How much cash should we take?

[themishmans]

Everything is pretty much paid for; shipboard expenses will be charged on credit card. I am really not sure that we will need more than $100 or so. Am I missing something.

[MzJenniC]

$100 sounds about right. Its great mainly for taxi, shopping. The only reason i would bring more is if you plan on spending some time in the casino.

[TTown Traveler]

Will you be doing any shopping in any of the ports? You may want some cash for that... Also, depending on your plans while in port, you may need cash for taxis, food, tips, etc.

[zqvol]

You don't need a lot, but that might be a bit too little. You may need cab money, some out of pocket beverages or souvenirs on shore excursions. I would say about $150 pp per week would work.

[JPV072900]

Don't bring more money than you need to get from your home to the ship!!! As soon as you get onboard, you can't use cash anywhere. If you need cash for the ports of call, then just go to the casino and they'll give you as much cash as you want and just put it on your ship account!!! Also, if you use an NCL credit card, then you'll get 4% back towards cruise points on all the cash you take out from the casino!!!

[themishmans]

Thank you. Those were my thoughts as well. I will try to limit the amount we bring. We are not planning to do any serious shopping anyway.

[CRUZIN TOM]

You can go to the casino and take out up to $2000.00 per day as cash to use on the tables or the slots. Just let them know you want cash. This is considered a credit card charge on your CC not a cash withdrawl. :)

[1kycat]

You can go to the casino and take out up to $2000.00 per day as cash to use on the tables or the slots. Just let them know you want cash. This is considered a credit card charge on your CC not a cash withdrawl. :)

 

Last time I tried this, they said that I had to take the chips. I walked around a bit and then cashed them in. Was this just a fluke?

[pog27]

Last time I tried this, they said that I had to take the chips. I walked around a bit and then cashed them in. Was this just a fluke?

 

Technically yeah that is their policy. The cashier at the casino gave me a hard time once when I tried to get cash, but after a brief argument/discussion she agreed to it. It's a silly rule because there is no way to tell if you actually use the chips to gamble or if you just come back later to change the chips in for cash.

[pathubia]

Last time I tried this, they said that I had to take the chips. I walked around a bit and then cashed them in. Was this just a fluke?

 

They asked me if I was playing tables or slots, I said slots, they gave me the cash.....:cool:

[pog27]

Ah so that's the trick. Nice one!

[Toyz711]

even if the casino gave you chips, you just cash them in. but, yes, they ask what you are playing...they keep track.

we had $150 for our day in cozumel, the rest of the payment for the inclusive beach, the taxi ($15 each way), a beach massage, tips..had exactly $10 for my puppet when we got back. taking $20 down to $1s made it easier, had the right bill for the right fee or tip.

[silkhair1]

If you plan on doing any excursions not through NCL you will need cash. You can generally charge at the ports if you buy something bigger. Extra tipping, taxis, If you have kids in kids crew tipping them as they are not in the tip pool. Hmmmmm that is all I can think of for now.

[Sparkylok6]

Speaking of tips....don't forget to bring singles for anyone that delivers your room service (If you order it) to your room. I always bring a stack of singles and keep them in the safe. Who ever orders room service can take a couple to give when the order is delivered. I think that those making the deliveries are not part of the tip pool. I always give at least $2, sometimes more - it depends on the order.

 

Have a great cruise.

[themishmans]

If you have kids in kids crew tipping them as they are not in the tip pool. Hmmmmm that is all I can think of for now.

 

Really? I did not know this. How much should a tip for them be. Glad I found this out now and not next week on the Dawn. :eek:

[unadillasc]

As far as cash goes, if you are not booking shore excusions through the ship then you'll need money for taxis and whatever you want to doo off the ship which could include drinks food or whatever shopping

[Ms belp]

We tried to get cash but the casino was closed as we were in port. We had to use the ATM and the charge was $5.50!:eek: Also, in some places during our Eastern Caribbean cruise on 11/25/07, they didn't take cards. It was cash only. I think it's better to be safe than sorry. There is a safe in your cabin.

