Do I bring cash on a cruise ship?

Prior to your cruise, you'll connect your onboard account with a credit or debit card, and all payments will be charged to that card at the end of the cruise. You won't require cash for 99% of purchases on a cruise, whether specialty restaurants, cocktails, or souvenirs.



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You probably won't need much actual cash while onboard, as many cruise lines will just charge purchases to your account. Even ship casinos these days have cashless credit systems. On nearly all cruises, passengers are given an itemized bill at the end of the trip listing all charged expenses.

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Most guests bring $50-$120 cash per day to spend during the cruise. You will have many opportunities to purchase duty free goods, take exciting shore excursions, buy local souvenirs, play your chance in the casino, or enjoy some pampering in the spa.

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You are certainly welcome to bring cash to enjoy your vacation experience. There are ATM services onboard and limited currency conversion services. There is a withdrawal fee to use the ATMs onboard.

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You could always withdraw local currency from ATMs when you arrive, and some cruise ships offer a Bureau de Change and ATMs onboard. Most ships offer a currency conversion programme on major credit cards or, alternatively, your card issuer will convert currency for you.

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Never have anything in your back pockets, as this makes it very easy for pickpockets to target you. Some prefer to have fanny packs in leu of a crossbody during their shore excursions, which can be a great solution for carrying valuables and keeping money in a safe place.

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Cruise Cash provides a credit to a guest's Sail & Sign account. This credit is good for any charge made to the guest's account including taxes and gratuity charges.

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Onboard currency depends on the cruise line with which you're sailing. If it's an American cruise line, the onboard currency will be the dollar; if you're sailing a European line, expect the onboard currency to be the euro. It's always best to check with your line before boarding.

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Most veteran cruisers recommend that you budget between £75-£100 per day for other costs. You can cut back on spending and reduce your budget. However, you're probably going to need at least £50 a day. So, once you've booked your cruise, you'll want to set aside around £350-£700 for other costs.

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Everything you pay for onboard a cruise is added to a cruise account, usually using your cruise card. This card is your room key, but it also serves as your payment card during the ship. Everything is added to an account, which you then have to pay off on the last morning of your cruise.

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In general, plan on giving $16–$23 in gratuities per day for each passenger. Note that the amount should be tabulated for each individual in your party—don't try to tip once per couple or group. So if you're planning to go on a 7-day cruise, expect to give a total of between $112 and $161 per person in gratuities.

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When you arrive at the Port Authority Security in the cruise terminal, you will pass a security checkpoint where all carry-on luggage goes through X-rays and other baggage is checked in. All checked bags on cruise ships are scanned.

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Choose a lightweight backpack, tote bag, or beach bag that you can easily carry to board the ship and carry for a few hours if you have to wait until your cabin is ready. Bonus points if this bag will be right for your shore excursions too. Before leaving home, make a packing list for your cruise vacation.

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We dove into detail about spending on a cruise ship before. Cruise lines also break down how much cruise passengers spend in their financial reports. On average across cruise lines, the amount comes out to between $90-130 per person, per day.

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On most cruises, you'll be able to use both cash and your cruise card. At the tables, your cash will be turned into chips or you can charge the price of the chips on your cruise card. Most slot machines will just take your cruise card, but some will also take cash.

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A good rule of thumb is to carry $50-$100 a day in the local currency while travelling. Remember, though, that cash may not be the best option to pay for travel expenses. Credit cards offer great rewards, lower transaction fees, and can help you get a better exchange rate.

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Read on for our list of what not to bring on a cruise.
  1. Household Appliances Like Irons and Coffeemakers. The clothes iron -- that keystone to a frump-free formal night -- is, as far as we can tell, banned industry-wide. ...
  2. Weapons and Restraints. ...
  3. Liquor or Beer. ...
  4. Books. ...
  5. Toys That Will Get You in Trouble.


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The best news about packing is that there is no (reasonable) limit on how much you can bring on a cruise. Most cruise lines “encourage” or “suggest” each passenger to limit luggage to two suitcases, each one less than 50 pounds. In addition, you can also bring carry-on luggage (more on that in a moment).

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