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Changing US dollars to port of call Country Currency


MaryAld52
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Has any one been on a Cuba/Panama Canal Cruise? If so did you convert US dollars to the different port of call country currency prior to your Cruise or did you do the exchange at each Port? What is your experience as far as not carrying cash but just using your debit card at each Port to get amount you wanted at each Port?  Did you run into any problems using the ATM in any of these Countries (Columbia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cayman Island?? When I asked Norwegian representative I was told that Panama accepts US dollars but it is better to use the Country’s currency if using cash and that in Cuba you cannot use the US dollar? 

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In the Cayman Islands the local currency is fixed to the US dollar at a rate of $1.00 US = $0.80 Cayman Dollar. You can spend US dollars everywhere in Georgetown but in many places you will receive change in Cayman currency. This being the case having small bills to minimize change is a good idea.

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Other than Cuba, every cruise port we've ever stopped in, all the merchants readily accept US dollars.  Unless you are going inland and away from tourist areas, the US dollar is all you need.   Because cruise stops are fairly short, the merchants don't want you wasting time doing money conversion.  They want you out shopping and buying quickly.  

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11 minutes ago, roger001 said:

Other than Cuba, every cruise port we've ever stopped in, all the merchants readily accept US dollars.  Unless you are going inland and away from tourist areas, the US dollar is all you need.   Because cruise stops are fairly short, the merchants don't want you wasting time doing money conversion.  They want you out shopping and buying quickly.  

I have seen this too, not just Caribbean ports but European ports too.

Do be aware that if they take US dollars, they may not give you a fair exchange rate and they may not (probably not) give you US dollars change.

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