What do you bring?

[afcruiser]

O.K., So today was payday, had 20+ hours of overtime. WOOHOO. :p

We normally buy Travelers Checks but learned they are phasing them out. They really didn't even have any and they we're going to charge us for them:eek:.

Don't really want to bring alot of CASH.

Nor use a debit card to get cash.

Nor use a credit card on an island.

I would imagine using a debit card on the ship would be expensive and what if you used one in Cozumel, at an ATM, Would you get Peso's??

Never thought about it before.:rolleyes:

What does everyone bring?

Thanks for any positive info.

Mary

[RenoNanaOz]

O.K., So today was payday, had 20+ hours of overtime. WOOHOO. :p

 

We normally buy Travelers Checks but learned they are phasing them out. They really didn't even have any and they we're going to charge us for them:eek:.

 

Don't really want to bring alot of CASH.

Nor use a debit card to get cash.

Nor use a credit card on an island.

I would imagine using a debit card on the ship would be expensive and what if you used one in Cozumel, at an ATM, Would you get Peso's??

 

Never thought about it before.:rolleyes:

 

What does everyone bring?

 

Thanks for any positive info.

 

Mary

 

We bring cash and just keep it in the safe in the cabin. We use our Credit Card on the Islands. That way they charge US$ and they can't give you change in pesos;) You can also get cash from your on board account and it will just be charged to your account.

[BeccaBecca1713]

I bring cash and stash it in the safe and take out x amount of dollars at each port. Don't forget, when you buy anything on the ship, you hand the staff your S&S card, not money and credit/debit cards.

[afcruiser]

I bring cash and stash it in the safe and take out x amount of dollars at each port. Don't forget, when you buy anything on the ship, you hand the staff your S&S card, not money and credit/debit cards.

 

The thing is, we'll be traveling a total of about 3 weeks. Driving to Texas from Michigan, cruise, college graduation, and family time in Texas. Just didn't want to carry a bunch of cash.

I know we won't need money on the ship, everything on S&S account. :eek: Bill can be scary.

Bank recomended a gift type debit card, but those cost as well.

Just wondering what others do.

THanks

[balbacm]

why not take a credit card for the port expenses? That always works for us. We bring cash as well for taxis, tips and casino.

[BeccaBecca1713]

The thing is, we'll be traveling a total of about 3 weeks. Driving to Texas from Michigan, cruise, college graduation, and family time in Texas. Just didn't want to carry a bunch of cash.

I know we won't need money on the ship, everything on S&S account. :eek: Bill can be scary.

 

Bank recomended a gift type debit card, but those cost as well.

 

Just wondering what others do.

THanks

 

Just hit an ATM before you board the ship and take out some cash for the cruise. Maybe pre-plan and look for a credit union in the port city so you can withdraw cash without a fee.

[FlaGrl4Evr]

You could buy some FunShip Dollars to use on the ship. Here is a good CC thread that explains how they work.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1510506&highlight=woohoo+just+bought+my+first+funship+dollars

 

 

Have Fun.

:):)

 

 

.

[pauleydm]

Depending on the ports we go to (some ports accept US Dollars), we usually bring 200 in cash, and then a credit card with a low credit limit to use for emergencies only. If you do use a credit card, make sure that you call the CC company and let them know when you will be out of the country and what ports you will be visiting so that the card is not blocked from being used:)

[janetz]

As others have said..cash. Keep it in your safe and just take with you what you think you maay need on shore. :)

[finsupcruiser]

We use credit card for S&S---Bring cash and put in safe for shopping on islands.

 

We never use credit card in foreign countries because most banks charge a foreign transaction fee for charges outside the US.

 

In the casino I transfer money from credit card backed S&S to my Player bank.

 

Get airline miles for using card and no charge for using it in casino. Billed as entertainment on credit card.

[Room Service!]

We bring a cc card, just in case, but cash is king.

[sunshine&shiningstar]

i know what you mean by ot cash when i work ot i put extra cash in a separate account where i cant reach it before the cruise:) you might want to put it in the bank then the night before you leave go to the atm and take out. i have one cc which has a limit of $300. that i take for just emergency but i put cash on my s/s card.

[YubaSutter]

Of course an ATM in Cozumel will give you pesos. It is in Mexico. What did you expect, US currency?

[Sundiego]

We put cash in the safe for excursions. As a back up, we have a credit card with no foreign exchange fee if we want to do a "nice" restaurant in a port. We also have an ATM card with no ATM transaction/foreign ATM fees if we want to get cash from the ship's ATM machine.

[marshhawk]

Have you put money on your Sail and Sign yet? Are your tips prepaid?

