Euros or Dollars for cash tips on the summer European sailings?

[princesscinderella]

I am so excited to sail on the Fantasy this summer on a Mediterranean cruise. I am trying to plan how much cash to bring and Euros to request from our bank. Is it better to tip staff onboard with Euros or US dollars? I would think they would prefer Euros since they can be spent by crew if they go ashore, but maybe US dollars is better since that's the main currency of DCL? We always like to add some extra cash in addition the main gratuities and we plan to use room service a bit. Thanks in advance for your advice.

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

I have been on 3 Disney European cruises with a 4th booked on The Fantasy in August. US dollars is the ship currency and the preferred currency by the CM's. Their onboard accounts are in US Dollars, so when they change the Euros they will have to pay currency conversion fees.

 

[RedHead0186]

On EBTA we heard some servers say they appreciated being tipped in Euros so they had cash to spend in port.

 

[Girl of the South]

The only issue with Euros is that the smallest bill is the €5 which is US $5.68. Which is fine if that's how much you want to tip. But if you want to tip say $3, you'll need to resort to Euro coins. For me it's easier to tip with US dollars because they are easier for me to get at my US bank. From an ATM in (for me) London, I'd get bigger bills that I would then have to work to get changed into smaller denominations. Maybe bring both?

 

[msmama]

I've done both and I think they will happily accept both. I've even put both Euros and dollars in the same envelope if that's what I have.

That said I try to be aware of where they ship is going so I don't give Euros when they're just about to leave Europe for the season.

 

[asgur5]

Ship is running a trip in europe. You pay european currency. Its a bit insulting for disney to ask for us dollars. If disney wants us dollars dont go to europe.

 

[princesscinderella]

I've done both and I think they will happily accept both. I've even put both Euros and dollars in the same envelope if that's what I have.

That said I try to be aware of where they ship is going so I don't give Euros when they're just about to leave Europe for the season.

We are sailing at the end of June so the will be in Europe for a while on the Fantasy after our sailing.

Thanks so much for everyone’s quick replies. I think I will plan to give Euros so they have spending money in ports without having to exchange currencies.

 

[DCLMP]

Ship is running a trip in europe. You pay european currency. Its a bit insulting for disney to ask for us dollars. If disney wants us dollars dont go to europe.

Every European cruise I've been on everything is priced in US dollars. Disney doesn't ask you to tip in USD.

 

[RedHead0186]

Ship is running a trip in europe. You pay european currency. Its a bit insulting for disney to ask for us dollars. If disney wants us dollars dont go to europe.

Disney doesn't ask you to tip in any particular currency.

 

[Geomom]

We are sailing at the end of June so the will be in Europe for a while on the Fantasy after our sailing.

Thanks so much for everyone’s quick replies. I think I will plan to give Euros so they have spending money in ports without having to exchange currencies.

I think you're ok doing that in late June. It looks like the Western Europe repositioning cruise is late July, so there's a month still of sailing in the EU. August/Sept the ship is based out of Southampton, and then there aren't as many places to use Euros ..British pounds for the 'home port', Norwegian krone, etc.

 

[RedHead0186]

Ship is running a trip in europe. You pay european currency. Its a bit insulting for disney to ask for us dollars. If disney wants us dollars dont go to europe.

Also, not every country in Europe uses the Euro . . .

 

[princesscinderella]

I think you're ok doing that in late June. It looks like the Western Europe repositioning cruise is late July, so there's a month still of sailing in the EU. August/Sept the ship is based out of Southampton, and then there aren't as many places to use Euros ..British pounds for the 'home port', Norwegian krone, etc.

That was my thinking, I did the Iceland cruise a few years ago with DCL and had to get 4 different kinds of currency for that one so its nice everywhere we go this cruise takes Euros.

 

[Pinkjgray]

I was on the May TAEB and my room attendant said she preferred USD. For one, they can exchange it to their currency of choice for free. Also, not everyone is able to get off the ship when they’re at port. Lastly, you can exchange currency at the DCL help desk; therefore, there’s no need to obtain it beforehand.

 

[princesscinderella]

I was on the May TAEB and my room attendant said she preferred USD. For one, they can exchange it to their currency of choice for free. Also, not everyone is able to get off the ship when they’re at port. Lastly, you can exchange currency at the DCL help desk; therefore, there’s no need to obtain it beforehand.

We will be in Italy for three days prior to sailing so I want to have my Euros already and our bank does not charge a large fee for currency exchange. I will bring both and ask which they prefer.

 

[PsylockeSmythe]

We will be in Italy for three days prior to sailing so I want to have my Euros already and our bank does not charge a large fee for currency exchange. I will bring both and ask which they prefer.

On our 2018 10-day Med cruise, we brought both Euro and USD. We ended up tipping the staff on the ship in USD and used the Euros at restaurants and shopping on the excursions. It worked well for us, and I think we came home less than 10 euros, that I have somewhere around the house.

Psy

 

[Disnsyncey]

We will be in Italy for three days prior to sailing so I want to have my Euros already and our bank does not charge a large fee for currency exchange. I will bring both and ask which they prefer.

Even better, only get about 100 euro from the bank before you leave and then you can withdraw whatever you need from ATMs, as the rates from ATMs are better than any exchange you can get beforehand

 

[dad of 3 addicted to DCL]

Even better, only get about 100 euro from the bank before you leave and then you can withdraw whatever you need from ATMs, as the rates from ATMs are better than any exchange you can get beforehand

I've read that the EuroNet ATMs have a high fee. Does anyone know if they're well marked (so as to avoid them)?

 

[princesscinderella]

Even better, only get about 100 euro from the bank before you leave and then you can withdraw whatever you need from ATMs, as the rates from ATMs are better than any exchange you can get beforehand

We get a great exchange rate through our bank with reduced exchange fees. I don’t have an ATM card so taking out money once we get there isn’t an option.

 

[insureman]

Wait. Why do you need cash? Can't you just go to guest service and increase the tips there? That's what we do and if it's room service or bar just add it to the receipt .

 

[Pinkjgray]

I've read that the EuroNet ATMs have a high fee. Does anyone know if they're well marked (so as to avoid them)?

Very true! I spent $20 USD to take out 20 euros in Spain! #veryhardlessonlearned