Do DCL Europe cruises exchange USD into Euros?

[DisneYE]

I've never been on a Europe cruise but sailing this summer on one.
I remember reading somewhere they exchanged into Euros at GS
Is this still true? Are there limits? (I'd never request more than $200-$300 per port of call)
I don't want to buy euros at my local bank as it's a pain - go to the bank to request them one day, and come back to get them another
If you can get Euros for dollars at GS I'd much rather do that, even if it's a bad exchange rate (unless its absolutely horrible)
TIA

 

[Mommb]

I think Guest Services will do currency exchanges as long as they have sufficient cash on hand in the currency you want. Note that while many countries DCL visits use the Euro, some do not, including the United Kingdom, Denmark, and Norway.

If you can't exchange cash on the ship, you can stop at an ATM in a port -- banks tend to have decent exchange rates, even if you' have to pay a fee to use your ATM card. You would need to make sure you know the network your bank uses.

 

[kiford]

While it's not terribly difficult to get Euros at the bank here on the same day and we often have leftover cash from prior trips, we usually just hit an ATM. I don't like to carry a lot of cash of any currency so we usually use our credit cards in Europe so the amount of cash we take out using an ATM is minimal - couple hundred maybe - so any fees are relatively minimal.

 

[KKKKCS]

Because of my job I have traveled extensively in Europe and by far the easiest way to get Euros is to use an ATM. They are usually very easy to find, and depending on your bank, you may not have to pay a foreign ATM fee. And you should get the exact exchange rate for that day instead of paying 10% or so in exchange fees. Just make sure you tell your bank you will be traveling and will be using your card in Europe so they don't lock down your account for unusual activity. (Ask me how I know.)

 

[DisneYE]

Because of my job I have traveled extensively in Europe and by far the easiest way to get Euros is to use an ATM. They are usually very easy to find, and depending on your bank, you may not have to pay a foreign ATM fee. And you should get the exact exchange rate for that day instead of paying 10% or so in exchange fees. Just make sure you tell your bank you will be traveling and will be using your card in Europe so they don't lock down your account for unusual activity. (Ask me how I know.)

Thanks for this - May I ask: do ATMs in Europe take American debit cards or just cc's? I ask because we mainly use Amex and we've never tried withdrawing out of an ATM with it. I've also heard and seen reports about ATM skimmers in Europe being common.
We're ok paying in restaurants/resorts with our cc but for souvenirs, tips, taxis, small stores, we'd rather have cash (euros in this case).

 

[KKKKCS]

Thanks for this - May I ask: do ATMs in Europe take American debit cards or just cc's? I ask because we mainly use Amex and we've never tried withdrawing out of an ATM with it. I've also heard and seen reports about ATM skimmers in Europe being common.
We're ok paying in restaurants/resorts with our cc but for souvenirs, tips, taxis, small stores, we'd rather have cash (euros in this case).

I use my credit union debit card all the time. Never had a problem. Just do the normal security stuff like hide the keypad when entering your PIN, make sure there are no bags/backpacks/people with bags or backpacks within about 10 feet (could contain RF code readers. actually happened to a friend of mine)

 

[hrhdhd]

Thanks for this - May I ask: do ATMs in Europe take American debit cards or just cc's? I ask because we mainly use Amex and we've never tried withdrawing out of an ATM with it. I've also heard and seen reports about ATM skimmers in Europe being common.
We're ok paying in restaurants/resorts with our cc but for souvenirs, tips, taxis, small stores, we'd rather have cash (euros in this case).

Don't withdraw cash with a credit card; that's a cash advance and will cost you cash advance fees and possibly interest.

Use an ATM card or a debit card. Some U.S. banks have agreements with international banks for no fee. BoA used to be one (I don't bank there anymore so can't say for today).

 

[Mommb]

We have used a bank ATM/debit card several times at ATMs in Europe. We do tell the bank when we are going abroad -- thanks KKKKCS for that reminder.

My husband and I set up a separate bank account used only for travel that is not linked to our "main" ATM card. Before a trip, we deposit in that account just bit more money than we expect to need, so that a scammer can't get into our primary account. We figure that if we need a large amount of money -- for example, for a medical emergency, or for transportation to the next port if we miss the boat -- we will almost certainly be able to use a credit card. (We also notify the issuers of any credit cards we might use that we're traveling.)

