Epic. currency on board west med cruise

[Trickster999]

On a recent review called Epic for first time cruisers, the reviewer talks about the currency on board being in US dollars and that they had a problem because they'd taken euros.

I thought the ship was cash less and any extra costs were just charged to your on board account.

 

i presume things are priced in dollars and then your cc company does the conversion to your own currency in due course.

[KeithJenner]

Yes, you are correct. Perhaps the person was talking about tipping, or the casino (which I believe requires cash).

[Trickster999]

Cheers Keith

[ighten]

Even though its charged to your on board account its still all in dollars remember though (as you noted) .. Not that great for us at the moment unless you were canny enough to buy lots of OBC when it touched above 1.50;) (though to be fair you would have to rack up a lage sum to make it that big an issue)

 

You can tip in whatever currenecy you like though.

Edited July 26, 2016 by ighten

[davecttr]

The onboard currency is in dollars but you only need cash if you wish in the casino and maybe for onboard tips to waiters etc.

 

On Epic in September I will take dollars for the casino and tipping the casino waiters and if I have any dollars left at the end of the cruise and decide to tip the steward I will use those. Or I might tip in euros as the crew can spend them ashore without currency conversion.

[hawkeyetlse]

On a recent review called Epic for first time cruisers, the reviewer talks about the currency on board being in US dollars and that they had a problem because they'd taken euros.

This is specifically what the review in question (by user Viva Las VegasBruiser1, who is apparently from the UK) says:

the currency on board is US dollars and predominantly American passengers. No one told us and we took euros to which NCL wanted 9 euro with every transaction for not paying in dollars so was forced to hand over a credit card to pay for on board shopping, shows, spa treatments, room service and supplemented food and drink. they charge you 27 dollars per cabin a day service charge but if your like me and prefer to tip as you go ask for a form and it will get deducted that saves you 170 dollars a week before you've started.

(last sentence included just for fun :p)

 

Some people prefer to pay cash into their onboard account in order to reduce/avoid their credit card charge at the end, and for that purpose, you should use dollars. They will accept other currencies, but they will hit you with a hefty transaction fee, and probably a poor exchange rate.

[KeithJenner]

(last sentence included just for fun :p)

 

 

 

Thanks for including it. Made me chuckle. :)

[bluemooner]

Can you pay for betting chips in Euros at the table or do you use a debit card at the cash desk to obtain chips ?

[Trickster999]

Nah ... I wasn't savvy enough to load up my ac when the pound was flourishing. Missed the boat as usual. ( excuse the pun)

 

Btw what was the joke about the op waning to remove the daily service charge.... Am I missing something?

[KeithJenner]

Nah ... I wasn't savvy enough to load up my ac when the pound was flourishing. Missed the boat as usual. ( excuse the pun)

 

You may not have missed the boat. Exchange rates are set at the date of booking, so I suspect you will find its a good rate. I can buy OBC for by upcoming cruise at better than 1.45. Only problem is that I don't really need any. :)

 

 

 

Btw what was the joke about the op waning to remove the daily service charge.... Am I missing something?

 

 

I can't speak for hawkeyetise, who may have just put it there as service charge discussions are usually quite fun. However, I enjoyed the discrepancy between the two reasons given for removing it. Either it was to tip in cash or to save $170. It can't be both. :)

Edited July 26, 2016 by KeithJenner

[ighten]

You may not have missed the boat. Exchange rates are set at the date of booking, so I suspect you will find its a good rate. I can buy OBC for by upcoming cruise at better than 1.45. Only problem is that I don't really need any. :)

 

 

. :)

 

Does that work for NCL? I know I can do it on celeb as they sell you dollar blocks of OBC at a set sterling price (which is a bout 1.45).. When I look on "my NCL" account they just sell it directly in dollars so my bank would be now giving me a low rate.

[KeithJenner]

Does that work for NCL? I know I can do it on celeb as they sell you dollar blocks of OBC at a set sterling price (which is a bout 1.45).. When I look on "my NCL" account they just sell it directly in dollars so my bank would be now giving me a low rate.

 

 

 

If you booked via the UK office then anything you purchase via myncl should be charged to you in pounds. The rate is set when you book the cruise, so the rate you get won't be the same as for other people on your cruise, and if you have multiple cruises booked then each one may have a different rate.

 

Currently, I can buy $10 OBC for my next cruise at for £6.79 which is 1.475

 

People in the UK should buy anything they know they are going to get (dining, beverage packages, excursions etc or get OBC) before sailing if they want to save some money.

 

It's also worth prepaying the DSC as that will be cheaper too. Unless of course you are planning on both saving yourself the money and tipping the staff in cash. :)

Edited July 26, 2016 by KeithJenner