Breaking $100 bills into smaller denominations

[njkruzer]

16 minutes ago, die_hard said:

On our last trip on Symphony, they would not break bills/give us change at the Guest services desk. We tried several times. 

What!  Why?  What did they expect people to do?  Forget about needing singles to tip bar waiters, at the end of a cruise we need 10s and 20s for extra staff tips.  Makes no sense.

[steveru621]

https://criminaldefenseattorneytampa.com/asset-seizure-asset-forfeiture/airport/can-tsa-seize-cash/#:~:text=How much cash can you,of cash on a flight.

 

[steveru621]

46 minutes ago, die_hard said:

On our last trip on Symphony, they would not break bills/give us change at the Guest services desk. We tried several times. 

 

Same experience.  Guest services often had limited $1 bills.  

 

Staff needs to color -up.

[soremekun]

34 minutes ago, steveru621 said:

https://criminaldefenseattorneytampa.com/asset-seizure-asset-forfeiture/airport/can-tsa-seize-cash/#:~:text=How much cash can you,of cash on a flight.

 

That may be the law but all they have to do is suspect it's the fruit of a crime or will be used in a future crime.  With that, the money can be taken without the person ever being charged.

 

Half of these forfeitures are for $1,300 or less.

[island lady]

8 hours ago, njkruzer said:

What!  Why?  What did they expect people to do?  Forget about needing singles to tip bar waiters, at the end of a cruise we need 10s and 20s for extra staff tips.  Makes no sense.

 

That is why I go to the bank and get the ones and fives ahead of time.  I have had hit and miss on asking for smaller bills.  Prefer not to suffer the misses.  

[Cigar King]

20 hours ago, soremekun said:

all they have to do is suspect it's the fruit of a crime or will be used in a future crime.

Earlier you said "for no reason."  Now you say they need a reason.  You can't have it both ways.  

[soremekun]

49 minutes ago, Cigar King said:

Earlier you said "for no reason."  Now you say they need a reason.  You can't have it both ways.  

Yes, for no reason.  All they have to say is they suspect it being related to a crime.  Even if it is completely made up and there is no proof.  Charges never have to be filed.  The person never has to be arrested.   Under those circumstances, that's for no reason.

[neverbeenhere]

I carry a lot of cash when traveling, but I run it all through our washing machine before travel. 

[jean87510]

On 11/5/2022 at 6:44 PM, xray0111 said:

Is it easy to break large bills into smaller denominations while onboard?  We'll probably use almost all of our small denominations pre-cruise.  Can we do this in the casino or guest services as needed?  

 

Thanks

XRAY

guest services does it on every cruise for me.

[jean87510]

On 11/5/2022 at 8:48 PM, Mum2Mercury said:

Yes, I'd say that's the best idea.  It's always smart to have smaller bills for your island stops -- for drinks, tips, etc.  All too many vendors /tour guides say they can't make change.  If you have small bills, you're in charge of what you spend.  

Ive done it from home and cruise ship.  It was easier for me to do on board as I'm usually flying to the port and having 100 ones is a tad bit snug.  I do the excursions in separate envelopes including tips/shopping and then one envelope with $100 bill or 2 $50s or 5 $20s   I like to use $20s as they are easier for excursions.  I have done this on 3 land vacations, plus 7 cruises since restart.  It just works for us. 

[Mum2Mercury]

1 hour ago, jean87510 said:

Ive done it from home and cruise ship.  It was easier for me to do on board as I'm usually flying to the port and having 100 ones is a tad bit snug.  I do the excursions in separate envelopes including tips/shopping and then one envelope with $100 bill or 2 $50s or 5 $20s   I like to use $20s as they are easier for excursions.  I have done this on 3 land vacations, plus 7 cruises since restart.  It just works for us. 

I prep island stop envelopes too.  If we're meeting an excursion, I write the name /meeting place and time /contact number on the outside.  If we owe anything to the tour guide, I place the exact amount of cash into the envelope.  Then I add enough for a taxi, a meal, tips, whatever else we're likely to need.  I like this method because we know everything in our wallets is "available to spend".  I'd rather spend my at-home time preparing than juggle money or end up without the small bills on vacation.  

 

I agree that $100 in singles would strain a wallet.  We take a bunch of singles, but we put them into our shared travel wallet, in which we carry our passports, Set Sail passes, etc.  

[sailor05]

I take mostly $100 bills and break them in the casino for port money. They have machines where you can cash your vouchers and break large bills into smaller ones. First you put in a $100 bill and it will give you 5-$20's, then you break each $20 into $10's then those into $5's. I don't think it goes to $1 bills.

[island lady]

11 hours ago, jean87510 said:

guest services does it on every cruise for me.

 

Sometimes they can...sometimes they can't, or very limited on what they can do.  

 

I prefer not to worry about it, planning in advance, getting packs of small bills to take with us.  No waiting in GS line either.  😉 

[island lady]

3 hours ago, sailor05 said:

I take mostly $100 bills and break them in the casino for port money. They have machines where you can cash your vouchers and break large bills into smaller ones. First you put in a $100 bill and it will give you 5-$20's, then you break each $20 into $10's then those into $5's. I don't think it goes to $1 bills.

 

1/2 of those machines in the casinos are not working...even here on Wonder currently (brand new ship).

[jean87510]

2 hours ago, island lady said:

 

Sometimes they can...sometimes they can't, or very limited on what they can do.  

 

I prefer not to worry about it, planning in advance, getting packs of small bills to take with us.  No waiting in GS line either.  😉 

Yes it's as I said, whatever is easier.  Since we usually fly to the ports, I prefer to keep that stuff small.  I remember one time January 2020 we were in Puerto Rico a few days prior to a cruise and flew into Ceiba from Culebra and were driving to San Juan.  We stopped to get protein bars at a supermarket as we use them for lunches on port intensive cruises.  The customer service desk in the supermarket gave us 1s, 5s, and a couple of 10s for a $100 bill.  Couldn't have been nicer.  

[RedIguana]

19 hours ago, neverbeenhere said:

I carry a lot of cash when traveling, but I run it all through our washing machine before travel.

Be careful doing that. They can arrest you for money laundering.......

 

I'll see myself out now.....

[poocher]

Just off Explorer, changed about $250 in larger bills at Guest Services during the week.  I also went to the bank (not sure what kind of bank would need to be avoided? Maybe you need a new bank?) and got enough small bills to cover all my anticipated tips for porters, hotel maids, shuttle drivers, excursion workers.