$2 bill demand ~ Did Cruise Critic cause this?

Although we have now determined that the $2 bill is not an appreciated gratuity for crew members because the crew have expressed having a hard time using it on shore, the following is interesting.

from the 8/2007 Readers Digest:

The TWO-DOLLAR BILL is on a roll. In 2004 the U.S. Treasury produced 122 million of the notes. Last year, it made 230 million. Experts can't say just what's driving demand for the bill

Hmmmm! Could it be because us cruisers were getting the bills for tip money. I know that we bought them up until our last cruise in February.

Although we have now determined that the $2 bill is not an appreciated gratuity for crew members because the crew have expressed having a hard time using it on shore, the following is interesting.

 

from the 8/2007 Readers Digest:

 

 

Hmmmm! Could it be because us cruisers were getting the bills for tip money. I know that we bought them up until our last cruise in February.

I've always used the $2 bill...it's better than carrying around a wad of singles. And I've always gotten great reception with them. I guess a tips a tip! :D

Interesting about the $2.00 bill.

Some years ago the US Navy paid us off in cash and at that time the city of one of the major Navy bases wasn't too friendly towards sailors. Every so often at payday, the Admiral in charge had the paymasters pay us in $2.00 bills for the odd amounts of our pay to show the city how much money was flowing into their economy from the Navy. Of course sailors being sailors, most of the guys on my boat at least, looked at them as being bad luck. When my DW started picking them up at our bank for cruising tip money I kidded her about my old wives tale.:rolleyes: She still used them but the last two times she tried to pick them up at the bank they were out and said they would have to order them so something's put a run on them at least in our neck of the woods.

Tanker 4

Back in the late 80s or early 90s I was at a convention and was buying something at a table there with cash, including at least one $2 bill. The guy I was paying was like, "Ooh, that's rare! You should keep that!" LOL! :rolleyes:

I work in a bank, and there has been a higher demand for $2 bills. I was actually going to make sure the Teller manager was going to have some ordered for my Feb cruise to use as tips. I didn't know that the crew did not like them. Glad I read this. I'll just stick with singles.

Actually I think they prefer more zero's on their tip denominations:p

Which would you rather get $2 or $20?

While we no longer have dollar or two dollar bills in Canada, it wasn't considered bad luck to have them, but they were disliked in the prairie provinces, where a $2 bill was considered the wages of prostitution.

I never did figure out the "bad luck" thing with $2 bills in the US. Then again, I haven't figured out the obsession with $1 bills. I'm so glad to never have to deal with them anymore.

I have heard rumored that the 'exotic dancer' industry has pushed for their usage...given that a g-string can only hold so many bills, a woman (or man for that matter) could make a 100% increase in income...

David:D

Wow...I never knew any of this stuff about $2 bills!!! All I know is my kids(who don't even live with me anymore), have stashes of them in their dresser drawers that they would get from aunts, etc. We kind of never considered them "real" money, so they would just throw them in their drawers. I think I'm going to look for them now.

While we no longer have dollar or two dollar bills in Canada, it wasn't considered bad luck to have them, but they were disliked in the prairie provinces, where a $2 bill was considered the wages of prostitution.

 

I never did figure out the "bad luck" thing with $2 bills in the US. Then again, I haven't figured out the obsession with $1 bills. I'm so glad to never have to deal with them anymore.

But now, my pockets weigh me down with the Loonie($1) and Toonie($2) coins.

The staff prefers easily recognizable bills to $2.00 or the silver dollar things. (Or trinkets from your hometown, etc...)

If I won't readily spend a type of currency, why should they?

Make it easy for these folks! Give them REAL money--not the "collector " stuff!

My DH is a banker and he has always had to order them for our cruise use.

We really enjoyed having them, but as I said, the crew have made it clear that they prefer two dollar bills, versus a $2 bill.

Lynn - I can't believe that you thought the bills weren't real money! LOL

While we no longer have dollar or two dollar bills in Canada, it wasn't considered bad luck to have them, but they were disliked in the prairie provinces, where a $2 bill was considered the wages of prostitution.

Gee, remind me never to take up a career as a "lady of ill repute" in the prairie provinces. It evidently doesn't pay very well!:eek:

Lisa:)

I have heard rumors going around that the bills are not particularly popular and hence the Treasury may discontinue printing them (a la the Susan B Anthony dollar coins). So, I suspect that there are various collectors that are saving them as collectors items for "when" they go out of print.

I know I have one friend who likes to collect them and each time I get one, I save it and when I see him (generally about once/week) I will trade them to him.

