How much actual cash would you suggest bringing?

[SYH]

About to do my first cruise for 8 days with my husband. In my day to day life I carry very little cash anymore thanks to debit cards and forms of payment. We are will be traveling to American islands where I am making the assumption they will take ccs and such. Is that wrong? Will tipping folks on the boat, times we are off the boat-cabs,food,shopping ext- how much money should we bring with us?

[luv2kroooz]

Yes, credit cards widely accepted worldwide. I'd take an average of $40-$50 per port of call. Allows for some incidental spending in port and some incidental tipping onboard and on tour.

[mjkacmom]

We bring cash to tip porters, bartenders, our cabin steward, taxi fares, small purchases at ports, less than $500.

[Greenpea2]

51 minutes ago, mjkacmom said:

We bring cash to tip porters, bartenders, our cabin steward, taxi fares, small purchases at ports, less than $500.

Agree. Usually bring about $400 in twenties plus a bunch of ones, fives, and some tens. I've never needed it all but like knowing I have it "just in case."

[nonchalant_muse]

I recommend always carrying at least a small amount of cash on your person at every port. Many places will accept credit cards, but there are still those outliers that accept cash-only. You will also need cash for any tips you may give out.

 

As for how much cash to take total, bring more than you think you will actually use. It's better to have a surplus of cash at the end of your vacay than it is to not have enough. Keep the majority of your cash along with other valuables (passport, etc.) locked in your cabin safe.

[BirdTravels]

1 hour ago, SYH said:

About to do my first cruise for 8 days with my husband. In my day to day life I carry very little cash anymore thanks to debit cards and forms of payment. We are will be traveling to American islands where I am making the assumption they will take ccs and such. Is that wrong? Will tipping folks on the boat, times we are off the boat-cabs,food,shopping ext- how much money should we bring with us?

Welcome to Cruise Critic!

 

Where is the American islands. Hawaii?

 

If Hawaii, then it is a state like New York. Carry a few hundred dollars in small bills. 

[panoramaofthepast]

One trick we have used for years is to make "tip envelopes" before we leave home. One for the room steward, for our table waiters [if you have traditional seating on a cruise], one for each excursion, things like that. That way we don't have to scramble at the end of the cruise. If we feel it extra isn't warranted, it stays in the safe; if we feel more is needed, we add it in. Works for us!

[RocketMan275]

1 hour ago, nonchalant_muse said:

As for how much cash to take total, bring more than you think you will actually use. It's better to have a surplus of cash at the end of your vacay than it is to not have enough. Keep the majority of your cash along with other valuables (passport, etc.) locked in your cabin safe.

Old saying. 

Layout everything you think you will need on your bed, clothes and cash.

Put half the clothes back in the closet.

Double the amount of money.

 

We always bring at least $600 for tips and purchases.

You can change big bills into smaller bills at a number of places on board.

Edited April 10, 2023 by RocketMan275

[Yesimapirate]

Keep in mind that you want to bring more if you're in the Haven or Suite to take care of the Butler and Concierge. 

[Two Wheels Only]

Keep your cash spread out in different places. If a wallet gets lost, there's still some cash in a bag. If a bag get's lost, there's still some cash in the suitcase, etc...

[fredflint]

We usually bring about 200 bucks with 50  ones,  then 5  tens and another 20 fives.

[RocketMan275]

2 hours ago, Two Wheels Only said:

Keep your cash spread out in different places. If a wallet gets lost, there's still some cash in a bag. If a bag get's lost, there's still some cash in the suitcase, etc...

Wife and I each have a sling bag. Half our funds go in each bag.  These are not checked baggage.  Each person had their passport and the other persons passport card.  

[YVRteacher]

$300.  
When I go ashore I usually have $50 in smaller bills with me.  

[fmrlkr]

I take $500.  50 - 1's, 20 - 5's, 10-10's, 5-20's, and 3 - 50's.  I use a lot of 1's and 5's.  What ever I come back with goes into the envelope for the next cruise.

[Middleager]

4 hours ago, RocketMan275 said:

Old saying. 

Layout everything you think you will need on your bed, clothes and cash.

Put half the clothes back in the closet.

Double the amount of money.

 

I always ask my wife and pack little, wear little.  She doesn't listen to me though.

[complawyer]

it also depends on how long your cruise is and who you expect to tip. $10 for sure to the baggage handler on the dock. for 3 meals a day anywhere from $5-$10 dollars per meal. We dont tip as much for breakfast as at dinner, and a little bit more if we're eating at a specialty restaurant.

$1-2 for your bartender.

 

$100+ to the butler if your'e in a suite or haven. $50 or more (again if you're in a suite or a haven) to the concierge, contingent on often you use his/her services. $20 at the beginning, another $20 at the middle and $20 or more at the end of the cruise to your cabin steward, $5-20 to anyone else on the staff who performs a service for you. if we're eating in the buffet, i usually tip $1-2 to the person making my omlet and/or the crepes.

