Cash - do you take with, or are there ATMs on board?

[Winchester Ranger]

Wondering how you all handle your cash situation - minimalists or wads of notes, take with or are there ATMs (this would be for Getaway) onboard.

 

Any opinions appreciated.

[sparks1093]

Wondering how you all handle your cash situation - minimalists or wads of notes, take with or are there ATMs (this would be for Getaway) onboard.

 

Any opinions appreciated.

 

The fees in the ATM are very high so I try to bring enough with me.

[SissasMomE]

Wondering how you all handle your cash situation - minimalists or wads of notes, take with or are there ATMs (this would be for Getaway) onboard.

 

Any opinions appreciated.

 

I always carry cash, but yes, there are ATMs on board.

[islesdave]

I try to bring enough cash with me. I do not like paying fees to get my own money, and since you're at sea, any ATM fees are going to be more than your standard ATM fees.

[mpk218]

I too bring cash .. Do not carry it all in one place ;)

[johnql]

As the others have said, there are ATMs on the ship but I always try to bring what I think I will need because I consider the ATM fee exorbitant.

[skyfire53]

What my DD and I do is if we book our own excursions, I make an envelope for each port...in each envelope I put the reservation conformation and enough cash for the excursion plus any spending money I may want for that port...I write the port on the envelope and put all of them into the safe....then, at each port, I take out that envelope and leave the rest in the safe. I usually carry a cc with me at port too, just incase I find something I just cant live without..lol..But, the envelopes work really well to make sure you have the cash you need for each excursion and tip for the opperator.

Edited March 6, 2014 by skyfire53

[Winchester Ranger]

Thanks guys - is there a safe in every room or suite?

[skyfire53]

yes, every cabin has one :D

[NMLady]

Wondering how you all handle your cash situation - minimalists or wads of notes, take with or are there ATMs (this would be for Getaway) onboard.

 

Any opinions appreciated.

 

We take Travelers checks and cash them as needed at the ship's front desk.

[Demonyte]

One way of getting cash when using a credit card to fund the onboard account is to make cash withdrawals in the casino.

 

Just go to the cashier, ask to get cash for table games and they'll charge that to your onboard account with 3% convience fee (which is less than the fee charged by the ATM usually located in the casino). The withdrawal is a regular onboard charge like speciality restaurants, drinks, etc on your onboard account so there will be no cash fees from your bank as after the cruise it's just one big credit charge with everything on the account.

[newmexicoNita]

We take Travelers checks and cash them as needed at the ship's front desk.

 

that is exactly what we do or use the casino and have it added to your account. yes, it costs a few $$s but I really don't like to have several hundred $$s in cash. We do take some, of course. We have only used the ATMs once.

[newbe dave]

I always take cash and I make sure to have small bills. I take about $50 in ones and $100 in $5. That way, when I need exact change (like paying a taxi), I can pull out ones and fives. What I don't take with me, stays in the safe.

[bikevegas]

Travelers checks! Just cash them at the front desk!

[smeyer418]

the ATM's charge $6.50 for a withdrawal and limit how much you can withdraw. The casino charges 3% to take money from your room card. Except for room service you can add anything you need on the ship(as additional tips) without charge. You may need cash ashore for purchases and shore excursion tips...

I have stopped buying traveler's cheques as they are difficult to cash ashore anyway.

[don't-use-real-name]

BEWARE - ATMs can and do run out of cash on long portless cruises and they

are the lousiest way to get everyday spending money !

Previous posters have hit the "Nail on the Head" use TRAVELERS CHECKS -

Cash them at the Registration/Pursers Desk.

You can also cash them at ports of call - but may get local currency instead of

the USA Buck i.e. Canadian Looney either losing or gaining on the exchange rate.

I don't know exactly about the Casinos cashing travelers check if they do with

or without a service transaction fee.

Be creative about how you stash your cash until on board and can use the safe

in your stateroom. Don't place it all in the same hiding place.

 

Side note: Waiting to get cash tips/gratuities for you cabin steward; butler;

concierge (others) at the last minute may pose a problem trying to get the

funds at the Registration/Pursers desk.

They may have limited funds to meet last minute demands or limit the amount

that an individual can get. Of course you could use a credit card and leave the

tip that way but how do you know that your favorite cabin steward will actually

get the tips. It is oh so nice to hand the tip envelope to the steward directly

knowing he got it and you appreciated his service.

[bguppies]

One way of getting cash when using a credit card to fund the onboard account is to make cash withdrawals in the casino.

