Travelers Checks

[Dgshooter]

Is it possible to cash travelers checks on the ship? I'd rather not keep a lot of cash in the room and don't use debit cards.

[RWolver672]

Guest Services will cash them for you. Oddly enough, not that many islands like to cash them though. SIL couldn't cash them at two banks on one island. A lot of people are now using the VISA pre-paid cards. They can be used almost anywhere and are safe.

[hockeyluver]

With the distance we travel to cruise we dont like to carry that much cash so we always have traveler cheques and have always been able to cash them onboard. We will go the night before a port so we can have the $$ in port. Just remember to bring photo id when you go to cash them in.

[jfond]

I tried to get Traveler's Checks before my last cruise and could not find a bank to get them from. Hopefully you can find them!

[wrigley80]

Yes we always travel with travelers checks. When we need to cash one we just go to Guest Services. You will need your sail and sign card and a drivers license in order to cash them onboard. I've made the mistake a few times of forgetting my license and then having to get back to the room to get it

[MichelleChell]

IDK they still made them. LOL

[Linda the Book Lover]

Years back the DH and I had travlers checks and decided to cash one in a Key West bank. The bank asked if we had travelers checks issued in the United States and when we said yes they refused to cash them. Yes, we were in an United States of America bank with the big federal insured sign. We went another street over to another bank and cashed them and the bankers were surprised when we told our story. We enjoyed our vacation and it gave us a good story to tell since the original bank said if we had travelers checks from a foreign country they would cash. We had no problem on the ship cashing them at all. :D

[ABQrobin]

I always used to take travelers check on trips out of the country. A few years ago, I went to the bank to buy them and the bank didn't even have any available without getting the manager to find them. We went ahead and got them, then tried to use them in Cozumel at our hotel. They did cash them, but they were not very happy about it.

 

My advice... take cash and a debit or credit card.

[cruisinfanatic]

Unless you want to bring thousands (a lot) in cash, I think travelers checks are a bit over careful. The rings on your finger are probably worth much more than the cash you think you have to be careful of.

[Artemus]

Are travelers checks still around?

Edited October 16, 2014 by Artemus

[riffatsea]

Travelers checks are a kind of old fashioned way to carry money. They are not often used these days. Generally a hotel where you stay will cash them for you and the ship is like your "hotel at sea" so they'll cash them for you on board.

I wonder how much cash you would bring on a cruise?

I don't think we bring more than about$500 in cash.

I usually also bring pesos to Mexico since we live close to the border and can get them easily.

Otherwise I'd probably just use my credit card if something I wanted to buy was really expensive.

[jmcancruise]

We always bring travellers cheques when we cruise. No problem cashing them at guest services. We never try to cash them on land.

[jamesr3939]

Our son is the manager at a large "big name" bank and the staff gets a real laugh when people come in asking for TC. There are so many other options to get cash or pay for expenses. TC use to be the "safe" way to take money when you travel, but they aren't all that safe any longer.

 

Take one into a Starbucks in the US and see if the clerks even know what they are, let alone cash one. I think just writing a personal check onboard will cover what cash you need.

 

Last cruise I think I took $200 in cash small bills to tip with and everything else I used my AMEX or VISA.

[sqykkhickinb]

I've made the mistake a few times of forgetting my license and then having to get back to the room to get it

[Nic6318]

T.C's are still safe and you can cash them anytime on the ship ( the casino will also cash them for you )...Yes, they fell out of favor with businesses but that was because they were being counterfeited and that never did affect the customer.

 

If you lose them or they are stolen, they will be replaced. Sounds pretty safe to me. No need to carry a couple of hundred in small bills. Cash what you need the day before and the casino will give you whatever small bills you need for tips.

 

A lot of private tour companies request a deposit when booking will only take cash or T.C's for balance of payment. You can take several hundred dollars worth with just a handful of bills and what you don't use today can be saved for your next trip. I do get them without a fee, if you have to pay one you would have to determine its' value to you.

