Buying EUROs on Oceania

[derricj]

I have read somewhere that the ATMs in Italy limit the daily amount available to withdraw. Amyone familar with this?

Does the ship sell euros and charge to your on board account?

Do they have a daily limit?

 

Thanks

jd

[LHT28]

I have read somewhere that the ATMs in Italy limit the daily amount available to withdraw. Amyone familar with this?

 

jd

Usually your own bank sets the daily limit you can withdraw from an ATM.

I would check with your bank for your daily limit while away.

You also have to convert the Euro to your Countries currency for the daily limit

 

EG: if you are allowed $500. USD p/d then you can withdraw approx 360 Euros p/d

[taxare]

I had this problem last month and it was only in Italy. All of the other countries I was able to withdraw 500 euros but only 250 in Italy. My bank which is a local bank, not a national bank couldn't explain why. To avoid these types of problems, I had two ATM cards from different banks. You can get euros on board but its expensive. If you convert cash its an unfavorable rate plus a conversion charge. Below is from their FAQs.

 

The U.S. dollar is the standard currency for all transactions onboard. In order to realize the best exchange rate overseas, we suggest that you take advantage of the ATMmachines located in many of the ports of call.

Cash advances are also available at the Reception Desk. A daily limit of $500 per registered credit card, can be billed to your credit card for a 5% transaction fee.

[lardor]

Every ATM "owner" has the ability to set their own limit on how much you take out of their machine which has no bearing on how much your bank allows you to take out.

[digby]

I never want to be carrying around large amounts of cash especially away from home. I want just enough to cover incidentals. Anything of value you want to buy should be done by using a CC because of the protection that gives you IMO.

[lardor]

I never want to be carrying around large amounts of cash especially away from home. I want just enough to cover incidentals. Anything of value you want to buy should be done by using a CC because of the protection that gives you IMO.

 

Are you aware that most, but not all, CC charge a foreign transaction fee between 1% and 3% of your purchase...One that does not is CapitalOne...

[taxare]

I never want to be carrying around large amounts of cash especially away from home. I want just enough to cover incidentals. Anything of value you want to buy should be done by using a CC because of the protection that gives you IMO.

 

 

The issue I had in Italy was that three private tours in a row wanted cash or travelers checks. These were all driver/guides highly recommended on these boards. The exchange rate for travelers checks was terrible, so I figured that I would simply use the ATM. Another example was at the Vatican where the lines to pay admission with credit card were four times longer than the cash lines. So with all due repect, depending on what your touring plans are just covering incidentals may not be enough.

[digby]

"Are you aware that most, but not all, CC charge a foreign transaction fee between 1% and 3% of your purchase...One that does not is CapitalOne..."

 

Yes, I am well aware of the surcharge. I have a VISA from a local credit union which does not. However, if I were making a big purchase overseas I'd be willing to pay the 3% for the added protection a 'normal' cc would give.

 

I forgot about the private tours wanting cash since I usually take the ship's tours.

[derricj]

Thanks for all the info.

Seems Italy limits by law daily ATM withdrawals to $250e per card.

"O" has a $500 limit per credit card.

 

Using a local tour that expects 500 to 600e cash is not easy, but doable.

 

jd

[derricj]

Thanks for all the info.

Seems Italy limits by law daily ATM withdrawals to $250e per card.

"O" has a $500 limit per credit card.

 

Using a local tour that expects 500 to 600e cash is not easy, but doable.

 

jd

[stuffyah]

I've read a few threads on the topic but still have yet to see an answer to a couple of things that puzzled me.

 

1. Is there an ATM on board which will spit out Euros ?

 

2. If you bring "Euro Traveller's Checks", does Oceania charge a fee for conversion to "cash Euros" ?

[LHT28]

I've read a few threads on the topic but still have yet to see an answer to a couple of things that puzzled me.

 

1. Is there an ATM on board which will spit out Euros ?

 

 

No ATM onboard

[happy cruzer]

I've read a few threads on the topic but still have yet to see an answer to a couple of things that puzzled me.

 

1. Is there an ATM on board which will spit out Euros ?

 

2. If you bring "Euro Traveller's Checks", does Oceania charge a fee for conversion to "cash Euros" ?

 

I wondering what the answer to number 2 is.

 

Also can you get cash at the ship's casino for no charge or do you have to bring cash to avoid a fee?

 

Thanks.

[Rickey 88]

While you have seen that there is no ATM on board that will "spit" out Euros, you can obtain them from Reception.

 

However, they will not cash travelers checks, but will charge the cash you receive to your room account. Be aware however, that the ship is not a bank, and the exchange rate you receive is not that good.

 

You'd be much better off if you found a bank somewhere.....

[serendipity1499]

 

However, they will not cash travelers checks, but will charge the cash you receive to your room account. Be aware however, that the ship is not a bank, and the exchange rate you receive is not that good.

 

You'd be much better off if you found a bank somewhere.....

 

Rickey is this only in Europe? :confused: We are going to the Amazon via the Caribbean next week & had planned to take a combo of cash & Travelers checks..Have never been on Oceania, but the other lines have always cashed our USD Travelers Checks without a fee..

 

All the Countries we are going to accept USD...Will the ship cash USD Travelers Check & give us USD in return without a fee?

 

If not will plan on taking only USD in Cash..For most purchases we'll use our CapitalOne Credit Card, but need USD in Cash for our local private tours & for purchasing trinkets from the Natives..

