Vancouver/Alaska - what kind of payment needed?

[Starryjean]

Hello!

We set sail on the Wonder in a few months and are staying in Vancouver for a day before and a day after our cruise. I have two questions I’m unsure of:

1.) in Vancouver, would it be necessary to get Canadian dollars to pay for dinner/tourist experiences or can I use a Disney Visa card?Has anyone had issues paying with their Disney visa?

2.) I’m sure I can use my card in Alaskan ports but for small cost items like public transportation can you pay with card or should I have American dollars on hand?

Thank you so much for any guidance!

 

[Starwind]

In Vancouver you can use your Disney Visa anywhere Visa is accepted. Note that there is a small foreign exchange fee tacked on to each foreign transaction (3% of the amount of each transaction in U.S. dollars.) by Chase.

In the research I am doing for our own 2021 trip, the tourist destinations in Vancouver all seem to accept credit cards, and many of the places you can purchase tickets online in advance, often for a small discount.

We're Canadian and although I carry a small amount of cash for emergencies, I can go many months without actually using cash; I put everything on a points-earning credit card and pay in full each month. Most of my friends and colleagues work the same way. Even when I do use cash, using a credit card is usually also an option its just easier in that situation to use cash.

 

[China Expat]

You also use American dollars!

 

[brianvdb]

Hello!

We set sail on the Wonder in a few months and are staying in Vancouver for a day before and a day after our cruise. I have two questions I’m unsure of:

1.) in Vancouver, would it be necessary to get Canadian dollars to pay for dinner/tourist experiences or can I use a Disney Visa card?Has anyone had issues paying with their Disney visa?

2.) I’m sure I can use my card in Alaskan ports but for small cost items like public transportation can you pay with card or should I have American dollars on hand?

Thank you so much for any guidance!

1). Disney Visa is fine. There will be a 3% foreign transaction fee.

2). Always good to carry USD - preferably small denominations (1’s and 5’s). In a pinch, they can be used at many places in Canada. Public transportation will not likely take cards, and you’ll need some cash for tips.

 

[SamFaniam]

As others have stated, US dollars will be accepted everywhere on your cruise. We have a Disney visa and like the benefits that it offers, but do not use it for a purchases overseas because of the transaction fee.

 

[OKW Lover]

1.) in Vancouver, would it be necessary to get Canadian dollars to pay for dinner/tourist experiences or can I use a Disney Visa card?Has anyone had issues paying with their Disney visa?

As others have noted, there will be a foreign exchange charge added to the bill. Avoid this by using a credit card that doesn't charge you for foreign transactions.

You also use American dollars!

Yes, most places will accept U$. However, they will probably do this at face value, which is a serious difference right now as 1 U$ equals about 1.25 Canadian. Thus you'd wind up paying about 1/3rd more for whatever you are buying.

 

[fishingfool999]

We prefer to use our Costco Visa card since there is no foreign exchange fees added when we travel. Plus we get a percent for Costco dollars.

 

[bcwife76]

1). Disney Visa is fine. There will be a 3% foreign transaction fee.

2). Always good to carry USD - preferably small denominations (1’s and 5’s). In a pinch, they can be used at many places in Canada. Public transportation will not likely take cards, and you’ll need some cash for tips.

In regards to public transportation here in Vancouver, yes you can use credit and debit cards to ride the skytrain and seabus. If you are taking a bus-only, then you'd probably need local currency. A compass card is the best thing to get if using public transportation here and those can be purchased via the machines in the terminals with a card or cash.

 

[MillauFr]

Most public transit system in the US and Canada now allow you to use their app to pay for transit fares. No cash is needed. You don't need any cash in Canada just like the US. I never carry cash in the US and never get any Canadian when we go to Vancouver or Victoria. There was an ice cream stand in Cowichan Bay on Vancouver Island that was cash only but that is the only thing I have experienced.

 

[TikiThunderPirates]

As an added fyi, if you are flying out of Vancouver to return to the U.S. you will go through customs before arriving in the US at the Vancouver airport. Once your on the "other side", if I remember correctly, if you want to purchase things (like food from the Mc Donalds) you still have to use a credit card or Canadian Dollars. It's been several years, so things could have changed or I could remember incorrectly, but if memory serves me, I remember thinking it was funny that we were on the "U.S." side but still had to use Canadian Dollars.

 

[otten]

1). Disney Visa is fine. There will be a 3% foreign transaction fee.

2). Always good to carry USD - preferably small denominations (1’s and 5’s). In a pinch, they can be used at many places in Canada. Public transportation will not likely take cards, and you’ll need some cash for tips.

We have a tap system for public transit and yes you can use cards. No you can’t use US cash on transit.

 

[Starryjean]

In regards to public transportation here in Vancouver, yes you can use credit and debit cards to ride the skytrain and seabus. If you are taking a bus-only, then you'd probably need local currency. A compass card is the best thing to get if using public transportation here and those can be purchased via the machines in the terminals with a card or cash.

Thank you, that’s immensely helpful!

 

[Starryjean]

As an added fyi, if you are flying out of Vancouver to return to the U.S. you will go through customs before arriving in the US at the Vancouver airport. Once your on the "other side", if I remember correctly, if you want to purchase things (like food from the Mc Donalds) you still have to use a credit card or Canadian Dollars. It's been several years, so things could have changed or I could remember incorrectly, but if memory serves me, I remember thinking it was funny that we were on the "U.S." side but still had to use Canadian Dollars.

I have gotten so many different answers from United about where we will go through customs, so thank you for clarifying!

 

[anjuan]

For our Alaska cruise last year we were in Vancouver for 3 days and I didn't need Canadian money. I used my card everywhere with no problem.

 

[otten]

Thank you, that’s immensely helpful!

You can use tap enabled cards on buses as well.

https://www.translink.ca/About-Us/M...y-options-go-live-across-Metro-Vancouver.aspx

 

[darwinsrule]

I have gotten so many different answers from United about where we will go through customs, so thank you for clarifying!

It depends on what your flights are. If you are flying YVR to a U.S. destination direct then you clear customs in Vancouver. Since you are doing United, if you have a connection thorugh Toronto as an example (code share with Air Canads who are partners), you would be domestic in Canada and then clear U.S. customs in Toronto before flying to your U.S. destination.

 

[otten]

It depends on what your flights are. If you are flying YVR to a U.S. destination direct then you clear customs in Vancouver. Since you are doing United, if you have a connection thorugh Toronto as an example (code share with Air Canads who are partners), you would be domestic in Canada and then clear U.S. customs in Toronto before flying to your U.S. destination.

yes and be aware that that process can take quite a long time so make sure you have a long enough layover for it. If you’re flying United though I assume you fly from YVR to the US so you will do customs in Vancouver.

 

[Mickey4us]

If we plan to take a cab from the airport to our hotel, can we use a credit card?

 

[TikiThunderPirates]

If we plan to take a cab from the airport to our hotel, can we use a credit card?

Yes.

 

[Starryjean]

It depends on what your flights are. If you are flying YVR to a U.S. destination direct then you clear customs in Vancouver. Since you are doing United, if you have a connection thorugh Toronto as an example (code share with Air Canads who are partners), you would be domestic in Canada and then clear U.S. customs in Toronto before flying to your U.S. destination.

We’re flying from Vancouver to Denver then on to Virginia. So then customs in Vancouver, correct?