Currency in Ports

[maine_jennifer]

I'm asking every group I belong to this same question.

I know we don't need cash on the ship, except for tips, etc. But for the ports, what do you all take, or plan on taking to buy stuff? Do you take credit cards, debit cards, cash, or traveler's checks?

Trying to figure out the best way to spend my hard earned cash. My nephew and I are planning to eat and shop in each port, Key West, Grand Cayman, Cozumel. I usually use traveler's checks, but don't want to come home with a fist full of foreign currency if that's how they give change.

Any thoughts?

 

[dwkwootton]

You can use American money at all the ports as well as credit cards, debit cards, and traveller's checks. You are likely to get change in American money but could get the local currency. We usually cash a traveller's check on the ship to have a variety of bill sizes in port.

 

[TheWog]

Traveler's checks are what we choose to mainly bring, but as dwkwooton has said we also like to cash them onboard to have the cash in hand for tips, small purchases, food, etc. If you use a credit card, you may want to inform the company so that they will be aware of your trip. Some have mentioned having it frozen until you call as the company thinks the card has been stolen. Jamaica we received the local currency in return for change, but you won't run into that on DCL. I think we had to look hard to get some local currency on St. Maarten if I recall correctly.

 

[TiggerKing]

Jennifer:

It appears from your signature that you are going on the Wonder, which means you will only be visiting the Bahamas. Here is the official word from Bahamas.com:

"In The Bahamas, the legal tender is the Bahamian dollar (B$1), which is equivalent in value to the U.S. dollar. Even though The Bahamas mint and circulate their own legal tender, both U.S. and Bahamian dollars are accepted interchangeably throughout the islands.

Visitors from the U.S. enjoy the convenience of not having to exchange currency before leaving for vacation."

Hope this helps!

 

[maine_jennifer]

Originally posted by TiggerKing
It appears from your signature that you are going on the Wonder, which means you will only be visiting the Bahamas.

Actually, we are on the Magic this year, doing the Western Caribbean. We were on the Wonder last January and didn't get off the ship so we never had to worry about it.

Thanks though!

 

[Regina]

We prefer charging. I do recall making a purchase in Grand Cayman using US currency and I got their currency as change. It wasn't much, just a few coins, but we did get their money.

In Cozumel, either we've charged our purchase or gave them the exact amount in US.

 

[mickeyfanmom]

Kind of in the same vein as Jennifer's question- since you do need to bring some cash on board (for tips, stamps, some purchases in port etc.) are there onboard safes anywhere that you can use?

I probably could have looked this up on the DCL site, but think that I will find the answer faster on the DIS!

Thanks!

 

[cristit14]

Yes, there is an onboard safe in your room. It locks with your KTTW card. I used it to put my cash in while we were on board.

 

[mickeyfanmom]

Thanks so much! Just what I wanted to hear! I hate traveling with all of that cash.

 

[maine_jennifer]

Originally posted by dwkwootton
We usually cash a traveller's check on the ship to have a variety of bill sizes in port.

Do you know if there is a limit as to how much you can cash? Is it per day or per cruise?

THanks,