Hi! Quick couple of questions for our upcoming cruise

[stvntra]

1.  Besides cash for ("extra") tips to staff, etc., do you take any other cash with you? If I recall correctly, everything is card only until debarkation day, where you can pay your bill with cash instead of card, does that still stand correct?  I don't want to take more cash than necessary.

 

2.  I have printed out my documents (what I THINK should be all we need) but was curious if there was an actual list of items you have to have to board the ship, so you are not denied boarding.  That is one of my biggest fears after all of my research and preparation, that I forget one small item and then we don't get to go. Also, do we need to do it for both of us, and since we are both under the same reservation, will it just be the one set of complete documents plus our passports that we will need?

 

Thanks so much as always! Only 5 more sleeps to go!! ☺️

[RTShaker]

I always bring cash to use in the casino.

[PTC DAWG]

5 minutes ago, RTShaker said:

I always bring cash to use in the casino.

This, and I take cash for extra tips and possibly to use in ports..

 

You can either settle your account the last evening with cash, or just leave to go on the CC you have on file with the ship, assuming there is a balance. Your room gratuities will be added daily to your account unless you have pre paid them 

 

Wife and I always take our passport also..it and other valuables stay in the room safe..

Edited September 3 by PTC DAWG

[stvntra]

3 minutes ago, RTShaker said:

I always bring cash to use in the casino.

Thank you, RTShaker - I also meant to mention cash for the casino as well.  

[bikerunner]

The main things to board with you are the express pass, on phone is fine, your passport and a credit card.  Anything else is extra.  My next side by side cruise in Dec, 2 different ships, for 13 days, is I will have the above documentation and a small carry on with me.  Limiting on what I am carrying on and bringing with me as I dont need it.  Cash if you want to bring it, I bring very little  overall as I will just take it out of the ATM if needed, bonus of having a bank that refunds ATM fees to you.  

[stvntra]

Just now, PTC DAWG said:

This, and I take cash for extra tips and possibly to use in ports..

 

You can either settle your account the last evening, or just leave to go on the CC you have on file with the ship, assuming there is a balance. Your room gratuities will be added daily to your account unless you have pre paid them 

 

Wife and I always take our passport also..

 

Just now, PTC DAWG said:

This, and I take cash for extra tips and possibly to use in ports..

 

You can either settle your account the last evening, or just leave to go on the CC you have on file with the ship, assuming there is a balance. Your room gratuities will be added daily to your account unless you have pre paid them 

 

Wife and I always take our passport also..

yes, we will most likely leave it on our cc too instead of taking a lot of cash to do at the end of the trip.  Not sure there will be an actual balance left over at the end of the cruise as we have already prepaid for everything, unless something unexpected comes up, of course.  Yes, we definitely have our passports, I was just wondering about the "sail" documents to be sure I don't forget anything.  Thanks so much! 🙂

[stvntra]

Just now, bikerunner said:

The main things to board with you are the express pass, on phone is fine, your passport and a credit card.  Anything else is extra.  My next side by side cruise in Dec, 2 different ships, for 13 days, is I will have the above documentation and a small carry on with me.  Limiting on what I am carrying on and bringing with me as I dont need it.  Cash if you want to bring it, I bring very little  overall as I will just take it out of the ATM if needed, bonus of having a bank that refunds ATM fees to you.  

Thank you bikerunner.  I have the express pass stuff ready to go as I said, but wasn't sure if I needed to print 2 sets out or just the one.  Also, I forgot about the ATM's being on board ships.  I too happen to work for a bank that refunds the ATM fees, as well as my cc doesn't charge me for foreign transaction fees either, which helps! 🙂

[jelayne]

3 hours ago, stvntra said:

Thank you bikerunner.  I have the express pass stuff ready to go as I said, but wasn't sure if I needed to print 2 sets out or just the one.  Also, I forgot about the ATM's being on board ships.  I too happen to work for a bank that refunds the ATM fees, as well as my cc doesn't charge me for foreign transaction fees either, which helps! 🙂

You need the Xpress pass for each of you and passports or travel document for each.   You complete the credit card info when you do online checkin.  They have not asked to see the actual credit card when boarding.

[Midwest Sunseeker]

We give cash to the cruise port porters. 

[keesar]

You should bring along your final Booking Confirmation-Guest Copy.  This shows your perks and OBC.  This has been helpful for me.

 

Also, I have been asked to show my credit card upon boarding.  This is done to confirm what I had reported when checking in online.

 

Have a great trip.

[zitsky]

I used to have a binder full of printed docs for Celebrity, all our excursions, flight details etc.  I haven’t need it, even as a backup for 2 years.

 

I take dollar bills for bar tips.  But I may also add a tip when I sign.  I tip the bathroom staff with cash.  They really appreciate it.

[mrgabriel]

I bring my DL for those ports where you need ID to board after being onshore. I'm paranoid about carrying my passport with me onshore and losing it. (Copy of my passports in my password keeper on my phone.)

 

We bring a bit of cash for tips - maybe $200 total. Smaller bills are definitely better so you don't wind up having to give someone $10 when you wanted to give them $2. 

 

[zitsky]

27 minutes ago, mrgabriel said:

I bring my DL for those ports where you need ID to board after being onshore. I'm paranoid about carrying my passport with me onshore and losing it. (Copy of my passports in my password keeper on my phone.)

