How to get cash on a cruise ship

If there’s one thing I always forget to do before taking the train, it’s stopping at an ATM. Travel mainly operates on a cashless system, so traveling without cash is not a big deal. You attach a credit card to your onboard account and use the keycard to make purchases onboard.

But sometimes you need dollar bills or foreign currency. Luckily, in those situations, you can find ways to make money on most cruise ships.

Occasionally, I need a few US dollars to tip my porter, tour guide, or room attendant, and I always leave an additional tip for my housekeeper, in addition to the tip. automatic bonus. Additionally, in some overseas destinations, vendors only accept cash in local currency. If you want to shop while in port, you’ll want to bring some cash.

The best time to get cash is before you leave home, from an ATM (if you need US dollars) or from your local bank, which can almost always pick up foreign currency on your behalf at better rates than you’ll find elsewhere. Airport currency exchange counter. Local ATMs abroad are also a solid option; Complete the transaction in local currency instead of US dollars to avoid bad exchange rates.

However, if – like me – you happen to forget or run out of time in the rush to get to the airport, you can still get cash after boarding the cruise ship.

At the ATM on the plane

Many large cruise ships have ATMs on board and this is the fastest and easiest way to get cash while you’re sailing. The biggest drawback is that they often charge exorbitant fees – up to $10 per transaction. If you have to withdraw cash, calculate how much you’ll need for the entire trip so you only need to make one withdrawal.

At the reception

If you’re on a ship without an ATM, ask the front desk if they can give you cash and charge it to your shipboard bill. In most cases, the transaction will be posted as a credit card purchase instead cash advanceso you won’t have to worry about additional fees from your card issuer or bank. Be sure to double check with guest services if you’re concerned.

This is only an option on certain ships, so don’t count on every cruise line offering cash at the front desk.

At the casino

Another option to make money on a cruise is Casino on board if your ship has one. (And, no, I’m not talking about gambling with the intention of winning to make money.)

Go to the cashier and ask to pre-load the amount you need onto your keycard or have it given to you in chips, depending on how your ship handles gaming. Find the least expensive slot or table game, play the smallest amount of credits, and when you’re done, return to the table to cash out.

Because you are likely to lose the money you play in slot machines, this is a strategy you should only use when necessary.

Bottom line

Although cruising is a largely cashless endeavor, you may need paper money in certain situations. It’s a good idea to withdraw cash from a bank or free ATM before arriving at the dock, but that’s not always possible. If you need cash for tips or shore purchases, these options may be right for you if you don’t mind hidden fees and other charges.

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