One of the most confusing parts about planning a cruise vacation is figuring out how much cash to bring. Because your fare and add-ons, including drink packages, shore excursions, and specialty restaurants, are often prepaid, you don't need to worry about carrying a wad of cash in your pocket to pay for incidentals onboard.
Still, there are certain instances where having cash is handy. For example, you will want to tip your shore excursion tour guides. You may also want to try your luck in the casino.
Generally speaking, there isn't a "right" amount of cash to bring with you on a cruise. The answer varies based on your travel habits, spending preferences, the length of the cruise, and where you're heading.
One cruiser was curious as to how much cash they should bring and turned to Reddit for advice. Posting in the r/CarnivalCruiseFans thread, Weary_Iron3376 wanted to know how much money they should bring aboard the Carnival Jubilee for two people.
They added that most of their expenses have been prepaid, including "dinner reservations, shore excursions and...gratuities." Moreover, they noted that they aren't really into gambling, might drink occasionally, and are likely to pick up a few souvenirs in port.
The answers were pretty varied. Some said they brought as little as $140 on their cruise, whereas others had over $1,000.
Read more: The best places to keep your cruise card, phone, and cash during a shore excursion
Many advised bringing at least $100 per day
"I usually take $100 per port day PLUS whatever I know we'll spend on a definite excursion," wrote woozles25.
Sensitive-Advisor-21 seconded that, saying, "Keep in mind that taxis can be expensive if you take one both ways. I like to have at least $100 for each port."
"If you know you spend a lot (especially on port days), then I'd say to go with $700 (100 for each day). Even if you know there's a chance you won't spend that much per day, it is definitely better to have more than you'd actually need," Ok-Extreme-3072 commented.
Of course, this is dependent on what you've already prepaid and what you plan on spluring on once onboard the ship. For example, if you've prepaid for your specialty restaurants, drink packages, shore excursions, and Wi-Fi, there's likely little you'll need to spend extra on.
"We always try to book all up-charge items before the cruise. That way we can pay it off before going," sbucks2121 advises.
If you don't pre-purchase your add-ons, you may want more than $100 per day. For example, Carnival's drink package is over $80 per person, per day. If you buy it onboard, that will leave you with a smaller cash buffer for things like tips, taxis, and shopping.
You'll need to consider whether you plan on gambling or not
Some cruisers bring extra cash, knowing that they might lose it in the casino. As Reddit user ushertz65 put it, "We bring money to lose in the casino."
I'm also one who likes to bring a little gambling money on every cruise. Sometimes, I give myself $50, whereas other times I'm okay with betting more.
You can charge money to your onboard account for the slot machines, but many lines require that you have cash for table games. Because of that, it's a good idea to bring enough cash to cover your bets.
The amount of cash you need is also determined by whether you're settling your onboard account in cash or with a credit card
If you are linking your credit card to your onboard spending account, you may not need as much cash as if you plan to settle your final bill with cash.
All your charges on the ship, ranging from last-minute specialty reservations to alcoholic beverages, spa treatments, and shopping, are billed to your onboard account.
As such, cash isn’t necessary for those purchases, and many cruisers choose to bring cash primarily for port days, as your cruise card will not work ashore (unless you're at a private destination like Perfect Day at CocoCay or Carnival's Half Moon Cay).
While most destinations readily accept credit and debit cards, others may not, especially smaller vendors and ports.
Having cash on hand is important for things like taxi rides, tipping local tour guides, buying handmade souvenirs, and grabbing street food.
Still, you may want extra cash for the ship, so you shouldn't only bring cash for ports. Perhaps you want to tip your favorite bartender or leave cash as a token of your appreciation for your cabin steward. Here are a few people whom you may want to tip during your sailing:
- Porters
- Bartenders
- Dining room servers
- Stateroom attendants
- Specialty dining servers
When it comes to how much you should tip a porter, the person who takes your luggage before you go inside the cruise terminal, there isn't a set amount. Some prefer to give as little as $1 or $2 per bag, while others give porters as much as $10 per piece of luggage.
"Whatever you think you need, double it to be safe"
At the end of the day, there isn't a "right" or "wrong" answer as to how much money you need for your cruise. Everyone's spending habits are different.
For example, I like to gamble more than some passengers. As such, I bring extra cash solely to try my luck in the casino.
One Reddit user said that you should double whatever you think you need to be safe. So, if you think you'll spend $30 per day (because you pre-paid for most of your expenses), you should actually allocate $60 per day.
One more tip: make sure you have the right currency
If you're cruising to the Caribbean or Alaska, USD is fine.
However, if you're traveling somewhere like Norway, Greece, Spain, Australia, or Japan, you need to exchange your cash for the local currency. It's also smart to have a credit card that doesn't charge foreign transaction fees.
Still, some vendors don't accept credit cards. If you bring USD on a European cruise, you might be really inconvenienced when trying to buy a local souvenir.
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she traveled frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas during her freshman year of high school. Having sailed on over 30 cruises across different lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC, Margaritaville at Sea, and Princess, she loves sharing her insight and expertise on all things cruising!
