If more money needed...

[baxley]

Could you help me figure out how much money to take in cash...or if I can get more onboard....or do people still take traveler's checks. I'm on a 14-day cruise to Alaska and leave in just a few weeks. Thanks.

[casper106]

I'm not sure why you would need too much cash.Everything you spend on board just goes on your sea pass and then you settle the account at the end. Yes,the cruise ship will take traveller's cheques. If this is about not having a credit card,then perhaps you might get a low/no fee one with a small limit for these kinds of purposes.You can put a credit on it before you leave and not have to worry about paying it off on time.

[Lady Arwen]

Your onboard expenses will be covered by your credit card linked to your sail card, so no need for cash. Since you are in Alaska, there will be ATM machines in every port that you can use. You can use cash in the casino, but you can also charge to your sail card.

 

I've found that traveller's checks are less acceptable by many establishments. Some banks don't even offer them anymore. However, if you have them, you can cash them aboard at the customer service desk.

[Randyk47]

Could you help me figure out how much money to take in cash...or if I can get more onboard....or do people still take traveler's checks. I'm on a 14-day cruise to Alaska and leave in just a few weeks. Thanks.

 

Hard to say how much cash you'll need. Pretty much everything on the ship is charged to your cabin so maybe outside of some cash for the casino or additional end of cruise tips, if you decide to above and beyond the Hotel Service Charge, there's not much need for cash on the ship. On shore that's a whole different situation and depends on what you're looking to do off the ship from private tours to eating a meal on shore to buying souvenirs, etc.

[3rdGenCunarder]

Your onboard expenses will be covered by your credit card linked to your sail card, so no need for cash. Since you are in Alaska, there will be ATM machines in every port that you can use. You can use cash in the casino, but you can also charge to your sail card.

 

I've found that traveller's checks are less acceptable by many establishments. Some banks don't even offer them anymore. However, if you have them, you can cash them aboard at the customer service desk.

 

Check your bank's website to see if they have branches in any of your ports (to avoid out-of-network fees). Or use googlemap and do a search for atms--often there are atms right at the port. If you're planning to take tours, private or HAL, you may not have a lot of time to search for an atm, so it's good to know in advance where you'd have to go to get some cash.

 

The only way I'd use traveler's checks is to cash them on the ship.

[baxley]

I am not worried about money onboard, but we will be taking 2 side trips in rental cars (already paid for). Do ATM's charge big fees to use? Thanks.

[sail7seas]

Your onboard expenses will be covered by your credit card linked to your sail card, so no need for cash. Since you are in Alaska, there will be ATM machines in every port that you can use. You can use cash in the casino, but you can also charge to your sail card.

 

I've found that traveller's checks are less acceptable by many establishments. Some banks don't even offer them anymore. However, if you have them, you can cash them aboard at the customer service desk.

Many of us want that extra c ash in orrder to give 'over ane abov e tips. We always tip our stewards considerably more than the automatically chargged hotel service charge. That has to be in cash.

[dakrewser]

I am not worried about money onboard, but we will be taking 2 side trips in rental cars (already paid for). Do ATM's charge big fees to use? Thanks.

 

Does your bank have branches in Alaska? Affiliates? Check with your bank for definitive answers, but you'll find lots of ATMs at all of your ports.

[RocketMan275]

Could you help me figure out how much money to take in cash...or if I can get more onboard....or do people still take traveler's checks. I'm on a 14-day cruise to Alaska and leave in just a few weeks. Thanks.

 

Make yourself a budget.

- Do you intend to tip ship staff extra? Steward, dining staff, bartenders?

- Tips for shore excursions.

- Tips for porters.

- Are you flying? Drinks on the A/C?

- Off ship meals.

- Meals while travelling to/from ship.

- Incidentals. You'll always forget something.

- Souvenirs for yourself and back home. Simple for us, we always buy six t-shirts.

- Add $150 for 'other'.

 

 

There is an old saying:

 

Layout all the clothes you intend to take on the bed.

Layout all the cash you intend to take too.

 

Put half the clothes back in the closet.

Go to the bank and get twice the amount of cash.

 

Remember,

You have safe in your room you can store the money in.

The cash you don't spend can be deposited back in the bank.

Edited August 3, 2016 by RocketMan275

[Scrapnana]

I am not worried about money onboard, but we will be taking 2 side trips in rental cars (already paid for). Do ATM's charge big fees to use? Thanks.

 

Most ATMs that I have used charge $3-5 for a transaction.

[3rdGenCunarder]

Most ATMs that I have used charge $3-5 for a transaction.

 

Ouch! I'm fortunate in that my bank is just about everywhere in the US, so I can usually get cash without fees. An Alaska cruise is likely to have a Canadian port, and then you can get into international fees and exchange rates. Some banks have foreign "buddies" who will waive some of the out of network fees.

 

One additional point about atms. If you use a credit card to get a cash advance, be careful. I know that some (most?) charge an interest rate that looks small but it compounds DAILY, which adds up quickly.

[Cruzer Two]

You can get Alaskan currency at any ATM in Alaska! :)

[take us away]

Traveler's checks are not that welcome anymore when you are 'out and about' except at the front desk where they will cash these for you at no charge. I have converted to only carrying cash and locking it away in the safe for any non-ship card expenses.

 

My bank has a no fee reciprocal agreement for ATM's and other banking needs with several different banks around the world. Check your bank info on-line or by phone as they may also have this. Wells Fargo is probably the larger AK bank if that helps.

 

You can also charge cash on your ship card - but there is a fee, which I think is 3%.

