How much cash?

[magandab]

For a two-week cruise, how much cash do you normally bring? Shipboard spending will be first out of OBC and then on a credit card. I have plenty of $1 and $5 bills for room service tips. I plan to get about $50 in Australian dollars and $100 in New Zealand, for tour guide tips, the occasional ice cream cone, etc, but anything we buy over about $10 will go on a credit card.

 

I keep thinking I need plenty of cash, but honestly don't know what I need it for! Yes, I'm in short-timer stress mode!

 

Thanks for your input!

[0bnxshs]

We certainly had no problem using credit cards in Australia and New Zealand, so you shouldn't find any trouble with that. Sounds like you have tips aboard covered. Because we were on an Australian-based ship (Sun Princess) on board currency was Australian, though we didn't have any trouble spending US dollars. I'd say you've got a good handle on the cash!

 

Enjoy your cruise!

[George C]

You should be good, unless you want to visit the casino

[RuthC]

Remember that New Zealand and Australia are not a tipping culture, as we in the US are used to. When I tried to offer tips in New Zealand, I was politely refused.

You may not need as much for tour guide tips as you think. Perhaps posters from that area can address this more fully for you?

[SuitCaseBears]

I keep thinking I need plenty of cash,

 

Nope

 

but honestly don't know what I need it for!

 

Yup

 

First of all - you can get cash on the ship through your credit card. I wouldn't even take that much cash. But since you have it - it's plenty.

 

Stop stressing, it's all good;)

[whip52]

For a two-week cruise, how much cash do you normally bring? Shipboard spending will be first out of OBC and then on a credit card. I have plenty of $1 and $5 bills for room service tips. I plan to get about $50 in Australian dollars and $100 in New Zealand, for tour guide tips, the occasional ice cream cone, etc, but anything we buy over about $10 will go on a credit card.

 

I keep thinking I need plenty of cash, but honestly don't know what I need it for! Yes, I'm in short-timer stress mode!

 

Thanks for your input!

 

I might be a little off topic, but I'll give you a few things to think about that might help your decision.

 

Cash is good to have, but carrying large amounts has it's risk. My ex lost $500 and two credit cards in the Vancouver, BC airport when she lost her hidden pocket. Lesson learned.

 

So....I carry some cash, but not a lot. I use a Capital One card for extra cash because it is the best deal for international travel that I have found. I can then get money from foreign ATMs in their currencies at a good exchange rate and no foreign transaction fee. Still have to pay the exchange fee, though and whatever ATM charge. That is usually about $5-10 per $200 depending on bank and country. That may seem steep, but when you're traveling around a country like Mexico or the Philippines for weeks on end...

 

I carry my debit card and another card as backups. I don't use them much because the fees are horrendous.

 

If you DO decide to use a credit card in a foreign country, be sure to let the company know in advance. Big problems if you don't.

 

Carrying large amounts of cash on cruise ships is fairly safe IMO. HAL has little mini safes in their cabins. Exchange kiosks, if you can find one, are usually reasonable. Watch out for money exchangers on street corners, though. They scare me.

 

Now, to your question. I think you have an excellent plan. If you find something else you simply MUST have (like that lifelike Koala teddy bear for a grandkid), go to an ATM and get what you need and no more. Exchanging extra money back is not at all cost efficient.

[SeaBands]

about $50 per cruise day for tour expenses and lunch on land.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Get your ice cream on the ship -- it is free.

I do not carry tons of $1 and $5. They are too bulky. I just get change at the front desk for my larger bills.

[Typhoon1]

Actually, very little cash is needed on a cruise.

[magandab]

Get your ice cream on the ship -- it is free.

 

Yes, but that would defeat our "round the world ice cream test"! So far, Sweden is winning!

 

Thanks everyone for your input, minimal will do!

[Hawaiidan]

Actually, very little cash is needed on a cruise.

 

With the auto tip you can for room service just add extra tip rather than cash. Too in NZ and Australia its a no tipping culture because they write the service into the price. and as said you can tip on the check and pay with the card...as the waiters have to turn in their cash tips to a pool so use the card..not cash to tip

 

Use the credit card for anything over $1.. is my rule. For 2 weeks I think $50 a week is more than adequate. Tours will all take credit card, same with food service and shops.

 

Cash is more of a liability than a help...

[jaguarstyper]

At home, for me, cash is king. I rarely use a credit or debit card. But, when I travel, the credit cards get a workout and I carry around as little cash as possible. Its just too easy to lose. But, you really need to monitor your spending more with a credit card. Its really easy to rack up a huge balance. You don't have that problem with cash since its easier to know how much you spend and keep on your budget if you have one. Its conceivable that you could go entire cruise without spending any cash, but you should have some. I usually take about $50 per cruise day with me. I've never run out.

