How Much Cash Should You Bring on a Cruise?
Bring cash for the purchases you expect to make in cash, plus a reserve. There is no useful universal amount per person. Someone using prepaid excursions and cards ashore needs a different amount from someone paying local taxis, independent guides and optional tips in cash.
Separate cash from your total spending budget
Most routine onboard purchases go through your ship account. Royal Caribbean, for example, lets you establish its SeaPass account with a credit card or as a cash account. Cash account guests must settle their statement onboard before leaving the ship.
A cashless ship therefore does not necessarily mean you must fund everything with a credit card, or that you need banknotes for each onboard drink. Check the accepted payment methods, deposit and settlement rules for your line. Your total trip budget is a separate calculation.
Build a cash list for your itinerary
- Confirm how you will pay for airport transfers and any independent tours.
- Ask taxi or tour operators which currency and payment methods they accept.
- Allow for small purchases at stops where you expect to use cash.
- Choose a separate amount for optional tips.
- Add a reserve for a failed card transaction or an unplanned local ride.
For example, $40 for confirmed cash transport, $50 for small purchases, $40 for optional tips and a $70 reserve would mean bringing $200 for the group. That is an illustration, not a recommended allowance or a quote for any port. Substitute your own confirmed costs and currencies.
Keep casino spending separate with a firm limit. Check whether charging casino funds to your ship account incurs a fee; do not assume it is a free cash withdrawal.
Choose currencies by destination
The Bahamas tourism authority says US and Bahamian dollars are accepted interchangeably. That does not establish a rule for the entire Caribbean. Check each country's currency and the actual operator's acceptance policy, including the exchange rate and currency of any change.
If a card terminal or ATM offers to convert a purchase into your home currency, compare the displayed exchange rate and fees with your card's terms. Visa says you must be given a choice about that conversion. A familiar dollar total is not proof of better value.
Do not depend entirely on the ship's ATM
Royal Caribbean confirms onboard ATMs with withdrawal fees and only limited currency conversion services. Check your bank's withdrawal fees, limits and card settings before travel. Neither a ship ATM nor an exchange counter is a guaranteed source of every destination's currency.
Carry small denominations where useful for optional tips and small purchases. Keep a backup payment method separate and take only the cash you expect to need ashore, with a reserve.
Recent Reddit answers range from minimal cash to hundreds of dollars, often mixing casino money, tips and the whole onboard budget. Treat those as individual habits. Your confirmed excursion arrangements explain more than another passenger's cruise length.
Frequently asked questions
Can I pay my onboard bill in cash?
Some lines allow a cash funded onboard account. Royal Caribbean expressly does, with settlement required before disembarking. Other lines have their own deposit, currency and balance rules. Check those before sailing, and distinguish funding the account from paying cash at each restaurant or shop.
Do I need cash if I prepaid gratuities?
Possibly, for transport, small purchases ashore or optional extra tips. Prepaid daily gratuities do not cover every cost outside the ship. List the services you plan to use and check payment methods before choosing an amount, rather than adding a fixed cash allowance automatically.
Should I bring only US dollars to the Caribbean?
No single currency rule covers every Caribbean destination. The Bahamas accepts US dollars alongside its own currency, but check other countries and your specific taxi or tour operator. Ask what exchange rate applies and how change is given if paying in a currency other than the local one.
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