The question of how much money to take with you on a river cruise can sometime be tricky. Some river cruise lines offer complimentary services whilst other do not; some river cruises are all-inclusive and others aren’t. There are lots of things to consider when deciding on how much money to take with you on a river cruise and, hopefully, this guide will help you make that decision.

Firstly, do your research. Check with your river cruise line to see if your voyage will be an all-inclusive getaway or not. All-inclusive cruises, like the ones operated by Uniworld River Cruises, will provide you with everything from meals to massages at no extra cost, whilst others may charge you for any added services, so spending money is essential. Once you have established how many of the amenities on-board your river cruise vessel are included within the original price of your voyage, you can start to work out a budget of how much cash you will need on-board your ship.

Even if your river voyages are all-inclusive, and you receive complimentary dining alongside other services whilst on-board, spending money will still be necessary to purchase meals when you dock at the destinations on your itinerary. Carry out some research, before you embark, to work out when you will be dining on land and the average price of a meal in your chosen ports. Planning ahead like this is the best way to ensure that you are not caught short of cash whilst in a foreign land.

Whilst docked in river cruise ports, you are bound to want to experience your destination in every way possible. This can often mean going on excursions and buying souvenirs for yourself or gifts for friends and family, at local shops and markets. Everyone wants to make the most of their short stays in the ports included on their itinerary. For this reason, it is always a good idea to take more money than you think you need, as you never know when you will see the perfect gift at a price you can’t quite afford.

One of the most important aspects of spending money on a river cruise holiday is staying safe. You may wish to bring some travellers cheques with you, rather than cash, as if they get lost or stolen, they can quickly be cancelled or replaced. Traveller cheques are one of the safest ways of spending money whilst abroad, so river cruise passengers should always consider them as a viable option.

Brining credit or debit cards with you on a river cruise is also advised, as you never know when you may need extra money for an emergency or spontaneous purchase. Before you travel, make sure to activate your card for use whilst abroad, check with your bank to make sure there are no hidden charges when withdrawing money overseas, check all of your cards are still valid and get the emergency numbers of you bank in case you need to report lost cards, to stop anyone spending money without your permission.

When embarking on an exciting river cruise the most important thing is to be safe and prepared for spending money. Check with your cruise line whether or not your voyage is all-inclusive, use travellers cheques wherever possible on land and make sure you have a back-up source of money in case of any emergencies.

Image Credits : LaTunya Howard – wikimedia-org