Cash and what denominations

[lvcruises]

Three weeks until our cruise and I'm trying to decide how much cash to take and what denominations. My thoughts are $200... 4 $20, 4 $10, 12 $5 and 20 $1. I want to be sure we have enough small bills to buy soda or water in the ports.. little things like that. What have you done in the past?

[Got Tequila?]

Three weeks until our cruise and I'm trying to decide how much cash to take and what denominations. My thoughts are $200... 4 $20, 4 $10, 12 $5 and 20 $1. I want to be sure we have enough small bills to buy soda or water.. little things like that. What have you done in the past?

 

Keep in mind you can always get bills broken down at the cage in the casino, or even at the desk in the atrium.

 

Buying water/soda on the ship you will use your room card.

 

I like to have small bills for tipping, baggage handler, cab driver, room service. Tour operators also accept tips.

 

Smaller bills work better when shopping in ports, often they don't have enough US currency on hand to break larger bills.

[2Cruise4Ever]

Looks like a good breakdown to me! That's about what we usually bring, too. Oh, and Traveler's Checks for the rest. We usually cash those at the casino the night before a port day. Small bills, like Tequila says. We made the mistake of bringing $20's into Bermuda one year. They couldn't give us change in U.S. currency. And, the ship can't exchange it.

[swedish weave]

Three weeks until our cruise and I'm trying to decide how much cash to take and what denominations. My thoughts are $200... 4 $20, 4 $10, 12 $5 and 20 $1. I want to be sure we have enough small bills to buy soda or water in the ports.. little things like that. What have you done in the past?

 

I would change the breakdown to 100 ones and 20 fives. A little bulky, but sounds like the stuff you will be buying will fall in the lower bill category. Sometimes even a ten will get you a handful of local currency in change.

[CPT Trips]

I start with just enough small bills to cover the tips, taxi etc to the ship. The rest in large denomination bills as it's less bulky and the ship will break the bills down as you need them. I always use small bills in port, except for what I know I will need for independent tours.

[mtwingcpa]

That's about what I carry, seldom more, although I would start with more $1's. There are few times when I would want to give an entire $5 as a tip.

[lvcruises]

I agree so far.. probably need less $20's and more small bills. Our plan is to use the 5's & 1's for excursion tips as we are doing an excursion in every port.

[orangegrove]

Definately more 1's and 5's. They go much quicker than you think. We took more cash because a few of our excursions were not with the ship and anything we purchased we paid for in cash in the ports. Did not use our cc at all.

[MBprincess]

We also take mostly 1s and 5s although once I got the bank to give me 50 2s and that worked well too and people remembered me when I tipped. We tip room service. In port I always give exact change. Having once gotten a counterfeit 5 dollar bill I am careful.

[retired rascal]

Definitely the small bills...you'll want tip $$$ from the moment you hit the airport, cab, whatever prior to cruise thru the 'stevadores,' etc. We also take larger bills for tips for stewards etc. whom we tip over the daily....at the end....because we've always gotten excellent service. We take travelers cheques which the purser will cash in event we need/want more cash. Remember you'll probably want/need more small bills on the day you disembark.

[STARFISH*4]

we start out with alot of smaller bills as the cruise goes on we cash larger bills in...i think this time we will have travelers checks too...i would rather have to much cash then not enough:)plus our CCs mostly for larger purchases or before we leave on the cruise--airport/pre-cruise hotel etc and then one seperate one for our ship account!

[biker@sea]

I'm going to bring 50 dollars worth of two dollar bills for tipping next cruise just as a novelty item.

[2Cruise4Ever]

I'm going to bring 50 dollars worth of two dollar bills for tipping next cruise just as a novelty item.

 

Biker ~ We thought of that, too. But, keep in mind that most countries won't accept $2 bills. They think it's counterfeit. It's a nice gesture, though. But, most won't be able to use it.

[DebbieCruises]

Do the ship crew members buy things on the ship or in port? In other words, is there a store of sorts for them to make purchases on board? If I tip the the people on board with 2-dollar bills, I want it to be something they want not something that will be a bother for them. That would pretty much negate my good intentions to thank them for their service. I've read on other CC boards that many crew members would be happy to get phone cards, too. Would that be a better "tip" for the room stewards?

[swedish weave]

Do the ship crew members buy things on the ship or in port? In other words, is there a store of sorts for them to make purchases on board? If I tip the the people on board with 2-dollar bills, I want it to be something they want not something that will be a bother for them. That would pretty much negate my good intentions to thank them for their service. I've read on other CC boards that many crew members would be happy to get phone cards, too. Would that be a better "tip" for the room stewards?

 

Most crew members buy their personal items at the ports rather than on the ship.

I would guess they look at two dollar bills the same as we do. A nice gesture with a novelty item that they can stick in their wallet and keep to be used only in emergencies.

Phone cards are a wide open field. Some rush to the pay phones at the ports, and some have international calling plans that allow them to call home on their cell phones.

[MBprincess]

No one looked at them strangely when we brought them but we used them mostly on the ship. The crew loved them and actually asked for them and noticed when we ran out. I love room service and make certain I tip each time so we get great service.

[sadiecat]

I always take $100 - $1, $200 - $5 and $10 $600 - $20 and the rest in $100. It's really amazing how fast the $1 and $5 go......

[bahama2]

the casino people. Even if you have a drink card you should always tip the waiter/waitress. I usually give $1 for each drink. It's a nice gesture and they always remember you.:)