Money

We have only done one none caribbean cruise which was a Europe cruise and used Euro for all stops.

This trip is a bit more complicated, we will have to use 6 (or 4 if not counting Hong Kong and Singapore) different currencies from beginning to end.

I had though about going old school and bring travelers checks and cash them at the front desk of the ship (hopefully they will have all currencies). Not sure though if they will change leftover currency back after the port stop.

Has anyone done a cruise like this and what did they do?

We will be on the NCL Star next Christmas

If its just for taxi, tips or a meal, IMO getting the $ on board is worth the convenience even if the exchange rate :mad:

If you're going to spend $$$ on stuff, then it may be better to get from your home bank before you leave or hunt down a ATM while in country. Check with your bank about the fees.

HK and Singapore have 1st world banking systems and I don't hesitate about withdrawing $ from ATMs that are part of a large bank like HSBC. In the "tourist" areas ATMs and banks are plentiful. Don't waste time by cashing travelers checks in the banks. The teller may be too young to know what they are and you'll need your passport for ID :cool:

Others can reply about your other ports.

Try to get what you think you need as you'll get a double whammy going back and forth on the exchange.

If its just for taxi, tips or a meal, IMO getting the $ on board is worth the convenience even if the exchange rate :mad:

 

If you're going to spend $$$ on stuff, then it may be better to get from your home bank before you leave or hunt down a ATM while in country. Check with your bank about the fees.

 

HK and Singapore have 1st world banking systems and I don't hesitate about withdrawing $ from ATMs that are part of a large bank like HSBC. In the "tourist" areas ATMs and banks are plentiful. Don't waste time by cashing travelers checks in the banks. The teller may be too young to know what they are and you'll need your passport for ID :cool:

 

Others can reply about your other ports.

 

Try to get what you think you need as you'll get a double whammy going back and forth on the exchange.

I plan on using credit card for all purchase I can possibly use it for but I would assume places like the hawker centers or public markets down take cards.

Getting from the bank is a good idea before

I agree about Hong Kong. Easy to use ATMs all over the place and you can take out small amounts like 50 HK$

Someone who has cruised Asia might no better but in my small experience (one sailing) couldn't count on the ship to have the local currencies.

The idea of going to a bank is good. Also consider AAA.

This is from Singapore for Beginners

Currency

Singapore's currency is the Singapore dollar (SGD). Roughly, $1 US = $1.50 SGD, 1 Euro = $2 SGD, and $1 AUD = $1.10 SGD. International access ATMs can be found in just about every nook and cranny of this island country and commission-free currency exchange booths are abundant on Orchard Road and in Little India. You will be expected to use Singapore dollars for cash purchases. Credit cards are widely accepted by restaurants, supermarkets, and shopping centres, but a minimum purchase of $20 often applies. Taxis charge a 10% administration fee for payment by credit card.

The web site also has links to other Asian countries. Places you will be stopping may be listed. For instance under Info for Vietnam, it says US dollars are accepted in the larger cities

I plan on using credit card for all purchase I can possibly use it for but I would assume places like the hawker centers or public markets down take cards.

 

Getting from the bank is a good idea before

Smaller storefront merchants that take credit cards may tack on an additional fee for use of that card and/or will have a harder price.

Hong Kong and Singapore you will need local currency and getting it from an ATM is the best way. As others have said, you won't have any problems finding ATMs.

In some other countries, like Vietnam, they will accept US dollars.

I would take some US$, at each port just change what you will need into local currency - if taking ships tours and not planning to buy up big you will probably find $50 per port enough for some drinks eats and a couple of beers.

Do not get left with Vietnamese Dong - only worth papering you toilet if you take it home with you.

You won't be able to get local currency on the ship unless they have an ATM.

What countries will you be visiting.

For Hong Kong and Singapore which you listed you could use USA dollars in most places where you don't want to use a credit card but I prefer to get local currency. You can do that either at an ATM or you can use a money exchange place and although you will pay more with the latter if you are not talking about a lot of cash then in the end you are only talking about a small variance in absolute dollars.

Keith

You won't be able to get local currency on the ship unless they have an ATM.

 

What countries will you be visiting.

 

For Hong Kong and Singapore which you listed you could use USA dollars in most places where you don't want to use a credit card but I prefer to get local currency. You can do that either at an ATM or you can use a money exchange place and although you will pay more with the latter if you are not talking about a lot of cash then in the end you are only talking about a small variance in absolute dollars.

 

Keith

Taiwan

Vietnam

Cambodia

Thailand

You won't be able to get local currency on the ship unless they have an ATM.

 

What countries will you be visiting.

 

For Hong Kong and Singapore which you listed you could use USA dollars in most places where you don't want to use a credit card but I prefer to get local currency. You can do that either at an ATM or you can use a money exchange place and although you will pay more with the latter if you are not talking about a lot of cash then in the end you are only talking about a small variance in absolute dollars.

 

Keith

On our Princess cruises in Asia, local money changers came on board the ship (were located in the atrium area) most certainly in Phu My in Vietnam but did not appear at all ports of call. Singapore and Hong Kong will have money changers and ATMs at the port

On our Princess cruises in Asia, local money changers came on board the ship (were located in the atrium area) most certainly in Phu My in Vietnam but did not appear at all ports of call. Singapore and Hong Kong will have money changers and ATMs at the port

This varies by cruise line but also from cruise to cruise even at the same port.

Keith

Taiwan

Vietnam

Cambodia

Thailand

For Cambodia I would go with USA currency.

Vietnam USA currency is widely accepted in most places. I would use Credit Card in most stores.

Thailand varies. USA currency accepted at some places but not all and usually where there is an entrance fee they require local currency. We always get local currency when visiting Thailand.

