Where hide money?

[Herb2relax]

New to the forum and taking our first cruise in Dec '11. I have to wonder where everyone puts their money. I am sure on the ship they offer some type safe thing in your room. But what about while out exploring the town? What about when you and hubby are going into the water? I would also include I guess the camera or any other things you have purchased. Where do you put all that while swimming? Here I usually keep most money in the car or cabin and leave a few things in my backpack on our blanket. I am more concerned since I will be carrying larger amounts of cash. Feel free to give any info for anything I left out also. Thanks!

[Philob]

Except at the casino & some tips you won't need cash for purchases on board, you can only use your "sign & sail/room key" for those purchases and those will be charged to your cabin account. Do a search on how you pay for your cabin account with cash, credit, or debit, is discussed frequently.

 

In the ports I try to bring only as much as I think I need for the day: taxi, meals, tips, stuff. I also bring at least one credit card for larger purchases and in case I miss the boat for some reason.

 

As for the camera; I think of it as an expendable item if its lost or stolen. The only thing I want are the pictures and I download the day's pics on to the laptop nightly.

 

As for cash while on the beach, we don't worry about it either, but we do keep an eye out on our stuff when someone approaches it.

[kitty9]

First of all, you NEVER take large amounts of cash off the ship. There's no need for that. Use credit cards, not only for your protection from robbery, but in case there's a problem with things you purchase, you can have the credit card company fight the charges for you. Only take a small amount of cash off the ship, for your smaller purchases only.

 

Second, never, ever leave things in a car while on a tour, be it to the beach or whatever. My friends rented a car on an island (sorry I can't remember which island but I think it was St Maartin), and their car was broken into while they were at the beach and everything was taken, including the car's radio. They put things in the trunk and they thought they were safe. They lost their cameras, clothes and their wallets with credit cards and money. The local police said that locals look for tourists putting things in cars, and it takes them seconds to open the vehicle. It took those thieves less than 30 minutes to charge up their credit cards with TV's and other items.

 

If you do a beach thing, you almost have to take turns going into the water, if you bring expensive things with you. Don't just leave things in a backpack. If you want to shop on an island, do the beach thing first and shop second. You can find waterproof containers that you wear around your neck that will hold your ship card, your photo ID, a credit card and a small amount of cash.

[cb at sea]

Leave the majority of cash in the safe...only take what you need....while swimming, you can keep an eye on your stuff....you won't be THAT far away. Don't bring expensive electronics and cameras ashore, if you can't stay with them. Bring a disposable camera...no one wants those...or your pictures! No one wants your tee shirt or flip-flops, either.

If hubby has a velcro pocket, stick stuff in there....your room key and credit card are plastic...water won't hurt it...and cash will spend even if wet!

[Herb2relax]

Thanks for the answers! I thought while out shopping lots of people would only take cash. Thats nice to know on the boat everything is charged to our room. Yes, I do have two camera's one is expendable the other is not. But I didnt think of bringing a disposable, thanks!

[texkan]

Use waterproof bag at beach for credit card etc.

 

http://www.aquapac.net/usastore/water-drybags-keymaster-899-0.html

[curcurt]

Use waterproof bag at beach for credit card etc.

 

http://www.aquapac.net/usastore/water-drybags-keymaster-899-0.html

 

We do the same thing, keeping items in the bag and I place it in a pocket in my swim trunks. Never had it leak while swimming. The camera is the only thing we have to keep an eye on while in the water.

[MSRussell]

I realize that the safe is 'safe', but I keep my money in an envelope and slide it between the live jackets.

Melanie

[GTO-Girl]

Thanks for the answers! I thought while out shopping lots of people would only take cash. Thats nice to know on the boat everything is charged to our room. Yes, I do have two camera's one is expendable the other is not. But I didnt think of bringing a disposable, thanks!

 

Be sure to call your credit card company BEFORE you leave on your cruise to let them know where you will be each day. That way if strange charges start showing up after you have left that port they will know right away they aren't yours.

