Different Currencies during Travel

[Afgonz]

Just wondering have others have done this...will be on a cruise which will travel to countries with 3 difference currencies, not sure if I should take a bit of each from home in the U.S. or withdraw as needed when there, or just place things on CC. Any opinions?

[wizdiz]

Last cruise I waited till I landed and used a ATM. For my next trip since a friend who works at a bank was able to get me cash at the days exchange rate I exchanged. Normally I would just use my CC and atm there.

[roger001]

Other than Cuba, there is not a cruise ship port served by NCL whos merchants don't take US currency as the primary means of transactions (at least I've never been to one). Only if you decided to venture to the interior of these countries, away from the normal tourist areas, would you probably need some local currency. Cruise ship stops are so short, the merchants don't you wasting your time exchanging currency when you could be already shopping. If this is a US port of departure cruise going into the Caribbean, you don't need any money exchanged. For Asian or European ports, don't know about those.

[Minoushka]

Forincidentals its best to have a few dollars worth of each currency needed.Obviously for bigger purchases cc are a good choice .

[Seminole1975]

Forincidentals its best to have a few dollars worth of each currency needed.Obviously for bigger purchases cc are a good choice .

 

I agree. When we went on the Baltic cruise last year, I got $20 or so in each currency (Danish, Swedish, Russian and Euros)

I got them thru my bank at home. I did not want to waste time going to ATM's for small purchases. Plus, if you are with a tour, you don't want to hold it up going to an ATM.

 

We did run into several places that only took cash-no CC either. Examples include: the snack place in a railroad stop in Germany, a small coffee shop in St. Petersburg and some public toilets in Germany. Don't forget, in some places, you might have to pay to use the toilet.

 

I got twice as much money for Denmark, because we would be there the longest. I spent all of my money except for a few Danish Krones. (My brother and family are going to Denmark in June, so I will give it to him.) Not all places will take US dollars cash either, especially if it is in a non-tourist place like a grocery store. There are a few threads on this topic. You might want to check out the Baltic threads.

[Carnac767]

Just use an ATM in whatever country you’re in. You get the best exchange rate. I use my credit card most of the time and rarely use cash. Most European destinations will not accept dollars (or they’ll give you a crap exchange rate if they do).

[KeithJenner]

Other than Cuba, there is not a cruise ship port served by NCL whos merchants don't take US currency as the primary means of transactions (at least I've never been to one).

 

 

As you say later in your post, you haven’t been to Europe.

 

If you had then there would be a number of ports to add to Cuba.

 

 

 

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[Shawnino]

I would take some currency from home; one never knows about the fees in foreign places.

 

Also, try to get a credit card with "no additional foreign transaction fees".

Many cards tack on 2.5% to whatever the daily Visa International rate is...

[twoznuff2]

Just wondering have others have done this...will be on a cruise which will travel to countries with 3 difference currencies, not sure if I should take a bit of each from home in the U.S. or withdraw as needed when there, or just place things on CC. Any opinions?

 

 

 

On my British isle cruise last May I took 3 different types of currency. I did so knowing I had tours booked in countries using pounds and euros. I took the amounts needed to pay the vendors and a bit extra for lunch or small souvenirs. I took my US currency to pay additional tips to crew members (yes,I could have used the other 2 currencies as tips,but I didn’t want to bring a lot of extra European currency). In short I don’t thing you “have to” I just found it more convenient for me to have the money to keep my budget more realistic and not credit card happy [emoji2].

 

 

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[brookie848]

I took some Euros on our Southern Caribbean cruise last year to use in Martinique. I was able to exchange the unused Euros at the service desk on the ship. I'm not sure what the exchange rate was (it was a small amount), but it was very easily done on the ship. So if you are looking for a small amount of cash, this might be an option for you.

 

By the way, this was on the Dawn.

[WanderlustJourney]

For my Mediterranean cruise I did have about €250 that I brought with me, I always kept €20 or so in my wallet, the rest in my safe. I found I could buy most souvenirs and food at restaurants with my credit card, used the cash for shuttles, public transport and a few smaller souvenir purchases.

[roger001]

As you say later in your post, you haven’t been to Europe.

 

If you had then there would be a number of ports to add to Cuba.

 

 

 

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Hence...the disclaimer.

[BirdTravels]

On Med cruises, we usually carry about $1000 in Euros for incidentals along the way. Always want to be able to hop a cab when the old feet get too tired.

[zqvol]

The answer all depends on where the OP is traveling. If to the Caribbean, then $USD works just fine. If Europe or Asia, OP will need local currency. The best place to get it is at an ATM near the ship, or use a CC.

[Son of a son of a ...]

