TA Cruise question?

[cruiser113]

Those with experience on TA , can you please tell me how the money machines will work on these cruises?

 

Told we will incur a $4.50 transaction fee and that is OK.

 

Do they work like ATM in Europe? funds from your personal bank or do you need cash to feed machine to get EURO's ? or does it charge to your onboard account.

 

Thanks !

[Dietemann]

Those with experience on TA , can you please tell me how the money machines will work on these cruises?

 

Told we will incur a $4.50 transaction fee and that is OK.

 

Do they work like ATM in Europe? funds from your personal bank or do you need cash to feed machine to get EURO's ? or does it charge to your onboard account.

 

Thanks !

Never used them myself, but have seen people feed $'s into slot to get foreign currency. I believe it's a cash only transaction, not tied to your bank account or onboard account.

[kiwimum]

I do not use the machines on board to receive foreign currency, the exchange rate is poor, plus you incur the ship fee as well as your own banks fees. Have always used ATM machines around the world with no issues to obtain local currency. Our bank reimburses all ATM fees.

 

 

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[susancruzs]

There is usually an ATM onboard, where you can get US dollars direct from your bank account using a debit card, conveniently located in the casino! :)

 

There is also a machine for changing currency, Euro to US, US to Euro, and I've used it to exchange British pounds also. The machine I've used requires funds to be inserted to be changed to whatever currency is on the list. I haven't ever used one requiring a bank card and it certainly wasn't connected to the onboard account. I've used an exchange machine to get rid of some Euros or Pounds, on my way home to the states.

 

Of course, if you have a debit card, your best bet it to wait until you get off the ship. ATMs are everywhere in Europe.

Edited March 29, 2016 by susancruzs

[Pam in CA]

Be prepared that the exchange rate will be horrible in addition to the transaction fee. I'd use the ship's ATM only as a last resort or I'm desperate.

[KirkNC]

I do not use the machines on board to receive foreign currency, the exchange rate is poor, plus you incur the ship fee as well as your own banks fees. Have always used ATM machines around the world with no issues to obtain local currency. Our bank reimburses all ATM fees.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

 

Ditto, we do the same. Other than the casino what would you need cash on board for.

[Times Prince]

Our recommendation is to exchange money through your bank before the cruise, so you will have some cash before you need to get more from an ATM. Many places in Europe take a credit card but some do not.

[Working 2 Cruise]

Ditto, we do the same. Other than the casino what would you need cash on board for.

 

Tips... we'd use cash onboard for additional tips. It's also a good idea to have cash when you disembark at the first port of call.

[DrivesLikeMario]

Those machines are so often "out of order" that I wouldn't rely on them to be working while you're on your cruise. Get a little cash from Wells Fargo ahead of time then stop by an ATM once in Europe.

[AZ Stan (FKA Stan in Chicago)]

Don't use on board machines. Exchange rate is horrible, plus high fees. Use dollars for cash tips on board if you want to do that, and go to a bank ATM at your first port to get local currency. You did not mention where you are sailing to, but most ports will use Euro, British ports will use British Pounds.

 

Stan

[siany_la]

I too have heard that this should be only used as a last resort - premium fees and very poor exchange.

[easyboy]

Our recommendation is to exchange money through your bank before the cruise, so you will have some cash before you need to get more from an ATM. Many places in Europe take a credit card but some do not.

I second that.

[caribill]

From my report several years ago when the Euro was worth more (and the Princess service fee was less):

 

Currency exchange:

There was an onboard currency exchange machine that could be used to obtain Euros. This is not an ATM machine. You insert the currency you have (for example US$) to get the Euros.

 

1 Euro onboard costs $1.56. Also there is a service charge of $3.50 per transaction.

 

Rate I received buying Euros at an ATM on shore using Credit Union ATM debit card: $1.44, about the exchange rate at that time. (My CU charges no fees). Thus, buying 300 Euros onboard would have cost me $39.50 more than it did at an ATM machine on shore.

 

By the way, Princess will buy back those $1.56 Euros paying you $1.33 for each one. Again, there is a service charge of $3.50 per transaction.

 

 

By the way, you have to look very carefully at the screen to understand the exchange rate. Below is a picture of the screen:

 

 

 

 

 

Now at first glance, you might think you would be purchasing Euros at a rate of $1.3346 (again, this is an old picture).

 

 

 

No, you are purchasing Euros at a rate of .64103 Euros for one US $.

 

 

 

Very few people realize that the cost of a Euro at this rate is 1/.64103 which is $1.56.

 

 

So if you want to use the currency exchange machine, bring a calculator or abacus with you to figure out the true cost of a Euro.

[Grego]

So, for Euros that is an option I would not use unless it was the only option. ATMs on shore makes sense with a debit card. For TAs that include stops in Denmark or other Scandinavian countries as well as the British Isles it looks like the ATM for exchange is the best as well.

