tanner1449 Posted January 2, 2012 #1 Share Posted January 2, 2012 We are sailing to the Western Caribbean and was wondering about taking cash. Should we just use our credit card or do most places take US currency? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chipmaster Posted January 2, 2012 #2 Share Posted January 2, 2012 For larger resturants and such CC works, but for small odds and ends and such cash is usually prefered and safer for the buyer too! We are sailing to the Western Caribbean and was wondering about taking cash. Should we just use our credit card or do most places take US currency? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul929207 Posted January 2, 2012 #3 Share Posted January 2, 2012 US$ are widely accepted. Credit cards for large purchases Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seashinesunshine Posted January 2, 2012 #4 Share Posted January 2, 2012 We are sailing to the Western Caribbean and was wondering about taking cash. Should we just use our credit card or do most places take US currency? Most places take US Currency, but some will give you change in local money. We do not use our credit cards on a cruise except for our sign and sail account, and the precruise hotel. Last time I am pretty sure but can't prove the hotel stole our number and tried to use it. Luckily our credit card company was on top of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare John Bull Posted January 2, 2012 #5 Share Posted January 2, 2012 As other replies, USD are accepted pretty-well everywhere. But take a stack of ones & fives (word is they don't like $2 bills - urban myth??) because in some places - such as shops geared to locals - your change will be in local shrapnel, and a $20 bill makes for an expensive icecream & a pocketful of souvenir money :rolleyes: Small bills also help with your bargaining at stalls JB :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oshawapilot Posted January 2, 2012 #6 Share Posted January 2, 2012 USD worked well for us in the Bahamas as well as St. Thomas (a USVI, so of course it's good) as well as St. Maarten. We did use our credit card in St. Maarten for a larger purchase at a small shop - the owner was reluctant to accept it when they saw I had cash (the % take for American Express is pretty steep for the merchant) but when push came to shove they accepted it. I didn't want to spend all my cash and be forced to get screwed by service fees taking more money out at a foreign ATM. In Nassau we were given change in the local currency. As per the above response, most of it amounted to souvenirs for the kids after the fact - not enough to be worth getting changed back anywhere. Small bills would have been better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krazy Kruizers Posted January 2, 2012 #7 Share Posted January 2, 2012 Welcome to Cruise Critic. For the Western Caribbean -- US dollars are accepted - we take a bunch of ones and fives for small purchases as we don't want to get back a lot of their currancy. I also have 1 credit card that has a low limit on it that I use for restaurants and larger purchases. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trish1c Posted January 2, 2012 #8 Share Posted January 2, 2012 We rarely bring more than $20 each off the ship with us. The cc is for emergencies but there is not much worth buying in most of the ports IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quasar1011 Posted January 3, 2012 #9 Share Posted January 3, 2012 Last time I am pretty sure but can't prove the hotel stole our number and tried to use it. Luckily our credit card company was on top of it. Whoa, where was this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maldenmusic Posted January 6, 2012 #10 Share Posted January 6, 2012 Bring ones, fives and tens. I've never shopped anywhere they didn't welcome these. And when I wanted some souvenier pesos to take home I had to ask to be given them as change rather than US $$. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
un4given2_3 Posted January 6, 2012 #11 Share Posted January 6, 2012 Us dollars...use CC during emergency only or large purchase..:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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