drsel Posted March 21, 2018 #1 Share Posted March 21, 2018 I happen to be stuck with 1 note of 500 and 1 note of 200 euros. Is it possible to exchange them for 50s and 100s onboard a Norwegian or MSC Mediterranean cruise? If so, at the casino or guest relations? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted March 21, 2018 #2 Share Posted March 21, 2018 Maybe your bank would change them before you go or at the airport currency exchange kiosk I would call NCL & ask if it is possible Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wowzz Posted March 21, 2018 #3 Share Posted March 21, 2018 Doubt that anyone other than the cruise line can answer your question, as trying to spend a €500 note is such an unusual request. I would try and change them in a bank in preference to on board ship. You may be questioned as to the provenance of the €500, as these notes are the preferred currency for those with a less than salubrious background! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
navybankerteacher Posted March 21, 2018 #4 Share Posted March 21, 2018 I would imagine that euro's would be the "official currency" on an MSC Mediterranean cruise. The casino would be the likeliest spot, but just as many US establishments will not accept US $100's , you might have a problem with that 500 euro, at least. Why did you ever burden yourself with it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Keith1010 Posted March 21, 2018 #5 Share Posted March 21, 2018 I happen to be stuck with 1 note of 500 and 1 note of 200 euros. Is it possible to exchange them for 50s and 100s onboard a Norwegian or MSC Mediterranean cruise?If so, at the casino or guest relations? Thanks! You can try that. Worst case I would go to an in country bank. Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drsel Posted March 21, 2018 Author #6 Share Posted March 21, 2018 Are 100 or 200 euros [emoji387] easily accepted in Rome, Naples, etc? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drsel Posted March 21, 2018 Author #7 Share Posted March 21, 2018 I would imagine that euro's would be the "official currency" on an MSC Mediterranean cruise. The casino would be the likeliest spot, but just as many US establishments will not accept US $100's , you might have a problem with that 500 euro, at least. Why did you ever burden yourself with it? MSC has priced it's shore excursions in US$ for the ports in Europe. Wouldn't that imply that the US$ is the onboard currency?Never had a problem spending $100 anywhere in the US, or exchanging it anywhere in all of Asia. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wowzz Posted March 21, 2018 #8 Share Posted March 21, 2018 Are 100 or 200 euros [emoji387] easily accepted in Rome, Naples, etc?€200 notes are frowned upon in mostnormal transactions throughout Europe, due to problems with fakes. I would try and change them at a bank before travelling. €100 should be OK, as long as you are not just trying to buy a couple of coffees. (Unless of course you are in Venice, where you might get some small change back if you buy 2 coffees!) Sent from my SM-T580 using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare mom says Posted March 21, 2018 #9 Share Posted March 21, 2018 (edited) Are 100 or 200 euros [emoji387] easily accepted in Rome, Naples, etc? Depends. Good luck paying for a coffee or taxi with a €200 note. But paying for a larger purchase from a store or restaurant likely wouldn't be a problem. When we do land trips, we typically carry a mix of large and small bills. But we never carry anything larger than €100s, just to make things easier. Try to break those larger bills into smaller ones on the ship if you can. Pretty sure MSC is charging you now in $US because that's your country of residence. I live in Canada and am charged in CAD when booking cruises or excursions on X (from home). But I wouldnt expect our onboard currency to be CAD just because of that. Edited March 21, 2018 by mom says Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drsel Posted March 21, 2018 Author #10 Share Posted March 21, 2018 I read that the world's most valuable note, the 1000 Swiss franc is here to stay and is accepted in supermarkets like Migros and Coop, all over Switzerland. So, will my hotel be able to provide change or can I use it in a super market? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisiamc Posted March 21, 2018 #11 Share Posted March 21, 2018 I happen to be stuck with 1 note of 500 and 1 note of 200 euros. Is it possible to exchange them for 50s and 100s onboard a Norwegian or MSC Mediterranean cruise?If so, at the casino or guest relations? Thanks! Are 100 or 200 euros [emoji387] easily accepted in Rome, Naples, etc? I think your €500 note may be tough to get rid of. Your home bank might be a possibility if they do foreign exchange, but they might only agree to let you exchange it for your home currency. One idea for exchanging it on the ship - if your on-board account is in €€, you could maybe apply that note against it. As far as using €100 or €200 notes ashore, your best hope is if your bill somewhere comes to more than €100 or €200. It’s not always that easy to get shopkeepers to accept €50 notes on a small purchase, either. Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
navybankerteacher Posted March 21, 2018 #12 Share Posted March 21, 2018 MSC has priced it's shore excursions in US$ for the ports in Europe. Wouldn't that imply that the US$ is the onboard currency?Never had a problem spending $100 anywhere in the US, or exchanging it anywhere in all of Asia. OP was talking about a Mediterranean cruise - MSC uses euro for onboard currency on European sailings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drsel Posted March 21, 2018 Author #13 Share Posted March 21, 2018 OP was talking about a Mediterranean cruise - MSC uses euro for onboard currency on European sailings.So then they will definitely be having enough change for a 500 euro note Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
