What all do I need *cash* for?

[Momof4girls]

Obviously I'll need it for room service tips and anything we do OFF the ship in Nassau, right?

But, what else?

Port parking?

Coffees?

Anything else I'm overlooking? I assume I can use my key card for anything at Castaway Cay and anything onboard, right?

 

[outahere]

The parking lot at the port will accept Visa, MasterCard, cash or traveler's checks.

If you're referring to coffee from the Cove Cafe, you will charge that to your key card. The ship, and Castaway Cay, are completely cashless for any purchases. Tips for room service, your dining room servers and cabin attendant can either be cash or charged to your onboard account.

 

[Momof4girls]

Room service tips come along at the time of service and the cabin attendant and dining come out at the end of the cruise when we settle our account, correct?

 

[kcashner]

You can actually charge room service tips if you choose--it seems to vary from time to time, but last week we were given a ticket to sign with a line for gratuity even when we didn't order anything with a cost.

Castaway Cay works on the KTTW card the same as the ship, yes, you use KTTW for everything on board.

You can charge in the larger stores in the island...the small shops will not take plastic. Be aware...I charged an item at one of the recommended jewelry stores. It appeared on my CC as Bahamian dollars and there was an exchange fee applied despite the fact that the shopping guide said that the stores used US dollars. Obviously, had I used cash, I would have saved the exchange fee.

Tips can be charged to your account at any time--before the cruise, any time during, or at the end. They are not applied to your account automatically--you have to make the decision to charge them. You can also choose to tip in cash.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Need cash for the Laundry

 

[outahere]

Room service tips come along at the time of service and the cabin attendant and dining come out at the end of the cruise when we settle our account, correct?

That's correct. However, you can tip room service by adding it to the slip you sign when they deliver. They always have you sign a slip, even if there is no charge for what you ordered.

They will leave you small envelopes for tips for the dining room servers and cabin attendant and you can either use cash, or charge the tips to your account at Guest Services, where they will give you a slip to put in the envelope.

 

[Momof4girls]

You can charge in the larger stores in the island...the small shops will not take plastic. Be aware...I charged an item at one of the recommended jewelry stores. It appeared on my CC as Bahamian dollars and there was an exchange fee applied despite the fact that the shopping guide said that the stores used US dollars. Obviously, had I used cash, I would have saved the exchange fee.

Tips can be charged to your account at any time--before the cruise, any time during, or at the end. They are not applied to your account automatically--you have to make the decision to charge them. You can also choose to tip in cash.

Very good. Thank you!

Need cash for the Laundry

Ah, yes - I have my quarters and laundry detergent packed. Thanks for the reminder

That's correct. However, you can tip room service by adding it to the slip you sign when they deliver. They always have you sign a slip, even if there is no charge for what you ordered.

They will leave you small envelopes for tips for the dining room servers and cabin attendant and you can either use cash, or charge the tips to your account at Guest Services, where they will give you a slip to put in the envelope.

Great!

Thanks, everyone!

 

[NHdisneylover]

On Castaway Cay you WILL need cash to buy stamps to mail a postcard home if you want to do that (nothing else on the island takes cash).
We use cash to tip room service and tip porters comming and going.
That's about it.

 

[Momof4girls]

By porters do you mean at the port - people who take the luggage - or on the ship itself?

This is our first time and I want to be sure we appreciate everyone doing their job

 

[NHdisneylover]

By porters do you mean at the port - people who take the luggage - or on the ship itself?

This is our first time and I want to be sure we appreciate everyone doing their job

At the port. They will take them from you as you arrive at port and you tip them on the spot. Later your luggae will magically appear outside your stateroom
You leave your luggage outside of your stateroom the last night onbaord and when you leave the ship there are porters everywhere. They will collect your luggage for you, help you know where to go to get through customs and get you to your car, bus or whatever at which point you tip them.
Onboard the ship it is your room steward who is dealing with luggage so part of your tip to him/her (which you do as a lump sum at the end of the cruise) includes the onboard luggage service.

 

[kcashner]

If you use DCL transfers, luggage handling is part of the cost--you will not see the porters and their fees will be included in your transfers.

