Paying on a cruise in Mexico and the Caribbean

– How do I manage the many different currencies?
– How much cash should I take with me?
– Are there ATMs along the way?

Guests on a cruise ship receive their board or room card when they check in. This card not only allows them to access their room, it can also be used to make purchases. This means that cashless payments can be made on the cruise ship.

When disembarking, you then settle the final bill with your credit card or in cash.

Recommendation: Pay the bill the evening before to avoid long queues on the day the cruise ends.

While the euro can be used on destinations in the European Union, there are many itineraries with different local currencies. However, when traveling to the Caribbean and Mexico, the different currencies can be handled relatively easily. This is because the cruise destinations are primarily accustomed to American tourists and therefore the American dollar.

Experienced cruisers bring enough dollars in small bills for a Caribbean and Mexico cruise. Large bills are often problematic because some destinations issue in local currency. And the cruiser won’t need them the next day.

Change dollars for my cruise

It also makes sense to compare the fees and exchange rates. However, this requires a certain lead time.

If you do not have enough time to order dollars, the travel bank can help you. At all German airports and many train stations there is a branch of the travel bank, which has many currencies in stock.

Change money on the cruise ship

For smaller amounts, it is well worth exchanging on the ship. Sometimes it happens that a currency is out of stock. Therefore, you should always have some reserves.

Are there ATMs that dispense dollars?

But these machines should be used in emergencies at most. Withdrawal fees are often 10% or more.

In the city center there is usually a bank where money can be withdrawn cheaply. However, not all banks in the Caribbean carry dollars. Also be careful with the opening hours of the banks, in the Caribbean hardly any banks are open after four o’clock in the afternoon and on weekends and holidays.

Which credit card is suitable for my cruise?

Paying on a cruise: Credit Cards

Pay on shore excursions in Mexico

In many restaurants and stores the credit card is also accepted as a means of payment. Visa and MasterCard are the most common. Prerequisite for payment by credit card is a reception via the cell phone network. Many small, remote bars on the east side of Cozumel do not have reception and therefore cannot accept credit cards.

There are ATMs in the cruise terminals on Cozumel. However, the ATM fees are very high at about 10%. It is worthwhile to use the free 1plus Santander credit card, which reimburses ATM fees.

Summary

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