Buying French Pacific Francs in Australia? Getting cash at the casino on board?

[tashiba]

Hi all!

 

I'm heading to New Caledonia on a cruise Feb 5 (so close!!!) and I've been having some trouble finding places where I can buy the French Pacific Franc (XFP) currency as I'll be stopping at 2 islands where I can use it.

 

I'm based in Melbourne, Australia but will be in Sydney for the cruise, does anyone have any idea where I could get some of this currency in Melbourne or Sydney?

 

I've heard that I can get cash from the casino but will they have that currency? I'm going with Royal Caribbean International.

 

Thanks in advance guys, I've learnt sooooooo much by reading these forums!

[lolabunny77]

I can't help you in regards to the cash at the casino on board part but as for the French Pacific Francs What I can recommend is place an order with your nearest Travelex Branch Right Away and pick it up at either the airport branch assuming you are flying to the place where the cruise is leaving from or option b the branches in the city or local shopping centre.

[Skyrules]

Hi all!

 

I'm heading to New Caledonia on a cruise Feb 5 (so close!!!) and I've been having some trouble finding places where I can buy the French Pacific Franc (XFP) currency as I'll be stopping at 2 islands where I can use it.

 

I'm based in Melbourne, Australia but will be in Sydney for the cruise, does anyone have any idea where I could get some of this currency in Melbourne or Sydney?

 

I've heard that I can get cash from the casino but will they have that currency? I'm going with Royal Caribbean International.

 

Thanks in advance guys, I've learnt sooooooo much by reading these forums!

 

Can't help with the currency situation on Rhapsody... But on P&O they have Central Pacific Francs available to purchase from the Purser's Desk.

[tashiba]

Thanks for your reply! I tried that but they said they couldn't get it that far in advance and as the only flight I'm taking is domestic to Sydney I'm worried I might not be able to get tot he currency exchange point, as it'll be near the international terminals, and I'm worried I won't be able to find it :o

[qld cruiser]

Hi, if you have trouble at pursers desk etc to buy CPF's.

You can buy them ashore. when you get off ship in Noumea, inside arrival building , down the back on right hand side, there is a money exchange.

(don't know if they are there if you arrive on a Sunday)

 

kind regards, Lorraine:):)

[Bella cruiser]

Hi Tashiba, if you can't get any in Australia before you go, don't worry, you can change money in the Terminal @ Noumea. As you enter the terminal from the wharf side the money changer is located in the far right hand corner close to the street exit. (sorry we didn't use it so I don't know how competitive the rate is)

 

As Skyrules said they may change on board too, people who have traveled on Rhapsody will be able to tell you.

 

Jenny

[rugbypopsie]

As the other poster said you can get them right at the tourist centre where the ship docks..don't get too many. In Noumea not too much to spend them on its an expensive port...the Aquarium is pretty interesting, not expensive and just a short taxi away, there is also a hop on hop off bus.

 

Enjoy,

[Bella cruiser]

Hi, if you have trouble at pursers desk etc to buy CPF's.

You can buy them ashore. when you get off ship in Noumea, inside arrival building , down the back on right hand side, there is a money exchange.

(don't know if they are there if you arrive on a Sunday)

 

kind regards, Lorraine:):)

 

Hi Tashiba, if you can't get any in Australia before you go, don't worry, you can change money in the Terminal @ Noumea. As you enter the terminal from the wharf side the money changer is located in the far right hand corner close to the street exit. (sorry we didn't use it so I don't know how competitive the rate is)

 

As Skyrules said they may change on board too, people who have traveled on Rhapsody will be able to tell you.

 

Jenny

 

Oops!! Sorry Lorraine, I didn't see your post when I posted my reply.

 

Jenny

[qld cruiser]

Oops!! Sorry Lorraine, I didn't see your post when I posted my reply.

 

Jenny

 

No worries Jenny, we were on the same wavelink lol.