 

One other thing, with cash in a foreign country, you tend to be at the mercy of the merchant when if comes to the currency exchange unless you use the local currency. With a credit card, you're assured you will be getting the proper exchange rate with no exchange fees.

[PathfinderEss]

Wow, I guess I'm different I usually bring around $500 for extra tipping at the end of the cruise, and small shopping trips. I don't like using my cc for small purchases. I understand that they are not big on tipping down under but that doesn't mean that for service above and beyond, that I wouldn't tip just because I'm in an area that doesn't believe in it. Just my opinion.

[magandab]

I use a Capital One card for extra cash because it is the best deal for international travel that I have found.

 

Fortunately, one of our credit cards was just taken over by Capital One and I saw the "no fee for foreign transactions" and immediately changed my mind about which card was going with me.

 

I am correct, am I not, that the onboard transactions are considered U.S. becuase they are processed through Seattle?

[whip52]

Fortunately, one of our credit cards was just taken over by Capital One and I saw the "no fee for foreign transactions" and immediately changed my mind about which card was going with me.

 

I am correct, am I not, that the onboard transactions are considered U.S. becuase they are processed through Seattle?

 

That's a good question. I hope to travel from San Diego to Sydney some day. You have have to contact HAL direct. Please post the answer and thanks.

[RuthC]

I am correct, am I not, that the onboard transactions are considered U.S. becuase they are processed through Seattle?

Yes. All that fabulous jewelry in the shops on board can be purchased with no foreign transaction fee, regardless of the credit card used to back up your account. ;)

[erewhon]

magandab,

 

Please do not tip when you are in New Zealand and Australia, it is not normal to do so.

 

Do try an icecream or two or three:) while you are in New Zealand, (of course we think it is the best Icecream in the world:))

[sapper1]

Get your ice cream on the ship -- it is free.

I do not carry tons of $1 and $5. They are too bulky. I just get change at the front desk for my larger bills.

 

It's free but it is not frozen hard enough and then they put it in a hot dish. It is served that way on every HAL ship and I don't understand why they cannot get it right. You have to eat it so fast that you don't get to enjoy it properly.

[Barkevko]

For a two-week cruise, how much cash do you normally bring? Shipboard spending will be first out of OBC and then on a credit card. I have plenty of $1 and $5 bills for room service tips. I plan to get about $50 in Australian dollars and $100 in New Zealand, for tour guide tips, the occasional ice cream cone, etc, but anything we buy over about $10 will go on a credit card.

 

I keep thinking I need plenty of cash, but honestly don't know what I need it for! Yes, I'm in short-timer stress mode!

 

Thanks for your input!

 

So much depends on where you are cruising. As others have commented, tipping is NOT the norm in Australia and New Zealand as the wages are strutured diffently than in the US...dittto Hong Kong. If you are cruising China, US$1 is good as most hawkers will take that for payment. But you need to remember that once you start to haggle on the price, you are expected to purchase the item when a price is agreed. Tour guides in Australia and New Zealand would not be tipped by their own countrymen. US Cash for laundry and the casino will be needed but otherwise I wouldn't worry too much. Shops/Cafes in Australia and New Zealand won't take US $ for payments. Hope this helps.

 

Barb

[Krazy Kruizers]

It's free but it is not frozen hard enough and then they put it in a hot dish. It is served that way on every HAL ship and I don't understand why they cannot get it right. You have to eat it so fast that you don't get to enjoy it properly.

 

We don't eat a lot of ice cream, but maybe we have just been lucky. It has always been served in a cold bowl. No problem with it melting.

[EGCruisers]

I have never sailed on a cruise where the official currency onboard was not US dollars, so this probably doesn't apply to the OP's question, but it might be of help to someone else reading this thread. When I know I am going to need large amounts of US cash, but don't want to carry it with me from home (some tour guides in foreign countries will accept US cash but not credit cards) I get traveler's checks in US dollars and cash them on the ship. My bank does not charge me for them and if I don't need to cash all of them I can just return them to the bank and get a refund. The ship does not charge me for cashing them.

[Been There, Planning That]

We too still use travellers' cheques when cruising because of the convenience of cashing without charge on the ship.

 

If we're extending our holiday we even pay our account balance with them to reduce credit card charges. (We keep the limit on the cards with which we travel low for security should they be stolen.)