Pre cruise cash for different Asian destinations

[Viveash]

We are on the 5 March 14 nights Celebrity Constellation cruise out of Singapore, visiting 4 countries with different currencies. Do any experienced cruisers to Vietnam (Phu May and Chan May), HongKong, Manila and Kota Kinabalu know if ATM machines are readily available at any or all of those cruise terminals or it it wise to at least have some local currency cash for each of the different countries with us before we commence the cruise.

Alternatively can credit cards be used on the ship to obtain local currencies?

[NantahalaCruiser]

We are on the 5 March 14 nights Celebrity Constellation cruise out of Singapore, visiting 4 countries with different currencies. Do any experienced cruisers to Vietnam (Phu May and Chan May), HongKong, Manila and Kota Kinabalu know if ATM machines are readily available at any or all of those cruise terminals or it it wise to at least have some local currency cash for each of the different countries with us before we commence the cruise.

Alternatively can credit cards be used on the ship to obtain local currencies?

 

 

We were on a B2B Millennium cruise last Oct/Nov from Japan to HK to Singapore. It included ports in Vietnam.

 

We pre-purchased some foreign currency in advance from our bank. With respect to Hong Kong and Vietnam, we were able to purchase Hong Kong dollars in advance but Vietnam Dong were not available.

 

Unless you are going to a remote part of Vietnam, you will have no problem using US dollars for purchases in Vietnam.

 

The Millennium also did not offer Dong, but did exchange Hong Kong dollars (we converted some excess HK dollars back to US dollars onboard)

 

At the Hong Kong cruise terminal, there were currency exchange windows. If you took the free shuttle bus to a local mall near the MTR (subway) there were ATMs at the mall - did not see ATMs at the terminal; but I may have just missed them.

 

Note: you will need HK dollars if you use a taxi - most do not take credit cards and do not accept US dollars.

 

There were ATMs at the Singapore cruise terminal.

[Viveash]

We were on a B2B Millennium cruise last Oct/Nov from Japan to HK to Singapore. It included ports in Vietnam.

 

We pre-purchased some foreign currency in advance from our bank. With respect to Hong Kong and Vietnam, we were able to purchase Hong Kong dollars in advance but Vietnam Dong were not available.

 

Unless you are going to a remote part of Vietnam, you will have no problem using US dollars for purchases in Vietnam.

 

The Millennium also did not offer Dong, but did exchange Hong Kong dollars (we converted some excess HK dollars back to US dollars onboard)

 

At the Hong Kong cruise terminal, there were currency exchange windows. If you took the free shuttle bus to a local mall near the MTR (subway) there were ATMs at the mall - did not see ATMs at the terminal; but I may have just missed them.

 

Note: you will need HK dollars if you use a taxi - most do not take credit cards and do not accept US dollars.

 

There were ATMs at the Singapore cruise terminal.

 

 

Many thanks Larry, much appreciated.

Alan