Reply To: A Newbie Guide to Cruising AND getting there & back again
According to Wikipedia, the Antilles Guilder/Florin is on the way out. Some island nations are adopting the Yankee Dollar, while others are creating a new currency.
In reality, US cash is good pretty much everywhere, but watch out for merchants who charge exorbitant exchange rates. (If they charge you more than three fifths of the price in “guilders” or “florins” in US dollars, you’re being ripped off.) You can also use a Visa card, but it’s dicey because your card may be skimmed. (They know you are on a boat and may not be reachable in the event your card number is abused.) Your card issuer may also charge you a high per-transaction exchange fee. ATMs at banks — preferably indoor ones because they’re less subject to tampering — are a good way to get local currency; I’ve used them a lot in Europe. But watch for skimming devices and cover the keyboard as you type your PIN. Avoid private ATMs.
Wallet in a back pocket is only OK if you have it on a sturdy cable or chain. Fanny pack (“bum bag” for those who speak British English), worn in front, is better.