Cash, cards, and tipping in port

US dollars

In most Caribbean cruise ports, US dollars are accepted in the areas cruise visitors go. Some places use the dollar as their own currency (Puerto Rico, the US and British Virgin Islands, Turks and Caicos, Panama), and some local currencies are fixed to it (the Bahamas and Belize, for example).

• Change often comes back in local currency, so pay with small bills to get little or no change.
• In a few ports, like Cartagena, dollars are less widely taken. Each port page tells you what to expect.

Cards

• Restaurants, bigger shops and pier shopping areas usually take cards.
• Taxis, market stalls, beach chair rentals and park entry are often cash only.
• Use a card without foreign transaction fees, and if a card machine offers to charge you in US dollars instead of local currency, it is usually cheaper to say no.
• If you need local cash, an ATM at a bank usually gives a better rate than exchanging dollars.

Tipping

Tipping tour guides and drivers is expected in most Caribbean ports. Common starting points:

• Tour guide: about $5 to $10 per person for a half-day tour, $10 to $20 for a full day.
• Driver on a group tour: about $2 to $5.
• Taxi: a 10% to 15% tip is polite, or round up.
• Tip more for a great private guide, and in cash, in US dollars if you have no local money.

Tour prices usually don't include a tip for the guide; the tour description will say if they do.