Currency

[3travelersgo]

Our first time cruising will be to Europe. While we will have euros with us, how to we get currency for the other ports (Croatia, France)? Do you get them on ship, or before you leave home? Which is the better rate?

Thanks!

[Gonzo70]

The best rate is ATM machines in Europe using an ATM card such as a Capital One card that charges no conversion fees or ATM fees; you end up obtaining currency near the spot rate. On the ship expect about an 8%-10% markup and at a major US bank expect around a 6% markup.

[John Bull]

Our first time cruising will be to Europe. While we will have euros with us, how to we get currency for the other ports (Croatia, France)? Do you get them on ship, or before you leave home? Which is the better rate?

Thanks!

 

If you're visiting Croatia for just a one day port-of-call you'll get by with euros. :)

 

France :confused:

Currency in France is the euro.

 

Best you list all your ports of call & we'll tick them off, one-by-one

 

JB :)

[paul929207]

I would stick with Euros unless you are planning to spend a lot in Croatia or other non-Euro countries.

[dsrdsrdsr]

In general, you won't spend enough to make it worth bothering about the better rate. Most places in Europe take credit cards, after all. And if all you need is about $100 cash, then if you change it on the ship, you can change it back again if you don't need it.

[Dayenu]

When we travel to other countries, we get a little of their currency at home - for day 1 or less, at least to get from the aiport to the hotel. After that, use ATM (and credit card for purchases).

[gerryl12]

the best way to go is take some euro's then use credit cards and ATM's. Euro's are good almost anywhere in Europe especially where the cruise ships go.

[KirkNC]

What ever currency you need is available via ATM's.

[marco]

Both in and out of the EU, everyone takes Euros and just about everyone also takes dollars. If you have Euros, you will be fine, and as someone above mentioned, you probably won't be spending enough to make getting local currency worth while (Plus....what will you do with any you have left...you'd loose more converting back to euros or dollars)

[3travelersgo]

Thank you all for your help! (I thought France was still using the franc rather than the euro :o ) ATMs sound easy enough-- I'll avoid changing money on the ship.

Thanks again!

[lisiamc]

Both in and out of the EU, everyone takes Euros and just about everyone also takes dollars. If you have Euros, you will be fine, and as someone above mentioned, you probably won't be spending enough to make getting local currency worth while (Plus....what will you do with any you have left...you'd loose more converting back to euros or dollars)

 

In the EU, don't count on getting many people to take dollars, apart from the occasional tourist souvenir shop. And they won't give you a very good exchange rate!

[marco]

Well....in Oct we did not encounter ANYONE who DID NOT dollars. Most everyone would get out their calculators and do the conversion equivalent and they'd always round off to the closest whole dollar, so depending how it come out, sometimes it was a "better buy" paying in dollars. Ya, like big deal.....we'd "save" 36 cents buy paying in dollars!

[John Bull]

Well....in Oct we did not encounter ANYONE who DID NOT dollars.

 

Sorry, Marco, I've got to agree with Lisiamc.

 

USD is probably the world's most widely-accepted currency but I think mebbe you were lucky in europe, where most outlets won't accept them.

And euros are much more widely accepted just outside the eurozone - Croatia, Turkey, Israel, Gib., etc.

 

JB :)