Purchasing Euros on board Ship from Celebrity

[sunrocket]

My sister in law returned from the Med in May and said she purchased Euros on board Celebrity. She stated they gave her a great rate with no service charge. Has anyone else found this to be the case? Any other suggestions on best place to purchase Euros before leaving the US on while in the Med.

[Fblack]

I would like hear the exact exchange rate she got. I called Wells Fargo yesterday. They are at 1.4093. ( just over 5% from the interbank rate of 1.34092. Travelex is at 1.440.

[zelker]

Have been trying to find out the same thing myself. What rate did your SIL get onboard?

[Dick in Falls Church]

Bought Euros on board last April. Rate was as good as in town, and a lot more convenient.

 

Put it in perspective--you're dropping $200-$400 a day for the cruise (or more). If it costs you a couple bucks extra to change a couple hundred, so what?

[twosit]

Bought Euros on board last April. Rate was as good as in town, and a lot more convenient.

 

Put it in perspective--you're dropping $200-$400 a day for the cruise (or more). If it costs you a couple bucks extra to change a couple hundred, so what?

 

So what? Well, money doesn't grow on trees and if I can safe some bucks without knocking myself out--then hey...more money to spend elsewhere--right?

[bigwally]

Plus you can charge them to your credit card as purchases. Decent rate, credit card bonuses, none of the cash advance downsides. What's not to love!

[pattyj 1204]

In 2005 We ordered Euros from our bank, They had to get them from the federal bank in Chicago, but that way we had Money when we arrived in Spain at the airport, so I could buy some soda and postcards. We also exchanged some more dollars for Euros on the ship, don't think the rate was too outrageous, but we were on the cruise and needed more cash so we had to do it. I can't remember how much it cost to get the Euros in town, but there again, we were going on vacation and didn't want to take a chance and not have any cash. Heard that sometimes the exchanges at the airports weren't operating, so I just wanted to play it safe.

[BurBunny]

I find I get the best rate from my ATM card. Generally the interbank rate +1%. I'd rather save credit card for actual purposes and emergencies. Plus, ATMs are everywhere you turn it seems in Europe, and easy to use.

[zelker]

Plus you can charge them to your credit card as purchases. Decent rate, credit card bonuses, none of the cash advance downsides. What's not to love!

 

Can you explain what you mean about charging them to your credit card please?

[dkjretired]

Can you explain what you mean about charging them to your credit card please?

 

When you charge something on the ship on your shipboard account whether it be euro purchases, advances at the casino, sodas, they are all billed to the credit card you provide at the beginning of the cruise as purchases.

[sunrocket]

My husband will love this idea.

Thanks

[zelker]

When you charge something on the ship on your shipboard account whether it be euro purchases, advances at the casino, sodas, they are all billed to the credit card you provide at the beginning of the cruise as purchases.

 

So do I just go to the pursur and ask to buy a certain amount of euros and have them put on the cabin account? Are you limited to a certain amount per purchase or per day?

 

And if I understand this correctly, then it just shows up on our account at the end of the cruise and Visa has no idea what we spent money on onboard and sees one charge for the total amount, correct?

[dkjretired]

So do I just go to the pursur and ask to buy a certain amount of euros and have them put on the cabin account? Are you limited to a certain amount per purchase or per day?

 

And if I understand this correctly, then it just shows up on our account at the end of the cruise and Visa has no idea what we spent money on onboard and sees one charge for the total amount, correct?

 

I'm not sure how it works as far as buying the Euros, I have used this to get money at the casino for playing and for tips at the end of the cruise.

 

As to the second part ofyour question, they just see one amoujnt at the end of the cruise. Great way to collect extra miles, etc on your credit card.

[dkjretired]

In 2005 We ordered Euros from our bank, They had to get them from the federal bank in Chicago, but that way we had Money when we arrived in Spain at the airport, so I could buy some soda and postcards. We also exchanged some more dollars for Euros on the ship, don't think the rate was too outrageous, but we were on the cruise and needed more cash so we had to do it. I can't remember how much it cost to get the Euros in town, but there again, we were going on vacation and didn't want to take a chance and not have any cash. Heard that sometimes the exchanges at the airports weren't operating, so I just wanted to play it safe.

 

In the future just get off the plane and find an ATM, done it many times and it is a lot easier....

[JORAY]

I would like hear the exact exchange rate she got. I called Wells Fargo yesterday. They are at 1.4093. ( just over 5% from the interbank rate of 1.34092. Travelex is at 1.440.

 

To get the interbank rate you must exchange large amounts -- $1000 + so 5% is a good deal.

 

Also watch the ATM terms, some times there is a $5 service charge to just use their ATM for excharge, if so excharge a larger amount (In England I exchanged $50 dollars and found later there was a $5 service charge plus the exchange rate charge)

 

Find out what banks, your USA bank has connections with overseas and there will be no service charge.

 

Ray

[Marytutor]

I have used the exchange window at the Guest relations on the ship. I do not think that their fees were that high. They do keep the same rate for the entire cruise. If you need to, get the cash at the Casino and then exchange. Yes, those Credit card bonuses are nice and if it is double points, so much the better.

[cruisingdelt]

I was in Italy last summer and found the best rates were at the ATMs. Just use your banks ATM card and withdraw EUROs. Better than the exchange rates at banks and without the add on fees that you pay with the credit cards.

[Karynanne]

If I remember correctly...when using the "Bank" (Pursor) onboard, you'll need cash to use for exchange. We did that once, but now use a ATM when we need Euros or any other needed currency.

 

Karyn

[patval]

Your best bet would be eBay. I go to http://www.xe.com and see what the current exchange rate is on the market and then I use that to determine what my highest bid would be on that amount of money being sold on eBay.

 

 

One note some folks on eBay have no logic at all about how to much to charge for shipping so please do contact the person selling the money and let them know that to send a bank note does not cost 5.00 or 10.00. Most folks I ever contacted were willing to drop the shipping cost or send a check or a credit by paypal after they went to the post office.

 

 

Paul

[hcat]

we are going to get some money from Bank of America in advance & then use an ATM or the ship depending on our needs...Hoping not to spend that much off the ship--too expensive with the Euro vs Dollar ratios. All our excursions are pre-paid & we even put our tips on pre-pay in our final payment. Our pre-cruise hotel will be in Euros so will use the credit card but our post cruise hotel is pre-paid with hotels.com Just want to enjoy the trip without money hassles along the way! This is our first trip to Europe so we will no doubt return a bit wiser. We do appreciate all the great ideas from this board!