QM2 on board account question

[marco]

On a TA on the QM2 is the on board account is US dollars or British pounds or can it be either (passenger's choice)?

[BlueRiband]

The on board account is always in US dollars on all Cunard ships.

[Underwatr]

I believe they may offer (like many merchants) to convert your account to your home currency before running the charge to your credit card, but it will be at an exchange rate of their choosing which is guaranteed to be worse than your own bank's exchange rate plus whatever fees your bank might charge.

[majortom10]

Always in US$ and on our last TA 3rd-17th Nov our account was automatically charged to my credit card in US$ and then credit card company did the conversion to UK£.

Edited November 23, 2019 by majortom10

[Bigmike911]

2 hours ago, Underwatr said:

I believe they may offer (like many merchants) to convert your account to your home currency before running the charge to your credit card, but it will be at an exchange rate of their choosing which is guaranteed to be worse than your own bank's exchange rate plus whatever fees your bank might charge.

They cannot automatically do this. They have to ask the customer if he or she wants it to be charged in their home currency. This is like shops in other parts of the world. You are correct the conversion will likely be higher than the credit card pass through, since the merchant gets a negotiated cut of the merchant fee. 

[Underwatr]

That's why I said they'd offer. Usually with a vague statement about how helpful it is for you (it isn't).

[Host Hattie]

That's never happened to me on Cunard. It happens fairly frequently elsewhere and one restaurant in Spain made the choice for me until I made them cancel the £ transaction and process it again in €.

[majortom10]

As far as my experience Cunard have never "offered" to convert my onboard account at the end of the cruise to UK£ they have always charged it in US$ and then left it to my credit card company to convert at a better rate.

[exlondoner]

4 minutes ago, majortom10 said:

As far as my experience Cunard have never "offered" to convert my onboard account at the end of the cruise to UK£ they have always charged it in US$ and then left it to my credit card company to convert at a better rate.

 

Ditto.

[Underwatr]

Fair enough. Since my cards are in US$ I don't have direct experience. The offer is widespread in Europe and the UK on my US$ cards.

Edited November 24, 2019 by Underwatr