Noel; what's going on? Hopefully nothing too bad.
Thank you for that insight. I remember not having a problem at all last year when we traveled but didn't know if something had changed. Glad to hear that we should be ok.
Thing with the chip is that some stores don't just swipe the CC and ask for your signature, like you'll be used to as the standard in the US. At some you will actually use yout CC like you'ld use your ATM card and need a PINcode for that. This is also where the chip comes into play, sometimes the strip is used for that, sometimes the chip. Now I will say that is the absolute exception. I use my CC a lot on vacation and have never once needed to use my PINcode on it. It's so bad I don't even
know my PINcode and am normally very good in remembering al kinds of pincodes. Obviously when you run into such a situation and your CC isn't set up with a PINcode, you've got a problem.
One of the many reasons why you should always have a second way of being able to pay on you. The above can prevent you from using your CC, but many other things also could happen. The CC-company blocking your card in suspecting it has been stolen seems to happen quite frequently for those of you from the US. So be proactive and inform the company about where you'll be using it and when. Your card could get skimmed and actually used for fraude while you are travelling, which will result in the CC-company blocking it. They tend to try and contact you about this but obviously that will not work when on the Atlantic. Also you could loose the card, get it stolen and what not more. Always have a second method of paying with you. Not just back in the stateroom, but on you when you go into port. If you do find you can't use your CC, you'll need it.
In the Netherlands they are changing the pinautomats. You can pin with your chip on your bankpass, but not everyone has a new pass. So you also can pin and pay with the magnetic strip on your pass.
I just understand that some bankpinautomats in Europe don't accept the new bankpass.
So I think that there is always a bank that accept your card. And you can pay with your creditcard.
I have never had a problem with my bankpass and creditcard.
Has nothing to do with this subject. This specific subject is in regards with a few countries and doesn't influence a huge difference between continents which can result into problems.
And one thing I'm kinda puzzled about; what's up with so many topics being opened about nobody wearing a short in Europe?

I mean, that's kinda like asking the same thing about the whole of the US; way too much distance and differences in weather, culture and what not. Sure, in general the Spanish, Italians etc. dress a lot fancier and a lot more elegant on any occasion than for instance us Dutch, the German, Belgians and the general consensus in many of the US states, but how did that ever translate into no shorts?
Anybody seen the Royal wedding yesterday? I've never seen anybody look that down on a wedding, let alone on her own wedding. Amazing dress, but I couldn't get over the sadness that Charlene seemed to radiate from every pore in her body. Also the directing of the tv-registration left me surprised. Most of the times it's done in such a way that they sure look like they're trying to not show anything that could possibly be shamefull or "not fitting", but this one surprised me. Felt like I stumbled from one weird moment into the next. Never would've imagened that we'ld get a front row seat for for instance Stephanie readjusting her dress because her ****s didn't want to stay put.

And Belgian Prince Albert making his usual blunders again...... this for sure was the weirdest Royal wedding I've ever seen! Here's a huge dose of

that looks deceive and Charlene does end up very happy.