Where do you stash your cash?

[SMN73]

I've searched this topic and found that many cruisers bring $500-$1500 in cash on their cruise.

 

Where do you carry it? For our next cruise it will just be me (40yr old female) and my 20 year old daughter. The thought of carrying that much cash on me worries me on a safety level. However, I know between taxis, tips and excursions I am going to need that much.

 

How do you keep everything secure and safe while traveling?

[delirious9876]

I've searched this topic and found that many cruisers bring $500-$1500 in cash on their cruise.

 

Where do you carry it? For our next cruise it will just be me (40yr old female) and my 20 year old daughter. The thought of carrying that much cash on me worries me on a safety level. However, I know between taxis, tips and excursions I am going to need that much.

 

How do you keep everything secure and safe while traveling?

There is a safe in your stateroom :)

 

You've already sailed on Enchantment. Did you realise you had a safe ?

Edited December 2, 2014 by delirious9876

[NightOne]

If I learned anything from going to Revolution Blvd. in Tijuana, Mexico in my 20s its is ...

 

Separate out your cash into different locations and do not carry it all in one place.

 

When we went partying in Mexico we used to keep an amount of money in our shoe (under our sock) that was enough to get us home or out of a jam.

 

Use the same theory. Keep some in your purse, some in your carry-on bag, some on your daughter, some on you, etc. so that an individual loss/event doesn't take down all your money.

 

Also, there are ATMs on the ship so you can leave an amount in the bank at home and withdraw from the ATM once you get on board.

 

Just my 2 cents (and not redeemable for that amount)

[SMN73]

There is a safe in your stateroom :)

 

You've already sailed on Enchantment. Did you realise you had a safe ?

 

Oh yes, I know about while in the room on the ship. I guess I wasn't clear. I mean while traveling. On flights, pre-cruise stays, on excursions, etc. I wondered if people really do walk about their front door with over $1000 in their pocket.

 

I didn't carry much cash on our enchantment cruise. We drove to the port so I used my card for gas and meals. We had quite a bit of onboard credit so didn't need it on the ship. We didn't spend over $100 in port. So needing a good bit of cash is going to be new for us.

Edited December 2, 2014 by SMN73

[cruisegirl1]

On the ship use the cabin safe or even used the safe boxes at customer service. On a recent trip overseas, we had a good bit of cash and broke it up between us and used a money belt, inside clothing pouch etc.

 

When off on a day excursion, just take what you think you will need and leave the rest in the cabin safe.

 

You can also take less cash and cash a check from a US bank. You will have to check with the cruise line to get the current limits. I think it is one per bank account per cruise. Last time we did it, the limit was $200 from each account. There is no fee for cashing a check. If we are on a B2B, we would often cash a check on both legs if we need cash.

 

enjoy

M

[phoenix1181]

While traveling, the majority of our cash is securely placed in an inside, zippered pocket of my travel bag which I never let go of. (DH holds it if I need to use the ladies room) Cash needed while traveling for taxis, meals, whatever, are in small purse which is attached to my travel bag but easily accessible.

 

Once we reach our final destination (ship or hotel) we use the in room safe & only carry what we think we'll need.

[reallyitsmema]

We have never felt the need to bring that much money on a cruise. Our sea pass account gets charged to a credit card. Any large purchase in port goes on a different credit card so if it is compromised, we still will have the card we need to pay our on board charges.

 

Last cruise, we brought $500 between the two of us. Kept $100 in each wallet and the balance was in a money belt. All goes into the safe once on board and we only keep some pocket money for tips and a stop in the casino.

 

Review you plans for the trip and see if you really need to carry on $1500. If you are bringing that much because you are having a cash account, you can actually put it on your reservation prior to your cruise and get it back on board if you don't spend it all.

[dixieva]

Aren't Traveler's Cheques still available to purchase from your bank? You can take most of your money in these checks while traveling and once on board you can cash them at the Purser's desk.

 

If they are lost or stolen you report it and they are replaced.

[willing292]

For long cruises, we take travellers cheques and cash them as needed at guest services. It's the only time we use travellers cheques, as they are too hard to cash on shore.

 

 

Shirley, Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

[OCruisers]

Once on the ship, it goes into our safe.

While traveling, I keep half and he keeps half.

LuLu

[SMN73]

I didn't know you could cash travelers cheques on board. That's good information. Does the amount of the cheque need to be capped at a certain amount? I don't want it to be too large for them to cash on board.

 

Thank you for the information all!

[PCWalton1]

The only time we started a cruise with a large amount of cash was our eastern Med cruise in 2012. If I remember right we had more than 500 euros. I carried that in a money belt.

[matj2000]

We always bring around $1000-$1500 in cash.

 

I would not recommend the ATM machine on the ship just for the $6.00 fees.

 

As for travelers checks, they still have them?

 

Why not break out the "Eagle stamps" and see if they take those??

[Life is Good Cruising]

We both use money belts.

[TravelerThom]

Others have provided reasonable suggestions on carrying cash, but I suggest you rethink CARRYING that much cash. Almost everyone except street vendors takes credit cards, and it is hard to find a place in the world that is far from an ATM (I have been to seven continents, and Antarctica is the only one where I haven’t used an ATMs (and they are probably there)(Small town in rural Kenya? ATM with no problem). I see you are cruising on Adventure out of San Juan; many bank ATMs in South America and some in the Caribbean offer a choice of local currency or US dollars, but if you are worried about getting stuck with local currency, you can get US dollars in San Juan before boarding (or on-board if you are willing to pay their fees). You can also get cash at the ship Casino billed to your SeaPass for 5% premium.

