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Voayager Currency on Board

aussieb33

By aussieb33,
in Regent Seven Seas Cruises

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aussieb33

aussieb33

Posted
Posted

Hello Regent experts - been reading all your fantastic tips as I get ready to ship off. Quick question - is primary currency USD - so in the casino and/or any shopping, services done? Also in ports if you have USD are you good or is it good idea to get local currency (in this case Euro?). Thanks in advance. Cheers

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ededmd

ededmd

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Shipboard currency is USD.

You aren't paying with USD as you go however. The ship is a "cashless" place where everything is consolidated and charged to your shipboard account.

 

Yes, you need to have Euros ashore unless you plan on only using credit cards and not all shops and restaurants accept credit cards.

 

Presuming you won't need Euros before your first port, typically there will be an ATM or 3 in any tourist frequented area. Often the easiest way to manage.

 

The airport currency exchange stands are pretty much never the best way to change money.

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rcandkc

rcandkc

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Posted (edited)

Remember to get some small local currency for tipping tour guides. I just got 4 different local currency small bills before leaving on our next cruise. We were on a cruise in January in Australia and New Zealand and one gentleman said he couldn't give a tip to a bus driver that rescued several of us from side of country road after our bus broke down because he only had a large Australian bill. I found this very disappointing.

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Travelcat2

Travelcat2

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Remember to get some small local currency for tipping tour guides. I just got 4 different local currency small bills before leaving on our next cruise. We were on a cruise in January in Australia and New Zealand and one gentleman said he couldn't give a tip to a bus driver that rescued several of us from side of country road after our bus broke down because he only had a large Australian bill. I found this very disappointing.

 

That is sad because it would have been fine if the gentleman had tipped in U.S. currency. Actually, tipping tour guides with U.S. currency is much better than not tipping at all. If we will be in a country for more than one day, we get local currency. Otherwise, we tip in U.S. dollars or Euros (we always have seem to have Euros from previous cruises). Prior to leaving the country, we always make sure that we have plenty of small U.S. bills.

 

Another reason to have local currency is if you want to purchase local products or souvenirs. If you do not use their currency, you are likely to get a poor rate of exchange. In tourist shops in most parts of the world, they accept credit cards which alleviates the need for local currency.

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rcandkc

rcandkc

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The driver that rescued us and turned around his large empty bus on a Friday evening to take us to port to a waiting ship, got a very nice tip from 8 or so of us, just not big shot with only large Australian bills. It was obvious they had not been tipping any tour guides. Please remember to tip tour guides unless they are really, really awful. We also tip bus drivers separately if hard drive. There is no guarantee that guide shares. But to do this you need small bills. The ship can exchange US bills, just not sure of amounts.

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flossie009

flossie009

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  1. Pricing on Regent ships is in $US (e.g. shops, spa, casino) with all extras being charged to your account. Your final account will also be in $US and is normally charged to your credit card, but may be settled in cash
  2. Regent ships do not operate a currency exchange and do not have ATMs on board
  3. Reception on-board is normally able to exchange large denomination $US bills for smaller notes
  4. You will require local currency for on-shore purchases and for any tips you wish to give tour guides, drivers etc.
  5. The daily ship's paper 'Passages' will detail what currency is accepted in the next port being visited
  6. Generally it is more courteous to tip in the local currency rather than in $US unless you are in a country where $US are generally accepted (I can imagine the reaction if I tipped a taxi driver or waitress in New York with £GB or €)
  7. Not all countries regard tipping in the same way, or to the same level, as in the US but what you wish to do in this regard is your own personal decision

 

 

 
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garyb(uk)

garyb(uk)

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  1. Pricing on Regent ships is in $US (e.g. shops, spa, casino) with all extras being charged to your account. Your final account will also be in $US and is normally charged to your credit card, but may be settled in cash
  2. Regent ships do not operate a currency exchange and do not have ATMs on board
  3. Reception on-board is normally able to exchange large denomination $US bills for smaller notes
  4. You will require local currency for on-shore purchases and for any tips you wish to give tour guides, drivers etc.
  5. The daily ship's paper 'Passages' will detail what currency is accepted in the next port being visited
  6. Generally it is more courteous to tip in the local currency rather than in $US unless you are in a country where $US are generally accepted (I can imagine the reaction if I tipped a taxi driver or waitress in New York with £GB or €)
  7. Not all countries regard tipping in the same way, or to the same level, as in the US but what you wish to do in this regard is your own personal decision

 

 

 

I'm glad you said this as my TA told me they did. I think I'll need different currency for both Greenland and Iceland. Can you use USD in Canada or will I also need to get Canadian $?

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UUNetBill

UUNetBill

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I'm glad you said this as my TA told me they did. I think I'll need different currency for both Greenland and Iceland. Can you use USD in Canada or will I also need to get Canadian $?

Sounds like it's time to educate your TA (or maybe look around for another one who has a better understanding of the product?)

