Should we us travel checks?

Hi everyone, My husband and I going on our 1st cruise in September to Freeport and Nassau, We were wondering if we should get travel checks or just carry cash? We most likely will not get off the ship in Freeport but will in Nassau to do a little shopping. Suggestion are welcome :)

Carolyn

Welcome to Cruise Critic.

We just take cash and credit card. If we go somewhere that the US$ in not accepted, we use ATM card and/or credit card

Thank you Paul, I have done a little more research and I read that using a Visa Prepaid card is better than travel checks.

Carolyn

make sure you check to see if you need to tell them you will be out of the country, also you can use this which is what I think you were told about?

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Fewer and fewer merchants are accepting Travelers Checks; your ship's Purser will cash them.

As posted above ATM withdrawals or Credit Cards are mostly used now as long as you are aware of the fees they charge for each transaction.

You can use USA currency in all of these ports.

I would bring USA Currency and also use Credit Cards.

Keith

It is a pain to use ...

I always bring a combination of cash and travelers checks. The travelers checks are back up money; if I find I need more money, I will cash in the travelers checks on the ship. I get the travelers checks free from my credit union. If I do not use them (all), I simply deposit the unused portion back into my checking account.

I do not use my credit card in a foreign port. But, I do carry it for emergency use. I always let my credit card company know that I will be out of the country, where I will be, and the travel dates.

If you do use travelers checks you can use them to cash money on the ship.

Otherwise, cash and credit cards are fine.

Keith

Was in Nassau last month and I wondered why I got off the ship. :p Pretty much in the Bahamas they would take any money you would give them. I saw only US money in the tip jars -- a clue as to what they would accept. We took a van tour from Cheryl's Taxi (excellent service and very clean vans) and she took credit card and provided drinks/cakes so not much money needed. As Cheryl told me she vacations in Ft. Lauderdale and does her shopping there -- so much cheaper -- even buys her car/vans for the business there and ships them in.

I have not used traveler's checks in about 10 years. They are just not accepted by merchants or restaurants or even hotels because of the 4% charge to exchange them for the merchant. My bank does not even have the traveler's checks anymore.

Bahamas --no worry -- take US dollars and you probably won't need too much as shops rather primitive by US mall standards. Only take more than walk around money if you know what you want and have checked out the pricing (like jewelry know the value of the necklace or ring at home and how to assure that what you bought is as described and what a good price is "on sale" at home jewelry). On cruise ship in port day you are not likely to score a bargain IMHO:)

What is a travelers check?

Seriously, merchants don't trust them. They are hard to verify that they are real. Plastic is accepted everywhere and can be cancelled, replaced. Merchants can tell if it's valid instantly.

Casinos can give you cash from the card.

Gave up on travellers cheques years ago but do still see the odd one floating about. My credit card is guaranteed against fraud and if there is a place that I don't feel comfortable then it's cash. I can get local currency at any ATM in the world if I need it.

Also, you can get points for using your card. We earned $1000 last year in cash back.

Visa/MC is safe and much more accepted than any kind of check. I've seen merchants handed a travelers check and didn't know what it was or if they were allowed to take them. In 2013, they are just too weird and people don't know what they are.

It seems if you must use a travelers check like form of payment, prepaid credit cards are the way to go. However they do charge YOU for loading it. However, I suppose travelers checks generally carried some fee for issuing them. Unless your credit is horrible, most banks will issue you a credit card.

I would highly avoid DEBIT cards or Visa/MC attached directly to your bank account. These are dangerous and do not offer the same buyer protection as a true credit card. Money is drawn directly from you account and you have less recourse if the card is lost and used. A true credit card requires you to contact the issuing bank within a timely fashion if lost. Typically, you are only responsible for $50 of charges on it unless you fail to report it stolen. (Note: Good idea to make a copy of the back of all the cards you normally carry so if they are lost you can call the toll free number to report it ASAP).

Take a credit card. They all take them. A lot of businesses and casinos will not cash travel checks any more. Although I think they do on the ship. Even my bank warned me not to buy them.

No No ..

As long as the cruiselines take the Trav. Checks, we will use them.

I don't like carrying around a lot of cash - in or out of the safe in the cabin.

We can easily cash the checks at the Front Desk and be on our way.

Granted, they are harder to find nowadays but still better than ATMs, etc. for safety.

We have Credit, debit and all cards, but when travelling, we prefer the Checks.

MaryA

Traveler's checks are becoming dinosaurs. Difficult to use off ship.

Cunard will not accept travellers cheques onboard. There may be other cruise lines who will not take them so always check in advance if you plan on using them onboard.

As long as the cruiselines take the Trav. Checks, we will use them.

 

I don't like carrying around a lot of cash - in or out of the safe in the cabin.

 

We can easily cash the checks at the Front Desk and be on our way.

 

Granted, they are harder to find nowadays but still better than ATMs, etc. for safety.

 

We have Credit, debit and all cards, but when travelling, we prefer the Checks.

 

MaryA

Ditto. As of today 8/27/14 Princess still takes Travelers Checks!

Traveler's checks are becoming dinosaurs. Difficult to use off ship.

The exact word I was going to use! Seriously, these were useful decades ago . . . But now credit cards are easier and provide the same protections.

On a cruise, we take the following:

About $50 in small bills for tips.

About $50 for each island stop to pay for drinks, perhaps a taxi.

Another $50 for food on the drive to/from port.

Payment for excursions counted out (including tip) and stored in an envelope marked with day /vendor -- for example, Snorkel trip on St. Martin with XYZ company ... Meet group at ______ ... Contact phone ______.

This is generally more than we need. We tend to bring money home, but we don't buy souveniers, and we pay our tips ahead of time.

I am no longer able to get travelers checks from our travel club (national chain).

They now have Debit travels cards:eek:

We carry two credit cards...........

One for our major purchases

And

The other for on the Islands. This one only has a limit of $1000.

Sea Ya