Do I need to bring cash?

[scrapulous]

Carnival says they are a cashless cruise, but I keep seeing posts about bringing $1 bills to tip. Don't you pay the tips/gratuities all at once at the end on your credit card, or prepay them through your TA?

 

This is our first cruise. I do plan to bring extra cash for my room steward, because I want to ask him to keep ice in my cooler. How much should I tip for this on a 5 day cruise?

 

I do plan to tip the porter at the pier for our luggage. Is it still $1 per bag? Does my case of water count as a piece of luggage, meaning do I tip for that, too?

 

We're going to Progreso and Cozumel. Do I need cash to shop, or can I just use my credit card? My friend went last year to Cozumel on a Carnival cruise and she said everywhere she shopped in Cozumel they took her credit card, but I just want to be sure.

 

Do you tip the tour guide on excursions?

 

I guess I'm trying to figure out if I really need to bring much cash, and if so, how much?

 

Thanks for any insight!

[kathyemma]

When I go on a 7 day cruise I normally bring 600 - 700 in cash. On the ship if you order room service you should tip them a few dollars. Other than that I don't give cash out. I do gamble - maybe about $20 - $30 at a time - so I use cash for that too. On the islands I bring cash to tip the tour operators. Also sometimes I find you can get a better price if you pay cash - you have to ask - but they normally give you a break. I have found that to be true at home too - if its a family run business and you offer cash they usually take a bit off - saves them the credit card fees.

 

Kathy

 

PS this normally leaves me enough cash for tipping on the way home too.

[penetangjudy]

I only use cash, we bring cards but try not to use them. I buy $1 (50) of them to use for tipping purposes. Every time I use room service or get my steward to bring me something I tip, doesn't have to be a lot but I do, I also tipped him at the end of the cruise.

 

While shopping on an island we only use cash, I don't want to give my card in a foreign country...we don't buy large ticket items though.

 

As far as cash versus credit, you do what you are comfortable with. Enjoy your cruise :)

[rjm1cc]

Everyone would like to be tipped.

 

You will need cash for transportation to the ship and from the ship back to your home. Some parking lots require cash.

 

A credit card is probably the best way to go on the trip due to the exchange rate. Look for a card that does not charge 2 to 3% extra for conversion.

[pllegends]

You can choose to use cash if you don't want to run up your credit card. I actually used my sign and sail card with cash I added, while the expenses of tips,photos were on my wife's card which was connected to her credit card. The purser desk can move expenses from one card to another if need be.

You do need cash for the islands, if you want to haggle a bit. Credit cards charge vendors 2-5 % for card processing so thevendors may give you a better cash deal in order to avoid such fees.

Excursions, taxi and drinks make up most of your expenses so plan accordingly.

Tipping a bit with cash does help develop a better "relationship" with your room steward and waiters. You can always adjust your prepaid tips with the purser if you received unsatisfactory service.

I actually spent about $300 in cash (mostly drinks, casino and an excursion).

[scrapulous]

Thanks!

 

So if we get room service for the four of us, how much should I tip?

 

And for keeping my cooler full of ice, how much to tip the room steward? $10 at the end?

 

I do think we'll bring cash for shopping and tipping the tour guide at excursions.

[msmayor]

We definitely carried cash with us; we weren't sure how many of the shops we went to on the islands would even take my Amex card and I with the fraud that can be rampant once they get your number, I hesitated to even use it where it was accepted.

 

I paid cash for the taxi fares and had cash for the casino.

 

If I recall, I brought about $750 in cash and kept it in my safe, taking out only what I needed when we went ashore.

[DocF]

If one is driving to the port, cash may be needed for the parking as some ports do not take plastic. Also, I would not tip the porters less than $2 per bag, although a lot of folks do.

 

As has been mentioned, carrying some one dollar bills for tips if using room service is wise. Also, consider the fact that many, if not most credit cards now charge a 2-3% fee for using the card out of the US. There are ATMs on the ships, but they have been known to run out of cash too.

 

Doc

[dan40]

Carnival says they are a cashless cruise, but I keep seeing posts about bringing $1 bills to tip. Don't you pay the tips/gratuities all at once at the end on your credit card, or prepay them through your TA?

 

This is our first cruise. I do plan to bring extra cash for my room steward, because I want to ask him to keep ice in my cooler. How much should I tip for this on a 5 day cruise?

 

I do plan to tip the porter at the pier for our luggage. Is it still $1 per bag? Does my case of water count as a piece of luggage, meaning do I tip for that, too?

