How much money to bring?

Im going to the carribean in august. How much money do I need to bring.

Theyll have atms on the boat correct? So I can just get money from there but bringing money onto the islands. Do I need my card.money for taxis, food,tips ect and they obviously take american money right

All islands take US dollars. No one can tell you how much money to take because it's all very personal, and depends on what you do and what you might want to see and buy. There are some who don't spend a dime and others who spend hundreds. You can use a credit card for larger purchases and then small bills for taxis and if you want to eat on any of the islands. But there's no set amount for any one person. We usually take less than $20 in cash, off the ship.

It will really vary. Can't give an easy answer

Im going to the carribean in august. How much money do I need to bring.

Theyll have atms on the boat correct? So I can just get money from there but bringing money onto the islands. Do I need my card.money for taxis, food,tips ect and they obviously take american money right

Eastern, western or southern Caribbean?

Never ASSUME any/all service providers accept US money. Most do, but not all. Never ASSUME the ship will have an ATM (ships are pretty much a cash free environment).

Excursions may include a meal and that reduces the need for extra cash. And we have no idea how hard you will party in a given port.

Charge card purchases on shore are often processed in the local currency and converted to USDs by you CC company for an additional fee.

From your countdown clock, it looks like you are on Carnival. According to their FAQs* there will be an ATM onboard but notice that it costs $6 per use and may run out.

You might want to check with the financial institution that issues your card(s) to see if they charge an overseas transaction fee in case you want to use your card in the Caribbean. Also, remember to call and let them know where you are visiting and the dates you will be away.

Have a great time!

*Is there an ATM on board?

Guests are able to withdraw funds and make balance inquiries on their checking and savings accounts while the ship is in port or at sea. Please note: The supply of money may be depleted prior to the end of the cruise. Following is a list of major credit cards and Networks accepted: Visa (Plus), Master Card (Cirrus, Maestro), American Express, Pulse, NYCE, Discover/Novus, Quest.

There is a $6.00 USD fee per transaction for this service which is controlled by the bank sponsoring the ATM's, Bank Atlantic of Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

From your countdown clock, it looks like you are on Carnival. According to their FAQs* there will be an ATM onboard but notice that it costs $6 per use and may run out.

 

You might want to check with the financial institution that issues your card(s) to see if they charge an overseas transaction fee in case you want to use your card in the Caribbean. Also, remember to call and let them know where you are visiting and the dates you will be away.

 

Have a great time!

 

 

*Is there an ATM on board?

Guests are able to withdraw funds and make balance inquiries on their checking and savings accounts while the ship is in port or at sea. Please note: The supply of money may be depleted prior to the end of the cruise. Following is a list of major credit cards and Networks accepted: Visa (Plus), Master Card (Cirrus, Maestro), American Express, Pulse, NYCE, Discover/Novus, Quest.

There is a $6.00 USD fee per transaction for this service which is controlled by the bank sponsoring the ATM's, Bank Atlantic of Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

thanks for the replies,going eastern Caribbean, how much are taxis usually.do they run per person or just where you're going

thanks for the replies,going eastern Caribbean, how much are taxis usually.do they run per person or just where you're going

We can't answer without knowing where you are going....

Perhaps some research on the Caribbean Ports boards, here:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=587

and the Carnival board, here:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=215

would be helpful.

I always love the "dollars will be accepted everywhere" concept. I know my favorite restaurant doesn't take Euros, yen or pesos, and I don't expect them to. Nor do I expect anybody in a foreign country to take dollars. I always respect their country by spending their currency if I am not using my credit card. You are just pushing the costs of exchange over on to the local business person, when it is actually your responsibility.

We can't answer without knowing where you are going....

 

Perhaps some research on the Caribbean Ports boards, here:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=587

 

and the Carnival board, here:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=215

 

would be helpful.

 

I always love the "dollars will be accepted everywhere" concept. I know my favorite restaurant doesn't take Euros, yen or pesos, and I don't expect them to. Nor do I expect anybody in a foreign country to take dollars. I always respect their country by spending their currency if I am not using my credit card. You are just pushing the costs of exchange over on to the local business person, when it is actually your responsibility.

Come on, it's not exactly a fair analogy. Yes it can be disrespectful to assume they will take dollars, but in the non-EU Caribbean $ acceptance is nearly universal. And don't worry the exchange rate is almost always in their favor.

High ATM fees in the region make local currency expensive for a one day stop.

Im going to the carribean in august. How much money do I need to bring.

Theyll have atms on the boat correct? So I can just get money from there but bringing money onto the islands. Do I need my card.money for taxis, food,tips ect and they obviously take american money right

I like to pay cash for as much as possible. Just like to put my number out there as little as possible. I book all my excursions before I leave home or on the ship, so no cash needed for that. Any money spent on ship, goes on the ship card.

If you buy trinkets and such, take some cash for that.

If you fly in early, account for that. Cash and tips for meals. Also, anytime someone handles your luggage (except at airport check-in) in front of you, they should be tipped (maybe $1 to $4). So if you book transfers, that could be a few times.

Some excursions have tip jars, so account for that possibility (maybe $4 to $20 per couple). Also, anytime you have a tour guide (especialy one that talks a lot), they should be tipped (maybe $2 to $10 per couple). I use the size of the tour, or the extra effort of the excursion to help determine these.