 

 

kind regards, Lorraine:):)

[The_Big_M]

If you want to get them in advance, they are hard to get (as not widely used) but you an get them from Commonwealth Bank. It's best to order them though at your local branch, or you may be able to get them on the spot at the main city branches.

 

The money changer's rates in the Noumea terminal are quite reasonable as well.

[sheeps daughter]

the islands all take australia dollars(inc noumea)

[Aus Traveller]

In Noumea the markets in the cruise terminal take Aussie dollars. If you want to travel in Noumea by bus or taxi, or go to the Aquarium or Botanic Gardens, you will need francs.

 

The previous posters have answered the question on where to exchange francs. I am sure the casino on board the ship would only have US dollars, but I don't know if the ship does currency exchange. P & O do, and at a slightly better rate than the exchange desk in the terminal.

[tashiba]

Unfortunately I'm going to be in Lifou and Isle of the Pines, not Noumea :( Has anyone had any luck exchanging money on these islands?

[rkmw]

Unfortunately I'm going to be in Lifou and Isle of the Pines, not Noumea :( Has anyone had any luck exchanging money on these islands?

 

Lifou takes AUD and IOP not much to spend there and if you see something at the markets they should take AUD also

[rugbypopsie]

Lifou only has a few market stalls, ice creams, hair braiding,or shoulder massage, no shops.

Very very basic.

 

They were also selling sandwiches but they are not refrigerated so not recommended..

[Aus Traveller]

Unfortunately I'm going to be in Lifou and Isle of the Pines, not Noumea :( Has anyone had any luck exchanging money on these islands?

There is nowhere to change currency at either Lifou or Isle or Pines, but you will not really need francs. At Lifou there is a small market and when we have visited, the items have been priced in Aussie dollars. They also offer a small tour and it is also priced in Aussie dollars. At Isle of Pines you won't need money at all unless you decide to buy a rather expensive can of Coke. Honestly, I would not bother changing money at all. Just take some Aussie money in $5 and $10 denominations.

[sheridan318]

We exchanged some aussie dollars for pacific french francs on the pacific dawn a couple of weeks ago and got an exchange rare of 84 francs to the dollar:Dwe also went into the duty free shop in noumea and same exchange rate on there products.

[purpledragon]

I always use Travelex. Order online and collect from a branch, usually one in airports so can pick up before you leave, the smaller branches do not seem to stock the lesser currencies but if you order will organise. I got my Pacific Francs from them in May no probs

[tassie cruiser]

You wont need francs if you going to IOP and Lifou. They both take AUS, cant remember if you said you were going to Noumea, if so, we just went to ATM and if any big items purchased used Visa card. Most places take AUS around South Pacific. At the casino on Rhapsody you can use AUS or US Dollars, or get off your on board account. I loved the casino :p If you do venture in there, have a go at 3 card poker :D The poker machines werent very friendly to us but the tables were..... Fiona

[thied]

We only use AUD at all of these islands it seems to work for us.

[Kiwi Kruzer]

What ever you choose to do....

do not have any French Pacific Francs left over , when you leave..

unless you want to keep them as souveniers of your visit.

 

No one wants them ....

and you will have trouble converting them back to dollars.

[Skyrules]

Unfortunately I'm going to be in Lifou and Isle of the Pines, not Noumea :( Has anyone had any luck exchanging money on these islands?

 

You won't need CPF's for either Lifou or Isle of Pines, they'll take Aussie dollars - just make sure you take small denomination notes, even at the bar on the beach at Isle of Pines.

[megsie]

On Rhapsody NYE cruise we exchanged $A200 at purser's desk for French Pacific Francs. At Anse Vata area, all the prices were in FPF and it was a bit of fun to deal in the currency and converting and comparing the prices to $A. We used the francs in Noumea, Lifou and Isle of Pines. But most places did take $A or you could exchange for FPF at a couple of shops with a good exchange rate, I think better than on Rhapsody. Didn't even bother exchanging for Vila. The water taxi to Duck Island would only accept FPFs when we were there.