Travelers Checks

[Bustersmom]

Is it easy to cash travelers checks abroad the ship and if so, where? Do most people bring a mix of cash and checks. I realize the ship charges everything to a credit card but for shopping at the various ports are the travelers checks easy to use? Thanks for any help on this question!

[spongerob]

You can cash TC's at the purser's desk, or at the casino cage. No charge, no problem. You will need to have your cruise card, for some reason they want that information.

[lkmamom]

Hi Rob,

 

Question.....(this is a doozy so bear with me okay:o ) What about cashing TCs for the various ports that we will ( soon very excited ) be visiting in Europe? Do you know if they will cash American TCs into Pounds or Euros? Sounds as if your planning is going well. I really wish that they would offer the shore excursions on the personalizer.

Thanks for the info;)

Linda

[spongerob]

I'm sure they will do the exchange, but I'm not sure what they might charge. I think I'm going to order checks in pounds rather than dollars, hoping that AMEX and my bank will cut me some slack on the commission.

 

I've been checking the cruise personalizer every day waiting for excursions to open up. I'm surprised yours haven't been posted yet.

[SaylorGirl]

I have found since the invention of the ATM that travelers cheques are becoming very outdated. Especially in Europe you will have a much easier time getting euros by using the ATM's then cashing in travelers cheques you will also save time and receive a better exchange rate!

[realproperty]

I am curious to know why you are bothering with TC's. You end up paying conversion rates and you may not use them and then you pay to convert back. We have travelled all over Europe and there are ATM's everywhere. Even more remote places like Santorini and we are pulling money out of the wall. That way, you convert what you need and aren't left with much change. Otherwise, they take visa-mastercards everywhere. They are very civilized out there. TC's are very old school. We sent our kids to Europe with a visa card and an ATM card and $100 US tucked in a hiding place in the event they lost the cards or for an absolute emergency and they came home with the cash--they never needed it and got by just fine with the cards. Take some cash in the local courrency of the first place you land and use your credit cards after that. Just make sure you have enough of a line on your card. Take a different card for back up.

[Lillykat]

They are very civilized out there.

 

I think some people like to carry them in addition to ATM's etc. for security reasons. When I studied abroad most of the students had cash, atm cards, credit cards as well as travelers checks. We had two people pick pocketed on a weekend trip (luckily they left one credit card in their hotel safe). Their cash and cards were gone but they were easily able to replace their Travelers checks so that had some money. Just a thought - if you do take them make sure to make multiple copies of the numbers and put them in various bags so if something gets lost or stolen you will still have the numbers to get them replaced.

 

If you are going to Germany - many banks will not cash travelers checks if you don't have an account with them and many stores would not take them - even the Euro ones.

[Pam in CA]

Don't bother cashing Traveler's Checks into anything other than $$$. The ONLY thing I use them for is to keep my carrying cash to a minimum. I cash a TC at the pursar's desk for incidental cash, such as for tips, taxis, etc. in port. I have never had anyone turn down a $, and that includes Italy, Egypt, Turkey, Greece, etc. If you want to buy anything, the store will take a credit card. If they dont' take a credit card, you probably don't want to buy anything from the store.

 

For European cruises, the pursar's desk will exchange money to Euros, etc., but I don't know if there's a charge. I haven't exchanged any money anywhere for years and years. They all take $$$.

[Toto2Kansas]

I always take a few thousand in TC's just in case. Cashing them at the purser's desk or at the casino is very simple with your cruise card.

We normally take $$$ in limited amounts that are used in the country we are visiting, but the TC's are our safety back up.

[lkmamom]

Thanks everyone. I know that TCs are outdated but as someone else mentioned, I wanted to take some TCs just in case that there is a loss of credit cards somehow.

 

Toto have a great cruise!;)

Linda

[Tandy22]

Would like you to know your not alone. I also carry TChecks. There my "security blanket". Have a great vacation.

Susan

[spongerob]

I use them for contingency and convenience. If you travel without having a backup plan, for example having ATM and CC's lost or stolen, you are inviting disaster.

[lkmamom]

And if you have lost your cards and no TCS then you are stuck watchin MUTS:eek: just kiddin Sponge;)

 

Linda

[Hate 2 W8t]

Find out from your bank(s) how much they charge if you use an ATM in a foreign country. Same with your credit cards. I found one of my banks charged only $2.50 to use the ATM in London. I was able to get pounds for only $2.50! (The banks in London don't charge to use their ATMs.) Also, I found one credit card would have cost me double in charges compared to another if I used it outside the US. I tucked the high-fee card away for emergencies and used the cheaper alternative for my credit purchases.

 

BTW - I always carry TCs when I travel. I always shock the girls at the bank when I come in to buy them. I am in my early 30's and most of their TC customers are MUCH older. Like another poster said, TCs are becoming less popular with ATMs, credit cards, etc. Personally, if it was good enough for my parents... :)

[tradogna]

We have been cruising for many years, we always take travelers checks and a small amout of cash like two or three hundred. I no there old fashion, my daughters always laught at us for taking them. We have never had a problem or a fee for cashing them on the ship, the pursar desk or casino will cash them for you. I have never cashed them in the ports. Hope this helps. Teresa