How much cash to bring?

[CruisingGAL82]

I'm trying to get an idea of how much cash to bring on my cruise. It's been 7 years since my last one so I'm trying to be prepared and figure out what I'll need. I'm on the Oasis March 14. 3 ports. Labadee, Falmouth Jamaica, and Cozumel. We are doing my time dining so we already paid the gratuities for that. :confused:

[wolfcathorse]

I'm trying to get an idea of how much cash to bring on my cruise. It's been 7 years since my last one so I'm trying to be prepared and figure out what I'll need. I'm on the Oasis March 14. 3 ports. Labadee, Falmouth Jamaica, and Cozumel. We are doing my time dining so we already paid the gratuities for that. :confused:

 

I usually plan on $100 per day for 2 people. If I have any left over when I get home it goes into the kitty for the next cruise.

[TahoeBob]

I'm trying to get an idea of how much cash to bring on my cruise. It's been 7 years since my last one so I'm trying to be prepared and figure out what I'll need. I'm on the Oasis March 14. 3 ports. Labadee, Falmouth Jamaica, and Cozumel. We are doing my time dining so we already paid the gratuities for that. :confused:

It really would help if you gave us more information, do you like to drink, do you like to gamble, do you shop on your cruise.

 

I once went on a 4 day cruise, after tips I think I spent like $35.00 total.

 

I don't drink and I don't like to gamble or shop.

[Former Goalie]

If you plan on ordering room service, bring some singles, two dollar bills (hard to get, but I like them), fives. You'll need to tip the stevedores at embarkation (I will give $15-$20 for the four of us). If you need help (porters) getting luggage from the warehouse to the curb at disembarkation bring 5s/10s for that. I tip our room stewards and other service staff extra, but that's personal preference. On Labadee, you'll have people offering to help with chairs, etc., I would tip them, as well. Bon voyage!

[Ken at the beach]

Husband or wife's prerogative?

[John&LaLa]

We go through $200 a day in casino. It just disappears. :o

[ryano]

I guess this varies from person to person. The last two cruises I went on, i took 100.00 cash mostly in one's and fives. This allowed me to give my cabin attendant and waiters a little extra above my prepaid gratuities and pay for a cab at Cozumel. I even wound up with a little left. I dont shop though, dont gamble and prepay as much as I can before I board the ship.

[tserface]

In addition to what others have said, we find it a good idea to get the cash from and ATM at our destination (where we are boarding) rather than carrying a bunch on airplanes. There is usually an ATM around and even if you have to pay $2-$3 to get cash it's not a big deal. Then we split it between us and each carry half.

 

We save up $1 bills at home while waiting for a cruise and bring those along to have for small tips (room service, drinks, etc.)

 

You can also get some cash from the ATM on board if you need and they will usually cash a small check at the guest services desk. They will also break larger bills (like $20 or $50) into smaller bills if you need them to so it's easier to carry fewer $20's than a bunch of smaller denominations.

 

Tom

[1ParticularHbr]

Don't forget some cash to tip your excursion tour operators. We usually divide our cash into envelopes - one for each port day, with enough cash to pay for cabs, tips, souvenirs for that day. That way, we're less tempted to cash (that's designated elsewhere) to the casino!

[cb at sea]

The only thing we use cash for is some tips, and gambling...the rest is on a credit card...so how much will depend on you!

[CptSticky]

We took $1k for 21 days. Came home with a couple of hundred left over. Guess I don't spend much. Know others who would usually triple this. A lot of this went for tips at the bars. I don't like the add on tip on the receipt (we are usually drinking free drinks) and prefer to tip in cash. The bartenders seem to like this also:D

[CruisingGAL82]

Thanks all. I think we will def divide up money in to different envelopes for days. We paid the gratuities for the my time dining but this doesn't include a tip for our room attendant correct?

[CptSticky]

Thanks all. I think we will def divide up money in to different envelopes for days. We paid the gratuities for the my time dining but this doesn't include a tip for our room attendant correct?

Actually it does but I'm sure that they would appreciate extra. We like to find an excuse to tip a little extra on the first night for some service rendered. Seems to make things go smoother.

[ehfl]

My recommendation is to bring enough cash to pay for the things you want to pay for in cash. For things you want to pay for by debit or credit card, make sure your debit or credit card has an adequate balance or credit limit.

[JenInMD]

Without knowing what you like to do, I can't tell you an amount, but here are things you might need cash for: tips for bag porters, extra gratuities for crew members, casino, gratuities for shore excursion guides, bus/taxi transportation if you go out on your own in port, shopping money in small shops/markets in port (we are always hesitant to use our credit cards unless it's a reputable duty-free store). We took $700 cash for a 10-day cruise. Thanks to a few good days in the casino, we came back with about half of that amount.

[bgrieve]

How much cash you need is very variable. If you do ship excursions at every port you need a lot less than if you do everything on your own. Calculate in your head how much you will need and double it. A lot of little expenses that you may not think of add up.

We only use credit/debit cards in major stores. We try to stick with cash otherwise.

Bring plenty of small bills. We bring 100 singles with us. Save them up over the year. It is SO much easier to have exact change with vendors and taxi drivers and tips here and there.

[jules815]

My recommendation is to bring enough cash to pay for the things you want to pay for in cash. For things you want to pay for by debit or credit card, make sure your debit or credit card has an adequate balance or credit limit.

 

And be sure to contact your bank/credit card company and let them know where you'll be traveling.

[kdubbo]

How much do they hold on your credit card when you get your sea pass and can you put per day limits on the kids cards?

[CruisingGAL82]

This was actually really helpful.. Gives me an idea on what to go by.

[poolchairbob]

$9,999.99

[Plut0]

How much to bring is a personal choice based on you activities. I am a planner and a bit anal so I create a spreadsheet. It has a column for each day and a row for different activities on and off the ship. I figure out and include things like:

 

Tip for car service driver to and fro port

Tip for porters at port

Tips for room server and at bars

Shore excursion tips

Purchases on shore

Extra tipping on board for servers, room steward, etc

Other items depending on activities

 

I then figure out how many 1s, 5s 10s and 20s and get then from the bank. I also use different envelopes to help me keep track and also separate so all cash is not in one place.

 

Probably more detail than you wanted, but hopefully it will help.

 

Enjoy your cruise.

Mary

[CruisingGAL82]

How much to bring is a personal choice based on you activities. I am a planner and a bit anal so I create a spreadsheet. It has a column for each day and a row for different activities on and off the ship. I figure out and include things like:

 

Tip for car service driver to and fro port

Tip for porters at port

Tips for room server and at bars

Shore excursion tips

Purchases on shore

Extra tipping on board for servers, room steward, etc

Other items depending on activities

 

I then figure out how many 1s, 5s 10s and 20s and get then from the bank. I also use different envelopes to help me keep track and also separate so all cash is not in one place.

 

Probably more detail than you wanted, but hopefully it will help.

 

Enjoy your cruise.

Mary

 

Great idea! Thanks!