Currency conversion for UK Passengers

[jej122000]

Seeking views/advice from seasoned Princess cruisers in the UK. Long time since we went with Princess, we generally go P&O which uses GBP on-board,and when with US$ based lines (eg Cunard/RCL) have in the past got the credit card charged in US$ and our card company doing the exchange.

With Princess, on the option to select whether the conversion is done by the card company, or by Princess doing the exchange and charging the card in sterling, there is a really strong recommendation to have the card charged in sterling, and also some guarantee of a refund if this results in a higher charge.

However, looking at this more closely, it seems that the "guarantee refund" only applies to the exchange rate, and not to conversion fees which are at 3%. My Nationwide credit card has 0% currency conversion fee. So I think that having my card changed in US$ will be a better bet.

Anyone with experience of this able to give a view on what is the best option? Many thanks.

[Tom Baker]

Pay in $ (USD) on your card DON'T let Princess do it for you. Pay with your Nationwide card (others like Post Office and Halifax Clarity also offer 0 transaction fees) It will save you a lot. See Martin Lewis website for info on credit / debit fees abroad, the ones listed are cheaper to use than buying foreign currency.

[brian1]

hi,i totally agree,we use a santander zero card with no fees and it also gives the current money market rate.another tip is prepay your tips now,we got 1.64 a couple of weeks ago way above rate at the time,cheers,brian.

[gailjen]

If you know what you might spend onboard you can gift each person $500 at 1.66 (please check with Princess your sailing as it depends on when your sailing) you can also pay gratuities, order drinks packages in pounds which is great for us in the UK at the moment as the exchange rate is approx 1.55 plus you save any conversion rate on your card by paying in sterling before you go 😀

[jej122000]

Thanks for the replies. When prepaying for gratuities or trips, will Princess charge the credit card in US$ if that is what has been selected, or will it be converted to GBP by them, and therefore be subject to their 3% transaction charge? Currently, Visa website gives an exchange rate of 1.65 - if Princess exchange rate is at 1.55 then then that's poor - if 1.64 then its much the same but with 3% extra to pay.

Will be getting the currency exchange done on the card.

Think Princess should be a bit more careful with the recommendations they are giving about this on their website.

[Tom Baker]

Think Princess should be a bit more careful with the recommendations they are giving about this on their website.

 

They recommend that you pay in Sterling so they make a profit.

 

They also recommend a daily gratuity rate and charge you accordingly. You can change this recommendation up, down or remove it all together, entirely your decision.

[sammybonny]

Thanks for the replies. When prepaying for gratuities or trips, will Princess charge the credit card in US$ if that is what has been selected, or will it be converted to GBP by them, and therefore be subject to their 3% transaction charge? Currently, Visa website gives an exchange rate of 1.65 - if Princess exchange rate is at 1.55 then then that's poor - if 1.64 then its much the same but with 3% extra to pay.

Will be getting the currency exchange done on the card.

Think Princess should be a bit more careful with the recommendations they are giving about this on their website.

 

In the UK you can prepay gratuities and drinks packages from cruise personaliser and pay in GBP the exchange rate for my booking of $1.66 saves me quite a bit, the trips however are charged in $ so I don't know what exchange rate would be used .

[Feebarn]

You can prepay the gratuity on princess website, pay in Sterling, not US dollars. The exchange rate is in your favour, so its well worth it. The same applys to prepaying credit to your self. Any left over at the end can be taken back in dollars via the casino.

[gailjen]

Log into your personilizer and you can pay everything in pounds except excursions, they add in $ which will be added to your onboard account, as I said further up the thread if you have a rough idea of what your likely to spend you can gift yourself $500 per person to have against any excursions or bits you purchase onboard. I'm getting $1.66 but do check as I'm not sure when your sailing date is and it maybe be a better or worse rate..

[GandM-nq]

Thanks for the replies. When prepaying for gratuities or trips, will Princess charge the credit card in US$ if that is what has been selected, or will it be converted to GBP by them, and therefore be subject to their 3% transaction charge? Currently, Visa website gives an exchange rate of 1.65 - if Princess exchange rate is at 1.55 then then that's poor - if 1.64 then its much the same but with 3% extra to pay.

Will be getting the currency exchange done on the card.

Think Princess should be a bit more careful with the recommendations they are giving about this on their website.

 

I would recheck that exchange rate you say Visa is offering. I doubt you have that right. This is what I get from Visa:

 

1 BRITISH POUND = 1.5044554456 UNITED STATES DOLLAR , or other way round : 1.00 UNITED STATES DOLLAR = 0.6646923330 BRITISH POUND

 

From a live currency exchange, so no financial institution sales fees factored in :

1 GBP = 1.51989 USD

 

So I can't see a large company involved in the finance sector offering 1.65 USD to the Pound.

