Local Currencies?

[JoanB]

During the next few months I will be on NCL cruises to both 'Eastern' and 'Western' Caribbean, in each instance with 4 or 5 non-U.S. port visits.

Realizing that major credit cards are accepted almost universally, there are nonetheless times when "money" is useful.

Are there any Caribbean countries -- from the Bahamas to Mexico -- where it would be wise to carry a bit of the local currency, or is U.S. currency always accepted in cases where a credit card can't be used?

[discjoker]

US $ is pretty much universally accepted in Caribbean and Mexican ports of call. No need to exchange your $$$.

[CRUZIN TOM]

If you do a lot of local shopping, you will save by having cash with you. In some areas they will give you back their currency. We did this alot and ended up with only $0.10 of mexican money. You can do a lot of mixing us with their currency. If you don't wnat to carry that much with you on the ship, go to the cashiers window at the casino. You are able to take out $1000.00 per credit card per day, up to $2000.00 per room. This will just show up on your bill when you leave the ship. Far better than using the ATM card. AND if you really do it right you will have an NCL MNBA master card to get points for future cruises. We did it last week, just getting extra cash each day to pay back to the credit card company. We earned over $425.00 in cash credit for future use..........:)

[Big Al B.]

Just try to make sure that you have mainly small bills so that you can get as close to the price as possible. Most places will show prices in US.

[Ricardo]

go to the cashiers window at the casino. You are able to take out $1000.00 per credit card per day, up to $2000.00 per room. This will just show up on your bill when you leave the ship. Far better than using the ATM card.

 

Cash taken at the Casino's cashier window ($1000 per day) shows up on your room account?, or as a cash-advance on your credit card at that card's normal interest rate?

[discjoker]

Cash taken at the Casino's cashier window ($1000 per day) shows up on your room account?, or as a cash-advance on your credit card at that card's normal interest rate?

 

It shows up on your room account and is not applied as a cash advance to your credit card.

[garycarla]

For sure?

 

Treated as a normal "charge" meaning if you pay it off when you get home, there would be no service charge or interest?

 

Way cool.

 

So, on my 14 day cruise I take out $14000 getting 14,000 miles on my airline credit card. If I do it also on another card, that is 28,000 miles, more than what a domestic round trip would cost.

 

Of course, do I really want to carry around that much cash? Nah!

 

Could just spend it on gambling, tours, tips, spa, photos, drinks, etc.