Rubels for st petersburg?

Do you need rubels for st petersburg or currency for stockholm even if you are on ships tours? Can you change currency on board serenade of the seas anyway? Thanks.

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Most tourist places in European Countries will take Euros and some will take $US as well as GB pound sterling but provide change in the local currency at a conversion rate that may not be favourable.

In Stockholm, on a ship's tour (or even DIY) you'll get by with euros and plastic.

We like the reassurance of carrying a little local currency (mebbe $20-worth each) but I can't think of any circumstances - eg on local buses - when the necessity of local shrapnel would affect you.

Likewise, In St Petersburg we like to have a few roubles.

And they came in very handy to buy beers to go with the included lunches on our tour - the restaurant didn't accept foreign currency or plastic so everyone else had to settle for free jugged water.

Since you're on tours, if you only change a little you can use left-over local currency for guides' tips. No left-over local currency? - euros or even USD or sterling will do for tips.

As Mic's post, if you use euros or other currencies in either place you'll get a poor exchange rate.

But not as bad as ship's exchange rates - they're criminally poor. :eek:

That said, with small sums it's no big deal. And some ships will buy-back unused notes at the same rate.

For significant purchases use plastic. And decline any offer to convert to the currency of your card - keep the transaction in local currency, because your card issuer will convert at a much much better exchange rate.

Off-subject, if it's not too late, in St Petersburg do consider booking a local tour operator rather than ship's tour. A much better experience, similar or lower cost, and the same visa-free status. Lots of info about this on the Baltic forum http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=&f=192

Great place to cruise - enjoy :)

JB :).

SPB tours comes to mind for reputable private tours.

In St. Petersburg on a private tour, we actually did not need Rubles, but the tour guide has some loose ones in case one needs. Souvenir shops accepted US$ and credit card. Meals were included in tour package

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Our private tour guide in St. Petersburg paid for our lunches in rubles, and then we repaid her in either US or Euros. Souvenir places will take plastic. I have strongly recommended a private tour in St. Petersburg elsewhere, and just a quick note to suggest that it is a really good idea. For Stockholm and other European places that don't use Euros, you can always go to an ATM and get a small amount of local currency.