[insidecabin]

I prepaid uk @1.66 rate was about 1.54 that day.

 

You need to call to do obc use the carnival main line, all princess uk reps can deal with your purchases in £ and you can use a cc to get any perks.

 

It will take time toget any unused credit back but you can get cash from the casino. Play a bit and cash it in for $.

[Tom Baker]

I would recheck that exchange rate you say Visa is offering. I doubt you have that right. This is what I get from Visa:

 

1 BRITISH POUND = 1.5044554456 UNITED STATES DOLLAR , or other way round : 1.00 UNITED STATES DOLLAR = 0.6646923330 BRITISH POUND

 

From a live currency exchange, so no financial institution sales fees factored in :

1 GBP = 1.51989 USD

 

So I can't see a large company involved in the finance sector offering 1.65 USD to the Pound.

 

I've paid £67.62 for a14 night soda & more drinks package at $8.05 per day, perhaps you could do the math for me?

[Flo71]

I prepaid uk @1.66 rate was about 1.54 that day.

 

You need to call to do obc use the carnival main line, all princess uk reps can deal with your purchases in £ and you can use a cc to get any perks.

 

It will take time toget any unused credit back but you can get cash from the casino. Play a bit and cash it in for $.

 

So I can gift myself obc and any unused can be withdrawn at casino?

[GandM-nq]

I've paid £67.62 for a14 night soda & more drinks package at $8.05 per day, perhaps you could do the math for me?

Sure. So 14 night?? . I am assuming then that this is 14 days worth of package @ $8.05 USD per day.

 

So 14 days @ $8.05 USD which = $112.70 USD

So your £67.62 GBP paid for $112.70 USD worth of package - rate is around $1.66USD to the £1 GBP.

 

Using a currency exchange like Travelex (UK branch) offering currently (2 June, 2015): £1 GBP = $1.4952 USD

14 days drink package: That $112.70 USD would need £75.37 GBP

 

 

## Two thing to note here.

I think the favourable currency rate of £1 GBP = $1.66 USD that some are reporting have only been applicable to purchases towards cruises in 2015. I have seen reports that 2016 cruises have a different currency conversion rate applied. I believe these 2016 rates are lower than the 2015 rates, but still not as bad as current market rates.

 

And of course, currency rates can and do change daily. Who knows where they will go? What may be a good deal now may not be such a 'great' rate by the time your cruise comes around.

[caribill]

So I can gift myself obc and any unused can be withdrawn at casino?

 

Any remaining gift OBC can be obtained at the Purser's desk as it is refundable OBC. No need to do anything at the casino.

[insidecabin]

I've paid £67.62 for a14 night soda & more drinks package at $8.05 per day, perhaps you could do the math for me?

 

That's princess doing the conversion at a rate set for your cruise(if you had uk booking)

[Flo71]

Any remaining gift OBC can be obtained at the Purser's desk as it is refundable OBC. No need to do anything at the casino.

 

At any time during the cruise or last night?

 

Thank you

[DebbieMacG]

I bought OBC today for my cruise next week and got a rate of 1.666 :D

[gailjen]

I bought OBC today for my cruise next week and got a rate of 1.666 :D

 

Which is Great 😃 can't see the dollar getting anywhere near that by my cruise in Aug....

[insidecabin]

Any remaining gift OBC can be obtained at the Purser's desk as it is refundable OBC. No need to do anything at the casino.

 

When asked told it had to go back to the CC probably fibbed.

 

lets see if they get it right there was $30(ish) left.

 

Happy hours meant I spent less than planned.

[brian1]

I bought OBC today for my cruise next week and got a rate of 1.666 :D

hi,where did you do this?was it online or phonecall to southampton,cheers,brian.

[DebbieMacG]

On the phone to the Southampton offices. You can't buy it online with Princess. :)

[Govantrueblue]

hi,where did you do this?was it online or phonecall to southampton,cheers,brian.

 

I bought £800 OBC at $1.625 for our cruise in November

[brian1]

hi,cheers guys,i logged on my cruise personalizer today and there is a section under gifts and services for obc gifts in units of up to $100.i assume you can have multiple units.my problem is because i live in italy the page says "we cannot deal with overseas customers at this time".i booked the cruise direct with princess and paid in gbp but i suppose the site recognised my location.the bottom line is i think you can get obc online,perhaps somebody in uk could do a dummy run to confirm this and also the 1.66 rate.cheers,brian.

[insidecabin]

The rates a specific to your booking.

 

You will have to phone