 

Happy Sailing Everybody!!!!

[sjcruiser]

We only take what we need of the ship, along with a credit card and atm card. We usually dont make large purchases and already know what we're buying. We keep cash in the front pcokets or if where in the water, in a water proof case that either goes around the neck or clip/locks onto our garment/person.

[mr green]

I like this thread, now if I run short of cash I can find some quite easily.:rolleyes:

 

john

[mitsugirly]

I bought a waterproof bag that goes around my waist. I only take enough cash for the cab, where we are going (to get in or rent anything) for food and any souvenirs (and we keep that to a minimum). We take our ID and sail card and camera. That's it. Keep everything to a minimum and try to leave the fancy/flashy jewelry on the ship.

[Toto2Kansas]

I have a waterproof fanny pack that we use for all money and credit cards when swimming, and a waterproof camera. We leave absolutely nothing of value on the beach when we go into the water. ;)

[Herb2relax]

Thanks everyone! I will be getting us a waterproof pouch or waterproof waist belt.

[matj2000]

Why don't you just ask the people sitting next to you to watch your stuff while you are away?

Chances are they are on the same ship as you..

[6rugrats]

Why don't you just ask the people sitting next to you to watch your stuff while you are away?

Chances are they are on the same ship as you..

 

Does that make them honest? Maybe you shouldn't because it could be this poster :):

 

I like this thread, now if I run short of cash I can find some quite easily.:rolleyes:

 

john

[mitsugirly]

Why don't you just ask the people sitting next to you to watch your stuff while you are away?

Chances are they are on the same ship as you..

 

We have done that as well. We seem to strike up a convo with people around us and we kinda watch each others things. Even if they are not from the same ship. We had someone that didn't want to swim much and stayed under the shade trees last year in St Thomas that was from Carnival. It worked out nicely. :)

[okgirl]

I'm kind of the watcher for my group of friends that I sail with. I love going to the beach, but I'm not much for getting in the water, so like at Nachi Cocum I'll usually get a big table and people come and go from there and leave their stuff with me to watch over.

 

Or if I'm just with my family we're usually not all away from the valuables at the same time.....

[05mak05]

Witz boxes are supposedly waterproof, come in all sizes and are very handy. I have a small clear Witz that is the size of a credit card. It holds my room key (credit card sized), cash for the casino, etc. I don't think we've ever been in a port where credit cards were not honored. We had a minor problem in Grand Cayman which I'll mention. It wasn't a big deal but taught us a lesson. We ate burgers at Jimmy Buffet's and picked up the tab for the table. We've been to Grand Cayman many times and assumed that J. Buffets like all of the other shops and restaurants posted the menu prices in US dollars. When our credit card statement arrived, we were shocked. We had the receipt and realized a conversation had been made to Cayman dollars. We've charged from one end of Mexico to the other and have never had a surprise. I admit it was our own fault. My husband has done audits ... it's not like him to not to pick up on something like that.

[mitsugirly]

Don't forget too that you have to be careful where you use your card too. There are horror stories on here were people used their cc for a purchase only to return home, get their statement, then find out that someone also used it on a shopping spree while there.

 

I've always been told it's best to take cash at any port to prevent this unless it's a huge establishment and you know that an employee is not going to take down your cc number and use it otherwise.

 

Just be careful.

 

PS (Someone just posted a story this past week about their cc being used)

:(

[cjm66]

I like this thread, now if I run short of cash I can find some quite easily.:rolleyes:

 

john

 

Depends where (on shore) you are and whether the card(s) you carry have access to cash money. I have used both credit (the banks money) and debit (my money) cards linked through VISA or Mastercard in Europe, Asia and US and more recently in the Pacific Islands using ATMs. The cash you get from an ATM (Hole in the Wall) will always be in local currency. There are ships with onboard ATM facilities but I have not used them. Before you plan to withdraw cash overseas check the charges your bank or card provider will apply to cash advances in foreign currency.