Med cruise on Constellation - currency on board?

This is our second Med cruise I can't remember what currency is used on-board and available at the ATMs. We will be on the Constellation sailing from Barcelona to Venice.

I know we need Euros for spending money in port, but is there any need for US cash? What is available on the ships ATMs? We do typically tip extra in cash - I suppose this can be either Euros or US$? Just trying to figure out how much cash to bring with us....we prefer not to bring a wad of cash if we can avoid it, but don't want it to be a hassle to get more either.

This is our second Med cruise I can't remember what currency is used on-board and available at the ATMs. We will be on the Constellation sailing from Barcelona to Venice.

 

I know we need Euros for spending money in port, but is there any need for US cash? What is available on the ships ATMs? We do typically tip extra in cash - I suppose this can be either Euros or US$? Just trying to figure out how much cash to bring with us....we prefer not to bring a wad of cash if we can avoid it, but don't want it to be a hassle to get more either.

bebe08 - the currency on Celebrity cruise ships, regardless where in the world they sail, is ALWAYS the U.S. Dollar. The on-ship ATMs will dispense USD. If you need/want Euros, you can get that at Guest Services. However, most well-traveled cruisers will never use the ship ATM or exchange funds on the ship unless absolutely necessary. If your travel plans allow for it (i.e., you arrive at your embarkation port in advance of the day of embarkation), you should take advantage of withdrawing cash (Euros) from a brick/mortar bank ATM in Barcelona before getting on the ship. If you are looking to use US Dollars to tip on board the ship, I would take what you think you need with you prior to departing from home.

I'm sure other cruisers will have their own tips and suggestions. Enjoy your cruise.

The ships that I have been on board in the Med have a Dollar ATM in and around guest services and a Euro ATM in and around the casino area. ATM fees will be incurred. The machine will prompt you, then you have to deal with fees/conversion rates of your home bank.

bebe08 - the currency on Celebrity cruise ships, regardless where in the world they sail, is ALWAYS the U.S. Dollar. The on-ship ATMs will dispense USD. If you need/want Euros, you can get that at Guest Services. However, most well-traveled cruisers will never use the ship ATM or exchange funds on the ship unless absolutely necessary. If your travel plans allow for it (i.e., you arrive at your embarkation port in advance of the day of embarkation), you should take advantage of withdrawing cash (Euros) from a brick/mortar bank ATM in Barcelona before getting on the ship. If you are looking to use US Dollars to tip on board the ship, I would take what you think you need with you prior to departing from home.

 

 

 

I'm sure other cruisers will have their own tips and suggestions. Enjoy your cruise.

Why would not you use ATM on board if your card is in USD?

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You can get around this by:

a) pre paying Tips

b) having them taken daily by your OBA

In the last 5 yrs we have pre paid, as we used Select dining. However, you now no longer have to do this, but I have chosen this way, as I like to know that the tips are taken care of before I board, meaning I don’t have the worry of who to tip.

Why would not you use ATM on board if your card is in USD?

 

 

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Why would I pay a fee upwards of $5 or mire to get cash on the ship when I can do it for free at home?

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Yes I can get a better exchange rate by getting Euros at home and bringing with us....but there is a risk that goes with carrying a lot of cash. It is also difficult to know exactly how much you will need. Therefore we like the flexibility of being able to take out cash as we need it. I would rather pay a bit more in fees than carry a large amount of cash on me.

Re tipping, we always tip extra in cash when cruising when the service warrants. All of our cruises (except one) have been Caribbean so tipped in US$. For our previous med cruise I honestly can't remember whether we tipped extra using Euros or US.

If you do decide to use an ATM in Barcelona be very careful....pick pocketing is a serious problem. If they see you at a machine you are advertising you now have cash on you.

Remember you can add extra tips using OBC you just need to complete a form 24 hours before getting off.

If you do decide to use an ATM in Barcelona be very careful....pick pocketing is a serious problem. If they see you at a machine you are advertising you now have cash on you.

 

Remember you can add extra tips using OBC you just need to complete a form 24 hours before getting off.

