Which currencies are required in Caribbean?

[Suesancy]

Hi - we are sailing on Sea Princess in March 2008 and from memory I think we are ok with just bringing US dollars. However - are there any islands we are visiting where we will need local currency for taxis etc?

 

We are visiting - Jamaica, Grand Cayman, Aruba, Bonaire, La Guaira, Grenada, Barbados, Dominica, Antigua, Tortola, St. Thomas and Grand Turk.

 

Many thanks,

[LARGIN]

They all take dead Presidents.. :D

[DanJ]

Just make sure you use small denominations, as the locals won't likely give you US back.

[98Charlie]

Just make sure you use small denominations, as the locals won't likely give you US back.

 

I agree. DH & I always travel the Caribbean (and Mexico) ports with many small denomination bills of American currency (1, 5 & 10$ bills) to pay for items or services at ports.

 

While we don't mind getting foreign currency in exchange since we cruise fairly often, we don't really want our cash tied up in foreign currency as change back from our dollars if we can help it.

 

Dianne

[Suesancy]

Many thanks all for your kind replies...can stop worrying about it now..just have to make sure that our Bank can supply us with small denomination US dollars.

 

Thanks again,

[JPRLHR]

Many thanks all for your kind replies...can stop worrying about it now..just have to make sure that our Bank can supply us with small denomination US dollars.

 

Thanks again,

 

Just give them sufficient notice when you book your currency and they'll give you any denominations you want.. I specifically requested $100 worth of singles and $200 worth of five's with Barclays and they came up trumps.

[TJM001]

As an alternative, you could buy US$ travellers cheques and cash them in at the purser's desk for whatever bills you need.

[martyz]

I always hit the casino the night before the port. You can get a nice assortment of bills from them to take with you. Remember that taxis take $3 or $6 so take enough ones, fives, tens, twenty's to make it easy to pay for stuff.

[Nancyquilts]

They really prefer clean money, not torn or worn - you might have trouble using those. Nancy

[Pam in CA]

I bring about $200 in $1s, $5s, $10s and $20s as well as about $300 in traveler's checks that I can cash onboard the ship. Often, I bring the traveler's checks home but I know that if I need cash, I've got access without having to worry about ATMs, etc.

 

They really prefer clean money, not torn or worn - you might have trouble using those. Nancy

Nancy is correct; bring "clean" money from the bank. Also, do not bring $2 bills. They make lousy tips for crew members (who have a LOT of trouble exchanging them for their own currency) and they're not accepted outside the U.S.