I just want to be sure...

I definitely consider myself new at Cruising especially with the Ports we will be going to on this Cruise in October, so I have a few questions.

I already have confirmed that we can use U.S. currency when we dock in Cozumel, Ocho Rios and Grand Cayman. The one thing I am not sure of is how to get all that cash over there. Because I would rather use cash than my credit card for the small purchases we will be making (souvenirs, t-shirts, food and tipping etc). So wondering is their an ATM on the Carnival Splendor? Or should I concentrate on getting it once we get to FL since we are flying into FLL then have to get transportation to Miami. Because even going through the airport is not good with so much cash on you.

Also, for our flights to return home, we have a 12:30 flight and it says the ship will be back in Port by 8 a.m., what is the best way to get off the quickest? Should we keep our luggage in our cabin and just take it with us when we leave. As I'm sure we may not even eat breakfast on the ship. Oh, and we were able to purchase FTTF, so how helpful will that be? Also is their any transportation company that is recommended? We don't want to book with a company then have to wait for them to fill up a van or something like that, in other words.

Thanks for any info...:)

We usually take around $500 in cash with us. I have maybe $50 on me, my husband $100 in his wallet. The rest is in an envelope in my carry on which is on my shoulder until we get to the cabin. (We now drive, haven't flown in years.) I would keep my carry-on on my lap on a plane. We have my kindle and his tablet and maybe snacks in the carry-on so we want to get things out of it. I believe all Carnival ships have an ATM on them.

All the ports take US money- but make sure you get change in US not local money. We have always gotten US money back.

You should have no problems with a 12:30 flight home. The 'walk offs' are the 1st off the ship but you MUST carry ALL you luggage off with you so you do not put it in the hall the last night. Other passengers are called to get off usualy by the deck they are on. You can go to customer service and ask them for the luggage tags to be in the 1st group of those who put luggage out.

There are tons of cabs waiting for passengers to take them anywhere. There may also be buses but then you do have to wait until the bus is full.

You can carry your cash in large bills, and get them broken down at Guest Services.

You need to visit the Florida Departures board for help arranging transport from FLL to Miami, and back after the cruise. There are lots of shuttle services that do this for reasonable fare. A taxi will be very expensive. It's about a 45 minute drive in good traffic. EM

I'm not sure where you got the idea that flying with cash is bad. It is not an issue, unless you lose it. I suspect that you are thinking about the rules concerning coming into or out of the country with more than $10,000 cash. Just get what you need from home and take with you. Remember that there are daily limits on what you can take from an ATM. Using an ATM outside the US will result in you receiving local currency. The ones on the ship charge very high fees.

We usually take around $500 in cash with us. I have maybe $50 on me, my husband $100 in his wallet. The rest is in an envelope in my carry on which is on my shoulder until we get to the cabin. (We now drive, haven't flown in years.) I would keep my carry-on on my lap on a plane. We have my kindle and his tablet and maybe snacks in the carry-on so we want to get things out of it. I believe all Carnival ships have an ATM on them.

All the ports take US money- but make sure you get change in US not local money. We have always gotten US money back.

You should have no problems with a 12:30 flight home. The 'walk offs' are the 1st off the ship but you MUST carry ALL you luggage off with you so you do not put it in the hall the last night. Other passengers are called to get off usualy by the deck they are on. You can go to customer service and ask them for the luggage tags to be in the 1st group of those who put luggage out.

There are tons of cabs waiting for passengers to take them anywhere. There may also be buses but then you do have to wait until the bus is full.

This is great information. But as far as the luggage tags they would only be needed if e were going to be setting our luggage out in the hallway the night before?

Also,any idea of the cost of a taxi from the port to the FLL airport.

Thank You

You can carry your cash in large bills, and get them broken down at Guest Services.

 

You need to visit the Florida Departures board for help arranging transport from FLL to Miami, and back after the cruise. There are lots of shuttle services that do this for reasonable fare. A taxi will be very expensive. It's about a 45 minute drive in good traffic. EM

That's what we were thinking about was carrying large bills and breaking them down. Also thinking of going with SAS Transportation but concerned if we have the wait for it to fill or not.

This is where the Florida experts are - http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=495

OP: your questions have been answered many many times on CC. You may want to use the "search" feature or, at least, ask your questions on your cruise line's forum.