 

Thanks..Betty

[Rickey 88]

Betty, while the Euro is commonplace throughout Europe, Oceania's ships do dock in ports of many different countries. While we have yet to sail to South America (but will in Feb. '09), we have been in ports where the currency used is something else, and perhaps uncommon.

 

Oceania usually arranged for a local bank representative to come on board for those who wished to get their local currency. I can't tell you whether or not these bank reps. were willing to cash travelers checks or not. However, the point being is that the ship obviously cannot carry and exchange all the currencies for every country they visit.

 

Since the Euro is so common in Europe, they do carry these - but when we were in Egypt (as an example) the Egyptian pound had to be obtained from the local sources.

 

Hope this helps.....:)

[DaveFr]

Rickey or anyone else,

 

Betty asked about cashing USD traveller's checks into USD aboard Oceania ships. We were also planning to bring a combination of cash in USD and USD traveller's checks on our Regatta cruise in January. Is there a charge for cashing USD traveller's checks into USD? I'd read in earlier threads that there was no charge but you've now raised a doubt. Has there been a change in policy or were you referring to cashing USD traveller's checks and getting cash in a foreign currency? Thanks.

[Rickey 88]

What they seem to prefer should you wish to acquire some US dollars is to charge your room account for that amount. There is a daily limit of $500.

 

I did ask once about cashing travelers checks, and was told that they prefer not to do so - presumably it is difficult to get these to a bank somewhere and converted into cash.

 

Whenever you wish to exchange currencies, such as Dollars to Euros, they will charge an extra 5% to do so....

[LHT28]

Rickey is this only in Europe? :confused: We are going to the Amazon via the Caribbean next week & had planned to take a combo of cash & Travelers checks..Have never been on Oceania, but the other lines have always cashed our USD Travelers Checks without a fee..

 

 

Thanks..Betty

I don't know the answer but

 

You could always just pay off your onboard account with the traveller's cheques & save your cash for shore excursions.

If you happen to be near a bank in port then cash some of the traveller's cheques

[DaveFr]

What they seem to prefer should you wish to acquire some US dollars is to charge your room account for that amount. There is a daily limit of $500.

 

I did ask once about cashing travelers checks, and was told that they prefer not to do so - presumably it is difficult to get these to a bank somewhere and converted into cash.

 

Whenever you wish to exchange currencies, such as Dollars to Euros, they will charge an extra 5% to do so....

Thanks for the information Rickey but now I'm even more confused. :D I've read on this board before that anytime you charge cash to your shipboard account (i.e. a credit card), there is a 3% transaction fee. Is such a trasaction fee no longer applied? Thanks.

[Balliett]

Oceania, and other cruise lines, charge big commissions for changing money. Pay for everything by Capital One credit card, or get your cash ahead of time from www.wellsfargo.com, at a modest 4.5% commission, and of course from ATMs. The euro is expensive enough. Don't pay 10-15% to exchange your dollars at the airport or on a ship. (just back from very nice Oceana cruise in Sept-Oct)

[serendipity1499]

Oceania, and other cruise lines, charge big commissions for changing money. Pay for everything by Capital One credit card, or get your cash ahead of time from www.wellsfargo.com, at a modest 4.5% commission, and of course from ATMs. The euro is expensive enough. Don't pay 10-15% to exchange your dollars at the airport or on a ship. (just back from very nice Oceania cruise in Sept-Oct)

 

Balliett...My question is not about purchasing Euros or changing money..:confused: .My question is will Oceania cash USD Travelers checks & give us USD in return..

 

Perhaps Oceania & one or two lines charge commissions to cash USD Travelers Checks into USD, but most other Main stream Cruise Lines do not charge a commission unless you are converting to another currency...Also, purchasing Dollars from Wells Fargo does not come into play as we have $$$ in our own bank..

 

We've been on 13 cruises (other lines) & have never paid a commission to cash a USD Traveler's check into USD...

 

LHT..Thanks for the advice, but we always pay our account by Credit Card..We receive 1% back on all our CC purchases & always pay our entire bill up front..Never pay interest! Some day the CC Companies will wise up & begin charging us for paying up front..They certainly aren't making much from us..;) LOL

 

Rickey if they charge your room account, wouldn't they also charge a commission?

 

Thanks to others who tried to give us advice, but as DaveFR pointed out we still have a question:

 

Should we plan on taking all USD cash or will Oceania cash USD Travelers checks for us without charging a fee...There are very few ATM's in the Amazon (We were there last year)...If we can't change our Travelers Checks, then we'll plan on taking cash only..

 

Thanks everyone...:) Betty

[Rickey 88]

Rickey if they charge your room account, wouldn't they also charge a commission?

 

Thanks everyone...:) Betty

 

Betty, I guess I used the wrong terminology.... When you obtain cash at Reception and charge it to your room account, the maximum per day is $500 - and you will be charged a 5% transaction fee.

 

Hope this clears any confusion.....

[serendipity1499]

Betty, I guess I used the wrong terminology.... When you obtain cash at Reception and charge it to your room account, the maximum per day is $500 - and you will be charged a 5% transaction fee.

Hope this clears any confusion.....

 

Ok Rickey understand that..Thanks for your reply..Will take only cash this time..

 

Happy Thanksgiving all..:) Betty