Getting Cash from the Oasis in the Med

[above sea level cruiser]

Does anyone know if we will get Euros from the interact machine and/or Guest Services onboard or if it will be in American Funds? If it is American funds will Spain, France and Italy honour it the current exchange rate, or should we make sure all our cash is in Euros? Thanks in advance.

[grapau27]

8 minutes ago, above sea level cruiser said:

Does anyone know if we will get Euros from the interact machine and/or Guest Services onboard or if it will be in American Funds? If it is American funds will Spain, France and Italy honour it the current exchange rate, or should we make sure all our cash is in Euros? Thanks in advance.

I would try to bring a few hundred Euro's with you but the ship as it will be based in Europe should have Euro's at GS plus there are currency exchange places in most ports that take dollars.

[klfrodo]

In my experience Guest Services does not exchange currency.

During our 2 cruises on 2 different RCCL ships in Europe, there were 2 ATM’s. The one in the casino dispensed USD, the one near Guest Services dispensed Euro’s.

Otherwise, we just used the local ATM’s in town to get Euro’s..

 

Now, I’ve got a few bucks in various currencies at home. Just enough to get us settled in when we arrive in country. Whether we are visiting Canada, UK, or an EU country.

[grapau27]

2 minutes ago, klfrodo said:

In my experience Guest Services does not exchange currency.

During our 2 cruises on 2 different RCCL ships in Europe, there were 2 ATM’s. The one in the casino dispensed USD, the one near Guest Services dispensed Euro’s.

Otherwise, we just used the local ATM’s in town to get Euro’s..

 

Now, I’ve got a few bucks in various currencies at home. Just enough to get us settled in when we arrive in country. Whether we are visiting Canada, UK, or an EU country.

We always have plenty of Euros with us in Europe.

ATMs usually charge a fee for every transaction in ports so the currency exchange shops or banks would be my choice rather than risking my debit card in a foreign ATM.

Ships ATM would be a good choice to if they dispense Euro's.

[little britain]

33 minutes ago, above sea level cruiser said:

Does anyone know if we will get Euros from the interact machine and/or Guest Services onboard or if it will be in American Funds? If it is American funds will Spain, France and Italy honour it the current exchange rate, or should we make sure all our cash is in Euros? Thanks in advance.

If you are going on the Oasis in the Med , the currency in all ports is the Euro €.  There are many ATMs but they may (will) charge a €5 admin fee every time you make a withdrawl.   I would get a larger amount out in one transaction to avoid paying this extra charge.,

Edited April 28, 2019 by little britain

[above sea level cruiser]

Thanks everyone for your responses. We will have Euros with us, I just wondered if the ship only had US Currency from Guest Services. I wouldn't want to have to go ashore and exchange it. I take it Euros is the way to go.

 

[grapau27]

1 minute ago, above sea level cruiser said:

Thanks everyone for your responses. We will have Euros with us, I just wondered if the ship only had US Currency from Guest Services. I wouldn't want to have to go ashore and exchange it. I take it Euros is the way to go.

 

A few hundred Euro's and your credit card can be used everywhere.

 

[above sea level cruiser]

37 minutes ago, klfrodo said:

In my experience Guest Services does not exchange currency.

During our 2 cruises on 2 different RCCL ships in Europe, there were 2 ATM’s. The one in the casino dispensed USD, the one near Guest Services dispensed Euro’s.

Otherwise, we just used the local ATM’s in town to get Euro’s..

 

Now, I’ve got a few bucks in various currencies at home. Just enough to get us settled in when we arrive in country. Whether we are visiting Canada, UK, or an EU country.

Thanks for your reply. We don't intend to exchange US money for Euros on the ship. I was hoping that we could get Euros from the ship. I assume the EU vendors might be hesitant to take US money.

[grapau27]

4 minutes ago, above sea level cruiser said:

Thanks for your reply. We don't intend to exchange US money for Euros on the ship. I was hoping that we could get Euros from the ship. I assume the EU vendors might be hesitant to take US money.

Some shops might take dollars but you will get a rediculously low exchange rate.

I would bring Euro's with you and if you don't intend returning to Europe you can always give the crew any you have left in tips as the ship is based in Europe all summer and the crew will be able to spend them.

[wheezedr]

10 minutes ago, above sea level cruiser said:

Thanks for your reply. We don't intend to exchange US money for Euros on the ship. I was hoping that we could get Euros from the ship. I assume the EU vendors might be hesitant to take US money.

I realize that people still think you need to “exchange “ money but for practical purposes what you are simply doing at an ATM is withdrawing your funds in the local currency and allowing your bank or credit union to process the exchange rate back at home.  Your best rates will always be to use a bank based ATM and to have a card which covers any transaction fees.

