A few days ago, I was on Facebook and was reading a comment from a woman about to embark on a cruise.
The conversation revolved around how much money to bring, and she mentioned she was taking $2000 in cash for a 7-night cruise.
I was pretty shocked by the amount: all that cash for a cruise is exaggerated for nearly any passenger.
Therefore, I thought I would share this with you to discuss what the appropriate amount of money is to bring on a cruise and explain why it’s unnecessary to carry so much cash.
Cruises are cash-free
One thing I want to clarify, especially for those who have never been on a cruise, is that cruise ships are cash-free.
Before boarding, you will receive a magnetic card to open the cabin door and pay for everything on board.
When you use the card, the charges are added to your onboard account.
Of course, before you leave the ship (either the night before disembarkation or the morning itself), you must settle the total amount you spent.
You can pay by card, though some cruise lines also accept cash to settle the total (I still recommend a card since it can be a high amount).
Another tip, which I think is useful, is to link your payment card to your onboard account during online check-in. This way, you can avoid waiting in line at the front desk when you board.
So yeah, the important thing to know is that on cruise ships, you cannot pay with cash; it is not accepted.
Why do you still need some cash then?
On a cruise, you may need cash for two specific occasions: tipping and when you get off the ship for excursions.
Let’s look in more detail at the amount you should bring for these eventualities.
Tips
The first reason you need cash is for tipping.
In the U.S., it is customary to tip between 15% and 20%. While you don’t typically pay a bill on a cruise, crew staff may still expect a tip.
On U.S. cruise lines, it is common to tip your waiter, the luggage handler, the cabin steward, and the bartender.
As always, it is not mandatory but highly recommended if you receive good service.
For this reason, remember to bring bills with you, especially $1, $2, and $5 bills.
Plus, you might need them if you want to leave a tip during the excursion, for example, to the cab driver.
Tipping on European cruises
As you probably know, I am Italian and can confirm that in Europe (except perhaps in the UK) tipping is not so common.
To be clear, a worker does not necessarily expect to be tipped, but it is still a good thing to do if you particularly enjoyed the service.
I always tip waiters, even on Italian ships like Costa Cruises.
During Excursions
The second reason you may need cash is for excursions.
When you get off the ship, you can use cash again, even though nowadays nearly every country accepts cards.
In my experience, the only places that might not accept cards are public transportation and cabs.
Therefore, it’s always good to have cash on hand in case of emergencies.
NOTE: According to Italian law, all sellers to the public (merchants, physical stores, street vendors, artisans, cabs) are required to accept electronic cards.
It may not be the same in every country you visit, but check the local law to know your rights.
Public toilets
Another situation where you might need cash is for using restrooms.
In Europe, it is very common to have to pay about 1€ at automatic machines to enter the toilets.
Therefore, it might be useful to always have some coins in your pocket.
Tickets for attractions
When you are on an excursion, you will probably visit places that might have entrance fees.
For example, churches, historical monuments, museums, and other popular tourist destinations.
Some of them may require you to pay cash. In my experience, these places are rare, but I have come across a few, especially in small towns.
My advice is that, if you already have an itinerary, buy tickets online well in advance.
This way, you might save some money and avoid the line at the ticket office.
How much cash should I bring on a cruise?
I did some math. Below is the list of things you may need cash for.
The figures are “per day,” so add up those that apply to you and then multiply them by the days you will be on the cruise.
- Tips $20 per day (both on board and on land)
- Cabs and transports $50 per day
- Souvenirs $20 per day
- Food and drink 30$ per day
- Public toilets 5$ per day
According to these costs, you would need $125 in cash per day. So for a 7-day cruise, a total of $875.
This is, in my opinion, a fairly realistic figure. According to my experience, the right amount is between $100 and $130 per day.
Don’t bring more than necessary: there are many risks!
Another piece of advice I want to give you is not to bring excessive amounts of cash.
Some people want to be extremely cautious and carry an unreasonable amount.
There are several risks in doing this:
- Risk of loss: When traveling, you often use various modes of transportation, change locations frequently, and move around a lot.
The risk of losing your wallet or backpack is always very high. - Risk of theft: as you know, tourists are the favorite targets for pickpockets.
That is why it is always recommended to carry only small amounts of money and be cautious about where you store it.
When you disembark for excursions, bring only the amount you need for that day and leave the rest in the cabin safe.
Pickpocketing is common in Europe, especially in very touristy countries such as Italy, France, and Spain.
For example, Las Ramblas in Barcelona is very famous among cruise travelers for being a place where backpacks and smartphones are often stolen.
To avoid unpleasant situations, remember to take a look at the 7 new tourist scams that target cruise passengers.
Are there ATMs on the ship?
There are ATMs on some cruise ships, but not all.
Usually, the cruise lines that have ATMs on board are Royal Caribbean, Carnival, NCL, Princess, and Holland America.
Note well that the costs of withdrawing on a cruise can be quite high.
My advice is to avoid using ATMs on the ship and prefer those that can be found in ports or city centers.
In addition, I can confirm that MSC Cruises and Costa Cruises do not have ATMs on board.
I have been on many cruises with them, and there was no ATM on any of their ships.
In addition, remember to check the 20 Tips & Tricks To Save Money on a Cruise.