Cash while cruising

[jaedam0820]

We are going on a 7N Western Caribbean cruise. How much cash do you think we need to bring? We would bring anything that we possibly could need while on board, and our dining/drinking packages have been paid in advance.The only things we intend to buy are souvenirs. Do you suggest that we use the local money or USD would do?

[loki007]

If you plan to go to the casino its nice to bring cash. Western Caribbean would be Mexico, maybe Key West, Labadee, Grand Cayman, Jamaica. USD Widely accepted in all as are credit cards. 

[WAAAYTOOO]

You will need tip money, even if your packages are already paid.  For instance, you will need to tip the luggage porters on embarkation.  I would recommend having a fair amount of $1's and $5's.  We usually bring at least $200 for tips.  You can always get change at Guest Services or the casino cashier, but you need to have some smaller bills right up front.

[LovetoCruise87]

Tip money for any bar service, tip money for baggage porters at the terminal, tip money if you are going on any excursions. 

[smokeybandit]

It's very subjective. How much do you tip extra? How many people do you tip? Do you shop/eat/drink in ports? Do you have non-RC excursion that require cash payment/tips?

[jaedam0820]

8 minutes ago, smokeybandit said:

It's very subjective. How much do you tip extra? How many people do you tip? Do you shop/eat/drink in ports? Do you have non-RC excursion that require cash payment/tips?

How much is the ideal tip for the porters and excursions? All our excursions are via RC. We don't plan on eating/trying out restos in the ports except those that are RC exclusive like in Cococay.

[WAAAYTOOO]

13 minutes ago, smokeybandit said:

It's very subjective. How much do you tip extra? How many people do you tip? Do you shop/eat/drink in ports? Do you have non-RC excursion that require cash payment/tips?

Yes, tipping is very arbitrary and often dependent upon culture and location.  We tip everyone.  All service providers without exception unless there is a very compelling reason to reduce or decline to tip.

As a general rule, $2 for a drink, $5 for breakfast, $10 for lunch and $20 for dinner.  Yes, we always tip in port (food/drink service and excursions) as well as on the ship.  We also tip-as-we-go as opposed to tipping all at once at the end.  There have just been too many times when we would rush around trying to find a meal server or bartender at the end of the cruise.  It's a total nuisance so we just tip upon service to avoid any last minute mania.  The exception to this rule is the room attendant.  We will almost always tip near the end of the cruise (but never wait until the last day !) unless there has been a tip-worthy service (and there usually is) when we would tip at the time the service.

[ChessE4]

13 minutes ago, jaedam0820 said:

How much is the ideal tip for the porters and excursions? All our excursions are via RC. We don't plan on eating/trying out restos in the ports except those that are RC exclusive like in Cococay.

Excursion tips vary with the type of tour, and you run into driver vs. tour guide, the latter getting more.  For porters I consider the number of bags being checked.  As has been noted, tipping is a subjective process and influenced by one's wealth or philosophy/generosity. 

On $$ for port days, I always wished I had more because you never know when you will decide to stop and eat/drink even when you "planned" to return to the ship for meals.

[smokeybandit]

19 minutes ago, jaedam0820 said:

How much is the ideal tip for the porters and excursions? All our excursions are via RC. We don't plan on eating/trying out restos in the ports except those that are RC exclusive like in Cococay.

$1-2 per bag for porters. shore excursion tips vary. I'll tip a true tour guide more than a bus driver who really isn't at all involved in the tour.

[jaedam0820]

From what I gather from your responses, a conservative estimate would be $500?

[FireFishII]

1 hour ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

 

As a general rule, $2 for a drink, $5 for breakfast, $10 for lunch and $20 for dinner.  Yes, we always tip in port (food/drink service and excursions) as well as on the ship.  We also tip-as-we-go as opposed to tipping all at once at the end.  There have just been too many times when we would rush around trying to find a meal server or bartender at the end of the cruise.  It's a total nuisance so we just tip upon service to avoid any last minute mania.  The exception to this rule is the room attendant.  We will almost always tip near the end of the cruise (but never wait until the last day !) unless there has been a tip-worthy service (and there usually is) when we would tip at the time the service.

I thought RC charges you a 18% at the end of the cruise for the wait staff and room attendant? 

[steverk]

11 minutes ago, jaedam0820 said:

From what I gather from your responses, a conservative estimate would be $500?

For a 7 day cruise? That should be plenty. 