We always use them for tips..In fact I got some at lunchtime today from the bank. Crew has no problems cash is cash...

We always use them for tips..In fact I got some at lunchtime today from the bank. Crew has no problems cash is cash...

Yes, people receiving tips never complain to the person tipping them. But to others...

I did chat with our cabin attendant on our recent cruise and unless the ship departs or returns to a US mainland port like Baltimore, Miami, FLL etc, then they have a harder time spending them. In most of the Caribbean ports that accept US currency, smaller businesses do not accept them. So, crew members have to spend them in larger businesses or change them while they are on the US mainland. Not particularly convenient for people who don't have much time when they get off a ship. They'll take them, but they're not as convenient. Why do that to them? If you don't know, it's one thing, but when you know that, why would you deliberately give them a gratuity that is harder to spend? To me, that's like the person who wanted to get back at a waitress and left her tip in pennies.

Tanker mentioned the Navy occasionally paying sailors in two dollar bills.

In the San Francisco Bay Area, periodically all the services paid in two dollar bills, to show the various communities the economic impact the military installations made.

With all the drawdowns in military (base closures, etc) it is not done as often as it used to be.

I order them periodically from our bank - I think they are great for tipping, both ashore and on cruises.

There was an article in the paper recently that the Bureau of Engraving has run off a new batch for the US Treasury.

Thanks for the tip about the $2 bill. I was going to get some for our upcoming cruise but if they crew doesn't like them I will just get more singles.

Ann

I don't remember the last time I saw a $ 2.00 bill

The staff prefers easily recognizable bills to $2.00 or the silver dollar things. (Or trinkets from your hometown, etc...)

If I won't readily spend a type of currency, why should they?

Make it easy for these folks! Give them REAL money--not the "collector " stuff!

The last time I checked, $2 bills and $1 coins were real money, just as real as $1 bills. It's legal US currency and spends just like any other money.

I find it odd how people think sometimes. Years ago, my husband was going on a fishing trip to Alaska, not on a cruise but directly flying there. He had a client give hime some Canadian cash to use there. They guy had no idea the money wouldn't be of any use in Alaska :rolleyes: . Oh well, we kept it and used it the next time we were in Canada.

The $1 coins are also very unappreciated....plus they really weigh you down!

I have heard rumored that the 'exotic dancer' industry has pushed for their usage...given that a g-string can only hold so many bills, a woman (or man for that matter) could make a 100% increase in income...

 

David:D

The last time I checked, $2 bills and $1 coins were real money, just as real as $1 bills. It's legal US currency and spends just like any other money.

Correction, it is legal tender IN THE US. But the majority of the ports of call in the Caribbean are not in the US. They are in foreign countries that will accept US currency if they recognize it. They are not required to accept it. They do it as a courtesy. So, they have no requirement to accept currency that they do not know or trust, e.g. coins of any sort (and note, very few Caribbean business will accept US currency coins) or $2 bills. If you can't provide them with currency they will accept, they either won't sell their wares or services to you, or will require you to pay in local currency. For the ships' crew that periodically want to spend their cash in those ports of call (I have seen ship crew out in ports of call), the $2 bills are unlikely to be usable. They would have to convert the cash somewhere, either at a larger institution like a bank. I don't know if the ship will convert currency for the crew members at the casino teller or the purser's desk. But even that is just a hassle. What a way to thank someone with a gratuity..."Let's just make you REALLY work for this tip. Go find a way to change this into something useable."

Correction, it is legal tender IN THE US. But the majority of the ports of call in the Caribbean are not in the US. They are in foreign countries that will accept US currency if they recognize it. They are not required to accept it. They do it as a courtesy. So, they have no requirement to accept currency that they do not know or trust, e.g. coins of any sort (and note, very few Caribbean business will accept US currency coins) or $2 bills. If you can't provide them with currency they will accept, they either won't sell their wares or services to you, or will require you to pay in local currency. For the ships' crew that periodically want to spend their cash in those ports of call (I have seen ship crew out in ports of call), the $2 bills are unlikely to be usable. They would have to convert the cash somewhere, either at a larger institution like a bank. I don't know if the ship will convert currency for the crew members at the casino teller or the purser's desk. But even that is just a hassle. What a way to thank someone with a gratuity..."Let's just make you REALLY work for this tip. Go find a way to change this into something useable."

Can't they just change it on the ship if they are in a port that doesn't recognize the money? I'm sure they get several forms of currency from folks from everywhere.

Anyone wishing to get rid of their "bad luck" $2 bills, please let me know. I'll be glad to take them off your hands for free.:rolleyes: