Mercury - Mexico: Pesos or Dollars?

[high seas gal]

This could be posted on the ports boards, but everyone I "know" is here! Do I need to convert some dollars to pesos to so a little shopping in Mexico? (Mexican Rivera ports). If I do need pesos, should I get them before we embark? Thanks for any advice. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

High Seas Gal
Northern California

NCL Sky Jun. 2000 (ALASKA)
NCL Sky Aug. 2001 (ALASKA)
Princess Regal Princess Jul. 2002 (ALASKA)
NCL Sun Sep. 2003 (ALASKA)
Celebrity Mercury Oct. 2004 (MEXICO)

[dmk]

We had no problem using US dollars in Mexico on our last cruise.

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[JNLROSE]

HSGal,

When we were in Cancun & Cozumel, for 2 weeks each time, we only needed pesos for the local bus transportation. EVERY other place either took american dollars or credit cards, which the CC companies convert properly into american dollars!!!

We saw tons of kiosks all over the place where you can convert dollars to pesos. We personally used a CC every time we could because it was just so much easier!

We are also doing the Mercury Riveria trip & this is the info I am hoping is correct there as well! From what people have told me---it is correct!

Hope this helps!

Rosie
E-mail me <a href="mailto:JNLROSE@AOL.COM">here</a href>

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CELEBRITY MERCURY HERE I COME!!!

[Randyk47]

In March we used dollars without any problem. In a couple of cases they gave us pesos in change put we used those for tips and didn't get "stuck" with any at the end of the shore time. Quite frankly, most of shops/restuarants in the ports actually priced things in US dollars/pesos and you had to get off the main streets to see prices in only pesos.

Until Galaxy
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[high seas gal]

Thanks for all the good info. I think we'll go prepared with the good old credit card, plus our dollars. Appreciate you all! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

High Seas Gal
Northern California

NCL Sky Jun. 2000 (ALASKA)
NCL Sky Aug. 2001 (ALASKA)
Princess Regal Princess Jul. 2002 (ALASKA)
NCL Sun Sep. 2003 (ALASKA)
Celebrity Mercury Oct. 2004 (MEXICO)

[reggierail]

Bring a lot of singles and beware when you get your change in pesos, it loses something in the translation. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif[/img]

Reggie [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

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Rhapsody 10-17-04

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Mercury 12-06-04

Monarch - Sometime soon



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God bless the USA and all freedom loving people. May God protect all those who fight and die to protect those freedoms.

[high seas gal]

Thanks for the tip Reggie ... I'll be packing those singles! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

High Seas Gal
Northern California
Celebrity Mercury - October 13, 2004 - Mexico!
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NCL Sky Jun. 2000 (ALASKA)
NCL Sky Aug. 2001 (ALASKA)
Princess Regal Princess Jul. 2002 (ALASKA)
NCL Sun Sep. 2003 (ALASKA)

[JNLROSE]

HSG,

Remember there is a bank on board to change large bills for you! Just a convenience for travelling! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]

PS, my grandparesnts lived in Petaluma & Cotati. When I was young, we used to ride horses to Sebastopol to pick wonderful Gravenstein apples!!! Love your area! Still have a ton of relatives there.

Rosie
E-mail me <a href="mailto:JNLROSE@AOL.COM">here</a href>

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CELEBRITY MERCURY HERE I COME!!!

[FTBLCOACH]

Actually, the best answer is to carry both.

Just got off Mercury yesterday from the last Mexico voyage of the season. We found that while all shops/restaurants take US Dollars their exchange rate is not always favorable. We found shop exchange rates from 10/1 to 10.5/1 while the exchange kiosks/banks were offering 11/1 to 11.2/1. Pesos are handy if you decide to duck into a small local store to grab a bottle of water/soda/refreshment or other such small purchases during your wanderings.

For example...the purchase of an item/dinner/whatever at 500 pesos using an exchange rate of 10/1 comes up to be USD 50.00 - that same purchase at an exchange rate of 11/1 is now only $45.45 - quite a difference.

BTW...the exchange rates here in the U.S. are terrible. Travelex offered to exchange our dollars for pesos at 10.0 PLUS a $5.50 service fee (no service fees down there).

