How much $$$ do I need to bring??

[aehusk]

I'm a planner, and I want to be sure I am prepared for our cruise. I've pre-paid gratuity already, and yes, I will absolutely bring more than I think I'm going to spend. What do I need cash for? How much should I bring?

I am going to bring a lot of 1's for tips.

I did not purchase excursions, but will bring plenty of cash for taxi's, activities, lunches and purchases in each destination.

I am going to purchase the "Cheer's Program" when we board the ship for drinks.

What else?? Thanks everyone!

[cb at sea]

You can break down larger bills on the ship, so don't bring wads of small bills...too hard and bulky to carry!

 

Most folks figure about $100 per day, unless you are big shoppers or gamblers. The amount that folks bring in cash vary widely.

 

There is a difference in "how much will I spend" and "how much cash should I bring"! Everything you purchase on the ship goes on your account, and most will link that account to a credit card, so "cash" isn't always needed!

 

Ashore, get a guidebook, decide what you want to do and the costs, then bring the money that you think you'll need.

 

Most cruiselines now add the tip to your account...so you don't really need to have cash handy on a daily basis for that!

[Krazy Kruizers]

We talk a couple of thousand dollars in travelers checks with us.

The front desk will cash them for free. And you get lots of ones and fives for tips and anything you want to do ashore.

[Keith1010]

If you are checking in luggage at the pier you might bring money for a tip for that.

 

Always good to bring a little more then you think for incidentals in port.

 

Keith

[NMLady]

Souvenirs in port.

 

Casino.

[trish1c]

Overall cost v. cash on hand are different things to me.

We budget that the trip will cost about $100 pp per day over the cruise price. This includes our bar bill, excursions, gratuities, for pay restaurants & spa treatments. I have a seperate jewelry budget for St. Thomas because that is always an expensive stop for us. We've always come home with money.

You know your own spending habits. Adjust my guestimate accordingly, expecially if you like to drink or gamble.

We also bring about $200 pp in cash in small bills to make little purchases ashore and tip various people along the way: taxi drivers, stevedores, tour guides, etc.

[Firewife1031]

DH and I are taking our first cruise in June. We spoke with a friend of ours who is a "master cruiser" and he takes $100 per day for himself. He is one generous guy too, the kind that buys drinks for all the pretty ladies LOL. We decided to invest in the Cheers program too, seeing as how we are pretty big drinkers. In the end it will save us money. We figured out the tipping rate per day/pp from carnival.com, and that along with the cheers program we're just going to slap down cash for it. Not going to put anything on a CC as I've heard there are problems with the banks holding the accts for too long. We don't plan on doing too many excursions, we are just excited to be on our first cruise and the idea of sipping beers in the middle of the ocean is exciting to us! Since food (except the fancy places) and our booze will be included (thx to Cheers) it's pretty much going to be an all-inclusive for us. Feed us and liquor us up and we're a happy bunch!:D

[mathladyca]

I never carry much cash- yet to find too many places that do not take credit cards or places that don't have ATMs. Yes, I pay a fee but that is a small price to pay for not carrying wads of bills.

$100 per day is about average if it is a port day, unless we eat in port. Travellers checks, except on board are not widely received any place any more (except maybe at banks or Joe's in Phillipsburg)

[germanyboy]

Bring all of it:eek:

[Steviewonder1]

I budget $100 per day for the Casino. Trinkets and Shore bought items are credit card or local currency, but remember you have to pack most in your checked baggage to get back home. In most countries outside of the US (Read that as Europe) you will either use one of the Big 3-4 Charge cards or the local currency. Their ATM's will take your bank card, just select English language and proceed. There will be a conversion fee and fee to use the ATM machine. If eating out use a Credit Card. Yes we have come back with some of the Queens money and Euro's. Just save them for the next trip! And yes I have come back a couple of times in the Plus amount for the Casino's, only a couple.

[Ima Cruiser]

My rule of thumb is about 100 - 125 per person per day. Granted we don't gamble but even that can be charged to your ship account. On board you really wont need cash, but you will ashore. If I end up with a cash surplus I use that to pay down my bill towards the end of the trip.

[attilamom1217]

We bring a few hundred in cash. Gambling money is separate. Everything you purchase on board goes on your account and thus onto your credit card.

 

Money is needed only in ports - cab rides, lunch, beach lounge chairs, souvenirs, trinkets, etc. Depending on which port and your credit card policy for conversion to US $, most souvenirs can go on the credit card as well.

