Money, money money !!!

[fishart]

Hi Folks,

Now we are SERIOUSLY getting excited!!! Not long to go...yayyyy!!!

My enquiries this time round is finance related...

 

I was planning to hand about $1000 cash for the cruisecard, and provide our VISA details for any excess expenditures...

 

Q1. How does the Casino and bingo and other such gambling related games onboard work in regards to payment? - should I keep aside cash for these or are they all charged to the cruisecard?

 

 

Q2. For expenses whilst wandering around the Isle of Pines and Ouvea - do they accept $AUD?

 

 

Q3. For expenses whilst wandering around Noumea - should I get the Pacific Franc (XPF) currency before leaving Australia or does the ship provide a competative rate onboard?

 

 

Q4. How is the cruisecard/s issued out?

Meaning, does my hubby and I get one card each for the one account? I'd hate just to get just the one card to share between the two of us..

And can I assign one for my 11 year son as well - but with a $$ limit?

 

 

Q5. And finally, if we dont spent the $1000 cash (I doubt it), but, if we have any credit.. do they hand back the credit in cash or do they refund into your credit card?

 

 

Thanking you in advance for your advice...

Cheers! Iesha

[fishart]

Kaz, Youre an absolute GEM!! thank you...perfect!!!

 

I think I will get some Pacific Francs before we go then...and I will set aside some cash onhand for those games...not really gamblers but we might have a flutter or two onboard...

 

One other thing...on the Sun - for the laundromat does the machines take $1 or $2 coins - I'll get a small stash of them as well....

 

Cheers! Iesha

[Publicans]

Kaz, Youre an absolute GEM!! thank you...perfect!!!

 

One other thing...on the Sun - for the laundromat does the machines take $1 or $2 coins - I'll get a small stash of them as well....

 

Cheers! Iesha

 

Hi. You need $1 coins for the washing machine and dryers. No charge for the irons.

Have a fantastic cruise.

[kaseyoz]

it is a good idea to take small coins etc for photo ops on the islands. Mystery island took aud but preferred small coins although we were asked at the end of the day to change a heap of dollar coins for notes.

You may need coins for room service tipping (or not!!)

If you dont drink a lot, gamble or buy the photos you do not need a heap of money.

There will be a huge queue the last night at the pursers desk so make sure you fix up your account early(4am may be a good time, thats when we did it anyway)

[fishart]

Thanks Margo and Karon,

Well, pretty much all taken care of - Went to the local currency exchange booth in town here this afternoon, got some FCFP for basic spending money for the islands - keeping some cash for gambling etc onboard - cash for the cruisecard and VISA as a back-up... just need to collect some $1 coins before we leave and we should be all set..... phew...

 

Thanks again to this forum and participants...been such a god-send being able to hopefully be as prepared as possible... hate having a holiday and thinking "if only I had brought.." or 'if only I had known about....'

 

I also enjoyed the insight from this forum as to what the islands have to offer....

It seems Noumea is not big on the "best memories' list for most, and so I have actually booked for us to go on a private fishing charter for our Noumea stop... probably have a couple of hours spare to have a quick peruse through town afterwards, but not too fussed either-way... Our fishing charter guide is going to take us for a coastal tour of the area instead.:)

 

Definately keen to explore Isle of Pines and Ouvea so this will be our cultural 'fix' of New Calendonia...

 

Cheers for now,

Iesha

[chaz cruiser]

(I really should post my review I know...I jotted all this stuff down in my journal)

 

Kaz

 

Yes you should Kaz!! I want to hear about the 5 pages of complaints!!! Was it that bad?

 

Cheers,

Charmain:)