Cash for a World Cruise

[Ravbo]

We are currently doing research and planning for a World Cruise in 2022 or more with a duration exceeding 100+ days.
Understand that on board charges, cruise line excursions and other cruise line expenses are handled via onboard board account and a credit card.

We are wondering how to handle cash needs for the cruise.

This would include casino, shore expenses, shore spending money, and other requirements for cash.
Not really excited about carrying around a lot of actual CASH.  For a 120+ cruise, anticipating Cash needs to exceed $10,000.00.

In olden times we used travelers checks.  However travelers checks do not exist any more (Do I sound OLD?).

How does everyone else handle cash needs?

THanks

Bob

 

[Go-Bucks!]

7 minutes ago, Ravbo said:

We are currently doing research and planning for a World Cruise in 2022 or more with a duration exceeding 100+ days.
Understand that on board charges, cruise line excursions and other cruise line expenses are handled via onboard board account and a credit card.

We are wondering how to handle cash needs for the cruise.

This would include casino, shore expenses, shore spending money, and other requirements for cash.
Not really excited about carrying around a lot of actual CASH.  For a 120+ cruise, anticipating Cash needs to exceed $10,000.00.

In olden times we used travelers checks.  However travelers checks do not exist any more (Do I sound OLD?).

How does everyone else handle cash needs?

THanks

Bob

 

 

My world cruise was for 6 months. I initially took $2,000 cash but used my credit card whenever possible...and most places all over the world took my credit card. I did run out of cash and needed roughly about another $1,000. I used the cash for extra crew tips, places that didn't take CC's and to exchange for foreign currency. Luckily my bank reimburses me for any ATM fees.

[Ravbo]

3 minutes ago, Go-Bucks! said:

 

My world cruise was for 6 months. I initially took $2,000 cash but used my credit card whenever possible...and most places all over the world took my credit card. I did run out of cash and needed roughly about another $1,000. I used the cash for extra crew tips, places that didn't take CC's and to exchange for foreign currency. Luckily my bank reimburses me for any ATM fees.

 

Just wondering how you acquired the additional cash?

ATM?  Cash advance from cruiseline? 

[Go-Bucks!]

8 minutes ago, Ravbo said:

 

Just wondering how you acquired the additional cash?

ATM?  Cash advance from cruiseline? 

 

Our ship has an ATM, which I mostly used, and I also got some from ATM's on land.  Of course, I used a debit card for cash withdrawals...a credit card has high fees to do that.

 

My friend tried to get cash from banks on land but none would give her any because she didn't have an account with them.

Edited July 24, 2019 by Go-Bucks!

[ArtsyCraftsy]

I'm booked on the Regent Seven Seas 2020 world cruise -- 131 days.  Cash can be a bit tricky since some ports won't accept US dollars.  I plan to start with about $2000 in USD, and either exchange on the ship for local currency OR use my debit card onshore at a local bank ATM to get local cash, while using a credit card for onshore purchases as much as possible (after filing a travel advisory with my bank).  I'm still working this out myself -- I have exactly 6 months to get it figured out -- the cruise embarks in San Francisco on January 24, 2020.

 

Lana in Bellingham, WA

[Go-Bucks!]

3 hours ago, ArtsyCraftsy said:

I'm booked on the Regent Seven Seas 2020 world cruise -- 131 days.  Cash can be a bit tricky since some ports won't accept US dollars.  I plan to start with about $2000 in USD, and either exchange on the ship for local currency OR use my debit card onshore at a local bank ATM to get local cash, while using a credit card for onshore purchases as much as possible (after filing a travel advisory with my bank).  I'm still working this out myself -- I have exactly 6 months to get it figured out -- the cruise embarks in San Francisco on January 24, 2020.

 

Lana in Bellingham, WA

 

Sounds exactly like what I did and it worked fine. 

[Heidi13]

Our our previous WC we had about $2,000 in cash, with US$, UK Sterling, Aus $ being the largest currencies. We also had small amounts of currency for each port visited.

 

Used credit card for almost everything, including private tours. We actually returned with cash and had no need to pick up any additional cash during our WC & additional 3-months of traveling around the world.

[Wendy The Wanderer]

We haven't figured this out yet, embarking January 2021, but we'll rely on ATM's for small amounts of local currencies I expect.  For places where we have extended visits/ports, we'll get some currency in advance--India, New Zealand and Australia come to mind, plus some Euros for the Mediterranean port of the trip..  ATM's are ubiquitous and reasonably reliable--we've used them all over the world, and it's not really inconvenient to find them most places.  (There's also the collection of ziplocks I have from previous trips--very useful.)

Edited July 25, 2019 by Wendy The Wanderer

[Go-Bucks!]

6 hours ago, Wendy The Wanderer said:

We haven't figured this out yet, embarking January 2021, but we'll rely on ATM's for small amounts of local currencies I expect.  For places where we have extended visits/ports, we'll get some currency in advance--India, New Zealand and Australia come to mind, plus some Euros for the Mediterranean port of the trip..  ATM's are ubiquitous and reasonably reliable--we've used them all over the world, and it's not really inconvenient to find them most places.  (There's also the collection of ziplocks I have from previous trips--very useful.)

 

I would imagine that your ship will have an ATM onboard (ours is in the casino, which makes sense!). I have a checking account with a debit card from Schwab where I keep money for vacation cash withdrawals...no fees at all, online banking and they reimburse your account for all ATM fees.  Can't beat that!

[Wendy The Wanderer]

17 hours ago, Go-Bucks! said:

 

I would imagine that your ship will have an ATM onboard (ours is in the casino, which makes sense!). I have a checking account with a debit card from Schwab where I keep money for vacation cash withdrawals...no fees at all, online banking and they reimburse your account for all ATM fees.  Can't beat that!

 

No, it doesn't, strange as that may seem. (Although I admit I've never been in the casino.)

Edited July 26, 2019 by Wendy The Wanderer

[Scrapnana]

I have taken about $1700 cash (solo traveler) on each of my world cruises and have come back with a little left over.  I use the ATM in ports for local currencies (neither of the ships I have been on had ATMs onboard).  I have two debit cards (from two separate checking accounts) just in case something should happen to one.  I bank at a credit union that reimburses all fees that are charged by the ATM.

 

I seldom get foreign currencies at home before the cruise simply because of the poor exchange rate and the fee for buying the money.  The only time I do get currency in advance is when I know I will need it right away and am not sure if there is an ATM in or near the cruise terminal.  If worse comes to worse, I will get money on the ship even though the exchange rate is horrendous.

[Keith1010]

We take more cash than we think we need in our home currency.    We just want to have it just in case.

 

Let's put that aside.

 

For local currency we do one of two things.

 

For many countries we use a local ATM.  

 

For some countries where we won't have time to get to an ATM or just prefer not to use one we get money ahead of time from our local bank.  Yes, we pay more than using an ATM.

 

And as mentioned we charge where we can.

 

Keith

[Prezz]

And when traveling overseas and taking some american money, be sure that the bills in one, fives, tens and twenties are fairly new, crisp and have no tears in them.  Many times when paying a guide, retail or for services, people overseas will not take american money that has a tear in it, even if a small tear, or very crinkled or used, because their local bank will not accept the bills.  Also be sure before you go that your charge card does not have fees for overseas purchases. Some cards do.

 

Steve