6 Days from now you will be walking the deck watching a sunset! It is now time to make sure that all of your finances, before, during and after the cruise are in order! We show you how to make sure you cover your bases.
Before and after your Cruise
Take today and go through all of your bills. Make sure that they are paid, or scheduled to be paid.
Electronic Bill paying- Most people know about electronic bill pay. But just in case! You can go online to most companies and set a bill pay date in advance. Or you can add autopay. This means that when it is due, the company will automatically take your payment from the bank you have attached the bill to. Most banks also have a Bill Pay system. You can set up all of your bills to be paid from the bank’s end, versus the utility company, credit card company or other institutions you may need to pay.
If you are not one to make payments online then gather all of your bills and see what day they are due. Pay off any bills you can before you leave. Mark all others with the date you need to pay them upon your return. Then put them all in one spot where you can find them. We like to do this so when we come back to a pile of mail, we already have a stack of important bills to pay that we can deal with right away.
During your Cruise
Credit Cards – Decide which credit cards you are taking. We discussed this on Day 26. Now it’s time to refresh! You want to make sure that whatever credit cards you are using on your travels are up to date. Make sure that the expiration dates are at least a month away. Make sure that you have enough on your credit line to cover your charges during your trip. Make sure that the name on your credit card matches your ID or your passport! Many countries insist on it matching your Passport. Make sure to SIGN YOUR CARDS!
Revisit Day 26 to read all about the kinds of credit cards to use while traveling out of the country!
Currency – By now you should have gotten your currency for the countries you are traveling to. But if you haven’t there is still time. Many banks can get it to you in 2-4 business days. Then there are money exchange companies all over most major cities. Remember these will be better rates than any airport! Only get enough currency to get you by at the airport, sometimes you will pay 25% more for the convenience. Revisit Day 26 for more info on Currency.
Cash – Today is the day that we want you to decide on and get whatever cash you need for your trip. We usually plan on how much we will spend on each port ahead of time. This keeps us on a budget! Think about these things when deciding!
- Tips for luggage handlers, porters, cab drivers, etc. We like to get small bills like ones and fives!
- Souvenirs
- Small bills for the ports; shopping, cabs, buses, etc.
- Dream purchases- Italian leather in Italy, Panama hats in Panama, etc!
HINT – We bring with $20 in singles to tip the room service people on the ship! We leave a few in a drawer each day to grab when that much needed morning breakfast shows up at the door and you are still half asleep!
Decide whether you will be using a hidden money holder like a travel belt. Or, how you will be carrying your cash and credit cards on the ports.
Shauna loves this waist pouch that carries money, cell phones and makes her look skinny at the same time!
Captain Bert has his own favorite waist passport and money belt.
Next up: Day 5 Let’s take some time to catch up and see if we missed anything