On Board Spending?

[billyboysouth]

Using a UK Credit Card, which is best, to have it charged in pounds or dollars?

 

We are going on the Caribbean Princess in June on a Baltic Cruise.

Edited March 1, 2015 by billyboysouth

[SwissDave]

Using a UK Credit Card, which is best, to have it charged in pounds or dollars?

 

Pounds, and let your card company do the conversion.

 

Princess rate is not as good, although they claim they will refund the difference if your provider is cheaper, but seems a lot of hassle to go through.

[Daisyloo]

We always have them charge us in US and have our credit card convert to Canadian.

[aquilegia]

Swiss Dave, I think you meant to say 'dollars'. If the OP was charged in pounds, the card company wouldn't have any conversion left to make! OP, always make sure you are charged in whatever currency the ship uses and let your UK credit card company do the converting.

[SwissDave]

Pounds, and let your card company do the conversion.

 

Princess rate is not as good, although they claim they will refund the difference if your provider is cheaper, but seems a lot of hassle to go through.

 

OOOPPPPSSSS

 

I meant to say dollars, and let your card company do the conversion.

 

(sorry)

[Shogun]

Hi All

 

Watch your credit card small print, once got charge £70 for an overseas transaction

 

 

yours Shogun

[madgemonica]

If you have spare cash now,gift yourself onboard credit. We have done this and were charged £300 per $500 which is far better than the high street rate. Any of this that is not used is fully refundable.

If you are using credit card onboard ,have it billed in dollars.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Edited March 1, 2015 by madgemonica

[john watson]

Using a UK Credit Card, which is best, to have it charged in pounds or dollars?

 

We are going on the Caribbean Princess in June on a Baltic Cruise.

 

 

All charges onboard are made in US Dollars. The issue is should you opt for the cruise line to convert the dollars to pounds or should you opt for your own bank to convert the dollars to pounds. In each case there is only one transaction but the exchange rate is determined by either the cruise line or your bank whichever you have selected.

 

This is basically how it works.

 

I prefer the bank to do this.

 

Regards John.

[paul929207]

Princess uses a very unfavorable exchange rate. Have them charge your card in the ship's currency (presumablely US dollars) and let your card convert to pounds

[antsp]

If your UK based and have time pre cruise, get a Halifax clarity card, no foreign use fee and wholesale rate on all exchanges

[caribill]

All charges onboard are made in US Dollars. The issue is should you opt for the cruise line to convert the dollars to pounds or should you opt for your own bank to convert the dollars to pounds. In each case there is only one transaction but the exchange rate is determined by either the cruise line or your bank whichever you have selected.

 

This is basically how it works.

 

I prefer the bank to do this.

 

Regards John.

 

Princess uses a very unfavorable exchange rate. Have them charge your card in the ship's currency (presumably US dollars) and let your card convert to pounds

 

Besides using the poor exchange rate, Princess also charges a 3% fee for the convenience of letting them do the conversion.

 

Many banks (at least in the USA) will charge a fee (up to 3%) on any foreign transaction even if the currency conversion was made by the vendor and not by the bank.

 

If your bank changes a foreign transaction fee even if the conversion was done by Princess, you might be paying that 3% fee twice, once to Princess and again to the bank.

[crochetcruise]

If you have spare cash now,gift yourself onboard credit. We have done this and were charged £300 per $500 which is far better than the high street rate. Any of this that is not used is fully refundable.

If you are using credit card onboard ,have it billed in dollars.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

 

Good point! I've got a money box for planned souvenirs, cocktails, photos, casino and speciality dinners shopping carefully costed and I WASgoing to take the cash to put on my on-board account. Would be a LOTeasier for me to get the TA to purchase from Gift Services using my card-I am comfortable using the card in her workplace, have done so several times with no problems. Thanks for sharing this information.

 

Crochetcruise :cool:

[billyboysouth]

Thanks for the replies

 

Will take dollars on board ship and get them to add them to my account.

 

Then use CC as a back up in dollars as advised.

Edited March 3, 2015 by billyboysouth