mbrodrig01 Posted November 17, 2015 #1 Share Posted November 17, 2015 We are a family of 7 going on a Cruise to the following 5 ports. From family 3 are teenagers, 2 seniors, and DH and I. We have a excursion already in Barbados. Is it okay(enough) to take $500 cash at every port? This will be for taxi to nearby beach, any umbrella or chair rentals, and a lunch. Do you think this is enough for 7 ppl? I rather be prepared with more $$ than less. PORTS: Virgen Islands, Barbadoes, St. Lucia, St. Kitts, St. Maarten Comments appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
serene56 Posted November 17, 2015 #2 Share Posted November 17, 2015 Yes but take small bills because most vendors will say they do not have change for that 20 and give you change in their money 500 for 7 people seems like a lot of money Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCruisers Posted November 17, 2015 #3 Share Posted November 17, 2015 (edited) Considering what you're planning to do, $500 should be ample ... maybe $600 or $700 just to be on the safe side. Lots will depend on how much you spend on lunch & drinks and "other" things. Have FUN! :D Edited November 17, 2015 by OCruisers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare ronrick1943 Posted November 17, 2015 #4 Share Posted November 17, 2015 I agree $500 is good, but why not use your credit cards and keep the cash for when you really need it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Hlitner Posted November 17, 2015 #5 Share Posted November 17, 2015 That is a lot of cash to carry around. You might want to think about where you will put all that money when you are swimming at the beach. Personally, we have a waterproof fanny pack that we use to protect our cash and credit cards. Hank Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mbrodrig01 Posted November 17, 2015 Author #6 Share Posted November 17, 2015 That is a lot of cash to carry around. You might want to think about where you will put all that money when you are swimming at the beach. Personally, we have a waterproof fanny pack that we use to protect our cash and credit cards. Hank I plan on carrying $150 in small bills and DH carries $250 (he's a big man; sweet teddy bear though) my dad will carry $100. I'm gonna bring 1 CC just in case. I do not know how much the taxi drivers charge each way for a big group so I want to be prepared. I have 6 other family members with my family if 7 so I'm not to concerned with who's watching my medium back pack. I just figured 50 per family member. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mbrodrig01 Posted November 17, 2015 Author #7 Share Posted November 17, 2015 Yesbut take small bills because most vendors will say they do not have change for that 20 and give you change in their money 500 for 7 people seems like a lot of money Really? What is the average lunch off port at these ports. If that is a feasible question. We are probably going to visit the beach at these ports but just in case there are any rental fees to a beach chair or umbrella. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cb at sea Posted November 17, 2015 #8 Share Posted November 17, 2015 (edited) We've NEVER needed $500 per port...maybe $200 for a big family..depending on what you want to do! Try to have smaller bills...the ship will break down larger bills for you, so you don't have to carry a huge wad of bills! Bring hundreds...and break them down to $20's and $10's on the ship. Most places will take Visa and MC...few take AMEX. Edited November 17, 2015 by cb at sea Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCruisers Posted November 18, 2015 #9 Share Posted November 18, 2015 Really? What is the average lunch off port at these ports. If that is a feasible question. We are probably going to visit the beach at these ports but just in case there are any rental fees to a beach chair or umbrella. Spending $500 in a port for 7 people really is not lots of money all considered. It cost money to have FUN! :D LuLu Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
notentirelynormal Posted November 18, 2015 #10 Share Posted November 18, 2015 Spending $500 in a port for 7 people really is not lots of money all considered. It cost money to have FUN! :D LuLu That's what I was thinking. I mean what if you go on a catamaran or something? Even if lunch is only $20 per person that is still $140! That Cat trip will cost around $75 pp - that equals $525. We usually do something in each port. We really aren't beach people. That said, we usually arrange it in advance and pay with a credit card. OP - do some research in advance and see if you can organize personal tours. That is what we always do. We are treated like royalty being picked up directly from the ship. The money is paid in advance and you know what you are doing that day. Just make sure the tour people will give a 100% refund if the ship misses the port. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mbrodrig01 Posted November 18, 2015 Author #11 Share Posted November 18, 2015 That's what I was thinking. I mean what if you go on a catamaran or something? Even if lunch is only $20 per person that is still $140! That Cat trip will cost around $75 pp - that equals $525. We usually do something in each port. We really aren't beach people. That said, we usually arrange it in advance and pay with a credit card. OP - do some research in advance and see if you can organize personal tours. That is what we always do. We are treated like royalty being picked up directly from the ship. The money is paid in advance and you know what you are doing that day. Just make sure the tour people will give a 100% refund if the ship misses the port. Thank you for the suggestion. I have been looking at things to do, and pay in advance as well. I found a excursion in Barbados and now I found one in St. Maarten. So it just the other 3 ports. I don't really think $500 is a lot. That is $70 per person. That's a mea and entrance to a beach all day pass(if we choose) a drink or two and maybe even a souvenir. