Currency conversion Canada/Alaska cruise

[disnee9]

Is this true?

If you have leftover Canadian money from staying in Vancouver, you can turn it in at the customer service desk and apply it as a credit to your onboard account ???

 

[ScooterScott44]

Just wondering. Unless you are staying in Canada for a significant amount of time why even bother?

In today’s environment, it is pretty easy to just use cards, particularly since some get better conversion rates. Also in Vancouver it is not uncommon for places to accept payment in US currency but they will give you change back in Canadian.

 

[disnee9]

I thought it would be advisable to have a little "walking around" Canadian money for tips, small purchases, etc. instead of charging everything.
If I use US money and receive Canadian money as change back, it would be nice to know that I could trade it in for credit onboard, that is if such a process exist.

 

[jdb in AZ]

I thought it would be advisable to have a little "walking around" Canadian money for tips, small purchases, etc. instead of charging everything.
If I use US money and receive Canadian money as change back, it would be nice to know that I could trade it in for credit onboard, that is if such a process exist.

I've never heard of an onboard credit for Canadian money. I would just tip with U.S. dollars.

 

[MillauFr]

No need to get Canadian money. We just use credit cards in Victoria and Vancouver.

 

[lorenni]

Unless you are talking about significant amounts of money, why not use whatever few dollars you have left to tip your pre-cruise hotel housekeepers, porters at the ship - porters upon return, and pocket money for the Vancouver airport. The airport has some great shops. Won’t be hard to spend your remaining CAD on a book, candy, soda , etc. before your flight.

We live in Canada and didn’t even think to ask DCL to accept CAD for our on-board account for our cruise from Vancouver. We used a CC.

 

[Pens Fan]

Unless something has changed, yes, you can do this. When we took the Iceland cruise, we had currency from Iceland, Denmark, and Norway left over. I went down to guest services and they applied it to our account. I'm sure the exchange rate wasn't the best, but I was happy to get rid of it and paid down our bill in the process.

 

[lilsonicfan]

If you use US cash here in Vancouver you will 100% be given Canadian change. I am not sure I would bother. Our smallest bill is $5 so you will end up with lots of coins (we have $1 and $2 coins) and it wouldn’t be great if the cruiseline only accepts bills. Plus I hear lots of you Americans have cc’s that don’t have foreign exchange fees! That’s handy. Wish we had more of those.

 

[otten]

I live in Vancouver and never carry cash.

 

[otten]

I live in Vancouver and never carry cash.

 

[starvenger]

Whatever Loonies and Toonies you've got just use it at a Timmies. Or if you've got time find a Dollarama.

 

[mevelandry]

Whatever Loonies and Toonies you've got just use it at a Timmies. Or if you've got time find a Dollarama.

What you said. Dollarama is a good way to save on plenty of things, including snacks.

 

[lilsonicfan]

I live in Vancouver and never carry cash.

I live here too and actually do carry cash, but there are a ton of (mostly Asian) restaurants and such around me that only take cash!

 

[lanejudy]

OP - unless you are planning an extended stay in Vancouver, you aren't likely to need much cash. But as PP mentions, be prepared for the coins. Canadian "cash" includes $1 and $2 coins, and a pocketful can get heavy. Another option would be to hold onto that Canadian money for any post-cruise plans (tips, transportation, snacks, etc.). And let the kids' keep a few as souvenirs.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[starvenger]

I live here too and actually do carry cash, but there are a ton of (mostly Asian) restaurants and such around me that only take cash!

Toronto is similar. I think about half the restaurants I visit are cash only (mind you, I'm a creature of habit and visit the same places frequently). The only Square they know is the shape of the takeout box.

 

[dad of 3 addicted to DCL]

I live here too and actually do carry cash, but there are a ton of (mostly Asian) restaurants and such around me that only take cash!

There's a phenomenal Chinese restaurant in Chinatown - cash only. Quite an adventure

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Tip-accepting peeps in Vancouver accept US currency. I mean, don't give them a fist full of pennies, but they'll take singles and fives.

 

[starvenger]

Tip-accepting peeps in Vancouver accept US currency. I mean, don't give them a fist full of pennies, but they'll take singles and fives.

I vaguely remember these "pennies" you speak of...

 

[lilsonicfan]

There's a phenomenal Chinese restaurant in Chinatown - cash only. Quite an adventure

Many amazing Chinese restaurants here are cash only! Of course, many crappy ones are also cash only so it's certainly not a correlating factor

 

[mevelandry]

I vaguely remember these "pennies" you speak of...

It's been a while... I'm so used to not having them now.