Do we need cash for visiting Alaska?

[Lizzim]

We are on an Alaska cruise leaving Seattle soon (coming from the UK).
 

We typically use our credit cards when visiting the US but I wondered if we would have any need for cash when visiting the Alaska ports? 

 

Just so I can get some if we need it 🙂

[PACD_JG]

When in Rome...

 

The US has a tipping culture.  For that, cash is king.

[Northern Aurora]

A quick comment from someone who lives in Alaska — we rarely use cash.  Even the smallest coffee cart generally takes credit cards.  

[Ashland]

It's always best to have even a small amount of local cash with you....regardless. Also remember onboard it will be based on USD so having some small dollar bills with you for some tips...like room service delivery etc. etc. would be helpful.

[Lizzim]

Thanks all.

We will have a small amounts for tips etc but glad to know we can assume we can buy souvenirs etc with our cards.

[Lizzim]

47 minutes ago, Ashland said:

It's always best to have even a small amount of local cash with you....regardless. Also remember onboard it will be based on USD so having some small dollar bills with you for some tips...like room service delivery etc. etc. would be helpful.

 

We don’t do room service and on previous cruises we added tips for drinks etc to our bill. Hopefully we didn’t break an unwritten rule somewhere….

[disneyochem]

I always have some cash in small bills on a cruise.  It's nice to have money to tip the porters at the pier as well as room delivery etc.  I also like to leave a little extra for our room steward(s) and any other personnel that has helped make our cruise wonderful!

 

We cruise enough in Canada and Mexico that I have small bills in Canadian and Mexican currency.  It's just nice to have some cash, IMO.

[GTJ]

9 hours ago, Lizzim said:

We typically use our credit cards when visiting the US but I wondered if we would have any need for cash when visiting the Alaska ports? Just so I can get some if we need it 🙂

My suggestion is to wait until you arrive in the United States, then use an ATM that has minimal fees and withdraw twenty American dollars to use for incidentals (cash gratuities, small purchases, street vendors, bus fares, etc.). Where I reside minimal fee ATMs are located in McDonald's restaurants, where a withdrawal of any amount incurs a fee of $1.19 (perhaps some Alaska residents can chime in as to where minimal fee ATMs are located within the state). Most American ATMs dispense cash in twenty dollar increments. If you know from prior experience that you're more generous with incidentals, then you might withdraw forty American dollars, but with ATMs being ubiquitous, you might just do twenty American dollars at a time.

[GTJ]

3 hours ago, Northern Aurora said:

A quick comment from someone who lives in Alaska — we rarely use cash.  Even the smallest coffee cart generally takes credit cards.  

It has been a while since I have been in Alaska, so I don't have that first-hand experience. But where I live, in New York City, it would seem quite odd to me for a person to get, say, a bagel and coffee, and pay with anything other than cash. (In New York I have never seen a street vendor even having the capability of accepting credit cards, and I imagine that no vendors would want to either pay the credit card transaction cost or take the time to process a credit card transaction.) I would have the same reluctance in Alaska, and I would opt to pay cash.

[Lizzim]

25 minutes ago, GTJ said:

My suggestion is to wait until you arrive in the United States, then use an ATM that has minimal fees and withdraw twenty American dollars to use for incidentals (cash gratuities, small purchases, street vendors, bus fares, etc.). Where I reside minimal fee ATMs are located in McDonald's restaurants, where a withdrawal of any amount incurs a fee of $1.19 (perhaps some Alaska residents can chime in as to where minimal fee ATMs are located within the state). Most American ATMs dispense cash in twenty dollar increments. If you know from prior experience that you're more generous with incidentals, then you might withdraw forty American dollars, but with ATMs being ubiquitous, you might just do twenty American dollars at a time.

This is my plan. We will use Uber or Lyft from the airport so can tip on the app and will get cash at the first opportunity for this, we used our last cash in June on tips 🙂

[Lizzim]

12 minutes ago, GTJ said:

It has been a while since I have been in Alaska, so I don't have that first-hand experience. But where I live, in New York City, it would seem quite odd to me for a person to get, say, a bagel and coffee, and pay with anything other than cash. (In New York I have never seen a street vendor even having the capability of accepting credit cards, and I imagine that no vendors would want to either pay the credit card transaction cost or take the time to process a credit card transaction.) I would have the same reluctance in Alaska, and I would opt to pay cash.

