/or dining room waiter a little something extra in cash prior to leaving the ship. I always do this on the last day.

 

Prior to boarding, you'll want to tip the porters at the dock $1 per piece of luggage. (These are not Carnival employees, but are employed by the city's port authority.)

 

As suggested above, take smaller bills when you're going ashore.

 

Debit Card - I use mine for everything. I pay for the cruise with it, then they 'swipe it' prior to boarding when checking in, and I never think about it again. I never have to go to othe purser's desk to 'settle my account'....it's all done.

 

Oh, another thing to save yourself some $$. Since you live in Tampa and will be sailing from there, it would be easy to take your own soft drinks. Carnival allows a "reasonable amount" to be brought on board. Also bottled water.

 

Hope this helps. Enjoy your cruise!:)

[Tiffknee20]

Thanks, Cotton!

 

That will be ALOT of help. :)

[2Cruise4Ever]

Tif, the amount of cash you bring really is up to you. But, most people figure $100 per day per couple. My DH and I always bring more than that, just in case. But, we've always come back. Now, one thing no one else has mentioned is cash vs. traveller's checks. We ALWAYS only bring 1/2 of what we intend to spend in actual CASH. We bring the rest in traveller's checks for safety reasons. I hate to say it, but there are some pretty sneaky people on the islands you visit. And, it would be just terrible if your purse was stolen with all your money in it. Also, keep in mind how much your shore excursions will cost. Those are the ones that get ya'.

 

 

Most cruise lines offer a "drink card" for one flat fee that will get you unlimited sodas. But, you're right, the alcohol is separate. Most drinks are around $6.50 a piece and do include a tip for the bartender.

 

Happy Sailing!

[megr1125]

On AOS last year my mom & i spent about $300 on board, half of which (about) was the tips. We tipped about another $50 in cash for room service, extra bar tips and some to the cabin attendant & servers. We took probably $1200 in cash & travelers checks between us. I probably got $200 in cash out of ATMS in port.

 

We came home with over $700 and that included what we spent for 2 days pre-cruise, and 3 post in San Juan.

 

I always think it's better to have more than you need and come home with some money. We had a drink a day and maybe 1 bottle of wine or 2, and bought about 5 pix, and a couple little ship souveniers...

 

Have a good time

[pegmora1]

Can you cash traveler's checks on the boat??:confused: I am sailing on Carnival Valor July 10th!!!:D

[pegmora1]

:confused: Can you cash traveler's checks on board?? I am sailing on Carnival Valor July 10th

[trish1c]

Yes you can cash traveler's checks at the Purser's desk.