Make Change/Euros

[RTR 21-0]

Ordered our Euros today from our bank for upcoming cruise on Beyond.  I requested small bills - ones, fives, tens, twenties - but the banker said she didn’t have the option to choose the denominations and more than likely Wells Fargo will send larger bills.  She suggested finding out if Celebrity will make change.  Does anyone know if they will or if there are options in Rome (will be there 2 days prior)?  TIA

[Germancruiser]

You can change at the pursers desk on the ship or even in Rome- or whatever European City you will visist. 50€ bills are accepted all over- just pay for example a little Cappuchino in Rome with a 50 Bill and you will get the change. I don´t thing you will get higher bills then 50´s!

[grandgeezer]

40 minutes ago, RTR 21-0 said:

Ordered our Euros today from our bank for upcoming cruise on Beyond.  I requested small bills - ones, fives, tens, twenties - but the banker said she didn’t have the option to choose the denominations and more than likely Wells Fargo will send larger bills.  She suggested finding out if Celebrity will make change.  Does anyone know if they will or if there are options in Rome (will be there 2 days prior)?  TIA

We got Australian dollars from Wells Fargo last month for a birthday present for our son, as they were going there. We had our choice of large denominations or small denominations bills. We took the small and got 5s, 10s, and 20s. When they got home they had dollar and two dollar coins, that they got in change.

[the penguins]

1 hour ago, RTR 21-0 said:

Ordered our Euros today from our bank for upcoming cruise on Beyond.  I requested small bills - ones, fives, tens, twenties - but the banker said she didn’t have the option to choose the denominations and more than likely Wells Fargo will send larger bills.  She suggested finding out if Celebrity will make change.  Does anyone know if they will or if there are options in Rome (will be there 2 days prior)?  TIA

Most places will take (and often prefer) card payments so you will need very little cash. Your hotel will also probably help change larger bills but even then may decline a 50 as it will take most of its spare bills. Not sure with Euros but very few businesses in the UK will take £50 notes (bills) so am surprised that cafes in Europe will take Euro 50's for just a couple of coffees. A large supermarket may be a better choice. Whatever you do don't change anything left back into 💲, make sure you have changed all the 50's into smaller bills then use those for crew tips. The crew will happily accept any currency.

[Sunshine Bob]

FWIW there are no one euro bills , its a coin.

[JBare]

6 minutes ago, Sunshine Bob said:

FWIW there are no one euro bills , its a coin.

Correct smallest is 5

[WestLakeGirl]

5 hours ago, RTR 21-0 said:

Ordered our Euros today from our bank for upcoming cruise on Beyond.  I requested small bills - ones, fives, tens, twenties - but the banker said she didn’t have the option to choose the denominations and more than likely Wells Fargo will send larger bills.  She suggested finding out if Celebrity will make change.  Does anyone know if they will or if there are options in Rome (will be there 2 days prior)?  TIA

Ones?  No such bill, so if you ever are given a one-Euro bill its a fake meant to dupe an unsuspecting tourist

Edited April 27, 2023 by WestLakeGirl

[Joanne G.]

5 hours ago, the penguins said:

. . .  .  Whatever you do don't change anything left back into 💲, make sure you have changed all the 50's into smaller bills then use those for crew tips. The crew will happily accept any currency.

Good suggestion.   Another idea, if you have a post-cruise stay, is to use remaining currency towards the hotel bill.   Or - the best idea - plan more European cruises so you can use the currency on subsequent vacations.   😁

[Texed]

1 minute ago, Joanne G. said:

Good suggestion.   Another idea, if you have a post-cruise stay, is to use remaining currency towards the hotel bill.   Or - the best idea - plan more European cruises so you can use the currency on subsequent vacations.   😁

 

I like your last idea the best.  😁

[mahdnc]

8 hours ago, RTR 21-0 said:

Ordered our Euros today from our bank for upcoming cruise on Beyond.  I requested small bills - ones, fives, tens, twenties - but the banker said she didn’t have the option to choose the denominations and more than likely Wells Fargo will send larger bills.  She suggested finding out if Celebrity will make change.  Does anyone know if they will or if there are options in Rome (will be there 2 days prior)?  TIA

 

You can have your larger Euro bills broken up at Guest Relations on board. 

