Whats Best? Cash or Credit Card?

[cc4201]

Taking my first cruise to Cozumel, Grand Cayman and Jamaica. Will you get pesos back if you give them a traveler's check in Cozumel? What about Grand Cayman and Jamaica. What about credit cards? Thanks.

[ga-shel]

I used cash travelers cheques, adnd credit cards. I remember getting good ole American cash back everywhere but one of the Cozumel open area markets and they didn't have any quarters so I received Pesos for the $.50 owed as change.

[mimikens]

I just got back from Coz and GC. We got all our change back in US. I would be hesitant to carry much cash in Jamaica. I'm sure a lot of people do, but I find Jamiaca kind of scary.

[MickyBridges]

There was a new law passed last year that obligated the credit card companies to show their charges for foreign transactions separatly on your credit card bill rather than hide them in the exchange rate as was the previous practice. These charges are not small and range between 2-3% of the total cost. Of course to obtain local currency you will also have to pay transaction fees which means the best alternative is to pay with US Dollars if accepted.

[springtxbill]

Most credir cards are charging a 3% fee even if the foreign charges were made in US dollars. If you need cash get it from the casino which is added to your Seapass without a fee.

[EggDropErin]

We took US dollars to Cozumel last year, and we received cash back in US except in one small little shop off the beaten path.

[MouseHunter]

I have been to all of the major port in the Caribbean. I haven't found anywhere the USD was not accepted. You will have trouble getting travelers checks accepted in a lot of areas. I use credit cards when possible, and USD the rest of the time. I do have a credit card that only charges 1% for currency conversions. I also get the best bank rates this way. You cannot do better than that! There are still a few credit cards that only have the 1% conversion rate. The conversion is actually done by Visa/Mastercard for which they charge 1%. Anything more than that is a charge for doing nothing!!!

If you are traveling to Europe, things are a little different. I use a Visa or Mastercard branded debit card to get the local currency from

ATM's. They are poping up all over Europe. I also still use my credit card whenever possible. One note on credit card usage. Be sure the transaction is done in the local currency. Some merchants are converting to USD at excessive rates before sending the transaction to the CC company.

 

Have a great trip!

[CruisinDawn]

Taking my first cruise to Cozumel, Grand Cayman and Jamaica. Will you get pesos back if you give them a traveler's check in Cozumel? What about Grand Cayman and Jamaica. What about credit cards? Thanks.

 

Don't bother with Traveler's checks!! Just get money from the casino each night for port shopping. (There is no fee on Royal Caribbean for cash from the casino)

Pros: You don't have to travel to the cruise ship with lot's of money, don't have to pay exchange fees, everyone takes cash and sometimes can get a better deal on something if you whip out cash vs asking if they take Visa. Double points on the Royal Caribbean Visa!! (Not suppose to count but until they change things it is)

Cons: You have to have a good estimate of what your going to spend and have to go into the casino :D You can also get all the money you think you will need the first day at sea and just keep it in your safe.

 

BonVoyage

Dawna

[sicsinohio]

We will take minimal cash and no traveler's checks, go to the casino for cash as needed, and put whatever we can (inclding gratuites) on Sea Pass card. When we get home we'll pay it all of with RCI Visa card, and voila!...extra points toward our next RCI cruise!:cool:

[cc4201]

Don't bother with Traveler's checks!! Just get money from the casino each night for port shopping. (There is no fee on Royal Caribbean for cash from the casino)

BonVoyage

Dawna

 

What does everyone mean, "get cash from casino?" It sounds like they just hand it out! LOL! Can I assume you mean "cash a travelers check at the casino?

[negc]

What does everyone mean, "get cash from casino?" It sounds like they just hand it out! LOL! Can I assume you mean "cash a travelers check at the casino?

No they mean: go to the casino, present your Seapass card and request a cash advance. It will go onto your shipboard account and subsequently onto the credit card account which you designated when you first boarded and which you will use to settle your final bill. Those with an RCI Visa credit card get double points for charges made onboard the ship and the cash advances in this account, count as if they were onboard purchases.

[stargate fan]

We have Capital One visa. They do not charge for foreign transactions.

So we charge just about everything and earn points towards our next vacation. :D

 

There was a new law passed last year that obligated the credit card companies to show their charges for foreign transactions separatly on your credit card bill rather than hide them in the exchange rate as was the previous practice. These charges are not small and range between 2-3% of the total cost. Of course to obtain local currency you will also have to pay transaction fees which means the best alternative is to pay with US Dollars if accepted.

[zotzer]

I'm a paranoid person, so I always bring a combination of cash, travellers cheques and cc's, stashed in different areas of my luggage, purse, etc...

 

For my upcoming cruise, I am thinking of getting one of those Amex traveller cards instead of the traveller's checks. Seems like a cool idea, but I think you can only load them up to $2700 or so.

 

Anyway, I'd hate to have a cruise derailed by losing a single source of $$$, so I try to cover all bases. LOL

Tracy

[CruisinDawn]

What does everyone mean, "get cash from casino?" It sounds like they just hand it out! LOL! Can I assume you mean "cash a travelers check at the casino?

 

Hehe, I wish. Just go to the cashier and had them your seapass and tell them how much you want. It will be charged to your room which then is charged to your credit card at the end of the cruise.:D Just in case you were wondering it also does not show up as a cash advance in any way. Someone can correct me if I am wrong but I was thinking they charge a fee to cash a traveler's check?

 

BonVoyage

Dawna

[zotzer]

Someone can correct me if I am wrong but I was thinking they charge a fee to cash a traveler's check?

 

Guest relations will cash travellers checks. I've never been charged a fee of any kind.

Tracy

[ga-shel]

Yes, Guest relations has always cashed my traveler's cheques with no fees. You are also correct you can get cash on your sign and sail card (if you have money available on your card)

 

HOWEVER - BEWARE OF THE AMERICAN EXPRESS CARD

 

The was a post not very far back, that said the pursers desk doesn't have a crage device to pull money from the card. So they had all of the money on the card and couldn't get it off.

[ilove2vacation]

Credir card all the way U dont have to check out at the end of the cruise.Cash u have to watch or take w/ u where ever u go,or worry about the safe

[atlcple2]

We prefer credit cards because you get a better exchange rate than if you use cash (pesos vs american $$). The last time I went to Mexico and stayed at a resort, my bill ended up being about $50 less than I thought it would be because of the better exchange rate. Certainly worth giving some consideration.

[kalishea]

I am a little confused when someone said something about RC credit card points.. we just got one of those cards and thought that we could use it for the onboard charges and get double points, but is that not true?

[memphiskel]

zotzer

be careful with that amex thing. we just got back from enchantment and a travel companion tried to buy a necklace in grand cayman. she was unable to use an amex gift card her children had gotten her for her trip because it was for use in the united states only. be sure that you can use it internationaly before you get one.