navybankerteacher Posted March 21, 2018 #14 Share Posted March 21, 2018 So then they will definitely be having enough change for a 500 euro note They certainly would - and a shipboard casino would probably not sweat a large euro note the way many stores/shops do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CPT Trips Posted March 21, 2018 #15 Share Posted March 21, 2018 I wouldn't count on walking into just any bank in the Euro Zone and getting smaller bills. A cousin got stuck with a 500€ note and had no luck in Regensburg or Passau getting a bank to change it. Finally, in a Linz our PD found a bank where he had an account and was able to change it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drsel Posted March 21, 2018 Author #16 Share Posted March 21, 2018 I wouldn't count on walking into just any bank in the Euro Zone and getting smaller bills. A cousin got stuck with a 500€ note and had no luck in Regensburg or Passau getting a bank to change it. Finally, in a Linz our PD found a bank where he had an account and was able to change it.Not any bank or shop, I'm asking about the cruise casino or guest relations onboard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SadieN Posted March 21, 2018 #17 Share Posted March 21, 2018 Depends. Good luck paying for a coffee or taxi with a €200 note. But paying for a larger purchase from a store or restaurant likely wouldn't be a problem. When we do land trips, we typically carry a mix of large and small bills. But we never carry anything larger than €100s, just to make things easier. Try to break those larger bills into smaller ones on the ship if you can. Pretty sure MSC is charging you now in $US because that's your country of residence. I live in Canada and am charged in CAD when booking cruises or excursions on X (from home). But I wouldnt expect our onboard currency to be CAD just because of that. Had an issue paying for a 30€ grocery store purchase with a 50€ note in Rome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueRiband Posted March 21, 2018 #18 Share Posted March 21, 2018 The EU is phasing out the 500 euro note by the end of the year. Get them changed on land before your trip rather than count on a ship to accept them. To have 500 and 200 euro notes but no way to change them is the same as having no money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cwsdks48 Posted March 21, 2018 #19 Share Posted March 21, 2018 The EU is phasing out the 500 euro note by the end of the year. Get them changed on land before your trip rather than count on a ship to accept them. To have 500 and 200 euro notes but no way to change them is the same as having no money. When we are 'stuck' with large Euro bills, we pay for a larger transaction in cash, using the bill to break it, rather than using CC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Velvetwater Posted March 21, 2018 #20 Share Posted March 21, 2018 In our experience you can have issues with 50 and 100 Euro notes unless the price is close those amounts. 20 Euro notes are the best for everything in our experience but then again I am one of those typical Brits that goes 'sorry for the note' when I hand over £20 like some mad person. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare VMax1700 Posted March 21, 2018 #21 Share Posted March 21, 2018 Most stores/restaurants throughout the euro zone are very slow to accept €100 notes, never mind €200 or €500. The largest note I ever carry is a €50 note. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wowzz Posted March 21, 2018 #22 Share Posted March 21, 2018 Most stores/restaurants throughout the euro zone are very slow to accept €100 notes, never mind €200 or €500. The largest note I ever carry is a €50 note. Never found any problem with a €50 note. Not really appropriate on a cruise forum, but they are perfectly acceptable in the smallest garage in Europe when filling up with fuel.So, as in the above post, get rid of any notes over €50 as soon as you can. Sent from my SM-T580 using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drsel Posted March 22, 2018 Author #23 Share Posted March 22, 2018 Most stores/restaurants throughout the euro zone are very slow to accept €100 notes, never mind €200 or €500. The largest note I ever carry is a €50 note. But if all European banks are readily accepting 500 and 200 euros from their customers, I guess the Cruise ship in Europe (Mediterranean cruise, where Euro is the onboard currency) can also accept it and deposit it into their bank account anywhere in Europe. So why would the casino or guest relations not break it or accept it from me ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisiamc Posted March 22, 2018 #24 Share Posted March 22, 2018 But if all European banks are readily accepting 500 and 200 euros from their customers, I guess the Cruise ship in Europe (Mediterranean cruise, where Euro is the onboard currency) can also accept it and deposit it into their bank account anywhere in Europe. So why would the casino or guest relations not break it or accept it from me ? I don’t want to be the voice of doom, I just want you to be prepared for a bit of a challenge. I would describe the €500 note as being reluctantly accepted by banks, rather than readily accepted. And if a customer’s home bank accepts it, it’s only because they know the person, and know that they have recourse if it’s counterfeit or suspected of being used in money laundering. A non-customer of the bank probably won’t get far. So the ship, where you are a customer, is undoubtedly your best bet. I hope it turns out not to be an issue for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wowzz Posted March 22, 2018 #25 Share Posted March 22, 2018 Although slightly off topic, it would be interesting to know how the op got lumbered with this note in the first place. Sent from my XT1032 using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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