Cash, Travelers Cheq or ATM

[scoutandbunji]

We are doing the Western Caribbean and was wondering if we should bring cash, travelers cheq's or do ATM on boat?

Wanted to use it for land excursions and figured that cash would be better for negotiating since we're going to book the excursions at the ports.

Any thoughts or ideas on this? How high are the fee's on ATM's on board?

Thx

[Putterdude]

I would bring cash or if you can buy TCs commisson free that works to. I started to run short of cash while on a recent cruise and found that I coudn't get an advance on my cruise card, the ATM fee was $6 per transction but you could get a cash advance in the Casino for a fee of 3%. I got my advance at the Casino cage, played a little blackjack, earned my 3% back and cashed out.:)

[paul929207]

Bring cash and make sure you have lots of small bills. Nearly everyone takes US$, but some give change in local currency.

[eh2zed]

Cash will be best. Certainly local private excursion folks won't take travellers cheques. Keep in mind you can use ATMs on land from your own cc. Low or no transaction fee.

[kampinguru]

Take travellers check for safety and cash them at the Guest Relations desk prior to going on shore.

[scoutandbunji]

thanks for all the input......does the guest service desk charge you to cash Travler Cheques?

 

Thx

[phoenix1181]

thanks for all the input......does the guest service desk charge you to cash Travler Cheques?

 

Thx

 

There's no charge to cash the travelers checks at the service desk or in the casino.

We bring cash, travelers checks, credit card & ATM. We always bring plenty of small bills for tips while traveling & for room service. The credit card is for large purchases & our SeaPass. Travelers checks for their security and the ATM in the event we used all the travelers checks and need more $$.

[fann1sh]

Please note ATM's in foreign countries will give $ in local currency, not US$. (That sounds obvious, but I was with a friend when she first used an ATM in Canada...she was puzzled by the bills which came out of the slot...then embarrassed by her puzzlement!) If you want US cash, you'll have to pay a currency fee to convert, and some places charge fees that are highway robbery.

 

I take cash in small bills, some travellers checks (I get them free, and cash them on the ship), and my credit card, and usually avoid ATM's. Reason? I get a great exchange rate on my cc for foreign currency with no transaction fee, but often have to pay a fee for foreign ATM's.

 

The only way to know what fees apply to YOU is to check with the bank which backs your credit card, and the one which issues your debit card. You can usually do this online.

[setsail]

We carry some small bills for tips ,but the rest is TC's. That way there are no large wads of cash to worry about, and when ever we need cash (like before a port) we just go down and cash in a couple TC's at the pursers desk,no charge,no problems. If we have TC's left at the end of the cruise we just apply them to the sea pass bill. Alls good.

[cb at sea]

We just bring cash, mostly in large bills that we will change as needed. Larger bills aren't "bulky" like wads of small bills are!

We use cash for incidental purchases on shore, and a credit card for anything of "substance"!

Having cash is just easier than waiting in line to cash a TC, and no ATM fees.