 

And yes, you'll probably need krona for both Greenland and Iceland (different krone/krona in both, I believe). Not sure on Canadian $, though - it's been a few years since I was up there. It's been my experience that most places that will accept a currency from another country won't often offer you a favorable exchange rate. Not usually an issue if you're buying a pack of gum or a cup of coffee, but if you're making larger purchases it can be an issue. We always try to estimate how much we're expecting to spend in each country we visit and pick up the necessary currency in advance.

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1982CruzStart

1982CruzStart

Posted
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I'm glad you said this as my TA told me they did. I think I'll need different currency for both Greenland and Iceland. Can you use USD in Canada or will I also need to get Canadian $?

Usually there is no problem using USD in Canada. Most places will accept them as we have a large number of tourists from the US so most places are use to people using USD. If you are just making a couple of port stops and making small purchases you should be fine but don't expect the best exchange rate. Right now with our $ being lower than the USD most people in tourism will be happy to get tips in USD.

The standard for credit cards in Canada is the chip card but i think for the most part businesses have found ways to work around because most US credit cards are non-chip.

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Travelcat2

Travelcat2

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Since we live live near Canada, I agree with the previous poster but am not sure if all of Canada is willing to accept U.S. dollars. Many Canadians shop in our city and do use local currency. However, most of the U.S. will not accept Canadian currency.

 

As clarification, when I say that tipping in foreign currency is fine if you have no local currency, I'm referring to tipping tour guides - not restaurant servers or others. Tour guides that regularly have cruise ship passengers are used to receiving tips in all sorts of currencies. There is likely a place where most of them go to exchange the money into their local currency at a decent rate.

 

We also use ATM machines (whether or not there is a sight fee). For credit card purchases, we use cards that have no foreign transaction fees. I just recommend being cautious of your surroundings when using an ATM - just as you should be at home.

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shuguley

shuguley

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You can also order foreign currency (just about any country) on line using a credit card. Exchange rate is not always the best but it sure is convenient. Money arrives at your door via FedEx and for small amounts it works well. It keeps you from having to look for an ATM while trying to get to your shore excursion. You can get all your currency before leaving home.

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JMARINER

JMARINER

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As has been said before, use your bank ATM/Debit card at the local bank ATM machines to get local cash. To get the best rate be sure that it is a real bank atm and not a private one like in a gas station or convenience market. Most will dispense in fairly small denominations.

 

In Iceland they accept Euros. In Greenland they accept both UD$ and Euros.

 

The ship will exchange Dollars for Euros at a discounted of about 5%. Inquire at the Pursers desk. For reason I don't understand, there are ATM machines (US$) on board in the Casino.

 

J

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flossie009

flossie009

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I'm glad you said this as my TA told me they did. I think I'll need different currency for both Greenland and Iceland. Can you use USD in Canada or will I also need to get Canadian $?

 

The ship will exchange Dollars for Euros at a discounted of about 5%. Inquire at the Pursers desk. For reason I don't understand, there are ATM machines (US$) on board in the Casino.

J

 

Gary,

As J is reporting that Regent do operate a currency exchange and have ATMs on board, suggest you double check the arrangements that will be on-board for your cruise - either direct with Regent or via your TA.

Personally I have never seen these services offered on Regent ships, but I learn something new every day.

 

As others have advised, wherever you obtain your local currency make sure you get small/medium denomination notes; Trying to pay for a coffee with a €100 note is sometimes met with a frown ;). For larger purchases a credit card can normally be used.

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JMARINER

JMARINER

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Gary,

As J is reporting that Regent do operate a currency exchange and have ATMs on board.................

 

A point of clarification. They only offer exchange for Euros and only when the ship is in Europe. They do not offer exchange for any other currencies at any time.

 

The ATM on board is only is US $. I assume that this ATM also charges a hefty fee.

 

 

j

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Travelcat2

Travelcat2

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A point of clarification. They only offer exchange for Euros and only when the ship is in Europe. They do not offer exchange for any other currencies at any time.

 

The ATM on board is only is US $. I assume that this ATM also charges a hefty fee.

 

 

j

 

Okay - now I'm really confused. When did Regent install an ATM on their ships? I haven't been onboard Regent since March.

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rallydave

rallydave

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The driver that rescued us and turned around his large empty bus on a Friday evening to take us to port to a waiting ship, got a very nice tip from 8 or so of us, just not big shot with only large Australian bills. It was obvious they had not been tipping any tour guides. Please remember to tip tour guides unless they are really, really awful. We also tip bus drivers separately if hard drive. There is no guarantee that guide shares. But to do this you need small bills. The ship can exchange US bills, just not sure of amounts.

 

Remember, tipping is different in many countries and we have experienced Australians and New Zealanders refusing to accept tips because it is NOT in their culture. People in OZ and NZ are paid a living wage and do not depend on tips and some as I said will not accept offered tips. It is simply not part of their culture. Tipping is not necessary in many places outside the US. Australia and New Zealand are two of those places. YMMV

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