clvabch757 Posted July 7, 2013 #1 Share Posted July 7, 2013 Hi everyone, My husband and I going on our 1st cruise in September to Freeport and Nassau, We were wondering if we should get travel checks or just carry cash? We most likely will not get off the ship in Freeport but will in Nassau to do a little shopping. Suggestion are welcome :) Carolyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul929207 Posted July 7, 2013 #2 Share Posted July 7, 2013 Welcome to Cruise Critic. We just take cash and credit card. If we go somewhere that the US$ in not accepted, we use ATM card and/or credit card Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clvabch757 Posted July 7, 2013 Author #3 Share Posted July 7, 2013 Thank you Paul, I have done a little more research and I read that using a Visa Prepaid card is better than travel checks. Carolyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fredflint Posted July 7, 2013 #4 Share Posted July 7, 2013 (edited) make sure you check to see if you need to tell them you will be out of the country, also you can use this which is what I think you were told about? Visa TravelMoney TravelMoney Benefits http://usa.visa.com/personal/cards/prepaid/visa_travel_money_benefits.html Carry the card with the security of travelers cheques and the convenience of a Visa card. And that’s just the beginning of the benefits you’ll enjoy, including: Security and Convenience Emergency Card Replacement and Emergency Cash Disbursement – With Visa TravelMoney you can obtain emergency card replacement and emergency cash disbursement, generally within one business day. Lost/Stolen Card Reporting – It’s easy to report a lost or stolen Visa TravelMoney card. Just call 1-800-847-2911, or from outside the U.S., call collect 1-303-967-1096. Zero Liability** – Protection from fraudulent use of a lost or stolen card. Learn more about Zero Liability. Lost Luggage Reimbursement*** – Get reimbursement up to $250 per trip, $1,000 per registered cardholder for checked or carry-on luggage and its contents if the luggage or contents is lost due to theft or misdirection by the common carrier (airline, train, cruise or bus line). Reimbursement is not contingent upon the purchase of travel with the Visa TravelMoney card. Learn more about Lost Luggage Reimbursement. Purchase Security*** – Within the first ninety (90) days of the date of purchase, Purchase Security will, at the Benefit Administrator's discretion, replace, repair, or reimburse you for eligible items of personal property purchased entirely with your registered Visa TravelMoney card up to a maximum of $500 per claim, in the event of theft, damage due to fire, vandalism, accidentally discharged water, or certain weather conditions. Learn more about Purchase Security. Travel and Emergency Assistance Services*** – Get translation assistance 24 hours a day, medical and legal referrals, emergency trip arrangements, and emergency messages to relatives. Learn more about Travel and Emergency Assistance Services. Easy to Use Make Purchases Worldwide – Use TravelMoney at any of the 25 million merchants that accept Visa debit cards including restaurants and shops. Obtain local currency at over 1 million Visa ATMs around the world and avoid standing in line to exchange foreign currency. Reloadable from Anywhere* – Cards can be reloaded where the cards were purchased, online, or by phone. Use cash, funds from your bank account, credit or debit card to reload your cards. Edited July 7, 2013 by fredflint Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philob Posted July 7, 2013 #5 Share Posted July 7, 2013 Fewer and fewer merchants are accepting Travelers Checks; your ship's Purser will cash them. As posted above ATM withdrawals or Credit Cards are mostly used now as long as you are aware of the fees they charge for each transaction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Keith1010 Posted July 7, 2013 #6 Share Posted July 7, 2013 You can use USA currency in all of these ports. I would bring USA Currency and also use Credit Cards. Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Gail & Marty sailing away Posted July 10, 2013 #7 Share Posted July 10, 2013 It is a pain to use ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sleepless Posted August 23, 2013 #8 Share Posted August 23, 2013 I always bring a combination of cash and travelers checks. The travelers checks are back up money; if I find I need more money, I will cash in the travelers checks on the ship. I get the travelers checks free from my credit union. If I do not use them (all), I simply deposit the unused portion back into my checking account. I do not use my credit card in a foreign port. But, I do carry it for emergency use. I always let my credit card company know that I will be out of the country, where I will be, and the travel dates. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Keith1010 Posted August 25, 2013 #9 Share Posted August 25, 2013 If you do use travelers checks you can use them to cash money on the ship. Otherwise, cash and credit cards are fine. Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowie MeMe Posted September 8, 2013 #10 Share Posted September 8, 2013 Was in Nassau last month and I wondered why I got off the ship. :p Pretty much in the Bahamas they would take any money you would give them. I saw only US money in the tip jars -- a clue as to what they would accept. We took a van tour from Cheryl's Taxi (excellent service and very clean vans) and she took credit card and provided drinks/cakes so not much money needed. As Cheryl told me she vacations in Ft. Lauderdale and does her shopping there -- so much cheaper -- even buys her car/vans for the business there and ships them in. I have not used traveler's checks in about 10 years. They are just not accepted by merchants or restaurants or even hotels because of the 4% charge to exchange them for the merchant. My bank does not even have the traveler's checks anymore. Bahamas --no worry -- take US dollars and you probably won't need too much as shops rather primitive by US mall standards. Only take more than walk around money if you know what you want and have checked out the pricing (like jewelry know the value of the necklace or ring at home and how to assure that what you bought is as described and what a good price is "on sale" at home jewelry). On cruise ship in port day you are not likely to score a bargain IMHO:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russ_MT Posted November 20, 2013 #11 Share Posted November 20, 2013 What is a travelers check? Seriously, merchants don't trust them. They are hard to verify that they are real. Plastic is accepted everywhere and can be cancelled, replaced. Merchants can tell if it's valid instantly. Casinos can give you cash from the card. