How much do you generally take on a 7 day cruise?

[Mlkkc]

We generally take about 2000.oo and a credit card we don't normally use our card,but just feel more secure with it.ALso we buy drink coupons before hand.

 

MBABYDOLL1628

DESTINY11/99 TRUIMP11/01 ADVENTURE OF THE SEAS 11/02 VICTORY 5/04

[dosi]

$2000 in addition to what you already paid. YIKES!! All I can figure is you pick up alot of drink tabs...when are you cruising next and on what ship...can I go too??

 

Seriously I think we bring about $500 in travellers checks, $300 in bigger bills and $100 in singles for tips and cabs. Add that to what we have in our wallets and call it $1000. I usually have enough cash by the end of the trip to either pay off or pay down my S & S bill. We do drink but not loads, play some casino games and a little bingo. We do not usually buy ships shore excursions and the ones I book on line are often prepaid so that helps some too.

 

doris

 

"I travel a lot; I hate having my life disrupted by routine"--Caskie Stinnett

 

Elation 10/20/02

Paradise 9/21/03

Star Princess 10/24/04

[weswas]

OUr first cruise we spent about 3000 we bought every gift and T shirt we could find and yes the bar bill was over 500 bucks!! It has gone down each time we cruised. It is a gift here and there and shore trips. The last cruise in May I did buy some Tanzinite (sp) but usually only buy jewlery if it is something I really really want. wE have the bar tab down to aobut 300 and spending on island trips only stuff we want.

 

UNTIL WE SAIL AGAIN.......

[Mlkkc]

NO we always bring money home plus we are doing a precruise stay and I just like feeling secure.If we ever get left behind we will make it to the next port of call lol while knocking on wood.

 

MBABYDOLL1628

DESTINY11/99 TRUIMP11/01 ADVENTURE OF THE SEAS 11/02 VICTORY 5/04

[scottp]

We usually take about $1,000 in cash. Some big bills, mixed with some smaller ones for tips. And the usual credit card. I tend to use the credit card when possible and try to keep as much cash as I can. One can always bring the cash home and pay on the credit card bill. But you DON'T want to run out of cash!!!

 

 Until the FUN begins!!!!

 

[cyndepet]

On our last cruise, I think we brought about $600 cash between the two of us, and we didn't bring too much home! That was all spent on casino/excursions/ports etc. (Did I say casino!!!) And we only used our CCs a couple of times in ports in the gift shops. The one thing we brought too much of was $1 bills - I think I had about $75 worth I planned to use for tipping. Then we ended up tipping with $5 bills more often than not!

 

Carnival Miracle 10/24/04

[Cyt4SoreEyes]

At least 4k thats enough to cover for all. And if hubby does what he did last couple of cruises..bar bill..he was buying for everyone. I could have had more souvenirs..lol!!

 

Cyt

 

Atlantic

Oceanic

Norway

Enchantment of the Seas

Destiny

Voyager of the Seas

Conquest March 30th 2003

Glory May 29th 2004

 

 

 

 

[imatarb]

I think we'll end up taking between $750/$1000 between DH and me. We just don't tend to shop too much, and just being aboard the ship is vacation/souvenir enough for both of us. We'll allow ourselves some room on the CC, but don't want to use it that much.

 

We just don't seem to spend that much on shopping and souvenirs.

 

Lisa

 

Monarch of the Seas - 1994

Royal Majesty - 1996

 

Until VICTORY is ours 5/9/04

 

 

<MARQUEE>A day at sea is better than any day at work</MARQUEE>

[CruiseFever]

That's way too much currency to carry at one time and not even necessary....if that's what you mean. Get a couple debit/VISA check cards and step into Y2K.04. Carrying that much cash is worse than having that much in travelers checks (which went out with Telegrams)

 

If you're asking if that's too much or not enough for incidentals OTHER than your prepaid cruisefare the answer is maybe/maybe not.

 

That depends entirely on you but its wise beyond belief that you ask what you probably think is a simple question.

 

Incidentals consist of...

 

<UL TYPE=SQUARE><LI>Spa treatments

<LI>Money for the Casino

<LI>Photos by the ships photographers

<LI>Most all beverages, alcoholic and non

<LI>Gratuities for the crew

<LI>Shore Excursions

<LI>Expenses while ashore

<LI>Pre or Post-cruise expenses

<LI>Purchases in the ship's gift shops

<LI>Internet Cafe Charges

<LI>Extra charges for speicalty restaurants

 

...and more

 

They can add up fast and all can be budgeted for with good planning. As the ship is for the most part a cashless system there is really no need for a big pile of cash.