[Spang1974]

12 minutes ago, FireFishII said:

I thought RC charges you a 18% at the end of the cruise for the wait staff and room attendant? 

Some of us pay that in advance with our cruise fare, so we won't have any extra to pay:)

 

[FireFishII]

18 minutes ago, Spang1974 said:

Some of us pay that in advance with our cruise fare, so we won't have any extra to pay:)

 

That is what I did.  But for those who did not prepaid,  I thought they were billed at the end of the cruise.  I also thought that when you purchased a drink (for those of us who are not on the deluxe drink package), you are charged not only for the drink but also 18% gratuity.

So I thought you only need tip money for the porters and the tour guys/gals and any food/souvenirs you purchase at ports. 

[FireFishII]

Another place you will need cash and not CC is at Coco Cay's market stalls. It is a place to purchase souvenirs. 

[CrznTxn]

24 minutes ago, FireFishII said:

That is what I did.  But for those who did not prepaid,  I thought they were billed at the end of the cruise.  I also thought that when you purchased a drink (for those of us who are not on the deluxe drink package), you are charged not only for the drink but also 18% gratuity.

So I thought you only need tip money for the porters and the tour guys/gals and any food/souvenirs you purchase at ports. 

You are correct on that 18% is added to your drink purchases. We pre-pay all gratuities but still tip our steward at the end for their hard work. Don't worry they will leave you an envelope for that purpose at the end of your trip. We are D+ and so 5 drinks per day are free and they wife gets her drinks for free in the casino so we carry a lot of $1's for tipping the waiters for these. The main money is for onshore excursions, souvenirs and other purchases. If you have not bought shore excursions before you leave and are planning to find some at the ports they will gladly accept US dollars in payment.

[WAAAYTOOO]

1 hour ago, FireFishII said:

I thought RC charges you a 18% at the end of the cruise for the wait staff and room attendant? 

There is a per person, daily gratuity.  Some pre-pay this gratuity (we always do this) and some choose to pay onboard.  It is not 18% but rather a flat fee ($14.50 PP/Pd for non-suites and $17.50 PP/Pd for suites).  Most people will tip in addition to these mandatory tips but it is not required.

[jaedam0820]

1 hour ago, steverk said:

For a 7 day cruise? That should be plenty. 

Thank you!

[CruisingNewb]

We prepay the 18%.
 

 No one expects any single person to pay a crew member’s mortgage, but additional tipping, even a dollar or two, in the aggregate, goes a long way and it’s generally safe to say the crew members appreciate it!

Our rule of thumb is for cash is:

1. $1-2 per alcoholic drink ordered;

2. $1 per visit to a carving station, omelette station, or any other personal service station;

3. $10 to stateroom attendant the first night, then $5 a day, with $10 to $20 on the last day;

4. $2 to $5 for every sit down breakfast or lunch, and $10 per sit down dinner;

5. $20 to $40 per adult per night for casino (we don’t need to go crazy);

6. $10 per day for miscellaneous amenities like sundries;

7. $20 to $30 for shore excursion tipping;

8. $20 to $30 for port day souvenirs;

I always plan $100 a day in cash to cover the above. So for a 7 day trip, $500 to $700 is plenty for us. Now that is the minimum that I take. But keep in mind we prepurchase pretty much everything, so we don’t feel the need to pay much more out of pocket. 
 

Carrying $500 to $700 in loose bills is hefty. We are talking 6 inches of cash. So to help with that, I use $100 at the casino, and try to make change when we can. $50 in singles, and $50 in fives is a good head start.

Always save a little cash for pre-cruise and post-cruise transportation tipping and such.

[Ampurp85]

-My rule is regardless of if everything is paid off, I plan for $75-100 a day pp. I bring half of that in cash and the rest is allotted on whatever card I bring with me. Lots of things can be charge and will be charged to your seapass card, so it will be mostly tips and spur of the moment expenses.  I always tip on top of the already charged gratuity. Tipping is personal, you aren't under any obligation to tip, and I never plan my tips as I don't know the service I will be receiving.

[Moby Dick]

6 hours ago, FireFishII said:

I thought RC charges you a 18% at the end of the cruise for the wait staff and room attendant? 

My intended tip is 20% and it can only go up or down from there.  If I get what is just expected/the minimum, the 18% is what they get.  If I get very good to great service, I'll leave the difference between the 18% and how I feel about it.  I've been known to give up to 50%.  But, you have to be dammmmmmmmmmnnnnnn good to get that.