European Currency Available on Board?

[MouseMomx2]

For those doing the TA or European sailings, does DCL offer a currency exchange on board? I am sure the exchange rate would not be as good as using an ATM, but it would be convenient to exchange a small amount of US currency for our port visits.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

For those doing the TA or European sailings, does DCL offer a currency exchange on board? I am sure the exchange rate would not be as good as using an ATM, but it would be convenient to exchange a small amount of US currency for our port visits.

Depends on what you want, yes there is some.

From the Magic now, no Icelandic currency on board.
Pounds OK, and you may get a good rate from $.
Euros yes.
Some from the countries it visits.

DCL has a corporate rate and it's normally poor, European rates are volatile at this time.

ATM is best.

In ALL ports the Magic visits, ( bar St Petersburg) cards are fully accepted everywhere, but try to have a chip and pin card if possible, however big establishments will have training on the back up signature process.

St Petersburg the main tourist places will take cards, but more limited.

This is a navigator from the current cruise.

 

[aggiedog]

On our Baltic cruise last year, yes. We got some Rubles prior to our private tour in SPB. We used the ATM during our pre-cruise Copenhagen stay, though only needed cash for a few street vendors. We used credit cards for everything else, including most of our stops in SPB, with the exception of small change required for a public restroom in Stockholm.

 

[BigredNole]

When I traveled abroad with work, they always said to use the credit card vs cash. The reason is there are better exchange rates through your card and no fees.

 

[SuperDry]

When I traveled abroad with work, they always said to use the credit card vs cash. The reason is there are better exchange rates through your card and no fees.

Actually, most US-issued credit cards have a 3% forex fee. There are some at 1% or 0%, but you have to look for them. I'd assume that a credit or debit card charged 3% unless otherwise established. That's still much better than a hotel might charge, which can be 6%. Does anyone know what the actual % is that the Disney ships charge? Knowing that would be much more helpful than just that it's "high."

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Actually, most US-issued credit cards have a 3% forex fee. There are some at 1% or 0%, but you have to look for them. I'd assume that a credit or debit card charged 3% unless otherwise established. That's still much better than a hotel might charge, which can be 6%. Does anyone know what the actual % is that the Disney ships charge? Knowing that would be much more helpful than just that it's "high."

You are correct on credit cards, the thing is on the ship it's different, it goes through guest services, and you can swap small amounts there are go through your ship account, so it on that transaction doesn't have a % fee, it's a different type of transaction.

DCL has a " corporate exchange rate" so not directly linked to the markets, but what thry got that currency at, and add a profile, it's not linked to the current bank wholesale exchange rate, so financially can only be described as high, or above getting it in banks.

Reports from the ship now, it's small amounts, and they haven't got all the currencies there.

 

[Plaid Princess]

When I traveled abroad with work, they always said to use the credit card vs cash. The reason is there are better exchange rates through your card and no fees.

Yep. I have a specific credit card that I only use for travelling outside the US for this purpose. It has no Foreign Transaction Fees, and the exchange rate is always better than anything I get by exchanging cash. If I do need cash, I try to use an ATM in the ATM Alliance. If that's not available, I just eat the ATM fee... it's always lower than the fees at currency exchange desks.

 

[cedricandsophie]

Our chase card has had no foreign transaction fees for a couple of years. Plus our small local bank reimburses fees for up to 8 transactions a month at another bank or foreign ATM. It's a win win all around for us. Rick Steves usually recommends getting money at an ATM as soon as you land.

 

[DL1957]

If you exchange at Guest Services they will exchange back any paper currency at the rate they exchanged it to you. Double check Chase cards regarding fees. The Disney Chase Card charges 3%. I called them this year before we left for London/ British Isles cruise. The reason they do not have currency for Iceland has to do with the Iceland government and the fact they are only making one stop. We encountered last year. Have a wonderful cruise.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

If you exchange at Guest Services they will exchange back any paper currency at the rate they exchanged it to you. Double check Chase cards regarding fees. The Disney Chase Card charges 3%. I called them this year before we left for London/ British Isles cruise. The reason they do not have currency for Iceland has to do with the Iceland government and the fact they are only making one stop. We encountered last year. Have a wonderful cruise.

?

They stopped in Iceland for three days this week, and will stop in Iceland three days in mid July as well. Not just one stop.

 

[linetbo]

Depends on what you want, yes there is some.

From the Magic now, no Icelandic currency on board.
Pounds OK, and you may get a good rate from $.
Euros yes.
Some from the countries it visits.

DCL has a corporate rate and it's normally poor, European rates are volatile at this time.

ATM is best.

In ALL ports the Magic visits, ( bar St Petersburg) cards are fully accepted everywhere, but try to have a chip and pin card if possible, however big establishments will have training on the back up signature process.

St Petersburg the main tourist places will take cards, but more limited.

This is a navigator from the current cruise.

View attachment 177441

Thanks , I am exchanging some Rubles for my cruise next week.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Thanks , I am exchanging some Rubles for my cruise next week.

Have a great time.

Note,

You can use them, Euros and Dollars up in the cruise terminal duty free shop, which is very good, and on the ship side.

 

[linetbo]

Have a great time.

Note,

You can use them, Euros and Dollars up in the cruise terminal duty free shop, which is very good, and on the ship side.

The duty free shop it's before or after the meet up with Anastasia tour?

 

[Transit]

We get some pocket money (small amounts for tips, a soda here or there) in advance from our credit union in the currency of the countries we will visit, and use our no fee credit card. I don't want to worry about finding an atm as soon as i get someplace.

With the euro and pound dropping, we went ahead and ordered some of both on friday for a trip in september.

We put leftover change in a big mason jar that's on a table in our living room as a souvenier.

 

[aggiedog]

You do not need cash for Iceland. I spent a week there in March and never once saw cash. I was able to use my credit card for everything.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

The duty free shop it's before or after the meet up with Anastasia tour?

It's ship side of immigration, go on the way back to the ship.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

You do not need cash for Iceland. I spent a week there in March and never once saw cash. I was able to use my credit card for everything.

What about getting snacks like there famous hot dog.

 

[T1nkerBell]

Hi, I'm Norwegian, and you only need cash in Norway if you insist on having the experience. We use debet and credit cards everywhere. If you card says Visa or MasterCard, I have a hard time thinking of where you might encounter a problem. Perhaps a roadside booth that sells strawberries? Or fleemarkets? Even farmer's markets and small restaurants and food stalls prefer cards. Not only accepts them, prefers.

I may find an ATM for a small amount if traveling to our neighboring countries. But I'd do without no problem. We don't tip usually, so no cash needed for that either.

Welcome to my neck of the woods!

 

[aggiedog]

What about getting snacks like there famous hot dog.

Credit card. I ate several of them.

Tipping is also not usually done in Iceland, FYI. On the TA forums, I've even seen locals a bit offended by tipping, as in "do you think our culture doesn't pay our people enough that you have to give them extra money??"

 

[Chirple]

When we took our Med cruise in 2014, I got some currency from the local AAA office. I got additional Euros on the ship. Last year for our Baltics cruise we got krona in advance of our pre-stay in Copenhagen. I decided that we would get all other foreign currency on the ship. Didn't care about the exchange rate; for us it was the convenience. If we're spending that much money to fly to Europe and take a cruise, a few extra on the exchange isn't going to break us. I also felt we paid for the convenience of exchanging back any paper money directly on the ship for the same rate when the cruise was ending. Convenience is priceless.