mustcruise1217 Posted August 31, 2012 #1 Share Posted August 31, 2012 3 weeks from today we will be on a plane to FLL to board the Oasis the next day. I am putting away a little bit of cash each week to bring on our trip and yesterday realized I'm not really sure what I need cash for? Also we are stopping at Nassau, St. Thomas and St. Marteen. Are US dollars the currency at these places? What do I need cash for? Here's what I have so far- Cabs to/from FLL to hotel/port Cabs in St. Thomas/St. Marteen to beach Beach chairs/ drinks/food fun at beaches Casino What about shopping at ports? Cash or credit? Mostly everything on the ship can be charged back to the room right? Thanks for any info. As you can probably tell I'll take all the help I can get Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mn_isla_girl Posted August 31, 2012 #2 Share Posted August 31, 2012 Yes, you definately need cash. How much really depends on you... Are US dollars the currency at these places? USD are accepted at all these ports. What do I need cash for? you got it..... Here's what I have so far- Cabs to/from FLL to hotel/port Cabs in St. Thomas/St. Marteen to beach Beach chairs/ drinks/food fun at beaches Casino What about shopping at ports? Cash or credit? That's personal preference, I only use cash. If you are buying things like jewelry and clothing from beach/street vendors they don't have credit card capabilities. Cash is best for haggling. Use small bills too, if you try to pay for a $6 necklace with a $20 bill they might say they don't have change. On the other hand if you plan to purchase a $600 diamond from a store, I'd use a card. Mostly everything on the ship can be charged back to the room right? Yes Thanks for any info. As you can probably tell I'll take all the help I can get Bring half as many clothes and twice as much money as you think you'll need and you'll be set!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ducklite Posted August 31, 2012 #3 Share Posted August 31, 2012 Don't forget tips for room service, porters, and beach attendants. Make sure you have plenty of smaller bills--I wouldn't take anything over a $20 and mostly $1's and $5's on that cruise. US currency is gladly accepted in all of those ports. I don't use credit cards in port, I use cash. The exception would be if I were making a large purchase in a brick and mortar store--this gives some purchase protection. Generally speaking the ship is cashless except the casino and tips. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cb at sea Posted August 31, 2012 #4 Share Posted August 31, 2012 The things you mentioned, cash in US dollars will be needed. Shopping....credit cards will work for regular stores, but straw market type places may only want cash, too. You can get larger bills broken down on the ship...don't bring wads of small bills...too bulky. Bring hundreds and break them down as needed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ducklite Posted August 31, 2012 #5 Share Posted August 31, 2012 I was thinking maybe a few hundred in mixed bills, hardly a "wad." I wouldn't bring anything over a $20, a lot of places refuse to accept them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tahqa Posted August 31, 2012 #6 Share Posted August 31, 2012 3 weeks from today we will be on a plane to FLL to board the Oasis the next day. I am putting away a little bit of cash each week to bring on our trip and yesterday realized I'm not really sure what I need cash for? Also we are stopping at Nassau, St. Thomas and St. Marteen. Are US dollars the currency at these places? What do I need cash for? Here's what I have so far- Cabs to/from FLL to hotel/port Cabs in St. Thomas/St. Marteen to beach Beach chairs/ drinks/food fun at beaches Casino What about shopping at ports? Cash or credit? Mostly everything on the ship can be charged back to the room right? Thanks for any info. As you can probably tell I'll take all the help I can get The Bahamian Dollar is pegged at 1:1 with USD and they will gladly accept USD. Though you may get change in Bahamian Dollar. St Thomas is an American Territory so the USD is the currency. The Dutch Side of St Maarten uses the Guilder and the French side uses the Euro, though in the tourist areas USD are accepted. Again, change may be in the local currency. All of these ports will accept major credit cards in the stores though there may be an exchange fee charged by your bank. You'll have to check on that. Any other services (cab rides, beach chair/umbrella rental, beach refreshments, etc) are going to be cash only. USD should be accepted, but might not be. In the major tourist areas they'll accept USD. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry and Lucille Posted August 31, 2012 #7 Share Posted August 31, 2012 Here is a web site that I use to compare what I am paying US compared to what the locals are charging. When in Roatan a couple of years ago, at a port shop, a lady was selling home made stuff. When I started to walk away, she had a special deal for me. She would sell me antique Honduran 20 Limpera coins for only $5.00 each. Hummmm. At that time, a Limpera was worth $0.05. US value when I get home $0.00. Only place I could ever sell or spend it would be in Honduras. If it is still a viable country. ;) http://www.xe.com/ucc/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsrdsrdsr Posted August 31, 2012 #8 Share Posted August 31, 2012 Dutch St. Maarten will take US Dollars, but French St Martin may not. I tried and failed to buy an ice cream with dollars on the French side. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted August 31, 2012 #9 Share Posted August 31, 2012 We have always used US $$ all over the Caribbean and we've visited almost all the major islands for about 40 years. Martinique and St. Bart's might be the two which prefer Euro but they definitely accept U.S. $. We just spent a week in FLL and watched Oasis sail in and out again. Our hotel had full view of Port Everglades. We also saw Allure sail in two days late. Isaac disrupted her schedule. Hope you have a great cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoofingPrincess Posted September 1, 2012 #10 Share Posted September 1, 2012 Dutch St. Maarten will take US Dollars, but French St Martin may not. I tried and failed to buy an ice cream with dollars on the French side. And I was successful in buying lunch in Marigot on the French side with USD. I guess it all depends on where you go.