What's the best way to bring spending money?

[soccersharon]

I bring cash for excursions...only bring what I need for the day and put the rest of my cash in my safe in the room. :D:p

 

 

Same here. After I convert our $$$ to US funds, I divide up what I owe for private tours into envelopes, along with our confirmations etc. This way, when we pull into port, I'm ready - and we can't spend this $$$ by mistake.

[topofE]

Interesting. I assumed cc were the safetest since you can dispute them. But honestly, i guess fraud never crossed my mind (who has two thumbs and is the perfect victim of fraud? :) ). Now I know to notify my bank.

 

On a similar note, how much does it cost to actually buy travelor's checks?

[Ehpride]

I tend to call Carnival ahead and put money on my S&S card and put down my card for backup. Just call the card issuer first so they know you are leaving the country.

 

We also use the envelope metod for hotel, tips, taxi, etc... Each person puts in their share before the trip in cash. Then it's already set aside.

[nautica34]

I also use travelers checks. I cash them at guest services or the casino prior to each port.

[misguidedangel]

The easiest way to do it is to use the credit card for the S&S and S&S only. You need to set a budget for how much you will need and/or be bringing and divide it up by port, casino, and leave money for extra tips and for money to spend in the airport.

 

Once you know how much you'll have to spend for the casino, ports, and for tips/travelling home you can divide it up and put notes/clips to separate it all. You'll be able to store it in the safe and take out what you need each day. Do remember to have a small stache of $1's and $5's for tips. If you plan on going to the piano bar then make sure you have extra $1/$5/$10 to tip the piano player to play your song...they're there to entertain you, but tipping guarantees your song is played....

 

I've always just used cash and didn't bother with travellers cheques. The safe in the cabin is secure, so no worries about safety!

[luddite]

The only place on the ship where you can spend money is the casino.

Use a credit card for on-board expenses and bring cash for the shore.

[Tbay-eh]

Interesting. I assumed cc were the safetest since you can dispute them. But honestly, i guess fraud never crossed my mind (who has two thumbs and is the perfect victim of fraud? :) ). Now I know to notify my bank.

 

On a similar note, how much does it cost to actually buy travelor's checks?

 

depends on your bank and type of account you have - mine are free because we also maintain a certain balance. Credit unions are usually very reasonable

[chasinraynbowz]

I am curious... where do you people get your travelers checks? My credit union no longer carries them.

[ferretface]

We take a coupon clipper envelope and have sections divided for each port, extra tips, airport food, gambling, excursion etc and have our cash divided up. 10+ trips and it's worked well so far

[Sh1035]

Guess I'm just old school....I take about 200 bucks an island for the just in case plus whatever I need for an excursion. About 50 times later never had an issue. After all the visits don't really need the same crap but you never know.

 

Ship cost are on my cc plus extra cash for casino and tips! Seems easy and works so far.

 

So 7 day trip bring about 2k and hope the casino is kind or they give me more cash if I ask on my magical card.

[Andee]

Although we bring $200 or so in cash, we use our credit card for on board purchases, our debit card (it has the fewest fees) whenever we can ashore, and hit an ATM for additional walking around money, if need be. We also notify the cc company of where we'll be.

[johneeo]

I pre pay tips, give the line my credit card, and take a pile of cash with me.

[printingchick]

My anal planner side is showing...

 

I've developed a method that works for me. BEFORE the cruise, I calculate how much cash I expect to need at each port, based on our planned activities. For example, I typically book privately operated tours that require cash payment at the end of the excursion. I also figure out how many small bills I'll need for things like tips or beach chair rentals. I put this money into one of those small bank envelopes, marked with the name of the port. I keep these envelopes in the cabin safe, removing the one for that day as we disembark. It keeps me from taking too much/too little because it's difficult to compute accurately in the excitement of the moment. It also keeps me from over-spending due to crazy impulse buying. I obviously carry some CUSHION, but not enough to get me in trouble!!

[trish1c]

You can get travelers checks from AAA if you are a member.

Since travelers checks usually look like credit cards these days it's just easier to deal with a credit card, then pay it off when you get home.

We bring some cash but don't like to travel with a lot of cash. If you have larger bills you should get them changed on the ship. We rarely take more than $20 each with up in port because excursions are pre-paid & there is rarely anything interesting to buy.

[Talisker92]

I take a bunch of $1 bills for tips to shore excursion guides. I use my credit card for all large purchases and all my shipboard charges. I get airline miles.

That being said, on our next cruise I will have over $1k in cash to pay for a number of independent shore excursions.

I have a waist wallet I wear enroute, then put it in the ship safe. I also have an ATM card that does not charge for foreign withdrawals.

If I need foreign currency, I get it from my bank. They charge $6 for shipping it to my local branch bank.

[RunnerGirl26.2]

DH and I use the envelope method.

 

I get as many envelopes as I will need for each day we are gone and date them. I figure how much cash we will need (food, transportation, shopping, etc) and put that amount in the envelopes.

 

I do the same as you for any trip. Budget cash for each day's expenses.

 

Instead of envelopes I use the snack size zipper bags--bills fit perfectly. Write on the bag with a marker which day the cash is to be used. Take out what you need for the day and the rest stays in the safe.

[KirkNC]

Get cash from ATMs.

[Putterdude]

We usually bring along about $1,000 in cash and try to pay as many excursions as possible in advance. We are able to purchase AMEX travelers checks from or bank commission free so have about $500 in t/cs in the event we run short of cash. We would not try to cash a t/c ashore but the Purser's Desk on the ship will always cash a $US travelers check. I detest paying ATM fees.

[Alex71]

This is why before I step foot on the ship I contact my credit card company and let them know where I will be each day. That way if a charge mysteriously shows up after I leave that port, they will know it's fraud.

 

In principle, I like the idea. My only concern is that the card wouldn't work if I missed a ship and needed it to pay for a hotel or alternative transportation.

[Nars Glinley]

In principle, I like the idea. My only concern is that the card wouldn't work if I missed a ship and needed it to pay for a hotel or alternative transportation.

If there was an issue, another call to the credit card company along with your security information would fix it. Cards from the larger banks (Bank of America, Capital One, etc) have a "Call collect from outside the US" number on the back of them.