Travelers checks

[cruisernan]

The info from Regent says that they will cash Travelers Checks at the Purser's office. Does anyone know if they charge a fee for this? Thanks!

[TedC]

Travelers Checks have almost gone like hoop skirts.

 

You can get $400 cash on your account or credit card with NO fee at Reception UNLESS they have changed that policy which was handy for tips for tour guides and drivers etc. off the ship.

All tips on board are INCLUDED !

 

I do not know about traveler checks

[DrHemlock]

Echoing TedC's comment: Travelers Checks have pretty much gone the way of the dodo bird in most countries these days. However, the purser's desk isn't most countries.

 

I have cashed TCs at the desk several times in the past and there was never a service charge, though it is possible that their policy could have changed since then. They would cash US dollar checks only into US currency.

 

Then, if you wanted local currency and IF they had any local on hand (as they seldom seem to have), you could exchange your dollars for local at whatever exchange rate they chose…which probably would be to their advantage rather than yours, though that is only speculation.

 

Many, though not all, ports have ATMs ashore on the pier or at your landing place for your convenience in obtaining local currency.

[cruisernan]

I have a few left from a long ago trip and when I saw the info on Regent cruise pack I thought it would be a good opportunity to clean out a drawer. I also have a hoop skirt and the formal for it in my attic :-))

 

With the advent of ATMs and foreign transaction free credit cards, the TCs have just been collecting dust -- hope my signature can still match!

[RachelG]

Better use up those dinosaurs while you still can find a place that will accept them.

[spindrift]

I must say that I have used them all over the world and there has never been a question.I find it funny that they are called ancient. There has been more trouble with ATM's than with TC's.

 

I think RachelG's comment is the dinosaur thought. Ha Ha

Edited June 8, 2014 by spindrift

[jhp]

I have a few left from a long ago trip and when I saw the info on Regent cruise pack I thought it would be a good opportunity to clean out a drawer. I also have a hoop skirt and the formal for it in my attic :-))

 

With the advent of ATMs and foreign transaction free credit cards, the TCs have just been collecting dust -- hope my signature can still match!

 

If you have them, by all means use them and get that drawer cleaned out. I doubt it is the drawer where you store your hoop skirt, damn, those things take up way too much room horizontally, don't they?

 

Actually, I have that perk at my bank where I can get them no charge like they used to cost, but just choose to use ATM's at airports on arrival, and cities along the way. Exchange rate always seems to be best for me while traveling.

[Hambagahle]

Banks are delighted when people leave TC's in their drawer -- you have paid the bank for the TC AND the percentage to have the TC and they have the float. When you cash the cheque they have to transfer the "float" to the person/entity accepting the cheque. So they no longer have it. Keeping them for years is a way of financing the profit of a bank.

 

here in Europe they are still accepted but one rarely sees them. Everyone uses an ATM to withdraw local currency and the ATMs give a much better rate than you will ever get by cashing a USD TC!

[Mudhen]

When ever we'd go to Europe, we'd get our travelers checks in Euros. We wouldn't get a lot of them, but it made for no exchange cost. We never had any left over or if we did have some, it was great finding a way to spend them!!! haha!

Now we like to get actual euros or the currency of the country we're in. I personally don't do ATMs, and like to hit the port running, so to speak. No looking for machines, etc. I know I'm in the minority on this, but that's ok........to each his own.

[mariners]

I still use travellers cheques as well as USD cash. In Canada, one can have a USD account, but cannot access that account through an ATM in Canada or anywhere else. I don't like travelling with a lot of cash, so travellers cheques make sense to me when we are going places where we will potentially spend a lot of USD. They are free from my bank. I have never been charged to cash them either onboard a ship or in the USA.

 

I use ATM's whenever we go to countries that are not in USD. However, I always get some cash ahead of time in case an ATM does not work.

 

Until our banking laws change, I will live like I am in the age of the dinosaurs and be wearing a hoop skirt. We are not all extinct. :D

[Hambagahle]

. They are free from my bank. I have never been charged to cash them either onboard a ship or in the USA.

:D

 

Mariners - you might not pay a commission (1 or 2% ) to your bank when you get the TCs but you are providing them with a free float. You have to pay 100% for the TCs up front. And until you cash the TC and it is presented for payment to your bank, your bank enjoys the free use of your money... I don't understand why anyone would want to make a free loan!!

 

And don't bring them to Switzerland (though you would hardly cruise here!!) You would have to pay a commission to cash them AND get a lousy rate compared to what you get at an ATM - unless of course you have CHF TCs - and go through all sorts of form filling to prove you are who you say you are...

Edited June 19, 2014 by Hambagahle

[mariners]

Hambagahle, I have a USD bank account. I can only access the account when I am at the bank in Canada because of Canadian banking laws. I only cash the traveller's cheques onboard the ship where there is no fee for cashing them or at a casino in the USA where there is no fee for cashing them. Whether I take cash or traveller's cheques makes no difference. What makes a difference is the exchange rate of the Canadian dollar. I only use the USD account when the Canadian dollar has dropped to a level that makes taking money out of the account the best option.

 

I do not use USD when I am in Europe. I use the ATM as I would otherwise be exchanging Canadian currency to American currency to Euros. In April, I was in Asia and used the ATM's there, too.

 

What I don't do is travel with large sums of cash. There is no insurance or recourse if cash is stolen.

[Pam]

The last time I was on a Regent ship, I was also able to cash travelers checks in the casino. I enjoy the casino, but I'm not always really lucky; don't want to travel with a lot of cash, so the travelers checks were a handy way to have a losing day.

 

It's been a few years, but I imagine that if I sail again, I'll get some more travelers checks.