 

I use credit cards as well for most purchases, but there are some places I would prefer not to use a card. Look for posts where people have been compromised using their credit cards. For me I believe that kind of inconvenience is a real potential threat.

[rlkubi]

We haven't used Travelers Checks for 15 years. Since we went to Spain and we couldn't find anyone to cash them. Always use debit and credit cards. Safer.

[12Cruise]

Good luck finding travelers checks at any bank in the US - we've asked at many of them. And forget AAA - which is where we used to get them.

 

From what I am being told...they have really fallen out of favor due to being so easy to counterfeit. We used to use them exclusively for our cash needs while cruising, we would just cash them at the pursers desk and then go ashore. I hate not being able to find them anywhere locally.

[Davey Wavey]

Unless you want to bring thousands (a lot) in cash, I think travelers checks are a bit over careful. The rings on your finger are probably worth much more than the cash you think you have to be careful of.

 

The rings on my finger are insured. Cash is not.

 

The bank I usually get my cheques from was also out and said they would not be replacing them. They said to call any branch before going to confirm they were available. Our local AAA still carries them. You can easily cash them at guest services although I seem to remember they had a daily limit of $500. As a side note, our excursions through third parties say on their confirmation email that final payment can be made in travelers cheques. Out of curiosity, I asked the tour guides if they accepted cheques and they said they would but seemed unhappy to do so. They said they have problems finding a local bank to accept them.

 

I will still use cheques...they are still best for MY purposes. Your mileage may vary. The 2% fee is still the lowest cost of carrying money without it being cash. The prepaid cards (not including the direct deposit cards) the industry are switching to carry either a monthly fee, a load fee, and/or a transaction fee, plus the possibility of usage fees like an ATM fee or credit card use fee--for instance using it in the Carnival casino for table game chips would cost an additional 3% fee. I guess when travelers cheques finally die off, I'll just switch to using a credit card.

Edited October 17, 2014 by Davey Wavey

[Davey Wavey]

Our son is the manager at a large "big name" bank and the staff gets a real laugh when people come in asking for TC. There are so many other options to get cash or pay for expenses.

 

For example if I need $2500 cash to play in the casino, please ask your son what other option I have to get cash. Anyone, please let me know the least expensive way to do this without carrying a big pile of cash. I'm not trolling...I really want to know.

[cruisinfanatic]

For example if I need $2500 cash to play in the casino, please ask your son what other option I have to get cash. Anyone, please let me know the least expensive way to do this without carrying a big pile of cash. I'm not trolling...I really want to know.

25 $100 bills don't take a whole lot of room. Of course it's a gamble, but MUCH better odds compared to the casino

[fmrlkr]

Anyone, please let me know the least expensive way to do this without carrying a big pile of cash. I'm not trolling...I really want to know.

 

Use a credit card for your sign and sail card. Go to the casino. Charge money to your room. Cash out. No extra charges. Pay off credit card. No fees.

[cruisinfanatic]

Use a credit card for your sign and sail card. Go to the casino. Charge money to your room. Cash out. No extra charges. Pay off credit card. No fees.

the casino charges a percentage to get cash

[crisndeefromde]

We just tried to get Travelers Checks at our AAA location and they told us they no longer carry at any location and told us to get a visa card and load it. Yeah right and if that little gem gets stolen we have nothing.

 

so whomever is still finding the travlers checks let us know

[wrigley80]

We just tried to get Travelers Checks at our AAA location and they told us they no longer carry at any location and told us to get a visa card and load it. Yeah right and if that little gem gets stolen we have nothing.

 

 

 

so whomever is still finding the travlers checks let us know

 

 

We get American Express travelers checks from our bank. There is a 1% fee for travelers checks at out bank.

[fmrlkr]

the casino charges a percentage to get cash

 

I have not paid a fee when I have done this. I charge to my room from a slot machine, cash out take the slip to the desk and get the money. Sorry I didn't make it clear to use the slot machine. I did this on my cruise in January and in March.

Edited October 20, 2014 by fmrlkr
Added a sentance.