Euros or dollars??

[jetsfan]

Just a quick question. Thanks for the help. Which currency is better when paying for services? We were at dinner tonight and opinions were all over the place. We are cruising on the Epic September 30th, in the Haven for our 30th Anniversary. We have planned for this for a long time, just want to get it right.

[herdingdogmom]

Not sure what services you mean. Everything on the ship is in USD. Ports that use Euros of course Euros are needed.

 

 

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[kirsty_r]

Off ship in Europe use the currency for that area... mostly euros but there are a few exceptions if sailing away from the med.

 

 

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[Markj]

As mentioned - on ship its all US $ - in most of Europe it will be Euros - which countries are you calling at. On a recent Baltic Cruise we simply used credit cards in countries that did not take Euros

[don't-use-real-name]

Off ship in Europe use the currency for that area... mostly euros but there are a few exceptions if sailing away from the med.

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That makes sense - like when in Rome pay in Ceasars money ah er Euros - the US dollar is still accepted

in most countries but using the local currency is the best avoiding the exchange rates - each exchange of

money lessens the total amount.

 

And then there is PLASTIC with it own set of exchange rates.

 

To the OP:

Now if you are referring to about TIPS to the crew - the US dollar is preferred - while Euros are also just as

good. Either can be taken to the ships purser (cashier) for conversion to another preferred unit.

 

I don't know if the Casino is an agent for currency exchange - readers ???

[Notnewtoit]

That makes sense - like when in Rome pay in Ceasars money ah er Euros - the US dollar is still accepted

in most countries but using the local currency is the best avoiding the exchange rates - each exchange of

money lessens the total amount.

 

Ummmm, unless you're using a card where you may be given the option to pay in the local currency or Dollar, you need to use the local currency on the ground. Walk into a UK bar/restaurant and lay down a wad of Dollars and they will stare at you blinking! Just as if I laid down a UK GBP10 note in Baltimore. Oh an Euros won't work in UK for the most part.

[don't-use-real-name]

Ummmm, unless you're using a card where you may be given the option to pay in the local currency or Dollar, you need to use the local currency on the ground. Walk into a UK bar/restaurant and lay down a wad of Dollars and they will stare at you blinking! Just as if I laid down a UK GBP10 note in Baltimore. Oh an Euros won't work in UK for the most part.

 

You didn't mention anything about Canada and the Loonie !

No penny-ante stuff there it is just like NCL nickel and dimes !

Always thought it was odd for money to be in pounds shilling pence -

but to each his own and the devil for us all -

We will perhaps never have a standard of money sort of like resurrecting the Tower of Bable -

good luck getting a "Round-to-it" out of that ! LOL !

 

Well there is a sort of uniform standard on NCL ships and that is the dollar or the euro depending on if you

are in Europe or North America - beavers pelts are not used for wampum anymore.

 

And then like the TV commercial for a major financial institution - "What's in your Wallet" !

[zqvol]

That makes sense - like when in Rome pay in Ceasars money ah er Euros - the US dollar is still accepted

in most countries but using the local currency is the best avoiding the exchange rates - each exchange of

money lessens the total amount.

 

And then there is PLASTIC with it own set of exchange rates.

 

To the OP:

Now if you are referring to about TIPS to the crew - the US dollar is preferred - while Euros are also just as

good. Either can be taken to the ships purser (cashier) for conversion to another preferred unit.

 

I don't know if the Casino is an agent for currency exchange - readers ???

 

While the USD may be accepted int he Caribbean, it is NOT accepted in most countries. You will be hard pressed to find any place in Europe that accepts USD.

[kirsty_r]

While the USD may be accepted int he Caribbean, it is NOT accepted in most countries. You will be hard pressed to find any place in Europe that accepts USD.

 

 

 

Places in the large cities may accept it but the exchange rate is so poor it is not recommended. If on a Northern Europe cruise don’t forget UK needs pounds! We don’t accept Euro’s.

 

 

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[BirdTravels]

While the USD may be accepted int he Caribbean, it is NOT accepted in most countries. You will be hard pressed to find any place in Europe that accepts USD.

Totally incorrect. In the toursit areas that ship and private tours will go, dollars will be accept d.

 

If the OP question is about ship’s services, the currency on the ship for guests and crew are is dollars.

[YVRBassElectric]

Several passengers were caught in the Azores, Tea factory didn’t accept USD or credit cards, always have some local cash.

We applied our extra GBP & Euros to our onboard account at Guest services.

[Notnewtoit]

Totally incorrect. In the toursit areas that ship and private tours will go, dollars will be accept d.

 

If the OP question is about ship’s services, the currency on the ship for guests and crew are is dollars.

 

This IS the case in the Caribbean/Central America but it is most definitely NOT the case in Europe, you are flat WRONG, zqvol is entirely correct. Hand a $10 to a barman for a beer or shop owner for a Mars bar in Southampton or Bremen and they will stare at you blankly wondering what is wrong with you; just like a barman in Pittsburgh would if you handed him Euros. I know, I lived and worked in the EU for 40 years.

 

They cannot bank Dollars, they would literally have to pay to exchange it into local currency and then bank it. A hotel in London 'might' take Dollars but they will rape you on the exchange rate.