This is very good advice. Barcelona is notorious for pickpockets and muggings. For people visiting, this is worth a read :-

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2018/jul/21/why-barcelona-is-a-street-hotspot-and-how-to-beat-the-thieves

Yes I can get a better exchange rate by getting Euros at home and bringing with us....but there is a risk that goes with carrying a lot of cash. It is also difficult to know exactly how much you will need. Therefore we like the flexibility of being able to take out cash as we need it. I would rather pay a bit more in fees than carry a large amount of cash on me.

 

 

 

Re tipping, we always tip extra in cash when cruising when the service warrants. All of our cruises (except one) have been Caribbean so tipped in US$. For our previous med cruise I honestly can't remember whether we tipped extra using Euros or US.

Our last cruise was in July to the Baltics on Cunard where onboard currency is USD. We always have Euros at home, but hardly used any currency at all. We used CCs everywhere and we have three which make no foreign transaction charges.

If you don’t have one of those cards the Halifax Clarity is one of the best. I’d just take €200-300 and a CC.

You can tip in Euros and GBP if you wish to leave a bit more.

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We have withdrawn cash on a ship because we needed additional Dollars for non-celebrity excursions that only accepted USD. Often when on a B2B we start getting low on cash and instead of traveling with large amounts cash just top it up from the on board ATM.

I have a First Republic account that refunds all ATM fees - even the $5.00 charged by Celebrity, so really isn't a deterrent to us.

bebe08 wrote:

"We do typically tip extra in cash"

Neither pre-paying, nor having the gratuity taken daily would handle this.

Either US dollars or Euros would be fine for extra tips. The crew have need for both currencies.

You can get around this by:

a) pre paying Tips

b) having them taken daily by your OBA

 

In the last 5 yrs we have pre paid, as we used Select dining. However, you now no longer have to do this, but I have chosen this way, as I like to know that the tips are taken care of before I board, meaning I don’t have the worry of who to tip.

I agree.

However, some passengers like to tip a little extra in cash e.g. a couple of dollars for the toilet attendant who offers a good service; x dollars to a particular waitress in the martini bar so that you are always looked after...

This is a can of worms which has benn debated time and time again on CC.

For us on a 2 week cruise in Europe, we'd take about £1000 of local currencies e.g. Euro and Krone

as well as $1000 and about £500. Of course, if we're staying pre/post cruise we may take more local currency. Spare dollars can be pumped into our ship board account at the end of the cruise. It's just a quick visit ti Guest Relations.

Also, if we're doing non-X excursions, we'll take more local currency.

We like to use local money. It's fun. A few spare notes and coins end up in our photo albums of the cruise.

In 2020 we're on the Azamara Journey going down from Portugal to Cape Town. It'll be ten or 11 currencies! Serious planning ahead.

Why not use dollars some wonder?

A true story: we were on a Princess Cruise which involved calling in at Egypt. We were thirsty and bought a can of fanta for very little using the local currency. Two Americans did the same and were charged $14 for each can. Our can had cost us about 20 cents!

Thanks all for the suggestions. I have a few excursions booked thru Celebrity which are pre-paid, but the majority are private excursions booked through the roll call. I will double check regarding payment, I believe most are in cash and will need to make sure we have enough Euros for that. We also use credit card where possible...and good suggestions to bring more than one. On our last Caribbean cruise DH went to order a drink and was told there was a hold on our account and to report to guest services. We did and found out our Amex had been the victim of credit card fraud and had been cancelled on the spot. New cards were being mailed to us but of course no use to us on the cruise. We switched our shipboard account to Mastercard for the remainder of the cruise. Not sure what we would have done if we didn't have a second card with us.

Thanks all for the suggestions. I have a few excursions booked thru Celebrity which are pre-paid, but the majority are private excursions booked through the roll call. I will double check regarding payment, I believe most are in cash and will need to make sure we have enough Euros for that. We also use credit card where possible...and good suggestions to bring more than one. On our last Caribbean cruise DH went to order a drink and was told there was a hold on our account and to report to guest services. We did and found out our Amex had been the victim of credit card fraud and had been cancelled on the spot. New cards were being mailed to us but of course no use to us on the cruise. We switched our shipboard account to Mastercard for the remainder of the cruise. Not sure what we would have done if we didn't have a second card with us.

Yes, always best to be prepared. For some unknown reason our Mastercard doesn’t always work at the automatic dispensers in France, but Visa does, yet they both work in shops.

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