How much cash to bring for 7 day cruise to Alaska??

[stocionis]

I am going on an Alaskan cruise with my father in July, for 7 nights on the Oosterdam. (my first big cruise)

I realize that there will be cash tipping involved if we order room service, the casino, for our bags, and for extra wonderful service during mealtime, (if we feel it deserves it).

I also think that maybe cash will be needed at the ports as well, in case credit cards are not accepted. MY question, how much cash to bring on the ship?????, so that I have enough.....and where to stash all the cash??
(I realized this may be all based on how much I plan to spend, but it's hard to tell, I wouldn't say we would do room service very much, or gamble a whole lot, or buy tons of gifts at the ports either......but would would be a good number? and suggestions if my cash runs out?) thanks in advance for any advice!

[silverado44]

Try and guestimate how much you will spend and double that amount.

[TracieABD]

You can charge most things on the ship to your shipboard account (including tips for room service and casino play).
In Alaska, almost everything we did or bought was paid for by credit card. We spent under $500 cash when we went!
Now, the credit card is another story...:eek:

[pizzadog]

I am going on an Alaskan cruise with my father in July, for 7 nights on the Oosterdam. (my first big cruise)

I realize that there will be cash tipping involved if we order room service, the casino, for our bags, and for extra wonderful service during mealtime, (if we feel it deserves it).

I also think that maybe cash will be needed at the ports as well, in case credit cards are not accepted. MY question, how much cash to bring on the ship?????, so that I have enough.....and where to stash all the cash??
(I realized this may be all based on how much I plan to spend, but it's hard to tell, I wouldn't say we would do room service very much, or gamble a whole lot, or buy tons of gifts at the ports either......but would would be a good number? and suggestions if my cash runs out?) thanks in advance for any advice!

All the cabins have safes - we always use ours for passports, cash etc. As far as how much you are going to spend it depends on how much shopping you are planning to do in the ports in Alaska but we never had a problem with a credit card. We keep a stack of $1 bills in our cabin to tip for room service etc. and at the end of the cruise we put extra $ in evelopes for our cabin steward, waiters and bar servers and just hand it to them on our last night.:)

[stocionis]

Try and guestimate how much you will spend and double that amount.
HAHAH, thanks for the tip! seems like the $$ is never enough, as most say to bring half the clothes and twice the cash!

[jtl513]

Don't worry about it. If you're running low on cash and can't find a working ATM in a port, you can draw cash on your on-board account at the front desk. There is a 3% fee there, though.

[alpal1993]

You can always bring Travelers Checques.I would budget at least 100$ per day. If most of your tours are pre booked.You can always put it back in the bank if you don't spend it

[rjm1cc]

I take about $200 and my wife the same. We bring most back.
Don't forget tips from home to airport etc.
We do not spend much cash. Use credit cards. You should also be able to use your ATM card if need be. Search on the internet for ATM's at your ports. Keep a lot of 1's.
Also have spear credit cards. They can become defective, lost or even have a hold placed if the cc company thinks the card is stollen. My wife and I usual take 2 each and all 4 are different accounts. Also tell your cc company that you will be traveling. Be sure they have your cell number in case they try and call.

[RuthC]

You might be able to work out a budget.
What do you plan to do in ports? A HAL shore excursion is either paid in advance, or goes on your shipboard account, so no major cash outlay there. Consider there are tips to the tour guides, though. Do you plan to hire a tour guide off the ship? That's a major cash outlay---check in advance on the ports of call board to see what an independent tour will go for. Or, are you just planning to leave the ship and walk around? (a major waste , imo. there is so much to see and do in Alaska.)
Are you going to shop for gifts/souvenirs? How much do you usually spend on such things?
How are you getting to/from the airport? Should you be adding in cab fare? Meals enroute? Tips to various porters? Do either of you need wheelchair assistance, either at the airport, or on/off the ship? There's tips to the one who pushes the wheelchair to consider.

Personally, I would bring a couple of hundred in fairly small bills, and two or three hundred more in Travelers Checks. Those are easily cashed at the Front Desk, no charge to cash 'em, and can be saved for your next trip if you don't use them.

[PathfinderEss]

I would bring along around 500 dollars (small bills), that will cover luggage handling, taxi's, eating off the ship, small souvenirs, etc. Most credit cards work fine up in Alaska. Have a great cruise.........

