New Zealand cruise - What's the best way to get local currency?

[dcsam]

Family members will be on the Volendam cruising around New Zealand. Does the ship take U.S. travelers cheques and cash them in the local currency?
I'm sure they have ATM cards, but thought getting cash on the ship would be less hastle.
Thanks much!

[jtl513]

Not directly. You can cash travelers checks for free into $US ... which then can be converted immediately to local currency, paying an exchange premium.

[NMLady]

Originally Posted by dcsam

Family members will be on the Volendam cruising around New Zealand. Does the ship take U.S. travelers cheques and cash them in the local currency?
I'm sure they have ATM cards, but thought getting cash on the ship would be less hastle.
Thanks much!

The ship does take US Travelers' checks but I'm not sure if that would thn have to be two separate transactions. Also, I don't think the ship's exchange rate, if they do have the NZ currency, is as good as what you can get elsewhere. We usually get our foreign currency through our bank before we leave on cruises. Or sometimes when possible we get it at the airport either before we leave or at our destination, depending on timing.

[funlovin'cruiser]

Originally Posted by NMLady

The ship does take US Travelers' checks but I'm not sure if that would thn have to be two separate transactions. Also, I don't think the ship's exchange rate, if they do have the NZ currency, is as good as what you can get elsewhere. We usually get our foreign currency through our bank before we leave on cruises. Or sometimes when possible we get it at the airport either before we leave or at our destination, depending on timing.

Did this cruise last year and didn't bring anything with me except for my debit/credit cards and it was perfect! I got cash out of ATMs and received a GREAT exchange rate. Oh, I did covert some US money (about $20) prior to our first port of call at the front office and got another very competitive rate. I found that the banks in NZ (of which there are PLENTY at each port within a 2-3 minute walk from the shuttle drop offs - there are many shuttles on this itinerary as you are mainly docked in industrial ports - or if it's a walkoff port, pretty much as soon as you get out of the fence) are great. In reviewing my debit deductions when I got my bank statement, I paid about 5 cents each time I withdrew from the ATMs (I always used ANZ Bank) and others paid much more with going into the banks and exchanging.

[rkacruiser]

I have been able to obtain foreign currency, including from New Zealand, from my local bank branch (JP Morgan Chase) with no fee and with a good exchange rate. I like having some local cash in my pocket when I arrive at a foreign port.

[room010]

Quickest and easiest to get cash from one of the numerous ATMs ashore. Make larger purchases with your credit card.

Just a quick heads up about travellers cheques Down Under. All banks and bureaux de change will happily cash them for you but using them in stores in lieu of cash can sometimes be more difficult. Almost all the locals use credit/debit cards or cash so don't be surprised if a shop or restaurant doesn't accept T Cheques.

[Sunshine91]

For ANY foreign travel in the last 10 years or so (cruise or otherwise), we've relied on local ATMs using our debit card for local currency. The exchange rates were comparable to what was posted in newpapers or on-line w/o additional markup, & bank fees were minimal.

We've never used a credit card for local cash because then the cash-advance fee would apply.

The only time we've ever travelled with foreign currency on us was last year for Eurodam's launch. We had about 10 pounds sterling leftover from a previous trip to London. By holding onto that cash for a few years we actually came out ahead because the dollar had tanked in the interim.

[Kiwi1]

ATM machines are in abundance, every bank that you pass will have one. Most credit cards are widely accepted for purchases, in restaurants etc. however some smaller cafes do not have credit card facilities.