"I do not shout. I speak in a tone of voice that ensures I will not be misunderstood, misquoted, or ignored".

[high seas gal]

Rosie,
Yes, we still have Gravenstein apples, though not as many. Lots of orchards have been converted to vineyards. The Apple Blossom fair was just a week or so ago!

What is your sailing date on the Mercury? For some reason I thought we were on the same cruise ... Oct. 13.

High Seas Gal
Northern California

Celebrity Mercury - October 13, 2004 - Mexico!
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NCL Sky Jun. 2000 (ALASKA)
NCL Sky Aug. 2001 (ALASKA)
Princess Regal Princess Jul. 2002 (ALASKA)
NCL Sun Sep. 2003 (ALASKA)

[AstridSJ]

high seas gal,

How is Sebastopol these days. I lived there for 20 years between 1970 and 1990.
My kids grew up there and both went to Analy High

Astrid

Mercury Nov 15, 2004
Galaxy April 2, 2005

HAL: Volendam 2003
NCL: Star Nov 2002
RCCL: Vision, Legend, Viking Serenade, 1995,1996,1998,2001
Celebrity: Century, Mercury, Infinity, 1997,1999,2000,2002
Disney Magic 2001
Renaissance R3 2000

[high seas gal]

Astrid,
We moved to Sebastopol in 1975 ... still live in the same old house. Sebastopol is fine, though in our 29 years it's gone from 1 stoplight to 7! We lost our "Train Down Main" the freight train which went down the middle of main street each week day. Santa came by that train each year when our kids were little. Main street is boutiques, small restaurants and the like. We've gained (?) McDonalds, Burger King, Taco Bell, Papa Murphy's Pizza. And the traffic can be aweful. But Sebastopol is a great place to live. Population 7,000. Half-hour to the ocean, the redwoods, the river, Lake Sonoma, great hikes, bikes, parks, and people. Housing is off the scale (median price now at about $565,000). I wish we owned the house we live in ... we could retire! Analy High is still going strong ... it must be 75 or 80 years old.

We have several friends who have moved to Oregon ... how do you like it up there?

High Seas Gal
Northern California

Celebrity Mercury - October 13, 2004 - Mexico!
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NCL Sky Jun. 2000 (ALASKA)
NCL Sky Aug. 2001 (ALASKA)
Princess Regal Princess Jul. 2002 (ALASKA)
NCL Sun Sep. 2003 (ALASKA)

[AstridSJ]

We love it up here! We live right on the base of Mt Hood, about an hour east of Portland.
I went from working in the wine industry to working in the ski industry. I really did enjoy my years in Sebastopol though. I wonder very often, what ever happened to all the people I used to know over there.

We always cruise in the spring time to give us a break from the weather, usually go to the caribbean.
I noticed that you've mostly sailed with NCL and really liked it. Quite a change from NCL to Alaska vs X to Mexico.Let me know what you think when you get back.We have sailed with NCL only once, but prefer Celebrity.
We loved our Alaska Cruise, which we did with RCL, but prefer the warmer weather cruises.
Puerto Vallarta is our favorite stop on the Mexican Riviera itinerary.
Never needed Pesos.

Astrid

Mercury Nov 15, 2004
Galaxy April 2, 2005

HAL: Volendam 2003
NCL: Star Nov 2002
RCCL: Vision, Legend, Viking Serenade, 1995,1996,1998,2001
Celebrity: Century, Mercury, Infinity, 1997,1999,2000,2002
Disney Magic 2001
Renaissance R3 2000

[DsnysGr8t]

I located the American Express office (just off the harbor in Cabo) and exchanged there. I discovered when "barginning" for my purchases, that I got a much better deal if I was barginning with pesos

Plus the cheapest place to buy Kahlua is at that brand new mall (it was the Duty Free Liquor store in there) I used my Amex for the purchase and paid $6.85 for the big bottle that costs $17.99 at Costco!

LGM[img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

Carnival 4/00
Disney Wonder 8/00
Disney Wonder 11/01
Disney Wonder 4/02
Celebrity Mercury 4/04
Disney Magic 11/05