Navigator - Credit Cards W/O Smart Chips - Europe

[VABeach]

Has anyone had problems using a regular Magnetic Strip Card in Europe? It seems like it's starting to become a problem?

[VABeach]

Also, can I get Euros from the Casino on Navigator while in Europe? I've been hearing about this lately. Thanks!! :)

[Clarea]

Also, can I get Euros from the Casino on Navigator while in Europe? I've been hearing about this lately. Thanks!! :)

The casino still uses dollars while in Europe.

 

The best way to get Euros is by using an ATM in Europe. They generally give the best exchange rate. We have a Capital One checking account that has a Mastercard debit card associated. There are no foreign transaction fees and ATM fees are refunded up to a max of $30 per month.

[VABeach]

The casino still uses dollars while in Europe.

 

The best way to get Euros is by using an ATM in Europe. They generally give the best exchange rate. We have a Capital One checking account that has a Mastercard debit card associated. There are no foreign transaction fees and ATM fees are refunded up to a max of $30 per month.

 

I keep hearing that recently, European ATMs (as well as venders) are requiring Credit Cards (or ATM Cards) with Smart Chips, and that regular cards with Magnetic Strip only will no longer work. Has anyone tried this recently?

[VABeach]

http://www.ricksteves.com/tms/article.cfm?id=243&extras=false

 

http://news.discovery.com/tech/gear-and-gadgets/smart-card-europe-120406.htm

[VABeach]

Sorry for asking.... my last two cruises in Europe were on MSC and Costa, so getting Euros on board was no problem. :rolleyes:

[Clarea]

I keep hearing that recently, European ATMs (as well as venders) are requiring Credit Cards (or ATM Cards) with Smart Chips, and that regular cards with Magnetic Strip only will no longer work. Has anyone tried this recently?

I seem to recall the smart chip issue affecting credit cards more than ATM cards, because the ATM cards have a PIN assocated with them and therefore are considered less of a risk. I used our ATM (debit) card in Europe a few times in late 2011, and only had a problem with a credit card on Tenerife. They would not take the credit card, but did take the debit card.

[labeachcomber]

I seem to recall the smart chip issue affecting credit cards more than ATM cards, because the ATM cards have a PIN assocated with them and therefore are considered less of a risk. I used our ATM (debit) card in Europe a few times in late 2011, and only had a problem with a credit card on Tenerife. They would not take the credit card, but did take the debit card.

 

We were in Europe last year and didn't have a problem with our ATM cards either. Never tried a credit card in an ATM for a cash withdrawal just because of the finance charges associated with withdrawing cash. Never had a problem using a credit card in any restaurant or store either.

[amcb]

I can say that living in London, when you say "it's a strip/swipe card" they fumble about and try to figure it out, find a pen, etc. Usually they do have the capability to swipe the cards, especially in areas that see more tourists, but it requires a little bit of patience. I've not run into a situation where my U.S. cards don't work at all.

 

Haven't had any trouble with ATMs using my U.S. debit card.

 

Hope this helps!

 

:-) amcb

[finz2u]

On the LOS, the currency was dollars. I had no problem using my debit (non-smart chip) card at the ATMs. Sometimes, in restaurants and shops our credit cards took longer to be approved, but they went through eventually. I do know, from a prior trip, the credit cards can't be used to get train or metro tickets from the vending machines, so have Euros available.

 

After a week in Spain, this morning I found some US change and it looked so wierd. Guess it is time to go home.

[FLACRUISER99]

I have seen credit card transactions that require a Pin. The train ticket booth at the Copenhagen airport will accept only Euros ATM cards or credit cards with a PIn. If you call your CC company they can associate a Pin with your card.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Cruise Critic Forums mobile app

[nelblu]

I believe you can buy euros at Guest Services, but the exchange rate may not be to your advantage.

 

We usually bring a couple hundred euros from the US for incidentals such as cabs, lunch, etc.

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

We never had a problem ...

[Grandma Dazzles]

We definitely had a problem. We were in England visiting friends and family prior to a TA last November.

 

We used our ATM at the airport without any problem - thank goodness!

 

We had Visa, Master Card and American Express cards with us. We were unable to use at several restaurants, gas stations, stores like Tesco/Walmart - no one would accept the magnetic strip cards. We were not in a "tourist" area - just local shops, restaurants, etc. so perhaps that made a difference. It was very frustrating and embarrassing - we were out to dinner with friends and planned to "pick up the tab" - fortunately good friends who thought it was funny and were able to help pay in cash.

 

At the Holiday Inn just outside the port in Southampton they also refused a non-chip card. At this point I was so frustrated - told them they better find a way to accept it- ironically it was "their" card. A manager finally dug out their old swipe machine from a back room - they were not happy to do this!

 

Upon return here we contacted our credit card companies and bank - didn't get a lot of synmpathy. We were told we could order a busisness credit card with higher fee - only RC's card was able to replace with a chip card without any charge or hassle, so at least we now have a chip card.

[Canard]

We definitely had a problem. We were in England visiting friends and family prior to a TA last November.

 

We used our ATM at the airport without any problem - thank goodness!

 

We had Visa, Master Card and American Express cards with us. We were unable to use at several restaurants, gas stations, stores like Tesco/Walmart - no one would accept the magnetic strip cards. We were not in a "tourist" area - just local shops, restaurants, etc. so perhaps that made a difference. It was very frustrating and embarrassing - we were out to dinner with friends and planned to "pick up the tab" - fortunately good friends who thought it was funny and were able to help pay in cash.

