Excursions-Cash or Travellers Cheque

[winterpeg2004]

Starting to finalize the planning for our cruise and was wondering how people pay there balance off for there excursions.

 

I know I can bring cash and be good but am thinking a travellers cheque would be more convenient than carry a bunch of cash.

 

 

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[klfrodo]

Travelers Checques are becoming an ancient thing of the past. Many places no longer accept them.

If you know for a 'FACT" that your vendor accepts them, then go for it. If there are any questions in your mind as to whether they will be accepted, then assume cash.

[paul929207]

I assume you are talking about private excursions. These you would pay with cash. Find out in advance which currency is accepted. Traveler's Checks and Credit/Debit cards are not likely to be taken.

 

Be sure to have the exact amount. Change could be given in local currency even when US$ are accepted for payment

[cb at sea]

Cash or credit cards are accepted.

[NMLady]

Starting to finalize the planning for our cruise and was wondering how people pay there balance off for there excursions.

 

I know I can bring cash and be good but am thinking a travellers cheque would be more convenient than carry a bunch of cash.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

 

Very few places accept Travelers' Checks. Most cruise lines though will cash them for you at front desk or in casino.

[BlueRiband]

Starting to finalize the planning for our cruise and was wondering how people pay there balance off for there excursions.

 

I know I can bring cash and be good but am thinking a travellers cheque would be more convenient than carry a bunch of cash...

 

Some cruise lines (e.g. Cunard) and hotels no longer accept traveler's checks. Not for your on board account, not for the casino, purser won't cash them. Traveler's checks in general are going the way of the rotary telephone. American Express closed all of their storefront offices last year. One has to buy or cash them at a participating bank. Good luck on weekends and bank holidays.

 

If you decide you want to take traveler's checks first check the current policy of your cruise line. If there is no convenient way for you to cash them it will be like having no money.

Edited November 1, 2014 by BlueRiband

[paul929207]

Cash or credit cards are accepted.

I would not assume that a tour guide would take a credit card. If you want to use one, verify in advance that your guide will take it. We have taken many tours where cash was the only acceptable means of payment

[Marie51]

Travelers checks are obsolete....take cash or some vendors take credit cards.

[beachbum53]

If you have the e-mail address of the tour operator, send an e-mail well in advance and ask what their preference is. Or, if their phone number is posted on their web site, give them a call. For some, a credit card is sufficient. For others, cash may be the preferred method.

[caulder60]

Starting to finalize the planning for our cruise and was wondering how people pay there balance off for there excursions.

 

I know I can bring cash and be good but am thinking a travellers cheque would be more convenient than carry a bunch of cash.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

 

I agree! I wouldn't bring them because places don't take them anymore. I pay my excursion before the cruise so I don't have to have that much cash or credit with me. I would put it on your cruise card if you don't plan on paying for it prior to leaving.

[paul929207]

I agree! I wouldn't bring them because places don't take them anymore. I pay my excursion before the cruise so I don't have to have that much cash or credit with me. I would put it on your cruise card if you don't plan on paying for it prior to leaving.

You are assuming OP is taking ship's excrsions. If not OP should verify the required currency and whether the tour operator will take credit cards.

[caulder60]

You are assuming OP is taking ship's excrsions. If not OP should verify the required currency and whether the tour operator will take credit cards.

 

 

Nope!!!! I don't take ship's excursions and I still pay ahead of time. Either way travelers checks should not be taken. They are more hassle now a days then 10 years ago.

[CruiserBruce]

As we don't know what the OP was specifically referring to, we can't give an complete or comprehensive answer. The possibilities are all over the place. I know some venders we have used only take travelers checks and cash, and travelers checks work just fine if the vender is accepting them. Others take credit cards. Some want only cash.

[BlueRiband]

I hope the OP has been back to check responses. What has me concerned is that the number of places which stopped accepting travelers cheques has accelerated this past year. (HSBC bank stopped in April.) Many hotels have also stopped as well. When all else failed one used to be able to locate an Amex office but that is no longer an option as they were all closed last year. The Amex community board is full of complaints from people who have had problems cashing them. Yet both Amex and VISA still promote them as a way to "protect your vacation".

 

I have to take issue with those who say that travelers cheques "are just fine" or "cash them at the front desk". Just because your cruise line cashed them last year doesn't mean they still do or are not planning to stop honoring them soon. The OP didn't mention which cruise line so I hope they do check their line's current policy. And IF their line does still cash them they are advised to cash them all out before disembarking. Cashing them could be even harder a year or two from now.

Edited November 3, 2014 by BlueRiband

[winterpeg2004]

Thanks for the replies, we are going to play it safe and bring cash

 

 

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[paul929207]

Thanks for the replies, we are going to play it safe and bring cash

 

 

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Wise choice. If you carry large bills, ie $100, the front desk will change them to smaller bills for you

[winterpeg2004]

Even though the ship is "cash free", they will be able to make change for you.

 

I was thinking I would have to make any change before getting on board. If I can carry a bunch of hundreds and get change that would make it so much easier.

 

We will be sailing on Carnival.

 

 

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[RunnerGirl26.2]

As an FYI-we had one private excursion that took US cash, but no bills with tears in them. So check your bills you are bringing with you.

[griffy116]

We use cash. Even in Europe, we went to an ATM and got the money for our excursions, etc. in advance. The hotel we stayed in gave a discount if we paid in Euros when we checked out. We had the amount of the excursion, plus the tip for the driver/guide ahead of time in a separate envelope for each excursion. Make sure you let your bank and credit card companies know in advance that you will be out of the country (even in the Bahamas and Caribbean islands) before leaving. Even though we did this, our bank screwed it up this past year and we spent about two hours and some expensive phone calls, in Italy getting this "fixed" after they screwed it up and put a fraud alert on our account. We had even gotten a confirmation of our itinerary in advance. You just do what you can do to avoid a screw up.

[donaldsc]

Starting to finalize the planning for our cruise and was wondering how people pay there balance off for there excursions.

 

I know I can bring cash and be good but am thinking a travellers cheque would be more convenient than carry a bunch of cash.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

 

I would tend to doubt that any private tour operators would take travellers cheques. They are so 19th century.

 

Some of them will not accept credit cards. Check w your tour operators.

 

DON

[CruiserBruce]

I would tend to doubt that any private tour operators would take travellers cheques. They are so 19th century.

 

Some of them will not accept credit cards. Check w your tour operators.

 

DON

 

I know for a fact that several European tour providers take Euro Travelers checks. Rome in Limo, for example.

 

However, as the OP never said whom they wanted to pay, we can't give a focused answer.