The closer it gets, the more questions I have...

[jillicole]

isn't that the way is always works

For all the experienced...

When you get off the ship at port, do you get a map of some sort or are you "on your own"? Just wondering if I'm going to have to start writing down addresses of places I want to go or what

Another thing that seems to be on my mind...

Do you take cash, traveler checks, credit card?? I know that you need money in the ports, and you can use your KTTW card on the ship and pay for that with any of the above as you please during your cruise, but what if you want to buy something at the ports (Western), do they take cash, credit card, traveler checks, all the the above?? Again...just really

Thank for all your help!!

 

[Lloyd Dobler]

The daily program guide (called a Navigator) usually includes a small map of the downtown area or shopping district. For port info, I used Frommer's Caribbean Cruises and Ports of Call. This is a handy book with info on all the major ports and has good info on activities, shopping, restaurants, etc.

I take cash and a couple credit cards. On board, it's cashless, and everything is charged to your room. The only thing I use cash for on board is room service tips. In port, I like to have cash, but I take a credit card in case I want to make a bigger purchase. I've never bothered with traveller's checks on a Caribbean cruise. You can keep the cash in your room safe until you need it, and cashing traveller's checks just seems like an extra, unnecessary step.

 

[dbond]

You can go to shopping talks and other information meetings on board and they give you info and directions to some of the most popular places. If you have an excursion, they pick you up and take you where you need to go. At most ports, you can get maps from shops & vendors just as you get off the ship. And to answer your question about writing down addresses, yes, if you have specific places you've read about or want to see, be sure and print that info before you go and take it with you. It does get a little overwhelming to arrive and then try to remember what it was you read about. When I visit a new place, I do lots of research ahead of time and print lots of info and have it with me in a folder ready to refer to.

Most port locations are accustomed to Americans visiting. The predominant currency is American cash. They also take traveler's checks & CC's.

 

[TheWog]

If you want to go to a particular tourist destination, the cabbies will know where it is. For Example ... Sea Grape on 7 Mile Beach... they will take you right there. The ports love US dollars or you can use credit cards. You will be fine.

 

[jollytammy]

We took traveler's checks and never, ever used them! The ship is cashless, and in port we used cash or credit cards for big purchases. Next time we won't worry with traveler's checks, they were actually more bother.
Have fun!
Tammy

 

[CM_Mom]

If you're planning to shop in the markets or small shops in the ports be sure to take cash in SMALL BILLS, ones, fives, tens unless you're planning to purchase large dollar items. Several of the merchants in the markets "didn't have change" when I wanted to give them a $20 for a $15 dollar purchase or agreed to take $8 but "didn't have change" for a $10. I got change from DH or DM ro just didn't buy. Just be prepared.

We found the stores were glad to take our credit card.