Do I need cash to purchase foreign currency onboard

[pkw]

We are going to need 4 or 5 different currencies on our upcoming trip.

Rather than buying them before we would like to buy them onboard at guest relations.

 

Can anyone tell me if this purchase of currency goes onto our account or do I need cash to purchase foreign currency.

 

Thanks very much

 

 

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[Vikstar]

Rather than exchanging at Guest Relations, would you consider an ANZ travel card or similar? You can pre-load with multiple currencies and lock in the rate so you know what you're getting before you go. It would be a much better rate than onboard.

[john watson]

My understanding of obtaining foreign currency from the Purser is that it is charged to your onboard account (usually in US$) and ultimately your credit card upon settlement at the end of the cruise. It is normally amalgamated with all other charges to your onboard account and not specifically itemised is therefore not regarded by your credit card company as a "Cash Drawing" attracting higher interest rates. Unused foreign currency notes may be used to pay off your account by handing them back in. Cruise lines do vary and not always offer all the currencies, however a fall back option at ports is to draw local currency at ATMs using a debit card from shoreside locations. I like to take more than one card in case the machines keep them.

 

Regards John

[pkw]

Rather than exchanging at Guest Relations, would you consider an ANZ travel card or similar? You can pre-load with multiple currencies and lock in the rate so you know what you're getting before you go. It would be a much better rate than onboard.

 

 

Thanks for your suggestion - I do have a multi currency card but we are going to Korea & Russia & they are not standard on the cards hence wanting to get these currencies onboard

[pkw]

My understanding of obtaining foreign currency from the Purser is that it is charged to your onboard account (usually in US$) and ultimately your credit card upon settlement at the end of the cruise. It is normally amalgamated with all other charges to your onboard account and not specifically itemised is therefore not regarded by your credit card company as a "Cash Drawing" attracting higher interest rates. Unused foreign currency notes may be used to pay off your account by handing them back in. Cruise lines do vary and not always offer all the currencies, however a fall back option at ports is to draw local currency at ATMs using a debit card from shoreside locations. I like to take more than one card in case the machines keep them.

 

Regards John

 

Thanks john

 

That's exactly what I wanted to know - I do carry a couple of different avenues to access money too - there would be nothing worse than loosing your card in a very hungry machine on a weekend in a foreign country!!!

[Project_gal]

It is my understanding that you DO need cash to purchase FX on board. Certainly, that has been the case on the few occasions I have needed to do this.

 

The exchange rate offered on board is poor. It is even worse if you do not have US$ because they will "triangulate" - i.e. they will convert your ASUS$ to US$ and then to the currency you require. You will receive a poor exchange rate on each transaction.

 

For the same reason, whatever you do, do not convert and surplus money back to Aus$ on board.

[CathyCruises]

You will be much better off using your atm card on shore, just be sure to alert your card carrier that you will be overseas.

[Lsimon]

I've bought small amounts of FX currency on board with cash after running out of what I'd brought along with me. Can't comment about doing it via onboard account as I never tried.

[patty1955]

[az_tchr]

Thanks for your suggestion - I do have a multi currency card but we are going to Korea & Russia & they are not standard on the cards hence wanting to get these currencies onboard

You will probably not find Russian roubles on board because of currency restrictions Korea should not be a problem. We found every city in Russia had ATMs and they worked just fine as long as we notified our bank before leaving home.

[Project_gal]

You will probably not find Russian roubles on board because of currency restrictions Korea should not be a problem. We found every city in Russia had ATMs and they worked just fine as long as we notified our bank before leaving home.

 

We used not to be able to purchase roubles in the UK but managed to buy them for our next cruise and, therefore, assumed that the currency restrictions have been relaxed.

[WEGL81]

My understanding of obtaining foreign currency from the Purser is that it is charged to your onboard account (usually in US$) and ultimately your credit card upon settlement at the end of the cruise. It is normally amalgamated with all other charges to your onboard account and not specifically itemised is therefore not regarded by your credit card company as a "Cash Drawing" attracting higher interest rates. Unused foreign currency notes may be used to pay off your account by handing them back in. Cruise lines do vary and not always offer all the currencies, however a fall back option at ports is to draw local currency at ATMs using a debit card from shoreside locations. I like to take more than one card in case the machines keep them.

 

Regards John

 

Here is my experience while on a TA on Connie last November. In order to buy foreign currency, I had to withdraw US currency from the ship's ATM. I could then buy it from the purser at their exchange rate. I specifically asked if I could charge it to my shipboard acct and was told no. I also could not hand in any remaining unused currency and apply that to my shipboard account. I had to exchange it for US $$ at their exchange rate. They benefitted greatly on both exchanges, so if you can find some way to get foreign currency (or the card thing) without going through the purser, you will come out much better.

[pkw]

Thanks so much to everyone for your replies - I will do what I can to either purchase some before I leave or use an onshore atm when I get there.

[XFed2001]

By my reading of the posts, all transactions onboard are done in US dollars. Therefore, one will be safe in carrying US dollars for all purchases but depending upon the ports being visited, one should buy foreign currency at home and avoid any dealings with the ship's purser to the ridiculous exchange rates. I presume that Euros would be o.k. in most Baltic countries and accepted like US dollars except for Russia.

[ghstudio]

The ship essentially builds in a charge of 5% to the official rate on both the buy and sell sides. That is the same rate that you would get exchanging money at a bank america office in the US.

 

There is no reason to carry US dollars on board for purchases...all purchases are charged to your shipboard account. The only place you will need US dollars is in the casino.

[CathyCruises]

By my reading of the posts, all transactions onboard are done in US dollars. Therefore, one will be safe in carrying US dollars for all purchases but depending upon the ports being visited, one should buy foreign currency at home and avoid any dealings with the ship's purser to the ridiculous exchange rates. I presume that Euros would be o.k. in most Baltic countries and accepted like US dollars except for Russia.

 

Just get euros from the ATMs, so easy!

[WestLakeGirl]

Neither Russian nor Korean money will be available on board

[CoralReef]

By my reading of the posts, all transactions onboard are done in US dollars. Therefore, one will be safe in carrying US dollars for all purchases but depending upon the ports being visited, one should buy foreign currency at home and avoid any dealings with the ship's purser to the ridiculous exchange rates. I presume that Euros would be o.k. in most Baltic countries and accepted like US dollars except for Russia.

 

You don't need cash onboard, as long as you have a credit card.

 

I would not buy foreign currency at home. You can almost always get the best rates by using port ATMs. Just let your bank know in advance where you will be traveling. Leftover foreign bills can be changed for dollars at Guest Relations.

 

Our experience in the Baltic was that euros were widely accepted. In Russia we were able to use either euros or dollars. We did need Danish kronor in Copenhagen.