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mbrodrig01 Posted November 18, 2015 Author #12 Share Posted November 18, 2015 Spending $500 in a port for 7 people really is not lots of money all considered. It cost money to have FUN! :D LuLu I totally agree. This is the reason why we have been planning and saving for this trip since June of 2014. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Keith1010 Posted November 18, 2015 #13 Share Posted November 18, 2015 $500.00 in these ports seems like a lot of cash to me. I would probably take less but that is a personal decision. Be sure to split the money up so the two of you each take some and be sure to not leave it on the beach without anyone watching valuables at all time. Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krazy Kruizers Posted November 18, 2015 #14 Share Posted November 18, 2015 Some of the ports can be very expensive for lunch -- even hamburgers aren't cheap. $500 in small bills should be okay. Divide it up among the 4 adults. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mbrodrig01 Posted November 18, 2015 Author #15 Share Posted November 18, 2015 Some of the ports can be very expensive for lunch -- even hamburgers aren't cheap. $500 in small bills should be okay. Divide it up among the 4 adults. Thanks for all the knowledge. I am making sure that everything is covered.:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George C Posted November 18, 2015 #16 Share Posted November 18, 2015 500 should be more than enough, but that is a safe amount, as said take lots of small bills. We always use credit cards to larger stuff and cash for smaller. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trish1c Posted November 18, 2015 #17 Share Posted November 18, 2015 We rarely leave the ship with more than $100 in cash for two people. It's a global economy. Everybody takes credit cards. No sense in being a mugger's delight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mbrodrig01 Posted November 18, 2015 Author #18 Share Posted November 18, 2015 We rarely leave the ship with more than $100 in cash for two people. It's a global economy. Everybody takes credit cards. No sense in being a mugger's delight. Is the reason why you dont take cash over $100 because you have already payed for an excursion before reaching port? even if you were to take just $50 for the both of you, if you see that we are a family of 7 and that would equal to $350 at the most. Im pretty sure my kids will ask for a souvenir from ech port as will my mom. Better safe then sorry I always say..:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mbrodrig01 Posted November 18, 2015 Author #19 Share Posted November 18, 2015 500 should be more than enough, but that is a safe amount, as said take lots of small bills. We always use credit cards to larger stuff and cash for smaller. Thanks for the great advice. We definitely use small bills. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trish1c Posted November 18, 2015 #20 Share Posted November 18, 2015 (edited) Is the reason why you dont take cash over $100 because you have already payed for an excursion before reaching port? even if you were to take just $50 for the both of you, if you see that we are a family of 7 and that would equal to $350 at the most. Im pretty sure my kids will ask for a souvenir from ech port as will my mom.. But the souvenir shops take credit cards. And yes we have usually paid for the excursion but even if we're taking a cab it's not that much. Edited November 18, 2015 by trish1c Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Host Walt Posted November 18, 2015 #21 Share Posted November 18, 2015 Thanks for the great advice. We definitely use small bills. Good plan. Keep in mind that, except for the US Virgin Islands, every port you will visit have their own currency and you will likely receive change in local currency which is a major pain in the butt to convert back to US$. Small US bills means you should not return to the ship with much in the way of foreign money. For cost control, we always try to use credit cards for all purchases. Almost all activities accept cards except perhaps some taxicabs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
serene56 Posted November 18, 2015 #22 Share Posted November 18, 2015 St THomas= GodfreytoursVI.com will give you a little bit of everything from shopping, tour of the island plus the beach for 35.pp St Marten: http://www.bernardstours.com/ Both tours I have used in the past and will be using them in April again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mbrodrig01 Posted November 29, 2015 Author #23 Share Posted November 29, 2015 Good plan. Keep in mind that, except for the US Virgin Islands, every port you will visit have their own currency and you will likely receive change in local currency which is a major pain in the butt to convert back to US$. Small US bills means you should not return to the ship with much in the way of foreign money. For cost control, we always try to use credit cards for all purchases. Almost all activities accept cards except perhaps some taxicabs. So I guess if we do come back to the ship with foreign currency they won't exchange it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mbrodrig01 Posted November 29, 2015 Author #24 Share Posted November 29, 2015 St THomas= GodfreytoursVI.com will give you a little bit of everything from shopping, tour of the island plus the beach for 35.pp St Marten: http://www.bernardstours.com/ Both tours I have used in the past and will be using them in April again Thanks for the information as I will look into this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Host Walt Posted November 29, 2015 #25 Share Posted November 29, 2015 So I guess if we do come back to the ship with foreign currency they won't exchange it?Usually not (it depends on the cruise line) but if they do, the exchange rate will not be too terrific. That's why you should carry small bills so if change has to be in local currency, you'll wind up with some local coins as unplanned souvenirs. Even if your ship does do foreign currency exchange, they won't do coins, just currency. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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