How much Local money should I plan

[Sorry Muffin]

I have a question:  How much euros do you think we need on each port?  

• Barcelona (embarking/disembarking)
• Cannes (Monaco)
• Livorno (Cinca Tes)
• Rome
• Athen
• Mykonos
• Santorini
• Crete
• Short Layover at Heathrow Airport (London)

I plan on using my credit card most of the time.  But I don't think it will work if I want a gelato from a vender.  Can I get use my ATM card on board the vision to get cash when needed?

 

Thank you for any info you can provide

 

Mary Louise

[swaddy]

You won't need any euros for Heathrow, you will need £'s if paying cash Or use a card. 

[Ashland]

7 minutes ago, Sorry Muffin said:

I have a question:  How much euros do you think we need on each port?  

• Barcelona (embarking/disembarking)
• Cannes (Monaco)
• Livorno (Cinca Tes)
• Rome
• Athen
• Mykonos
• Santorini
• Crete
• Short Layover at Heathrow Airport (London)

I plan on using my credit card most of the time.  But I don't think it will work if I want a gelato from a vender.  Can I get use my ATM card on board the vision to get cash when needed?

 

Thank you for any info you can provide

 

Mary Louise

I always prefer to take plenty of local currency (Euros for these ports) I pre-order them from my local BofA. I'm not a fan of having to find and depend on foreign ATM's. And I certainly don't use the ATM's onboard with their high service charge. I'll only use my  credit card (no foreign transaction fee) at major well established places and only when necessary.

[John Bull]

It's impossible to give even a ball-park figure of how much currency you'll need, it depends on too many variables including for instance whether you'll be taking ship's excursions & whether you plan to use plastic.

 

Currency in all of your ports is the euro, which simplifies things a lot.

 

Most Americans on Cruise Critic complain that they get poor exchange rates from US sources, so if you plan to use plastic I suggest you change a maximum of €100 before you leave. That's enough not to have to use an exchange facility at the airport (atrocious exchange rates) or hunt for an ATM as soon as you step ashore.

 

Then use your debit card at ATMs to top-up - that's the best exchange rate you're likely to get for drawing cash.

Most ATMs world-wide have a button to show instructions in English.

But most cards involve a minimum overseas service fee, so check how much to draw at a time to get value out of that fee. 

If you use a credit card to draw cash you'll be charged interest from the moment you draw it, so repay soonest rather than waiting for the payment-due date. 

 

Best value of all is to use your credit card for purchases.

That's the best exchange rate that you'll find (at or marginally above wholesale rate) and they're accepted at almost outlets, but with one drawback.......

Most cards have a foreign currency fee, which wipes a lot of that value - so get yourself a card with no foreign currency charges. Your countrymen can doubtless suggest which cards.

Different cards, different advantages - some give cash-back, some give airmiles, some have low interest rates, etc. And some have no foreign exchange fees - but you'll probably get none of the other freebies. So get a no-foreign-currency-fee card to use solely / primarily for foreign travel. That has the other advantages of your foreign purchases being all on one card / statement,  your regular card isn't at risk of being compromised, and you have a second card in case one is lost or compromised.

 

When presented with a foreign card, more and more vendors are offering to charge you in the card's currency  "for your convenience" . Always but always DECLINE that offer - the vendors set their own exchange rates and those rates won't be in your favour, so keep the payment in local currency. And check the POS screen before inserting your card - a small minority set their card machines to always charge in the card's currency, so tell them to re-set it to the Euro figure, same as on the check.

 

If you're on a US ship, no worries. But if ship's currency isn't the same as your own currency eg you're on a Costa or MSC ship, or a Brit or Canadian on a US ship, you'll be asked if you want your on-board account to be converted to your own currency,, "for your convenience". Same as for vendors ashore, always but always DECLINE that offer - have your card charged in ship's currency, and allow your card issuer to convert at a much better exchange rate.

 

Ship's purser (guest relations) carry a stock of most local currencies. Very very very occasionally useful for a small amount of urgent cash - but exchange rates vary between poor and rip-off. 

 

Tips over & above the daily charge. Especially if the ship is staying in Europe the crew will be happy with additional tips in Euros, so you can avoid taking too much souvenir currency home.

