US cash onboard- best way to deal with it?

[OhState1]

Our FIL just gave us a not insubstantial amount of US cash to use on board.  
1.  Do we take it to reception and ask to have it applied to our account?
2.  Can we convert it to Euros on board?  Is the exchange rate typically decent?  We have a private tour vendor we can pay in euros in Bilbao.  

3.  Or something else you can think of based on your experience.

 

it’s in the safe for now, which doesn’t seem like the best use.  
 

First cruise for us, day 1, at sea. Thanks!

[Harters]

I'm sure the exchange rate will be awful. Considerably worse than the interbank rate. Hotel rates always are and I've little doubt that a cruise ship would be the same.

 

If it was me, I'd  keep the money to use when I got back to America and simply lie to the FiL that I'd spent it on the Bilbao tour, or whatever.

[DrHemlock]

First, deposit the cash into your bank checking account.  Don't take it with you on the cruise, as exchange rates these days are terrible since almost no one wants to deal with physical money anymore.

For expenses that you incur aboard ship (especially the luxuries you wouldn't necessarily pay for yourself but your FIL wants you to enjoy), they will be charged to the credit card you present upon checking in.  Keep track of those special purchases and let your FIL know how much you enjoyed them.

For cash money to spend ashore, it's a good idea to have a separate checking account with ATM debit card into which you deposit only a certain amount that you can then convert into local currency as needed at an ATM ashore.  DO NOT use the ATM card that's hooked to your regular checking account, as a lost card or compromised password can easily lead to your main account being emptied.  By having a special "travel only" checking account with debit card, you limit your potential loss in case of lost or compromised card.

Edited May 23, 2023 by DrHemlock

[ORV]

2 hours ago, OhState1 said:

 

 

it’s in the safe for now, which doesn’t seem like the best use.  
 

First cruise for us, day 1, at sea. Thanks!

 

37 minutes ago, DrHemlock said:

First, deposit the cash into your bank checking account.  Don't take it with you on the cruise,

It looks a little late for this advice. 

 

You can always use cash to pay your onboard account, gratuities, drinks, anything you buy on the ship. Just go talk to them at Guest Relations and tell them you want to use cash instead of credit card. That would eat up part of it. Then there's the casino, bottles of wine, ships tours. Or just take it home with you. 

[Cruzin Terri]

You would get a better exchange rate at an exchange kiosk in port than on the ship.  Try to do it away from the port where the rate would probably be more favorable.

Terri

[MSEm]

I agree with DrHemlock.

Use your travel ATM card 2 to 3 weeks before you travel.  This will insure that the card is working.  Also inform the card issuer for when and where you are traveling.

We have a Travel checking account. MDH and I each have a debit card with different numbers.

[LHT28]

Put the money in your bank account

Use your  credit card  to pay your onboard account  then just pay it off with your "gift  funds "

 

Buy Euro at home if your bank has  a good rate   or again get some at  a bank/Atm in your destination city

(you will be flying in the day before) correct?

 

Check if your bank charges a fee to use  foreign  ATM's

It still may work out better   than carrying USD & exchanging them onboard

JMO

[ORV]

11 minutes ago, LHT28 said:

Put the money in your bank account

Use your  credit card  to pay your onboard account  then just pay it off with your "gift  funds "

 

Buy Euro at home if your bank has  a good rate   or again get some at  a bank/Atm in your destination city

(you will be flying in the day before) correct?

 

Check if your bank charges a fee to use  foreign  ATM's

It still may work out better   than carrying USD & exchanging them onboard

JMO

Lyn, read the thread again, it appears they are already on their cruise, Day 1, at sea. 

[Cruzin Terri]

i will amend my prior post with this.

If there is a bank nearby in a port, take your passport with you and get your Euros there. You will get the best exchange rate at a bank.

Terri

[LHT28]

Just now, ORV said:

Lyn, read the thread again, it appears they are already on their cruise, Day 1, at sea. 

