US dollars to Euros

[ondeckatsea]

What is the benefit of converting funds on the ship? I've done it at the bank and paid some charges. Does the ship also charge a fee?

[John Bull]

What is the benefit of converting funds on the ship? I've done it at the bank and paid some charges. Does the ship also charge a fee?

 

The ship is probably the worst place to change USD to any currency. Usually no fee, but a really poor rate of exchange. :eek: :eek: :eek:

 

Instead, use your bank or internet in the US, or banks or Bureaux de Change at your destination (though probably not at an airport where again rates are usually poor), or by using in an ATM ashore a debit card, or any credit card recommended on these boards.

Ship is convenient if for instance you just wanted $20 of, say, Egyptian or Turkish cash. With such small transactions, the rate is pretty immaterial

John Bull :)

[YoungDubFan]

Agree that you will get the best exchange rate taking money directly from an ATM. Make sure you notify your bank that you are travelling, and give them the specific cities / countries you will be in. This way they will allow the transactions to go through. If you don't notify your bank, they will most likely block the charges as fraud and you could be stuck without being able to get any $$.

[chipmaster]

What the 1st responder said, the ship is about as bad as those stands you see in the airport. On our ship they actually had an ATM like machine and between the fees and bad exchange you are talking 20% loss versus the going commercial rate.

 

If you need a small amount of fund go with ATM in the airports when you arrive. Or if you have time and are DIY in port use "bank" ATMs. They are plentiful.

 

If you need a lot of Euros for private tours than I would suggest the local bank. Yes there is exchange fees and such but much better than the ship and you save a ton of time.

 

What is the benefit of converting funds on the ship? I've done it at the bank and paid some charges. Does the ship also charge a fee?

[Keith1010]

What is the benefit of converting funds on the ship? I've done it at the bank and paid some charges. Does the ship also charge a fee?

 

The only benefit would be convenience.

 

In terms of the best exchange rate, convert money in port at an ATM.

 

Keith

[ondeckatsea]

Thanks for the good advice! It's appreciated.

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

Bank of america does it for free 100$ amounts

[romnan]

If you think about it "The exchange rate" is a fee, because once the ship docks they are going to get more tah you got. If they change a tranaction fee to me that is just adding insult to injury:mad:

[ondeckatsea]

We've used our Capital One credit card in Europe for larger purchases and they don't charge any conversion fees. They do recommend that you let them know beforehand where you will be for security sake. We will probably pickup a couple of hundred euros here at our bank for walking around money.

[radsailor]

Just be careful when you are at an ATM for those electronic readers. Put your hand over the numbers when you enter in your PIN. I had a lot of money taken out of my account when I used one in Rome.