cwtom Posted January 13, 2017 Report Share Posted January 13, 2017 Wondering how much everyone takes with them on their cruise (usd cash). Travelling from Canada so need to exchange in advance. 7-night western Caribbean cruise. 3 ports total. 2 adults and 1 child. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arebee Posted January 13, 2017 Report Share Posted January 13, 2017 If I plan on playing in the casino, I figure about $100 a day. I get plenty of smaller bills for tips. I don't like to use a credit card unless emergency. MikeK 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monctonguy Posted January 13, 2017 Report Share Posted January 13, 2017 Really depends on what you plan on doing and if you are going to use a credit card for excursions/meals etc that you want to do during port days! If you don't play the casino, then during sea days, you would hardly need any. You MAY want a few one's to tip a bartender or server throughout the day. They don't take cash on board for anything else like restaurants or the shops etc...its all linked to your seapass card which is linked to a CC on file normally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest toodle68 Posted January 13, 2017 Report Share Posted January 13, 2017 We took $100 for tips etc and it was totally not enough. We ended up running out of cash on the 3rd excursion and was unable to purchase a great picture that had been taken of us. In hindsight for the same cruise you are doing, I would take $200. Ours included $40 in taxis though. Extra possible tips.. our stateroom attendant was amazing, we had the same waitress every evening in the MDR and she was also amazing. So that could be $20 each.. Most of the tips for drinks etc can go on your seapass card (credit).. but remember that you are already charged a service fee for drinks. So in the end, it came down to the excursions and any 'exceptional' service we wanted to recognize at the end of the cruise. When tipping the people doing the excursions.. remember that they don't own anything, they are just workers and many only work 2-3 days a week and some only 6 months of the year. One guy we spoke to spent 6 months in his village 75 miles away working on the sugar crops for 6 months. When we cruise to the Caribbean again, we will be taking $200 in mostly $5's and some $1's .. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JLMoran Posted January 13, 2017 Report Share Posted January 13, 2017 In addition to the tip money mentioned for your shore excursions and possible extras for the ship staff, don't forget tip money for the porters (both embarking and disembarking)! Common rule there is $1-2 per bag. I know for my cruise in 2018 I'm going to need about $20 just to cover that for my family of four. I'm assuming we want to leave some room in each suitcase for the souvenirs and trinkets we'll be bringing home. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeK Posted January 13, 2017 Report Share Posted January 13, 2017 We usually take about $1000 in cash for the two of us on a 7 day cruise. About a $100 of that in 1s and 5s for tipping. I set a certain amount aside for gambling and have the rest for souvenirs, trinkets , etc. I try not to use a credit card shopping at the ports. Usually we dont spend all of the money but it is good to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FloatMe Posted January 14, 2017 Report Share Posted January 14, 2017 Thus was my reply to a similar thread http://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/boards/index.php/topic/2584-cash-on-board/ This is what I generally spend in cash once we leave our pre-cruise hotel. I welcome comments; cheapskate, reasonable or overboard? Porters at the pier $2.50/bag ×4 bags twice = $20 Excursion guide $5.00/person × 3excursions = $30 Excursion bus driver $2.50/person × 3excursions = $15 Cab driver to and from pier $2.50/bag ×4 bags twice = $10 Cab driver at port of call $5.00 × ? To and from = $10 Room service $5.00 twice per cruise = $10 Extra for room attendant assuming fabulous friendly service $20 Total $115 Casino $yikes wrh2016 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
41m33 Posted January 14, 2017 Report Share Posted January 14, 2017 Just to add to this topic, do you all usually just bring US cash or certain amounts of local currency? Our itinerary visits 6 ports and I believe there's at least 4 different currencies between them. Doing the figures for this would be a bit of a headache but would my money go further? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest toodle68 Posted January 14, 2017 Report Share Posted January 14, 2017 Just to add to this topic, do you all usually just bring US cash or certain amounts of local currency? Our itinerary visits 6 ports and I believe there's at least 4 different currencies between them. Doing the figures for this would be a bit of a headache but would my money go further? There are very few places that will not take US dollars.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.