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To be clear, you will not need much cash at all while onboard. Just like pre-cruise, once the cruise is over, you may need cash following the cruise as you make your way home. But be warned… the exchange rates are awful, and there’s always an exchange fee paid to the cruise line. To avoid the sticker shock at the end of your trip, keep a close eye on your expenses.
Are You Paying For Your Onboard Expenses In Cash?
Most modern cruise ships operate on a cashless system, meaning that passengers use their room key or cruise card to make purchases onboard, which are charged to their onboard account. Your cruise fare covers basic meals, drinks and entertainment. Anything extra, like alcoholic drinks, any add-on activities, the spa or specialty dining, can be purchased ahead of time through packages, or charged to your account. Fifty to a hundred dollars a day should be enough to cover small purchases, tips and snacks at each port. However, you’ll still want to consider what you plan to do during your cruise and determine whether you need more or less than that amount.
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You won't see a reduction in the amount you pay for your cabin, but you will be receiving more value for your money. If something goes wrong during your sailing, you have a professional point person to handle the mess on your behalf. Another trick, partiuclarly if you don't anticipate spending much time in your room, is to book a less-swanky cabin. Choose an inside or oceanview stateroom instead of a balcony, for example.
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I’ve been over 50 cruises to date and in this post, I explore how much cash you should bring and what you will need to budget for. Another advantage of having access to small denomination bills is that it increases your flexibility to haggle and negotiate local purchases in situations where that is appropriate. Also, in some shops, they may be willing to give you a discount or a better price if you are using cash vs. credit.
How Much a Cruise Costs in 2024
If you like to be spontaneous when you travel, you might bring cash in case you decide to go on an unplanned tour when you arrive at a port. In addition, think about anything else you may do during your adventure, such as explore a local market or catch a taxi to a nature preserve. Unless you have your entire day planned, having some money on you gives you more freedom to do as you please. Considering these additional costs will help you plan your budget more accurately and avoid any financial surprises during your cruise.
Are you paying for your onboard expenses in cash?
Most cruise lines do have the option to pay in cash but this is usually a little more tricky. You may be required to load your cruise account with money at the start of the cruise which is returned to you at the end of the cruise. The majority of cruisers will pay off their onboard spend using a credit or debit card. It is not unusual to see only card payments accepted on some public transportation or shops. If you use cash to fund your cruise account, there may be a limit on the amount of daily expenses that you will be permitted to incur. If you exceed that amount, you will be asked to provide additional funds for your account.
Note that this amount doesn’t include gratuities charged for extras like alcoholic beverages on the ship. Those are extra in addition to the automatic gratuities charged to each passenger that go to the waitstaff and room steward. In fact, onboard spending is the area where you have the most control over what you’ll spend. Don’t forget to factor in the cost of transportation to get to and from the cruise ship. We get into all the details of how much a cruise costs — and exactly where you’ll spend money — below.
A Cashless Cruise Experience
After 2023, we can say that cruising is back with ships sailing at full capacity. Getting to the Ship (Transportation, Parking, Hotel)Whether you fly, ride, or drive to the port, you will have some more expenses that you have to consider for your budget. Always make sure you remember your password, but don’t write it down on paper and leave it next to the safe (believe me, yes some people do this). It is relatively simple to keep your cash safe on your cruise.
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Hitting the spa doesn’t mean you have to blow your budget and increase the average cost of a cruise. Cruise line spas charge rates equal to high-end salons, and you might be shocked by the prices. A 50-minute massage is typically about $120 to $180, with more exotic treatments running higher into the $200 to $400 (not to mention medispa treatments, which can start in the four-figure range). Plus, rates don't include an automatic gratuity that typically runs 18 percent. Many lines will allow you to bring a bottle or two of wine onboard, but you might have to pay a corkage fee if you drink it in a restaurant. Read about the best cruise ship alternative restaurants that are definitely worth paying for.
There are both alcoholic and non-alcoholic packages to choose from. Your base fare is the cost of your cabin, meals in the main dining room and buffet restaurant (and any other restaurants specified and included in your base fare), taxes, and fees. We recommend that you travel with credit cards and not debit or bank cards d for your safety, protection against fraud, and peace of mids. Inform your credit card company that you will be traveling, so they recognize transactions from abroad and never put holds on available credit. So whether or not you leave extra cash tips, you will still be expected to pay the fixed gratuity fee with your cruise line.
Seabourn offers world-class spa treatments and wellness services you'll want to try. If you consider your budget and onboard expenses before you go on your cruise, you’ll find it easier to keep to your budget, and not get any surprises. You’ll also want cash for transportation, such as cab fare, if you haven’t booked a cruise line excursion. You can also book private tours with vendors in the cruise port.
Cruise lines now offer prepaid options for gratuities to your room steward and dining room waiters. Or you can wait until on the ship and they will be automatically charged to your account, with no need to pay with physical cash. We leave home with a couple hundred Euros (€10s and €20s) plus whatever change was left over from our last visit. We usually carry €100 each plus a credit card for most port visits (plus cash for the excursion fee if necessary ) Tips, whether on board or in port, we use €s. If you are likely to use public transport or taxis in any of your ports it is a good idea to budget some cash for these.
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