Question re the currency conversion

[jono mono]

First time on celebrity,just had our X pass,there's a choice of currency conversion,either by celebrity (with a 3% charge) or my card issuer with no charge.Seems like a no brainer.Any advice??

[mpace58]

I would think letting your CC do the conversion would be the way to go, even if Celebrity didn't charge you a 3% fee. It's unlikely that Celebrity keeps up to the minute with exchange rates, where as a CC will. Now that could work for or against you, but the 3% fee would be a killer for me. YMMV.

[Rufferto]

Visit your credit card's website. It should state how much they charge somewhere on there. A standard no-frills card would probably charge around 2.5%.

[Phxazzcruisers]

We have a Capital One credit card which does not charge a fee and give a great exchange rate. Make sure your card does not charge a foreign transaction fee and go with the card

[Project_gal]

First time on celebrity,just had our X pass,there's a choice of currency conversion,either by celebrity (with a 3% charge) or my card issuer with no charge.Seems like a no brainer.Any advice??

 

Yes, as you say, probably a no-brainer. However, that assumes that the transaction will go through the conversion on the same day and that both Celebrity and your credit card company use the same exchange rate. If you wish to use your brain:

 

Celebrity uses different exchange rates for different items [eg they do not necessarily use the same exchange rate for the drinks package on a particular cruise and the same drinks package on another cruise or a shore excursion on the same cruise]. Celebrity does not always change the exchange rates used rapidly. Except for purchasing OBC, as far as I know, Celebrity does not publish what exchange rate it uses but for many purposes, it is usually quite good. You credit card company probably does publish the rate used somewhere in its small print.

 

Recently, the pound has been dropping against the US$. At times over the passed fortnight, the pound was dropping like a stone. Before mid-July, the pound had been climbing steadily against the US$ for about 8 or 9 months.

 

Once you have exercised your brain sufficiently, decide that it is all a bit of a gamble but you are probably better off [most of the time] letting your credit card make the exchange rather than Celebrity.

[Elaine0138]

We always go with the Credit Card Issuer. I also highlight that part in the paper work and point it out at check in, as often the people checking you in just go ahead willy nilly with the Celebrity option.

[jono mono]

Will check that ,thanks Elaine0138 !

[jono mono]

Thanks for exercising my brain !!! PROJECT GAL.

Edited September 13, 2014 by jono mono