Cruise Talk: Cash or Traveler's Checks?

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Topic: Cash or Traveler's Checks?

LizKiddo
First Class Passenger
Member # 1167

posted 03-18-2000 03:00 PM

I am going on my first cruise on the 27th (Woo hoo!!) (Carnival Holiday) and am wondering whether Traveler's checks are hard to deal with on cruises?

I've had an increasingly hard time cashing them on the mainland and I am concerned about not being able to cash them in ports. I am not crazy about carrying a lot of cash...but I'm not crazy about the extreme cost of shipboard ATMs ($5 + the $2 charged by my own bank).

Does anyone know if the Sail & Sign card is good in the Casino?

Anyone have any suggestions? (As well as any other suggestions for this first-time cruiser!)

Thanks in Advance!!

Posts: 33 | From: Pasadena, CA, USA | Registered: Mar 2000 | IP: Logged

CTrail
First Class Passenger
Member # 64

posted 03-18-2000 04:25 PM

Hi LizKiddo
We travelled on the Imagination and we had no problem cashing travellers cheques at the purser's desk when we needed some money for the casino etc. We took a small amount of cash with us when we went ashore but again didn't run into problems cashing cheques. We did the Cozumel, Grand Cayman and Jamaica stops. The casino needs cash but everything else is your Sail & Sign card.

If they have the interactive TV on board, they did on the Imagination, order your trips as soon as you get into your cabin. They have previews that you can call up on the TV to give you a good insight into the different shore tours. If not go to the purser's desk as soon as possible to insure that you get the shore trips that you want before they are sold out. To preview what the shore trips are and their costs go to www.carnival.com and then goto 'Fun On Line', then 'Destinations' then 'Shore Tours' voila now search the site for the different shore excursions that you might like to take. This way you know exactly which tours you want to book and can do so before they fill up.

Have a great trip. If you have any questions feel free to email me and if I can help I will.

Nowgotosea

[This message has been edited by CTrail (edited 03-18-2000).]

Posts: 332 | From: Kitchener, ON Canada | Registered: Apr 99 | IP: Logged

LizKiddo
First Class Passenger
Member # 1167

posted 03-18-2000 05:51 PM

Thanks!!

Isn't technology amazing that you can do this via your TV in the cabin???

Posts: 33 | From: Pasadena, CA, USA | Registered: Mar 2000 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 03-19-2000 01:36 PM

You can use credit card to settle your on-board bill at the end of the cruise. (All ships now operate a cashless system on-board).

Cheques are always safer if you are carriying large amounts of money.

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

JoeO
First Class Passenger
Member # 224

posted 03-19-2000 03:48 PM

Two points to consider:
1. Four different cruise lines we've sailed on permit receiving cash by charging to your shipboard account in the casino (up to a (large) maximum every day).
2. I've always been a great fan of using little cash and much plastic. ie: when getting off a plane in London or Rome, etc., I go directly to an ATM and get local money at the most preferable exchange rates. Much better than at an Exchange or a Bank or at a merchant.
Take care with plastic and the kind of card you use. At a recent cruise to Cozumel we were there one day, 12/21. Shopped in only 2 places with my card. On 12/27,28,29 almost $5000 was charged to my Visa account. Thankfully, I wasn't liable for any money at all.
Take care!!!!!

Posts: 93 | From: St Aaugustine, Fl., U.S.A. | Registered: Dec 98 | IP: Logged

Ascendancy
First Class Passenger
Member # 840

posted 03-20-2000 02:25 PM

Never use your credit card at a cheesy island shop. Use it on the cruiseline's recommended shops only.
Bring plenty of cash to the islands. Leave your travelers checks on the ship. Very few shops take them. Definitely bring TC's, cash them at the Pursers desk.
As was mentioned, bring a credit card to handle your bill on board. Then, pay it off when you get home. At least that's what I do.

Posts: 354 | From: Aurora, CO | Registered: Oct 1999 | IP: Logged

Green
First Class Passenger
Member # 171

posted 03-20-2000 04:30 PM

Ascendancy - you are so right!
Many of those 'cheesy island shops' still have carbon paper in their CC forms - have found too that their 'validators' are not always located where you can see them - that's when I change my mind about buying. If you must use your CC, personally remove your receipt - and the carbons - dispose of them when you are off the island. .
Cruiseline recommended shops are usually o.k.

P.S. HAL quite recently introduced CC use in the Casino - they ask you about it when you sign in at the Desk to arrange final billing to your card. Believe the limit is about $500US per day. We declined - you can always cash a TC in the Casino and you don't have to gamble with it - useful for going ashore money.

[This message has been edited by Green (edited 03-20-2000).]

Posts: 2913 | From: Markham, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

JoeO
First Class Passenger
Member # 224

posted 03-20-2000 10:34 PM

P.S. Both the restaurant and the Jewelry store where I used my credit card were recommended by the ship.
It's not the shops necessarily but the "bad person" who bears watching.
Oh well, back to cash!!!!

Posts: 93 | From: St Aaugustine, Fl., U.S.A. | Registered: Dec 98 | IP: Logged

hooked on cruising
First Class Passenger
Member # 1221

posted 04-08-2000 05:30 PM

We just arrived back from a week on the Bolero [small ship but incredible value for money]This was our first cruise and as you can see from my sign on name we're hooked [big time]. Our ship was cashless,which took a bit of getting used to. I think you spend more under these circumstances. Next time we will only take a small amount of cash and then we will pay for our cruise by credit card. This is what happened this year,all the $US we took we still have .If I had known that we could do it this way we would not have taken all the cash. We exchanged lots of Canadian for US and with the rate of exchange the way it was we really lost out. We paid for all our tours by visa. Of course I have not got my Visa bill yet.So bottom line I would take a little cash and your credit card unless you are going somewhere that you know you will spend a lot of money [on one of the islands.]

Posts: 243 | From: London,Ontario,Canada | Registered: Apr 2000 | IP: Logged

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