[Jemima]

You don't need that much cash. We get our cash in ones and in small bills, fives and tens.
We use cash for shuttle and porter tips, room service tips, tour guide tips and for our cabin stewards at the end of the cruise. Everything but extra tips goes on your shipboard account. In ports, especially on an Alaskan cruise, nearly all spending except tips can be done by credit or debit card.
We really don't take that much. Previously we've taken travelers checks to get a new cash supply. of needed, towards the end of the cruise. That will no longer work as our bank no longer issues travelers checks. It seems many or most banks no longer have them.
We take much less than Ruth suggests. I'd think her suggestion would be the max needed by most people.

[jtl513]

Just about all we use cash for are tips and very small on-shore purchases. It's hard to find a shop or on-shore restaurant that won't take credit cards these days! So we take about $35 to $40 per day.

[iamaqt2]

Our family just got back, and every port we went to took credit cards. The only instance we needed cash was for various food vendors who didn't have the capability to take credit cards and for a donation request at the Aquarium and Hatchery in Sitka (free to enter, but a donation is requested). We also had cash for tipping and some cash for the casino.

I would guess around 200.00 covered it for us. The rest of it went on the credit card (ouch).

Enjoy your trip, Alaska was absolutely breathtaking, and if you get a chance you can check out my review. I have posted all the menus and dailies from this sailing.

[stocionis]

All the cabins have safes - we always use ours for passports, cash etc. As far as how much you are going to spend it depends on how much shopping you are planning to do in the ports in Alaska but we never had a problem with a credit card. We keep a stack of $1 bills in our cabin to tip for room service etc. and at the end of the cruise we put extra $ in evelopes for our cabin steward, waiters and bar servers and just hand it to them on our last night.:)
So all of the room service and cabin stewards (cleaning our room); do or do not get automatically tipped? Will the cash be an EXTRA tip? or will it be the only tip they get on the food? Not 100% on what Holland automatically includes in my bill as already tipped, and any cash on top of that is for extra service. I think the drinks will automatically have 15-18% taken out for gratuity as well....yes?

[stocionis]

Don't worry about it. If you're running low on cash and can't find a working ATM in a port, you can draw cash on your on-board account at the front desk. There is a 3% fee there, though.
thanks for letting me know about the 3% to draw cash from my onboard account. THAT really helps to know that! and helps me to plan for bringing more cash, so I won't have to do that.

[jaguarstyper]

MY question, how much cash to bring on the ship?????
This much :D
http://thumbs.dreamstime.com/thumb_67/11512558134pB63I.jpg

In all seriousness, that's a really hard question to answer. Bring only what you think you'll really need. If you need more, there are always options. ATM machines, draw on shipboard account, blackjack, using debit card / credit cards. I never feel its a good idea to carry a large amount of cash around. Its too easy to lose it.

[stocionis]

You might be able to work out a budget.
What do you plan to do in ports? A HAL shore excursion is either paid in advance, or goes on your shipboard account, so no major cash outlay there. Consider there are tips to the tour guides, though. Do you plan to hire a tour guide off the ship? That's a major cash outlay---check in advance on the ports of call board to see what an independent tour will go for. Or, are you just planning to leave the ship and walk around? (a major waste , imo. there is so much to see and do in Alaska.)
Are you going to shop for gifts/souvenirs? How much do you usually spend on such things?
How are you getting to/from the airport? Should you be adding in cab fare? Meals enroute? Tips to various porters? Do either of you need wheelchair assistance, either at the airport, or on/off the ship? There's tips to the one who pushes the wheelchair to consider.

Personally, I would bring a couple of hundred in fairly small bills, and two or three hundred more in Travelers Checks. Those are easily cashed at the Front Desk, no charge to cash 'em, and can be saved for your next trip if you don't use them.

Sure doesn't seem like there's anything that we won't have to tip for, boy oh boy.....guess I should tip if someone opens a door for me as well......what's with all the tipping these days, ....I think there are some tips that are already included, like the meals and drinks, i think it's an automatic 18%, and personally, I think that's a good tip, for just bringing me my drink. I don't mind tipping, but it's for every single thing I do! Geezz

[mamaofami]

Don't forget to bring a bunch of $1 bills for tipping the porters at the port and also on board for room service.

Personally, I didn't find anything much to buy in Alaska except for a few souvenirs and some books for the grandkids.

