Money Money Money

[Nintendowan6]

OK, Experts! I need some help please! Here are a few questions regarding money:

 

1. How much cash should I bring on board the ship? (7 day cruise to St. Thomas, Half Moon Cay, San Juan, and Grand Turk)

 

2. If I want to rent snorkel equipment or a kayak, etc... at a port, do I pay with cash or with my Carnival card?

 

3. While at port, what would I use cash to buy?

 

Sorry if these seem like ridiculous questions, but I just want to make sure I am all set and ready to go!

 

Thank you :)

[Wennfred]

I bring around 800.00 with me for the week, all transactions that are done off the ship or inport are handle in cash.

 

 

Fred

[soon to cruise]

I agree, about $800 sounds about right. If you want lots and lots of souveniers and are going to do lots of excursions on ports you might want to bring even more. That would be the avg amount I would say.

[Nintendowan6]

Wow, I must admit I am really surprised. I was thinking more along the lines of 300-400!!

[cuyahoga11]

Wow, I must admit I am really surprised. I was thinking more along the lines of 300-400!!

 

If you book your excustions thru the cruiseline you would use your Carnival account and all you would need cash for is tips and spending money (you know your shopping habits). On the ship you only need cash for casino and extra tips if warrented. Personally I never spend more than a couple hundred cash but my sail and sign account takes a nice hit.

[Wennfred]

Wow, I must admit I am really surprised. I was thinking more along the lines of 300-400!!

 

On a 4 day cruise, yes. By the way.... First time cruisers will usually have a shipboard bill of 1400 - 1800.00 eash if they are not watching.

 

 

Fred

[123traveller123]

On a 4 day cruise, yes. By the way.... First time cruisers will usually have a shipboard bill of 1400 - 1800.00 eash if they are not watching.

 

 

Fred

 

 

I only had a balance of $550 on my first 7 day cruise!. I guess I did good for a first timer :) or on the other hand maybe I didn't do enough....lol:)

[wework2play]

First of all, it depends on what kind of spender you are. Are you buying souvineers, knick-knacks, jewelery, etc.? Are you taking cash for yourself only? I would say $400 to 800. Remember you should use cash only in port and you don't want to run out. On our last 7 day with 3 ports, me, and dh and two kids had an in-house bill of $2500 and spent about 800 in cash during the cruise. But, we went to the casino and kid casino, bought photos, drinks, toys, late night daycare, excursions, and gave extra cash tips. And all that believe it or not was on a budget.

[cnee]

Having just just completed this same cruise that your about to take, let me say this:

 

Half Moon Cay - you can use your ship card for everything since it's cruise line owned.

 

St. Thomas - we used our credit card for anything that we purchased, and cash was used for tips

 

San Juan - same as St. Thomas

 

Grand Turk - well, when Rudy says that you can be done shopping in 8 minutes...he's pretty right. The stores will all take your credit card...all 8 of them, okay maybe ten.

 

Our shipboard account was about $900, but I played alot of bingo and we had simple expenses like internet (we found out while we were in St. Thomas with cell service that we had SEVERE weather at home that had affected our business)

 

I was surprised that the ship did take as much cash as it did. They sold extra "raffle" tickets that they only accepted cash for.

 

I hope this helps, and I'll be happy to answer anything else. We just sailed on the Triumph 6/8-15 and did the SAME ports. The off topic tip that I have for you...in Grand Turk get an umbrella chair by the pool and walk to the beach it's only about 100ft and it's the best of both worlds.

 

At Half Moon Cay, if your looking for an excursion, I HIGHLY recommend the horseback by land and sea. You actually ride the horses while they swim and it's like riding a jet ski! If not, get a lounge chair by the "wich you were here" sign, and use the shade umbrella, it's a long cruise if you get burned that early!

 

Have fun!

[Nintendowan6]

Having just just completed this same cruise that your about to take, let me say this:

 

Half Moon Cay - you can use your ship card for everything since it's cruise line owned.

 

St. Thomas - we used our credit card for anything that we purchased, and cash was used for tips

 

San Juan - same as St. Thomas

 

Grand Turk - well, when Rudy says that you can be done shopping in 8 minutes...he's pretty right. The stores will all take your credit card...all 8 of them, okay maybe ten.

 

Our shipboard account was about $900, but I played alot of bingo and we had simple expenses like internet (we found out while we were in St. Thomas with cell service that we had SEVERE weather at home that had affected our business)

 

I was surprised that the ship did take as much cash as it did. They sold extra "raffle" tickets that they only accepted cash for.

 

I hope this helps, and I'll be happy to answer anything else. We just sailed on the Triumph 6/8-15 and did the SAME ports. The off topic tip that I have for you...in Grand Turk get an umbrella chair by the pool and walk to the beach it's only about 100ft and it's the best of both worlds.

 

At Half Moon Cay, if your looking for an excursion, I HIGHLY recommend the horseback by land and sea. You actually ride the horses while they swim and it's like riding a jet ski! If not, get a lounge chair by the "wich you were here" sign, and use the shade umbrella, it's a long cruise if you get burned that early!

 

Have fun!