We prepaid our tips. We have an OBC of 100, and we are not booking any excursions. (We don't drink, sn large bar bill)That doesn't mean we aren't doing anything, we are, we are just doing inexpensive things in each port, so we can come and go as we like. And while I love our cruise pics, we seem to be wearing the same thing in all of them, to the point where i don't know which cruise is which any more. I told DH he has to pack a new shirt, and I need to change my Formal Night Gown:o so unless we do, no pics. In port we are thinking 30.00 per person. And believe it or not is extravagent.

I wouldn't worry so much about having to pay a fee to use an ATM, I would be careful about the prepaid debit cards. If you buy one, make sure it can be used on the ship. American Express prepaids cannot be used on the ship.:mad::( Someone suggested to me to purchase a restaurant's card, like Olive Garden, Longhorns,Cracker Barrel, etc that way I would have the card, and not have to show up with cash to pay for my meals. That helps, but it does take some planning and investigations on your part.

[Philly Steve]

We use cash. In the past we've been slapped with a credit card surcharge for purchases outside the US.

[golfadj]

Cash and credit card

[afcruiser]

Depending on the ports we go to (some ports accept US Dollars), we usually bring 200 in cash, and then a credit card with a low credit limit to use for emergencies only. If you do use a credit card, make sure that you call the CC company and let them know when you will be out of the country and what ports you will be visiting so that the card is not blocked from being used:)

 

 

OMG, Thanks for the reminder.:eek:

Been working so much, need to add that to the list.:o

I always call and let them know.

Cruise is coming to fast and not ready.

Thanks for the reminder and info.

Mary

[afcruiser]

Of course an ATM in Cozumel will give you pesos. It is in Mexico. What did you expect, US currency?

 

Just thought they might have U.S. ATM's.

With all the All Inclusive Resorts and cruise ships, I had just never thought about ATM's in Mexico.

I did say "Be Nice":p

But Thanks

[Boozebabe]

Who told you "they"are phasing travelers checks out? I still buy and use them all the time. I have some left over from a trip earlier this month. Every bank sells them. To me they are safer than a credit card. I once had fradulent charges on my cc statement made in Jamaica. I never use a cc in a foreign port.

 

Find another bank and buy the travelers checks. In fact my bank gives them to me free. I usually cash them in the casino the night before a port stop. Or if I plan on a large purchase I take them with me. EVERYONE accepts them.

[afcruiser]

Have you put money on your Sail and Sign yet? Are your tips prepaid?

 

We prepaid our tips. We have an OBC of 100, and we are not booking any excursions. (We don't drink, sn large bar bill)That doesn't mean we aren't doing anything, we are, we are just doing inexpensive things in each port, so we can come and go as we like. And while I love our cruise pics, we seem to be wearing the same thing in all of them, to the point where i don't know which cruise is which any more. I told DH he has to pack a new shirt, and I need to change my Formal Night Gown:o so unless we do, no pics. In port we are thinking 30.00 per person. And believe it or not is extravagent.

I wouldn't worry so much about having to pay a fee to use an ATM, I would be careful about the prepaid debit cards. If you buy one, make sure it can be used on the ship. American Express prepaids cannot be used on the ship.:mad::( Someone suggested to me to purchase a restaurant's card, like Olive Garden, Longhorns,Cracker Barrel, etc that way I would have the card, and not have to show up with cash to pay for my meals. That helps, but it does take some planning and investigations on your part.

 

I hear you about some of the cruise clothes. I am the same way, not cheap, just thrifty.

Not so worried about the overall expense. We have an OBC WOOHOO, thanks E.S. Just feel safer with a bunch of Travelers checks and can't believe the doing away with them.

Apparently, to many people have reported them stolen:eek:.

Thanks for your info.

Much appreciated.

Happy Sails

[afcruiser]

Who told you "they"are phasing travelers checks out? I still buy and use them all the time. I have some left over from a trip earlier this month. Every bank sells them. To me they are safer than a credit card. I once had fradulent charges on my cc statement made in Jamaica. I never use a cc in a foreign port.

 

Find another bank and buy the travelers checks. In fact my bank gives them to me free. I usually cash them in the casino the night before a port stop. Or if I plan on a large purchase I take them with me. EVERYONE accepts them.

 

We live in a small town, small bank.

That's why we cruise. A ship is bigger than our main street:p

But I do have a Credit Union Account in the Big City and thought I'd go there for Travelrs Checks.

Just feel safer traveling with those.

Thanks

[Almost Packed]

cash is still king!

[kayhold]

We decided to do fun ship dollars, and we get a check with a refund on the last day if we don't use it.

 

We will take about 200 cash for ports and things we do. We dont plan to do much on the coming up cruise - Zoo in Nassau, Pirate Museum, and in Key West the trolley and conch train.