Currency question - Mariner

[shuguley]

While cruising parts of the world where the US dollar is happily accepted, I have been able to get small amounts of cash for TIPs on board the Navigator and Mariner from the ship's purser. They would then charge the amount to my room account.

We will be cruising the Mediterranean this summer on board the Mariner traveling from Athens to Barcelona. Is it likely that the purser will have euros available and, in addition, will they exchange USD for euros on board? I don't think I will need much cash but wanted some for graturities for shore excursion operators, etc. Major purchases will be made using a credit card.

This is our first trip on Regent to this part of the world. Thanks for the help.

[mrlevin]

While cruising parts of the world where the US dollar is happily accepted, I have been able to get small amounts of cash for TIPs on board the Navigator and Mariner from the ship's purser. They would then charge the amount to my room account.

We will be cruising the Mediterranean this summer on board the Mariner traveling from Athens to Barcelona. Is it likely that the purser will have euros available and, in addition, will they exchange USD for euros on board? I don't think I will need much cash but wanted some for graturities for shore excursion operators, etc. Major purchases will be made using a credit card.

This is our first trip on Regent to this part of the world. Thanks for the help.

Yes, but the exchange rate is pretty bad. I would get some Euros at ATM when you arrive and use purser to switch to smaller bills if desired. As the smallest bill is Five Euros, you may want to get some change while ashore.

[RachelG]

If you have an onboard credit which is withdrawable in cash (some are, some aren't), you can get that in euros. I have done that several times.

[Hambagahle]

The ATM's are really the most economical way to go. And don't worry. First, there are a lot of them in convenient places. Second, once you put in your card the machine will either know what language you use (from your issueing bank) or you will be asked. In several languages. You will need a 4 digit PIN code but I assume you have these in the USA.

Under no circumstances get EUR from a bank in the US. the exchange rate will be awful!

[wapato2]

IMHO leaving home without Euros, or any other local currency if not Euros, should be unthinkable. The cost at your local bank for 100 Euros is absolute peanuts compared to the cost of your cruise and the piece of mind you will enjoy getting from plane to ship.

Don't leave home without it(them).

[mrlevin]

IMHO leaving home without Euros, or any other local currency if not Euros, should be unthinkable. The cost at your local bank for 100 Euros is absolute peanuts compared to the cost of your cruise and the piece of mind you will enjoy getting from plane to ship.

Don't leave home without it(them).

Foreign currency is so easy to get at ATMs at airports upon arrival that it is really silly to buy them in the USA. Even if the cost is peanuts compared to a cruise; why throw away money.

[wapato2]

All of the people on these Boards, I imagine there are more than a few, who buy some foreign currency before leaving are, according to you, Silly?

BTW, can you tell us from your research the cost of Euros at B of A, versus the cost at an ATM at the Airports for Romania, or Bulgaria, or Slovakia, or Estonia? Perhaps you can, but if not why hold out to a new traveller's question what is, after all, just your "Opinion"?

While you are entitled to your opinion, I thought the concept behind these Boards was to help the new traveller. A final question for you---statistically how many people get mugged in front of a B of A teller versus ATM's ANYWHERE? Have you never come across an ATM that was empty, or being serviced at an airport---I did this week in Kahului, Maui!

But that was not the question/issue---unless you live in Europe and Euros are readily available, most any traveller that wants a smooth transition from plane to ship or hotel in Europe, would take some local Euros with them. I'm sorry, but while you think that is silly, as someone who has experienced the money pitfalls while travelling through several continents for almost 60 years, that is not silly, it is just plain common sense. But, that's just my opinion.

ATM's are safe, and can be trouble free, but we all need to be reminded to be careful when using them.

[rarin2go]

But that was not the question/issue---unless you live in Europe and Euros are readily available, most any traveller that wants a smooth transition from plane to ship or hotel in Europe, would take some local Euros with them.

A minor but irritating problem may occur at some airports in Europe, where if you need a luggage trolley, you can only release one by inserting a one euro coin in a slot - but even in the UK, banks etc do not normally give out euro coins when changing currencies!
Having been caught out this way once, we always try to remember to bring a few euro coins home with us and then try to remember to take them with us when next we go to (mainland) Europe ;)

[EAGLESLOVER]

A minor but irritating problem may occur at some airports in Europe, where if you need a luggage trolley, you can only release one by inserting a one euro coin in a slot - but even in the UK, banks etc do not normally give out euro coins when changing currencies!
Having been caught out this way once, we always try to remember to bring a few euro coins home with us and then try to remember to take them with us when next we go to (mainland) Europe ;)

this is very true and excellent advice

[shuguley]

.....for your opinions, insight and observations. All of this has been most helpful to someone who has not traveled in Europe.

[RachelG]

I always get some currency of the country I am traveling to ahead of time from Bank of America. My account does not charge extra fees, and it is worth to me to have to peace of mind of not having to worry about finding an ATM or exchanging money as soon as I arrive, often very tired or at an odd hour.

[KathyPet]

To land at a airport in a foreign country at 6AM and discover that the ATM in the terminal your gate is located in is Out Of Order! Yup nothing like sitting in a terminal with your luggage after a long overnight flight in full jet lag while your spouse runs from terminal to terminal trying to find a working ATM so you can have cash in the local currency to take a taxi to your hotel. Currency exchange booths aren't open at that hour either. It happened to us once and I learned my lesson. I will never leave the US Again without some of the local currency in my wallet.

[Wendy The Wanderer]

I also prefer to have a small amount of local currency with me, if I can, when I land. Depends on the destination, of course. Sometimes that's not feasible.

I keep a pouch full of odd amounts of euros, GBP and other currencies as a hedge against my return. Right now I have French Polynesian francs, Turkish lira and Lithuanian Litas. Oh, and I keep my USD there too.