[retiredonthesea]

You'd be surprised how fast cash can go when you eat a meal or two on the way to your cruise departure port or stopping for a drink or two even the tipping can get a stack of one's used up pretty quick. We take about $350.00, but we fly to our destination a day ahead. It always fills good to come home with a few bucks left over.

 

Happy cruising:D

Retiredonthesea

[lfdianne]

We're on the Spirit the end of this month. We have booked our own excursions and they are cash only (except for the dolphin swim in Cozumel). Since there are 5 of us, the excursions, though low priced per person, add up for 5 people. Any shopping in port (Roatan, Belize City, and Santo Tomas, I'm assuming will also be cash only. As will be food. I'm thinking we'll need close to $1000 cash.

[deepnite10]

there s alway s the possibilty of purchasing something onshore..:o

..this is especially true on a port intensive cruise..

 

study the various ports of call..some are note d for great deal s on

pottery, jewelery, art,etc..if you have any intention of purchasing

thing s bring some extra cash base d on what you can afford to spend..

 

we re not big spender s..but, we do carry enough small denomiation s to

cover s transportation, meals onshore and gratuities..usually5-$20s, 10-$5 s and 20-$1 s..if we know there s something in particular, *which is usually the case everytime*:( we ll take along 3-$100 bill s..this we ll leave in the safe..and if we see something while on shore we ll return to ship to get the money..and if there s no time, there s always the next port of call..:p

[Down-Unders]

Everything is pretty much paid for; shipboard expenses will be charged on credit card. I am really not sure that we will need more than $100 or so. Am I missing something.

 

One hundred dollars is the tip for our two room attendants after a ten night cruise!

[themishmans]

One hundred dollars is the tip for our two room attendants after a ten night cruise!

 

I thought tipping is charged automatically. I suppose if someone does something extra, you might want to tip more, but otherwise?

[Philob]

You'd be surprised how fast cash can go when you eat a meal or two on the way to your cruise departure port or stopping for a drink or two even the tipping can get a stack of one's used up pretty quick. We take about $350.00, but we fly to our destination a day ahead. It always fills good to come home with a few bucks left over.

 

It cost me about $20 for a couple of breakfast pastries, coffee, hot tea, and 2 bottles of water at our home airport SFO, and we haven't even walked to the gate :mad:

[floorman]

I thought tipping is charged automatically. I suppose if someone does something extra, you might want to tip more, but otherwise?

 

Yes, tipping is automatically added to your bill, but if you want to tip someone extra plan for that. We just got off the Pearl on Sunday and Saturday Night the DW and I went around with a couple of thank you cards for a couple of the staff members that went over and above.

 

1. A cocktail waitress in the bar we tipped her an extra $20 because every night we would go to the bar and when she saw us she would have our drinks poured and brought over snacks. She was very polite and friendly and funny.

 

2. We had a waitress in Lotus Gardens who was outstanding. When she came to take our desert order, I said surprise me and she brought out a special favor of Ice Cream that the crew eats and it was great. When we went to the Teppanyaki restaurant she was there. She came out with a different flavor than before. We gave her an extra $20.

 

3. We gave our cabin stewards an extra $25 each because they were great. They gave us extra towels every day and made sure the ice bucket was full each day. Every night we had a different animal on our bed when we retired for the evening.

 

So it could add up, so I would plan for the worst and if you don't use it that is not a bad thing. Some area that you might want to tip are:

Taxi cab drivers, Port attendees(people who help with the luggage at the port). Based on what we spent, I would bring around $250 - $300. I rather have to much than not enough money. This is my option and hope this helps.

 

Doug

[LilRhody]

In addition to bringing cash for extra tips for the cabine stewards, the baggage handlers, and for incidental expenses, on my past cruises, I always had $1 bills with me to tip the waiters around the pool with - I found that I got better service and better drinks when I did that. Do people not do this on NCL?