 

OP, use a card or grab a handful of Euros. Oh and Amex is not widely accepted either so don't count on that, Visa or MC pretty universal....

Edited September 1, 2018 by Notnewtoit

[cefm]

My rule of thumb is to go to an ATM in the country of travel and take out what you need and when leaving a country, blow what you have left! I’ve only double exchanged once. (Polish to Hungarian) as I didn’t expect the amazing low prices.

 

In Europe keep a few Euros as change for toilets!

 

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[old nutter]

The answer depends where you are from. The rule you need to remember is that every time you convert currency you lose and the banks win, so make sure you only do it once and only do it if you have to.

 

If you are from the USA going to most of Europe (particularly on Epic Western Med) just take Euros. You can either get them ahead or if you have a free conversion credit/debit card you can get local currencies at any ATM shoreside. As has been said above, for UK you will need to have UK Pounds. If you are heading to the Eastern Med and are likely to go to Croatia you will need some Kuna but you can easily get this when you get off the ship. This advice really only applies to relatively small purchases such as local taxis, drinks and snacks. If you end up buying something big then use your credit card, but again as has been said above the Amex charges in Europe make it expensive for traders and will rarely be accepted even in cities such as London. One thing to be very aware of is NOT to ask for any credit card payments to be charged in your local home currency. The rates used by traders to offer you home credit card payments are very poor indeed. This advice is very important for non-dollar tourists in the USA because you will end up paying way over the odds to have the credit card machine work out the charge. Always ask to use the local currency charge and take the transfer charge on you home card.

 

Most Europeans will have been used to having to change currency to get around different counties, even after lots moved over to the Euro so do not normally need any advice.

 

As far as using cash on the ship (almost exclusively only for tipping) - remember that exchanging metal coins is virtually impossible for ship's personnel so always give tips in notes.

[sandybee]

Most places in Europe do not accept Dollars unless you go to a bank. The exchange rate will be terrible. In Europe use Euros and in the UK use GB pounds.

[Trimone]

Totally incorrect. In the toursit areas that ship and private tours will go, dollars will be accept d.

 

If the OP question is about ship’s services, the currency on the ship for guests and crew are is dollars.

Sorry you turn up in Cannes, London or Malaga they will refuse you.

The world will take any debt, credit, charge card but not US cash, we are a retailers in the UK

[Markj]

I think it would be easiest if the OP simply told us where they are going then we could give them advice?

 

At the moment this thread has become a list of if, what's and maybe's???

[kirsty_r]

Sept 30th epic is the standard western med cruise so euros are required.

 

 

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[Paul Bogle]

He's sailing on the Epic on September 30th.

Barcelona, Naples, Civitavecchia, Livorno, Cannes, Mallorca

 

All in the Eurozone.

[jetsfan]

Thanks to all of you who took the time to answer. I appreciate it. Sorry, let me explain, as my original post was very poor. We have cruised many times, so we know USD is on ships. The better question would have been, when going out to dinner is it best to pay in local currency or dollars? We have been to Europe and have used ATM's with great ease. My DH and I disagree about this one point. If I happen to pay the bill while shopping/dining I say local. If he pays, then he says USD. We are indeed headed to the Med and there will be shopping!:D I don't want it to be about who is right, okay maybe a little;p, but I do want us to do the best financial thing. I love this board and it has helped me so much over the years. When my kids were younger they would say to me, "mom did you learn about this on CC"? Kids watch everything.

[kirsty_r]

Definitely use euros and pay by card in euros.

 

 

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[Shawnino]

Thanks to all of you who took the time to answer. I appreciate it. Sorry, let me explain, as my original post was very poor. We have cruised many times, so we know USD is on ships. The better question would have been, when going out to dinner is it best to pay in local currency or dollars? We have been to Europe and have used ATM's with great ease. My DH and I disagree about this one point. If I happen to pay the bill while shopping/dining I say local. If he pays, then he says USD. We are indeed headed to the Med and there will be shopping!:D I don't want it to be about who is right, okay maybe a little;p, but I do want us to do the best financial thing. I love this board and it has helped me so much over the years. When my kids were younger they would say to me, "mom did you learn about this on CC"? Kids watch everything.

 

Get a credit card with the feature of "no foreign exchange fee" and use that.

[jetsfan]

We have been meaning to get a card that we use only for vacation. New card is in the works. Thanks!

[amelia3171]

Always, always pay in the local currency when using your credit card, it’s always best for you as the customer.

 

When a shop or restaurant asks if you want to pay in the local or your own currency it is what the credit card companies call dynamic currency conversion. Basically if you pick your own currency it benifits the shop / restaurant at your expense. To be fair most establishments are not aware of the consequences so are not trying to scam you.

 

But always always say you want to pay in the local currency.

[KeithJenner]

Amex charges in Europe make it expensive for traders and will rarely be accepted even in cities such as London.

 

 

This is a common misconception. Most places in the U.K. accept Amex.

 

My main card is an Amex (I live in the U.K.). I carry an alternative in case Amex isn’t accepted and it is very rarely needed. Probably about 90% of my purchases are paid using my Amex, and I live in a medium sized town quite a distance from London.

 

I can’t remember the last time I couldn’t use Amex in London. There are certainly some place that don’t accept it, but they are a minority (usually small intependant retailers).

 

 

 

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