OOPS  need coffee  before  CC

 

Oh well  I am sure they will find  a solution

 

OP

 Near the end of the cruise  I would  take some $$  & pay off the balance of the  onboard account

 

We do that on other lines   that are notorious for converting  the OB  balance   to CAD  then bill our CC

[OhState1]

9 minutes ago, Cruzin Terri said:

i will amend my prior post with this.

If there is a bank nearby in a port, take your passport with you and get your Euros there. You will get the best exchange rate at a bank.

Terri

They took our passports when we embarked. Said they needed them because we end up in the UK.  I think we will use an ATM ashore to get the additional euros we need for our tours.  I like the idea of using dollars to pay off at least part of our onboard bill.   
 

Tonight is the Captain’s reception so free drinks from 6-8. Just need to fit dinner in there sometime.  

[Flatbush Flyer]

6 minutes ago, OhState1 said:

They took our passports when we embarked. Said they needed them because we end up in the UK.  I think we will use an ATM ashore to get the additional euros we need for our tours.  I like the idea of using dollars to pay off at least part of our onboard bill.   
 

Tonight is the Captain’s reception so free drinks from 6-8. Just need to fit dinner in there sometime.  

Though using the appropriate bank ATM (with an ATM card but never a credit card for a cash withdrawal, which will immediately start accruing interest on your account balance), does not require you to have your passport in hand (never a good idea to take a passport off the ship unless mandated by a local authority), do know that, if a passport is required for some particular bona fide reason when you are ashore, you can sign it out from the ship’s Purser’s office and return it when done.

 

Go Buckeyes!

[DrHemlock]

1 hour ago, ORV said:

It looks a little late for this advice. 

I took "First cruise for us, day 1, at sea" to mean they are coming up on their first cruise and their first day ever at sea.  (Apparently, I wasn't the only one.)  If, in fact, the OP is already aboard ship, then as Emily Litella used to say: "Never mind!"

[sunlover12]

My advice is to use as little cash as possible and use credit cards for everything that you can. The best exchange rate, by far, will be with your credit card. If the merchant asks you if you want it charged in local currency or US dollars, choose local currency. If you choose US dollars at point of sale, you will not get a favorable exchange rate. 

I've never converted US dollars to Euros onboard the ship but I wouldn't think the exchange rate will be favorable. You'll want to have a nominal amount of Euros for incidental purchases but that is all. 

[LHT28]

1 hour ago, OhState1 said:

They took our passports when we embarked. Said they needed them because we end up in the UK.  I think we will use an ATM ashore to get the additional euros we need for our tours.  I like the idea of using dollars to pay off at least part of our onboard bill.   
 

Just ask for your passport the night before  then you just return them to the Purser on your return

 

[julia]

From one Buckeye to another....

 

Yes, the above advice is very helpful regarding conversion rates, ATM's etc.  However, the cash was a gift, intended to enhance your cruise (per your first sentence).  Now that you are onboard, you will begin to see your FIL's intention as the cruise progresses.  Take the cash to guest services and apply it to your onboard account and ENJOY it!  Perhaps a bottle of champagne with dinner, or some special cocktails, or some casino fun, or a couples massage in the spa, or flowers for your cabin, or a portrait of you both, or.... well, you'll get the hang of onboard spending very quickly!  Trust me, your FIL will enjoy hearing how you spent his gift.  And, if there's any cash left at the end, it will be fully refunded.

[Guest ldtr]

2 hours ago, OhState1 said:

They took our passports when we embarked. Said they needed them because we end up in the UK.  I think we will use an ATM ashore to get the additional euros we need for our tours.  I like the idea of using dollars to pay off at least part of our onboard bill.   
 

Tonight is the Captain’s reception so free drinks from 6-8. Just need to fit dinner in there sometime.  

