Cash on board

[Annette66]

Leaving on the Freedom on 3/15 for first cruise. I know it is a good idea to bring small bills for tipping and port shopping. Is it easy enough to break larger bills on the ship so I don't have to travel with all those small bills? If so, where do you do this on the ship?

[Thirsty Cruiser]

Leaving on the Freedom on 3/15 for first cruise. I know it is a good idea to bring small bills for tipping and port shopping. Is it easy enough to break larger bills on the ship so I don't have to travel with all those small bills? If so, where do you do this on the ship?

Purser's (Information) desk will do this. Also, casino cashier may be willing to do this, especially if you are using the casino.

[*Mach*]

Leaving on the Freedom on 3/15 for first cruise. I know it is a good idea to bring small bills for tipping and port shopping. Is it easy enough to break larger bills on the ship so I don't have to travel with all those small bills? If so, where do you do this on the ship?

 

 

My first stop would be the Purser's Desk... Beyond that it would be the cashier's cage in the Casino...

[hubofhockey]

Nothing like a long wait in a Carnival Purser's Line. :mad:

 

I go to the bank before my cruise and get enough $ones to last the cruise.

[belle907]

This may be a silly question but here goes.....do many people use $2. bills for room service tips? I'm thinking of bringing them so I don't have to carry so many ones with us.

[hubofhockey]

This may be a silly question but here goes.....do many people use $2. bills for room service tips? I'm thinking of bringing them so I don't have to carry so many ones with us.

 

Probably not since they are not widely circulated. But you shouldn't let it stop you from using them.

 

Still, this is on Wikipedia about $2 bills:

 

[edit] Use of $2 bills to show economic impact

 

Because $2 bills are uncommon, their use can make a particular group of spenders visible. A documented case of using two-dollar bills to send a message to a community is the case of Geneva Steel and the communities in the surrounding Utah County. In 1989, Geneva Steel paid its employee bonuses in $2 bills. When the bills began showing up everywhere, people recognized the importance of the company to the local economy.[5] Similarly, Clemson University football fans have, since 1977, used $2 bills stamped with the school's orange "tiger paw" logo to demonstrate their economic impact on a destination community and support their team when traveling to road games or bowl games.[6][7]

[edit] Non-acceptance

 

 

[edit] Taco Bell

 

In another story, documented on Snopes.com,[8] a Taco Bell patron attempted to pay for a burrito with a two-dollar bill. The cashier and the store manager both refused to accept it as valid U.S. currency, believing that there was no such thing as a two-dollar bill. When the patron then said that the only other bill he had was a fifty-dollar bill, the manager said that since it was less than an hour to closing, he didn't want to open the safe. When the patron insisted on paying with it, they called the security guard, who then explained that two-dollar bills are actually valid U.S. currency.

Others have written in to Snopes to report similar incidents at other restaurants.[9]

[edit] Best Buy

 

In February of 2005, a patron of Best Buy attempted to pay for an electronics installation with 57 $2 bills.[10] The cashier refused to accept them and marked them as counterfeit. The cashier then called the police, and the patron was handcuffed until a U.S. Treasury Agent arrived to clear up the issue. The suspicion was supposedly caused by ink smearing on the bills, which is not uncommon, and by the fact that the serial numbers on the bills were in sequential order, which is a legitimate sign of possible counterfeiting.[8]

[belle907]

Thanks for the info.

My brother always has $2. bills since it means he has to carry less bills. He's always ordering them from the bank since they don't usually stock them. Personally I think they are a good idea, but I don't use them since I hate to go to the back.

 

Lately my DH has been using a lot of silver dollars and 50 cent pieces and it's so funny since the majority of the teenagers and young adults have no clue what they are. He's had several people try to refuse them and he maeks them call over someone (usually older than they are) to verify they are legal tender.

[msu11y28]

Leaving on the Freedom on 3/15 for first cruise. I know it is a good idea to bring small bills for tipping and port shopping. Is it easy enough to break larger bills on the ship so I don't have to travel with all those small bills? If so, where do you do this on the ship?

 

 

I would also suggest bringing more money that what you think you'll need. My husband and I under-budgeted (if that's a word?) for our first cruise because we didn't take into account how much we'd spend in the casino and at port. And the ATM fees were KILLERS!

[Travel Angel]

Nothing like a long wait in a Carnival Purser's Line. :mad:

 

I go to the bank before my cruise and get enough $ones to last the cruise.

 

I have found that bringing $50.00 in $1's always suffices and no need to worry about going to pursers desk.

[lucyddr]

After reading the boards, I gave up the $2 bills as well as the $1 coins. I do have one suggestion though which is to go to the bank and get $100 in $1 bills. They have new ones that are very flat, bound, and easy to carry (as opposed to old crinkled ones). We do this every time we travel as they take less space and can be used for almost anything!

[MarysMom]

The $2 bills may be easier for you to handle but not for the crew members you give them to. Their home countries may not accept two dollars bills or may give them a bad exchange rate.

[Knights on the Beach]

Nothing like a long wait in a Carnival Purser's Line. :mad:

 

I go to the bank before my cruise and get enough $ones to last the cruise.

There's no line in the middle of the night or early in the morning. ;)

[Frizzle Fry]

I would also suggest bringing more money that what you think you'll need. My husband and I under-budgeted (if that's a word?) for our first cruise because we didn't take into account how much we'd spend in the casino and at port. And the ATM fees were KILLERS!

 

 

I'm wondering if someone can help me with this one.

I'm cruising for the first time very soon and not sure of how much money to bring. It's a 7 day cruise to mexico. I don't plan on using any credit. Strictly cash.

 

Anyone have a ballpark figure in mind?

 

I plan on doing some shopping, a few excursions , some dining, and playing the casino. I don't drink alcohol so I know that's a big savings right there!

Also, I am a very big tipper if the service is worthy, I know how hard people work. "Every drop of sweat has a price on it."

 

I'm just looking for opinions here. Nothing specific. I see no need to bring too much. I know what your thinking, "Too much??" I still spare certain expenses even on vacation and I'd really like to avoid using plastic.

I figure if I ask some experienced cruisers, they could tell me what they have spent in the past. Or maybe that's too personal.

 

Thanks for any advice.

 

Take care and smooth sailing!!

[citcatt1]

I work at a bank and I always get $2.00 bills when I go away. I don't understand why the exchage rate would be any different with two dollar bills than with ones? :confused: