pesos on mexican cruise

[waterwaterwater]

Hello. Am going on my first Mexican cruise next month. What would be your suggestion for the amount of pesos I should take for souvenirs?

thanks for you help!

[Pyxie]

They take American dollars.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[Keith1010]

USA currency will be fine as will credit cards in most places.

Keith

[1lizette1]

I would just take US$. Get small bills if possible (1s, 5s, 10s) as some places may not be able to give you change back in US especially if you use a larger bill.

 

Sent from my ASUS_X00ID using Forums mobile app

[Keith1010]

Good advice about the small bills.

 

Keith

[stormgrey11]

Pretty much all tourist areas should take the USD at Souvenir shops. If you are planning on visiting a Walmart or Home depot, etc using a foreign transaction fee free credit card would be best.

 

If you still feel the need for some pesos in your pocket, withdraw some at a local ATM, the current rate is about 18.5 pesos to 1 USD.

[jgh1204]

Just be sure to notify your cc company you will be in Mexico.

[Purvis1231]

You can get some better deals with

pesos in some shops but you must be able to quickly add in your head to know if you are getting a deal.

[marshhawk]

As far as "western Caribbean" the shops at port, are all priced in US dollars. We never even got change in pesos, but American money.

 

Have a great cruise!

[sanger727]

Generally everywhere in the Caribbean that accepts cruise ships will accept USD in port. You can get pesos if you wish, but it’s not necessary. I always bring a mix of bills so I can pay in exact change because while they will accept USD, they may want to give change in pesos.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[riffatsea]

IF you are a Wells Fargo customer you can buy pesos there and the difference in exchange rate on $50 was only about $1 or so.

I always feel better having some pesos but I agree that you can use USA currency. IF you pay in USA $$s you will get change back in pesos. Definitely have small bills that are in good condition.

[evandbob]

Generally everywhere in the Caribbean that accepts cruise ships will accept USD in port. You can get pesos if you wish, but it’s not necessary. I always bring a mix of bills so I can pay in exact change because while they will accept USD, they may want to give change in pesos.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

 

In Martinique and Guadaluope, some shops will take Euros and credit cards but not accept US $$$.

 

Mexico law doesn't allow their shops to accept $50 or $100 bills, smaller denominations and credit cards are fine.

 

Check to see if a particular branded credit card requires prior notice for international travel. My AMEX does not, but my NCL MC does.

[schazzy]

Based on my own experience on my Mexican Riviera cruise, if you plan on taking a taxi to go to in-town shopping districts, having Pesos is good. Their meters usually show the fare in Pesos and you can easily pay the correct amount.

[AD5ZA]

Offer to pay in pesos. I bet they will be refused.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

[jimbo5544]

We have been to well over 50 cruise stops in Mexican ports. I have never seen any issue with taking dollars and by far, they expect it. See no reason at all to pay for currency exchange.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

[cb at sea]

You will not need pesos at all.

If you want one as a souvenir, I'm sure any merchant ashore will sell you one, or give it as change, if you ask.

[Laurie S.]

The stores take $50 bills, but not $100 bills. I always take pesos for purchases, but I also live in Mexico part-time and always can use them.

[Tiger0613]

Most shops in tourist areas post their cash exchange rate somewhere near the register. The rate will always be in their favor. You can always ask what their exchange rate is that day.

 

 

These are links to the exchange rates that Mastercard and Visa use for US cards. Amex and Discover don't publish the rates that they use, but the articles I have read say that their rates are close to the Mastercard and Visa rates. Google the "official" exchange rate, then use these links to get a good idea of what you will end up paying.

 

https://www.mastercard.us/en-us/consumers/get-support/convert-currency.html

 

https://usa.visa.com/support/consumer/travel-support/exchange-rate-calculator.html/

[OCruisers]

It's so much easier to use the US Dollar! (y)

[Chloesmom1]

In addition to bringing small bills if you decide to use US dollars, try to make sure that they are all in good condition. If they are too old/ beat up some stores won't accept them and if you use those to tip with the recipient will have the same issue, so it's worthless to them as well. I'm not sure if this is all banks/ stores in Mexico, but it was the case in Playa del Carmen a couple years ago.

[Herfnerd]

We always just use the USD. Make sure you have a general idea what the exchange rate is, though.

[feathersandnananose]

However, we have been in Puerto Vallarta on a cruise stop and just wanted to use the public facilities (near the park with the John Huston statue), and needed a small amount of local currency. I survived without. Just saying there ARE circumstances when you might want a miniscule amount of the local stuff.

[SPacificbound]

Take mostly one and five dollar bills for shopping, any change you get back will be in pesos.

 

One US dollar is approximately 18.87 pesos at this point.

[jlp20]

Take a lot of 10's, 5's and 1's. While the U.S. dollar is accepted, the primary scam is "sorry, no change

'.

[4x4bob]

There is always an exception to the "rule" that all you need on a cruise to Mexico is a credit card and USD.

 

Here is my example. The Ship Docked several miles North of LaPaz which required a bus ride into town. The time to clear the ship, catch the bus, and then ride into town did add up.

 

Upon arrival at the Bus Terminal the passengers found that the facilities was guarded by a six foot tall revolving turnstile that required a Peso coin to unlock it so a person could go through.

 

My wife wanted to use the facilities and had some coins so no problem. I sat on a bench waiting for her and watching the crowd that gathered in front of the turnstile. Much muttering was going on about not having any coins to use.

 

Then a sudden rush out of the bus terminal to locate a facilities elsewhere.

 

When wife came out she said that there was no paper available inside. Lucky she is an experienced traveler and had a supply with her.

 

A good rule of thumb. Don't leave home without some local currency, some paper, and a small bottle of hand sanatizer.

 

Bob