Currency in the Caribbean

[el kapitan]

Hi we are first time cruisers, en route to the Caribbean but we don't know whether it's best to get currency on board or prior to travel, and what do people recommend please

[Clarea]

Welcome to Cruise Critic.

 

Virtually all the islands in the Caribbean take US dollars. However, I believe that Martinique takes Euros.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Welcome to Cruise Critic.

Being as you are from Liverpool, I would try to get some US money before you leave home.

[beachbum53]

If you're planning to make any major purchases in port, such as jewelry, use your credit card instead of cash. You'll get a better exchange rate.

[John Bull]

Hi, and welcome,

 

With very very few exceptions (like Martinique, mentioned by Clarea) US dollars are very widely accepted in the Caribbean, so you don't need to juggle with multiple local currencies.

 

Buy US dollars prior to travel, from the usual suspects - Tesco, Sainsbury, M&S, Post Office etc.

On-line tends to give marginally better rates, but with the risk that many use high-denomination notes like $50 and $100.

 

Don't accept bigger than $20 notes - and try to get plenty of £1's, $5's & $10's though that can be difficult. For whatever reason folk in the Caribbean don't like $2 notes, but they're rare.

With Sainsbury you can order on-line (slightly better value than in-store) to collect from your specified branch, then phone the branch to specify the denominations that you want & they'll do their best to oblige.

If you're on a US ship, guest relations or sometimes the casino will change-down notes (no charge). If you're on a US ship, you can also pay your unused dollars into your on-board account - but don't do that with a Brit ship (see below)

 

But don't buy dollars on the ship - all cruise ships, including Brit ships, offer a lousy rate of exchange.

 

And don't rely on ATMs (cashpoints) in the Caribbean, some dispense local currency only.

 

Notes smaller than $20 are useful, though not imperative, for two reasons:

- shops which sell mainly to locals, such as grocery stores, give best value and accept US dollars, but their tills are geared to give change in local currency. So if you only have $20 notes, a $4.95 purchase will cost you $20 and give you a pocketful of souvenir coins.

That's not a problem with market stalls, taxis, minibuses, shops & bars at the pier - you tender dollars & they give you change in dollars.

- bartering is common, particularly with market stalls. If the vendor wants, say, $15 & you produce a $10, "that's all I've got", it'll probably be accepted. But produce a $50 note & the vendor will try to persuade you to spend it all ;)

 

Best value is by using your credit card for significant purchases ashore, they convert at or marginally above wholesale rates & that's better than any exchange bureau. But most have a foreign transaction fee, which will exceed the exchange-rate savings on small purchases like a couple of beers. And few market stalls etc accept credit cards.

Remember to tell your card supplier about your cruise, in case a purchase outside the UK triggers anti-fraud measures & payment declined.

 

Post to tell us if you're not on a Brit ship, we can help you reduce currency costs on-board.

 

The Caribbean is made for cruising - lots of islands, all worth a day but few worth longer.

And a great break from a Liverpool winter.

 

JB :)

[nolatravelgirl]

Buy US dollars prior to travel,

 

 

And don't rely on ATMs (cashpoints) in the Caribbean, some dispense local currency only.

I would absolutely disagree with this advice. You will get terrible exchange rates buying before departure. It would be helpful if the original poster would tell us their itinerary and ports to give better advice.

[LHT28]

I would absolutely disagree with this advice. You will get terrible exchange rates buying before departure. It would be helpful if the original poster would tell us their itinerary and ports to give better advice.

Maybe in the USA but here in Canada our rates are pretty close to the bank rate

Maybe in the UK they also get better rates of exchange

 

Why would you need to exchange $ in the Caribbean anyway ?

[wassup4565]

Agree with LHT28. In 35 years of traveling to many Caribbean islands, we've never found a place that won't accept US$. Sometimes, however, even if you pay in US$, your change will be in the local currency, which may or may not be the currency on any other island you visit. This is why bills in small denominations are best - you won't get as much local change if you pay with a twenty instead of a fifty. But most British people are used to this if they travel on the continent, right?

 

Never had a problem with ATMs in the Caribbean. As in Europe, you will pay in your own currency and receive your cash in the currency of the country. The trick is to try to estimate how much you will need, - good luck with that!

[John Bull]

I would absolutely disagree with this advice. You will get terrible exchange rates buying before departure. It would be helpful if the original poster would tell us their itinerary and ports to give better advice.

 

I hear the same thing from other Americans.

But LHT is right, at home we Brits get much better rates than you do in America - hence my advice.

 

Except, of course, at the moment we Brits are getting lousy rates everywhere :(

 

JB :)

Edited October 14, 2016 by John Bull

[marco]

If you do get US currency before you leave it will most likely be larger denomination bills. You will be able to exchange them for smaller denomination bills aboard ship before you venture out onto the islands.

[el kapitan]

Hi all, thanks to everyone for the advice, we are leaving this week and very much looking forward to the cruise, the tuxedo fits and in another few days ill be able to breathe out too!!!😀😀😀

[Lionesss]

Hi all, thanks to everyone for the advice, we are leaving this week and very much looking forward to the cruise, the tuxedo fits and in another few days ill be able to breathe out too!!!😀😀😀

 

 

 

Enjoy

 

When you return, update us on your journey.

 

Safe travels.