[FritzG]

We usually get euros and GBP at our bank before we leave for a TA. However, when we were in Scandinavia it seemed like we needed a different currency every day. I know this goes against all other advice, but for a small amount of currency to use in each city we used the atm on board. Yes, there is a fee, and the exchange rate is poor, but we didn't want to waste valuable port time finding an atm that had no fees using our atm card. To us the convenience of going ashore with some cash in hand was worth it.

[memoak]

I always get a few pounds or euros prior to flying over to Europe just enough for cab and dinner that first night - especially if getting in late. Then hit a bank ATM the next morning - always use ATM's on land not on ship. Also remember your ATM card must have a chip or it will not work in most if not all TM's in Europe.

 

The only time I use the money exchange machines on board is when the cruise is when I have leftover bills and am almost to the US. If I only have a few I will donate them as extra tips or to the Sea Mans fund.

[redtogo]

If we have a small amount of foreign currency left, we usually give it to the room steward or the dining room waiters as an added bonus tip.

 

They will be continuing their travels and either returning to ports, or looping back to ports, so the local currency is appreciated.

 

If it is a larger amount, we save the excess for our next cruise.

Edited March 30, 2016 by redtogo

[cruiser113]

Thank you all for the advice.

 

Will need euro's for our first port , taking a private tour.

 

Our bank wants to charge us $7-14 just to have the Euro's sent to bank not counting transaction fee...........so it looks like we will hit an ATM in Port.

[AZ Stan (FKA Stan in Chicago)]

Thank you all for the advice.

 

Will need euro's for our first port , taking a private tour.

 

Our bank wants to charge us $7-14 just to have the Euro's sent to bank not counting transaction fee...........so it looks like we will hit an ATM in Port.

 

Doing the bank ATM in Europe is always the best bet. First, you'll get a wholesale exchange rate, second, the ATM deployer can not charge a fee for an international transaction, so the only fee will be what your bank charges. So check with your bank before you leave. Ask them exactly what the fees are. For instance, Chase (where I have an account, charges $3 plus 3%, outrageous). My other bank, a much smaller local bank charges a flat 2%, and even better, they refund that charge since I have been a loyal customer for a long time. If you have time, shop around.

 

Also, make sure you are using a debit card at the ATM, not a credit card. Credit card companies handle this as a cash advance, and the interest clock starts immediately. Also, some credit card companies charge an international premium, others do not. Both my Delta Sky Miles and Capital one cards do not add an international fee. Again, it pays to do your homework before you leave home.

 

Stan

[cruiser113]

AZ Stan (FKA Stan in Chicago);

 

Thank you for the info, will be using debit card at ATM and plan to alert bank and other credit card companies so no problems with charges.

You are correct in doing homework as it prevents problems that are not needed in foreign countries.

 

Have several cards with no foreign transaction fees and they all have chip.

 

Only 21 days and a wake up!

[caribill]

Doing the bank ATM in Europe is always the best bet. First, you'll get a wholesale exchange rate, second, the ATM deployer can not charge a fee for an international transaction, so the only fee will be what your bank charges. So check with your bank before you leave. Ask them exactly what the fees are. For instance, Chase (where I have an account, charges $3 plus 3%, outrageous). My other bank, a much smaller local bank charges a flat 2%, and even better, they refund that charge since I have been a loyal customer for a long time. If you have time, shop around.

 

 

A CapitalOne debit card has 0% fee for foreign transactions. You can have a CapitalOne account that comes with a debit card for no monthly fees.

 

(CapitalOne credit cards also have no foreign transaction fees. The Princess credit card also has no such fee.)

[FritzG]

AZ Stan (FKA Stan in Chicago);

 

Thank you for the info, will be using debit card at ATM and plan to alert bank and other credit card companies so no problems with charges.

You are correct in doing homework as it prevents problems that are not needed in foreign countries.

 

Have several cards with no foreign transaction fees and they all have chip.

 

Only 21 days and a wake up!

 

Do you have a chip and PIN? We had problems at the Rotterdam train station and other place with our chip but no pin Visa card. In most stores it wasn't a problem.

[memoak]

Most European bank ATM's will only allow a 4 digit pin - I had to change mine from 5 digit to 4 several years ago

[AZ Stan (FKA Stan in Chicago)]

Do you have a chip and PIN? We had problems at the Rotterdam train station and other place with our chip but no pin Visa card. In most stores it wasn't a problem.

 

As far as I know, the only places where you NEED a chip and pin is in automated kiosks, such as you'll find at train or subway stations to buy tickets. In stores and restaurants, they can process the cards without pin. Now, having said that, you can get a pin number from your credit card company with no problem, just ask them.

 

Stan