How to have money w/o bringing tons of cash

[jasbo49]

I'm sure this will seem like a lame question to some, but it's an honest one. What's the best way to have cash available in cruise ports without bringing a bundle of it? Back 15-25 years ago, when we used to travel more, we'd get a bunch of travelers' checks. But it seems like those have fallen out of favor with merchants.

 

I suppose we could do most things with plastic, but we don't really want to use credit cards in the ports we'll be visiting in the Western Caribbean. My wife, who plans to do more than a little shopping, is convinced she'll get better deals with cash.

 

I guess we could get travelers' checks and just cash some at the purser's desk before each port, but what do you all do? Thanks. (I'd run a search for this topic, but it seems the search function isn't available right now.)

 

Jim

[calliopecruiser]

What's the best way to have cash available in cruise ports without bringing a bundle of it?

 

ATMs! They're virtually everywhere, and if you've got an account at the right bank (or the right type of account), they can be inexpensive to use. They do dispense local currency, though, if that's an issue for you.

[Azulann]

i always bring some traveller checks using my American Express points. I cash them at guest relations for USD. I also bring some foreign currency for certain countries. I also brings some USD, and two credit cards, one of which I can use in an ATM machine.

[GORDONCHICK]

I think you can get a cash draw against your shipboard account (which would be secured by your credit card. The benefit to paying cash is that there's no currency conversion up charge on your credit card.

[Ashland]

I bring travelers checks...cash them onboard and then change those US$'s onboard the night before getting in to each port for their local currency that I think I might need..In addition I always bring my Capital One credit card...Also an ATM card that's inconjunction to a bank account that is not tied in (separate bank) with where all my main accounts are. Works well for us and the TC's we don't use just come back home with us...Easy and has worked in many many countries we have cruised to...Even used this TC method during our recent land only trip to China (cashed some TC's at our hotel and at the Bank of China).

[paul929207]

ATMs! They're virtually everywhere, and if you've got an account at the right bank (or the right type of account), they can be inexpensive to use. They do dispense local currency, though, if that's an issue for you.

If you are using ATM in a place where the US $ is not the currency, be careful about getting too much local currency. Anything you do not spend would have to be converted back and you would lose money

[johneeo]

Easiest thing to do is just bring a pile of cash. Works great for me.

[calliopecruiser]

If you are using ATM in a place where the US $ is not the currency, be careful about getting too much local currency. Anything you do not spend would have to be converted back and you would lose money

 

Or you could do the fun thing and just return on another vacation and spend the cash, LOL! There's about 50 Euros in my drawer waiting for me to return, which I'll be doing in a couple of months.

[Azulann]

Calliopecruiser,

I do the same thing.

I have some Euros, Pesos and Quetzals in my drawer right now. I know I will use them on some future vacation.:)

[hsaroya]

Easiest thing to do is just bring a pile of cash. Works great for me.

 

I would agree. I live in Canada and have a US dollar savings acct attached to my other accounts. When the Canadian dollar is a couple of cents over the US dollar, I dump some money into the US acct so that's it easily accessible prior to travelling and I don't have to worry about losing money should the Can dollar be lower. Others might have more info, but I'm not sure the fees at the port ATM's would be worth it. As for using credit cards for shopping, cash is definitely king and the only thing accepted at some of the markets/bazaars where the cheapest souvenirs can be found. If you're looking to haggle and get the best price while shopping, the sight of the American dollar will have more power than the credit card. We've taken 8 cruises and have had no problem with leaving our extra cash in the cabin safe.

[Hlitner]

Just beware that travelers checks are darn near obsolete except on cruise ships. As world travelers we have found that its very difficult to cash TCs in many places. In parts of Europe some banks now have signs saying they do not cash TCs. This is the era of plastic and ATMs.

 

Hank

[sailinglisa]

Has anyone ever used a pre-paid Visa or MC? You buy the card, put the money on the card and can reload the card whenever you want. Is there any difficulty using those in a caribbean port? I think it woud be a compromise between carrying a lot of cash and using your regular credit cards.

[calliopecruiser]

Just beware that travelers checks are darn near obsolete except on cruise ships.

 

And casinos ;) my sister always takes a bunch to Vegas instead of traveling with cash.

