Spending Money

[Alyssajones624]

Soo this is my first cruise in about 4 years ( I know I am LOONNNGGG overdue).. I am bringing a first timer with me and starting him off on a 3 day to Nassau on the Victory. We already purchased the drinking pass, we are not gamblers. I will probably get 2-3 pictures and maybe some liquor bottles. But I want to stop having the mentality of just putting it on a credit card. How much cash should one bring? Any advice

[Out of Iowa]

What is your budget? Have one, find one, devise one - then stick to it.

[famof4togo]

We bring $100 in $1s and $100 in $5s for tips....then we bring $100 each a day for the casino but that wouldn't apply to you....and then we bring $200 in cash for each stop...this past cruise we gambled well and came home with our casino cash so my next vacation fund has already began lol.....

[Organized Chaos]

For those using cash, Carnival recommends a minimum $100 deposit for short cruises. That's obviously low, just an amount they recommend to open the account. If you're going to buy bottles of liquor, you're obviously going to need more. You can go on Carnival's online Fun Shops to see how much liquor is, depending on what you want. That'll give you a place to start. You can check out their photo prices here: https://help.carnival.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1153/kw/photos#digital. And maybe plan for any specialty meals you might have. Some small bills if you'd like to tip beyond their standard gratuities. If all else fails and you run out of cash, but want to keep going, you could always use a credit card at that point.

[Joebucks]

Personally, I hate carrying cash, especially on a cruise. Do I carry hundreds of dollars in my pocket while walking around cities and laying on beaches, or leave it alone in my room? I'm not going to bring $400 and either limit or push myself to that amount. I will buy what I see value in, and want to have that flexibility.

 

I don't get the hate of credit cards. If one method of payment prevents you from properly budgeting vs another method, I think there are bigger problems.

 

With that said, you do need some cash for areas that do not accept credit. I wouldn't bring more than $100-$200 personally

[Oh Not Him Again]

Easy rule of thumb....sit down and figure out how much cash you will think you will need....got it....NOW DOUBLE IT!!!!

 

As far as luggage....pack your suitcase....once you have everything you will think you will need, now take 1/2 of the stuff out and leave it on your bed at home

 

Enjoy your cruise!!!!

[famof4togo]

Easy rule of thumb....sit down and figure out how much cash you will think you will need....got it....NOW DOUBLE IT!!!!

 

As far as luggage....pack your suitcase....once you have everything you will think you will need, now take 1/2 of the stuff out and leave it on your bed at home

 

Enjoy your cruise!!!!

 

Totally spot on...lol....

[Alyssajones624]

I will use the credit card for the sail and sign but I always go with a mentality of just charge it to the card. I know we will mostly need cash for tips and then in Nassau itself. I am thinking 150pp but for some reason I feel like its not enough but then I just have no clue..lol

[Tjcalley]

We are going on a 7 day cruise and I am bringing $200 in cash and I thought that was a lot. I’ve been putting money on my s&s card over the last few months as well for pictures. We don’t gamble and we usually don’t buy much in the ports

[coevan]

There is no reason to bring 100 ones, they have a cashier in the casino and guest services always changes my large bills

[rs45thompson]

Pixels has a new pre-purchase package that you can buy. So if you pre-purchase that that's one expensive you won't have.

 

Sent from my SM-G935V using Forums mobile app

[Organized Chaos]

Personally, I hate carrying cash, especially on a cruise. Do I carry hundreds of dollars in my pocket while walking around cities and laying on beaches, or leave it alone in my room? I'm not going to bring $400 and either limit or push myself to that amount. I will buy what I see value in, and want to have that flexibility.

 

I don't get the hate of credit cards. If one method of payment prevents you from properly budgeting vs another method, I think there are bigger problems.

The OP is talking about using cash on board, so no, they won't be walking around with hundreds of dollars in their pocket. They'll be walking around with their S&S card and maybe some singles for extra tips.

 

We are going on a 7 day cruise and I am bringing $200 in cash and I thought that was a lot. I’ve been putting money on my s&s card over the last few months as well for pictures. We don’t gamble and we usually don’t buy much in the ports

I assume you're referring to Cruise Cash, since that's the only way to add funds to your S&S account before a cruise. So when you say you've been doing it over the last few months, remember that Cruise Cash in non-refundable. Use it or lose it. Unless you use the casino cash-out "trick."

[LoungingMcCoy]

On my cruise I tried to buy photographs with cash but they wouldn't accept it. I was told they only accept the S&S card. I don't know if that's normal.

 

We brought $200 cash for souvenirs, food in the airports, tips, etc. and it really wasn't enough. Souvenirs in the ports and airport food were very expensive.

[Tjcalley]

The OP is talking about using cash on board, so no, they won't be walking around with hundreds of dollars in their pocket. They'll be walking around with their S&S card and maybe some singles for extra tips.

 

I assume you're referring to Cruise Cash, since that's the only way to add funds to your S&S account before a cruise. So when you say you've been doing it over the last few months, remember that Cruise Cash in non-refundable. Use it or lose it. Unless you use the casino cash-out "trick."