 

We each have ATM cards (from Charles Schwab and from TD Bank) that have no foreign exchange fees and allow fee free out of network withdrawals. These accounts are NOT connected to our main accounts, and if these are hacked, our main accounts are still safe. We fund these accounts with maybe twice the money we think we will need for each upcoming trip. I find ATMs the easiest and cheapest way to get foreign currencies. Most foreign countries credit cards operate with Chip & PIN, but you can still use Swipe (US standard) credit cards at manned locations. We do have Chip & PIN, and almost all US credit cards will convert to this within a year.

 

Me – I’d NEVER carry $1500 in cash.:eek:

 

Thom

[grand isle joe]

I usually "stash" my cash with the bartenders. I hand it over little by little over the week's port stays and they hide it in the cash draw with the other cash. Funny thing I am usually having such a great time at the establishments that I forget to ask for the cash back. Oh well...easy come, easy go.......

[willing292]

I didn't know you could cash travelers cheques on board. That's good information. Does the amount of the cheque need to be capped at a certain amount? I don't want it to be too large for them to cash on board.

 

 

 

Thank you for the information all![/

 

I don't think the ship has a limit on how many you can cash. We usually get them in $100 denomination.

 

 

Shirley, Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

[cdwh1902]

I agree with Traveller Tom and we travel all over the world using ATM cards with no fees, and with cards that are not connected to any of our banking accounts. No hassles and at the ATM just withdraw what you need in the local currency.

 

Checks or Cheques (how we spell it) .. do they still exist?? Only the elderly in Aus still use them, and under sufferance. Too old school!

 

Enjoy you break!

[Mach1]

While traveling, the majority of our cash is securely placed in an inside, zippered pocket of my travel bag which I never let go of. (DH holds it if I need to use the ladies room) Cash needed while traveling for taxis, meals, whatever, are in small purse which is attached to my travel bag but easily accessible.

 

Once we reach our final destination (ship or hotel) we use the in room safe & only carry what we think we'll need.

 

That is pretty much what we do as well.

 

Banks haven't sold Travelers Checks for years! We don't even carry them. Most popular thing now is a "travel card" which is a prepaid card, similar to a credit card or gift card, load as much $$ as you will need on it.

[cdwh1902]

I agree with Traveller Tom and we travel all over the world using ATM cards with no fees, and with cards that are not connected to any of our banking accounts. No hassles and at the ATM just withdraw what you need in the local currency.

 

Checks or Cheques (how we spell it) .. do they still exist?? Only the elderly in Aus still use them, and under sufferance. Too old school!

 

Enjoy you break!

[nolimits]

I just keep my money in my rubberband in my pocket.People R always trying to seperate us.LOL

[Ashland]

Traveler's Checks aren't "old school"..they work out great to cash them onboard or depending what country we're in we've also cashed them at banks easily..This worked out very well for us on a land tour of China... used the Bank of China also some of our hotel's cashed them too...We aren't comfortable using ATM's internationally..I know most of you are but JMHO and what works for us.

[cb at sea]

Hubby and I split our cash....in my purse, in his pocket...you simply need to keep your wits about you, like you would anywhere!

 

 

Carrying $1500 isn't that hard....15 $100 bills...not a huge wad at all! Do NOT bring wads of small denominations...once you're on the ship, they will break larger bills into smaller denominations for you.

 

 

Once, in Vegas, we won a bundle....and even in large bills, it was rough carrying it home....yeah...a terrible problem to have!!!! (Please note: I said "once".....) enough said!

[Paulette3028]

I've searched this topic and found that many cruisers bring $500-$1500 in cash on their cruise.

 

Where do you carry it? For our next cruise it will just be me (40yr old female) and my 20 year old daughter. The thought of carrying that much cash on me worries me on a safety level. However, I know between taxis, tips and excursions I am going to need that much.

 

How do you keep everything secure and safe while traveling?

 

We never have a lot of cash with us......our excursions are arranged beforehand and paid on a credit card when booked; tips on the ship will be charged to the seapass account and then go to our credit card....small cash for taxis, doesn't amount to $1500 even for a long cruise.

 

Most merchants take credit cards, if they are legitimate, in my mind.

[Grandma Dazzles]

Traveler's Checks aren't "old school"..they work out great to cash them onboard or depending what country we're in we've also cashed them at banks easily..This worked out very well for us on a land tour of China... used the Bank of China also some of our hotel's cashed them too...We aren't comfortable using ATM's internationally..I know most of you are but JMHO and what works for us.

 

Totally agree! Not as "old school" as many on CC may think! Have used world-wide without any problem.

 

Always carry money in traveler's checks as a back-up (my bank carries American Express). Primarily use credit cards and have used ATM's, but like to have some cash in traveler's checks.

 

A couple of years ago in Aruba during a power outage it seemed like everything came to a halt ...... credit cards, ATM's etc. wouldn't work - our hotel clerk smiled sweetly and handed over cash and wrote down our room number on the back of a traveler's check! We were able to eat dinner, grab a cab, etc. - many guests were left trying to figure out how to get cash and no one would take credit cards!

 

Also had trouble in UK trying to use an "American" credit card - no chip - wouldn't work (that's a whole other story), but again traveler's checks cashed at a bank came to the rescue.