Money question

[Eager2Travel]

We have a question for our upcoming Quest cruise. This will be our first time on Seabourn. Can one cash a personal check on Seabourn and get $ in return? This would influence how much cash we need to bring along. We are doing the Antarctica sailing.

 

Thanks for the help.

[Roxburgh]

We have a question for our upcoming Quest cruise. This will be our first time on Seabourn. Can one cash a personal check on Seabourn and get $ in return? This would influence how much cash we need to bring along. We are doing the Antarctica sailing.

 

Thanks for the help.

 

While I don't know the answer to your question, I would certainly take dollars with you and new bills if possible. They will go a long way in Argentina.

[secoma4]

Unlikely unless prior arrangements made. ATMs are so readily available these days that carrying large amounts of cash is not necessary. You do not use cash for any onboard transactions (eg excursions, spa, shop) and payment at the end of the cruise for these items is against your credit card which is provided on boarding. Credit/debit cards are the easiest way to avoid carrying cash.

[Emperor Norton]

The best conversion rate seems to be via ATM.

 

Sent via squirrels and a rotary phone

[Jim Avery]

Unlikely unless prior arrangements made. ATMs are so readily available these days that carrying large amounts of cash is not necessary. You do not use cash for any onboard transactions (eg excursions, spa, shop) and payment at the end of the cruise for these items is against your credit card which is provided on boarding. Credit/debit cards are the easiest way to avoid carrying cash.

 

Other than ashore a time or two, the only thing we used cash on board for was to donate to the Crew Fund.

[Winner]

Unless policies have changed in the last 60 days, personal checks are not accepted onboard. Your credit card used at check-in is your form of payment (unless you win big in the casino and settle your final bill with your winnings).

[markham]

Cash a personal check without collateral and an established credit relationship? Not likely anywhere, including Seabourn.

 

In the old days a traveler could present his bone fides, establish a new relationship and support it with an acceptable letter of credit. I doubt Seabourn pursers go there.

 

There are no ATMs on the ship in case you were wondering. So what I would recommend is bringing some USD or Euros (or whatever you have that is convertible at banks onshore) but primarily relying on credit cards and, of course, ATMs. And bring at least 2 ccs, one of which might be Amex which generally does not have an immutable credit line limit to bump against when you most need it.

 

Happy sailing!

[bizzie]

We have a question for our upcoming Quest cruise. This will be our first time on Seabourn. Can one cash a personal check on Seabourn and get $ in return? This would influence how much cash we need to bring along. We are doing the Antarctica sailing.

 

 

 

Thanks for the help.[/quote

 

Usually we use ATMs ashore when required however there was one instant when ATMs ashore just did not exist. If you are really stuck the ship does give you a cash advance against your credit card for I think at about a 3 % interest rate. It saved our bacon on one occassion. cheers

[Eager2Travel]

Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice.

 

We do plan on bringing credit cards including Amex. Sometimes US dollars come in handy and we preferred limiting the quantity we bring along. ATM's will only provide local currency. We will bring our usual supply of small bills and plan on credit cards for the rest.

 

On cruises on another line they have cashed personal checks for us up to $200 but we haven't needed to do that in awhile.

[secoma4]

I think you will find Visa or MasterCard is the most used form of credit/ debit card these days. There is also the convenient option of a multi-currency debit card which allows you to load the currencies you anticipate needing. These can be used on a card or cash withdrawal basis as you travel in the relevant currency. They also have a default provision so that if you run out of the local currency on your card, the transaction will use funds held in another currency. Costs associated with these vary, but there are some good, flexible options around. Cards are usually issued in pairs so a couple will have one (different) card each which accesses the same account.

[tv24]

Here is a little tricky thing that you can do if you are desperate for US cash and need a work-around. You can purchase chips at the casino using your on-board account with no interest charged. Then you can cleverly cash in the chips for cash in US dollars. I would not exploit this process since it relies on the lovely help of the great casino staff, but it is a clever work-around if one is desperate. The absolute best source of cash is always the ATM at a port.

Edited December 9, 2014 by tv24

[nolatravelgirl]

Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice.

 

We do plan on bringing credit cards including Amex. Sometimes US dollars come in handy and we preferred limiting the quantity we bring along. ATM's will only provide local currency. We will bring our usual supply of small bills and plan on credit cards for the rest.

 

On cruises on another line they have cashed personal checks for us up to $200 but we haven't needed to do that in awhile.

If you do bring cash from home then be sure to go to the bank and get new "crispy" money. Foreigners want the newest bills possible. If you are going to be paying foreign tour operators in USD then they prefer big bills and they also want them new and crispy.

[Eager2Travel]

Thanks again for all the info. I think I will call our bank to order a batch of nice, new "crispy" $20 bills.