Then, at the end of the cruise, we leave the room steward a tip in the envelope they leave for that purpose (maybe $20 to $50) depending on service.

So, it's not hard to spend a couple hundred in cash. Break it down in denominations. More ones than anything else. I am probably missing some things, but I hope this helps.:)

thanks for the replies,going eastern Caribbean, how much are taxis usually.do they run per person or just where you're going

I don't know why it has to be this hard. Elsewhere, the OP indicates he is on Carnival Valor in August. That ship sails a "southern Caribbean" itinerary and visits the following ports: St. Thomas, USVI; Barbados; St. Lucia, WI; St Kitts, WI; St. Maarten, NA.

You can a find a taxi station at each port terminal or book your transportation in advance. Transportation is generally priced per person, cash and may be a one-way price or may be round trip (i.e. take you someplace and will be back to pick you up at an agreed time)

Most of your islands have taxi rates set by the government. Charges are point-to-point & per person. "Tourist Guides" tend to bundle travel segments and come in at a cheaper rate.

As an example for the USVI, ship to downtown is one fare, downtown to a beach is another fare and beach back to the ship is a third fare. A tourist guide will pick you up at the ship, drop you downtown for a couple hours, pick you up & take you to a beach with return to the ship at a pre-arranged time and all for one set rate.

We tend to use Godfrey Tours for St Thomas. http://godfreytoursvi.com/ His prices are typical and will be less than individual taxi rides.

Here is the rate chart for Barbados: http://www.barbados.org/tours/barbadostaxis.htm#.U85ZED9OWM8 Be warned that the word "dollar" is often used when the taxi driver tells you the fare and he is often giving you the price in Barbadian dollars. Ask/confirm the price quote is USD's vs. BD's as a BD is 1/2 the USD.

Here is the rate chart for St. Lucia: http://caribya.com/st.lucia/taxis/

Here is a rate chart (outdated) for St. Kitts: http://www.discover-stkitts-nevis-beaches.com/st-kitts-nevis-taxi.html We (party of 4) paid roughly $15 per person, port to Cockleshell Bay, drop off with return pickup at a time of our choosing. I think the van had 8-10 people on the way there and us 4 on the way back.

Can't help much with St Maarten. Only there once and did an excursion. I seem to recall they had a water taxi that ran between the cruise dock & downtown or you could walk it. This site may help: http://www.stmaartentours.info/

St. Lucia is a destination where you will likely want to book an excursion or find a resort where you enjoy a beach day. Not really a destination where you will wander on your own because there isn't anything "touristy" in the immediate area.

Enjoy!

I think this is a tough question to answer. We brought $600 in cash and ended up using about $300.

The ATMs on board are ghastly expensive. They do have ATMs on the islands but you will get local currency.

We usually bring about $200 - $300 cash in small bills for tips & such & have almost always come home with money. Even on the islands if we want a drink, almost everyplace takes plastic. It's a brave new electronic world out there. :p

Always take lots more cash than you think you'll need -- better to have too much than too little! ;)

LuLu

i don't know why it has to be this hard. Elsewhere, the op indicates he is on carnival valor in august. That ship sails a "southern caribbean" itinerary and visits the following ports: St. Thomas, usvi; barbados; st. Lucia, wi; st kitts, wi; st. Maarten, na.

 

You can a find a taxi station at each port terminal or book your transportation in advance. Transportation is generally priced per person, cash and may be a one-way price or may be round trip (i.e. Take you someplace and will be back to pick you up at an agreed time)

 

most of your islands have taxi rates set by the government. Charges are point-to-point & per person. "tourist guides" tend to bundle travel segments and come in at a cheaper rate.

 

As an example for the usvi, ship to downtown is one fare, downtown to a beach is another fare and beach back to the ship is a third fare. A tourist guide will pick you up at the ship, drop you downtown for a couple hours, pick you up & take you to a beach with return to the ship at a pre-arranged time and all for one set rate.

 

We tend to use godfrey tours for st thomas. http://godfreytoursvi.com/ his prices are typical and will be less than individual taxi rides.

 

Here is the rate chart for barbados: http://www.barbados.org/tours/barbadostaxis.htm#.u85zed9owm8 be warned that the word "dollar" is often used when the taxi driver tells you the fare and he is often giving you the price in barbadian dollars. Ask/confirm the price quote is usd's vs. Bd's as a bd is 1/2 the usd.

 

Here is the rate chart for st. Lucia: http://caribya.com/st.lucia/taxis/

 

here is a rate chart (outdated) for st. Kitts: http://www.discover-stkitts-nevis-beaches.com/st-kitts-nevis-taxi.html we (party of 4) paid roughly $15 per person, port to cockleshell bay, drop off with return pickup at a time of our choosing. I think the van had 8-10 people on the way there and us 4 on the way back.

 

Can't help much with st maarten. Only there once and did an excursion. I seem to recall they had a water taxi that ran between the cruise dock & downtown or you could walk it. This site may help: http://www.stmaartentours.info/

 

st. Lucia is a destination where you will likely want to book an excursion or find a resort where you enjoy a beach day. Not really a destination where you will wander on your own because there isn't anything "touristy" in the immediate area.

 

Enjoy!

thank you