Access to USD

About to take our first Azamara Journey cruise. Don't want to travel with huge amounts of cash but need USD to pay for our privately booked shore excursions. Is there an ATM onboard? What are the service fees like?

Oh- interesting thought. I am in same situation and had not thought this out.

About to take our first Azamara Journey cruise. Don't want to travel with huge amounts of cash but need USD to pay for our privately booked shore excursions. Is there an ATM onboard? What are the service fees like?

Yes, there is. Don't recall fee.

Yes, there is. Don't recall fee.

ATM fee from what I recall is about $4 or $5 USD, if was definitely less than $5.

Don't take small amounts of USD out as there is a flat minimum fee (which I thought was $6, but my memory is hazy) so a few smaller amounts will be expensive. It's a convenient way of taking money out, but the exchange rate was awful.

I am sure it was $6 as well. Personally I would risk carrying the cash as the rate was bad and there was also a handling charge at my bank the one time I had to use it. Also it was out of order for several days on our last cruise so I would not rely on it if it was my only means to pay for a trip.

Thanks for the information. My card will actually be loaded with USD so there won't be an exchange rate issue. However, the comment about it being out of order is worrying. As you say would hate to be stranded not being able to do trips as we didn't have access to cash.

Hi

What about American Express travelers checks and just cash them in as needed at guest services? They will give you US Dollars. I have done that numerous times and I am from the US. I just didn't want to carry a lot of cash..

Kathy

Wow, didn't know there was an ATM onboard these ships--is that both of them? Unusual for a cruiseline, but handy!

Wow, didn't know there was an ATM onboard these ships--is that both of them? Unusual for a cruiseline, but handy!

Yes they are on both ships near Land Discoveries

I took enough cash in March but in Dec I did use it. I thought it was $6.50 but it is expensive. my bank lets me take out $600 at a time so i do take that out. my other card lets me take more and I do use it on ship. but there are atm's in most cities but it will give local money. does the guide use that.

i always take cash with me from home plus more from an atm

Wow, didn't know there was an ATM onboard these ships--is that both of them? Unusual for a cruiseline, but handy!

Every cruise ship I have been on has them (usually in the casino).

Every cruise ship I have been on has them (usually in the casino).

On Azamara you find the ATM on deck 4 Guest relations. I agree the exchange rate is not good if you're an Aussie, Brit or non US. We try to avoid, it's only for emergencies. My other half said its more around the $6.50, $6 mark per transaction. Apologies for my earlier advice, I must be stuck in a time warp, I think I must have been recalling when we first started cruising it was about $4-5.

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When I was on Quest, there were two ATM's; one was marked USD, and the other Euro but the Euro one seemed to stay out of order. I asked at the reception desk, and they had plenty of Euro's so in a pinch I could take dollars out of the ATM and exchange for Euro's at the desk. Possibly an expensive way to go about it, but it would have gotten the job done. I assume they would also have USD's on hand.

Also check with the cashier at the casino you are able to obtain US dollars the amount

is added to your on-board account for fee of about $6.

Also check with the cashier at the casino you are able to obtain US dollars the amount

is added to your on-board account for fee of about $6.

I wouldn't do that. It's a 5% charge to take out from the casino.

About to take our first Azamara Journey cruise. Don't want to travel with huge amounts of cash but need USD to pay for our privately booked shore excursions. Is there an ATM onboard? What are the service fees like?

Why not pay for your excursion with a credit card?

I keep one that doesn't charge a currency exchange fee and used it for our tour in St Petersburg. We were required to pay in NEW NOTES in either US$ or € or by CC.

As luck would have it, the exchange rate on the day was in our favour.

Why not pay for your excursion with a credit card?

I keep one that doesn't charge a currency exchange fee and used it for our tour in St Petersburg. We were required to pay in NEW NOTES in either US$ or € or by CC.

As luck would have it, the exchange rate on the day was in our favour.

We've got private excursions booked in India and Sri Lanka and credit cards are not an option with the provider- nor would local ATMs give a solution. I'm not sure where the OP is going but she may also be in that situation. The best solution other than carrying cash would be USD Travellers cheques if she can get them, though these are issued by fewer organisations these days. The rate is a commercial rate and the service fee is much less than an ATM or the onboard casino.

As she is Australian the onboard casino fee will be in addition to the fees she has from her card provider to debit the US dollar charges to an Australian dollar card. So certainly the most expensive option.

I think the main thing is that the OP later posted she has a card loaded with USD, so rates are irrelevant. Not sure she would be able to use that card to pay for tours. I hate travellers cheques. Pain in the you know what.