cash money question for pass cruisers

[ckr31]

How much cash do you budget yourself,and take with you,say like on a 7 day cruise. not counting credit cards or obc.just cash in your pocket

[paul929207]

I would take a couple of hundred in small bills for tips and small purchased while ashore. Probably $50 to $100 would be plenty, unless you are taking private tours and need more cash.

[ckr31]

thanks for the reply I would like to get more feedback on this issue

[sultan_sfo]

$50 per person per day is our estimate -- porter tips (airport curbside / pier), cabs to and from + tips, lunch and small purchases in ports (wine / water / snacks from grocery stores), cash tips on board. Avoid using credit card for small purchases.

[bubbadog]

We take a couple hundred in small change,and that is usually enough for us,but we dont drink,or go to casino,so we save quite a bit when cruising:rolleyes:

[jean s]

My dh and I usually take $600. We put half of it towards the casino and the other half towards cabs, tips, and small incidentaly items in ports. Last Feb we did well in the casino and came home with quite a bit of our cash!

[rdsqrl]

I find it impossible to answer this as the variables are too, well, varied. It depends on whether I'm staying pre-cruise a night or two and where, where I'm cruising to, etc. I'd probably figure enough to cover the following basics:

1. taxi to the airport and then airport to hotel and/or pier

2. tips to porters and curbside check-in fees

3. drink(s) at the airport bar

4. tip to longshoremen

5. X amount per day in pre-cruise city/ports for lunch/taxis/tipping any guides/postcards, stamps & other small purchases

6. extra tip at end of cruise

7. item #s 1-3 for journey home

[melodyina]

$50 in one's and $50 in 5's for those shore incidentals and room steward tipping is a must with me. I like to tip my room steward for things like a (bigger) bucket of ice, and room service.

 

Mistakes i've made during the past 10 years of cruising (though technology has allowed for changes now...):

Waiting to use the ATM on the ship mid-week. The ATM became 'out of order'. (this was before room tips charged to your account)

 

Using a debit card in San Juan without phoning my bank I was traveling. They put a 'hold'on my card for - potential fraud protection waiting for my call the charge was ok - by leaving a messge on my home answering machine. But it took a call from the ship to clear it up.

 

Not having enough small bills - I remember buying something from a street vendor in Grenada and gave a $50 and she gave me change for a $20. It was an argument and a mess, but when my son showed up, she changed her tune.

 

I also bring a one or two checks, because if you loose your credit card, you can still settle up with the cruiseline by writting a check and cancel your card. (beach in Mazatlan, but it fell out of my suit with a wave).

 

Enough $$ to come home with in your pocket to have a good meal and a beverages at the airport when your flight has been delayed for hours.....

 

oh yes, room on your card to purchase inflight meals and movie. I purchased a meal for a young kid just out of boot camp going to Ft. Richardson military base, who only had cash on him during the flight and the airlines now only take debit/credit cards.

 

I think that about covers it....

[ckr31]

very nice feedback