 

We're going to Progreso and Cozumel. Do I need cash to shop, or can I just use my credit card? My friend went last year to Cozumel on a Carnival cruise and she said everywhere she shopped in Cozumel they took her credit card, but I just want to be sure.

 

Do you tip the tour guide on excursions?

 

I guess I'm trying to figure out if I really need to bring much cash, and if so, how much?

 

Thanks for any insight!

 

 

Cash for the porters

Cash for room service

Cash for xtra steward services

Cash for the casino

Cash for shore

Cash for bartenders [on top of the 15% added grat.]

 

Bring half the clothes you planned on bringing and twice the cash!!:D

[UpstateCruizer]

If you have anything planned in the ports that isn't booked through the ship you will need cash for the taxi drivers.

 

Oh and anyone sailing out of Long Beach and plan on staying in Long Beach pre or post cruise you will need change for many of the rest rooms (imagine my surprise). Also some of the restrooms at the beaches will request either a tip or a small fee to use their restrooms.

[LisaT12]

IMO you should really bring cash with you...you are better off safe then sorry. Start off with $50. one dollar bills and about $100. in 5's., this will help you with tipping. Also bring an assortment of 10's and 20's then tuck away a few 50's and a few 100's. (that is what we do

Tip the porters $4 to $5 dollars a bag...that is what they are expecting...yes you would tip for your case of water.

Room service tips are a couple of bucks each time. Yes, you should tip tour guides - I believe you said you would be in Mexico so maybe $5.00 Some of the shops as well as the open markets in Mexico will only take cash and it is much easier(if you are going to those places).

If you want to tip your room steward extra at the end $10-20 is nice, as well as your dining room servers if they do anything special to make your vacation even more memorable tip them extra too - maybe $10 each.

Don't worry too much....but seriously---there are many people to tip...just figure it as part of the cost of the vacation and have fun!

[scrapulous]

Thank you!

[Scott_F]

I really like $2 bills. I tip room service the same regardless of the order. They get a $2 bill. But, I'm consistent in that regard. I always tip them.

 

I also tip the porters in cash as well as keeping cash to tip the porters on the way out. I tend to tip the porters more than a lot of folks here. I cannot think of a person on the week's vacation that I want to be happier with my tip than the guy getting my bags on board the ship!

[gimpysfamily]

We take about $100-200 in cash and the rest in travelers checks and cash them out in the casino as needed the night before the port of call. This keeps you from having too much cash in the beginning of your trip and is a bit safer. It is important to remember to cash them the night before since the casino is not open while in port. If there are any left, you can add them to you sign and sail card at the end to save you from that huge bill!

 

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[Powriv]

I tip the porters $5 for 4 bags and have received all my bags in a timely fashion.

 

I do self-disembarkation so no need to tip the porters who only get your bags once you are through customs and immigration.

 

They don't actually go onboard to get your bags

[bobbyfk]

Thanks!

 

So if we get room service for the four of us, how much should I tip?

 

And for keeping my cooler full of ice, how much to tip the room steward? $10 at the end?

 

I do think we'll bring cash for shopping and tipping the tour guide at excursions.

$2 for room service each time you get it, give the room steward $5-$10 at the start of cruise and tell him/her to keep the ice buckets filled

[VABeach]

I always bring cash. You never know when you are going to need it. Doesn't mean I always spend it, but I do always have it. Something about being prepared. ;)

[Traveler353]

Couple of bucks for the porters

Couple of bucks for room service

I allways use cash ashore, too chancy using cards these days

Cash for extra tip for steward and others at the end of the cruise

I have never felt the need to bribe the steward at the start of the cruise and have always recieved wonderful service and allways had a full ice bucket.

[BlueC5Kitten]

I typically bring $200-$300 cash for just me...but I am not a big room service junkie (and am usually pretty low maintenance in my cabin)...that cash is usually just for additional tips to my cabin steward, the wait and bar staff in the dining room, and the dive op DMs (or other tour guides on non-diving excursions).

 

For purchases in port, I typically take my AMEX...if they don't take AMEX, I never carry a big wad of cash because I don't want to become a target, but $20-$40 works for cab rides, etc.

[dan40]

I really like $2 bills. I tip room service the same regardless of the order. They get a $2 bill. But, I'm consistent in that regard. I always tip them.

 

I also tip the porters in cash as well as keeping cash to tip the porters on the way out. I tend to tip the porters more than a lot of folks here. I cannot think of a person on the week's vacation that I want to be happier with my tip than the guy getting my bags on board the ship!

 

Word is the crew really do not like $2.00 bills. Many merchants ashore do not want to take them from crew. They are RARE bills here, not in general circulation. And not circulated at all in the islands.