Cash vs. Credit on board?

[Big Head Dave]

First time for my wife and I on a cruise, and we have a question about how much cash we should have handy on board. Here in the electronic age, we have become way to used to carrying credit/debit cards. From reading through the boards, I have gleaned that we will need cash handy for the following:

Cash for some Bahamas shopping
Cash for Room Service Tipping
Cash for Tipping the baggage handlers (1-2$ per bag)
Cash for the coin op laundry (just in case)
And obviously some other cash just in case.

As I understand it, the following can be charged to the room or credit card:
Drinks around the ship
Tips for servers/attendants
Tips for Spa attendants
All Disney shops
Most other shopping in the Bahamas

So, what am I missing here, and am I mistaken on any of the above assumptions?

Thanks.

 

[Debbie H]

Cash for some Bahamas shopping- of course!!!!
Cash for Room Service Tipping- you can charge this on the card
Cash for Tipping the baggage handlers (1-2$ per bag)- yes
Cash for the coin op laundry (just in case) - yes
And obviously some other cash just in case.- you never know.

On ship, other than the laundry and for female feminine items in the rest rooms, you should not need cash for anything.

Have fun!!!!!

 

[Big Head Dave]

Thanks for the info...

 

[Ralph&Pam]

Originally posted by Debbie H
-snip-
Cash for Room Service Tipping- you can charge this on the card
-snip-

I think this assumes you're getting something from room service that includes a charge (like beverages). We used room service twice for the fruit and cheese plate and some cookies and never saw a charge slip. I just tipped in cash.

Ralph

 

[Celestine]

Thought I'd tag this along as it sort of fits. Do you carry Bahamian dollars onto the ship, or do they have an exchange, or do you do it when you get there? What sort of levels of cash are we talking here as I have no idea of local costs for drinks etc.

TIA

 

[Ralph&Pam]

In Nassau, US dollars were as welcome as could be. The exchange rate is 1-to-1 (the Bahamian dollar is pegged to the US dollar), so there was no need to have Bahamian dollars. If you paid cash with US $, you received change in US $ in the places we shopped (although we used our credit card for the big purchases in the jewelry shops).

Ralph

 

[Celestine]

Thanks for that Raph&Pam - it is a weight of my mind knowing I don't need a third currency in my wallet!