 

that about covers it for the ship. if at all possible, we try and book cabs in many of the ports, as opposed to paying the ridiculous prices for the ncl shore excursions, so we usually factot in a tip for the driver. oddly enough, if we're on an ncl booked excursion, i dont tip either  the bus driver or the tour guide (go figure)

 

additional tips, if you're staying at a hotel before/after the cruise, to the bellcap, and maybe the person who checks you in.

 

i imagine, that i'll get a lot of flack from people who dont feel it's necessary to tip, since the dsc is rolled into your cruise fare. i've said this before in a prior post. if you wish to tip, feel free to do so, if not, then don't. it's really no one else's business.

again, if we're fortunate enough to be sailing in a suite or haven, i usually give the maitre'd a $20 oor so periodically throughout the cruise. you may not believe it, but it goes a long, long way to make your meals easier.

 

btw, sorry for the length of tis post, but i hope it helps

[RocketMan275]

7 hours ago, Middleager said:

I always ask my wife and pack little, wear little.  She doesn't listen to me though.

My wife is perfectly content bringing only two pairs of shoes for a seven day cruise.

She uses a medium size suitcase and always has room left over.

[laudergayle]

12 hours ago, panoramaofthepast said:

One trick we have used for years is to make "tip envelopes" before we leave home. One for the room steward, for our table waiters [if you have traditional seating on a cruise], one for each excursion, things like that. That way we don't have to scramble at the end of the cruise. If we feel it extra isn't warranted, it stays in the safe; if we feel more is needed, we add it in. Works for us!

I, too, did the same exact thing last cruise.  One for each port/excursion. On the tip envelope I wrote on the outside the anticipated people/amounts…so I could have the right amount of $1, $5, $10.  It worked amazingly well, both in determining budget, but also staying on budget.

[laudergayle]

7 hours ago, complawyer said:

oddly enough, if we're on an ncl booked excursion, i dont tip either  the bus driver or the tour guide (go figure)

You’re a generous tipper.  Why not the NCL excursion folks?  Just curious??

[cruiseny4life]

Don't be like us! We had $60 cash when we went to Bermuda thinking we could rely on their public transportation system. After a long wait for our last bus, we decided we needed to hoof it to make it back to the ship in time for sail away. Don't want to miss that! We were on St. David's Island, so far away from everything, except a gorgeous beach. 

 

We found the Pizza House near the airport where the owner graciously called a taxi for us. After a thirty minute wait the taxi arrived with a great sign that said "Cash only." Great! Well, we only had to make it to Hamilton which is really not that far away as we'd then take the public ferry back to Dockyard. That meter sure did creep up quickly, thankfully stopping at $51 and some change, just as the driver dropped us off in downtown Hamilton. Whew! We made it, and thankfully, the fee for the ferry was exactly what we had left. 

 

Now, I demand we take at least $100 when we go out on our own. $60 was enough, but just barely. If we're on a NCL excursion, we don't really care as we don't need to purchase anything. We did a Tulum excursion and were able to use credit for lunch. 

 

So, while I can't answer the question of how much without knowing your plans, plan to carry a decent amount with you. We take between $300 - $500 for a week, depending on if we're going to hit the casino or not. 

[graphicguy]

Hoo-Boy….I’m an outlier.  I bring well into 4 figures.  But, I tend to play in Hold’Em Cash Games every night.

 

But, as others said, if you’re not in the casino every night, probably a few hundred for cash tips to bartenders, shore personnel, etc.  Ones ($100), Fives ($150) and Tens ($250) is $500. That should work.  Personally, I give my cabin steward $100 of that.

[Peachypooh]

Once when talking to a cab driver in the Bahamas he told me that the public hospitals

are open to everyone but if ever the need arise and I want to go to their private hospital

you have to give them $300 in cash before they even see you. It might not be true but

that is what he told me. So.... I always bring what I consider emergency money not to be touched. I keep it totally separate not to be spent. I imagine other countries are like that too.

[9tee2Sea]

Ask your bank if your ATM will work in the places your are going ( ask about foreign transaction fees if any).  If your bank has places in foreign ports, just use their ATM.  

[RocketMan275]

10 minutes ago, 9tee2Sea said:

Ask your bank if your ATM will work in the places your are going ( ask about foreign transaction fees if any).  If your bank has places in foreign ports, just use their ATM.  

So, why waste time looking for an ATM?  the cash in my pocket is better than any ATM.

[9tee2Sea]

depends.  I don't understand when the OP said American Islands?  Is that Hawaii, Samoa?  If it's American, USD will work just fine.  If traveling overseas, ATM is better to exchange money into local currency.  I figure $50. 00 per day, for two ( food, souvenirs,tours) for US destinations.  $10.00 per day for onboard tips.  I always pre-pay the daily service fee as part of my final payment, so i add $50 to the cabin steward.