Definitely bring the cash you need...not sure why everyone thinks it's so hard to carry cash! It's not! Larger bills are much easier to carry than wads of $10's and $1's! Of course, bring a couple hundred in $20's...the rest in $100's....you will be getting change from the $20's along the way. Split your cash between the adults (assuming a married couple), and always keep it close to you! I mean, no need to be too paranoid, but don't put your purse under the airplane seat without keeping the strap around your leg or something! For men, keep your cash in your FRONT pocket...not in your hip pocket!

I'm not sure where you got the idea that flying with cash is bad. It is not an issue, unless you lose it. I suspect that you are thinking about the rules concerning coming into or out of the country with more than $10,000 cash. Just get what you need from home and take with you. Remember that there are daily limits on what you can take from an ATM. Using an ATM outside the US will result in you receiving local currency. The ones on the ship charge very high fees.

I got that from when I was taking my two kids and myself on a flight. We were going to Disney World. I had spending cash in my carry on and you can imagine it trying through security with kids. Well the TSA guy said that my carry on needed to be searched. By the time I got myself and the kids together he was already going through it. And it wasn't until we got on the plane that I noticed $50 was missing. So that's where that came from. I just regret not checking my cash right then and there, especially as he was telling us to have a great trip. After that I resorted to travelers checks.

Live and learn I guess.

Now I will say for our last cruise that we did carry cash. It was me and my daughter and this time we carried it right on us. Every single pocket. And yes it was detected but they allowed us to just hold it in our hands as the xray machine (not sure what it is called ) went around our body...

I got that from when I was taking my two kids and myself on a flight. We were going to Disney World. I had spending cash in my carry on and you can imagine it trying through security with kids. Well the TSA guy said that my carry on needed to be searched. By the time I got myself and the kids together he was already going through it. And it wasn't until we got on the plane that I noticed $50 was missing. So that's where that came from. I just regret not checking my cash right then and there, especially as he was telling us to have a great trip. After that I resorted to travelers checks.

 

Live and learn I guess.

 

Now I will say for our last cruise that we did carry cash. It was me and my daughter and this time we carried it right on us. Every single pocket. And yes it was detected but they allowed us to just hold it in our hands as the xray machine (not sure what it is called ) went around our body...

hi there

If you have access to travelers checks, use them. You can bring as much as you like without fear of loss or theft and they are easily cashed on the ship as you need it at the customer service desk or the casino.

Also...as long as your ship docks on time any and you carry your bags off your own luggage any of the shuttle services will likely get you to the port on time. If you look on the Florida departure board you can get more information.

have a great cruise

hi there

 

If you have access to travelers checks, use them. You can bring as much as you like without fear of loss or theft and they are easily cashed on the ship as you need it at the customer service desk or the casino.

 

Also...as long as your ship docks on time any and you carry your bags off your own luggage any of the shuttle services will likely get you to the port on time. If you look on the Florida departure board you can get more information.

 

have a great cruise

Thank you for that. I wish I had known about cashing travelers checks right on the Ship.I will certainly do that. Still working on the transportation to the airport going through the FL board but will certainly carry our luggage off.

Personally, we don't do self-embarkation. We do longer cruises (haven't done a 3 or 4 days since 2002) so there's no way we will have just a carry on each. When the cruise line says you must carry off everything yourself, they mean it. And this means not having any problem walking down stairs carrying your stuff without impeding others.

We put our luggage outside in the hall that last night, making sure to keep a change of clothing, our toiletries, any valuables, passports...with us to put in our carry ons.

And I do tend to split up my money among my various luggage, purse, coat pocket, etc. Sometimes we get travelers cheques. Of course, we don't need cash on board, except for the last day for any tipping beyond the auto-grats. We don't buy expensive souvenirs. We might get a meal in port. Get a tee-shirt or souvenir magnet. So a little cash for tipping porters, port taxi drivers. But even on our two-week cruises we don't need 100s of $s in cash.

This is great information. But as far as the luggage tags they would only be needed if e were going to be setting our luggage out in the hallway the night before?

 

Also,any idea of the cost of a taxi from the port to the FLL airport.

 

Thank You

We did this in January. 5 of us in one van was 17.00 airport to ship, 22.00 ship to airport..

We did this in January. 5 of us in one van was 17.00 airport to ship, 22.00 ship to airport..

Hi there

If you are looking at taking the taxi from Miami port to FLL it would be more like $80. If you are only a couple it would be much cheaper by shuttle.

As mentioned check the Florida departure threads.

have a great cruise