Travelers checks or cash

[391hpa]

Since we have standing nightly reservations in the casino, we always bring AMEX traveler's cheques (and some cash). :) We feel more comfortable traveling with them. We get them fee free through AAA and they're easily cashed in the casino ... plus no ATM fees.

I will say we have never tried to use them in ports. We usually just grab some cash and credit cards.

[bplazo]

On one cruise I brought travelers checks and tried to cash them at a store and on the ship. However, I could not get the signature to match what I signed when I bought them and both places refused to cash them even with my drivers liscense. So I just use cash or a credit card.

[Maybaybie10]

I vaguely remember them as being outrageously high....which is what you would expect.

 

 

I think I read recently that it was $8.00 each time you take out cash...and of course there is a limit to how much cash you can withdraw at a time (determined by your bank, but I believe there is also one determined by RC as well).

[lovemylab]

Most of my purchases in a port are small, therefore I use cash. For large purchases, I use my credit card. I do take travellers cheques as well - but those are left on the ship (and cashed onboard to give me the cash I need for the ports).

 

As for any foreign exchange fees or other charges - it's best to call your bank or credit card provider and get the info from them. They know more about your banking fees than someone on a message board does.

[satxdiver]

Traveler's checks are on the wane. They are too easily compromised which has led a lot of merchants refusing to accept them. Since they are not legal tender, they certainly have that right. Even banks are somewhat reluctant to accept them. The ship will accept them at least for now. If you use them in a foreign port, you are likely to get change in their currency and at a exchange rate that is not very good for you.

 

Credit cards are accepted in most locations but not all. If you use them to pay for something in a foreign currency, there will be the usual international exchange fee and the credit card company will charge you a fee of 2% or more depending on your CC company. Check with them first before using it out of the country.

 

I use US currency most of the time particularly in the Caribbean. If I need local currency, I use the local ATM machine which will charge the current exchange rate and of course the ATM fee and my bank fee. I just used the ATM in Cozumel earlier this month and the ATM and bank fee was $2.25. It can vary depending on your bank policy and the ATM's policy. I did find that most of the merchants in Cozumel were willing to exchange at a rate of 12 pesos to $1US which is very close to the official exchange rate.

 

One last warning. Many CC issuers now have very active fraud detection policies and using your CC out of the country could result in an automatic freeze on its use. Contact your CC issuer before leaving and tell them where you are going and when. It can save a rude awakening when the card is declined!

[phoenix1181]

Hi

 

Thanks for posting this question, I was curious about it myself. This will be my second cruise so I wasn't sure either. I can tell you that we went to Disneyland a few years ago with a little bit of everything, cash, Travellers cheques, credit etc. In Disney of course everything was accepted happily but when I went to use a Travellers check at a fast food restaurant, the cashier did a lot of eye rolling and huffing and even went to get her supervisor to see if she HAD to take it.

 

When I discussed this same question with my bank a few months ago, I was told that Travellers checks aren't used as often any more. She suggested I get a US dollar visa (since I'm Canadian) and use that for purchases. If I used my Canadian one then there are more charges with exchange etc. I am still on the fence about the whole thing. The thought of bringing alot of cash kinda scares me.

 

Thanks for the question and the answers!

 

D

 

A couple of things to consider about the debit card............

 

They're problematic when used for your onboard account because of the way holds are placed. Also, for many of them, you need to keep track of the balance which can be a hassle especially when traveling.

We never use Travelers Checks in port but since they can be cashed onboard at no charge, we’re very comfortable taking the majority of our gambling & miscellaneous expense money in that format.

[sailingawaysoon]

I like travelers checks, but last month before our cruise, I went to Bank of America in Georgia and they stated that they longer issues travelers checks. It could be this one branch, but I was told they phased them out in January due to fraud and people easily being able to re-create a travelers check these days. I ended up carrying cash, which I didn't feel comfortable with, but there was no alternative for things that required us paying cash. Have a great cruise.

[setsail]

I agree, we always bring traveler's checks and cash them as needed on the ship before getting off at ports. This has worked out great for us. I sometimes pay down the bill at the end of the cruise with them, and arrive home with the trip almost completely paid off.

 

exactly what we do.

[ehfl]

You should use a credit card or cash. Traveler's checks are a pain for the customer, and for the merchant. Credit cards are much easier, safer and more convenient. Take some cash for small purchases.

[nanfromatlanta]

We travel a lot for both business and pleasure and haven't used travelers checks in close to 20 years. We travel with cash and credit cards. ;)

 

As a matter of fact, the company I worked for did not suggest the use of travelers checks at all. I used our company credit card for all travel related charges.

[lovemylab]

When I discussed this same question with my bank a few months ago, I was told that Travellers checks aren't used as often any more. She suggested I get a US dollar visa (since I'm Canadian) and use that for purchases. If I used my Canadian one then there are more charges with exchange etc. I am still on the fence about the whole thing. The thought of bringing alot of cash kinda scares me.

 

Thanks for the question and the answers!

 

 

I have a US dollar mastercard for travelling so I use that instead of my Canadian one. I found that some banks had high annual fees on the US dollar cards though. I ended up getting mine with BMO as it ended up being the one with the lowest annual fee.

 

I also don't like taking a lot of cash. That is why I take travellers cheques and then cash them onboard. My bank always has them in stock so I just pick them up when I am getting some US cash.

 

As for the fees with the exchange rate, most credit cards with Canadian banks charge 2.5% on top of the exchange rate.

[satxdiver]

I like travelers checks, but last month before our cruise, I went to Bank of America in Georgia and they stated that they longer issues travelers checks. It could be this one branch, but I was told they phased them out in January due to fraud and people easily being able to re-create a travelers check these days. I ended up carrying cash, which I didn't feel comfortable with, but there was no alternative for things that required us paying cash. Have a great cruise.

 

Most banks have stopped issuing traveler's checks for the reasons you cite. I believe AAA still does but not sure as I have not used them in years. A lot of merchants also are refusing to take them because of the ease of fraud and the pain in turning them into cash. The last time I used them several years ago, the exchange rate for traveler's checks was quite a bit worse than that for the USD. I had to go to an American Express office just to get a reasonable exchange rate.