 

Currency at Heathrow airport is sterling, but you won't need any. Cards are accepted even for just a cup of coffee.

Or you can exchange left-over euros for sterling - atrocious rates but avoids waste.

On your flight home, cabin crew often collect unwanted currency for the airline's chosen charities. 

 

JB 

[NantahalaCruiser]

Some brokerage firms offer debit cards with waived overseas ATM fees for any ATM in their affiliated system. I use a Fidelity VISA debit card with waived ATM fees for any ATM in the VISA system. Fidelity does charge a 1% fee on foreign exchange, but that's a minor issue for small withdraws (e.g. only about $0.56 for a 50 EURO withdraw compared to a typical $5 ATM processing fee.)

[ldubs]

3 hours ago, Sorry Muffin said:

I have a question:  How much euros do you think we need on each port?  

• Barcelona (embarking/disembarking)
• Cannes (Monaco)
• Livorno (Cinca Tes)
• Rome
• Athen
• Mykonos
• Santorini
• Crete
• Short Layover at Heathrow Airport (London)

I plan on using my credit card most of the time.  But I don't think it will work if I want a gelato from a vender.  Can I get use my ATM card on board the vision to get cash when needed?

 

Thank you for any info you can provide

 

Mary Louise

 

Trip like that I would probably bring at least 200 Euro in smaller bills.  For gelato, coffee, etc that should see you through.  

 

I agree with advice already given about ATM's (avoid the ones on cruise ships and avoid the currency exchange places in airports).  

[dogs4fun]

JB summed it up quite nicely. I use ATMs to get the best rate of exchange but use my credit card for most purchases. I find I need very little foreign currency. I always return home with euros so I never have to worry about small purchases when I again arrive in countries that use the euro - same with rubles & GBP as I frequently visit Russia & the UK.

[evandbob]

We're bringing 200 euros mostly for excursion tips on a 15 day TA with 6 ports,  as well as a 4 day stopover in Barcelona.

 

We can use no foreign fee plastic for any meals, etc.

[K32682]

Because you are departing from Barcelona, I would change a couple hundred euro before leaving home.  I always land in a country with some local currency mostly in small denominations.  Then I would top up as required from local ATMs.    

[whogo]

16 hours ago, Sorry Muffin said:

I have a question:  How much euros do you think we need on each port? ...  

 

Can I get use my ATM card on board the vision to get cash when needed?

I assume the ATM on Vision dispenses dollars, don't see how that will help you. Use a shore side ATM for euro. ATM's seem to be everywhere in Europe, I have withdrawn cash while on a guided walking tour, started at the head of the group, rejoined at the rear.

 

Depending on your travel style and what you plan to do in each port, you may want anywhere from €20 to €2,000. You will have to do the math yourself. Private excursions? Tips? Taxis?

 

 

[klfrodo]

3 hours ago, whogo said:

I assume the ATM on Vision dispenses dollars, don't see how that will help you.

 

 

 

 

You shouldn't make that assumption.

You may be correct, but you may be wrong also.

 

On my last European cruise on the Brilliance, the ATM in the casino dispensed USD while the ATM near the Guest Services Desk dispensed Euros. That's not to say all ships have multiple ATM's, just sharing my experience without the assumption that all are like that.

Edited April 20, 2019 by klfrodo

[ldubs]

4 hours ago, whogo said:

 

 

Depending on your travel style and what you plan to do in each port, you may want anywhere from €20 to €2,000. You will have to do the math yourself. Private excursions? Tips? Taxis?

 

 

 

OP says they want cash for incidentals, like gelato.   20 euro probably a little too low for 8 ports.  2,000 should cover a few truck loads of gelato!  😀😀

[ldubs]

48 minutes ago, klfrodo said:

 

On my last European cruise on the Brilliance, the ATM in the casino dispensed USD while the ATM near the Guest Services Desk dispensed Euros. That's not to say all ships have multiple ATM's, just sharing my experience without the assumption that all are like that.

 

I've seen the same on various cruise ships.  Couldn't give you the names unfortunately.   

