Question of the Day!

[IamaTexasCruiser]

how much cash do you take on a cruise?

 

the Sign&Sail card covers expenses on board. and i presume most people take a credit card. but what about cash?

[easyboy]

We take around $200 in small bills for tips to porters and room steward when warranted. Also for possible transport fare like hop on hop off bus. Also for small item purchases. If not enough, we use the ATM in port.

 

 

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[Computer Nerd]

A hundred or so in small bills. Pretty much for use in the ports only.

[GiftieEtcetera]

I'm only taking about $100, but I pre-tipped and no excursion for me, so I only need for porters and room service. I tip for the bar when I sign.

[cb at sea]

We never travel without at least $1500....anywhere. Cash is king, you know. You probably won't need that much, but if you do need it...it's nice to have! The bank allows you to REDEPOSIT your money, you know!

[Theaden07]

I agree with cb at sea

 

 

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[BahamaMama1214]

We usually bring about $500 to spend, but we never take all of it into port with us at once. Most of the time it is left in the safe.

[Ocean Dancer]

We rarely use credit cards in port, so we need cash for t shirts, drinks, taxis, tips. Always try to bring smaller bills......easier to haggle the price with ones than a $20. $500 would be a minimum for a week cruise.

[13cheermom]

Really depends on what you plan on doing in port. If we have private excursion then we carry enough to pay for those as well as spending money for food and souvenirs. Agree only take what you need at each port and leave the rest on ship in safe. Always take lots of $1,$5,$10,$20’s for tips for various people. $500 minimum sounds good for 7-day cruise with excursions.

 

 

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[wamdam]

As a rule we take $100 for each day...this has proven to be more than enough. It's always nice to have a little extra just in case.

 

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[Saint Greg]

More than I need to. Money for each port even if I'm not planning on spending it. However much I'm willing to lose in the casino on that particular trip. Tip money for porter, steward, servers, bartenders, shuttle drivers...And just in case I something crazy happens and I somehow lose everything....I leave money in the console of my truck so I can get home.

[Computer Nerd]

We never travel without at least $1500....anywhere. Cash is king, you know. You probably won't need that much, but if you do need it...it's nice to have! The bank allows you to REDEPOSIT your money, you know!

 

True. But thieves can also redeposit your money......into their account! :o

[Saint Greg]

True. But thieves can also redeposit your money......into their account! :o

 

You keep it in your safe and only take what you need when you need it.

Edited October 2, 2017 by Saint Greg

[jayscore]

I bring about $1500 cash in various denominations. This is for various gratuities, souvenirs, and gambling.

I NEVER use my plastic at any ports, yet I have it, and my passport "just in case".

Edited October 2, 2017 by jayscore
punctuation

[riclop]

About $200.

[Tiger0613]

I bring $10 per day(all in $5's) for the casino but I play it all on the last night. I only play the minimum bet on penny slots. I'm not comfortable gambling in the hundreds yet.

 

I put the drink tips on my account. I bring a $1 bill for the free drink coupon. I have one peach daiquiri on embarkation day, one peach smoothie per night, one chocolate shake on the last sea day, and the free drink(if applicable).

 

$6(in $1's) for room service

 

I don't check bags.

 

If I have excursions, I bring $5 per guide and driver. Most of my excursions have been basic city tours.

 

5 $20's(steward, assistant steward, head waiter, assistant waiter, third waiter)

 

I used to bring about $50 cash(in $10's, $5's, and $1's) per port. Now I try to use my cashback card when I can and feel it is safe to do so. It doesn't have a foreign transaction fee, and it is easily replaced if compromised. I still bring some cash.

[poz222]

I bring $10 per day(all in $5's) for the casino but I play it all on the last night. I only play the minimum bet on penny slots. I'm not comfortable gambling in the hundreds yet.

 

I put the drink tips on my account. I bring a $1 bill for the free drink coupon. I have one peach daiquiri on embarkation day, one peach smoothie per night, one chocolate shake on the last sea day, and the free drink(if applicable).

 

$6(in $1's) for room service

 

I don't check bags.

 

If I have excursions, I bring $5 per guide and driver. Most of my excursions have been basic city tours.

 

5 $20's(steward, assistant steward, head waiter, assistant waiter, third waiter)

 

I used to bring about $50 cash(in $10's, $5's, and $1's) per port. Now I try to use my cashback card when I can and feel it is safe to do so. It doesn't have a foreign transaction fee, and it is easily replaced if compromised. I still bring some cash.

 

So based on your detailed spreadsheet, that amounts to (5) $20 bills (17) $5 bills, and (7) $1 bills ... for a total of $192 (based on an average 7 day tour) not counting the discretionary $50 per port which your don't bring anymore? Do you use a checklist or is it all from memory. ;-)

[Tiger0613]

So based on your detailed spreadsheet, that amounts to (5) $20 bills (17) $5 bills, and (7) $1 bills ... for a total of $192 (based on an average 7 day tour) not counting the discretionary $50 per port which your don't bring anymore? Do you use a checklist or is it all from memory. ;-)

 

Both. I need to have lists when planning several vacations at once. I end up memorizing the lists after seeing them several times each month. I remember details better than general ideas. I rarely have the ability to summarize. That is demonstrated by the overly detailed paragraphs below.

 

I am also paranoid when flying with alot of cash. Last August, I was in Los Angeles for nine nights. I had $39 cash for the first five days. I had $750 cash for Power Morphicon on the last three days. I had $493 cash($256 onboard and $237 ports) for a 4 day solo cruise on the Inspiration after the convention. I had a notebook with a very detailed breakdown of the $1,282 I was carrying, just in case the TSA tried to pull a civil asset forfeiture on me(didn't happen). I brought all that cash with me because my hotel was in Pasadena and the only Capital One ATM in Los Angeles is in Santa Monica.

 

For my upcoming 5 day cruise on the Triumph, I am bringing $186 cash and $200 in AARP Carnival gift cards to cover two people. For my upcoming 7 day cruise on the Dream, I am bringing $213 cash and $400 in AARP Carnival gift cards to cover two people. I'm prepaying for value internet for both cruises and a 12pk of water and the Old Town Trolley Tour in Key West for the 7 day cruise.

[BDRebel]

Normally, Customs will not bother you for less than $10,000, unless you are doing something else wrong (drugs, illegal imports, etc).

[poz222]

Why would TSA seize $1,282? Why would TSA be Seizing ANYTHING other than unapproved liquids, knives or other in flight contraband?

[naxer]

About $100. And I usually don't spend any more than $20 of it.

[erikmillick]

We are going on our first cruise in March on the Fantasy. We are doing excursions on both shore days. Do you need to have foreign currency or do most places take American cash?

 

 

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[poz222]

US $$$ are fine

[erikmillick]

US $$$ are fine

 

 

 

Thanks! 5 months out and I'm already getting addicted to this site!

 

 

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[Floating Lanai]

The bank allows you to REDEPOSIT your money, you know!

I love you!