How Much Money or Cash Should I Bring on a Cruise?
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Many places accept credit cards like Visa and Mastercard, especially in larger cities, and ATMs are abundant in most ports. Most cruise lines do not include alcoholic beverages in the fare, so you’ll have to charge beer, wine and cocktails to your onboard account. If you’re looking forward to spending afternoons on the deck with fruity cocktails or having a daily glass of wine under the stars, you might consider purchasing a beverage package. With a beverage package, you’ll pay a set amount every day to enjoy unlimited drinks from a diverse selection. If you want to tour food trucks at each destination, plan to bring cash.
Do Cruise Ships Have ATMs?
If you consider your budget and onboard expenses before you go on your cruise, you’ll find it easier to keep to your budget, and not get any surprises. One thing I do recommend is bringing small bills so you don’t have the awkward moment of asking for change for a $20 when tipping the porter $2. Have some local currency to pay for a restroom break just in case.
You May Need Cash For Use During Port Calls
If you travel off the beat and path to small villages, you may have a hard time using U.S. currency. Also, local currency is better when again haggling with vendors or if you don’t want an atrocious exchange rate. Passengers are always free to give additional tips in cash for extraordinary service and for ancillary tours or excursions, but it’s not expected. You can use your cruise card to purchase drinks, souvenirs, spa treatments, shore excursions, specialty dining, and more.
Foreign currency
You can choose to pay in local currency, too, but obtaining money in 3+ currencies before a cruise is not necessary. The time when you’ll need the most cash on a cruise vacation is when you’re in port. Whether in Mexico, St. Maarten, Italy, or Vanuatu, having cash is recommended. Although cards are widely accepted, you may still encounter establishments that do not accept card payments. This allows you to pay for any and all of your onboard charges using your room key rather than bringing extra cash.
The top 10 most common additional costs on board a cruise ship:
The average amount of cash to bring on a cruise depends on various factors, such as the cruise destination, duration, and individual spending habits. However, as a general rule of thumb, many seasoned cruisers suggest bringing around $100 in cash per person for each day spent in port. When embarking on a Carnival cruise, it is generally recommended to bring approximately $100 in cash per person for each day spent in port, while no cash is necessary for the sea days. You may also need to think about tipping at other points throughout your cruise. In many spots, you’ll need cash for everything from sweets to sodas to souvenirs sold by street vendors and small mom-and-pop shops. If you’re cruising to large cities, say Rome or Barcelona for example, you’ll be able to use plastic in most cases.
Cruise Services
Cash is rarely required on a Royal Caribbean cruise, as all payments onboard are made via your SeaPass account. Prior to your cruise, you’ll connect your onboard account with a credit or debit card, and all payments will be charged to that card at the end of the cruise. Payments on cruise ships have almost entirely gone digital, but there are still a few situations where cash comes in handy. Knowing how much cash to bring on a cruise can help you plan your vacation budget and avoid pesky ATM fees along the way.
How Much Spending Money Should I Bring For the Cruise Ports?
If you plan on visiting the casino during your Carnival cruise, it’s best to bring enough cash with you to avoid any additional fees or charges. Set a limit for yourself and gamble responsibly, and be aware of the casino’s operating hours and minimum age requirements. It’s a good idea to bring cash with you to the casino if you plan on gambling.
How do you pay for things on board?
While you pay daily gratuities before your cruise ($16 per person, per day in most staterooms), many cruisers like to give something extra. Whether $2 to a bartender, $20 to your waiter, or $50 to your stateroom attendant, it’s common to tip crew members extra for excellent service. I set up envelopes for Crew Tips, money for any tour tips to the driver, and misc. I try and pre pay a lot of things, such as Gratuities, and drink packages to keep the on board expenses down.
Most purchases made onboard will be made using your cruise card so may only need a little for purchases made on land. Before the Covid pandemic, it was reported most guests bring between $100-$120 in cash per day to be spent on transportation, tips, gifts, food, and shopping. If you’re planning a cruise you may be wondering how much cash you should bring.
Depending on your bank, the ATM transaction fee may be waived. If you want to avoid any ATM charges, though, you can theoretically take money out via the casino. All ships have at least one ATM onboard, which is usually located in the Royal Promenade or Centrum. It is also your entry and exit pass to the ship once you start sailing.
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In addition, think about anything else you may do during your adventure, such as explore a local market or catch a taxi to a nature preserve. Unless you have your entire day planned, having some money on you gives you more freedom to do as you please. Considering these additional costs will help you plan your budget more accurately and avoid any financial surprises during your cruise.
Some travelers don’t research their destinations beforehand and prefer to be spontaneous. I personally would never spend £50 in the casino but I had to put something in the budget example right!? I know many people gamble much more than this and many gamble much less. Spa treatments can be quite expensive with a massage costing over £100 on some cruise lines. There are usually a number of speciality dining options on cruises that cost extra. It’s all very well me giving you these budget numbers but what do cruisers actually spend when cruising?
And some of the main dining rooms can offer fantastic menus and superb food, some of the best you will eat anywhere. It isn’t easy to know the answer to how much cash you should take on a cruise to participate in auctions. If you want to join in, you most likely are not on any budget at all. But again, if you find that “must-have” item on board and are prepared to bid for it, then the sky’s the limit as far as extra spending goes. Extra tipping on board is at your discretion but you will still have to pay the fixed gratuity cost.
Typically, you will find small envelopes at guest services available for cash tips. When on your cruise ship, your daily onboard expenses will be charged to your onboard account. The cruise line will provide you with a cruise card (keycard) or in the case of Princess Cruises, an Ocean Medallion (wearable disk). We use our credit cards as much as possible while on the islands and for shore excursions. The cash is reserved for tipping and more “local” purchases when credit card isn’t an option.
One of my favorite things about cruising is trying the local food. Sure, the food on the ship is paid for, but I’ve been to some amazing restaurants in port. While some cruise lines still offer free room service — not many do these days — you still should tip the person bringing you that delicious breakfast. I may be the strange one, but I bring $100 in singles, $100 in 5s, and $200 in $20s.
Of course, this all means that the amount of cash you need to carry depends on your own spending habits. If you are a big spender, then you’ll want to bring more money. But in general, you just need money for those things you’re doing off the ship. All ports you visit in the Caribbean or Bahamas will accept U.S. dollars, so don’t worry about having to change over currency.
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