Exchange dollars aboard ship?

[SoCalGal]

Hi everyone,

 

I'm sure this question has been asked but I'm wondering if the best way to go is to get the amount of money we need for each port aboard our ship with cash, credit card or traveler checks. We will be on a 16 night cruise that will visit nine different countries from Italy to the Baltics. Some countries use euros and others such as England do not. We plan to use our AX card for purchases in most of those countries, but will still need some cash for taxis and other small items. What is your experience? Thanks!

[eh2zed]

Many people just use ATMs when they need multiple currency. You will mostly need Euros. I would go with a few hudred Euros and then use the ATM for any more.

[jstducky]

Yes, definitely use the ATM. There are ATM's all over the place in Europe. Take advantage of it. Do not exchange money on the ship. They give you a HORRIBLE exchange rate. The ATM will give you the best rate. Just make sure to 1) inform your bank in advance that you will be traveling abroad so they should allow ATM withdrawals, 2) make sure you have a 4 digit pin, as that is what they use in Europe, and 3) check with your bank as to their fees for using the ATM.

 

For example, my bank only charges a 1% foreign transaction fee, which is levied by mastercard. I don't pay any other ATM fees for withdrawing money abroad. However, there are many banks that will charge you a fee for withdrawing money from an ATM that doens't belong to them, and sometimes the bank on other side will nail you too. Ultimately though, you get a better deal from the ATM than you do on the ship.

 

Just estimate how much you will need of each currency and try to get it all at once rather than going back to the ATM multiple times. Remember though, there is a daily maximum that your bank will allow you to withdraw in each 24 hour period - so be sure you know what that amount is in local currency before you hit the ATM

 

good luck!

[SoCalGal]

The last time we were in Europe (2001) they were not using the Euro and we did get small amounts of cash through the cruise ship at each port with our traveler checks, didn't seem that the fees and exchange rate was all that bad then. But the dollar has shrunk so much since then that we realize we won't get much "bang for our buck" anyway. Sounds like the ATM might be the best way to go. Thanks!

[Mike073]

Being on the Baltic board, be aware you will need a little local currency in Sweden, Denmark, Poland and Russia if you want to be able to buy things everywhere. Euros and dollars are accepted by most - if they are in good repair only - but some little shops will only take local currency. The example is if you want to buy a guide book at a local church, some will only take local currency. Sometimes you can use a credit card instead, sometimes not. St. Issacs Cathedral in St. Petersburg only had one stand that would take anything other than rubbles.

 

Russians really like Euros - not so much dollars.

[2ptu/000]

We brought Danish money with us since we stayed there pre cruise. The rest of our money was in travelers checks. We cashed a travelers check for a small amount of local money on the ship. This was very easy and we didn't get that much that the poor exchange rate mattered. We just wanted to have local money on us when we got off the ship when we were doing the port on our own. Yes, ATM's are all over the place but not always when you get off the ship. Our ship, veendam, docked at some remote areas where there was nothing absolutely nothing! We had some Euro's from a previous trip and brought them with us. That came in handy. There are no ATM's on the ship.

[whogo]

You will be fine purchasing small amounts of foreign currency on board ship. You may pay a small premium for the convenience, but for taxi fare quantities it is not worth a lot of price comparisons.

[rosapdx]

I just returned from a Baltic cruise. I exchanged money on the ship for incidentals and used credit cards almost everywhere. The exchange rate is not good on board and the machine on the Star Princess took a big cut but the convenience was very nice. You could also swap your leftover bills for the next country's currency.

[dog]

We had some foreign currency before we left, but went into a Forex exchange office in Helsinki and got some Roubles for Russia. Good rates there.