 

[o&smom]

Because of my job I have traveled extensively in Europe and by far the easiest way to get Euros is to use an ATM. They are usually very easy to find, and depending on your bank, you may not have to pay a foreign ATM fee. And you should get the exact exchange rate for that day instead of paying 10% or so in exchange fees. Just make sure you tell your bank you will be traveling and will be using your card in Europe so they don't lock down your account for unusual activity. (Ask me how I know.)

We always let our bank know in advance, but they have still locked our account multiple times.

 

[insureman]

We use AAA for foreign cash. The way it works there is you fill out a form and you go back in about 3 to 4 days. They will also take back any leftover cash. May be different depending where you live in the US.

 

[Geomom]

We use AAA for foreign cash. The way it works there is you fill out a form and you go back in about 3 to 4 days. They will also take back any leftover cash. May be different depending where you live in the US.

How is the exchange rate with AAA? That's great that they'll take back leftover cash...we still have a bunch of Canadian cash from going to a bank before our 2016 Alaskan cruise, and Danish Krone from the airport ATM from our 2018 cruise.. apparently we're bad at estimating cash use vs credit card use!

 

[disneyfaninaz]

Will the ship cash larger Euros into smaller ones?

 

[insureman]

How is the exchange rate with AAA? That's great that they'll take back leftover cash...we still have a bunch of Canadian cash from going to a bank before our 2016 Alaskan cruise, and Danish Krone from the airport ATM from our 2018 cruise.. apparently we're bad at estimating cash use vs credit card use!

I found it was pretty much on point with online currency converters like Oanda.com.

 

[DisneYE]

We have used a bank ATM/debit card several times at ATMs in Europe. We do tell the bank when we are going abroad -- thanks KKKKCS for that reminder.

My husband and I set up a separate bank account used only for travel that is not linked to our "main" ATM card. Before a trip, we deposit in that account just bit more money than we expect to need, so that a scammer can't get into our primary account. We figure that if we need a large amount of money -- for example, for a medical emergency, or for transportation to the next port if we miss the boat -- we will almost certainly be able to use a credit card. (We also notify the issuers of any credit cards we might use that we're traveling.)

This is so smart - getting a new, separate debit card just for trips where you withdraw from.
I'm so doing this - thanks so much for the idea.

 

[otten]

Not sure where you’re sailing but we did a European cruise last summer that involved 5 different currencies and we just got cash from the atm at whichever port we were at. Virtually everywhere accepted cards anyway and tipping is much less of a thing in a lot of places also so having cash wasn’t all that necessary.

 

[DisneYE]

Not sure where you’re sailing but we did a European cruise last summer that involved 5 different currencies and we just got cash from the atm at whichever port we were at. Virtually everywhere accepted cards anyway and tipping is much less of a thing in a lot of places also so having cash wasn’t all that necessary.

Its a DCL med cruise - Italy, Greece, France, Spain. So just euros.
I also use my cc a lot, but for taxis, souvenirs and small stores, I'd rather use cash. I know tips are "less of a thing" in Europe and while this is great news for some, I personally still like to show my appreciation for good service and tip where appropriate.
I'll go with what a kind poster above mentioned where they got a separate debit card for travel atm withdrawal - that's just the perfect solution for me.

 

[LAX]

Many shops/stores in Europe accept credit cards, so there may not be a need to exchange local currencies. Like many have mentioned already, ATM is likely the best means to get local currencies.

LAX

 

[pjacobi]

In most cases, it is best that credit card purchases are in the local currency and let the credit card company do the conversion.

Beware of merchants that automatically convert the charge into dollars, usually at a rate that is favorable to the merchant, resulting in a hidden price increase.

-Paul

 

[Toulou]

I leave this Sunday on the EBTA...yoohoo! Does anyone know if I can get Euros as soon as I board or do I need to wait until I am at the first port?

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[PrincessShmoo]

I leave this Sunday on the EBTA...yoohoo! Does anyone know if I can get Euros as soon as I board or do I need to wait until I am at the first port?

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I'm fairly certain that you can get them at any time, once onboard. I doubt they wait until they get to their first port to have Euros onboard.

I'll also point out that the exchange rate won't be that great onboard.