 

Just go to the cashier, ask to get cash for table games and they'll charge that to your onboard account with 3% convience fee (which is less than the fee charged by the ATM usually located in the casino). The withdrawal is a regular onboard charge like speciality restaurants, drinks, etc on your onboard account so there will be no cash fees from your bank as after the cruise it's just one big credit charge with everything on the account.

 

First cruise with NCL coming up.

 

We will have $550 in onboard credit from NCL this upcoming cruise.

 

Since it is on the onboard account, can we go to the casino and get cash to take ashore also?(or use for tips throughout the ship)

 

Or does this only work from your assigned credit card?

 

Thanks in advance.

[taymiss2]

What my DD and I do is if we book our own excursions, I make an envelope for each port...in each envelope I put the reservation conformation and enough cash for the excursion plus any spending money I may want for that port...I write the port on the envelope and put all of them into the safe....then, at each port, I take out that envelope and leave the rest in the safe. I usually carry a cc with me at port too, just incase I find something I just cant live without..lol..But, the envelopes work really well to make sure you have the cash you need for each excursion and tip for the opperator.

 

 

I do the same thing!! It works really well so that I do not run out of cash to pay a cab in the last port! I never carry cash in my "real" life but this works well for me.

I put my envelopes together last weekend. 9 more days!!!

[1313steve]

I do the same thing!! It works really well so that I do not run out of cash to pay a cab in the last port! I never carry cash in my "real" life but this works well for me.

I put my envelopes together last weekend. 9 more days!!!

 

 

You and Skyfire53 win the award for most organized! We prepay everything we can (excursions, tips, specialty restaurants, etc), then put as much as we can on the ships card. The day before we leave I go to the bank and get 500 bucks or so as "just in case" cash. The only reason I go to the bank is to get $5 and $10 bills, since the ATM's usually do $20s. It probably the only time I every actually visit my bank anymore!

 

We also take one credit card with us when we are in a port.

[skyfire53]

I do the same thing!! It works really well so that I do not run out of cash to pay a cab in the last port! I never carry cash in my "real" life but this works well for me.

I put my envelopes together last weekend. 9 more days!!!

 

Only 9 days....lucky....I have almost a year to wait...:(...Since we will be in a suite this time, Ill have one envelope for each the butler, steward and concierge..the last time we had a suite it was a last minute upsell as we were leaving to drive to NOL.....I didnt have a clue that I had to tip extra, so that kinda messed up my envelopes that year...lol....but, this year we have it under control...lol

[TrumpyNor]

First cruise with NCL coming up.

 

We will have $550 in onboard credit from NCL this upcoming cruise.

 

Since it is on the onboard account, can we go to the casino and get cash to take ashore also?(or use for tips throughout the ship)

 

Or does this only work from your assigned credit card?

 

Thanks in advance.

 

If this is an OBC that is from NCL, then the answer is NO, you can not use it to take out cash or to pay the daily service charge. But if it is an OBC that you have purchased online your self (or received as a gift from family or friends), then you can use the OBC towards anything on board, including cash withdrawal.

[bguppies]

If this is an OBC that is from NCL, then the answer is NO, you can not use it to take out cash or to pay the daily service charge. But if it is an OBC that you have purchased online your self (or received as a gift from family or friends), then you can use the OBC towards anything on board, including cash withdrawal.

 

So we can't go to the casino and use OBC for cash...

 

I wasn't looking for the DSC, just some cash to tip bartenders or waiters on the ship and for some taxi fare while in Cozumel.

 

Guess I'll save some money in the casino then...Since the OBC can't be used for cash in the casino.

 

Appreciate getting that cleared up.

[SteveH2508]

You can give extra tips to staff via your on-board account. Guest Services can raise a chit against your shipboard account to give a tip to a named crew member.

[PrincessJen]

What my DD and I do is if we book our own excursions, I make an envelope for each port...in each envelope I put the reservation conformation and enough cash for the excursion plus any spending money I may want for that port...I write the port on the envelope and put all of them into the safe....then, at each port, I take out that envelope and leave the rest in the safe. I usually carry a cc with me at port too, just incase I find something I just cant live without..lol..But, the envelopes work really well to make sure you have the cash you need for each excursion and tip for the opperator.

 

Great idea. I'm recommending this to my family for our upcoming cruise.

[jakeT]

Take cash. And Put it in room safe. Have to figure out how much you need??

How much you are going to spend in casino??? How much you are going to spend on shore. Most shore places take credit cards., but you always need some cash. Taxis, buying at small places. Starbucks