AUD. vs. USD

Traveling on the Diamond Princess from Sydney to Auckland . This cruise deals in AUD DOLLARS. trying to figure out if the gratuity of 12.95 per day is in USD or AUD, and if these should be paid up front. I would like to hear from anyone who has been on a cruise such as this and how they dealt with the conversion.

You want them paid in AUD as an American citizen. Thus they should be charged to your account on a daily basis. That is how we did it on Dawn Princess in August. So, don't pay them in advance.

Also decline Princess' offer to exchange your charges on board for you. Let your credit card that is used to pay the on board charges do the exchange. Far better for you.