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chipq Posted September 1, 2012 #11 Share Posted September 1, 2012 Except for St Tom, when you are out shopping on the other islands bring enough small bills so that you can pay as close to exact change as possible to minimize the amount of local change yiu will be left with. http://luv2cruise.blospot.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kierra Posted September 1, 2012 #12 Share Posted September 1, 2012 In the St Maarten/Martin if they won't take USD will they take Euros? What do they take?I've got some Euros left over from last I was in Germany - wondering if i should take them along on the trip.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsrdsrdsr Posted September 1, 2012 #13 Share Posted September 1, 2012 French St. Martin will take Euros because that's their actual currency. Dutch St Maarten - I suspect they would. Although Netherlands Antilles Guilders is their actual currency, taxis (for example) advertise prices in Dollars, so they're familiar with the idea of using foreign currency. And if they have Euros they want changing, they'll no doubt be able to nip over the border and swap them for some spare dollars the French lads and lasses have collected. If it's Euros or No Sale, they'll take Euros. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted September 2, 2012 #14 Share Posted September 2, 2012 In the St Maarten/Martin if they won't take USD will they take Euros? What do they take?I've got some Euros left over from last I was in Germany - wondering if i should take them along on the trip.... We've been to St. Maarten at least a dozen or more times and never once had a problem using US $. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VillaHappy Posted September 2, 2012 #15 Share Posted September 2, 2012 You can get larger bills broken down on the ship...don't bring wads of small bills...too bulky. Bring hundreds and break them down as needed. UGH, who wants to wait in line just to break down hundred dollar bills? Small bills aren't that bulky. We group them and use paper clips. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Putterdude Posted September 2, 2012 #16 Share Posted September 2, 2012 You will find that the US dollar is widely accepted in the Caribbean and off the the top of my head I can't think of any place where we didn't get our change in US currency except for a small village store in Coxen Hole, Roatan where I did get my change in Honduras Lempiras. But it is the old story, keep your bills small. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Keith1010 Posted September 2, 2012 #17 Share Posted September 2, 2012 3 weeks from today we will be on a plane to FLL to board the Oasis the next day. I am putting away a little bit of cash each week to bring on our trip and yesterday realized I'm not really sure what I need cash for? Also we are stopping at Nassau, St. Thomas and St. Marteen. Are US dollars the currency at these places? What do I need cash for? Here's what I have so far- Cabs to/from FLL to hotel/port Cabs in St. Thomas/St. Marteen to beach Beach chairs/ drinks/food fun at beaches Casino What about shopping at ports? Cash or credit? Mostly everything on the ship can be charged back to the room right? Thanks for any info. As you can probably tell I'll take all the help I can get For major purchases Credit Card will work but for small trinkets I would use cash. If you order room service have cash for small tips. Also cash for the porters for help with your luggage. I always error on having too much cash. Have a great time. Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krazy Kruizers Posted September 3, 2012 #18 Share Posted September 3, 2012 Dutch St. Maarten will take US Dollars, but French St Martin may not. I tried and failed to buy an ice cream with dollars on the French side. Really? And I was successful in buying lunch in Marigot on the French side with USD. I guess it all depends on where you go.... I agree with RoofingPrincess -- we have never had a problem using US dollars on the French side. And we have gone to St Maarten - both sides -- many times. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krazy Kruizers Posted September 3, 2012 #19 Share Posted September 3, 2012 One other thing. We wait until we are on the ship to get small bills -- ones and fives for the ports. The front desk will be happy to make change for you. This way you don't have to carry a wad of small bills. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsrdsrdsr Posted September 3, 2012 #20 Share Posted September 3, 2012 Really? I don't understand the question. What do you mean? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnb0529 Posted September 3, 2012 #21 Share Posted September 3, 2012 UGH, who wants to wait in line just to break down hundred dollar bills? Small bills aren't that bulky. We group them and use paper clips. We get them before the cruise too. I HATE waiting in line at the cruise desk (although it can be entertaining to watch some of the passengers and their "problems" :eek: ). We are getting ready for a cruise in 4 weeks and I just found a stack of ones and fives :D from the last cruise stuck in an inside pocket of my travel backpack, so saved a trip to the bank! but also reminded me how little cash we actually ended up using! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thinfool Posted September 3, 2012 #22 Share Posted September 3, 2012 It's been awhile since there was a thread about using $2 bills in ports to tip your steward/waiter/etc. In short...don't. Few people, even US citizens have ever seen them and so believe them to be bogus. A news story in the last 2 weeks told of a young man who went into a Best Buy (in the USA) to pay off a debt. He decided to do it with $2 bills. In short, the police were called, he was arrested and charged with something that sounded horrible. It all worked out in the end, but how sad it happened. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eris0303 Posted September 4, 2012 #23 Share Posted September 4, 2012 Also, if you go on any excursions whether through the line or private, you ought to tip the driver/guide. A dollar or two is usually fine since in some countries a US dollar is a lot of money. I don't wait in line on the ship to get change either. I just go to the controller at my office and she'll make change for me using petty cash. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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