[HeatherJA]

 

Money is needed only in ports - cab rides, lunch, beach lounge chairs, souvenirs, trinkets, etc. Depending on which port and your credit card policy for conversion to US $, most souvenirs can go on the credit card as well.

 

I have this same question. We are a family of four and on a budget. I'm trying to plan how much we'll need for port days. No one drinks or gambles and we do not plan on buying many souvenirs. So, I'm trying to figure out how much to budget for taxis/bus fares, lunch in port, snorkel rental, bathrooms. Budgeting for excursions separately. Any advice?

 

Sent from my Samsung GS3

[delily]

It's really a very individual thing. You can get by without spending much money at all if you want to. Yes, it's good to plan but I don't want to see people put off from cruising altogether because they think it's going to cost them a fortune above and beyond the initial fare or what they've already put on their credit card for tours. My DH and I don't spend much more on the ship. Not because we're trying to save money, we just aren't that interested in the extras. We have no interest in the casino or the spa but we enjoy all the free entertainment. We've always been happy enough with the free meals. And for us it's never been worth the hundreds of $$$ for drink packages that the ships offer. In ports we are sightseers more than shoppers. Nearly all the money we bring goes for expenses in ports-- tips, taxis, admission fees or meals. Plus of course, the daily service charge and a few beers or mixed drinks at dinner or on "at sea" days. We always plan to spend more than we do which is definately the way to go! Have fun!

[MrsLadyL]

I have this same question. We are a family of four and on a budget. I'm trying to plan how much we'll need for port days. No one drinks or gambles and we do not plan on buying many souvenirs. So, I'm trying to figure out how much to budget for taxis/bus fares, lunch in port, snorkel rental, bathrooms. Budgeting for excursions separately. Any advice?

 

Sent from my Samsung GS3

 

My DH and I did a bit of research for each port as to which excursions/activities we want to do. Then we budgeted how much money we will need for them, then we're bringing a bit more for the shopping. Lol! We're also bringing a few credit cards in case there is some high priced item we want to buy. Hope that helps.

[notentirelynormal]

I have this same question. We are a family of four and on a budget. I'm trying to plan how much we'll need for port days. No one drinks or gambles and we do not plan on buying many souvenirs. So, I'm trying to figure out how much to budget for taxis/bus fares, lunch in port, snorkel rental, bathrooms. Budgeting for excursions separately. Any advice?

 

It really depends on which ports and what you want to do in each port. If you can walk to the beach and you stay there all day, well that's going to cost a lot less then if you have to take a taxi to your snorkeling adventure or your tour of the island.

 

Scour these boards for the ports you are going to and that will help you plan. Often private tours are cheaper then ship tours and can be arranged in advance. Even if you don't buy alcohol, remember that soda is extra. Also, if the ship is close to the beach you can always go back on board for lunch.

[Gunner22aa]

Onboard everything goes on the card so I don't worry about expences there. In port it's about 100 a day split between mother and I in small bills. If it's a country that doesn't take US like in Europe we carry the equilivent in local currency

[serene56]

Pictures are 22.00 each for an 8 x 10

bingo is 20 bucks a game

 

 

there is a cafe that sells specialty coffee, slabs of cake, choc strawberries.

 

(last cruise I spent a total of 5 bucks coz I wanted to try a milkshake

[HeatherJA]

My DH and I did a bit of research for each port as to which excursions/activities we want to do. Then we budgeted how much money we will need for them, then we're bringing a bit more for the shopping. Lol! We're also bringing a few credit cards in case there is some high priced item we want to buy. Hope that helps.

 

It really depends on which ports and what you want to do in each port. If you can walk to the beach and you stay there all day, well that's going to cost a lot less then if you have to take a taxi to your snorkeling adventure or your tour of the island.

 

Scour these boards for the ports you are going to and that will help you plan. Often private tours are cheaper then ship tours and can be arranged in advance. Even if you don't buy alcohol, remember that soda is extra. Also, if the ship is close to the beach you can always go back on board for lunch.

 

Thank you! I will continue to research each port. I will just have to plan on budgeting for the most expensive transportation option (taxi) and if we choose to walk, well that's just more money to spend elsewhere....cause I'm sure it's gonna get spent! ;) Same goes for whether we eat in port or on the ship. Good thing I love to research. Too bad I don't get paid to do it! I've spent HOURS already preparing for this cruise! :D