[above sea level cruiser]

17 minutes ago, grapau27 said:

Some shops might take dollars but you will get a rediculously low exchange rate.

I would bring Euro's with you and if you don't intend returning to Europe you can always give the crew any you have left in tips as the ship is based in Europe all summer and the crew will be able to spend them.

That was going to be my next question. I think the crew is paid in US funds and I wondered if, being in Europe, they would rather have Euros as opposed to US dollars for a tip.

[above sea level cruiser]

19 minutes ago, wheezedr said:

I realize that people still think you need to “exchange “ money but for practical purposes what you are simply doing at an ATM is withdrawing your funds in the local currency and allowing your bank or credit union to process the exchange rate back at home.  Your best rates will always be to use a bank based ATM and to have a card which covers any transaction fees.

Thank you for your response. We have a trip to Rome from the port and my DW arranged with the driver to take us to an ATM to pay them. I think we will just pay cash. Not real cash.....Euros. LOL . 1 euro = a lot of money!!!!

[grapau27]

24 minutes ago, above sea level cruiser said:

Thank you for your response. We have a trip to Rome from the port and my DW arranged with the driver to take us to an ATM to pay them. I think we will just pay cash. Not real cash.....Euros. LOL . 1 euro = a lot of money!!!!

1 dollar= 0.90cents or 

1 Euro = 1.1 dollars.

[grapau27]

37 minutes ago, above sea level cruiser said:

That was going to be my next question. I think the crew is paid in US funds and I wondered if, being in Europe, they would rather have Euros as opposed to US dollars for a tip.

I give US dollars as I get them specifically for ships tips as that is their currency on board but I have also given Euro's when I run out of dollars as they can spend them in port.

The smallest Euro note is €5 around $5.5.

[shipgeeks]

We have exchanged dollars for euros at Guest Services several times.

[grapau27]

Just now, shipgeeks said:

We have exchanged dollars for euros at Guest Services several times.

We have but it was a few years ago but thanks for confirming.

[dwhe]

1 hour ago, grapau27 said:

A few hundred Euro's and your credit card can be used everywhere.

 

 

Snap, be careful about getting all €50 notes from the ATM's, they can be a pain to change if going for a cup of coffee.

Edited April 28, 2019 by dwhe

[dwhe]

13 minutes ago, shipgeeks said:

We have exchanged dollars for euros at Guest Services several times.

 

Isn't that a very expensive way of doing it? Still your choice.

 

In my experience the crew in Europe don't mind what you tip them with, I've even tipped in Krona when I had some left over, quite happy.

Edited April 28, 2019 by dwhe

[Clarea]

2 minutes ago, dwhe said:

 

Isn't that a very expensive way of doing it? Still your choice.

 

Yes, a very poor exchange at Guest Services.  Much better at a bank ATM at the port.

[grapau27]

1 minute ago, Host Clarea said:

 

Yes, a very poor exchange at Guest Services.  Much better at a bank ATM at the port.

The best way is get about €500 around $550 at a good rate at home then if you have any left and you don't intend coming back to Europe soon use your left over Euro's for tips.

[Clarea]

2 minutes ago, grapau27 said:

The best way is get about €500 around $550 at a good rate at home then if you have any left and you don't intend coming back to Europe soon use your left over Euro's for tips.

 

We always have hopes of coming back to Europe, so we keep about 200 Euros as a start for the next trip. 

[grapau27]

3 minutes ago, Host Clarea said:

 

We always have hopes of coming back to Europe, so we keep about 200 Euros as a start for the next trip. 

Great idea, hopefully you will come back to visit our wonderful ports in Europe some day and it would be great to meet you both if we were on the same ship.

We always have  dollars spare as we love coming to Orlando Florida.

 

[TxStacey]

I just went to my bank and ordered Euros for my upcoming Barcelona to Venice cruise.  I will have them in 2 days.  I would much rather have them on hand before I go than try to get them there. 

[grapau27]

46 minutes ago, TxStacey said:

I just went to my bank and ordered Euros for my upcoming Barcelona to Venice cruise.  I will have them in 2 days.  I would much rather have them on hand before I go than try to get them there. 

This is the best thing to do.

I exchange money at our TA  before we leave the UK.

[little britain]

2 hours ago, TxStacey said:

I just went to my bank and ordered Euros for my upcoming Barcelona to Venice cruise.  I will have them in 2 days.  I would much rather have them on hand before I go than try to get them there. 

 

We have currency facilities in our supermarkets... I can pick up Euros along with a pint of milk....!   I can get most currencies on demand in our local M&S. No need to visit a bank.