Comments on: What Is The Most Difficult Cruise Question to Answer? http://www.cruisemates.com/blog/200910201155/difficult-cruise-question-answer/ Blogging the cruising world Tue, 07 Feb 2012 22:11:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: Paul Motter http://www.cruisemates.com/blog/200910201155/difficult-cruise-question-answer/comment-page-1/#comment-1485 Paul Motter Thu, 22 Oct 2009 16:25:28 +0000 http://www.cruisemates.com/blog/?p=1155#comment-1485 if you look at the original question "how much money should I bring?" the question has to take into account what cruise you are on and whether you intend to pay your gratuities in cash. It just amazes me now that there are still cruise lines who have not gone to a "gratuities on your shipboard acct" system. It used to be necessary to bring enough cash to tip at the end of the cruise - about $150 for an average 7-day cruise. That was so inconvenient. These days you only need "cash" for in port use. All of your shipboard expenses will go on your credit card at the end of the cruise. Even if you shop in port (and who doesn't really?) most port stores take credit cards. So, the better question is "what will I need cash for?" and the answer is... Taxis, off-ship tips (if you use the automatic tipping onboard) and small purchases. It also comes in very handy in the casino when they charge a service charge to give you chips, but personally, if I am in a casino and I am going to lose (or win, rarely) $100 then I don't think the $3 service charge more or less makes much difference. if you look at the original question “how much money should I bring?” the question has to take into account what cruise you are on and whether you intend to pay your gratuities in cash. It just amazes me now that there are still cruise lines who have not gone to a “gratuities on your shipboard acct” system.

It used to be necessary to bring enough cash to tip at the end of the cruise – about $150 for an average 7-day cruise. That was so inconvenient.

These days you only need “cash” for in port use. All of your shipboard expenses will go on your credit card at the end of the cruise.

Even if you shop in port (and who doesn’t really?) most port stores take credit cards. So, the better question is “what will I need cash for?” and the answer is…

Taxis, off-ship tips (if you use the automatic tipping onboard) and small purchases. It also comes in very handy in the casino when they charge a service charge to give you chips, but personally, if I am in a casino and I am going to lose (or win, rarely) $100 then I don’t think the $3 service charge more or less makes much difference.

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