Traveling to EU, we like to have euros in our pocket before we land to get through the airport and get to the hotel without hitting an ATM or changing money. It gives us flexibility plus we are usually pretty lagged when we land. Using our US bank, the exchange rate doesn’t vary with the amount (at least the amount we exchange), so we exchange enough for the trip in the US. We are pretty good at estimating what we need and use the remainder to tip out the butler, etc. Once we changed excess euros to dollars at guest services, but that was a misguided casino matter:) Otherwise we come home with 40-50 euros and save it for the next adventure

[YVRBassElectric]

check with your CC company about what foreign transaction fees will be charged. I have found ATM fees can be quite high, so I always get currency to travel, check with your bank & AAA. We have 7 currencies for our upcoming cruises, best way for us to stay on budget

[forgotmyCCname]

Is it possible to exchange USD to euros on board should we run out?

[wdsted]

Why not just use a cash machine and pull out small amounts? Better yet, just use your credit card. The world runs on plastic.

 

 

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[Annede07]

For my Mediterranean cruise I did have about €250 that I brought with me, I always kept €20 or so in my wallet, the rest in my safe. I found I could buy most souvenirs and food at restaurants with my credit card, used the cash for shuttles, public transport and a few smaller souvenir purchases.

 

Just curious, did you end up using most of your cash? We are bringing cash to tip the tour drivers and guides and that alone is around €240, so I wonder how much to bring for a snack or souvenir?

[AusQueen]

Take not the currency of China -Renminbi - is not accepted outside of HK or China. Last March was the first ( and probably the last) time we went to the Mainland. We had the equivalent of about US $ 500 in their currency for souvenirs, etc as I was concerned that using their local ATMs might not be a safe idea. I still have about half of it that we probably will never ever use. The duty free shop in Tokyo won't take it.

[Son of a son of a ...]

Why not just use a cash machine and pull out small amounts? Better yet, just use your credit card. The world runs on plastic.

 

 

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You can’t buy a few bars of scented soap at the market with. CC. You can’t pay for the toilet with a CC. You need cash

[Seminole1975]

You can’t buy a few bars of scented soap at the market with. CC. You can’t pay for the toilet with a CC. You need cash

 

Totally agree. On our tour of St. Petersburg, if you wanted a beer or wine with lunch you had to use local cash (Rubles). I posted earlier some other places that would not accept CC-only local cash.

 

Also if you use an ATM make sure it is one affiliated with a bank to avoid being hacked. I read on one of these threads that someone got hacked after using a free standing ATM in the middle of town. (May have been in Copenhagen)

[rochelle_s]

The last time I was in Europe aboard an NCL ship it was possible to purchase local currency at the front desk, but buyer beware, on top of the exchange rate there would have been a $10 flat rate charge for doing the transaction. In the case of exchanging small amounts this could get expensive very quickly.

 

I agree with other posters who said that using US dollars in the Caribbean is relatively easy. Cruising further afield to places in Europe, Asia and South America can be a very different situation. I have come across numerous times and places where it was cash only in the local currency.

 

In my opinion the best thing is to do your currency exchanges at home. Not only is is prudent to have local currency with you when arriving in a new country but why waste your limited and valuable vacation time looking for and using a foreign ATM?

 

 

Rochelle

 

 

 

 

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[cwsdks48]

The last time I was in Europe aboard an NCL ship it was possible to purchase local currency at the front desk, but buyer beware, on top of the exchange rate there would have been a $10 flat rate charge for doing the transaction. In the case of exchanging small amounts this could get expensive very quickly.

 

I agree with other posters who said that using US dollars in the Caribbean is relatively easy. Cruising further afield to places in Europe, Asia and South America can be a very different situation. I have come across numerous times and places where it was cash only in the local currency.

 

In my opinion the best thing is to do your currency exchanges at home. Not only is is prudent to have local currency with you when arriving in a new country but why waste your limited and valuable vacation time looking for and using a foreign ATM?

 

 

Rochelle

 

 

 

 

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Bank of America's online banking has a link in the help section 'travel' I think, then a currency drop down where you can order currency for lots of countries. Tried it a couple of weeks ago, ordered Danish krona, Icelandic krona and British pound. Link asks which account to charge (checking, savings) and whether you want to pick up at your banking center or have it shipped for $7.50.

3 days later, a FedEx envelope arrived at our house with currency bills paper clipped and an accompanying sheet listing the transactions. BoA does not have a banking center in our town, so this worked out perfectly.

We usually find a major bank in a foreign country and use their ATM, but as others pointed out, on a cruise that may not be feasible.

Also remember to set a travel notice with your bank, so that your credit card won't be blocked.

[pe4all]

We made our first "jaunt" out of our comfort zone of Caribbean cruises last summer, taking Epic from Barcelona to Western Med. We took around $1,000 in Euros with us, as we have never used an ATM, and don't plan to begin doing so - especially out of the country! We took 2 credit cards with us - both foreign transaction fee free. We used one all the time, and had the other as a back-up in case the one we were using was compromised. We will do the same with our upcoming Baltic cruise, but will also take about $100 in rubles, kroners and Danish kroners. (4 of us traveling) Just make sure you "clear" your credit cards for foreign travel, or they may be stopped when you try to use them.