Cash

[N00B]

I live in an essentially cashless society. I doubt my cruise experience will be cashless. So I have a few questions.

 

First off - what will I need actual cash money (paper and coins) for.

 

I have a couple guesses:

 

On board tips

Port side souvenirs from small crafters or beachside vendors

Tips for guides

Local transportation (taxis, busses)

 

That's about all I know.

 

If I purchase a shore excursion not through the cruise line - but purchased port side - do they take credit/debit cards or do they require cash payments, even when the excursion is $50+

 

Shore side restaurants and bars - do they generally accept credit/debit or are they cash only?

 

Beachclubs - cash or credit?

 

Okay - next question. Our ship sails out of the US. What is the best way to get a handful of US singles and small bills. Generally we would go to a cash machine (ATM), but usually they give out larger bills. Could we just walk into a bank with $100 or more and ask for singles and fives and such or would we have to have an account there - do they charge for this? How do you get small US bills?

 

I assume that cruising the Caribbean and Mexico that we will be able to use US$ in every port?

[spookwife]

Cash is only n

[Gunner22aa]

Your assumptions on where you use cash are correct. Ashore you will also find places that you wouldn't want to use your card for security reasons. As to getting a bunch of one dollar bills. Any US bank should have them on hand. Here in Canada all banks carry reasonable amounts of US dollars and Euros on hand at all times. To ensure I get the amount of ones I need I go in a couple of weeks ahead of the cruise and specifically order them. There is no charge other than the going conversion rate if I buy them out of my Canadian dollar account and no charge if I us my US dollar account. If you find yourself running low on the ship no problem. See any of the bar staff. They will gladly exchange the ones that they got in tips that shift for larger bills. It's in their own best interest because they know some of those ones they just gave you are likely to make it back to them. I've done this several times with never a problem.

[spookwife]

Cash for baggage at the pier and room service. Also casino. In port depends on where and what. You can exchange currency at the airport and just ask for small bills. Or a bank( no account needed) or even the bar at most restaurants within reason. They will break a 20.

[LHT28]

Go to your local bank & ask for some USD they usually have some small bills & you can always change them on the ship for $1

 

Some shoreside restaurant will be cash only just ask before you order otherwise use the CC

Be sure to let the Credit card company know you are out of the Country or they will freeze the account

Same with your bank if you intend to use the ATM's outside of Canada

[Scrapnana]

If you set up an excursion in advance, they should let you know whether they want cash or will take credit cards. Many of the major tour operators (check out the posts on the ports of call forum about them, also on TripAdvisor), will take credit cards. I personally would not pay with a credit card somebody who is sitting at the end of the pier and offers to take you on a tour.

 

If you are getting to your cruise port a day or so early, it would be easy to go into a bank and ask them to break your larger bills to ones. I've done it before. Especially in Caribbean ports you want small bills so you do not get back a lot of change in the country's currency.

 

Have a great cruise.

[navybankerteacher]

Most banks will give ones for larger bills no non-customers. If you run out aboard ship, the Purser's desk will change larger bills, as will the casino cashier. Bar tenders would probably be happy to get rid of ones they have received as tips in exchange for tens or twentys. A lot of local tour operators prefer cash - as do all but the largest, most expensive restaurants - this will save you money, because your card company probably charges for usage in other currencies.

[cb at sea]

The ship can break large bills for you...no need to bring wads of small denominations. Larger bills are much easier to carry.

 

 

Almost every store in every country will take credit cards...."straw markets" will usually prefer cash.

 

US dollars are accepted throughout the Caribbean and Mexico.

 

 

Tips for excursion guides, if needed, should be in cash. Room service tips should be in cash.

[jsmeeker]

for on board, the casino.

[springfire]

for on board, the casino.

 

For me that is the easiest way.

[NMLady]

Go to your local bank & ask for some USD they usually have some small bills & you can always change them on the ship for $1

 

Some shoreside restaurant will be cash only just ask before you order otherwise use the CC

Be sure to let the Credit card company know you are out of the Country or they will freeze the account

Same with your bank if you intend to use the ATM's outside of Canada

 

We have been out of the country more than a dozen times, never notified our bank or credit card company and never had a problem using our card.

[scapel]

I live in an essentially cashless society. I doubt my cruise experience will be cashless. So I have a few questions.

 

First off - what will I need actual cash money (paper and coins) for.

 

I have a couple guesses:

 

On board tips

Port side souvenirs from small crafters or beachside vendors

Tips for guides

Local transportation (taxis, busses)

 

That's about all I know.

 

If I purchase a shore excursion not through the cruise line - but purchased port side - do they take credit/debit cards or do they require cash payments, even when the excursion is $50+

 

Shore side restaurants and bars - do they generally accept credit/debit or are they cash only?

 

Beachclubs - cash or credit?

 

Okay - next question. Our ship sails out of the US. What is the best way to get a handful of US singles and small bills. Generally we would go to a cash machine (ATM), but usually they give out larger bills. Could we just walk into a bank with $100 or more and ask for singles and fives and such or would we have to have an account there - do they charge for this? How do you get small US bills?

 

I assume that cruising the Caribbean and Mexico that we will be able to use US$ in every port?

 

Multiple small bills are used ashore to make small purchases. If you give a large USD bill you get change in local currency at an exchange rate vary favorable to them. You now have their currency to use or exchange back aboard. In any event you loose money so minimize loss by carrying small bills.

Use the credit card when ever possible in a foreign country and keep the receipt to check exchange rate. My Capital one card makes no foreign exchange charge and no currency conveersion charge so it is easy to check exchange rate with the receipt you get in the foreign currency. Many merchants require a purchase of $25 to $50 in order to use a credit card.

I was surpirsed to find that I was not charged an ATM charge by my Capital one bank unless the local ATM made a charge. Exchange rate was the same as all the purchases made on the credit card.

[LHT28]

We have been out of the country more than a dozen times, never notified our bank or credit card company and never had a problem using our card.

 

That is good then

 

We have had our card frozen a few times when we tried to use it in the USA until we called the bank

DH forgot to call before we left home (his only job)

 

Guess it depends on your CC company

 

Lyn

[Guest maddycat]

We have been out of the country more than a dozen times, never notified our bank or credit card company and never had a problem using our card.

 

Poor fraud protection on the part of your cc company.

[Guest maddycat]

Multiple small bills are used ashore to make small purchases. If you give a large USD bill you get change in local currency at an exchange rate vary favorable to them. You now have their currency to use or exchange back aboard. In any event you loose money so minimize loss by carrying small bills.

Use the credit card when ever possible in a foreign country and keep the receipt to check exchange rate. My Capital one card makes no foreign exchange charge and no currency conveersion charge so it is easy to check exchange rate with the receipt you get in the foreign currency. Many merchants require a purchase of $25 to $50 in order to use a credit card.

I was surpirsed to find that I was not charged an ATM charge by my Capital one bank unless the local ATM made a charge. Exchange rate was the same as all the purchases made on the credit card.

 

Be careful where you use your cc in the Caribbean and Mexico. My cc company has warned me of widespread cc fraud in these countries.