European ATM ship or shore?

[karen of PA]

We are sailing on the Equinox to the Eastern Mediterranean in two weeks. I was wondering if the ATM on the ship gives Euros or dollars. Also, which ATMs would be more economical to use - the ones on the ship or the ones we would find at the ports that we visit.

 

Thanks so much,

Karen

[Phxazzcruisers]

The ship give US$ and charges a fee, plus your bank may charge a fee. Depending on the bank on shore, you can usually use your debit card fee free at the ATM and just pay your bank charges Some Banks on shore charge, but usually less than the ship. Also the Banks on shore will dispense local currency not US$

[mahdnc]

For the reasons already stated, we avoided the ship's ATM and got our Euros from ATMs on land which gave us a better exchange rate (thru our bank) and without any fees (at least at the time)

[CathyCruises]

DEFINITELY use the ATMs on shore!!

[wrk2cruise]

Check with your ATM card, many banks also charge a foreign transaction fee as well. I know my credit union was charging 3%.

 

We use the Capital One credit card as well as have an on-line bank account with them where we place limited funds for access with their ATM card for foreign travel. No foreign transaction fees for either.

[Alimack]

I was on the Equinox a couple of weeks ago. There was one ATM near Guest Relations that dispensed Euros and another one in the Casino that dispensed US Dollars. So you can get either. But as others have said - beware of the fees and the exchange rate. We used TD Bank at Bancomats in Italy, Greece, and Turkey without a problem and no fees. We also got a good exchange rate (~1.25). We did not use the ATMs on board. I think there rate was around 1.3 or so.

[Azulann]

Buy some Euros from your bank before you go.Once in Europe, use the ATM on shore. Take out a large sum rather than little funds, saves on the tranaction fee. The rate will be the wholesale rate that day.

Don't worry about the fee. The exchange rate is the best it has been in years. In 2008, it was 1.60, and in 2011 it was 1.45.

Have a great cruise.

[Gig103]

Buy some Euros from your bank before you go.Once in Europe, use the ATM on shore. Take out a large sum rather than little funds, saves on the tranaction fee. The rate will be the wholesale rate that day.

Don't worry about the fee. The exchange rate is the best it has been in years. In 2008, it was 1.60, and in 2011 it was 1.45.

Have a great cruise.

 

Don't remind me - I had my wedding and honeymoon (3 weeks total) in Europe during the peak of that. The day we left was 1.55, hit 1.60 while traveling. As soon as we got back, it began its decline. :eek:

 

Still wouldn't change a day! And we used ATMs in country the whole time, no exchange desks or travelers checks.

[Keith1010]

To obtain Euros the most convenient way is the ship but the most economical way is an ATM in port.

 

Keith

[karen of PA]

Thanks everybody! Great advice, as always, from cruise critic members!

 

Karen

[CathyCruises]

To obtain Euros the most convenient way is the ship but the most economical way is an ATM in port.

 

Keith

 

Just to clarify this statement--the ATM's on the ship ONLY give dollars.

[allanv]

It's probably more economical to make your purchases with your card, but I wouldn't use the ATM's on ship, they're robbing you.

[Ma Bell]

Just to clarify this statement--the ATM's on the ship ONLY give dollars.

 

Not necessarily true. On our last cruise the one in the casino gave Dollars but the one by guest relations gave Euros.

[Dale]

Last month there was an article in the Miami Herald by Rick Steves. It’s about how he exchanges dollars for Euros and a few other things. Here’s the link.

Miami Herald

[CathyCruises]

Not necessarily true. On our last cruise the one in the casino gave Dollars but the one by guest relations gave Euros.

 

Are you talking about the Eclipse TA? I specifically remember a sign on the ATM at Guest Relations that said 'dollars only' or some such!! Or have you been on another cruise since then?;)

[ck1668]

Pardon my ignorant question, but we rarely use our debit cards for ATM withdrawals...

 

We have a bank issuing debit card with a pulse logo on the back side of the card. My question is... do I have to find an ATM machine that supports Pulse to withdraw money, or will any ATM machines (even w/o the Pulse logo) serve the purpose? FYI... we will be on board the Equinox on July 23rd to the Mediterranean, and will be stopping by Italy, Greece, and Turkey and will need to withdraw Euros for payment and entertainment. We will embark & disembark in Rome.

 

Thank you for your help in advance!

[mahdnc]

Pardon my ignorant question, but we rarely use our debit cards for ATM withdrawals...

 

We have a bank issuing debit card with a pulse logo on the back side of the card. My question is... do I have to find an ATM machine that supports Pulse to withdraw money, or will any ATM machines (even w/o the Pulse logo) serve the purpose? FYI... we will be on board the Equinox on July 23rd to the Mediterranean, and will be stopping by Italy, Greece, and Turkey and will need to withdraw Euros for payment and entertainment. We will embark & disembark in Rome.

 

Thank you for your help in advance!