 

We bring a bit of cash for tips - maybe $200 total. Smaller bills are definitely better so you don't wind up having to give someone $10 when you wanted to give them $2. 

 

Any problems internationally with identification?  We’re going to a beach area and I don’t want to bring either my phone nor passport.  We’ll be close to the ship.

[hcat]

1 hour ago, Midwest Sunseeker said:

We give cash to the cruise port porters. 

agree.. and use it for port shops.. we have a no trans fee credit card  in case us cash is not accepted.or we have no local money

[mrgabriel]

1 hour ago, zitsky said:

Any problems internationally with identification?  We’re going to a beach area and I don’t want to bring either my phone nor passport.  We’ll be close to the ship.

Some ports require photo ID to return into the secured port area. Check Celebrity Today before you leave the ship. It’s always noted there. 

[pattyj 1204]

Maybe I'm old, but what about cash for cabs, ice cream cones, other snackage. Porters for luggage, souvenirs. I don't like using a credit card for any small purchases my husband has different ideas.  Just making a suggestion.  

Have fun on your cruise and stay safe.  

[1Virgo]

I leave passports in safe but have a photo copy (black and white only allowed) that I carry going ashore…just in case. Most places want a government issued photo ID to get back into ship area.  Have a great cruise

[stvntra]

15 hours ago, Midwest Sunseeker said:

We give cash to the cruise port porters. 

Oh yes, this too I forgot about.  Thank you for the reminder! 🙂

[stvntra]

16 hours ago, jelayne said:

You need the Xpress pass for each of you and passports or travel document for each.   You complete the credit card info when you do online checkin.  They have not asked to see the actual credit card when boarding.

Great, thanks so much! I really have tried locating everything, but they don't seem to have an actual list of exact documents needed to board.  I have been on multiple cruises, but I know they are all different, so I don't want to miss something. 

[stvntra]

15 hours ago, keesar said:

You should bring along your final Booking Confirmation-Guest Copy.  This shows your perks and OBC.  This has been helpful for me.

 

Also, I have been asked to show my credit card upon boarding.  This is done to confirm what I had reported when checking in online.

 

Have a great trip.

Thank you, Keesar - Is the final booking confirmation - guest copy something I would have received from my TA or something different? I've never been asked to show my credit card upon boarding but have no problem doing so.  Thank you, we are SUPER excited!!! 🙃

[stvntra]

15 hours ago, zitsky said:

I used to have a binder full of printed docs for Celebrity, all our excursions, flight details etc.  I haven’t need it, even as a backup for 2 years.

 

I take dollar bills for bar tips.  But I may also add a tip when I sign.  I tip the bathroom staff with cash.  They really appreciate it.

Thank you, Zitsky - we have the premium drink package, and it includes all tips as well.  However, I do tend to give extra to those that take care of us at the bars, etc.  I have never thought about the bathroom staff, though I've not ran into any of them ironically on any of my cruises in the past.  But thank you for the tip - I will definitely remember that. 🙂

[zitsky]

14 minutes ago, stvntra said:

Thank you, Zitsky - we have the premium drink package, and it includes all tips as well.  However, I do tend to give extra to those that take care of us at the bars, etc.  I have never thought about the bathroom staff, though I've not ran into any of them ironically on any of my cruises in the past.  But thank you for the tip - I will definitely remember that. 🙂

 

It is a bit sad to see a staff member stuck in a windowless bathroom for one or two hour(s), handing out towels and cleaning the place.  I'm not sure how well they are treated, because when we offered one of them a few dollars to say thank you, he almost started crying.  They do other work during the day so they are not stuck there all the time.

[stvntra]

2 minutes ago, zitsky said:

 

It is a bit sad to see a staff member stuck in a windowless bathroom for one or two hour(s), handing out towels and cleaning the place.  I'm not sure how well they are treated, because when we offered one of them a few dollars to say thank you, he almost started crying.  They do other work during the day so they are not stuck there all the time.

That's so sad! Again, thank you for letting me know as we have never seen anyone in the ship bathrooms cleaning when we've been on other cruises.  I really appreciate your guidance on this!

[stvntra]

15 hours ago, mrgabriel said:

I bring my DL for those ports where you need ID to board after being onshore. I'm paranoid about carrying my passport with me onshore and losing it. (Copy of my passports in my password keeper on my phone.)

 

We bring a bit of cash for tips - maybe $200 total. Smaller bills are definitely better so you don't wind up having to give someone $10 when you wanted to give them $2. 

 

Thank you, mrgabriel! I hadn't thought about having smaller bills actually.  Since I work for a bank, this will be an easy task to do, I just need to add it to my "to do" list! LOL 

[zitsky]

17 minutes ago, stvntra said:

Thank you, mrgabriel! I hadn't thought about having smaller bills actually.  Since I work for a bank, this will be an easy task to do, I just need to add it to my "to do" list! LOL 

They aren’t stuck there all day.  I’m used to people just saying “thanks” for a tip.  This young man did (almost) start crying.  Not because we are special people.  Maybe he didn’t get many thank yous.  Or he was having a rough day.  We know a lot are underpaid.  And who wants to be stuck in a room for 2 hours?