September 10 Summit Cash or Traveler's Checks

[Shorebrook1]

It has been almost 8 years since my wife and I have cruised. I am anticipating that things have changed. Should I bring cash or traveler's checks? Should I rely on ATMs? I am assuming ATM's are on the ship. Is there an ATM fee? If so amount? Thanks

[jacen]

Gee,I guess C/C are still around after 8 yrs,also debit cards,much more handy than cash or trv checks,plus you are not charged for screw ups,unless you hand cards around to every deadbeat on the street !

 

 

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[kelib]

Travelers Checks are starting to become a thing of the past, a lot of places no longer accept them.

Last week I brought cash in small denominations and used my Debit card for larger purchases on land. ( mine has a chip and I also notified my bank of my travel plans)

[TeeRick]

I'm not sure if Traveler's Checks are very often used any more. We are on the Summit cruise right after the one you are on. In general, the ship has an ATM dispensing $USD and there will be an ATM fee (usually $6). You can get $CDN cash using your debit card at any port in Canada and an ATM fee will also be charged just like in the US. The cash dispensed will be at that day's USD/CDN best exchange rate. For most purchases you can use your credit card, and again you will get the best exchange rate. Use a credit card with "no foreign transaction fees" if you have one. Another tip is to notify your bank and credit card company in advance of your foreign travel. Back to Traveler's Checks - you will pay a fee to obtain them, and you will pay a fee on ship or at a port to convert them. In addition you will get a non-optimal exchange rate when you convert them too. Expensive way to go.

[CruisingChick]

We bring cash, but mostly use our credit cards. We haven't bought traveler's checks in decades.

[Longboysfan]

From what I am reading on travel sites and in travel guides - Travelers Checks are a thing of the past.

They cost too much and are not accepted everywhere anymore.

[dkjretired]

The only place you can really use TC is to cash them in on the ship.

[INSIDERS CABIN]

We were told several years back during foreign travels, maybe on board, that travelers checks were not accepted.....wish I could recall where and when, but from that time forward, we only took a variety of credit cards, debit cards for ATM, and a stash of cash for tips, taxis, and small restaurants....and a couple of checks for just in case! Lots of $1s. Always register the cards before leaving to indicate you are traveling out of local use area.

 

 

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[cruisestitch]

The ship will cash your traveler check for no fee. If you can find a place that will sell them to you for no fee, that is the cheapest and most secure way to get cash while on the ship.

 

On shore, you would be hard pressed to find stores or vendors who will cash them.

[lambcom]

We stopped using traveller's about 8 years ago when on a trip to the New York metro area and no bank was willing to cash them because we didn't have an account with them. Follow the advice of previous posters. Use your debit card (with chip) or credit card. We had no problem using a VIA card in tourist area stores even in St. Petersburg, Russia.

 

One thing that always galled me about traveler's cheques. You paid for them up front and the issuer (e.g. American Express) has the use of your money (often thousands of dollars) until you cashed them. If you didn't cash them in at the end of your trip, Amexco continued to have the use of your money while the uncashed cheques sat in your drawer.

[I_r_a]

Hi S,

 

> Should I bring cash or traveler's checks? Should I rely on ATMs? Should I bring cash or traveler's checks? Should I rely on ATMs?

 

TC's are so last century. :)

 

I take it that you are going to Canada.

 

Bring $100 in loonies.

 

Use your charge card whenever possible.

 

Bring your ATM card should you need cash for small transactions.

 

Enjoy your visit.

 

Ira

[hancock]

I don't use my debit card when traveling. Much harder to get my money back if it is compromised. Do not have the same protections as credit cards.

[Knighton]

It has been almost 8 years since my wife and I have cruised. I am anticipating that things have changed. Should I bring cash or traveler's checks? Should I rely on ATMs? I am assuming ATM's are on the ship. Is there an ATM fee? If so amount? Thanks

 

Agree that travellers checks are not worth it anymore. Cash is better-if you're afraid to bring too much at once, there are ATMs on the ship and if that runs out of money, the casino will let you draw on your room charge for a 3% fee. (No you don't have to use it to gamble.) I wouldn't use your debit card anywhere-protection against fraud is better on a real credit card. Also, call your credit card company and let them know where you are going and when, including the cruise and all ports of call-they make a note of it so your card doesn't get cancelled because they see charges from odd places. (Don't forget there are sometimes exchange rate fees when using credit cards in foreign countries.) You could get canadian dollars ahead of time from an exchange bureau or online, or they might have them to exchange at guest services on the ship, or even at an ATM in canada with your credit card.

