How much cash?

well I agree, I figured since it was my daughters first cruise, the pics were worth it to me...I was just giving an example of how things add up fast.

 

so DON you cruise but dont go off the ship?

I personally could do without the photos, the casino, or the spa myself, but do enjoy the odd drink..

 

I do go off ship at almost every port. The OP asked how much cash I brought. Cash can almost always be replenished if you run short. I almost never do ship excursions (don't get me started on them) but often do private tours. If possible, I pay by credit card. Some private tour companies require pre-payment. If I need cash to pay for a tour, I can always get it from an ATM. Also I bring at least the legal amount of wine on board with me.

 

I do agree that all ship stuff is overpriced and can add up fast.

 

DON

We are sailing for the first time. Princess bills for gratuities - I believe its $12 a day per person. We can prepay this, which I intend to do. Do we still need to tip? I thought this covered everyone? We are on a budget, and I like to have as much paid for as possible before our holiday.

We are sailing for the first time. Princess bills for gratuities - I believe its $12 a day per person. We can prepay this, which I intend to do. Do we still need to tip? I thought this covered everyone? We are on a budget, and I like to have as much paid for as possible before our holiday.

 

 

Prepaying gratuities covers all of the tips suggested as standard. However, I would bring some cash to tip room service delivery a few dollars of you use it. You should tip the baggage porters at the pier and possibly extra onboard of you feel the service deserves extra.

Cash on the boat, nothing but your credit card. Tips for service are all added in at 15% I believe. If you like to tip additional, brings ones and fives.

 

Now ports, and transportation, excursions are different. I spend more on this than the average bear. But we bring about $600 in 20's, 10's, 5's and 1's. The ship casino will break down $100 bills for in in small change.

 

I don't ever use my credit card on any island... so we need cash. I need it for shuttles/ taxi/ baggage people pre and post. Then all my excursions are done myself through taxi. A day at the beach, I pay cash at the end. Shopping, all cash, food on the islands, again, cash. I had my identity stolen, rare chance.. but I don't risk it. There are small shops, markets everywhere on excursion... we don't hit the cruise line stores, I hit local places to shop and eat.

 

We usually have too many $20's and never enough ones and fives for tipping, the local drink purchase, and transportation tipping.

 

Please know, if on the ship, and you have great service and want to tip more, there is a place on the receipt to put it there. It then gets pooled to everyone. I like to provide cash, and allow the server to decide where his/her tips should be shared.

 

Hope this helps.

Hi,

I haven't cruise in over 20 years and all this new communication system and sharing info is new to me.

I don't even know where to start.

I am going on a Baltic Cruise on Celebrity Silhouette on May 3rd and I am really excited about seeing so many wonderful places and meeting new friends

Edited March 29, 2015 by VeraF

Island stops:

 

We use an envelope method for the islands. That is, I look at what we're planning to do and what I need to pay, and I put that amount of money inside an envelope. On the outside, I write the name /contact information /meeting place for that activity (we NEVER use ship excursions). I include money for taxis, meals, whatever is appropriate. I always include some small bills appropriate for tips so that we don't find ourselves wanting to tip $4 and having only a $20 bill. If we have any type of tickets, maps, or coupons, they're in the envelope (or stapled to it).

 

This means that I don't have to remember, "Out of this cash in my wallet, I need to save $$$ for Tuesday's stop at ___." And, obviously, when we arrive at Tuesday's island, we bring ONLY Tuesday's envelope. The rest remain locked up in the safe onboard.

 

Transportation money:

 

We have about an 8 hour drive, but I don't really get any cash for the drive. We tend to use our credit card for gas and meals at home -- we do the same on the road.

 

I do prepare an envelope for parking. I figure up what it'll cost and have exactly that cash ready to hand over. It gets us through the parking gate FAST.

 

Onboard money:

 

We bring about $100 for a week -- mostly small bills appropriate for tipping. We typically bring home about half of this, but we like to be prepared.

 

My husband likes to play the casino slots, but he's cheap: Penny and nickle slots. He brings a couple rolls of coins with him, and the rule is, When the roll is done, so are you.

 

Essentially all onboard spending goes on the credit card, so no need for cash.

 

I see you said you NEVER use ship excursions so i assume you don't care if you miss the ship.

I see you said you NEVER use ship excursions so i assume you don't care if you miss the ship.

 

 

Or they are mindful of the time and don't venture far from the ship.

This is really unanswerable without additional significant information.

If you are hoping to score (verifiable) emergent indigent art in a third world country, which is rarely available at home, you should have a wad of US dollars (hundreds at least) at the ready. We have scored some very unusual pieces at very reasonable prices (I.e., I could sell them tomorrow in SF for double/triple $, which I will not), because the cash was in our pockets.

I see you said you NEVER use ship excursions so i assume you don't care if you miss the ship.

Well, that's off topic, but in a dozen years of reading this board, I've never once heard of a private excursion making a cruiser miss the ship. Not one. I don't really know why novice cruisers are so terrified of missing the ship; they don't make a secret of what time the ship leaves.

 

I have heard of people missing the ship because they returned to the port in time ... but they foolishly spent "a few more minutes" shopping or drinking within sight of the port. I have heard of people being too stupid to understand ship's time vs. island time. I have heard of people getting off the ship on their own and failing to make proper arrangements with family.

 

We choose private excursions because they mean we're part of a smaller group, and we have more control over what we do during the day. Typically with a private excursion you're working with the owner of the company (or someone who works directly for him), and those people are always eager to please you -- they tell stories, offer options, make suggestions. In contrast, when we've taken part in ship's excursions, we've felt like we were part of a herd of cattle, and we've never felt like the tour guides cared whether we were having fun or not. When we've gone with a ship's tour, we've found ourselves forced to spend an hour in a "straw market" that doesn't interest us, then hurried by a cute boutique or cantina that we would've enjoyed visiting. We MUCH prefer private excursions for the value, but -- more importantly -- we find them much more enjoyable.

 

And, no, returning to the ship on time isn't a problem. It's just a fear shared by naive cruisers.

I see you said you NEVER use ship excursions so i assume you don't care if you miss the ship.

 

I've used independent tours and gone off on my own, and I haven't missed the ship yet.

well I agree, I figured since it was my daughters first cruise, the pics were worth it to me...I was just giving an example of how things add up fast.

 

so DON you cruise but dont go off the ship?

I personally could do without the photos, the casino, or the spa myself, but do enjoy the odd drink..

 

Photos do make nice souvenirs, especially of time spent with family. We have never done the shipboard photos on a cruise before, ever, but we will probably buy at least one photo to commemorate our 20th Wedding Anniversary cruise. I think some people really hate spending for extras on a cruise, some of us enjoy splurging a little and spoiling ourselves when we are on vacation. My husband works very hard all year long, if he wants to eat at the specialty steakhouse during the cruise, I can't begrudge him that enjoyment, you know? As far as buying the "extras" it all depends on what each person thinks is worth spending on. ;)

 

Lorie

Edited April 4, 2015 by galensgrl