 

If your ATM card has the PLUS logo, you will want to find an ATM with that logo in order to get cash (or CIRRUS, if you have a CIRRUS ATM card). When we took our Med cruise in 2007, it was not hard to find an ATM belonging the PLUS network at our various ports as we needed to withdraw Euros to pay for private tours, etc.

 

 

Since you do not use your debit card at ATMs very often, I would suggest that you do additional research to make sure that you are not unpleasantly surprised when you try to use your card for the first time in Europe. Some things to consider:

1. contact your bank to make sure they are aware that you are traveling abroad so that they don't get suspicious when they see large cash withdrawals from your account in a foreign country.

2. when you call your bank, ask them what your daily withdrawal limit is and what fees you will pay for using your ATM card.

3. many European ATMs do not a accept PIN code that is longer than 4 digits. If yours is longer than 4 digits, you will want to change it. Make sure you know your PIN in numerical digits and not as alphabetical characters as many of the European ATMs keypads were numbers only--no letters.

4. it is a good idea to bring two ATM cards in case one gets eaten or does not work.

5. test your card at your local ATM to make sure it works!

[ck1668]

If your ATM card has the PLUS logo, you will want to find an ATM with that logo in order to get cash (or CIRRUS, if you have a CIRRUS ATM card). When we took our Med cruise in 2007, it was not hard to find an ATM belonging the PLUS network at our various ports as we needed to withdraw Euros to pay for private tours, etc.

 

 

Since you do not use your debit card at ATMs very often, I would suggest that you do additional research to make sure that you are not unpleasantly surprised when you try to use your card for the first time in Europe. Some things to consider:

1. contact your bank to make sure they are aware that you are traveling abroad so that they don't get suspicious when they see large cash withdrawals from your account in a foreign country.

2. when you call your bank, ask them what your daily withdrawal limit is and what fees you will pay for using your ATM card.

3. many European ATMs do not a accept PIN code that is longer than 4 digits. If yours is longer than 4 digits, you will want to change it. Make sure you know your PIN in numerical digits and not as alphabetical characters as many of the European ATMs keypads were numbers only--no letters.

4. it is a good idea to bring two ATM cards in case one gets eaten or does not work.

5. test your card at your local ATM to make sure it works![/

[ck1668]

I wanted to quote your message mahdnc... but for some reason, it's not posting correctly. What I wanted to say is...

 

Many thanks for taking the time to write this response mahdnc. I really appreciate it!

I looked through your check list (#1-#5), and I've done all of that already. I even changed my pin code to a 4 digit numeric PIN

 

My concern is that the back of my card says PULSE, not PLUS. So do I have to find an ATM machine that supports PULSE? or can I just find any ATMs to retrieve cash? The picture you provided is hard to see whether there is a PULSE logo on the dashboard.

__________________

[mahdnc]

I figured PULSE was simply PLUS misspelled!! But in researching this, I see it is indeed another ATM network. In looking at the PULSE ATM locator webpage, it looks like a North and Central America only network. So I think you cannot use your card in Europe. I would definitely call your bank to verify this.....

 

In contrast, if you look at the PLUS ATM locator webpage, you will see how the huge number of countries that are part of their network.

[ck1668]

I figured PULSE was simply PLUS misspelled!! But in researching this, I see it is indeed another ATM network. In looking at the PULSE ATM locator webpage, it looks like a North and Central America only network. So I think you cannot use your card in Europe. I would definitely call your bank to verify this.....

 

In contrast, if you look at the PLUS ATM locator webpage, you will see how the huge number of countries that are part of their network.

 

I did check the pulse website and the results are what you mentioned (not located in Europe). and...I just looked on the back side of my bank debit card again.... it has a mastercard logo on the left side, and a PULSE logo on the right side. Does that mean I can look for an ATM machine that has the master card logo to retrieve cash?

[mahdnc]

Yes, I think the MasterCard logo is a good sign and that you should be able to withdraw cash from European ATMs that have that logo. I would call your bank tomorrow just to be sure!

[Gig103]

Most debit cards have a Visa or Mastercard affiliation too, and while I would confirm it with your bank, it might also work on those ATMs. And I don't mean as a credit cash advance.

 

Edit - - whoops I didn't read page 2, it looks like this was covered!

[Ma Bell]

Are you talking about the Eclipse TA? I specifically remember a sign on the ATM at Guest Relations that said 'dollars only' or some such!! Or have you been on another cruise since then?;)

 

When we got to Europe it was dispensing Euros. We stayed on for the Nowegian Fjords cruise. I don't know when they made the change or why they would do it then since they don't use Euros in Norway, but maybe it was when we hit our first port after the crossing.

[excitedofharpenden]

When we got to Europe it was dispensing Euros. We stayed on for the Nowegian Fjords cruise. I don't know when they made the change or why they would do it then since they don't use Euros in Norway, but maybe it was when we hit our first port after the crossing.

Ready for Eclipse in Europe, just like kettles in the room!;)

 

Phil