Harmony - currencies while in Europe (and few other info) ?

[ChristianDecker]

Dear Cruisecritics,

in 30 days from now I will be sailing her ... I'm so excited. So I'm currently preping my trip.

 

I have been searching for a while, but did not find it:

 

Currencies

 

Please, what is the currency on board of HoS ? So what is accepted for paying (both things you consume as well as tips). I want to pay tips in cash as this is my clear preference.

 

Normally it is USD, but since she is quite some time in Med (=EUR), I wanted to ask.

Which currency is dispensed on on-board ATMs ? I prefer this, as my credit card does not charge ATM fees.

 

Or is both EUR and USD accepted and if yes, what exchange rate is applied ?

 

Tipping in cash

 

Tips in cash: What do I have to do to be able to do so ? Normally I go to front desk and ask them to remove auto-Charge. But with all these new dining options ...

 

Formal nights

 

Are there formal nights ? And if yes, please which nights ?

 

 

Thank you and regards

Christian

 

PS Sorry, that I MUST have overseen this info somewhere, but currently I feel like being 6 again on 23rd of Dec ...

Edited June 10, 2016 by ChristianDecker

[xxHadleyxx]

Every RCI sailing I have been on in Europe (many) everything on board is priced in dollars and your onboard account will be in dollars.

 

I don't know what the ATM dispenses onboard, but I know you can exchange at least some money at guest services (probably for crappy rates--they do post them by guest services but I never really look). When we need local currency we find an ATM in the port town that does not charge fees. But if you will need cash for a bus or some such before getting into town that won't work.

 

Living in Germany (where cash is still often the only option to pay) I am always surprised by how little cash I need in ports. We just did a week cruise to Norway and never used cash once even though we rented a car, ate in small locally owned coffee shops, used public transit and rented kayaks from a local campground. Everyone took credit.

[Biker19]

Get Euros before you leave at your home ATM.

 

Leave auto-grats in place and forget about it. Tip above that if you really want with Euro coin.

 

Two formal nights - likely first one will be the second night and second night 5 or 6.

[Single Cruiser]

It was dollars onboard as normal but the ATM in her Europe sailing was allowing passengers to withdraw euros but there was a substantial fee if I recall, same with rates exchange at the reception desk.

 

I just took a few dollars for onboard tips and then test euros and credit card for the onboard account.

[steamboats]

Christian,

 

Onboard currency is USD.

 

I saw two ATMs on the Royal Promenade and at least one in the casino. The one in the casino might dispense USD. But anyway the ATMs do charge a fee (last time it was 5.50 USD).

 

As for tipping: Just leave it with the auto charge! Additional tips are of course appreciated. Depending on what dinner seating you have and how often you use the MDR for dinner you might tip extra there (I do have Main Seating but I may not use the MDR pretty often as I do have at least 4 dinners in other venues). It´s also not unusual to give an extra tip in a specialty restaurant (although the cover charge does cover the regular tip). I usually leave an extra tip for the cabin steward (and I leave that in Euro as they can use Euro throughout the Med season in port). I also carry 1 Dollar bills (or change a larger bill at guest services) for additional tips at the bars.

 

There are two formal nights and they are pretty likely Palma de Mallorca and Naples (at least that´s what it´s been last year on the Allure Med cruises). Only the Quantum Class ships don´t have a formal nights anymore.

 

steamboats

[ChristianDecker]

Just spend several hours to align our excusions (only 2 to be able to see other things 2), shows (5) and specialty restaurants (3) and 2 formal nights ... pre-booked internet package due to advance rebate.

What a fun to do this... :cool:

Also system of RCCL is very nice, reliable and fast.

Didn't do the soda fountain pre-booking as I don't want to wait to get the cup in the cabin ...

 

Glad that I did it as my date seems to be a full ship and I want to avoid the hazzle onboard.:D

Now my credit card is fire hot ... :eek:

 

I'm ready ... can't wait ...

Edited June 18, 2016 by ChristianDecker

[linkerbink]

I just got off the Jewel cruise from-to Rome and the onboard currency was dollars. The onboard atm dispensed Euros. Had an issue with the atm however...it did not work! Guest Services said a bank has responsibility for it and they (GS) could not do anything about it. It was advertised that you could purchase Euros at GS but they never seemed to have any. I finally went there about 7 am and was able to purchase a small amount. I did purchase Euros before I left home but I assumed I would be able to get some from the atm.

[ChristianDecker]

Question: All prices are shown to me in EUR. Am wondering if I could also pay in USD and if the prices would be lower then as my credit card does the converting and not RCCL ... ?

I'm not having any credit card fees (including mid rate is applied) ...

Other way round - if a US customers books such a cruise, is it then automated in EUR too ? So is it based on country of journey or country of guest and can this be somehow changed ...

Edited June 18, 2016 by ChristianDecker

[Clarea]

Question: All prices are shown to me in EUR. Am wondering if I could also pay in USD and if the prices would be lower then as my credit card does the converting and not RCCL ... ?

I'm not having any credit card fees (including mid rate is applied) ...

Other way round - if a US customers books such a cruise, is it then automated in EUR too ? So is it based on country of journey or country of guest and can this be somehow changed ...

I believe anything you purchase pre-cruise is in the same currency as your booking.

 

Definitely use your own credit card on board and make sure you tell the ship that you do NOT want them to do the conversion. Let your credit card company do the conversion. Double check on this during the cruise because the cruise line seems to "forget" your preference quite often.

[steamboats]

Question: All prices are shown to me in EUR. Am wondering if I could also pay in USD and if the prices would be lower then as my credit card does the converting and not RCCL ... ?

I'm not having any credit card fees (including mid rate is applied) ...

Other way round - if a US customers books such a cruise, is it then automated in EUR too ? So is it based on country of journey or country of guest and can this be somehow changed ...

 

Sorry, Christian, all prices in the Cruise Planner are shown in the currency of your booking - EUR. Anway the conversion rate is usually pretty good. There´s no additional conversion fee or anything like this. The reason it might seem to be higher is that they have to add the Spanish VAT (Mehrwertsteuer) of 10 or 21 % (depending on what you purchase - beverage package is 10%, VOOM is 21%).

 

I booked a 3 night dining package and asked those from US what´s shown in USD in their CruisePlanner and it was 88 USD (80 USD + 10%). Converted into Euro I´ve paid the very same.

 

steamboats