In the UK we have gone towards less cash (where we are) and use Apple Pay or contactless cards for even small amounts - it’s actually less cost for most businesses because they have to pay extra to their banks for handling cash etc.

[GTJ]

1 hour ago, Lizzim said:

In the UK we have gone towards less cash (where we are) and use Apple Pay or contactless cards for even small amounts - it’s actually less cost for most businesses because they have to pay extra to their banks for handling cash etc.

It is similar in Canada, where Interac is used regularly for even small transactions. But that type of system has not really caught on in the United States to the same extent. I suspect that part of the reason is that cash used in transactions is not visible to the government--and a portion of such transactions escapes taxation--whereas electronic systems record all transactions and permit more thorough taxation. Routinely, many smaller businesses (and even many service stations) will offer lower prices for cash transactions, notwithstanding any cost for the handling of such cash, whereas larger businesses--and especially government businesses that are not taxed, such as public transportation systems--are more sensitive to cash handling costs and will do the opposite: offer lower prices for electronic transactions. Going into a smaller business, where prices might be negotiated, it is accepted that offering to pay cash is a bargaining tool in negotiating. Restaurants thrive in a cash world; where I reside in New York City, most restaurants do not accept credit cards (their menus have in large typeface "CASH ONLY"), and those that do accept credit cards are either part of a chain or are sufficiently expensive so that transaction and taxation costs are not substantial.

Edited September 14, 2022 by GTJ

[Northern Aurora]

In contrast to “GTJ’s” experience in Alaska not only do restaurants take credit cards but even small transactions such as purchases at our local farmer’s market and coffee shops take cards.

[Cbtours]

1 minute ago, Northern Aurora said:

In contrast to “GTJ’s” experience in Alaska not only do restaurants take credit cards but even small transactions such as purchases at our local farmer’s market and coffee shops take cards.

We are coming from Australia for first time either USA or Canada, so following this with interest. I’m thinking I’ll put some of each currency on my Qantas card and withdraw as needed as opposed to credit card???? 
move not gone as far as thinking the cash side of things yet (may 6 2023 for 14 days)

[Northern Aurora]

I should also state that where I live (Fairbanks, Alaska) there are no discounts for cash payments at gas stations or  even the smallest restaurants.    I have never experienced a discount for any type of cash transaction anywhere in our state.

 

Alaska Airlines is our predominant air carrier.  So everyone needs those Alaska Airlines miles and uses their Alaska Airlines credit card when ever they can (one mile per one dollar).  Also, a number of communities don’t even have banks — even those off the limited road system.  All payments are done online.  For example, paychecks are deposited electronically.   

[GTJ]

20 hours ago, Northern Aurora said:

I should also state that where I live (Fairbanks, Alaska) there are no discounts for cash payments at gas stations or even the smallest restaurants.

Interesting to see the differences between states. At first I thought is might be cultural, or perhaps the greater prevalence of mom-and-pop businesses in New York (vis-à-vis big box and chain stores). But it might be differences in tax rates. New York City has a tax on sales at a rate of 8.875 percent while Fairbanks has no general sales tax. New York City has a tax on personal income at rates of up to 10.9 percent imposed by the state, plus up to 3.876 percent imposed by the state, and not only is there additional tax on corporate income but also additional tax on unincorporated business income (plus an MTA tax on income to support transportation) . . . Fairbanks has no tax on personal income, though there is a tax on corporate income. Given the lack of taxation, there would be no incentive for businesses to employ methods that obscure income receipts and evade taxation. No incentive to discount cash prices.

[thehowlingroad]

Most places will accept Mastercard and Visa. The one place in Alaska where I found was truly cash only was the shuttle bus from the furthest dock in Juneau (the AJ dock; check if your ship is docking there). It's $5 for the whole day, cash only. Our ship was kind enough to point out that you can exchange USD and break large bills down with the on-board Casino but I'm sure there was an exorbitant fee and unfavorable exchange rate.