Travelers Check question

[MeandRaven]

I was thinking of taking travelers checks instead of carrying a lot of cash, but I am curious: Can you cash them onboard on Princess if you want to have a little cash to carry into ports?

[sue d. miller]

You can cash them at the pursers desk. I don't know if there is a limit. http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif

Sue
7 days on Star Princess 10/24

[srphnx]

You can also cash them in the casino.. and then RUN.

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[cruznliz]

They're free at AAA if you're a member. http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif Easy to cash at the Purser's Desk and any left over checks can be applied toward your shipboard account at the end of the cruise. Makes the credit card bill easier to stomach a month after the cruise. http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif

Grand Princess Transatlantic - August 27, 2004
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[pmcrusta]

American Express has a new card that is like the traveler's check. And the Pursers Desk could still remove money off the card if you liked. Good thing about it is if check before you leave and know where a ATM that accecpts the card you can get money off it. It usually is local currency but by going inside the bank or a money exchange place you can get Dollars. But all this being said. Just hope the Pursers Desk dose not run out of small bills also. They
did on our last cruise. People tipping tour guides and buying smaller items in port caused the shortage and it was a long cruise.
You didn't say where you were going on your cruise. If your in a country (or countries) that they take Dollars. But you don't want change in the local currency. A large bill even a $20 is a pain. But like I said it depends on the area your cruising to.
I had the card. But it was not useful in South America. Except in the larger cities. We had other options. I'd just gotten the card as a back up. But live and learn.

[CruiseFever]

Good idea

It's smart go have alternate forms of payment. Travelers checks could be one of them. A reloadable card like the Amex TravelFunds Card (http://www10.americanexpress.com/sif/cda/page/0,1641,18622,00.asp)is another. Debit cards work too but some are concerned about identity theft. I'm not and use VISA check cards for the lions share of our payments, cash for others, and backups of both split between me and another travel companion for an extra layer of security.

Personally, I'm not a big fan of travelers checks because while they can be replaced if stolen it takes time from your vacation to do so. But if you are comfortable with them I'd say go for it.

What I call Secure Diversity is the popular notion these days on travel payment options.

Here's more:
http://www.lifeiscruising.com/how_much_cash_

Happy Cruising

Chris

www.LifeIsCruising.com (http://www.LifeIsCruising.com)

Next up:
Caribbean Princess 06/26/04
Star Princess 10/24/04
Diamond Princess 12/22/04
Carnival Miracle 03/13/05

[cactusrose]

If you are traveling out of country, you won't get the best exchange rate for either travelers checks or cash. Your best bet is ATM/Debit Cards.

1952 - Excalibur (freighter)
1972 - Song of Norway, Caribbean
1980 - Hawaii American Curise line, Tahiti
09/01/2002 - Veendam, Alaska
05/29/2003 - Pacific Princess, Alaska
11/26/2003 - Star Princess, Australia/New Zealand

5/28/2004 - Star Princess, Venice to Barcelona
http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=ff00ff&cdt=2004;05;28;21;0;00&timezone=GMT+0100

11/06/2004 - Diamond Princess, Mexican Riviera
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[CruiseFever]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> If you are traveling out of country, you won't get the best exchange rate for either travelers checks or cash. Your best bet is ATM/Debit Cards <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Interesting...How so?

Happy Cruising

Chris

www.LifeIsCruising.com (http://www.LifeIsCruising.com)

Next up:
Caribbean Princess 06/26/04
Star Princess 10/24/04
Diamond Princess 12/22/04
Carnival Miracle 03/13/05

[stephenandrew]

Chris--
As I understand it, when you use a credit card or ATM card, you are essentially getting the exchange rate offerd to large commercial customers, e.g. those who make large foregin currency exchanges. I suspect it is much like buying in quantity--when you buy more of anything, like toilet paper, soda, or foreign currency you get a lower unit price. When you use a credit card, your transactions are being pooled with many others. If you just pay cash or use travelers checks, you are all alone so to speak, and hence won't get the preferred exchange rate offered to larger institutions. If I ma mistaken on this point, I am sure someone will correct me.

[CruiseFever]

That's really interesting.

I'm a big fan of ATM/Debit cards/Visa Check cards. To me this is one more reason to use them.

Happy Cruising

Chris

www.LifeIsCruising.com (http://www.LifeIsCruising.com)

Next up:
Caribbean Princess 06/26/04
Star Princess 10/24/04
Diamond Princess 12/22/04
Carnival Miracle 03/13/05

[cactusrose]

StepehnAndrew,

I couldn't have said it better. You are exactly right. The difference with a credit card is the issuer (e.g. VISA or MC) will usually add a percentage (usually 2%) to the rate. So the best rate will always be the ATM/Debit card. For those interested, here is a wonderful site to get information on Foreign Currency exchange. You can even print our a cheat sheet for any currency. Scroll down to tools on the left hand side to FXCHeatSheet.

http://www.oanda.com/convert/classic

1952 - Excalibur (freighter)
1972 - Song of Norway, Caribbean
1980 - Hawaii American Curise line, Tahiti
09/01/2002 - Veendam, Alaska
05/29/2003 - Pacific Princess, Alaska
11/26/2003 - Star Princess, Australia/New Zealand

5/28/2004 - Star Princess, Venice to Barcelona
http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=ff00ff&cdt=2004;05;28;21;0;00&timezone=GMT+0100

11/06/2004 - Diamond Princess, Mexican Riviera
http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=00ff00&cdt=2004;11;06;17;0;00&timezone=GMT-0800

[This message was edited by cactusrose on 05-16-04 at 04:58 PM.]