Currency and excursion advice 12 night Ultimate Caribbean

[Pippafee]

It will be our first cruise with Celebrity January 14th 2018 on Sihouette and first time to the Caribbean !

Ports of call - San Juan, St Croix,Antigua,Grenada,Barbados,St Lucia & St Kitts . Are US dollars accepted in all these places?

Our previous cruises have been in the med and we have always done our own thing once in port. The only excursion we have booked so far is a catamaran day with Silver Moon in Barbados. What are the immediate port areas like on the other islands - is it easy to use local taxis. Any advice and recommended places to visit is most appreciated .Happy to do a beach day but would also like to visit historical places,nice gardens etc.Counting the days now:)

[cruisestitch]

Try the Caribbean board for island by island info.

[Keith1010]

USA currency is readily accepted and for purchases credit cards can be used as well.

 

For information on what to do in each island I also recommend reading on each of the ports of call boards.

 

Keith

[easyboy]

Check your ports on this link:

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=587

[Pippafee]

Thanks for the link

[dkjretired]

Also, if you do use US cash make sure you get your change back in dollars.

[Fouremco]

Also, if you do use US cash make sure you get your change back in dollars.

Or at least try to. Establishments away from tourist areas on some islands simply don't have US currency on hand at all times.

[CaribbeanBound]

We've taken several cruises on Celebrity to the Caribbean. I over-research everything and have shared online the details of all of the excursions we've taken. The pricing is probably higher now but you'll get some great excursion info at.... "Secrets of the Caribbean": http://www.lavasurfer.com/info/caribbean-secrets.html

First-hand information on excursions we've taken in 26 Caribbean ports. With photos!

[Pippafee]

Many thanks only just seen your reply - been ill and then catching up at work :')

[NantahalaCruiser]

Taxis will be readily available in all of your ports.

[Lsimon]

As others have said, US Currency is accepted at all the Caribbean Islands on your cruise. In fact it's been accepted at every other Caribbean Island I've been to.

 

Both San Juan and St. Croix are US territories so the US Dollar is their official currency. Barbados has it's own currency (the Barbados dollar) and all the other ports on your cruise use the Eastern Caribbean Dollar as their local currency.

 

I would encourage you to bring a supply of small bills with you with the idea that using smaller bills will limit the amount of change you get back. You might also find that vendors on some islands won't take older ratty looking money. This isn't their choice but is based on what their banks will accept. Also, if you do use a credit card the charge may likely be processed in local currency which also means that your credit card company will add a foreign purchase fee if they have one.

[gerelmx]

Pay with small bills of US Dollar or Credit Card, many times they don't have change.

[eandj]

Make sure the U.S. bills you use are in decent shape, no tears or pen marks. They don't need to be "new". We never use credit cards.

 

We did Silver Moon. Very nice day.