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Cruise ports where U.S. dollars work
43 ports of call where the U.S. dollar is the currency, or where our guide says dollars are widely accepted. Data last checked: Oct 2026
Caribbean (5)
| Port | Rating | Currency (from our guide) |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Turk Turks & Caicos | Easy | U.S. dollar (official currency). |
| St. Croix (Frederiksted) U.S. Virgin Islands | Easy | U.S. dollar. |
| La Romana Dominican Republic | Moderate | Dominican peso (DOP). U.S. dollars are widely accepted in tourist areas. |
| St. Vincent (Kingstown) St. Vincent & the Grenadines | Moderate | Eastern Caribbean dollar (XCD). U.S. dollars are widely accepted. |
| Labadee Haiti | Book a tour | U.S. dollar; purchases go on your onboard account. |
Bahamas & Bermuda (10)
| Port | Rating | Currency (from our guide) |
|---|---|---|
| RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay Bahamas (Little San Salvador) | Easy | U.S. dollar; purchases go on your onboard account. |
| Perfect Day at CocoCay Bahamas (Berry Islands) | Easy | U.S. dollar; purchases go on your onboard account. |
| Celebration Key Bahamas (Grand Bahama) | Easy | U.S. dollar; purchases go on your onboard account. |
| Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve Bahamas (near Bimini) | Easy | U.S. dollar; purchases go on your onboard account. |
| Castaway Cay Bahamas (Abaco area) | Easy | U.S. dollar; purchases go on your onboard account. |
| Royal Beach Club Paradise Island Bahamas (Nassau) | Easy | U.S. dollar; purchases go on your onboard account. |
| Great Stirrup Cay Bahamas (Berry Islands) | Easy | U.S. dollar; purchases go on your onboard account. |
| Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point Bahamas (Eleuthera) | Easy | U.S. dollar; purchases go on your onboard account. |
| Princess Cays Bahamas (Eleuthera) | Easy | U.S. dollar; purchases go on your onboard account. |
| The Beach Club at Bimini (Virgin Voyages) Bahamas (North Bimini) | Easy | U.S. dollar; purchases go on your onboard account. |
Mexico & Central America (4)
| Port | Rating | Currency (from our guide) |
|---|---|---|
| Harvest Caye Belize | Easy | U.S. dollar; onboard account on the island. Belize dollars are fixed at 2:1 in Placencia. |
| Puerto Limón Costa Rica | Book a tour | Costa Rican colón (CRC). U.S. dollars are widely accepted. |
| Puntarenas Costa Rica | Moderate | Costa Rican colón (CRC). U.S. dollars are widely accepted. |
| Isla Tropicale (Mahogany Bay), Roatán Honduras | Easy | U.S. dollar widely accepted; Honduran lempira locally. |
Alaska & Pacific Northwest (10)
| Port | Rating | Currency (from our guide) |
|---|---|---|
| Juneau Alaska, USA | Easy | U.S. dollar. |
| Ketchikan Alaska, USA | Easy | U.S. dollar. |
| Skagway Alaska, USA | Easy | U.S. dollar. |
| Sitka Alaska, USA | Moderate | U.S. dollar. |
| Icy Strait Point (Hoonah) Alaska, USA | Easy | U.S. dollar. |
| Haines Alaska, USA | Easy | U.S. dollar. |
| Seward Alaska, USA | Easy | U.S. dollar. |
| Whittier Alaska, USA | Moderate | U.S. dollar. |
| Glacier Bay & Hubbard Glacier (scenic cruising) Alaska, USA | Easy | U.S. dollar. |
| Seattle Washington, USA | Easy | U.S. dollar. |
Hawaii (5)
| Port | Rating | Currency (from our guide) |
|---|---|---|
| Honolulu (Oahu) Hawaii, USA | Easy | U.S. dollar. |
| Kahului (Maui) Hawaii, USA | Moderate | U.S. dollar. |
| Kailua-Kona (Big Island) Hawaii, USA | Easy | U.S. dollar. |
| Hilo (Big Island) Hawaii, USA | Moderate | U.S. dollar. |
| Nāwiliwili (Kauaʻi) Hawaii, USA | Moderate | U.S. dollar. |
Canada & New England (4)
| Port | Rating | Currency (from our guide) |
|---|---|---|
| Bar Harbor Maine, USA | Easy | U.S. dollar. |
| Portland (Maine) Maine, USA | Easy | U.S. dollar. |
| Newport (Rhode Island) Rhode Island, USA | Easy | U.S. dollar. |
| Boston Massachusetts, USA | Easy | U.S. dollar. |
Asia (1)
| Port | Rating | Currency (from our guide) |
|---|---|---|
| Phú Mỹ (Ho Chi Minh City) Vietnam | Book a tour | Vietnamese đồng (VND). U.S. dollars are often accepted for tours. |
South America (2)
| Port | Rating | Currency (from our guide) |
|---|---|---|
| Montevideo Uruguay | Easy | Uruguayan peso (UYU). Cards accepted widely; US dollars accepted in tourist areas. |
| Punta del Este Uruguay | Easy | Uruguayan peso (UYU). Cards accepted widely; US dollars accepted in tourist areas. |
Africa & Middle East (1)
| Port | Rating | Currency (from our guide) |
|---|---|---|
| Safaga (for Luxor) Egypt | Book a tour | Egyptian pound (EGP). U.S. dollars often accepted for tours. |
Indian Ocean (1)
| Port | Rating | Currency (from our guide) |
|---|---|---|
| Malé Maldives | Moderate | Maldivian rufiyaa (MVR). U.S. dollars widely accepted. |
How this list is made
We include every rated port whose guide lists the U.S. dollar as the currency, or says U.S. dollars are widely accepted, accepted in tourist areas or often accepted for tours. Canadian ports, where dollars are only sometimes taken at a poor rate, are left out. Small bills help, and change often comes back in local currency.
Quick answers
Do I need local currency on a cruise?
At the ports on this list, U.S. dollars usually work. Elsewhere, cards are often fine in town, but small amounts of local cash help with taxis, tips and markets. Each port guide has a currency note.