 

Getting it done in Rome is similar to your options for getting a $50 bill changed in the USA.  If you are staying at a hotel, the front desk should be able to take care of it.

[Germancruiser]

I never, ever had a problem changing a 50€ bill anywhere in Europe. 100´s is a different story though- as there are a lot of fake 100´s and 200´s around.

[Essiesmom]

I had a stash of euros left over from last Med cruise in 2013.  Meant to use in 2020, but that didn’t happen.  In February one of my nieces was going to Romania for business, so I sent her the euros, about 120.  I’m sure she put them to good use.  EM

[the penguins]

2 hours ago, Essiesmom said:

I had a stash of euros left over from last Med cruise in 2013.  Meant to use in 2020, but that didn’t happen.  In February one of my nieces was going to Romania for business, so I sent her the euros, about 120.  I’m sure she put them to good use.  EM

A nice gesture but Romania doesn't use the Euro - it's just another foreign there just as it is in the UK.

[Jim_Iain]

On 4/27/2023 at 2:40 AM, grandgeezer said:

We got Australian dollars from Wells Fargo last month for a birthday present for our son, as they were going there. We had our choice of large denominations or small denominations bills. We took the small and got 5s, 10s, and 20s. When they got home they had dollar and two dollar coins, that they got in change.

 

We also use Wells and love their currency options.   Living in Silicon Valley with so many travelers they stock Yen, Pounds, Euros  and don't need to pre-order.   They gladly give in any mix of bills you request.      Of course the problem for many of us is that no coins are ever available at exchange banks   We usually stop in the first corner shop and buy a candy bar that never goes unused and get change for washrooms etc.

[CruiserByHeart]

On more than one occasion I've had large bills broken into smaller denominations at the casino cage. They're the ones with enough cash to split any amount into any selection of bills, provided it's within the same currency 💸💸💸

[Fly and Sail]

11 minutes ago, CruiserByHeart said:

On more than one occasion I've had large bills broken into smaller denominations at the casino cage. They're the ones with enough cash to split any amount into any selection of bills, provided it's within the same currency 💸💸💸

 

The casino only handles USD.

[Fly and Sail]

On 4/27/2023 at 12:54 AM, RTR 21-0 said:

Ordered our Euros today from our bank for upcoming cruise on Beyond.  I requested small bills - ones, fives, tens, twenties - but the banker said she didn’t have the option to choose the denominations and more than likely Wells Fargo will send larger bills.  She suggested finding out if Celebrity will make change.  Does anyone know if they will or if there are options in Rome (will be there 2 days prior)?  TIA

 

Why not just use the ATM of a proper bank either at the airport or in the city? Not sure what WF charges you for the service and what kinda sum we're talking about. I don't think they will give you larger notes than 50s or max 100s. 50s are no problem to change wherever you go, 100s is a different story, a hotel will do it but a store will likely insist on a larger purchase before accepting a 100 Euro bill.

[Joe33472]

1 hour ago, Fly and Sail said:

 

Why not just use the ATM of a proper bank either at the airport or in the city? Not sure what WF charges you for the service and what kinda sum we're talking about. I don't think they will give you larger notes than 50s or max 100s. 50s are no problem to change wherever you go, 100s is a different story, a hotel will do it but a store will likely insist on a larger purchase before accepting a 100 Euro bill.

 

I totally agree about just using an ATM of a proper bank once OP gets to Europe, but it's always nice to have a few euros in your pocket.   Years ago, I flew into Rome without a single Euro in my pocket and took a cab to my hotel.  The cab driver couldn't get my credit card to go through (his machine issue) despite trying several of my cards.   I pulled out a $100 bill and said, how about this, keep the change?  The cab driver was like, "What am I going to do with that?".  Eventually, he got his credit card machine to work.   I now I keep euros on hand in bills, just a few hundred in various denominations until I can get to a proper ATM.  