 

Here's more on all that:

http://www.lifeiscruising.com/how_much_cash_

 

Happy Cruising

 

Chris

 

www.LifeIsCruising.com

 

Next up:

Caribbean Princess 06/26/04

Star Princess 10/24/04

Diamond Princess 12/22/04

Carnival Miracle 03/13/05

 

[Catrin]

We bring about $1000.00 .....

 

Don't forget about all the little things you spend money on....

 

Airport snacks, food etc

Porter's tips

Transportation Tips

Casino

Bingo

Taxi Rides

More Tips

Souveniers

Food and Drinks - Ports of Call

More Taxi Rides

MORE Tips

B I N G O!

Horse Races

Hair Braiding

That wooden statue on the side of the road

Did I say Taxi Rides and TIPS?

(all the ship charges goes on our credit card that we pay off immediatly when we get home).

AND YES>>> Bring PLENTY OF $1s and $5s!

Cathy

 

Ecstacy October 1992

Destiny October 1999

TRIUMPH May2003

 

 

Our TRIUMPHant Return! May 15th

http://community.webshots.com/user/catrin0917

 

[MusicMan]

$2000 in CASH??

That's way too much currency to carry at one time and not even necessary....if that's what you mean. Get a couple debit/VISA check cards and step into Y2K.04. Carrying that much cash is worse than having that much in travelers checks (which went out with Telegrams)

 

Before you get too snippy about those old fashioned travelers checks and give advice about debit cards, you should also point out some of the dangers of debit cards vs travelers checks and credit cards. Loss of a debit card can screw up your bank account for a LONG time. Rather than try and list the problems, there's a n article on the dangers HERE

 

 

Jerry

 

 

Triumph 05/05/01

Fascination 09/14/01cancelled

Fascination 12/07/01

Triumph 10/24/02

Fantasy 05/18/03

Statendam 05/09/04

 

[SSeaman]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> Carrying that much cash is worse than having that much in travelers checks (which went out with Telegrams)

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

 

Chris, I'm wondering why you think Travelers Checks are outdated? For my upcoming cruise I had planned on getting about $600 in TravCks and $400 cash in addition to my debit/Visa card. If you know of a reason this doesn't make sense, please fill me in. Thanks, Steve

 

Oh on this subject, Does Carnival cash these for you at the desk and do they charge a percentage when cashing Traveler Checks?

 

Victory 5/9/04 cruise

 

Monarch of the Seas 1996

NCL Wind 2000

Celebrity Galaxy 2002

SS Norway 2003

HAL Zuiderdam 2003

Carnival Victory 05/09/2004

Queen Mary 2 10/2004

[Knights on the Beach]

I always take travelers checks, too. Contrary to popular belief, plastic ISN'T accepted everywhere; some places in foreign ports don't always even have phone lines. I use a credit card for the sail & sign card, but cash some travelers checks on board so I can use cash in the ports. At home I almost never use cash, but rely on my Visa debit card. I'm not completely comfortable using that card in some foreign ports, even if they would accept it. And no way will I rely on the ship's ATM machine to get cash, nor do I want to pay any extra fees to do so.

 

You can cash travelers checks at the purser's desk and in the casino, and there is no charge for this service.

 

Beth

~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Countdown to Glory

 

Emerald Seas 6/86

Emerald Seas 11/87

S.S. Royale 10/88

Celebration 6/97

Grandeur of the Seas 6/98

Sensation 6/99

Carnival Triumph 6/00

Carnival Triumph 11/17/01

Enchantment of the Seas 10/27/02

Carnival Victory 5/25/03

Carnival Glory 5/22/04

[pgmrdev]

A little tip on tipping: pick up some 2 dollar bills. They are unique and the waiters and stewards love them. They rarely see them. They can be a little hard to find but some banks do have them. Many were printed.

<html>

<head>

<title></title>

</head>

<body>

<font color="#FF0000">Grand Princess 2-2001</font>

<font color="#0000FF">Grand Princess 12-2001</font>

<font color="#FF8000">Carnival Paradise 3-2002</font>

<font color="#FF00FF">Carnival Destiny 10-2002</font>

<font color="#008000">Golden Princess 10-2003</font>

<font color="#0000A0">Carnival Legend 6-8-2004</font>

</body>

</html>

[Mlkkc]

Always carry money and credit card. We split the money between us and never felt uncomfortable doing it.I think i'll use the traveler's check's this time but would never use our debit because this is how we live at home and would never give them acess to that account.Also I've heard to many friends stories about catching the blues on getting charges removed that they didn't make.