[Reina del Mar]

I would exchange money at home as rates on ships, in hotels and at airports are very poor.

 

We tend to take about £100 (per couple) transferred into whatever currency we might need for each port day.

In your case, I would transfer a minimum of 500 euros.

 

Larger items we use a credit card with no foreign transaction fees.

 

Have heard ATMs in foreign ports are useful..but then you have to find them, and possibly pay a fee.

(Bit of a technophobe too)

[SRF]

On 4/19/2019 at 10:12 PM, John Bull said:

It's impossible to give even a ball-park figure of how much currency you'll need, it depends on too many variables including for instance whether you'll be taking ship's excursions & whether you plan to use plastic.

 

Currency in all of your ports is the euro, which simplifies things a lot.

 

Most Americans on Cruise Critic complain that they get poor exchange rates from US sources, so if you plan to use plastic I suggest you change a maximum of €100 before you leave. That's enough not to have to use an exchange facility at the airport (atrocious exchange rates) or hunt for an ATM as soon as you step ashore.

 

Then use your debit card at ATMs to top-up - that's the best exchange rate you're likely to get for drawing cash.

Most ATMs world-wide have a button to show instructions in English.

But most cards involve a minimum overseas service fee, so check how much to draw at a time to get value out of that fee. 

If you use a credit card to draw cash you'll be charged interest from the moment you draw it, so repay soonest rather than waiting for the payment-due date. 

 

Best value of all is to use your credit card for purchases.

That's the best exchange rate that you'll find (at or marginally above wholesale rate) and they're accepted at almost outlets, but with one drawback.......

Most cards have a foreign currency fee, which wipes a lot of that value - so get yourself a card with no foreign currency charges. Your countrymen can doubtless suggest which cards.

Different cards, different advantages - some give cash-back, some give airmiles, some have low interest rates, etc. And some have no foreign exchange fees - but you'll probably get none of the other freebies. So get a no-foreign-currency-fee card to use solely / primarily for foreign travel. That has the other advantages of your foreign purchases being all on one card / statement,  your regular card isn't at risk of being compromised, and you have a second card in case one is lost or compromised.

 

When presented with a foreign card, more and more vendors are offering to charge you in the card's currency  "for your convenience" . Always but always DECLINE that offer - the vendors set their own exchange rates and those rates won't be in your favour, so keep the payment in local currency. And check the POS screen before inserting your card - a small minority set their card machines to always charge in the card's currency, so tell them to re-set it to the Euro figure, same as on the check.

 

If you're on a US ship, no worries. But if ship's currency isn't the same as your own currency eg you're on a Costa or MSC ship, or a Brit or Canadian on a US ship, you'll be asked if you want your on-board account to be converted to your own currency,, "for your convenience". Same as for vendors ashore, always but always DECLINE that offer - have your card charged in ship's currency, and allow your card issuer to convert at a much better exchange rate.

 

Ship's purser (guest relations) carry a stock of most local currencies. Very very very occasionally useful for a small amount of urgent cash - but exchange rates vary between poor and rip-off. 

 

Tips over & above the daily charge. Especially if the ship is staying in Europe the crew will be happy with additional tips in Euros, so you can avoid taking too much souvenir currency home.

 

Currency at Heathrow airport is sterling, but you won't need any. Cards are accepted even for just a cup of coffee.

Or you can exchange left-over euros for sterling - atrocious rates but avoids waste.

On your flight home, cabin crew often collect unwanted currency for the airline's chosen charities. 

 

JB 

 

This is an EXCELLENT post.

 

I travel internationally a lot for work and pleasure.

 

I charge most things.  I use ATMs for cash in every country.  

 

Best is a bank with no foreign transaction fees (for cash from ATM and for a credit card).   Even if you have to open a small account just for travel, it will be worth it.

 

In Europe, most people tend to use cards for everything.  Even a pack of gum.  Luckily, most now will accept chip and sign cards, but I have run into places that will ONLY accept chip and PIN cards.  Netherlands for transport tickets for one.

[George C]

We had about a thousand euros for similar trip, make sure your credit card does not have a foreign transaction fee. Have fun sounds like a great cruise.