West & East Caribbean - Cash Currency

[Newbury newbie]

Feeling it a bit ignorant here! What currencies do we need for the West & East Caribbean itineraries? Are US dollars widely accepted? :confused:

[az_tchr]

Yes.

[Desertbelle]

Dozens of times in the Caribbean and have never used anything but USA currency.

[MarKay525]

Have always used US Currency, although we have received local tender back in change at times, especially from smaller venders.

 

Have a wonderful cruise.

[ozark74]

Feeling it a bit ignorant here! What currencies do we need for the West & East Caribbean itineraries? Are US dollars widely accepted? :confused:

 

The US dollar is accepted everywhere with no problem. You may get the local currency back as change but most will give you

US coins if they have it.

Edited January 10, 2016 by ozark74

[OCruisers]

The US Dollar is happily accepted where you're going!

 

It's a good idea to take smaller bills into your ports of call. You can get larger bills broken down at the purser's desk (customer relations) so you don't have to carry a big wad of small bills on the ship with you.

 

Look forward to having a great cruise. :)

 

LuLu

[neverbeenhere]

I find that gold, gold chains and gold doubloons are the preferred currency for exchanges. Silver is accepted but not preferred.

[az_tchr]

I find that gold, gold chains and gold doubloons are the preferred currency for exchanges. Silver is accepted but not preferred.

 

Very good! How about diamonds or emeralds - preferably unset?

[Newbury newbie]

Thanks for the feed back everyone. Just to be sure - we're planning to go to Maho Beach when we get to St Maarten. The taxis will take US dollars then?

[neverbeenhere]

Yes.

[neverbeenhere]

As for the diamonds and emeralds. The synthetic diamonds are so good they don't like taking them and the emeralds are all oiled.

[Lois R]

Thanks for the feed back everyone. Just to be sure - we're planning to go to Maho Beach when we get to St Maarten. The taxis will take US dollars then?

 

Yes, cabs, restaurants, shops, hotels, tour companies, every type of

business in the Caribbean accepts US $$.

[Desertbelle]

Yes, cabs, restaurants, shops, hotels, tour companies, every type of

business in the Caribbean accepts US $$.

And this would include Cozumel, Belize, and Roatan.

[jocap]

Hi...we're taking €€ for St Marten and Martinique, which is their preference, but we need €€ anyway because we're going via Portuguese Madeira and coming back via the Azores. I'm always finding € coins hidden in jewellery boxes, vases etc, so we'll have change for smaller items! :D

[Desertbelle]

LOL, we have small bits of foreign currency tucked all over travel bags and purses. Euros, Pounds, Kroners (of multiple countries), Pesos, etc. You never know when you might get back to one of those countries and need money for a cab or a Coke. :)

[leaveitallbehind]

Hi...we're taking €€ for St Marten and Martinique, which is their preference, but we need €€ anyway because we're going via Portuguese Madeira and coming back via the Azores. I'm always finding € coins hidden in jewellery boxes, vases etc, so we'll have change for smaller items! :D

 

Martinique is one of the very few islands that do not take US $ as they are French and are Euro based. Some establishments will take US based credit cards, however.

[OCruisers]

Martinique is one of the very few islands that do not take US $ as they are French and are Euro based. Some establishments will take US based credit cards, however.

 

We were able to use the US Dollar in Martinique without a problem ... but we have always taken ships excursions so apparently were only taken places where it was OK to buy things with US currency.

Vendors around the cruise dock area there had no problem with taking our money.

 

Guadeloupe was another story! Places would even have signs: No US Dollars Accepted!

 

LuLu