[jaguarstyper]

Sure doesn't seem like there's anything that we won't have to tip for, boy oh boy.....guess I should tip if someone opens a door for me as well......what's with all the tipping these days, ....I think there are some tips that are already included, like the meals and drinks, i think it's an automatic 18%, and personally, I think that's a good tip, for just bringing me my drink. I don't mind tipping, but it's for every single thing I do! Geezz
I agree. I tip generously where its appropriate. But anymore, it seems like everyone has their hand out. Doesn't anyone get paid on their job anymore?

[CruiseRev]

HAL puts $11 per day per person on your shipboard account for tips to food and housekeeping staff. You can add (or subtract) either with cash or shipboard account. I would not take a "boat load" of cash since you're still in the United States and ATM's are readily available if you run short.

[DougandEric]

Remember there are ATM's everywhere. If you find you're getting low, refill at the nearest ATM!

Doug

[RuthC]

Sure doesn't seem like there's anything that we won't have to tip for, boy oh boy.....guess I should tip if someone opens a door for me as well......what's with all the tipping these days, ....
Sarcasm aside, the only people I listed in my post that you quoted are not HAL employees, under the hotel service charge.

It is customary in the US to tip porters (especially if you want to see that your bags make it on to the plane, or to your cabin), tour guides, cab drivers, and those who help people in wheelchairs make it to the plane itself, their connections, and out to baggage claim.

[pizzadog]

So all of the room service and cabin stewards (cleaning our room); do or do not get automatically tipped? Will the cash be an EXTRA tip? or will it be the only tip they get on the food? Not 100% on what Holland automatically includes in my bill as already tipped, and any cash on top of that is for extra service. I think the drinks will automatically have 15-18% taken out for gratuity as well....yes?

This is extra tipping - room service, cabin stewards etc. are included in the automatic amount - we like to give a little extra at the end if we have received excellent service, which, on Hal, we always do!

[mearsfansinboise]

This will be our very first cruise ever...this summer...to Alaska. Trying to get the tipping thing down.

$11 day per person is charged, so that isn't cash out of pocket.

Tip room service, got that.

What about your waiters at dinner - - do you tip like leave cash after your meal....and do you have to each time? I mean am I shelling out money at every meal?

[RuthC]

What about your waiters at dinner - - do you tip like leave cash after your meal....and do you have to each time? I mean am I shelling out money at every meal?
Your waiters at dinner (every meal, for that matter) are included in the $11 per day service charge. It's only if you feel you want to give something extra that you would give a cash tip.

If you are on fixed seating, the extra cash is generally given at the end of the cruise, or the end of a segment on longer cruises. On open seating, it's given at the end if you have stayed with a given steward team for the cruise.
I don't know what people do if they are with a different steward every night, and wish to tip extra.

[jtl513]

HAL puts $11 per day per person on your shipboard account for tips to food and housekeeping staff.No, that's a Hotel Service Charge. Tips are something you give extra.



What about your waiters at dinner - - do you tip like leave cash after your meal....and do you have to each time? I mean am I shelling out money at every meal?We don't, even in Open Seating in the MDR. When we have had the same wait staff for several nights (and we usually do because we request them, or tables in their area) we give a tip at the end of the cruise.

However if we eat in the Pinnacle Grill or the Eurodam Tamarind we leave cash that night.

[catl331]

To tell you the truth, my husband and I argue about the tipping amout in real life. But, when I get on a HAL cruise, I always like my waiters and room stewards so much, I feel the need to tip them extra!! We only sail on HAL and I feel they are "family".:):)

[cruisecrasy]

No, that's a Hotel Service Charge. Tips are something you give extra.

We don't, even in Open Seating in the MDR. When we have had the same wait staff for several nights (and we usually do because we request them, or tables in their area) we give a tip at the end of the cruise.

However if we eat in the Pinnacle Grill or the Eurodam Tamarind we leave cash that night.

I believe the 'ship' Hotel Service Charge covers tips.. In other threads it has been stated many times and I have asked staff myself, that staff shares in the $11 per day charge...so must presume that then covers the tips..
Cld be a tad confusing for first-time cruisers though as land based Hotel Service Charges don't cover any tips..!
Folks can add extra if they wish, of course.

As far as Open Seating in the MDR because the service is usually 'above & beyond' as I am sure u agree - I prefer to leave a tip each nite because I don't usually get the same wait staff each time..When I do, I tip extra at the end of the cruise..
I so agree with your practice of tipping each time in the PG & Tamarind...wonderful service!

Have happy cruisin'! :)