how much cash to bring on cruise & Cash tips for excursions?

[KrzyKtty101]

Going on the Western Caribbean Cruise in June on the Treasure. My family doesn't really use cash much, and we bank with USAA, so any cash we pull, we have 0 ways to get the cash back in our accounts. So It is really important to not pull to much.

Does anyone know if most stores and restaurants around Cozumel take Visa? Or cash only?
What about the port areas of Falmouth, Jamaica and George Town, Grand Cayman? If all three locations take cards liberally, I might not bring much cash for those.

Also, quick question about tipping for excursions. We booked the Stingray city excursion on George Town, and the River Tubing in Jamaica. I read on some old posts online that 10-15% of the cost is the appropriate tip? That would put the tip for 4 people to 60-80 for the Stringray City excursion, and 40-60 for the Tubing? Does that sound about right? Many of these posts would say 15% and 5 pp in the same sentence, so the math ain't mathin lol.

I didn't bring any cash on the wish other than enough to tip the bag porter. Only regretted in for a minute in Nassau when we encountered a historian at the Kings Staircase that we couldn't tip. A bit of egg on our face there. Otherwise though, had no need for cash the whole time. Even extra tipping on the cruise, we just put it on our card.

 

[scrappinginontario]

I found I wanted more cash than I had taken, especially if doing port excursions. I am much more comfortable spending cash over using a cc at a port.

Used cash for tips in many places plus purchases in the ports.

We just returned from a 7 night RCL cruise where we only did one excursion. Took $300 cash and did not regret it.

 

[KrzyKtty101]

I found I wanted more cash than I had taken, especially if doing port excursions. I am much more comfortable spending cash over using a cc at a port.

Used cash for tips in many places plus purchases in the ports.

We just returned from a 7 night RCL cruise where we only did one excursion. Took $300 cash and did not hank you for the reply. That seems like a pretty reasonable amount to take.

Thank you for the reply. 300 sounds reasonable

 

[msmama]

I understand the not having a local bank thing.

I always leave any extra cash as additional tips for our servers and room attendants. Also, I think I might still be carrying around $20 from my last cruise a year ago. It'll get used eventually (or maybe I have to go on another cruise to use it).

Also, you can always use ATM's at the ports. I'm not as familiar with Caribbean ports, but most I've been to have ATM's not too far from the port, if not actually at the port (I used one in Cozumel where I could chose either Peso's or USD).