 

Yes I am referring to cruise cash and realize I don’t get a refund on it. I only have a $100 on it for pictures and maybe specialty coffee 😄

[lizardhowson]

On my cruise I tried to buy photographs with cash but they wouldn't accept it. I was told they only accept the S&S card. I don't know if that's normal.

 

We brought $200 cash for souvenirs, food in the airports, tips, etc. and it really wasn't enough. Souvenirs in the ports and airport food were very expensive.

 

There are only 3 uses for cash on cruise ship:

• Casino
  
• Guest services/kisok
  
• Tips - however if you remove your gratuities to tip in cash, you cannot possibly tip all those behind the scenes who work to make your vacation happen
  

The Sign & Sail card is required for everything else.

[Purvis1231]

There are only 3 uses for cash on cruise ship:

• Casino
  
• Guest services/kisok
  
• Tips - however if you remove your gratuities to tip in cash, you cannot possibly tip all those behind the scenes who work to make your vacation happen
  

The Sign & Sail card is required for everything else.

 

Some people fund their Sign and Sail account with cash. One thing I like about cruising is the fact that your major expenses are paid upfront and everything else is optional.

Edited April 4, 2018 by Purvis1231
typo

[teknoge3k]

Personally, I hate carrying cash, especially on a cruise. Do I carry hundreds of dollars in my pocket while walking around cities and laying on beaches, or leave it alone in my room? I'm not going to bring $400 and either limit or push myself to that amount. I will buy what I see value in, and want to have that flexibility.

 

I don't get the hate of credit cards. If one method of payment prevents you from properly budgeting vs another method, I think there are bigger problems.

 

With that said, you do need some cash for areas that do not accept credit. I wouldn't bring more than $100-$200 personally

 

This is us also. I never carry cash. I'm the guy in front of you at the store that's going to put a $0.25 piece of candy on my card. I use my card for every single thing in life possible. I pay my cards off at the end of each month and earn my points and am happy. If I lose my card, I'm protected and haven't really lost anything. If I lose that cash, well, it's gone. I know some traditional people love cash but my family doesn't.

[AmBear]

Soo this is my first cruise in about 4 years ( I know I am LOONNNGGG overdue).. I am bringing a first timer with me and starting him off on a 3 day to Nassau on the Victory. We already purchased the drinking pass, we are not gamblers. I will probably get 2-3 pictures and maybe some liquor bottles. But I want to stop having the mentality of just putting it on a credit card. How much cash should one bring? Any advice

Most CC's have points for money spent, take your cash and pay off the bill when you get home, and have the points=cash as extra!;p

[Joebucks]

The OP is talking about using cash on board, so no, they won't be walking around with hundreds of dollars in their pocket. They'll be walking around with their S&S card and maybe some singles for extra tips.

 

She clearly said credit for sign and sail card. Cash for tips and Nassau.

 

It can be tough to budget for Nassau. It depends what you want to do there. Last time I went, we spent about $250 for transportation, souvenir, and Sandals day pass. No one will ever convince me I should have paid cash for the Sandals resort. No transaction fees, no cash to lose, and I got about $10 back in rewards.

[Saint Greg]

There is no reason to bring 100 ones, they have a cashier in the casino and guest services always changes my large bills

 

If you don't mind waiting in line. I'd rather get it at the bank ahead of time.

[Organized Chaos]

She clearly said credit for sign and sail card. Cash for tips and Nassau.

Yes, she later said she'd put a credit card on her S&S, but is looking to budget her spending by using mostly cash. Twice she said she's trying to avoid the mentality of "just charge it." Everything she said in her very first post was all related to on board spending ("drinking pass, we are not gamblers. I will probably get 2-3 pictures and maybe some liquor bottles. But I want to stop having the mentality of just putting it on a credit card. How much cash should one bring?").

[serene56]

Yes I am referring to cruise cash and realize I don’t get a refund on it. I only have a $100 on it for pictures and maybe specialty coffee 😄

 

 

go to the casino and cash out on a slot machine. no reason to give carnival any more money then necessary

(remember tips are costing too unless they are prepaid)

[Alaskan Joe]

You say you want bottles of liquor. How many and what kind? That's what would eat up most of your cash. IMO, if you want to "pay in cash," bring $300 and put it on your S&S account. That'll get used up before charges start hitting your CC.

 

This really is an impossible question because nobody here knows your spending habits.

 

I totally agree with this statement Fyree. For my DW and I we bring about $500 in cash for a week cruise. Whereas, we met a couple that told us they bring nothing less than $500 p/day:o. We simply could not afford that, I make good money just not that good. My DW still jokes about how I cannot afford $500 p/day:'). Then I tell her we could afford the $500 p/day, IF SHE WOULD GET A JOB:'):'):'). Before all you women out there start bashing me I am only joking, I love that my wife does not work or have to work, but if she wanted to I would support that also.