Credit cards/cash- what do I need?

[Minnie368]

For our western Caribbean itenerary can someone give me some advice on what we’ll need as far as paying for things? I know everything DCL is charged to the room, so I’m wondering about when we’re in port. We’ll be taking cabs in Cozumel for sure and possibly Grand Cayman. Also doing some shopping and maybe grabbing a bite to eat at these ports. Will a credit card do for most shopping and restaurants? And for the cabs I’m thinking we’ll need cash, but do they all accept US dollars? Thanks in advance...

 

[starvenger]

I believe that most places close to the port will take USD. Taxis definitely will. When we went to the public beach in grand cayman the restaurant also took usd. Cards too I believe. Haven’t gone to any restaurants in Cozumel so I can’t answer that one.

Personally I’ll take cash (small bills) and my MasterCard on shore with me.

 

[Firstof3]

I know all the places I visited in Cozumel took cash. Take a variety of smaller bills, nothing above a 20. if you do chose to use a card check to see if your going to be charged a fee for using it out of country. I would feel more comfortable with a small amount of cash in Cozumel over one of my cards, not that it is a bad place, just easier to work with. Not sure on Grand Cayman as my boat had to skip there due to weather and high waves.

 

[DIS_MIKE]

You should be good with USD in the ports but also get a CC with no foreign transaction fees and with a chip.

 

[starvenger]

You should be good with USD in the ports but also get a CC with no foreign transaction fees and with a chip.

Don’t all cards in the US have a chip now? Honest question as I live in Canada.

 

[Dug720]

Don’t all cards in the US have a chip now? Honest question as I live in Canada.

No. Not all. I have a couple that do not.

 

[DIS_MIKE]

Don’t all cards in the US have a chip now? Honest question as I live in Canada.

Most do but there are a few stragglers out there- especially small banks. Some places aren't even accepting the chip if you do have it. They'll have the slot for it but it isn't hooked up yet. It's a very slow roll out here in the US.

 

[NJMomto2]

I usually bring $400 in small bills and two credit cards on a cruise. then I bring like $40-50 to a port and one credit card.

 

[bbel]

Pretty much all ports on cruises out of the US/US area will accept USD (taxis, restaurants, shops etc) but it's not unusual to get local currency in change, but they'll usually tell you if they don't have USD for change.

 

[starvenger]

No. Not all. I have a couple that do not.

Most do but there are a few stragglers out there- especially small banks. Some places aren't even accepting the chip if you do have it. They'll have the slot for it but it isn't hooked up yet. It's a very slow roll out here in the US.

Gotcha. Thanks!

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

Just a note about Credit Cards. During our Western Carib trip my wife and I had both of our cards cancelled within like 24 hours of our cruise starting (fraud protection). We were able to use the phone at Guest Services (free of charge) to try to get them turned back on. One company did so. The other company insisted on sending us a text to confirm our identity. I explained we were on a ship on the ocean without cell service, but they wouldn't budge. That card stayed off until we got home. So in the future, I would bring a third card that I wouldn't plan to use in port, that I could keep in reserve to settle my bill with DCL at the end.

 

[DIS_MIKE]

That's a great tip. Always good practice to let the CC company know that you'll be traveling so they don't shut your card down.

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

That's a great tip. Always good practice to let the CC company know that you'll be traveling so they don't shut your card down.

I almost put that in my post. I was GOING to notify them, as I used to, but after years of calling the CC companies and having them tell me, "Oh you don't need to notify us anymore," I stopped doing it.

So yes, even if they tell you not to, do call your CC company and let them know.

 

[Capt_BJ]

it is also a good idea to have an idea of the exchange rate for places you visit - or load an app on your phone

for example while most places in Cayman will take US dollars you should be aware the prices are posted in CAYMAN DOLLARS and the CI$ is worth MORE.

$1 US is .80 CI (on the street ... the actual fixed rate is .833) $1 CI is $1.20 US
$10 US is $8 CI

..... so when a bar menu says a Mudslide is $8 and you pay US it is $10 US (plus tip)
also note that many places in CI automatically add 15% tip

The difference appears relatively small until you get the bill!!!! Add to this the fact that everything in Cayman is expensive and it is not uncommon for some sticker shock to occur.

typical example from My Bar Sunset House
Cheese burger w/fries $8.50
Pint Draft CayBrew $5.50
add 15% and you get $16.10 CI ........... or basically $20 US .... between conversion and tip I simplify by taking the CI number and applying a 40% tip ... this is about what your US bill will be!

Cozumel ... Mexico today is 18.225 PESO to the US dollar so the difference is a little more obvious

$1 US is $125.978 $JA ... that's REALLY obvious

Bahama dollar is fixed to US dollar ......

 

[Sunshine2U]

Should be said - use credit not debit cards. Pretty much my rule in life since it's so much safer.

We estimate tips, meals, etc. and pay all small vendors in cash. We take one credit card (another card on a different account left in safe) to pay for excursions with established companies and brick and mortar stores in case we find something we can't live without.

 

[dad of 3 addicted to DCL]

Of note, I thought I'd be prepared for Mexico and exchanged dollars for pesos for Cozumel shopping. Massive mistake. At Diamonds International it took nearly 45 minutes to purchase a simple thing because I was paying in pesos - in Mexico!!

Keep to dollars