How much $ to bring

[miraclemet]

Having trouble gauging how much money to bring...

 

I mean:

a) all the stuff on the ship is charged to a credit card

b) our excursions are already paid for (credit card)

 

Are ship staff tips done in cash?

 

I assume that most shops at our various destinations will take credit cards, is that a fair assumption?

 

Im planning on bringing plenty of tip money for the "here's a little something extra for your efforts" situations, but I didnt know if the main end of cruise tips were to be in cash or not, and if there were any other cash only situations, since so much of the cruise is a non-cash situation...

[Krazy Kruizers]

Don't know which cruise line you will be on. But HAL has instituted a $10 per person per day automatic tipping policy in the last few months. But we still tip our cabin steward, dining room steward, his assistant, bar staff, concierge, Pinnacle Grill waitstaff, etc., extra at the end of the cruise.

Even though you have pre-paid your excursions, don't forget that you will still want to tip your guides.

Alaska is expensive.

Most shops do take credit cards.

You can always take extra in travelor's checks, which can be cashed on the ship or in port, and what you don't use in Alaska, you can always use at home.

 

[miraclemet]

oops Im on Celebrity Infinity to Alaska this Sunday

[flagger]

HI there,

 

We are on Infinity in three weeks. I cannot wait to read your review.

 

Celebrity has a programme where you can put your tips on your S&S card. There will be a sheet in your room to fill out. From what I have read you cannot adjust up or down the amounts, but I may be wrong. Or you can leave cash.

 

Also, Celebrity does not charge a service fee nor a percentage to get cash out at the Casino. It goes I believe either on your S&S card or your credit card. You can always use that to pay tips or for extra cash in the ports. As an added bonus, you can also use any remaining cash to pay off your credit card bill when you get home. It is a much better option than using the ATM.

 

Wishing you great weather. What are you doing in the ports?

[LARGIN]

We bring $100 per day and put it in the safe.. You never know if you will need it or not. Whatever is left, we bring back and put back into our checking account to help pay off the credit card bill..

[miraclemet]

Hey Flagger,

 

I'll be sure to post a review here for all to read.

 

We are flying from Detroit, MI to Vancouver (Air through Celebrity so we'll let you all know how smoothly it goes)

 

Excursions:

Ketchikan: SouthEast Exposure Kayaking to Orcas Cove

Juneau AM: Capt'n Larry Whale Watching

Juneau PM: Coastal Helicoptors Icefield Excursion

Sitka: nothing planned (probably just walk to the Raptor Center)

 

I'll give you all my impressions as a first timer (and the impressions of my much harder to please wife) when I get back.

[JohnQ]

Miraclemet

You can ride the all day trolly in Sitka for $5-7 each and could also go out to the Nat'l Park site, where they have visitor center, film, and nice walk along water with totem poles. Also down by canneries, three or four blocks from docks, there are lots of eagles in the trees along the street, and if grinding, they will be swooping all over the water.

[flagger]

I look forward to reading it. We are first timers to. Going with Ms. Flagger and our 15 month old. Not enough people for a connections party, but have met a few through the roll call anyway for hopefull a get together.

 

Ms. Flagger has done ZERO research on this. It has all been my planning from the get go.

 

In Sitka, you might try checking out the Russian American Company

 

http://www.russianamericancompany.com/Info.asp?pageName=home.htm

 

We are planning on doing all of our Christmas shopping on our trip and paying to have them shipped home

[Budget Queen]

The Sitka shuttle is $7pp. At the Sitka National Heritage Park- consider purchasing their cheap totem guide book. Really enhances your walk with an explaination of the totems you pass.

[phoenixlady]

On the ship all purchases will be put on your room card and then charged to your credit card at the end of the cruise including the $10 per day per person tips for the crew. The only tip money we needed was for the people at the airport that helped us (my husband needed a wheelchair) and for the transporation people to and from the airport. Everything else was charged to our credit card. Don't forget to bring a little cash for the Casino. Believe it or not, my husband and I hit two big jackpots on the slot machines totalling $5,000.00! What are we doing with it? We just booked another cruisse on the Spirit for a Caribbean cruise in March. So, believe me, the slots do pay off in their casino.