Cash or credit cards or ?

[Tmaxx1]

We are taking a cruise to the Eastern Carribean (San Juan, Grand Turk, St. John, Half Moon Cay) . I am not sure what sort of money to bring - cash, credit card (Discover, Visa, other?). I could use some advice on this please.

thanks.

[JanineM]

I usually bring enough cash for small purchases & tips on the ship. So maybe a couple of hundred $ with some in small bills ($1 and $5). I leave most in the safe on the ship & carry what I think I'll need.

 

For larger purchases I'll use my credit card on shore. I don't use a credit or debit card at small merchants as you just never know what could happen with that number ... so instead I'll go to the ATM and get some cash.

 

If you're going to use your credit or debit card, be sure to call the provider (# listed on the back of your card) and let them know that you're leaving the country. Otherwise your card could be blocked.

[ATL2LAS]

We are taking a cruise to the Eastern Carribean (San Juan, Grand Turk, St. John, Half Moon Cay) . I am not sure what sort of money to bring - cash, credit card (Discover, Visa, other?). I could use some advice on this please.

thanks.

 

Have you considered what you might take for gambling if you choose to do so? Factor that into your budget. If you order room service, a $2-$5 tip is adviseable depending on the size of the order. All of your onboard purchases will be done with your shipboard account. My general rule of thumb is twice the money and half the clothes. But that only works for me :) Enjoy your cruise and do the things you want to do.

[rubydo]

Last year I paid cash when ashore and on board I put on my onboard account. Moat of my cash was in the form of travellers cheques and I just cashed some in before we went off of the ship, I figured travellers cheques can be replaced but cash can't.

Rubydo

[Cruise Girl Forever]

Hi

 

I take cash, visa, and a debit card (so I can get more cash if needed).

During the booking process your asked for a credit card for your onboard account. So be sure to have that one on you.

 

The amount of cash depends on your plans. I prepay my gratuties on my sea pass. (So no cash needed there) I have atleast $30 in ones for tipping room service, airline and cruiseship porters. Also what I need for transportation to the ship plus tip. Plus whatever cash I need to pay for any indepentant excurisions I booked that ask you pay them while on the excurision. After that I don't worry about it as there are atm's on the ship, and islands, plus you can get cash at the casino.

 

San Jaun you can use cash or credit card.

Grand turk lots of small vender use cash .. Large store and the margaretaville store take credit cards.

St John .. can't help there

Half moon Cay .. drinks on your sea pass and cash for small shops.

 

Hopes this helps

[cb at sea]

We bring cash for misc. tips and gambling money and small "spur of the moment" purchases ashore. We carry LARGE denominations, since they take up little space. $1's and $5's are useful, but you'll have a huge WAD of cash---no need for that! Bring a few small bills to get you through until you're on the ship, then break down the larger bills as you need to. (the ship will happily do that)

We bring 2 credit cards---1 for the ship account, and that one stays locked in our safe...the other is for larger purchases (if any) ashore. We don't want anything to happen to the credit card linked to our shipboard account, so we don't use it for anything but that!

Figure that you will probably spend about 1/2 of what the entire cruise cost you.

[Keith1010]

I would bring some cash and enough to cover incidentals and some emergency money.

 

In terms of credit cards bring at least two of them. Visa is great and if you have a Master Card good too. Discover will not be widely accepted.

 

Keith

[trish1c]

It's a global economy all connected by computers. Your credit cards & debit cards will work everywhere.

We usually tie the sign & Sail card to a cc & bring some cash in small bills for tips & little purchases ashore.

[Keith1010]

It's a global economy all connected by computers. Your credit cards & debit cards will work everywhere.

 

We usually tie the sign & Sail card to a cc & bring some cash in small bills for tips & little purchases ashore.

 

I believe part of the Original Posters question had to do with cards/money for off the ship. Not just on the ship.

 

Not all credit cards are accepted everywhere. Yes, Visa and Master Card accepted in most places. Discover card no. American Express, no. And some places want cash and depending on where you are visting sometimes in their local currency. :eek:

 

Keith

[trish1c]

Not all credit cards are accepted everywhere. Yes, Visa and Master Card accepted in most places. Discover card no. American Express, no. And some places want cash and depending on where you are visting sometimes in their local currency. :eek:

 

I've seen some very remote places where merchants who barely had electricity still had a battery powered lap top, a wireless card & the ability to take most major credit cards.