Money help, please :)

[going to see the world]

I was wondering what I should do for my brother and sister since I am providing them with spending money for our upcoming cruise. (16 days until I get to tell them we are going!! :D)

 

I don't particularly want to hand them cash, not because of them...but I'm not sure I want them carrying it around other people-particularly in the Bahamas.

 

What should I get? Traveler's checks? Gift cards? Or should I stop worrying. haha. :)

 

Thank you :D

[luvthebalcony]

If it is such a worry, you should just give it to me and you won't have to worry anymore. I promise I will enjoy it !. Thanking you in advance :)

[klfrodo]

I say cash.

Once you hand it to them as a gift,,it's theirs to do with as they wish.

 

If you want to control what they do or don't do with it,,,it's no longer a gift. It's now become a source of control for you.

[gobucks_43228]

How about on board credit? It could pay their gratuity or photos.. Or drinks....or dinner at the steakhouse.

Our honeymoon cruise friends did that for us it was great. We had to work to spend it all.

[going to see the world]

I say cash.

Once you hand it to them as a gift,,it's theirs to do with as they wish.

 

If you want to control what they do or don't do with it,,,it's no longer a gift. It's now become a source of control for you.

 

 

I'm not trying to control what they spend and how they spend it...

I'm trying to make sure that it's safe as far as people stealing it from them etc...

[mom2boys97]

You can also buy funship dollars but those can only be spent as OBC but otherwise just give them the money and let them do what they want with it...

[golfadj]

obc sounds best to me.

[going to see the world]

I apologize if my original post was not clear.

 

I want them to have money to spend in Nassau and Freeport. All of their onboard spending will be taken care of me since my s&s will be mine as well.

 

As far as the money for the islands go, I want to make sure it is safe. I didn't really want them carrying around cash, I was trying to find an alternative that would be practical.

 

Hopefully this makes more sense. :)

[Neiner]

How old are they?

 

You might want to split it between OBC and cash. OBC to spend on the ship and cash for the ports. They won't need cash on the ship. Instead of cash you could purchase the prepaid Visa cards but some places do not accept these. Check out your ports on the port of call boards, you'll find that info there.

 

Good luck!

[lmwilken]

You can buy those debit gift cards. But, their names won't be on it, so if their wallet is stolen, it's the same as cash.

[nydney1]

I would do some cash and a credit/debit card. Walmart/Walgreens has the prepaid Visa cards that can have different amounts put on it. Give them some cash to spend wit the street vendors and a prepaid credit card for store purchases.

[scapino]

I'm not trying to control what they spend and how they spend it...

I'm trying to make sure that it's safe as far as people stealing it from them etc...

 

Is your brother and sister underage?? You make it sound as though they are incapable of making intelligent choices

[bubbles1209]

When we go, we always use traveler's checks. That way, if by chance they are lost or stolen, we can get our money back. Most of the ports accept them same as they do cash. Yes, they will need their i.d. with them when they spend them. Keep the other paperwork that comes with them seperate from the checks, and if anything happens, no problems getting the money back. The purser's desk will cash them for you, and you can use them on your sail & sign acct. as well as in the casino. Hope you work out a solution that's best for you all. :)

[going to see the world]

When we go, we always use traveler's checks. That way, if by chance they are lost or stolen, we can get our money back. Most of the ports accept them same as they do cash. Yes, they will need their i.d. with them when they spend them. Keep the other paperwork that comes with them seperate from the checks, and if anything happens, no problems getting the money back. The purser's desk will cash them for you, and you can use them on your sail & sign acct. as well as in the casino. Hope you work out a solution that's best for you all. :)

 

 

Thank you so much for your reply. :)

[going to see the world]

Is your brother and sister underage?? You make it sound as though they are incapable of making intelligent choices

 

 

They are both newborns. :rolleyes:

 

 

Like I said before, I just don't want it getting stolen from them. That is all.

[bubbles1209]

They are both newborns. :rolleyes:

 

 

Like I said before, I just don't want it getting stolen from them. That is all.

 

If you look out for everyone as well as it seems you are trying to look out for them, I could always use and older/younger sibling :D

[firefly333]

I'm not trying to control what they spend and how they spend it...

I'm trying to make sure that it's safe as far as people stealing it from them etc...

 

thats what cabin safes are for. I dont bring every penny of cash I have with me into the ports.

 

I vote for cash.

 

If you dont trust them to be able to take out enough money for each port, then give it a little at a time assuming you are on the same cruise.

[going to see the world]

If you look out for everyone as well as it seems you are trying to look out for them, I could always use and older/younger sibling :D

 

 

They've had an extremely hard year(s) and I want it to be perfect for them...just trying to cover my bases. :)

 

I really appreciate the thoughtful answers.

[Tbay-eh]

They've had an extremely hard year(s) and I want it to be perfect for them...just trying to cover my bases. :)

 

I really appreciate the thoughtful answers.

 

First - we don't know how much money you are talking about. I am going out on a limb here and figure it will be a fair chunk of change as you seem quite concerned. I would do $100 cash each - $1s,5s,10s - enough on S&S card to cover tips and maybe $100 for incidentals and the rest in traveller cheques - these can be cashed at the casino easily (my first option) or go to pursers (service desk) but they may not always have a lot of money if people are going to shore. The rest keep in the safe until needed. We don't know their ages or capabilities so don't know why they can't look after it themselves so don't really know what else to say or advice to give you - if any.

[hockeyluver]

Pre-paid mastercards are awesome!!!

[vacruizer]

I would avoid traveler's checks. Many places won't accept them anymore and I was never able to use them in a foreign port. After our first two cruises I stopped getting them.

 

The bank I work for has actually stopped selling them entirely since very few people use them anymore and there's so much trouble getting businesses to accept them.

[okwriter]

They've had an extremely hard year(s) and I want it to be perfect for them...just trying to cover my bases. :)

 

And I'm sure it WILL be perfect! You sound like a great sibling... Have a GREAT cruise! :)

[Tbay-eh]

I would avoid traveler's checks. Many places won't accept them anymore and I was never able to use them in a foreign port. After our first two cruises I stopped getting them.

 

The bank I work for has actually stopped selling them entirely since very few people use them anymore and there's so much trouble getting businesses to accept them.

 

I never take travellers cheques to ports always cash them at the casino.

[picklebongo]

If you are concerned that someone will steal their money, I would suggest you keep them within eyesight and that will take care of the situation. If I couldn't trust my siblings to keep their money without it being stolen, I certainly wouldn't trust them to have enough sense to wander around by themselves.

[starstruck05]

i think amex and maybe mastercard have prepaid cards you can order with names printed on them like real debit cards. at least they used too. That would be the easiest option.