getting cash on board or in ports
 

I really don't want to carry cash if I can avoid it, so where can you get cash on board or in ports? I might only want to get $50 a day cash on the two port days for a few cheap souvenirs. I will bring some singles for tips for airport/ship baggage handlers and cruise excursion tour guides.

I understand the onboard ATMs run out of cash quickly - where else can you get cash if you need it? Do some of the port shops, museums, etc. take debit card or credit cards? Are there currency exchanges near the port in Nassau that I could go to to get a cash advance on a credit card if I really wanted to buy something and the place took cash only?

Michelle,

Good Morning!!! You sound like me, and want to make every dollar work for you, so here goes.

Carry either cash or Travelers checks.

Once you get aboard ship, put most of the money in your room safe. Take out what you need for the day.

ATM fees are going up, up,up. Before you know it, you find out you could have just purchased an ATM machine, for what you have paid.

This is what I do. I go to the bank and get 20's (Never over a 20.00 because some businesses will not take higher)
I get 5's maybe a few 10's and then the rest ones.

I put all of this in envelopes, unmarked. It all goes in the safe in the room.

My kids also have their own room, so they get an envelope for their safe, to tip the room service people.

On the way to the ship, I get part of the money, and hubby gets part, or I put it in two different places. That way if we are robbed, we don't loose everything.

*** also, Travelers checks are often hard to cash, so if you can, do cash****

Hope this helps

Luanne

I'm surprised that Carnival won't give you an advance on your credit card. Seems like they would not want you to run out of cash.

Brian

the cruise ship will cash traveler checks but they have a set limit as to how many a day; I don't recall if there is any charge;

Luanne's suggestion is exactly what we do we split the money between us, set our daily cash limit and leave the rest in the safe; (I don't leave the cash in plain sight in the safe but tuck it away.

Personally, I would avoid using an ATM machine at the ports; just doesn't seem to be safe.

we never carry all our cash into the ports, only take what we expect to spend and a credit card for any large purchases.

thanks everyone, I will probably just carry a little cash for port purchases (which will just be little cheap souvenirs) and rely on credit cards. I'm traavelling with my son and I don't want him carrying cash so I'll leave a bit in the safe as advised.

Brian,'

Anytime you ask for a cash advance, it will cause very high interest rates. Better to avoid, if possible.

yeah, I will also bring a couple of traveller's checks (I know, keep a photocopy of them in the room safe). It's good to know they can cash them on board, but I"m sure even that runs out - like the ATM - correct?

the Carnival website says that there are no limits to Traveler's checks and no fees; however, on the cruise that I just returned from; there was a sign at the purser's desk indicating that there was a daily limit of the number of traveler's checks per person. I think it was 2-3 per day; so maybe get the traveler's checks in $100.00 or $50.00 denominations so you don't need to cash more than 2 per day. Also, getting cash back on your credit card will get you a 5.5% fee from Carnival as well as the cash advance fee or higher rate from your credit card company, just not worth it IMHO.

EDIT: The ATM fee on board Carnival is $5.50 per transaction (in addition to whatever your bank charges); shoot that is toooo much money; take the cash or traveler's checks...

Thanks, for the 4-day cruise I will bring two $100 traveller's checks, one for each of the 2 port days.

Just an FYI, we have also cashed our travellers checks in the casino. Always seems like there is a shorter line.

thanks! I don't go to casinos' but Im' sure the casino's have lots of cash!

Actually there is another way to get a cash advance in the casino a little cheaper. If you buy chips on your credit card Carnival charges you only 3%. Then you buy into a game and can cash the chips in at anytime.

You only pay the 3% and it goes on your card as a purchase not an advance so if you pay the balance in full each month there is no interest.

It works, I've done it.

Bill 8)

PS - I've heard some cruise lines don't even charge the 3%!

I would be concerned with Identity Theft from an ATM in another country.

We also ran into some kind of currency exchange fee when we used our credit card in Cozumel.