How much cash ?

[fishtaco]

How much cash would I need to take for 2 adults 10 nights?
(credit card will be used for cruise card)

Do you need to take coins for laundry :confused:
Cash for the casino :confused:
cash for extra tips :confused:

I read somewhere in this forum that there is no flexi teller machines on board so if you get extra cash in Villa i am presuming it will be in local currency and ship runs on AU$ :confused:

All the little things my T/A worked so hard for to get her commission :rolleyes: I have had to find out from people who "do" take the time to inform travelers and dont get paid for it.
thanks for any help,Den.

[Publicans]

Hi. When we were on the Sun last month :D we found we needed cash for the casino and extra tips for staff at the end of the cruise and for any souviners you buy at the ports of call.

You can get money off your linked credit card at the casino, but they have a 3% :( charge on that. eg for every $100 you get it will cost you $3. The money you take out is then just added to your cruise card as a purchase so you are not paying for a cash advance.

I feel it's best to take lots of cash with you (especially if planing on playing the pokies) to save the 3% charge or the hassle of getting local currency at port. Your room will have a safe so your money is safe in there.

Enjoy your cruise, Margo.

[fishtaco]

Thanks Margo,we are looking forward to the pokies, we dont have them in Perth,Last time we were in Sydney we got a bit mesmerized by them.
Den.

[Skyrules]

We normally budget for $100 per person (adult) per night for the ship board account (including drinks, shore tours, on board duty free purchases, photo's, souveniers, etc), and then a little bit extra for spending at the ports - depeding on where we're going. Of course this will vary depending on which shore tours you do and how much you drink or how many photo's you buy.

We generally take along some small denomination AUD notes for spending at the Island Markets, and to change (can be done onboard - Pacific Star even has a machine to do it) to Central Pacific Francs for Noumea and other New Caledonian ports.

If you want to use the pokies - save up your $1 coins before you go and take them on board. Alternatively, they will also change notes to coins in the Casino. The laundry's take $1 or $2 coins (sorry, can't recall which) - and again if you need to you can get change from the Casino or the Purser's desk.

[Brushtail]

Hi Den,

Also take lots of $1.00 and $2.00 coins for the 'donations' at the islands. You will find that there are lots of photo opportunities from the Islanders and they all have a cardboard box in front of them for any donations.

They never ask, nor say anything if you do not give them a coin, but it is nice to do so.

As Skyrules mentioned, take your spending money in lower denominations. Lots of $5, $10 notes for the islands. They have markets with things to buy such as sarongs, baskets etc.

All the shops, mini buses and taxis in Vila take Australian dollars. There is no need to change your money over.

[fishtaco]

Thanks to both of you for the info,:)I think shore tours will be a problem? We have had no info on this cruise so dont even know what shore tours there are let alone book them,judging by what I have read in the forums,we may have left them too late? Cant believe this T/A,I Know I cant mention there name but can assure you they are quite big ,reputable(for cruises) and on line.Well at least i am finding it all out so the next one goes a bit smoother.

Den. N714

[Brushtail]

Den,

Go to www.pocruises.com.au (http://www.pocruises.com.au) and search for our cruise - N714.

Have a look at the shore tours on offer for Vila. Vila is the only port that has shore tours on our cruise.

You can print out the page, and have a good look at what they have, complete with prices.

At least you can make some decisions whilst you wait for your TA to open tomorrow morning.

My advice is to go and see them in their office. Don't just make a phone call. Tell them that friends of yours (we are all friends, aren't we? :) ) have had their tickets for 2 weeks.

You should still be OK to book your tours. Lots of people wait to see what the weather will be like and book them on board.

Good luck, let us know how you get on.

[petzl]

Thanks Margo,we are looking forward to the pokies, we dont have them in Perth,Last time we were in Sydney we got a bit mesmerized by them.
Den.
While I enjoyed the cruise I believe the pokies would be illegal in Sydney as the payouts on Sun seemed non-existant. Not that the NSW ones are that worth trying.

[fishtaco]

Great info Jenny,thanks for that:D And Petzel,Its all about the "feature "free spins free spins free spins,who cares about the winnings,When you have "Pokie Envy" its all about the feature,Ha Ha.
Den.

[icemaiden2310]

I found that the pokies paid out most in the first 3 days then nothing for the rest of the cruise

[qt_esme]

I found that the pokies paid out most in the first 3 days then nothing for the rest of the cruise

thanks for that tip...i'll give it a go!:D I never play pokies, so i'll have a flutter and hope for the best! They dont have my favourite machine thou! :mad:

[Skyrules]

I never play pokies, so i'll have a flutter and hope for the best! They dont have my favourite machine thou! :mad:


:confused: If you never play how do you have a favourite :confused: :p


I hope that on our next cruise they do what they did on our last cruise and have some smoke free nights in the Casino. That's the only way they'll get me in there.

[karmac]

I NEVER play pokies on land & didn't on the cruise either. The only time I went in the casino was a couplf of nights for about 10 mins while DH had a flutter. They bore me to tears I'm afraid.

And would rather spend my money on a cocktail of glass of bubbly:)

Karen

[leggyliz]

:D looking forward to having a lash on the pokies! maybe even have a go at the roulette table :D Apparantly you aren't able to attend the casino whilst in port - is this correct? Also are they like the normal pokies where they take $1 coins?

Liz

[Publicans]

Skyrules - I gather from reading old posts that there was smoking allowed in the Casino. Things seem to have changed now as on the Sun last month the only places you could smoke was in the sports bar next to the casino or out on the open decks.

Liz - The pokies are normal Aussie machines - just over 100 on the Sun and nearly all of them are 1c machines, with just a few 5c and $1 ones. They all take $1 coins or notes.
The casino is closed while at port and then re-opens approx. 30mins after leaving land.

:) Cheers, Margo.

[qt_esme]

:confused: If you never play how do you have a favourite :confused: :p


I hope that on our next cruise they do what they did on our last cruise and have some smoke free nights in the Casino. That's the only way they'll get me in there.

i should have said i never play them anymore! It has been a few years since i have played. I do sit with friends who may be playing if we are out but i dont play them anymore! I was sick of getting ripped off!:p

[icemaiden2310]

I had the best fun playing the three card poker! It is so easy , go to the casiono lessons on first sea day they teach u about all the games. I won $500 2nd night out on hte poker it paid for my spending money while onboard

[Tropicalshowers]

I gather from reading old posts that there was smoking allowed in the Casino. Things seem to have changed now as on the Sun last month the only places you could smoke was in the sports bar next to the casino or out on the open decks.



What excellent news for us non-(or 'ex' as in my case) smokers.Maybe we will try the Casino next time.:)
Cheers

[Skyrules]

Skyrules - I gather from reading old posts that there was smoking allowed in the Casino. Things seem to have changed now as on the Sun last month the only places you could smoke was in the sports bar next to the casino or out on the open decks.

Well that is good news, hope the same applies on Pacific Star.

When we went on Pacific Sun, the Casino was the WORST place for smoke on the entire ship. Pacific Star's casino wasn't quite as bad, but still too smokey for this non smoker.

[badgerbill]

Hi
On Star in December they had two dedicated non-smoking in the casino nights......consequently we had pick of any machine.... Going back on in
10 days so will let you know when we return....cheers shiona