 

MBABYDOLL1628

DESTINY11/99 TRUIMP11/01 ADVENTURE OF THE SEAS 11/02 VICTORY 5/04

[ralmyers]

My mom just got back from a cruise to find a charge on her Debit/ check card of $4,000 dollars. It was from some place in Mexico -- where she had been. She now has to fight with her bank to get that money back. PLUS.... she only had 3500 in the account and the bank covered the extra 500 on overdraft and charged LOTS of fees. So she now is in the hole. Next time she will take traveler's checks and have them cashed on board. More and more identity theft is becoming an issue and I am becoming very nervous about using my debit card from my checking account anywhere. That is my main money source for monthly routine expenses. I guess I should start socking more in other places in case something like that were to happen I would not be out a lot of money and the idiots who used my account would not have much to go on!

 

Triumph

<IMG SRC="http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=800080&cdt=2004;5;22;16;00;00

&timezone=GMT-0500">

 

Fantasy - 94

Imagination - 95

Ecstasy - 99

Triumph - 04

 

 

[crisp1]

I'm trying not to add up the costs for this last one , brought along our son's friend, excursions in every port for 4 etc. All I know, every penny on the credit card was worth it ten times over. We all had the best cruise yet . We brought $800 and got $400 just before disembarking ( extra tips, lunch and a post cruise tour of San Juan, and the return limo ate that right up

 

 

 

To Sea, or not, to See.

Starward 81, Volendam 83, Oceanic 87, Majestic 93, Victory 2/10/02, Imagination 5/23/02, 1/30/03, Conquest 12/28/03, Destiny 04/11/04

 

Conquest New Years Cruise

http://community.webshots.com/user/crisp1028

 

[CruiseFever]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> Before you get too snippy about those old fashioned travelers checks and give advice about debit cards, you should also point out some of the dangers of debit cards vs travelers checks and credit cards. Loss of a debit card can screw up your bank account for a LONG time. Rather than try and list the problems, there's a n article on the dangers HERE <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

 

We always carry an ample supply of cash, debit and credit cards. More importantly DW and I each have one card that is the same and another that we keep separately as well as half the cash. If something happens to either one of us or the cards we carry we have a back up.

 

If a secure debit/credit/check card is lost or stolen, one phone call stops the charges and you have not lost anything. I prefer and recommend debit cards because the DO carry the same security as a credit card but do not allow passengers to go into debt to go on a cruise which I think is just plain dumb.

 

There are a whole lot of things Carnival does well, promoting a cruise for which somebody is going to pay 18% interest to pay off is not one of them.

 

On the other hand, I hear great reports from responsible credit users who are in it to rack up the points necessary for a free cruise. That s a great deal.

 

If you lose your travelers checks yes, they can be replaced but if you think that's going to happen on a cruise ship you're dreaming. Ashore in a foreign port is not a whole lot better. It's nice that they can be replaced but who wants to?

 

As far as cash goes it IS the highest risk element of a good cruise funding cocktail. If you lose it or its stolen that's most likely the last you will ever see of it. With the proliferation of ATM machines there's really no need to bring a ton of cash. We did when we first started cruising and made a bee line to the cabin safe as soon as we got on board to dump the cash and let out a sign of relief. In that respect, cash access is good through the use of Travelers Checks and surely more secure than a wad of bills but ATM cards are rapidly taking over this segment and are really more secure.

 

I really worry about passengers who have a big wad of currency when going into port. To me they're sitting ducks, waiting to get robbed, asking for it.

 

I have yet to have a situation develop when I did not have an acceptable form of payment using these elements.

 

I think the most important element though is common sense and being alert when using ANY form of payment while traveling.

 

Snippy? Yeah you bet! I learned about this stuff the hard way and I sure don't want to see anyone else go through the same "educational" experience. It's a really unsettling experience to be in the middle of the ocean, have lost your travelers checks and had your credit cards shut down because someone tried to use them in an unauthorized manner which sent the red flags flying at the credit card center.

 

Oh thats another thing- tell your bank or credit card company that you're going out of town, where to and for how long. Othewise they may think that charge outside your home state is fraudulent and shut you down. I call and give them my travel itinerary before I leave then call them back when I get back in town to close the window of opportunity for would-be identity theft.

 

The precautionary link above is an awesome one that points out many weaknesses that we need to be aware of to travel securely.

 

I suppose in the end its what each traveler feels comfortable with. If your preference leans towards including travelers checks as one of your options i'd strongly suggest getting them in denominations and amounts that enable you to store them in two different secure places. You may wish to store some in your cabin safe and some in a safedeposit box with the Purser.

