Currency in the Caribbean??

I am sorry if this is covered somewhere else. I must be bad at searching because I couldn't find this question in the forums.

I am traveling to the following ports in December:

Antigua

St. Lucia

Barbados

St. Kitts

I've arranged some excursions but I will have some time to explore in port too. Do I need local currency for each country? Is it better to just charge everything to a credit card? Do small shops even take cards? I'm on the Royal Princess--can I assume they have a "bank" that can exchange American dollars? Would local folks take American dollars?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

US dollars are the best currency in the Caribbean. Easily accepted everywhere.

US Dollars are accepted everywhere in Caribbean , but bring small bills , if not change may be in local currency , have fun sounds like a good cruise

As others have accurately posted... US Dollars are perfect. Everything you will do in the tourist areas accepts them. I even used US dollars at a local grocery store, but the change was in local currency (a few coins).

In fact in Paradise Island Nassau (which I know you are not going to), they do everything in US dollars in the casino even though it is in the Bahamas.

US dollars. Have more than a few small denominations - 1, 5 and so on. I ran out on one port stop and ended up with a cool green Barbados $5. I keep it as a souvenir.

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And don't forget to negotiate a price from what they ask.

I bought souvenir license plates for the kids in Curacao. The proprietor and I started negotiating. He wanted $5 apiece and I said $3. He said no way. I started to walk. He asked me how many I was buying as I was putting them back. I told him 8 of them. He took the $3 each. Bought a watch on the same island that my jeweler wife didn't have available in the US for substantially less than asking.

Enjoy your cruise!

Bring US $$$. Loose bills if possible.

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You can receive US $ in change as well if you ask for it with the purchase.

I am sorry if this is covered somewhere else. I must be bad at searching because I couldn't find this question in the forums.

 

I am traveling to the following ports in December:

Antigua

St. Lucia

Barbados

St. Kitts

 

I've arranged some excursions but I will have some time to explore in port too. Do I need local currency for each country? Is it better to just charge everything to a credit card? Do small shops even take cards? I'm on the Royal Princess--can I assume they have a "bank" that can exchange American dollars? Would local folks take American dollars?

 

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

This is a topic that's been discussed a few times on different sub-boards under different names.

As mentioned elsewhere, most retailers on all of those islands will take US $, though they have their own local currency. IIRC, Barbados has their own dollar and the others use Eastern Caribbean dollars.

It's moot now, but whether your ship will exchange to/from the local currency is a good question that I haven't seen answered. I suspect the rate wouldn't be the best if they did. Anyone?

You can receive US $ in change as well if you ask for it with the purchase.

Well, not always ... so you do need your small bills.

Also, in some shops they will not accept worn or torn bills, or bills with writing on them ... so be sure that some of your cash is in pristine condition!

Thanks everyone. This has been very helpful. I will be visiting the bank for lots of $1s and $5s. :)

Well, not always ... so you do need your small bills.

 

Also, in some shops they will not accept worn or torn bills, or bills with writing on them ... so be sure that some of your cash is in pristine condition!

In our experience when we ask prior to the purchase I have received US currency as change. Most vendors deal primarily in US currency with the cruise passengers and as a result have the change on hand. (Sometimes not so much in coin but always in bills - again that has been our experience).

But yes it is better to have smaller denominations.

In large shops or for large purchases, we use a credit card. Small purchases, we use U.S. dollars.

We're in the same quandary as OP. We've traveled all over the world but this is our first cruise, to several Caribbean countries. I understand that cards will be accepted in some places and of course the American dollar is loved. But when we travel we always get the local currency- I feel like we're being ripped off by the exchange rate if we don't. We have debit cards that work internationally without any transaction or exchange fees, my dilemma here is it worth it for spending a few hours in one country...

We're in the same quandary as OP. We've traveled all over the world but this is our first cruise, to several Caribbean countries. I understand that cards will be accepted in some places and of course the American dollar is loved. But when we travel we always get the local currency- I feel like we're being ripped off by the exchange rate if we don't. We have debit cards that work internationally without any transaction or exchange fees, my dilemma here is it worth it for spending a few hours in one country...

Try to use a charge card that does not add any extra fees for foreign transactions.

And make sure you DECLINE to have the merchant "exchange" for you. They will no doubt give a much less favorable rate than your card issuer.

Also, for places that have their own currency called "dollars", make SURE which "dollar" is being used.

For example, the Barbados dollar is worth half of a USA dollar.

That is, one USA dollar is worth *2* Barbados dollars (at current exchange rates).

So don't let them use the higher number of Barbados dollars if they are using the USA dollar or dollar sign.