Do you bring cash or just your cc

Just trying to decide how much cash to bring.... or just use cc

If you take cash do you use if when you are in port?

You need cash for room service tips, porters at dock, extra cash thank you rewards beyond auto tips, etc.

And in ports, use for small purchases, snacks, cab, airport, going/coming home, etc

Figure $500 per week

You need cash for room service tips, porters at dock, extra cash thank you rewards beyond auto tips, etc.

 

And in ports, use for small purchases, snacks, cab, airport, going/coming home, etc

 

Figure $500 per week

Agree!

Prefer not to use my credit card in port. Using cash in port keeps spending down and no worries about who has my credit card info.

Unless I'm making a major purchase at a reputable shop, I never use my credit card in port. I usually have a pretty good idea of how much cash I will need before I travel, and I add an extra $50 a day for incidentals. I pay my ship and hotel folios with a credit card, although last year we had a lot of Euro left at the end of our cruise and I paid the post cruise hotel folio (incidentals and local taxes, the room was paid for with points) in cash.

We always bring at least $500 in cash--for incidentals on shore--except for paying for private tours, we don't spend much ashore, but a lunch, water or pop, ice cream, souvenirs, etc. still need cash. Also for extra tips on the ship and on shore.

We don't usually use our credit card ashore, but once in a while it makes more sense than cash.

I think it's essential to have some cash also as a 'just in case' backup if needed.

We often come home with a lot of cash left, since we have cruised enough that we don't buy a lot of extra stuff. We also use ATM's, say in Europe, if needed.

Awesome thanks, thats about what I was thinking may even get some travelers checks

We try to pre-pay for as many tours as possible which does help reduce the requirement for cash. However, except for large purchases, we do try to avoid using a credit card in ports so as to avoid foreign exchange and transaction fees levied by the bank. So yes, IMO you need to bring along cash. To avoid carrying a lot of cash we also purchase on a commission free basis travellers checks which while all but impossible to cash ashore, are very cashable at the pursers desk on the ship.

We always bring cash for those small expenses, tips, and gambling....we use our CC for onboard charges. We will use a CC if we purchase anything ashore that has "value"....usually use cash for snacks/lunch/cheap souvenier, etc...

Awesome thanks, thats about what I was thinking may even get some travelers checks

You might get some more opinions concerning travelers checks, but our experience is that they are difficult to cash. The ship may cash them for you, but that doesn't help much when you are at a port. Some vendors do not take them.

One thing that we've done is to buy pre-paid credit cards in smaller denominations for our port time. If one gets stolen, not a terrible loss (money, yes, identity or ability to rob us blind, no). If we don't use all the money, we keep them and use back home.

Granted we DO carry cash for onboard tips and all.

We never, not ever, leave the house let alone travel without cash in our pocket. Credit cards are fine but we always want cash available to us.

HAL is happy to cash travelers checks. Front office does so all the time.

We take cash, travelers checks and credit cards.

Before we even get on the ship, we need cash for a lot of tips, etc.

In ports -- cash for small items. Credit Card for larger purchases.

HAL does cash travelers checks without any fees.

We don't take traveler's checks anymore--almost useless on land, though the ship will cash them. We finally used up a bunch that we had purchased for some land tours years ago. I was glad to have them gone.

Cash really is needed for extra tips, porters, etc.

Also, we like to pay for what we spend on port stops in cash.

LuLu

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HAL is happy to cash travelers checks. Front office does so all the time.

So does Princess and Celebrity.

Everyone needs some "Walking Around Money" ! ;)

LuLu

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So does Princess and Celebrity.

I suspect most, if not all, the major cruise lines do so. :)

I suspect most, if not all, the major cruise lines do so. :)

 

I suspect that is the case as well.

Agree!

 

Prefer not to use my credit card in port. Using cash in port keeps spending down and no worries about who has my credit card info.

We bring cash and our credit cards, only use the credit cards forthe ship on board account and hotels. Use cash for everything else, agreed this minimizes ones credit information falling in to the wrong hands.

I bring both.

How much cash I bring depends on the length of the cruise and where we are sailing.

We use cash for small purchases in port where they take our currency, for taxis, for a few selected tips on the ship and for the porters and just in case of emergency.

Keith