How much cash to bring?

[HumMayDum]

Hey everyone!

 

Just wondering, what's the smart amount of cash you should bring to the ship? I have a feeling a lot of the things on the ship, Brilliance of the Seas, can be paid for with credit card, but what about the taxis at the ports or little souvenirs?

 

Thank you!

[njm5378]

Most cruises we bring about $100 to $150 per day. Usually averages out very well for us. But understand your questions is very dependent on ports visited and your spending habits.

[shellunderwater]

You can't use cash on the ship to make purchases. All purchases, except for the casino and extra tips, use the sea pass card. You can use cash to make payments/settle up the sea pass account.

 

We also plan an emergency "slush fund". One trip, we had to delay our return flight home due to illness. We didn't have any cash on hand at that point for extra expenses like porters, tips, etc. While it was an emergency, we try to now be prepared with some extra just in case.

 

Things you might use cash for include taxis, porters, snacks, bars/restaurants in port, excursions, trinket purchases in port/shops. Not all locations, etc. take credit cards. And, not all take all cards, such as Discover and AMEX.

 

We like to take a specific, separate credit card to use in ports, that way if it is compromised, we can still pay for our sea pass account on the ship and get home.

[dplusd]

Most shipboard expenses will be charged to your sea pass card and settled at the end of the cruise (by credit card). We bring cash for on board expenses like the casino, tips for room service, bartenders, and additional tips for room steward, dining staff and Diamond concierge. Bring cash for ports for things like taxis and small purchases. For us, we have our casino budget, about $150 for additional on board tips, and $50-$75 per port depending on our plans.

[Clarea]

For cruises, a good rule of thumb is to being twice the cash and half the clothes.

[TEXASMUNK]

think about your ports and what you plan on doing...the previous poster, $100 to $150 a day is a good number.

 

Remember:

1.tip porters for luggage, both coming and going, unless you self assist

2.Taxi drivers, taxi plus tip

3.tour operators, post tour tip

4.purchases on shore (liquor, junk you buy thinking it is great until you get it home, etc)

5.casino (but you can put it on your onboard account (they hit you with a surcharge)

Those are but a few of the places you might spend your cash. The key is planning based on your own likes, dislikes and budget.

[reallyitsmema]

Hey everyone!

 

Just wondering, what's the smart amount of cash you should bring to the ship? I have a feeling a lot of the things on the ship, Brilliance of the Seas, can be paid for with credit card, but what about the taxis at the ports or little souvenirs?

 

Thank you!

 

How much cash to bring really depends on you and your habits. On the ship, you use your sea pass card to purchase everything and at the end of the cruise, if you set your account up with a credit card, they automatically charge your card, if you have a cash account, you have to go to guest services and settle your account. You use cash in the casino and you can also use cash for additional tips on the ship, but otherwise, the ship is cashless.

 

We bring cash for taxis, porters and shopping in port, unless we are going to buy jewelry, then we will charge that. I have one credit card just for my on board account and that card stays on the ship and I have a different card I use in port, thus minimizing the chance of the card I need being compromised or stolen.

 

We typically bring $500 on a 7 day Caribbean cruise where we know we aren't buying much. We always come home with a lot of it but preferred to be prepared. We are doing Alaska in May and plan on more cash as we need to pay for some of our private excursions in cash.

 

Just think through what you plan to do, add some for impulse and have a credit card to back yourself up.

[leosmom08]

$500 has always been more than sufficient for us. We use our credit cards as much as possible while on the islands and for shore excursions. The cash is reserved for tipping and more “local” purchases when credit card isn’t an option. We aren’t big spenders.

[jamesr3939]

$200 - $250 in small bills. Tips for porters, cabin attendant, favorite bartender. I use to tip room service but now that they charge I don't.

[cb at sea]

Everything on the ship is covered by your credit card...except gambling. Tips and purchases ashore can be made with cash or credit card, in the Caribbean. We always bring about $1500 for a week...never have needed it all, but IF you need it, it's sure nice to have! You can put the money back into your bank when you get home!

[SG65CB]

Bring at least two credit cards and reserve one for emergencies - don't use it in any ports.

 

Call the credit card companies before your trip to tell them you are traveling outside the country so they don't cut off your card and deny charges.

[zdad59]

I may be the strange one, but I bring $100 in singles, $100 in 5s, and $200 in $20s. I make it my challenge to tip out all the singles. I keep the rest for port money. Everything on board, or a large jewelry purchase I'll use a credit card for protection.