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunner22aa Posted November 20, 2013 #12 Share Posted November 20, 2013 Gave up on travellers cheques years ago but do still see the odd one floating about. My credit card is guaranteed against fraud and if there is a place that I don't feel comfortable then it's cash. I can get local currency at any ATM in the world if I need it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russ_MT Posted November 20, 2013 #13 Share Posted November 20, 2013 Also, you can get points for using your card. We earned $1000 last year in cash back. Visa/MC is safe and much more accepted than any kind of check. I've seen merchants handed a travelers check and didn't know what it was or if they were allowed to take them. In 2013, they are just too weird and people don't know what they are. It seems if you must use a travelers check like form of payment, prepaid credit cards are the way to go. However they do charge YOU for loading it. However, I suppose travelers checks generally carried some fee for issuing them. Unless your credit is horrible, most banks will issue you a credit card. I would highly avoid DEBIT cards or Visa/MC attached directly to your bank account. These are dangerous and do not offer the same buyer protection as a true credit card. Money is drawn directly from you account and you have less recourse if the card is lost and used. A true credit card requires you to contact the issuing bank within a timely fashion if lost. Typically, you are only responsible for $50 of charges on it unless you fail to report it stolen. (Note: Good idea to make a copy of the back of all the cards you normally carry so if they are lost you can call the toll free number to report it ASAP). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocketlady Posted November 25, 2013 #14 Share Posted November 25, 2013 Take a credit card. They all take them. A lot of businesses and casinos will not cash travel checks any more. Although I think they do on the ship. Even my bank warned me not to buy them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Gail & Marty sailing away Posted November 30, 2013 #15 Share Posted November 30, 2013 No No .. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maryandi Posted November 30, 2013 #16 Share Posted November 30, 2013 As long as the cruiselines take the Trav. Checks, we will use them. I don't like carrying around a lot of cash - in or out of the safe in the cabin. We can easily cash the checks at the Front Desk and be on our way. Granted, they are harder to find nowadays but still better than ATMs, etc. for safety. We have Credit, debit and all cards, but when travelling, we prefer the Checks. MaryA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colorado Kat Posted December 2, 2013 #17 Share Posted December 2, 2013 Traveler's checks are becoming dinosaurs. Difficult to use off ship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Scrapnana Posted December 2, 2013 #18 Share Posted December 2, 2013 Cunard will not accept travellers cheques onboard. There may be other cruise lines who will not take them so always check in advance if you plan on using them onboard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallivanting Souls Posted August 28, 2014 #19 Share Posted August 28, 2014 As long as the cruiselines take the Trav. Checks, we will use them. I don't like carrying around a lot of cash - in or out of the safe in the cabin. We can easily cash the checks at the Front Desk and be on our way. Granted, they are harder to find nowadays but still better than ATMs, etc. for safety. We have Credit, debit and all cards, but when travelling, we prefer the Checks. MaryA Ditto. As of today 8/27/14 Princess still takes Travelers Checks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrsPete Posted September 21, 2014 #20 Share Posted September 21, 2014 Traveler's checks are becoming dinosaurs. Difficult to use off ship. The exact word I was going to use! Seriously, these were useful decades ago . . . But now credit cards are easier and provide the same protections. On a cruise, we take the following: About $50 in small bills for tips. About $50 for each island stop to pay for drinks, perhaps a taxi. Another $50 for food on the drive to/from port. Payment for excursions counted out (including tip) and stored in an envelope marked with day /vendor -- for example, Snorkel trip on St. Martin with XYZ company ... Meet group at ______ ... Contact phone ______. This is generally more than we need. We tend to bring money home, but we don't buy souveniers, and we pay our tips ahead of time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Lionesss Posted September 21, 2014 #21 Share Posted September 21, 2014 I am no longer able to get travelers checks from our travel club (national chain). They now have Debit travels cards:eek: We carry two credit cards........... One for our major purchases And The other for on the Islands. This one only has a limit of $1000. Sea Ya Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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