Euros available from front desk in Europe?

[localady]

Hello!

With our cruise quickly approaching, I am trying to figure out all the logistics.

I recall reading here that you could actually go to the front desk and request Euros rather than having to exchange cash in port. Is this accurate??

 

Is this just an exchange service or can you actually charge the transaction to your onboard account?

 

Final question- Were Turkish Lira or Croatian kunas also available?

 

I know that any cash transaction when travelling here and in the Carib has included a trip to the Casino, that cash could not be gotten at the front desk.

 

Any information about this would be very helpful, especially from those that have recently been aboard the Nieuw Amsterdam.

[kazu]

Sher,

 

Normally there are euros available - calls to HAL conflict - I was told they wouldn't do it on the last cruise - and there they were:)

 

The exchange rate isn't great but if you are just getting a few it isn't the end of the world.

 

I wouldn't charge to your shipboard account as I fear that would be treated as a cash advance. Take a few travellers cheques (no problem on HAL) or cash and use that to exchange. Just my personal experience:)

[RuthC]

I've used the currency exchange on HAL ships many times. I used cash, and the rate isn't great, but it does the job.

Depending on where in Croatia you are going, and what you plan on doing, you may not need Kuna. I was able to use Euro in Split to purchase a couple of small snacks.

[kazu]

I've used the currency exchange on HAL ships many times. I used cash, and the rate isn't great, but it does the job.

 

Depending on where in Croatia you are going, and what you plan on doing, you may not need Kuna. I was able to use Euro in Split to purchase a couple of small snacks.

 

chocolate in there by any chance;);)

[jtl513]

S

I wouldn't charge to your shipboard account as I fear that would be treated as a cash advance.

Correct. First they would charge you a 3% cash advance fee, then convert the $US to Euros at a not-very-good rate.

[RuthC]

chocolate in there by any chance;);)

As a matter of fact, .... :D

[localady]

Correct. First they would charge you a 3% cash advance fee, then convert that to Euros at a not-very-good rate.

 

That's what I'd always assumed, cash from the front desk was something to be used in a pinch at a higher rate.

Then I read a review that suggested otherwise, it just sounded too good to be true. ;) :D

[dakrewser]

Your best rate is still to use an in port ATM, but the purser will have Euros and, possibly, other local currencies (especially if its a port that ship frequently visits).

[PatsyAnne]

My favorite approach is to have a few euros on hand before my trip (your local home banks/travel agencies can exchange), and then use ATMs to get money in local currency. I would go with just ATMs, but every once in a while I have difficulty finding a working one, so that is why I like to have some before the trip. For the ATM, we have a card/account that doesn't charge an exchange rate for foreign currency, and also refunds any ATM fees that may be charged. I think there have been other threads addressing those.

[boulders]

I'm on the Nieuw Amsterdam now and have been for 17 days. If you are using US cash to purchase Euros at the front desk, there is no 3% fee. In Croatia, they accept Euros. We arrive in Turkey later today, so I don't know the whole story yet, but my tour guide wants their payment in USD.

 

Beware of ATM's that the sun is shining directly on. I could not read the screen of an ATM in Venice, and it ate my debit card!

[jtl513]

If you are using US cash to purchase Euros at the front desk, there is no 3% fee.

The OP's question was

Is this just an exchange service or can you actually charge the transaction to your onboard account?

In this case, there is a 3% fee for a cash advance to first get the US cash.

We arrive in Turkey later today, so I don't know the whole story yet, but my tour guide wants their payment in USD.

Our private guide in Istanbul wanted payment in Euros.

[English_in_Spain]

Are there any Europeans on your roll call? Do they want any USD to use in the casino?

 

What we have done on our cruises here in Europe is to agree with someone on the roll call to do a private exchange of Euros to USD.

 

All you need to do is agree an approximate amount you want to change and agree an internet site that you are both happy with, go onto that site when you board then use that exchange rate.