[markeb]

4 hours ago, Fly and Sail said:

 

Why not just use the ATM of a proper bank either at the airport or in the city? Not sure what WF charges you for the service and what kinda sum we're talking about. I don't think they will give you larger notes than 50s or max 100s. 50s are no problem to change wherever you go, 100s is a different story, a hotel will do it but a store will likely insist on a larger purchase before accepting a 100 Euro bill.

 

I don't get this either. €50 from an ATM will probably get you through almost anything as long as you have a credit card (Visa/MC). The thing you're most likely to need, that you won't be able to get in the US or from an ATM, are €1 and €2 coins for the bathrooms! The only time I've used cash on my last several trips was either when I was 1) out with a group and everyone was paying cash or 2) Oktoberfest (which will eventually go cashless, kicking and screaming...).

 

The main thing is to pull cash from a bank ATM instead of something like Travelex. But I pull it when and if I need it. Which is currently never as I have a lot of leftover Euros from before I started taking my own advice!

[Fly and Sail]

43 minutes ago, markeb said:

 

I don't get this either. €50 from an ATM will probably get you through almost anything as long as you have a credit card (Visa/MC). The thing you're most likely to need, that you won't be able to get in the US or from an ATM, are €1 and €2 coins for the bathrooms! The only time I've used cash on my last several trips was either when I was 1) out with a group and everyone was paying cash or 2) Oktoberfest (which will eventually go cashless, kicking and screaming...).

 

The main thing is to pull cash from a bank ATM instead of something like Travelex. But I pull it when and if I need it. Which is currently never as I have a lot of leftover Euros from before I started taking my own advice!

 

I think the key these days is to get a debit card that waives international and ATM fees. The Schwab Debit Card is one of those. If you have a regular debit card from your bank or credit union they might skin you alive for taking even 50 Euro from an ATM abroad. Plus the fees the ATM/Bank itself charges.

[RTR 21-0]

We have a credit card that doesn’t charge an international fee but we prefer not to use it all, only at our pre & post cruise hotels.  All of our tours asked to be paid in Euro, car service company charges a 10% fee if cc is used so we’ll pay them with Euro as well and instead of using the ATM at airport and finding one at a bank, we chose to have them in hand when we land.  Our bank charged a $10 fee and of course the exchange rate.  

[RichYak]

2 hours ago, markeb said:

I don't get this either. €50 from an ATM will probably get you through almost anything as long as you have a credit card

I needed a ton of euros for private tours in the med last year. I brought 1000 with me and supplemented with atms as needed. 

[the penguins]

4 hours ago, RTR 21-0 said:

We have a credit card that doesn’t charge an international fee but we prefer not to use it all, only at our pre & post cruise hotels.  All of our tours asked to be paid in Euro, car service company charges a 10% fee if cc is used so we’ll pay them with Euro as well and instead of using the ATM at airport and finding one at a bank, we chose to have them in hand when we land.  Our bank charged a $10 fee and of course the exchange rate.  

Illegal for the car service to charge a fee for using a Credit Card. Credit Cards are safer than carrying lots of cash. We have 2 different ones, one of which we leave in the hotel/on the ship as a backup. Always carry enough cash (💲) in a money belt to get us back to the ship in an emergency. 

[the penguins]

6 hours ago, Fly and Sail said:

 

I think the key these days is to get a debit card that waives international and ATM fees. The Schwab Debit Card is one of those. If you have a regular debit card from your bank or credit union they might skin you alive for taking even 50 Euro from an ATM abroad. Plus the fees the ATM/Bank itself charges.

A credit card with no fees gives you much better protection than a Debit Card. Post Covid many (most) most businesses in Europe prefer Cards to cash even for small purchases.

[terrydtx]

On 4/28/2023 at 1:50 AM, the penguins said:

A nice gesture but Romania doesn't use the Euro - it's just another foreign there just as it is in the UK.

Last year we found out that Turkey, Croatia and Montenegro would not take Euros too.