 

do like the 'Alaskan currency' comment -

Edited August 3, 2016 by take us away

[RuthC]

I don't like to carry more money than I care to lose (I've been robbed). So, I bring enough cash to take me comfortably to the ship.

 

I bring enough in Travelers Cheques, which I cash at the Front Desk, to hand out extra tips, pay tips to shore excursion guides/drivers, spend in ports, and get me home.

 

Plan out what you think you will need. Cab to the airport? Tips for curbside check-in? Food on the way? Transportation to the overnight hotel? Dinner and tip? Transportation/tip to the pier? Tip to the porter at the pier?

Does anyone in the party need wheelchair assistance---tips to the pusher?

That's just getting to the ship! But think along those lines to see how much cash you think our will need. Then increase by a percentage.

[joepeka]

You can get Alaskan currency at any ATM in Alaska! :)

 

Good one!! :D

[serendipity1499]

I don't like to carry more money than I care to lose (I've been robbed). So, I bring enough cash to take me comfortably to the ship.

 

I bring enough in Travelers Cheques, which I cash at the Front Desk, to hand out extra tips, pay tips to shore excursion guides/drivers, spend in ports, and get me home.

 

Plan out what you think you will need. Cab to the airport? Tips for curbside check-in? Food on the way? Transportation to the overnight hotel? Dinner and tip? Transportation/tip to the pier? Tip to the porter at the pier?

Does anyone in the party need wheelchair assistance---tips to the pusher?

That's just getting to the ship! But think along those lines to see how much cash you think our will need. Then increase by a percentage.

 

Agree with Ruth/...When you check in & off the ship you will need cash for porters, cabs, drivers, tour guides etc..Also need cash for porters at airports..

 

On the ship, we normally give a couple of $$ extra over & above the hotel service charge to our two cabin Stewards, our one Dining Room Steward, the Assistant Dining room Steward, the wine steward, & any one who has done extra things for us..We also leave a tip in the specialty restaurants.. We use our Credit card for all ships bills which includes the hotel service charge.. You do not have to give extra but some do & everyone decide for themselves how much extra to add..You can also increase your hotel service charge if you want to..

 

We rarely purchase much off the ship unless we're getting t'shirts for the kids or maybe a little thing for us..I have enough stuff :eek:& don't need more.. Most shops take credit cards in Alaska,..If we were taking a two week cruise in addition to two road trips we probably would take $1,000 to $1200 in cash with us split between the two of us..I put some of that in my carry on & some in my safe wallet.. Never let our carryon's or wallet's out of our sight, as once had our camera stolen off our carry on bag in a Miami hotel lobby while we were checking out..We're always sure to put all that cash in both ships safe & our hotel safe.. DH splits his cash too & puts some in his carry-on..I have a purse with a piece of piano wire in the shoulder strap.. You can also get one which could be hidden under your clothes..

 

We used to purchase travelers checks & come home with lots of them un=cashed but unfortunately many banks don't sell them any more.. If your bank sells them you can cash them at your hotel or at the front desk of the ship & IMO they were safer than cash..

 

Hope this helps..

[MaxThrusters]

I bring cash for small purchases on shore excursions, for losing at the casino, and for all manner of tipping.

 

A one inch stack of $5 bills is more than enough for tipping generously.

[muffin]

Read all the replies....nobody mentioned the first item I thought of...tips for the room service steward. A dollar or two is sufficient for small items...more if it's a big meal. Add a couple of inches of ones to the stack of fives! I also make sure to give a few dollars to the gals who take such good care of the ladies restrooms.....the y are not expecting it, are most appreciative, and surely earn it! Usually have a spare couple of bucks In my pocket in case I find one of these ladies.

[GUT2407]

Could you help me figure out how much money to take in cash...or if I can get more onboard....or do people still take traveler's checks. I'm on a 14-day cruise to Alaska and leave in just a few weeks. Thanks.

 

I take very little cash, maybe a hundred or so.

 

Then on shore use my credit or debit card.

[GUT2407]

Read all the replies....nobody mentioned the first item I thought of...tips for the room service steward. A dollar or two is sufficient for small items...more if it's a big meal. Add a couple of inches of ones to the stack of fives! I also make sure to give a few dollars to the gals who take such good care of the ladies restrooms.....the y are not expecting it, are most appreciative, and surely earn it! Usually have a spare couple of bucks In my pocket in case I find one of these ladies.

 

A couple of inches of ones, that's a few hundred dollars. 100 $1 is between half and three quarters of an inch.

[MaxThrusters]

Read all the replies....nobody mentioned the first item I thought of...tips for the room service steward. A dollar or two is sufficient for small items...more if it's a big meal. Add a couple of inches of ones to the stack of fives! I also make sure to give a few dollars to the gals who take such good care of the ladies restrooms.....the y are not expecting it, are most appreciative, and surely earn it! Usually have a spare couple of bucks In my pocket in case I find one of these ladies.

 

I gave room service stewards $5 each on my Alaska cruise for late night food deliveries and breakfasts. I've never seen such sleepy faces lighten up into such big smiles before.

[Wehwalt]

As I recall, you can buy a VISA card with a given amount of credit on it. Check the fees associated with it.

 

Does the front desk still cash checks?

Edited August 4, 2016 by Wehwalt

[RMLincoln]

No need to carry a lot of 1s or 5s... the front desk will break down large bills US$ into small bills US$. They will also change bills into quarters for the laundry (some ships have them). m--

[muffin]

MY bank gives me old bills when I order them...they are not so compact!! True, I did exaggerate a tiny! One inch may do.

[Wehwalt]

You can buy OBC, as I recall. Buy a lot. Excess will be refunded, and you can ask for cash at the desk. Use the ship as a bank.