 

I agree, though, that they're really not used anymore and that either plastic or cash (obtained via plastic and an ATM machine) are the way to go.

[cb at sea]

Yes..the ship will easily cash traveler's checks...so no need to take them ashore...get the cash before you leave the ship!

You will have a safe in your cabin to store cash that you won't be carrying with you.

 

If you do bring cash, bring larger denominations...much easier to carry than wads of small bills. Again, the ship can "break down" larger bills.

[HeatherC430]

On my last cruise I had received a $50 prepaid VISA/Mastercard gift card as a birthday gift. I took it with me & it wasn't accepted anywhere I tried to use it! It was pretty much worthless to me outside of the US!

 

I always take alot of cash with me for spending in port. My envelope full of money goes in the safe. As we visit each port I take out how much I think I might need plus alittle bit extra. And always have my debit/credit card for any large purchases I might want to make.

 

The only part that's unnerving is carrying all that cash with you in the airport/flight/shuttle on our way to the ship. Once I'm onboard I don't have to worry about it.

 

No one argues with cash!

[Underwatr]

Has anyone ever used a pre-paid Visa or MC? You buy the card, put the money on the card and can reload the card whenever you want. Is there any difficulty using those in a caribbean port? I think it woud be a compromise between carrying a lot of cash and using your regular credit cards.

Too many fees - purchase fee, reload fee, foreign transaction fee, ATM fee...

[thinfool]

Easiest thing to do is just bring a pile of cash. Works great for me.

 

Same for us. We recently took about $1500. in cash, mostly $100. bills...left it in our safe. When we needed some to go ashore I went to the pursers desk and had the $100s changed into smaller bills.

 

Any large purchases happen with a credit card. By 'large' I mean anything over $150-$200. (wife is in charge of the cash or credit thing...she likes to chisel in the local jewelry shops, and the deals are way better in cash.)

[jasbo49]

Hello again. OP here. Thanks for the ideas everyone. It seems like the best thing -- for us anyway -- will be some travelers' checks cashed the night before a port call.

 

I know ATMs are part of life for most people, but we've resisted so far. I don't know whether it's the thing about paying to use your own money or what. We used to get free travelers' checks at our bank, so I hope we still do.

 

As for the wad of cash approach, it turns out my wife's more concerned about the two days in New Oreleans than the time on the ship and in ports. Thanks again.

 

Jim

[thinfool]

it's the thing about paying to use your own money or what.

 

Not sure I understand this.

 

Also, I suggest you research the issues many have had cashing TC's on land lately. Apparently even some banks will not do this. Hotels and restaurants even more so. YMMV, but be aware of the potential problems that exist out there.

[winged wheel]

Win your spending cash at the casino, obviously. :rolleyes:

[eyeamacruiser]

Has anyone used a prepaid VISA for shipboard expenses? We don't want to bring a credit card and want to get a prepaid one for our sign and sail card expenses.:D

[navybankerteacher]

The best way to get foreign currency is at ATM's (virtually everywhere)-- you get the best rate of exchange, and depending on your bank, you might not pay any usage fees. It is always a good idea to have some travelers checks to get US cash at pursers desk, ATM's aboard ship have fairly high fees and are generally proprietary (not bank owned) meaning that their fees may be quite high as well as not assumed by your home bank.

 

Pre-paid cards can be used on some ships, but seem pointless. - if you can buy a pre-paid card, you certainly should be able to use a regular credit card. Debit cards generally cannot be used.

[eyeamacruiser]

Pre-paid cards can be used on some ships, but seem pointless. - if you can buy a pre-paid card, you certainly should be able to use a regular credit card. Debit cards generally cannot be used.

 

We choose to not use credit cards as much as possible. We just take money out of the bank to load the prepaid card. It only costs $3 to load money on to it.:D

[Guest maddycat]

Has anyone used a prepaid VISA for shipboard expenses? We don't want to bring a credit card and want to get a prepaid one for our sign and sail card expenses.:D

 

It's a good idea to bring a credit card. You don't have to use it. Keep it locked in the cabin safe. You'll have it in case of emergency. You never know.

[eyeamacruiser]

We do bring a credit card, however, it would only be for emergencies:D