Going to Bahamas on a cruise, how much money should I bring?

Question

Single mom... and though money is not an issue do not want to get there and realize I should have planned for more or have way too much with me and be a victim...

Also the excursions offshore... how do you plan those without going through the cruise line?

Am beginning to think this is gonna be alot of work on me... 13.10 and a 9 y.o... not much in brochure for the 13 y.o...

someone who has been maybe give me some insight..

Answer 1

I went on a cruise to the Bahamas.When you get there people are always trying to sell you something! And there is great stuff at the other ports! PS: You only need money for the ports!!!! When your on the ship everything is added to your credit card. I would bring about $400.00 Just to be safe. PSS: Have Fun!!

Answer 2

Went on a cruise a year ago and took $300 (don't have kids, though). Came back with $200. Didn't spend much. Bought about $50 in souvenirs and the rest was spent on tasting local food.

You CAN do excursions independent of the cruise line, but I wouldn't recommend it because the ones organized by the cruise will return you in enough time to get back on your boat before it departs. Independents aren't worried about that as much.  But if it's something you can do on the beach, close to the boat or just a short cab ride away, then go for it as the regular excursions can be a pretty penny.

But honestly, the excursions aren't that fun for the price. You may have more fun just touring the ports yourself. I did one excursion, swimming with the dolphins. Although that WAS an experience, it was very expensive, $160.

Since it's gonna be 4 of you, I'd say about $600-750 just to be safe.

Good luck! Have a blast!

Answer 3

I have been on about 20 cruises including to the Bahamas and all over the Caribbean and here what I recommend based on my experiences.

If you have paid for your cruise that will include your cabin, use of all facilities and activities on ship (except spa services like hair, nails and wraps which have a fee), and all meals including breakfast, lunch dinner, and snacks, plus free room service. Included also will be coffee, tea, juices, milk, and any punch or lemonade they may have. You will have to pay for alcoholic beverages and soft drinks. A 15% gratuity is added to every drink order, so you don't pay them as a lump sum but per order.

When you first board the ship the cruise line (whichever one you go on) will set up at check in a cruise account for everything that you buy on board the ship. And that includes both drinks and souvenirs. So all of the alcoholic and soft drinks that you order will go on that tab. Also, if you want to go on any tours from the ship or buy any of the photos of you that they take you will pay for them via the tab. Then at the end of the cruise they will add the gratuity which will be $10 per person per day (for adults but maybe be less for kids).  Then before you get off the ship they will charge this to your credit card, OR you can make arrangements to pay cash for everything if that's what you want.

So ships are basically cashless. The only cash you will need is for the casino and when you get off the ship to shop or go on a tour or sightseeing. So if you plan to pay your tab by credit card and not drink a lot you may not need any more than $300 to $400.  But if you plan to pay cash for everything then you may need more. Your cabin will have a safe to store cash if you decide to do that.

In the Bahamas and the Caribbean you can usually get a tour or taxi to do the same as ship's tour for much less and the people doing these will be right at the pier, just tell them what you want to do.  BUT, be sure that you know exactly what time you must be back on ship and be sure to plan to be back at least half and hour before that time.  The one benefit of booking through the ship is they will NEVER leave you at the port, not so if you go on your own.

In the Bahamas there are not really a lot of really interesting attractions, mainly the beach activities.  But here's a web site:  http://www.bahamas.com/bahamas/island/te...

But one of the major attractions there is is the Atlantis hotel which has an aquarium and is a huge property that I understand cruise passengers can also use to some extent.  You can get there easily and quickly by taxi. Here's that resorts web site:  http://www.atlantis-resort-bahamas.com/

When we cruise we typically buy one or two photos, maybe a few souvenirs, a couple drinks a day and with our gratuities added our tab is usually under $200 each for a 7 day cruise. Then we take a couple hundred to spend in the casino and on the trinkets and stuff that you see in port stops. If you plan to buy big stuff like jewelry use a credit card.

The cruie ship will have an ATM on board near/at the pursers' desk AND here's a tip.  If you run low on cash, go to the casino window and request some cash on your cruise card. If/when you do that there are no ATM fees because they are just adding to your on-board account/tab.

Answer 4

Whatever amount you decide to bring, make sure you use small US dollars...take plenty of $1, 5 and 10s for shopping in the markets, taxi rides, tips.  They don't offer change...

Notable for traveling with these ages...I suggest you get a set of 2-way radios to keep in touch while on board.  I have two daughters, 13 and 10 and the radios are great piece of mind for the parent and freedom for the kiddos.

Don't take a ton of cash w/you while in port...

Answer 5

Most excursions are avaliable through the cruise line (and they charge you when you get off the boat).  Most don't give you the time or freedom to really do much else.  It all depends on how many days your going to have.  Also, alot of cruise lines have their own private islands, special rates and are safer because of the group setting.  My cruise had a 'meeting' to inform us of certain scams, what rate to expect from cab drivers and gave us directions to major shopping districts.  But it is good to do your own research, but don't spend so much time planning you forget to enjoy your trip.

But most attractions take US currencies, cash and credit cards.

Answer 6

Everything you buy on the ship from your drinks to things from the shops will be charged to your credit card. So the cash you bring is for what you spend in the ports only. If you do your own excursions, when you get off the ship, there are always people offering you tours or taxi's to go on. They are usually right next to the dock. The main thing you must remember about not booking excursions with the ship, is you must get back to the ship on time. The ship does not wait for you and I have seen people miss the ship almost every time I have cruised. Bring whatever amount of money you think you need. They do have atm's on board the ship. One other thing is to let you bank know in advance that you are going on a cruise. That way they won't get suspicious of unusual charges.