The Short Answer
There is no single right number. Many cruisers suggest planning for roughly $100 or more per person per day in total spending on extras, and carrying a smaller amount of actual cash. A modest budget for a week might be a few hundred dollars of spending money beyond what you prepay, while families who add drinks and excursions often budget much more. These are rough community estimates, not Carnival figures, and your own number depends on what you buy.
The most useful approach is to split the question in two: how much cash you need, and how much you will spend overall on your onboard account and in port.
How Spending Works Onboard
Carnival ships are generally described as cashless. You link a credit or debit card (or arrange a cash deposit) to your onboard account, often called Sail & Sign, and use your cruise card to charge drinks, specialty dining, shop purchases, spa services and similar items. You settle up at the end. That means for most purchases on the ship, cash is not needed.
When you link a card, the cruise line may place a temporary hold on it. See what the $200 charge on Carnival cruises is for how that works.
What Cash Is Still Useful For
- Luggage porters. Many travelers tip porters a dollar or two per bag at the terminal.
- Extra tips. Gratuities are normally added automatically, but some guests like to give a little extra cash to a cabin steward or bartender. This is optional; see how much to tip your room steward for common amounts. See Carnival daily gratuities for how the automatic charge works.
- Casino. Some guests prefer to bring cash for gambling. You can usually use onboard ATMs, but those typically charge a fee, and community reports suggest a few dollars per withdrawal, so check before relying on them.
- Ports. See below.
Money for Port Days
Cash is most useful when you are off the ship. Travelers often use it for taxis, beach chairs, local markets, small souvenirs, street food and tips to local guides. A common rule of thumb is to bring something like $50 to $100 per person for each port day you plan to explore independently, then adjust for the destination and whether you have prebooked tours.
Tips for port cash:
- U.S. dollars are widely accepted in many Caribbean and Bahamas stops, but not everywhere. In Europe and other regions you will usually want local currency.
- Bring small, clean bills such as $1, $5, $10 and $20. Vendors may not have change for large notes.
- Keep cash split between a few places, and leave unneeded valuables in the cabin safe.
Sample Budget Ranges
These are only ballpark ideas, not guarantees.
| Style | What it might look like |
|---|---|
| Lean | Mostly prepaid (excursions, drinks, tips), light spending, a few hundred dollars for the week |
| Moderate | A few drinks, one specialty dinner, a few small port purchases |
| Fuller | Drink package, multiple excursions, spa, shopping, casino, a family |
The community estimates you will find range from a few hundred dollars for the very frugal to well over a thousand for families who add several extras. If you are considering a drink package, read whether the Carnival Cheers package is worth it before budgeting.
Ways to Control Spending
- Prepay what you can. Gratuities, drink packages and excursions are often available to buy ahead of time.
- Check your account. Review your onboard folio now and then through the app or at Guest Services.
- Set a daily limit. Decide ahead of time how much you will spend on drinks, shopping and excursions.
- Bring permitted drinks. Carnival’s policy allows a limited quantity of sealed non-alcoholic beverages in your carry-on, and one bottle of wine per adult at embarkation, though policies change. See our guide to carry-on bag rules.
Quick Checklist
- Link a card to your onboard account (and understand any hold).
- Prepay gratuities and any package you are sure you’ll use.
- Take a modest amount of small-denomination cash for porters and ports.
- Decide your port-day budget separately.
- Review the folio before the final night so there are no surprises.
For the broader picture, our first-timer’s guide to Carnival explains what is and isn’t included in the fare.