What is a good amount of cash to bring on a cruise?

How much money should you carry on a cruise?

Ah, the endless blue whispers, and pockets yearning. Cash… a tangible comfort.

Seven days adrift… a dance with the sea. Each port a fleeting embrace.

$100 per port, a whispered guideline? Yes, $100 echoes. Souvenirs beckon! Trinkets, tastes.

Onboard tips… the crew, unseen angels. $200 to smooth passage. More if prepaid? A daily caress. I prepay. Less worry!

Five-day voyages… a hazy dream. But cash remains king.

Seven days… again the call. So $100 a port. $200 tips. My rule. My peace. This cruise is soon! I hope.

• Cash Breakdown:
  • Ports: $100/port is essential.
  • Tips: $200 standard. I prefer it.
  • Extra: Spontaneity demands more. Always!
• Cruise Length & Cash Needs:
  • 5-day: Less time, less port. Still $100 per location?
  • 7-day: More days, deeper pockets.
• Prepaid Gratuities: I always prepaid them to avoid worry!

How much cash do you need for a 7 day cruise?

Seven-day cruises? You’ll need serious cash, dude. Think $750 to $2000, easily. That’s the reality, not some wishy-washy range.

Why so much? Well, let’s break it down:

• Onboard Spending: Drinks are killer. Specialty coffees alone? Ouch. That’s easily $100-$200. Specialty dining? Another $200 minimum. Don’t even get me started on those overpriced souvenir shops.

• Shore Excursions: These things vary wildly. A simple beach day is less expensive than a guided tour of Machu Picchu (unless you’re cruising the South Pacific, in which case, hello Machu Picchu!). Expect to pay a pretty penny.

• Gratuities: This is unavoidable. Factor in at least $10 per person, per day. That adds up. This is usually a mandatory charge, but there will likely be additional opportunities to tip. Tipping is a social contract, you know.

So yeah, $500-$1500? Way too low, unless your idea of a cruise is sitting on your balcony and eating bland ship food. My last cruise? I blew through $1800. That included a ridiculous amount of daiquiris and a private gondola ride in Venice. Worth it. Completely.

Pro Tip: Credit cards are useful, but don’t solely rely on them. Carrying cash is better for smaller purchases and spontaneous adventures, preventing some stressful situations. You want to have fun, not worry about insufficient funds, right? This is true for pretty much any trip, even a day trip to the beach.

Is it better to bring cash on a cruise?

Cash on a cruise? Well, honey, unless you’re planning to bribe the captain for a better view (tempting, I admit) or start a black market for smuggled snacks, cash is kinda…meh.

Think of your cruise card as a magical, all-access key. Swipe, swipe, swipe your way to bliss. Forget fumbling with bills.

• Onboard Spending: It’s a cashless carnival! Drinks, trinkets, questionable art—all charged to your onboard account. Easy peasy.
• Casinos: Even the casinos are digital these days. Credit systems galore! No more lugging bags of coins.
• Gratuities: Usually auto-magically added, bless their efficiency. Check your cruise line’s policy, though; some still suggest tipping in person, but don’t stress.
• Shore Excursions? That’s where a little cash might wink. Taxis, souvenirs, that irresistible street food.

That itemized bill at the end, though? It’s either the happiest or saddest moment. Budget wisely, my friend, budget wisely. I once bought a ceramic parrot on a whim in Cozumel. Still regretting that one.

Consider this: I’m pretty sure I used cash only once on my Alaskan cruise last year when I haggled for some… interesting… reindeer jerky at a port. Totally worth it, but still. Jerky.

How much money does the average person spend on a cruise ship?

$200 a day. Drinks add up. Forgot about tips too. Last cruise, Alaska, spent way more. Excursions pricey. Glacier helicopter tour…ouch. Definitely worth it though. Saw whales. Should budget more next time. Maybe $300? Caribbean cheaper maybe? Less to do there… hmm. Souvenirs, always a weakness. Wife loves the spa. Gotta factor that in. This year’s cruise, Mediterranean. Definitely more expensive. Maybe $400/day realistic? Sigh. Love cruising though. Wifi onboard a ripoff. Just use phone sparingly. Okay, $400. Must stick to it. Last year went over budget. Bad. No more casino. That’s it. Done.

