Cash machine question

[Christina231955]

Hi, we are on the Jewel Panama to San Diego cruise and will be stopping in Panama, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatamala, Huatulco, Puerta Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas. When we’re on holiday we don’t usually like taking a lot of cash and use cash machines to withdraw what we need for excursions, tips etc. Is there a country on our stops  that we should avoid using cash machines? We only use ones at banks or where there’s security guards. We are European so I have to order dollars and would like to get an idea of how much we would need.

[MeHeartCruising]

I can't comment on which countries which need to be avoided for this purpose.  However, I would like to point out that there are far, far fewer cash machines (ATMs) in these countries than you are familiar with in Europe.  It sounds like you plan on getting US dollars?  That strategy will likely work well.  Most of these places will accept US dollars in tourist locations.  I would probably suggest to just bring enough dollars for what you think you might want to spend.  If needed, you could get cash from the ship's cash machine, but they charge a service fee of $5 or more to do this.  But it might be worth $5.

 

Honestly, I don't spend much money at all on cruises in these countries.  I usually book a ship excursion or just walk around the local town/port area.  I will advise that any tour guide will be expecting a tip from you at the end of the tour.  They may even suggest it in a nice way.  The American tipping culture has become an expectation in these countries from tourists.  I tip in US dollars in these countries.

Edited March 8, 2023 by MeHeartCruising

[sassycruiser]

There is a machine in the casino you could use before you get off. 

[Christina231955]

This isn’t my first cruise but I never noticed cash machines on board, so great news and problem solved. Thank you.

[julig22]

Rather than the ATM on board, you can also get cash from the casino.  It's a 3% charge, so cheaper than the ATM (5.95) if you are getting less than $200. It's a purchase, not a cash advance, so no additional fees - assuming your cards work the same as my US cards would work in Europe.  My cards have no foreign transaction fees, bank does the currency conversion at their regular rate.

[Christina231955]

27 minutes ago, julig22 said:

Rather than the ATM on board, you can also get cash from the casino.  It's a 3% charge, so cheaper than the ATM (5.95) if you are getting less than $200. It's a purchase, not a cash advance, so no additional fees - assuming your cards work the same as my US cards would work in Europe.  My cards have no foreign transaction fees, bank does the currency conversion at their regular rate.

That is good to know. I will definitely be heading to the Casino.Thank you.

[Peachypooh]

There have been enough times that ATM's in other countries have been out

of cash or in questionable locations that I don't rely on them.I bring US dollars

and put it in the safe taking out a little at a time as needed. Yes there are places on the ship to get

dollars but I heard on the cruise before ours on the Getaway that the cash machine was empty

by the end of the cruise and not replenished. I have never tried getting cash at the

casino but it might be a good option.