Dollars on the QM2

Is it necessary, or even simply convenient, to have dollars in cash onboard the QM2? If so for what? Apart from tipping (a separate thread!), is there are any other use?

QM2 is a "cash free zone" and even any extra tips can be paid in your home currency (Sterling?) Of course cash for ports of call are another matter and dollars are still the prefered currency for most places in the world except Europe.

David.

a word of warning. The QM2 has machines to exchange cash from one currency into another. I watched as a women used the machine to exchange Canadian back into US(the machines can do multiple currency) For a $5.00 Canadian bill she recieved back exactly $2.00 US. While this won't kill anyone it clearly is not a good thing. The exchange rate was bad and then there was a $2.50 per transaction "bank" fee and then the machine rounds down to the closest .25. It makes the 3% fee the backs charge on credit card transacation pale when they at least give you the wholesale rate as the exchange rate. I always use ATM's when overseas to get local currency from my checking account. so far never a fee and I get the wholesale rate as well. Todays exchange rate for USD to CAN is 1US equals 1.11 CAN. The ships ATM gave 1US = 1.01 CAN- an extremely poor rate.(this was done this week)

If using the casino then the cheapest way to get chips is with cash (USD).

If using your cruise card to get chips then you will be charged 3%.

When cashing in your chips, then you will be given dollars. I can't be put back on the cruise card at the casino.

When we were on last Christmas I was amazed how GOOD the exchange rate was against the UK pound, it was much better than I would have got in the UK even allowing for the transaction fee.

When we were on last Christmas I was amazed how GOOD the exchange rate was against the UK pound, it was much better than I would have got in the UK even allowing for the transaction fee.

what was the rate?

Sorry I can't remember, but it was a lot more than we were being offered in the UK prior to the trip

I gave a concrete example of the poor exchange rate. It may be that because they set the exchange rate at some point it does sometimes turn out better. But you should know the exchange rate and use the machines with caution. It may be that it is sometimes better than other places.