• Daily cruise spending: $150-$400+
• Factors affecting cost: Cruise line, destination, activities
• Major expenses:
  • Drinks
  • Specialty dining
  • Shore excursions
  • Spa treatments
  • Souvenirs
  • Wi-Fi/internet access
  • Tips/gratuities
• My personal experience: Alaska cruise, over budget. Mediterranean cruise planned. Aiming for $400/day budget.

What is the best way to take money on a cruise?

Cash. ATMs. Credit card. Wait, ATM fees! Check those first. My Capital One card has no foreign transaction fees. Perfect for Cozumel last year. Souvenir shopping spree. Should’ve budgeted better… Oops. Local currency best for tips, small things. Street vendors in Jamaica, yeah, cash only there. Credit card for excursions. Booked that snorkeling trip in Grand Cayman with my card. So convenient. Remember losing my wallet in Nassau? Nightmare. Luckily had a backup card. Always have a backup. Notify your bank before you go. They’ll flag unusual activity. That time in Barcelona… the bank froze my card. Had to call them. Pain. Learned my lesson. Ugh, thinking about packing. Need to exchange dollars for pesos. Going to Mexico next month. Cancun and Costa Maya. Excited! Check exchange rates. Airport usually has the worst rates. So many little details. Cruise planning is exhausting. But worth it. Love cruising. The buffet… endless food. Oh, also, those ship casinos. Drained my wallet last time. Need to set a gambling limit. Seriously. This time I’m sticking to it. $100 a day, max.

How do you keep cash safe on a cruise?

The ship, a floating city of dreams. My cabin, a tiny sanctuary. The card, a key to both pleasure and potential peril. 2024’s cruises – a digital dance. Cash, a relic, a forgotten whisper of times past.

The safe, a cool steel heart, beating within my cabin walls. Credit cards, a nervous flutter against my skin. Each swipe, a risky trust. Money, a phantom limb, its absence a cold space.

Safety deposit boxes are the answer, a metallic promise against loss. A small price to pay for peace of mind, right? The sea’s endless vastness, a constant hum beneath the polished decks.

A tiny lock, an infinitesimally small barrier against the world’s chaos. But sufficient, my instincts affirm. Trust is a luxury, unnecessary at sea.

• Secure the valuables: Safety deposit boxes inside the room are the solution.
• Cashless transactions: Cruise cards are now the norm.
• Minimal cash: Carry only essential cash, if any.

The ocean’s rhythm lulls. My thoughts drift, a flotilla of worries, tiny against the grand scheme. The weight of responsibility, a physical presence.

How do you pay for things on a cruise ship?

Okay, cruise ships… how DO you pay? Uh, cashless, duh. Like, almost everything is.

• Onboard account is key!
• Linked to your room key/card thingy.
• Also acts as your ID, I think?
• Payment method attached.

So basically, swipey swipey everywhere. No cash needed. Smart! Wait, what if the system crashes? That would be a disaster!

• Did I bring enough swimsuits?
• Don’t forget sunscreen!!!
• Credit card.
• Debit maybe?

Should I even bring my wallet? Do they even WANT cash? I’m thinking no way. My last cruise was in 2023 and I used my cruise card and my room card as my payment methods. What about tips? Are those cashless too? I always tip extra.

Expanded Information

• Some cruises are starting to allow cash payments.
• Onboard credits can be used to pay for services.
• I hate packing!
• Are cruises bad for the enviornment?
• Remember the charger for my phone!

How much money do you need per day on a cruise?

Fifty to one hundred and twenty dollars. A daily ocean dream. That’s what they say, right? Enough for a margarita at sunset, the salty air kissing your skin.

The shimmering expanse. Endless azure. Think of it: A hundred dollars. Maybe more. For that perfect shell, found tucked in a forgotten cove. A reminder of the journey.

Luxury. It’s not just the price. It’s the feeling, the slow drift of time. The clinking of glasses. One hundred and twenty dollars could buy the sound of laughter at a piano bar. The memory is priceless.

Key Expenses:

• Drinks: Premium cocktails add up. Fast. A daily budget helps.
• Souvenirs: That exquisite hand-blown glass. You deserve it.
• Gratuities: Remember those smiling faces? Show your appreciation.
• Gambling: Lady Luck might smile; but budgeting is wise.
• Spa Treatments: Indulgence is essential, isn’t it?
• Specialty Dining: A romantic dinner under the stars. Worth every penny.

It’s all about the experience. The vastness. The feeling of weightlessness. More than just money. A hundred dollars is a small price to pay for that. A hundred and twenty. Or more. I’ve spent it all. On memories. And the endless blue. Always the endless blue.