Cruise Ship ATM's Charge FeesThis can sometimes be as much as $5 or $10 per transaction. If you do find that you have to use onboard ATMs it's usually better to take out a greater amount of money rather than making multiple smaller transactions.
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ATMs are typically available on board cruise ships belonging to major cruise lines like Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Celebrity, Holland America, Princess (& many others). However, most charge considerably higher fees for use in addition to any charges assessed by your bank.
In addition to security, it's also helpful to have cash as some places — such as smaller souvenir shops or taxi cabs — don't accept credit cards. Credit card usage simply isn't as widespread as it is in the United States.
ATMs are typically available on board cruise ships belonging to major cruise lines like Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Celebrity, Holland America, Princess (& many others). However, most charge considerably higher fees for use in addition to any charges assessed by your bank.
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.
Never use a debit card on a cruise. In many situations you can use cash for the pre-authorisations, but just remember that you'll need to have enough to cover the full amount of this charge, which, in some cases, can be pretty steep. You'll then get your cash back at the end of your stay or cruise, minus any charges.
So to cut a short story even shorter, whether visiting for a day off a cruise or taking a short break on one island, the best currency for the Caribbean is the US dollar. You shouldn't need any of the local currency.
Spending anything after embarkation is up to you, as the only things not included on any cruise line would be shopping, souvenirs, spa treatments and casino gambling. For these things, you'll need to bring some additional money.
So how much money do you need? The answer to this question varies a lot by person, their travel habits, spending preferences, length of the cruise and destination. Many people suggest $100 per day, and this has generally worked well for me in my cruising experiences.
Average Daily Cruise Line GratuityRoughly speaking, you can expect to pay anywhere from $11.50 – $20.00 per passenger per day for onboard gratuities. As mentioned, cruise lines automatically add gratuities to your onboard account.
“I always want you to pay for a cruise with a credit card, never with a debit card,” Clark says. Aside from the better consumer protections credit cards offer, Clark points to another reason why you'd want to use a credit card to pay for your cruise.
If you do not prepay cruise gratuities before sailing, the cruise line will add them to your onboard bill. The cruise line will then charge your credit card for the gratuity amount at the end of the sailing – along with other purchases you made with your cruise card (drinks, souvenirs, spa treatments, tours, etc.).
For bartenders and housekeepers, you may also want to offer a generous tip at the beginning of the cruise (again, $20 or more, depending on your needs) to ensure great service while on board.