[CFD130]

I read a thing along time ago on cruise critic that said bring 1/2 the clothes and twice the cash you were planning.....very true lol

[OCruisers]

Always best to bring MORE cash than you think you will need.

You don't have to spend it but it's good to have should you need it. ;)

[GUT2407]

Very little cash, that’s why they make cards.

[Merion_Mom]

For cruises, a good rule of thumb is to being twice the cash and half the clothes.

 

I read a thing along time ago on cruise critic that said bring 1/2 the clothes and twice the cash you were planning.....very true lol

Or maybe up in post #5? ;)

[TeeRick]

Think about bringing a couple of pre-paid debit or credit cards. They are the replacement for Traveler's Checks that were used in the old days. No risk to your current accounts. Generally you can find them in supermarkets, pharmacies, etc. You can use them directly, or get cash with them on the ship or in port. Safer than traveling with a lot of cash.

[reallyitsmema]

Think about bringing a couple of pre-paid debit or credit cards. They are the replacement for Traveler's Checks that were used in the old days. No risk to your current accounts. Generally you can find them in supermarkets, pharmacies, etc. You can use them directly, or get cash with them on the ship or in port. Safer than traveling with a lot of cash.

 

A lot of those type cards are only good in the US, so make sure you look at the restrictions before you purchase.

[geomancer]

I don't get why so many bring so much cash ... but then I don't go to the Caribbean.

 

If you go to other destinations, you may have a really hard time finding anyone willing to accept US Dollars because it's a major PITA for the locals to get it into an actual usable form for themselves after the fact. You probably won't get a very good 'rate' if they do take it.

 

From what I hear and remember from my own trip to the Caribbean (it was 10 years ago) they're far more likely to take US Dollars there.

 

On ship you need zero dollars. Tips are automatically added to your account, or paid in advance. Anything extra is your choice of course, but is not needed/required for anything.

 

Really, porters and taxis to/from the ship are the only thing you might need cash for since they are not involved with the ship at all.

 

I use a credit card whenever possible (zero foreign transaction fees, best possible exchange rate, zero liability from fraud/theft). I also bring multiple cards (if a medical emergency happens, foreign hospitals may require payment before any treatment is performed). Be sure to notify them before travel.

 

Do not use a debit card, the risk with them is too great. While some banks will reimburse you for fraud ... your account will be missing the funds until the process works through the system.

[yuvraj]

I always take more than I will ever need to cover all eventualities. Any surplus, I use to clear my on board account on the last day, leaving enough for last day expenses.

[dwayneb236]

For the ship we'll probably bring about $100 just for tips and such and a couple hundred to finish paying off our shore excursions.. We've already got 100 OBC and have bought the drink package and prepaid grats so our account shouldn't need anymore on it.

 

We don't gamble and no pictures for us so we're good there.

 

And of course we'll have CC card available if needed.

Edited December 6, 2017 by dwayneb236

[matj2000]

I always bring around $1200 in cash.

With around $200 in singles for tips....

[MrsKC08]

We are taking my dad on his first cruise in March. He has asked me this question a few times and as others have said here, I told him that it is all subject to his plans on what he thinks he will buy. I can only give him an idea of certain things like tips for luggage and daily grats. If he wants a souvenier from the ship then he has to figure anywhere from $10 - $50 depending on the type of souvenier but knowing him his choice would be either a cap or shirt, so nothing too extravagant. He will already have the refreshment package and I told him about the cost of individual photos if he wants a couple that are taking on board. We are only going to one port (short cruise) and whatever excursion we take will be prepaid/arranged, but I told him to consider any tips for that. For our four night cruise I told him that he should be good with about $150 - $200, and that would even include is on board account.

 

Everytime we have cruised, we always add money to our onboard account before we even sail. Each time we are walking off the ship with cash in hand when we settle up the last night. I love walking off with money in my hands!

[Desert Cruizers]

I have set aside for our cruises a minimum of $500. I set up envelopes for Crew Tips, money for any tour tips to the driver, and misc. I try and pre pay a lot of things, such as Gratuities, and drink packages to keep the on board expenses down. This has worked for me very well. I also put all our change in a jar or safety box leading up to a cruise then turn into our bank for cash to take along. Amazing how quickly change can add up over a year & a half.

[sea shepherd]

I usually bring 1000 bucks for every week on the the ship.

 

 

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