Cashing Canadian traveller's cheques

[PrairieWinterCruiser]

Does anyone know if the HAL desk will cash and exchange Canadian $ traveller's cheques for U.S. cash and, if so, is there a charge and how do they determine the exchange rate to use? I could take along American traveller's cheques, of course, but if by some chance (some very slim chance!) I don't cash all cheques I take with me, then I can use them when I get back home to the cold, snowy north. Any info on this would be appreciated! :)

[sapper1]

Does anyone know if the HAL desk will cash and exchange Canadian $ traveller's cheques for U.S. cash and, if so, is there a charge and how do they determine the exchange rate to use? I could take along American traveller's cheques, of course, but if by some chance (some very slim chance!) I don't cash all cheques I take with me, then I can use them when I get back home to the cold, snowy north. Any info on this would be appreciated! :)
Buy the cheques in US dollars at your home bank before your leave. Your bank will give you a much more favourable rate than HAL will and if you have any left over, just save them for your next trip to the States. That's what we do and it works well. I use the cheques to pass out extra tips at the end of the trip and the crew members just take them to the front desk to be cashed.

[lorekauf]

Buy the cheques in US dollars at your home bank before your leave. Your bank will give you a much more favourable rate than HAL will and if you have any left over, just save them for your next trip to the States. That's what we do and it works well. I use the cheques to pass out extra tips at the end of the trip and the crew members just take them to the front desk to be cashed.
I second that. I don't think HAL is known to give a decent exchange rate...at least as far as a price of a cruise is concerned so I wouldn't risk it.

[cantwait2cruize]

Bring enough US travelers cheques to cover your sea pass account. Don't put your account on a credit card. You'll get dinged both ways on the exchange rate:D

[PrairieWinterCruiser]

Bring enough US travelers cheques to cover your sea pass account. Don't put your account on a credit card. You'll get dinged both ways on the exchange rate:D

Thank you all for your input. Cantwait, I hadn't thought of that. I thought the $60 per day per person was just a "hold" and only the actual charges would be actually put through to my credit card. Do I understand you correctly that you are suggesting I give traveller's cheques for the full amount up front?

[sapper1]

Thank you all for your input. Cantwait, I hadn't thought of that. I thought the $60 per day per person was just a "hold" and only the actual charges would be actually put through to my credit card. Do I understand you correctly that you are suggesting I give traveller's cheques for the full amount up front?
It would be cheaper to use the cheques as the credit card company charges exchange on the currency difference plus a percentage fee for using your card out of Canada. It is all billed as one exchange fee on your card but the out of country fee is buried in there.

[fann1sh]

Sapper is absolutely right, but the credit card surcharge usually isn't enough to lose sleep over - 2 - 3% extra. Depending on the credit card, and depending on the exchange rate you pay when you buy the traveller's cheques, if can almost be a "wash" - under 1% difference.

With C$ traveller's cheques, the difference is much more - sometimes you can lose as much as 10%! So do bring US$ ones (and/or cash).

I routinely use credit cards for practically everything, because while loss, theft, or fraud can still happen, the protection for credit cards is (arguably) best.

[PrairieWinterCruiser]

I think you are probably right, fann1sh, and the difference between the credit card and traveller's cheques is likely not very significant, considering of course that my airfare and cruise are already paid for so I just need to cover my onboard purchases and shore excursions and such. I rarely carry cash any more at home. When on vacation, though, I prefer to use cash for tipping and for my shore excursions, and I have learned from past experience to make sure I have an assortment of bills. Cab drivers and such "conveniently" don't seem to have change. :eek:

Thanks all. Four and one-half weeks to go for me before I get out of the cold and snow here!