Do I need ANY cash??

[Carey]

Just so that I am totally clear - I really wont need ANY cash at all on the ship, right? EVERYTHING I buy will go to my sign and sail card? My plan is to stop at an ATM at each port and only take out the money I am willing to spend at that port and really thats all I would need cash for, right? Then that way, the ONLY thing that will be on my credit card that I need to pay off when I get home is my sign and sail card.

Please correct me if I'm wrong or if you have any good suggestions on how to manage/deal with money issues.

Thanks!!
Carey

[ssatterly]

Everything but the Casnio

[Carey]

Oh RIGHT!! Thank you for that reminder - I'll have to set aside a special little fund for that to make sure I dont go crazy in the casino as I have been known to do

Tipping for room service. I can't stand not to have any cash in my pocket.

[ssatterly]

Not a problem yea and tipping like antia said......

[Donna]

Hi CAry,
Be advised that when you use those ATM machines, there is a service charge..I try to just bring enough cash and not use the machines, have the tips set aside, so they are set and don't need to worry about that either. If you are going to take cabs, or need spending money on the islands, we take $100 per day and always come home with some of it, but would rather have it and not need it. You can also use your credit card in ports.

[Stacy]

Instead of ATM machines and their service charges, get traveler's checks. If you don't cash them you can bring them home and use them anywhere. If they get stolen or you lose them you're covered. I bring $25 in ones for tipping/extras on the way to and from the ship (porters, luggage carts, soda, bellhops, drivers of shuttle buses, etc.) plus around $100 in larger bills. Then I bring $100 per day in TC's. I was really glad I had the cash the time we flew into Mexico to start a cruise... everyone had to pay some obscure "fee" to enter the country: $50 CASH or you couldn't enter the country. Scam? Most likely.. but for $50 I wasn't going to miss my cruise. I was glad I had the cash. People were scrambling to find the money, especially families.

[Carey]

Wow - certainly a scam, but good thing you had it!!

I always bring $100 with me in cash for transportation from the airport to the hotel and anything else I might need before I find an ATM, but I get very nervous carrying more than that around. Don't you have to pay a service charge to cash Travelers Checks also? And will there always be a place at the ports where you can cash them?

Donna - are you saying to take $100 cash per day b/c you pay your sign and sail card with that money or is that on top of what you charge on your sign and sail card??

Maybe I'll just take out all the cash I want at the terminal in NY (where we depart), only pay the ATM fee once then use the safe in our cabin. I think someone went over this before, but on the Carnival Victory do ALL cabins have safes? How safe/convenient would it be to leave your money with the purser if your room doenst have a safe?

Oh the dillemas of a first time cruiser!!



Post Edited (05-17-04 20:13)

[Donna]

Hi CAry,
You can cash travelers checks onboard at no cost, I do it all the time. I like to take part in travelers checks and cash and also use the CC.

If planning to use atm on the ship, I have heard that they run out of money into
the cruise. They must not refill them until they dock again. I would go ahead
and take what cash you need. Or take travelers checks, and you can have them
cashed at the persers desk.

[Carey]

Ohhh they can cash onboard at the pursers desk with no service charge? Thats settles it then - thats what I'll do.

Thanks everyone for the great advice as always!