 

At the Holiday Inn just outside the port in Southampton they also refused a non-chip card. At this point I was so frustrated - told them they better find a way to accept it- ironically it was "their" card. A manager finally dug out their old swipe machine from a back room - they were not happy to do this!

 

Upon return here we contacted our credit card companies and bank - didn't get a lot of synmpathy. We were told we could order a busisness credit card with higher fee - only RC's card was able to replace with a chip card without any charge or hassle, so at least we now have a chip card.

 

As you found out, if you're lucky, you "may" get someone willing to go and find an old swipe style card reader, but they are getting fewer and fewer in Europe. The main reason is that Visa and Mastercard have put pressure on retailers to abandon them by saying that if you don't use chip and pin, if there is a fraudulent transaction, we will not refund you (while they do on chip and pin cards).

 

In "touristy" areas, big companies can afford to take that risk, knowing that having a swipe card reader available will bring in way more business than what they might lose through fraud, but outside of those areas, or with small businesses, it's not worth the risk for them.

 

But ATM's will continue to accept magnetic strip only cards for the foreseeable future.

[reney313]

Many US companies have some pin/chip cards available. You might be able to call your CC company and ask. They might need to "trade" your account to a different type or could tell you which card to apply for that will have the technology.

 

It is more common for the "travel" cobranded credit cards to have this technology than the others...although not all have them. It is worth calling and asking.

[silentbob007]

On Serenade last year you could get euros either at guest services or at a specific ATM near guest services that was explicitly labeled for euros (it was often empty or down, though). I'm sure better exchange rates are available from ATMs ashore though ... I used several in France and Italy without issue.

[lakelorain]

We were in Europe last fall. Used my regular old credit card both for charging and for ATM. No problems.

[Paulxyz2004]

I´m european and while my Cards do have the chip and I think I have a pin for it somewhere, I never use my pin with it. Travelling around Europe I´m sometimes asked for the pin, but it has never been a Problem when telling them I want to sign instead of using the pin.

 

As for the chip, most of the machines operate with the chip these days, but then many of them still have the Option to swipe the Card. It´s just many shop owners don´t know it. I´ve sometimes had to explain to them how to swipe the Card or do it myself.:rolleyes:

[hisfirstm8]

If my CC card has a strip, does that mean that is doesn't have a chip? We are leaving in 5 days for Italy and I don't have time to get another card. We both have a Capital One card.

[Eurosalt]

All,

 

I live in Germany. You can use a bank debit card to withdraw Euros. You may have problems with some credit union cards.

 

Most credit cards will work in Europe.

 

Where you will need a chip card is for those business that never accepted credit cards before, like small grocery stores, mom and pop businesses, and doctors offices.

 

Also when you use your credit card have them charge in local currency. You will get a better rate. Also check with your credit card company about there foreign transaction fees. Some cards may have a very high fee.

 

I hope this helps.

[VABeach]

I believe you can buy euros at Guest Services, but the exchange rate may not be to your advantage.

 

We usually bring a couple hundred euros from the US for incidentals such as cabs, lunch, etc.

 

Thank you, I remember sailing on NCL recently, and the Casino would allow us to Purchase Euros for a 3% Service Fee. I was hoping RCI would do something similar.... I don't have / use an ATM Card.

[Grandma Dazzles]

We definitely had a problem. We were in England visiting friends and family prior to a TA last November.

 

We used our ATM at the airport without any problem - thank goodness!

 

We had Visa, Master Card and American Express cards with us. We were unable to use at several restaurants, gas stations, stores like Tesco/Walmart - no one would accept the magnetic strip cards. We were not in a "tourist" area - just local shops, restaurants, etc. so perhaps that made a difference. It was very frustrating and embarrassing - we were out to dinner with friends and planned to "pick up the tab" - fortunately good friends who thought it was funny and were able to help pay in cash.

 

At the Holiday Inn just outside the port in Southampton they also refused a non-chip card. At this point I was so frustrated - told them they better find a way to accept it- ironically it was "their" card. A manager finally dug out their old swipe machine from a back room - they were not happy to do this!

 

Upon return here we contacted our credit card companies and bank - didn't get a lot of synmpathy. We were told we could order a busisness credit card with higher fee - only RC's card was able to replace with a chip card without any charge or hassle, so at least we now have a chip card.

 

As an additional comment to my above post.

 

I am very happy that so many people indicated they had no problem using the magnetic strip credit cards; however, as stated above we most definitely had a major issue with this.

 

Please note - I was not referring to our ATM use - this was strictly for credit card use. One of our cards does not charge a foreign exchange conversion fee and we had hoped to use this card. It would have been much easier and safer than carrying cash from the ATM (which is what we ended up doing).

 

One of our English friends, a former banker, said this is very common - even the large chain stores, pay at the pump gas stations, etc. can be hard pressed to find their "swipe" machine or a person who knows how to do such a credit card transaction without a "chip."

 

Still strongly advise getting a chip card.

[Host Jacquelyn]

My last trip to Europe was in 2009, and even back then there were several times I couldn't use my non-chip card. A few restaurants, and I could not use the automated ticket machine at the train station either.

 

Is it too late to apply for a new credit card that has a chip, to have in case your swipe card is not accepted?

[VABeach]

My last trip to Europe was in 2009, and even back then there were several times I couldn't use my non-chip card. A few restaurants, and I could not use the automated ticket machine at the train station either.

 

Is it too late to apply for a new credit card that has a chip, to have in case your swipe card is not accepted?

 

Most of the articles indicated that it is becoming more of a problem recently, but we leave Friday. :(