Stamps on Castaway are Bahamian stamps--about 65 cents for a postcard.

 

[NHdisneylover]

If you use DCL transfers, luggage handling is part of the cost--you will not see the porters and their fees will be included in your transfers.

Stamps on Castaway are Bahamian stamps--about 65 cents for a postcard.

Good point. We haven't used DCL transfers since 1999 so I had forgotten about that

Also, I am not sure--does hair braiding on the island get paid with your KTTW card or with cash? We have never done it That may be anotehr place where you want some cash

 

[Momof4girls]

okay, so at PC, when we arrive, there are porters who will help us like a skycap - and those individuals are tipped cash on the spot (typical $2 per bag like a skycap?)

Also, I've completely failed to consider getting OFF the ship and how that is all handled! Eep.

So, by 11pm the night before we leave, we set everything outside except a carry-on with our necessary last minute items (and that we're responsible for carrying off ourselves). Right?

And then when we get off the ship, there are porters there who actually go out and get your bags for you? We will have a rental car that will be parked for the duration of the cruise. Should I just send my husband to go get the car and pick us up? Does the porter actually load the baggage onto a cart and accompany you to your vehicle?

Thanks

 

[NHdisneylover]

okay, so at PC, when we arrive, there are porters who will help us like a skycap - and those individuals are tipped cash on the spot (typical $2 per bag like a skycap?)

Also, I've completely failed to consider getting OFF the ship and how that is all handled! Eep.

So, by 11pm the night before we leave, we set everything outside except a carry-on with our necessary last minute items (and that we're responsible for carrying off ourselves). Right?

And then when we get off the ship, there are porters there who actually go out and get your bags for you? We will have a rental car that will be parked for the duration of the cruise. Should I just send my husband to go get the car and pick us up? Does the porter actually load the baggage onto a cart and accompany you to your vehicle?

Thanks

Yes to the two bolded partsDon't forget to leave out clothhes for the next day, you don't want to leave in your PJs

I honestly can't remember how we did it when we had a caar parked at the port. I think the porter left us at the curb where DH could pull up and DH went straight for the car--but I am not sure. I am sure someone will come along with more reliable info any minute now. Oh, and kudos to you for thinking ahead to be sure you do not stiff anyone on tips

 

[Maddle]

How much does laundry cost - washers and dryers each? Are they coin operated (I assume so since this thread is about cash needed) or can they swipe the KTTW card?

Do they sell detergent onboard if needed?

Maddle

PS - thanks for the info about the CC postcard stamps.

 

[kcashner]

When you have a car at the port, your luggage will be in the terminal area. There will be porters available as you come down the escalator--if you need one, he will come with you, bringing his cart. He will load your luggage onto the cart and take you thru Customs...and on to your car...and will load the luggage into the car for you.

Yes, the appropriate tip is $1-$2 per bag for this service. With older kids and luggage on wheels, we usually skip the porter and wheel the bags ourselves.

 

[Momof4girls]

FANtastic! Thanks

 

[outahere]

Whenever we have left a car parked at the port, the porters have loaded our luggage onto a cart and followed us to our car in the lot. We always tip a little extra for that, because having to walk with us to the car takes a few minutes longer than getting us to the bus, so he probably misses out on at least one other family to take care of. Just so you know, the porters are not DCL employees and work for tips.

 

[tvguy]

If traveling by air, I'd have enough cash for meals in the airport. Most food places in the airport will have an ATM machine or take credit cards, but, I was at LAX once when all the ATMS went down. There were a lot of angry, hungry, cashless folks in that terminal. My cousin from Canada also ran into an issue that her ATM card has the wrong symbol on it, so she could only spend $100 a day. Hard to feed 6 people in Disneyland on $100 a day!!

I guess cash's days may be numbered. I was at Best Buy recently, 10 people in line, 2 registers open....2 ATM/Credit card ONLY registers. Everyone in line was paying cash!! Apparently you have to have higher clearance to run a cash check out register....and the Manager was the only one not on break with that clearance. Odd to see 3 registers open, 2 vacant, and 10 people in line!!