 

With some forethought this does not have to be a scary part of cruising but it should be a topic that is given considerable thought before traveling and we should have a plan for how financial matters will be handled that reflects our security concerns

 

Happy Cruising

 

Chris

 

www.LifeIsCruising.com

 

Next up:

Caribbean Princess 06/26/04

Star Princess 10/24/04

Diamond Princess 12/22/04

Carnival Miracle 03/13/05

[ralmyers]

BTW... How much are the ATM fees on the ship?

I would like to take part cash/ travelers checks and get more out when I get there so I am only carrying a couple hundred bucks. It would not be a huge trauma if I lost that. Totally agree that vacation is not worth debt, now the bar bill... maybe. J/K

 

Triumph

<IMG SRC="http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=800080&cdt=2004;5;22;16;00;00

&timezone=GMT-0500">

 

Fantasy - 94

Imagination - 95

Ecstasy - 99

Triumph - 04

 

 

[CruiseFever]

Atm machines charge a whopping $5.00 per transaction.

 

Depending on how much cash you want you may be better off getting cash from the casino, charged to your Sign and Sail card

 

Happy Cruising

 

Chris

 

www.LifeIsCruising.com

 

Next up:

Caribbean Princess 06/26/04

Star Princess 10/24/04

Diamond Princess 12/22/04

Carnival Miracle 03/13/05

 

[MusicMan]

I never said to "put all your eggs in one basket". My post was in response to what APPEARED to be YOU telling someone to put all their eggs in the debit card basket and calling travelers checks outdated. Travelers checks generally provide better protection, especially in the short term than debit cards. Despite your claim, one phone call often does NOT solve all of your debit card problems. Read the article (shoot even read some of the posts above). There have been instances where lost/stolen debit cards have practically ruined families while waiting for the disputes to be settled. Remember, that's not "magic money" in a credit line that's tied up, it's YOUR BANK ACCOUNT! Many prominent financial advisers are STRONGLY OPPOSED to debit cards. And my "snippy" comment had to do with your statement "Get a couple debit/VISA check cards and step into Y2K.04. " and ". . .is worse than having that much in travelers checks (which went out with Telegrams)"

 

Jerry

 

 

Triumph 05/05/01

Fascination 09/14/01cancelled

Fascination 12/07/01

Triumph 10/24/02

Fantasy 05/18/03

Statendam 05/09/04

 

[cruzn_soon]

Someone above mentioned above about buying drink coupons ahead of time.. If you do that at the Carnival site, do you get them sent to you now or do they hold them until the cruise? I know that seems like a dumb question, but I just wasn't sure how it worked.. Thanks for holding the laughter..

 

Days Until Our 1st Cruise!!

[kodiac]

In the world today anyone bringing cash money or plastic must be careful.

 

Have you ever had someone in the grocery store talking on their cell phone behind you? Are they really talking or taking a picture of your bank card? What about of the check your writing? A check does have a routing and account number on it.

 

The world today is scary. The best way to control the situation is to be aware of your surroundings. IMHO cash, credit or checks are all the same with a huge list of pro's & con's for each.

 

Getting back onto the subject we usually take cash for tips and misc. items and put the rest on our Sail & Sign Card. The crew usually gets a kick out of the $2 bills or the Golden Dollars we get from the bank.

 

Kodiac

 

Star Princess (Honeymoon Cruise 10/24/2004)

Carnival Inspiration 05/02/2004

Carnival Glory 10/11/2003

Carnival Legend 04/2003

Carnival Fascination 06/2002

Carnival Inspiration 11/2001

Majesty of the Seas 8/2000

[Mlkkc]

Cruznsoon maiter"D will give them to you 1st night in dining room. Sometimes they will leave them in your cabin. We do utilize the deposit box at the purser desk too.Also I thank you Chris and Musicman for making very important points.Love your site's Chris you do have abundance of info on it.Also think everyone should visit it job well done.

 

MBABYDOLL1628

DESTINY11/99 TRUIMP11/01 ADVENTURE OF THE SEAS 11/02 VICTORY 5/04

[pazooter]

On our first cruise we spent NO extra money, except for tips, which were added onto our credit card. Since then, the most we've spent beyond the cruise has been $400. That was on Inspiration when we bought a fabulous piece of art, a couple of pashmina shawls, a silver ring, and windchimes as gifts for family. Normally we are pretty frugal while on a cruise, and don't get slammed with a big cc bill on return home. Cathy

 

 

 

 

Until our **STAR** search

Seattle to Alaska on NCL Star

June 27, 2004

 

Fantasy 12/25/03

Inspiration 4/13/03

NCL Majesty 12/27/02

Jubilee 3/23/02

Norwegian Sea 11/23/01