Tara Jane Posted May 24, 2016 #1 Share Posted May 24, 2016 Hi, I have always chosen to have my bank do the currency conversion of my shipboard account. Just wondering what others do? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GUT2407 Posted May 24, 2016 #2 Share Posted May 24, 2016 hi, i have always chosen to have my bank do the currency conversion of my shipboard account.Just wondering what others do? b.a.n.k. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FawnRiver Posted May 24, 2016 #3 Share Posted May 24, 2016 Usually I let my bank do it, but I found out before a previous cruise that the exchange rate for buying on board credit is set at the rate that it was when you booked the cruise, so if your currency has taken a dive against the US$ since booking (which in my case has happened before) you can buy on board credit for yourself in advance of the cruise at a better rate than your bank or letting Princess do it at the end of the cruise. I'm not sure if this is still true, I have to check for my upcoming cruise. I certainly hope so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul929207 Posted May 24, 2016 #4 Share Posted May 24, 2016 Most of the time our account and home currency are US$, but when not, I have my bank do it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VibeGuy Posted May 24, 2016 #5 Share Posted May 24, 2016 Dynamic Currency Conversion by merchants is almost always a ripoff unless the merchant is somehow locking a rate favorable to customers. Know the rates quoted on XO or similar services and compare - since the card brands settle at the wholesale rate (even when some issuers add 1-3% for the privilege), they're usually the best rates a consumer can get. Even more galling is when you do a DCC conversion and your issuer still tags the transaction as foreign because the merchant address is foreign or their merchant bank is foreign. The fine print reveals its a foreign transaction fee and not a foreign currency exchange surcharge. So you've paid the poor DCC rate and you're still paying the three points on top of that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heidi13 Posted May 24, 2016 #6 Share Posted May 24, 2016 Princess only offer the service as it makes them even more money. I always got better rates without any fees from our bank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tara Jane Posted May 25, 2016 Author #7 Share Posted May 25, 2016 Thanks for your replies. My sister was just filling in the necessary info on line for our upcoming princess cruise, and had read somewhere about them claiming to give the best rate. I will stick with my bank doing the conversion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joybook Posted May 25, 2016 #8 Share Posted May 25, 2016 Without doubt use your bank. Very very rarely even with exchange rate fluctuations will Princess beat your Bank - well from my experience anyway.:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now