Getting Cash/Euros

[wineandbeach]

We will be in the Reflection in July. As I book tours, I am finding most require us to pay in cash at the end of the tour - This means we will need a lot of cash on a 10 day cruise. What do you find is the best way to get Euros: Bring it with you, Casino, ATM on island etc. Looking for ideas as I am usually one to have very little cash on me. Thank you!

[CruzR887]

Use ATMs to get euros. They offer the best rates. You may have fees for each transaction so the fewer times you use the ATM the fewer fees you will pay. Check with your bank it may reimburse fees. You could also open a Charles Schwab checking account. Schwab reimburses you for all ATM fees.

[vickykay]

We travel for several weeks in Europe often with students ( term abroad) and usually just use ATMs. However, on our Med cruise we also needed a lot of euros for excursions as well as spending five days in Rome before the cruise. For those reasons we got euros before the trip from our bank. The difference in the rate was not that big and probably came out ahead as there are fees each time you use the ATM.

 

I also suggest you bring a credit card with not foreign transactions fees ( several Chase ones, Bank of America travel rewards visa, etc.) for restaurants, purchases.

 

Have a great trip!

[Wine-O]

ATM's are your best bet for getting Euro. There are banks out there that don't charge transaction/conversion fees, and European Bank ATM's do not charge you for using them. All your charges/frees will be from your home bank. Shop around and do your homework.

 

If you exchange Euro on the ship, you will get a lousy exchange rate. If you get Euro ahead of time from a local bank, you need to do the math. Check the daily interbank rate (the rate you will get from a European Bank ATM) and the rate/fees you will be charged by your bank to get Euro in the U.S. before you depart. It will cost you around 5%.

 

It all depends on your "warm & fuzzy" feelings and what you're comfortable with.

[eandj]

We always start the trip with euros purchased at home. Whatever amount DH and I feel comfortable carrying. Then we get the majority of the money from ATM's as we go along. We are careful where the machine is and if with a group in a safe area, we take out the maximum and just keep it in our room safe. We take along envelopes labeled with each tour and amount due and just fill them with euros ( or dollars if needed)we get at the atms. All neat and organized.;)

[Sandi07054]

On our recent MSN cruise to Italy euros on the ship. Just a 5.00 fee. What a bargain!!!

[easyboy]

Since the amount needed, maybe include tips, for tours can be pre-determined, it may be better to exchange euros at your local bank, and set it aside already. You may add a small amount for some transportation on ports without a tour, but you can also use the ATM for this purpose.

[Wine-O]

On our recent MSN cruise to Italy euros on the ship. Just a 5.00 fee. What a bargain!!!

 

Yes, a $5 fee but what exchange rate did they give you? I know on Celebrity it's around 5-7% of the interbank rate.

 

You can always get Euro ahead of time at your local bank, if you don't mind paying the excessive amount on the exchange rate.

Edited January 29, 2017 by Wine-O

[caribill]

Use ATMs to get euros. They offer the best rates. You may have fees for each transaction so the fewer times you use the ATM the fewer fees you will pay.

 

Agree.

 

Be sure you are using debit cards, not charge cards.

 

Be sure to notify your bank in advance of your travel.

 

Be aware that there is probably a daily limit by your bank on how much money can be withdrawn. You may have to make withdrawals over several days to get the amount of Euros you will need.

 

And try to have a debit card from a back such as CapitalOne which has no foreign transaction fees.

[4774Papa]

ATMs provide the best rate, however, you may have a limit on how much you can withdraw per day..

 

We have been on cruises where the ship had two ATMs onboard, one for USdollars and the other for Euros. The fee was high, like $6.

 

We always take a small amount of the foreign currency, usually if Euros, we have some left over from a previous trip.

 

Recently, we were informed here on cc that the British government was changing the five pound note and I had three of these notes. They would be worthless in May, but I was on an Alaska cruise and some British cc friends exchanged them for me.

[north29]

on our own or with a cruise line and always take at least 800 to 1000 euros, cash or other needed currency.

 

You do not have to worry about being robbed on the ship, just on the tours