Just get them from ATM.  Keep in mind that many ATMs in the EU allow you to to charge your atm card in Euros in which case the final cost in dollars with be based upon your ATM cards conversion rate and fees, or in dollars in which case you pay the atm providers fees and conversion rate.  Some bank atm cards, such as Schwab do the conversion at the exchange rate with no additional fees (even refund the atm fee).  Good idea to understand the terms for your card.

[AMHuntFerry]

If there are crew members who deserve a little extra (cabin steward, barista, even that guy who seems to always be polishing the stair handrails) at the end of your cruise, cash is the way to go. Enjoy your cruise!

[Sebbiesgrammy]

our experience with O was they werent helpful with currency exchanges but they will break large bills of USD if they have it. 

 

 Off the ship most vendors outside the US will gladly take USD for purchases and duty free shops in airports will take any currency but the conversion might not be great.  Our favorite use for cash is for tipping bar servers and an added extra gratuity for our cabin staff who will be happy to do almost anything you ask.  We always travel with at least a few hundred in small bills for tips depending on cruise length.

 

After all, you received a generous gift. Enjoy it and don't worry. You'll find a way.

 

[LHT28]

2 hours ago, Sebbiesgrammy said:

 Off the ship most vendors outside the US will gladly take USD for purchases

 

That is  interesting

 I have never  thought to give USD in Europe 

We usually will take some local currency

[Flatbush Flyer]

2 hours ago, Sebbiesgrammy said:

…..Off the ship most vendors outside the US will gladly take USD for purchases…..

 

That would be very dependent on where you are and the type of vendor. The more off the beaten path you are, the less likely USD will be accepted.

 

[Guest ldtr]

8 hours ago, Sebbiesgrammy said:

our experience with O was they werent helpful with currency exchanges but they will break large bills of USD if they have it. 

 

 Off the ship most vendors outside the US will gladly take USD for purchases and duty free shops in airports will take any currency but the conversion might not be great.  Our favorite use for cash is for tipping bar servers and an added extra gratuity for our cabin staff who will be happy to do almost anything you ask.  We always travel with at least a few hundred in small bills for tips depending on cruise length.

 

After all, you received a generous gift. Enjoy it and don't worry. You'll find a way.

 

I was just in Europe on a 40 day trip that included France, Belgium, Netherlands, UK, Ireland and Switzerland. As a general rule US dollars were not accepted by local merchants, taxi drivers, etc.  Saw some cases of people trying to pay with US dollars and got rejected.

 

Duty free is airports might be the exception, I have never tried it.

[Hambagahle]

On 5/23/2023 at 4:57 PM, Cruzin Terri said:

i will amend my prior post with this.

If there is a bank nearby in a port, take your passport with you and get your Euros there. You will get the best exchange rate at a bank.

Terri

 

Use an ATM for this.  Deposit the cash to your home account.  Provided that the ATM takes EUR.  Then withdraw cash as needed during the trip also from ATMs and bring down the lovely credit balance you were given.  We live in Switzerland but have a USD account both here and in the US.  (Reasons to do with a prior existence!).   We keep the money in the bank and use ATM to get some when needed.  Never carry a lot of cash about.  It isn't safe.  Even in Switzerland.

[Cruzin Terri]

2 minutes ago, Hambagahle said:

 

Use an ATM for this.  Deposit the cash to your home account.  Provided that the ATM takes EUR.  Then withdraw cash as needed during the trip also from ATMs and bring down the lovely credit balance you were given.  We live in Switzerland but have a USD account both here and in the US.  (Reasons to do with a prior existence!).   We keep the money in the bank and use ATM to get some when needed.  Never carry a lot of cash about.  It isn't safe.  Even in Switzerland.

That would be fine, except OP is already on the ship. Too late for your suggestion.

Terri

[Hambagahle]

10 hours ago, Cruzin Terri said:

That would be fine, except OP is already on the ship. Too late for your suggestion.

Terri

There are ATMs in almost all countries I have ever been to...IF one allows deposit (the OP would have to check) then s/he could use it.  Here in Switzerland those ATMs are at the bank(s) concerned.