[karena1]

We bring lots of cash and keep it in the safe in our cabin. We normally use cash in all the islands unless they are US like St Thomas or we make a big purchase. I hate travelers checks and have not used them in almost 20 years. I also take my Debit card and a 2nd CC just in case, but for the most part use cash when we are off the ship.

[Alakegirl]

Our financial institution doesn't charge us for travelers checks. The ship cashes them for us. So much safer than carrying cash.

[Shorebrook1]

Thanks everyone

 

 

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[varoo]

I don't use my debit card when traveling. Much harder to get my money back if it is compromised. Do not have the same protections as credit cards.

Good point!

Debit cards withdraw money from a bank account.

I think we have all heard about incidents where thieves used a stolen debit card to clean out someone's bank account, and then the owner's checks or automatic payments bounced for insufficient funds.

Credit card charges do not touch your bank account, so you won't lose even a penny if the card should be compromised.

We like to use a credit card that does not charge any currency conversion fees and that gives us cash back on all purchases.

Others prefer to receive miles instead of cash.

 

Major credit cards are accepted just about everywhere these days, so we carry very little cash with us when we travel, only enough for tips and small incidental purchases.

 

If we should need additional cash for some reason, we can get it from an ATM as they are found almost everywhere these days, (fully aware that if our cash should be lost or stolen, we will most likely never see it again).

 

We used to call the credit card company in advance to let them know where we would be traveling, but lately when we called, we were told that it is no longer necessary.

(That policy may vary depending on which credit card you use.)

Like most others, we stopped using Travelers Checks long ago.

They were a pain to obtain and keep track of, and bulky to carry around.

Then after the trip was over, we would forget to go cash in any that were left over, so they would just sit around in a desk drawer, sometimes for years.

Oh, another reason for using a credit card instead of cash on cruises that visit a number of different countries, such as Baltic cruises, is that you don't need to keep exchanging money and end up stuck with a number of different bills and coins in different currencies, trying to figure out which is which. Some of those coins can be quite heavy to carry around, unless you just want them for souvenirs.

Edited August 9, 2017 by varoo

[LA_CA_GAL]

We bring lots of cash and keep it in the safe in our cabin.

 

Same here. So easy to bring cash, and lots of it. Lot of small bills, lot of $100s.

[Lookingforfacts]

Travelers checks used to be accepted by almost every business. Go back far enough and credit cards weren't universally accepted nor relatively easy to obtain.

 

I guess the modern "equivalent", people who can't qualify for a credit card or have issues with credit cards, would be a prepaid credit card or prepaid debit card.

 

For the most part a cruise vacation can be cashless. Gratuities are generally added to you ship board account. Most stores in port are happy to accept credit cards.

[TeeRick]

The OP is going to Canada, not the Baltics or the Caribbean. It is as safe to use a debit card in an ATM in Canada as in the US. There are risks in the US too.

[LA_CA_GAL]

The OP is going to Canada, not the Baltics or the Caribbean. It is as safe to use a debit card in an ATM in Canada as in the US. There are risks in the US too.

 

A debit card in the wrong hands can give access to your bank account. That can be a big problem.

 

OTOH, a credit card in the wrong hands is a problem for the issuer of the card rather than the user. If someone runs up charges on my credit card that is my banks problem, not mine.

[TeeRick]

A debit card in the wrong hands can give access to your bank account. That can be a big problem.

 

OTOH, a credit card in the wrong hands is a problem for the issuer of the card rather than the user. If someone runs up charges on my credit card that is my banks problem, not mine.

 

Do you use your debit card in the US? You would have the same problem. Some debit cards are protected like credit cards. People need to check with their banks.

[LA_CA_GAL]

Do you use your debit card in the US?

 

Only to withdraw money from an ATM.

[davekathy]

Just picked up some TC's this morning.

[Lookingforfacts]

Only to withdraw money from an ATM.

ITA I use ATMs located in a bank, or at least bank operated ATM in an airport. I skip ATMs in places like 7-11 when home and when on vacation.