 

You will both gain by getting a fair exchange rate without any transaction fees.

 

[localady]

Great insights here! Thank you all so much for the assistance.

 

We appear to have lots of Americans, Canadians and Australians on our roll call, but no Europeans that I am aware of.

 

Always good to know that I can convert USD to Euro at the front desk in a pinch.

 

Thanks boulders for your own the ship report!! I can't wait to hear all about your cruise !! :D Looks like Istanbul will be a bit hot and humid today, have a wonderful day and keep cool!

[chipmaster]

First and best choice would be ATM once arriving and than top off with ATMs in port.

 

exchange at pursors or in hotels are always poor rates, but convenient.

[Ray in NH]

I'm on the Nieuw Amsterdam now and have been for 17 days. If you are using US cash to purchase Euros at the front desk, there is no 3% fee. In Croatia, they accept Euros. We arrive in Turkey later today, so I don't know the whole story yet, but my tour guide wants their payment in USD.

 

Beware of ATM's that the sun is shining directly on. I could not read the screen of an ATM in Venice, and it ate my debit card!

 

I have found that often, if I remove my sunglasses in this type situation, the screen is actually easier to read. :confused:

Ray in NH

[boulders]

I have found that often, if I remove my sunglasses in this type situation, the screen is actually easier to read. :confused:

Ray in NH

 

Believe me, we tried everything. There were two of us trying to read the darn screen.

[TiogaCruiser]

just checked with my bank yesterday. They no longer sell travelor's cheques.

 

Does anyone know where one can buy them now?

 

Thanks

 

~TC

[RuthC]

Does anyone know where one can buy them now?

If you're a member of AAA auto club, you could try there. I haven't bought Traveler's Cheques there in a few years, but I was able to get them there in the past.

They have a website.

[catl331]

AAA also sells Euros in "tip packs" for about 8% over the official exchange rate.

[dakrewser]

Go to the Amex travel web site, it'll show you places you can buy TC's near you...

[TiogaCruiser]

Thanks! IIRC our AAA stopped selling them but I will confirm.

 

 

Just checked AMEX site and they sell them at Walmart!

[ajcathy]

just checked with my bank yesterday. They no longer sell travelor's cheques.

 

Does anyone know where one can buy them now?

 

Thanks

 

~TC

Most of the bigger banks still have them. I think you can even buy on line through their web sites. My small bank still handles them and I took some on the 20 day Noordam from which we just returned and I never used them. The best deal is always the ATM machine particularly if your bank doesn't charge large fees.

 

As for the question about Turkey I found that they actually preferred dollars and we got better deals shopping than people using Euros. Our tour company (Tayf tours) took either.

 

In Dubrovnik most places took Euros or credit cards if their currency was required.

[TiogaCruiser]

Thank you all who replied regarding Travelers Cheques.

 

I wanted to come back and report success and a bit of additional information I learned regarding Travelers Cheques and Bank of America.

 

I spoke with no less than 5 individuals at my local branch on different occasions. All said BofA no longer sells Travelers Cheques and has not for the past 2 years. In checking BofA's website, it gives a tab titled "Travelers Cheques" but the content on the webpage is all about purchase of foreign money. When I contacted BofA via chat, I was told they DO sell the TCs via that webpage when you are logged into your account.

 

Well, I found that if you put in US as the currency you want to buy, the option to purchase Travelers Cheques becomes available. My TCs arrived at my local branch bundled with my foreign currency. It would have been nice if the website explained that! {and if the employees knew it also}.

 

And several of the options offered locally by the AMEX site only sell the cards, not Travelers Cheques.

 

~TC

[RuthC]

Glad you got the financial bases covered, Laura. I have found the BoA site difficult to navigate, too. I always have trouble there, and there's only one thing I do on that site! It is not at all instinctive.

[TiogaCruiser]

See you onboard soon, Ruth. Am packing the BBC version of Frozen Planet if you still want to borrow and watch.

 

Laura