Money (that should get your attention!)

[newtocruisin4]

:D two-part question. Is it better to bring travelers checks, or are there ATMs wherever you go? (we're hitting Cozumel, Ocho Rios and Grand Cayman.)

 

part II We're going on the Carnival Victory-do they have blow-dryers in the bathrooms? (I'd heard they were more the size of nail dryers.)

 

Thanks all

[masterbaker]

I've cruised 15 times and haven't used either ATM's or Travelers checks. I bring a small amount of cash and a couple of credit cards. If I need more cash I go to the cashier in the casino and put it on my shipboard account. You can always get cash in the casino and you don't have to spend it in the casino. Many shops in ports won't let you use a credit card for small purchases and will give you change in whatever currency they have available so it's best to always have some small bills when you go ashore. Large purchases can be made with the credit card and your credit card company will automatically convert your purchase to dollars.

 

It's been a while since I sailed Carnival, but I always bring my own blowdryer. The one's on most ships are not strong enough to dry thick hair quickly.

[SWEETNLOW2005]

There is a ATM on the ship. Atms are also available in Cozumel and Grand Cayman. I used the ATM in both of these ports last year. There are blow dryer on the Victory. But you can still bring your own if you like. Just remember an extension cord and a power strip.

[Tmeister]

For these ports, I'd go with the ATM card. There should also be an ATM on the ship. Purser's desk or casino can provide change for you, so you have smaller bills for small purchases. Traveler's checks are actually getting hard to use these days, because the stores and banks don't want to handle the paper.

I haven't been on the Victory, but on the Glory this year the hair dryer was wired into a drawer in the vanity and could not be removed. It was not very powerful.

[serene56]

Yikes-- using an atm on the ship could cost you up to 7 bucks for each transaction...not counting you take the chance of the machine being out of money.

 

Also-- a lot of vendors either do not take credit cards or will charge you extra for a purchase using a card.

 

Take cash/travels checks..or buy funship dollars on carnival.

[trish1c]

ATMs are a great safety net / last resort. As someone pointed out the fees are ridiculous -- $6-7 per transaction. If you use them in another country you will get their currency, not US$$.

 

The ship is a cashless society.

 

I always took a few travelers checks. You can cash them on ship or in port.

[bplazo]

My husband mentioned a couple days ago that he was thinking about bringing travel checks that look like a credit card. I didnt think that is was a good idea because maybe some of the islands do not except credit cards (like tour operators) Has anyone had experince in this?