newt52 Posted August 21, 2018 #1 Share Posted August 21, 2018 We will be in port at St. John and Halifax in October. In St. John we will be on a private tour but may end up at the market. In Halifax we plan on doing the boardwalk area, perhaps go to the Citadel. My question is do we need to get Canadian currency for shops or restaurants around there? Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ashland Posted August 21, 2018 #2 Share Posted August 21, 2018 We will be in port at St. John and Halifax in October. In St. John we will be on a private tour but may end up at the market. In Halifax we plan on doing the boardwalk area, perhaps go to the Citadel. My question is do we need to get Canadian currency for shops or restaurants around there? Sent from my iPad using Forums We didn't need CAD in either of these ports...the market in St John took US$'s and so did the terminal shopping area in Halifax. The restaurant we ate at we used our Capitol One credit card...no fees. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nitemare Posted August 22, 2018 #3 Share Posted August 22, 2018 Use your CC. Local markets will take USD but you'll likely get a dreadful exchange rate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MVoelker Posted August 22, 2018 #4 Share Posted August 22, 2018 We have credit cards that do not charge for the exchange rate. Unless you prefer cash, I would use a credit card when possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maryann ns Posted August 22, 2018 #5 Share Posted August 22, 2018 If you need a bit of cash there are two easy ways to get it when here: Best - go to an ATM and take out $20 or more. Next best - Pay for something with $US and your change will be Canadian. If it is only a small amount the cost would not be too bad. Almost everywhere takes credit or debit cards. Exceptions would be transit or the ferry to Dartmouth and perhaps some waterfront kiosks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZ Irish Posted August 23, 2018 #6 Share Posted August 23, 2018 Some (few) places in Canada will not take US $ or credit card. My research of some small pubs in Quebec city was clear on that. Also, there could be some taxis that do not accept CC (may accept US$). That being said, unless you have a bank associated in Canada, it may be cheaper to get some CAD at your US Bank. I have Chase debit which has horrible fees/rates for foreign countries so I bought some CAD here in US. Exchange rate wasn't perfect but was still better than Travelex. Really depends on how much CAD you want to purchase and whether you care about crappy exchange rates. Are there some Canadian businesses that take US $, sure. Will their rates be competitive - no chance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sprockie Posted September 9, 2018 #7 Share Posted September 9, 2018 Using U.S.D in Canada or C.A.D in the USA at restaurants and retailers will always be an unfavourable exchange rate. Also, you will always get change in the currency of the country you're in. Using a CC is definitely the best practice unless you exchange some money at a bank or cash retail outlet ahead of time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kareng54 Posted September 16, 2018 #8 Share Posted September 16, 2018 We intend to use cc for as much as we can. Our only concern is when tipping tour guides ( only using cruisecship excursions as we received credits in every port) and wondering if we should use USD or CAD? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Earl Rosebery Posted September 16, 2018 #9 Share Posted September 16, 2018 We intend to use cc for as much as we can. Our only concern is when tipping tour guides ( only using cruisecship excursions as we received credits in every port) and wondering if we should use USD or CAD? $C preferred but tour guides certainly used to $US. Besides they have a 25% premium Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kareng54 Posted September 16, 2018 #10 Share Posted September 16, 2018 I’m sorry but what Is a 25 % premium? Is it related to the exchange rate? New at this! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Earl Rosebery Posted September 16, 2018 #11 Share Posted September 16, 2018 i’m sorry but what is a 25 % premium? Is it related to the exchange rate? New at this! 5us$ = 6.25c$ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Turtles06 Posted September 16, 2018 #12 Share Posted September 16, 2018 (edited) We were in Halifax last week (we were also supposed to have docked in St. John's, Newfoundland, but our ship was diverted to help search for the person who went overboard from the AIDA Luna; a very sad day). We had Canadian currency with us, but were also able to use our credit cards. One funny story: when we exited the cruise terminal in Halifax, we hired a cab for some touring for several hours. The driver quoted us a price of "one hundred dollars" per person. I said, "I assume that's one hundred Canadian." He replied, "one hundred Canadian or one hundred U.S., I'll take either." LOL!!! It never hurts to have local currency with you!! PS: Not that you asked, but we had a wonderful lunch at The Five Fishermen, just downhill from the Citadel. The fish tacos were fabulous. So were the fish and chips. (The potatoes are local, and you can absolutely taste the freshness. And of course the freshness of the fish is a given.) Edited September 16, 2018 by Turtles06 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newt52 Posted September 25, 2018 Author #13 Share Posted September 25, 2018 Thanks for all the helpful replies, gives me lots to think about. Turtles06- The Five Fishermen sounds great, any chance they have chowder? Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lenquixote66 Posted September 25, 2018 #14 Share Posted September 25, 2018 We will be in port at St. John and Halifax in October. In St. John we will be on a private tour but may end up at the market. In Halifax we plan on doing the boardwalk area, perhaps go to the Citadel. My question is do we need to get Canadian currency for shops or restaurants around there? Sent from my iPad using Forums You can use American currency anywhere in Canada. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prinz Posted September 25, 2018 #15 Share Posted September 25, 2018 You can use American currency anywhere in Canada.Lol. No, you can't.Most touristy cities and those near the border will be accommodating. But, you'll get a way worse rate than if you just use a CC. And they're certainly under no obligation to take USD. ( Say if you're trying to buy like a stick of gum ) Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Turtles06 Posted September 25, 2018 #16 Share Posted September 25, 2018 Thanks for all the helpful replies, gives me lots to think about. Turtles06- The Five Fishermen sounds great, any chance they have chowder? Sent from my iPad using Forums I'm afraid you may be out of luck there. I don't recall any chowder, and there is none listed on their menu on line. (The lunch restaurant is called the Little Fish Oyster Bar.) https://www.littlefishoysterbar.ca/lunch-menu/ But here are the fabulous fish tacos :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare broberts Posted September 25, 2018 #17 Share Posted September 25, 2018 Use a Visa or MasterCard. If using cash, pennies are no longer used. While most cash registers will show cents, amounts are rounded up/down to the nearest nickel or dime. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Turtles06 Posted September 25, 2018 #18 Share Posted September 25, 2018 You can use American currency anywhere in Canada. Even if you could, why would you want to? You'd be paying a hefty premium. :eek: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firstcarib Posted September 25, 2018 #19 Share Posted September 25, 2018 You can use American currency anywhere in Canada. Ho ho, just like some of our American friends are surprised when they cant use their dollars in UK or Europe! Could we use £ or € in USA [emoji33] Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MisElainieous Posted November 5, 2018 #20 Share Posted November 5, 2018 We live in a small community in Alabama, not close to a large city. Where would you get exchange for Canadian $? Would the ship offer it? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted November 5, 2018 #21 Share Posted November 5, 2018 55 minutes ago, MisElainieous said: We live in a small community in Alabama, not close to a large city. Where would you get exchange for Canadian $? Would the ship offer it? maybe depends on the ship You could just hit an ATM in port or use your CC some merchants will accept USD with a higher exchange rate conversion depends on what you will be spending whether it is worth the convenience factor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nitemare Posted November 6, 2018 #22 Share Posted November 6, 2018 Contact your bank and see if they can get it for you with advance notice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prinz Posted November 6, 2018 #23 Share Posted November 6, 2018 10 hours ago, MisElainieous said: We live in a small community in Alabama, not close to a large city. Where would you get exchange for Canadian $? Would the ship offer it? How small a community are we talking here. Any bank would most likely offer it. Maybe not hundreds of thousands, but enough for tourist purposes. Our town of less than 4 thousand people has a bank that has US dollars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MisElainieous Posted November 6, 2018 #24 Share Posted November 6, 2018 Thank you. Our community is about 710, with our closest town (8 miles away) about 9,000. Guess the best thing to do is call the bank and find out from them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Earl Rosebery Posted November 9, 2018 #25 Share Posted November 9, 2018 MisElaineous; The easier way is to get as much as you need , if any, from a bank ATM. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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