Currency

[traveller236]

Hello,

 

We're first-time cruisers. We're doing a B2B 14-day Caribbean cruise. I'm just wondering how much cash to take and should we exchange any USD to local currency before disembarking for the following ports: Jamaica, Mexico, Cayman Isl., Dominican, and Saint Maarten?

 

Thanks.

[leaveitallbehind]

No need for any currency exchange. All of those islands take US dollars - and just ask for US dollars in change if not immediately provided. As to how much to take, that is entirely up to you and how much you think you would spend in port.

 

And just to be sure you area aware, the ships are cashless and all on-board expenses, other than the casino, are charged directly to your room card.

[cb at sea]

Get a guidebook on your ports...figure out what you want to do, and about how much it will cost...and you should be able to budget accordingly. Most places in all of the countries will accept credit cards, too!

 

You won't need cash on the ship for anything on a day to day basis. Most folks pay their bills with credit cards. If you prefer to pay in cash, you will have a safe in your cabin to store it.

[Scrapnana]

Be sure to bring a number of $1, $5, and $10 bills. Some places will only give you change in the local currency. You don't want local change for a $20 bill if you are just buying a soft drink. I don't worry about taking any US coins ashore - they are not real popular.

[Harry and Lucille]

We always check this site. That way you know what you will be paying if using US dollars against the local currency.

 

Example: While on Roatan, a lady in a craft booth wanted to sell me a 20 limpera 'historic coin' for only $5.00. Hummm. At that time, one limpera was only five cents. Nice profit methinks. Lets see know. Bring it back to the US? What would it be worth if I could find a place to cash it in? Maybe a trinket of the trip? Naw ;)

[Harry and Lucille]

https://www.oanda.com/currency/converter/ :o

[traveller236]

Thanks everyone. I think I'll take some small bills as suggested and load the currency converter App - good idea!

[Rustybuttons123]

I do a lot of international land based travel as well and exchange currency frequently. Actually what I do most places is withdraw local currency from an ATM, that's the best rate and most convenient...well assuming there's an ATM nearby, usually there are. But as others have mentioned, the places you list will take US dollars, but that's not universally always the best thing to do, it depends on whether the currency is pegged to the US dollar or whether it floats.

 

St. Maarten and Cayman Islands the currency is pegged to the US dollar, which means its fixed and doesn't fluctuate, so vendors set their prices according to that.

 

Jamaica, Dominican Republic and Mexico have floating currencies, like the US dollar it fluctuates on the market. If the dollar is strong you can get really ripped off by local vendors who don't lower their prices accordingly.

 

But with either scenario, a fixed or fluctuating currency you will never get the best rate of exchange using US dollars instead of local currency as vendors compensate by using a lower than the fixed rate. However, for small purchases while just daytripping off a cruise ship its not significant enough to be of great concern, one might just opt for the convenience of using US dollars. But if you're going somewhere and staying for a week or more then you would certainly get local currency and use that for the duration.

 

Hope this wasn't too confusing, I almost confused myself typing it....I still may have LOL

 

Sent from my Hoover Upright using Bagless Windtunnel Technology

_____________

Rusty

[UUNetBill]

Two caveats when using ATM/Debit or credit cards while traveling - be sure to notify your card company where you'll be visiting so your card doesn't get denied, and be aware of any conversion fees your cardholder charges. Many don't but some still do and it can get pricey...

[Rustybuttons123]

Two caveats when using ATM/Debit or credit cards while traveling - be sure to notify your card company where you'll be visiting so your card doesn't get denied, and be aware of any conversion fees your cardholder charges. Many don't but some still do and it can get pricey...

 

Not my debit card, never has gotten denied or frozen in any country and have used it in places like Ghana, Ethiopia, Thailand, Bosnia, Nicaragua, etc. But my credit cards will get denied after the first transaction if I don't notify the bank of my travel plans, which I do online by logging into my account. For my credit cards, all are no FOREX fees and one is chip and PIN which most of the rest of the world requires these days. To withdraw cash though I use my debit card, and you'll pay an ATM fee, usually its a fixed flat rate anywhere from $1 to $5 or can be a percent, depends on the banks involved. At any rate, its usually best to withdraw large amounts in fewer transactions then lots of little withdraws....so guestimate what you need for the duration then withdraw accordingly.

[Floridiana]

What we did in the Caribbean:

A drink and some low cost souvenirs, 1 and 5 $ bills as already advised. Bigger purchase (over $50) : credit card.

[maldenmusic]

We have cruised the Caribbean and never exchanged any American dollars. We do make sure we take lots of small currency so getting change isn't as much of an issue.

[Jillybean_513]

 

Sent from my Hoover Upright using Bagless Windtunnel Technology

_____________

Rusty

 

 

Funny stuff right there!

[UUNetBill]

Not my debit card, never has gotten denied or frozen in any country and have used it in places like Ghana, Ethiopia, Thailand, Bosnia, Nicaragua, etc. But my credit cards will get denied after the first transaction if I don't notify the bank of my travel plans, which I do online by logging into my account. For my credit cards, all are no FOREX fees and one is chip and PIN which most of the rest of the world requires these days. To withdraw cash though I use my debit card, and you'll pay an ATM fee, usually its a fixed flat rate anywhere from $1 to $5 or can be a percent, depends on the banks involved. At any rate, its usually best to withdraw large amounts in fewer transactions then lots of little withdraws....so guestimate what you need for the duration then withdraw accordingly.

 

That's very true. And whether your cards, credit or debit, get 'locked' when you travel is directly tied to how aggressively your financial institution monitors for fraud. I've had some card issuers that couldn't care less, and one who denied a transaction because although I told them I was going to nine different countries and the dates I was traveling, I neglected to mention that my flight had a 4 hour layover in LHR...I went to the airport Starbucks to get a cup of coffee, and NO SALE! :eek: I hadn't bothered to get pounds since we were only there for a few hours, so I ended up paying in dollars at a very bad exchange rate...but I didn't mind that much since there was caffeine at stake...but I didn't have any problems with the card from that point on since the remaining countries were on my list...