Tipping and other things cost cash???

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TINKERTOY ..... the 1 & only

Yes cruise ships do have ATM's and the ATMS" do charge a fee to get cash. But here what to do. After the ship leaves ports the casino is open and if/when you need cash instead of using the ATM go to the casino cage/window where they make change and give them your cruise card and just ask for as much cash as you need. The last Royal Caribbean cruise I was on they posted a note saying you could get up to $2,000 cash from the casino. Whatever money you get goes on your on-board tab but they do not charge any fee for the transaction.

Regardless of which cruise line you select, the things that are included are pretty much the same. The price of your cruise includes your cabin, all meals (including breakfast, lunch dinner, snacks and free room service)(you do pay to eat in the specialty restaurants), all shows and entertainment, and free use of all facilities on ship. The things that you will have to pay for are:

GRATUITIES: They will amount to about $10 per person in your cabin per day; about $70 each for a 7 day cruise. When you check in at the pier they will set up an on-board charge account for you to cover any and everything you may buy on ship. They will issue you a "cruise card" which will also serve as your room key and pass to get on and off the ship. At the end of the cruise they will add the gratuity to your tab and you can pay with a credit card or cash, your choice.

ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND SOFT DRINKS: Coffee, tea, milk, juice, and lemonade and punch will be provided free but you must pay for drinks (alcoholic beverages) and they will add a 15% gratuity to each drink of soft drink order.

PHOTOGRAPHS: Cruise lines will take plenty of photographs of you all over the ship, in the dining room, and as you exit the ship in ports. These will cost a lot, like $15 to $20 for most.

TOURS/EXCURSIONS: You are not required to book any tours and can get off and on in the ports as much as you want. But the cruise line will offer a lot of tours and these are expensive. These are listed on your cruise line web site and you can reserve them well before the cruise and pay for them also. If you are going to the Caribbean, most places you can get a tour or taxi on the pier for a much lower price than on the ship.

SOUVENIRS: Anything you buy on ship from a gift shop or duty free shop goes on your on board account. Things that you buy on shore you pay cash or credit card for.

CASINO: If you plan to gamble on ship you will need cash for that.

OTHER: most cruise lines have what they call "specialty" restaurants where there is a gratuity/service charge. All other food on board is free and its not really necessary to budget for food; you cannot eat all of the FREE FOOD that will be available.

If you want/need to have your hair done, get a massage or wrap, or any services from the spa, you will have to pay for them. You can use the gym free but the spa stuff cost big bucks.

Ships now have internet cafe and some have WiFi but the there is a fee for internet access and it is very expensive (like about $50 to $60 an hour). Skip the ship's internet service and just look for an internet cafe in your port stops. You can usually get internet service in the ports for $5 to $7 an hour.

You cabin will likely have a minibar with soft drinks and munchies; you have to pay for them (but there is free room service 24/7).

MCLS

YES THEY HAVE ATM'S BUT DON'T KNOW WHAT THE FEE SERVICE IS. YOU WILL NEED MONEY FOR TIPPING, DRINKS AND THE CASINO. ALSO WHEN YOU GET OFF THE SHIP YOU MAY NEED CASH FOR TAXIS OR OTHER FORMS OF TRANSPORTATION

1Cheapcruise

Drinks (alcohol) are not included.
ATM's that I have dealt with had a service charge.

Tom

Most things onboard including automatic tips get added to your ship account which is typically settled by credit card.

We usually carry small bills for tipping folks on the ship who are particularly helpful. An example might be someone who brings room service or takes you to the room on embark day.

If you choose to tip an excursion operator, it is typically done in cash.

Onboard, casino gambling is generally not charged to your card or is done at a fee of maybe 3%.

Bingo used to be all cash but an increasing number of lines now let you charge this to your onboard account.

You'll need cash for the porters at the port, cab drivers in ports, and many of the smaller vendors in ports of call. Take small bills - many can't or won't make change.

Don't count on the ATMs aboard. They are at a fee and can run out of money.

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