Taiwan I have not yet visited.

Keith

Dont use travellers cheques in Asia. The ATM at each port really is the best way to go.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

thanks for the response, when you used the ATM's in various countries did it give you an option to enter how much money you want in say USD and the it would spit out the equivalent in the countries currency you were in at the time? some of these exchanges are crazy like 22, 291 Dong to 1 USD. This is how the ATM's in Europe worked that we used

Also, if we have leftover cash and won't return to that country is there a place by the port to exchange it? Will they exchange to USD or would it be best to exchange to the country we are going to next?

Often you have the option with the ATM. I just figure out ahead of time how many of the foreign currency I want. I print out a conversion chart for each country just to have an estimate. Make sure that you know what your limit is.

You can exchange money at any currency exchange store other than coins. You could exchange for the country you are going to next but if you then have too much and have to do it again you start to lose more and more and would be better to wait till the end and exchange one time for USA currency.

Keith

Let me just add that some ports won't have any ATM's or money exchange places and some will. Singapore will.

Keith

If you are travelling anywhere in Asia you can use US Dollars. ATM Machines that will provide local currency can be found in every port. Royal has ATM machines on board that can provide US Dollars. And while Royal does charge a transaction fee $6.50 it is a US ATM Machine so no foreign fees.

Having lived in SE Asia for the last 15 years I have never had a problems with ATM Machines of paying in dollars. But it is helpful to get a small amount of local currency. You can always exchange anything let at the airport before you live.

US$ were widely accepted (and some times preferable) when we were in Asia. If you are planning to shop in local street markets bring small denomination bills...easier to barter with. Don't bring dirty, ripped, crinkled US $ bills as they might not be accepted. On our Princess cruise there were desks set up at some of the ports to exchange money but the lines were long. Traveler's checks are not widely used or accepted and are a hassle as another poster has mentioned because you need to have your passport. ATMs are the way to go. I also made a little currency "cheat sheet" (2"x2") for each of the countries we were visiting. It helped a lot when shopping/dining as I could pull it out of my pocket for reference.

Just a bit of our experience with Travelers Checks in China. During our two week land trip in China and our post-cruise stay in Shanghai we found it very easy to cash our US TC's at the Bank of China on an as need basis into Yuan...so TC's can be an easy alternative to carrying large amounts of cash or using an ATM. This worked out well for us.

I would strongly disagree with some blanket statements above saying that you can use US$ everywhere in Asia. In China nobody will accept US$ except some rare markets targeting tourists where you'll get a very poor exchange rate. Same in HK. Weaker economies will be ok with US$ but again, exchange rate won't be great.

Exchanging money at the bank is time consuming. ATMs are best.

I just found out that Charles Schwab has a high yield checking account with a zero monthly balance and zero monthly fee that we plan on opening an account in.

They reimburse 100% of all ATM fees worldwide from any ATM (even ones that are not theirs) and we get the best exchange rate using the ATM.

This seems like our best option for the trip to get cash

For Hong Kong & Taiwan, you are all set with ATM especially with a Citibank account, ours from the US worked there - just alert your home branch or online of your travel plans, including any credit cards with them before leaving "home". Withdrawn funds locally there in their currency, the fees are minimal & easier than cashing in TC, where your passport is required nowadays (for both TC and US currency).

All of the places you are visiting prefer, if not strictly insist on new/near new U.S. currency, with no markings, etc. so best to exchange them before leaving for converting or using.

In HKG, you will find plenty of licensed Money Exchange in the tourist area with longer hours than banks, for your convenience. Upon sailing out of KTCT - there is a money exchange service inside the terminal, you can convert any unused HK currency to VN Dong (where you will be a millionaire, as $100 USD = almost $2.2 million there) ... and dinner for 2 at a local Pho place would only cost $400,000.:D

As noted, plan ahead for what you plan to spend/buy in VN - and before leaving, spend the balance on gifts, souvenirs, snacks, etc. before boarding. If you run short, most merchants & restaurants catered to tourists with products for visitors will take your U.S. currency, not at the best exchange rate - as long as you are using new & clean bills, $20's, $50's and $100's are preferred.

Cambodia & Thailand, you might be able to use currency from the neighbors - just don't count on it. Exchange the amount likely needed & spend accordingly, use credit card whenever accepted.

Singarpore, bank ATM's are plentiful, etc. as noted above.

Is Taiwan pre-cruise or post-cruise, flying to/from ? - on an escorted tour or DIY ? We ran into quite a few Citibank branches & ATM all over the islands last year (also in South Korea - outside Seoul en route to the "eastern" coastal city on a highway rest stop - Citi's ATM, LOL)

We also have a Citibank account and use ATM's to get local currency. As noted previously, in Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand you can normally use US$, in fact in Vietnam and Cambodia they preferred US$. I was able to use an ATM at a 7/11 in Cambodia - instructions were available in English. In Taiwan and Singapore you will need the local currency (especially at the Hawker stalls), but ATM's are readily available in both countries (there may be ATM's at the cruise terminal and in Singapore at the airport). Note that they recommend that your PIN not have a "zero", some ATM's won't recognize the zero, I had to change my PIN.

We always take new US $1, $5 and $10 to pay for small items & tips to the guides / drivers and credit cards for larger purchases, Citibank and other credit card companies have cards without any foreign transaction fees.

We take some of every currency we will encounter. It is free for us to get from our bank and free to return. No ATM charges, no risk of having someone clone your card at an ATM. We take as much as we think we will need, based on how long we will be there. Have never been disappointed or troubled by doing this.

It is free for us to get from our bank and free to return.

But how is your exchange rate?

I always use the ATM - have a dedicated travel account so limited funds available should anything go wrong. Works for me.