 

Guess what, cnee?!?!? I logged under my girlfriend's account for that excursion and booked it so it would be charged under her card. When I logged off and logged under my account to charge it under mine, I couldn't!! She got the last seat!!!!!! We were so upset :(

 

But glad to hear you had a great time. Thanks for the excellent write up about pricings at each port :)

[StevieG]

You do not need a mountain of cash, $400 - 500 should be plenty. Use your credit cards where possible for two reasons, first they will give you an appropriate exchange rate where applicable and two they can help prevent fraud. If someone rips you off (ie. passed off a fake as an original) your only chance of getting your money back is the credit card company who will void the transaction. I went on a 7 day cruise on the Triumph last June and spent $1700 on board...but that was for 8 people as I picked up the tab for most of my family members expenses.

[JessicaRN]

How much cash you needs depends how much you regularly spend.

 

Our sign&sail is linked to our debit card. Last cruise, just the two of us, was about $500 (and we almost passed out - not because it was too much to pay but because we never spend that much). I spent a couple hundred in the casino (cash) and maybe another couple hundred in the ports - if that much.

 

We're not really the souvenirs or pictures type. We bought a few t-shirts (there's the extra money on the S&S) on board, maybe one picture. That, some drinks, and the $140 in tips pretty much covered the bill.

 

On the islands cash is always accepted. If you're going to make a big purchase (ie: jewelery in St. Thomas) you should use a credit card so you have consumer protection if you get it appraised and it's not the quality you were told. That way you can do a chargeback .

 

The only exception to the cash on the islands rule is Half Moon Cay. That is all on your S&S.

 

Hope this helps!

 

- Jess

[JessicaRN]

PS: you can (and definitely SHOULD) check your folio (onboard bill) frequently on the tv in your room. That definitely helps you reign in your spending. The last thing you want is to have a huuuuge bill at the end of the cuise. Those drinks add up quickly! ;)

[suzyjack]

Not really sure what everyone else is buying, but on my first cruise I put a little over $100 ( couple of drinks, t-shirts) on my sign and sail and about $50.00 on extra tipping, snacks in port, etc. I had a blast.

[Doinitwell]

I don't like bringing that much cash since it can get lost or stolen. I use my credit card. Other than for tips than, I don't see the need for much cash at all.

[Wennfred]

I don't like bringing that much cash since it can get lost or stolen. I use my credit card. Other than for tips than, I don't see the need for much cash at all.

 

I take 800.00 to be safe but not all of it goes off the ship, it says in the safe.

 

To the OP, take 800.00 to be safe and then if you don't spend it all just send me the rest. :D

 

 

 

Fred

[dlbutler5]

We take maybe 2-300 but usually come home with most of it. I use plastic for everything that is possible.

[Doinitwell]

We take maybe 2-300 but usually come home with most of it. I use plastic for everything that is possible.

 

 

Ditto

[Changes_In_Lattitudes]

Ditto

 

Ditto ditto. Cash is too much of a liability. We'll bring a few hundred bucks and worst case scenario you hit an ATM while you're there (pay a small ATM fee, but the fee is good insurance on not worrying about a wad of cash).

[FabFourLover]

Nintendowan6:

 

I am definetly no expert on this as I have only cruised one time before and it was ages ago. But my DH and I are leaving on the Miracle in 7/20 and we intend to take $250.00 in cash with us.

 

All our excursions are already paid for since we booked them thru CCL ages ago. Tips are also covered since CCL adds them to your S&S card right off. We don't really intend to play in the casino and we are not big shoppers, maybe a Tshirt or something small to remember our trip by.

 

Since all the food and drinks are covered on the ship (either included in the price or added to the S&S card, which is tied into our credit card) I don't see what we need a ton of cash for. $50 in ones for extra tips and $200 in cash for whatever should be fine. If I fall in love with some bauble on one of the islands and must have it, there is always my credit card and if it's on the ship, it's on the S&S card which is the same difference.

 

Like the others said, only you know your spending habits. Either way, I think we're all going to have a blast. Only 24 days to go for me!

[Handsome58]

I take cash....I pay in cash...I use a CC to link to sign and sale,,,,,,then go to desk and put cash down......I take about $1300........I place about $700 on card and use the rest for ports and gambling.........that way when I come home I do not have any debt!!!!! My wife takes about $1000 but she uses her CC also................it is personal choice and what your $$$$$ flow is.

[dlbutler5]

We use AMEX for everthing possible, here and on cruises. That way we get points for free stuff. It is like cash but paid one time a month.

[FabFourLover]

Handsone58 makes a good point about coming home without debt. I am already wringing my hands abaut what my CC account is going to look like when I get back. Doing it all in cash also makes you more responsible, meaning, if the pike of cash is getting low, you know it immediatly. Unfortunetly, your credit card isn't going to beep at you on day 5 and say "I think you should stop now, I'm getting a bit overcrowded"

 

Having said that, my husband HATES to carry a large amount of cash anywhere. He's always nervous about theft. If your cash is gone, it's gone. You can always call the CC company and cancel your card.

[98Charlie]

Check with your bank and see what (if any) fees are applied to each transaction.

 

Some banks have no fee while others have a per transaction fee (like 2 or 3%) or per transaction fee with a minimum charge (the 2 or 3% with a minimum charge of $1 or $2).

 

So, a small item purchased with a high fee card can end up costing you more than you think.

 

Charlie

[CruisinNana]

I agree with what everyone else says about plastic, but I was advised a long time ago that on a cruise you should take half as many clothes as you think you need and twice as much money!!!!!! Have fun, enjoy your cruise.