I am really glad that I was directed to this site. You guys really are a wealth of information, as always thanks...Is it best to bring american express trav. checks and cash them at the pursers prior to each port or does most of the stores in the ports take these. Again I assume that we would be able to get local currency from the purser? Or any other suggestions. As you can tell I am really gearing up and getting excited....clare :app:

Hi Clare! I will be taking a combo of Euros, travellers checks and US dollars when I go next month.

You can cash travellers checks at the pursers office. I will need Euros for my precruise hotel plans so I will need to bring those along with me.

You can get a cash advance of $400 per person per week on Radisson ships. They can give this to you in Euros or Dollars. Since these are billed as purchases, we actually earn airline miles on these transactions.

Unless you need travelers checks for pre-cruise, there is no need to take them. In addition, we found that ATMs in Europe were great and not too expensive. We also order around $100 in foreign currency from our local bank prior to departure just so we don't have to worry about it when we first arrive; airports are the worst place for changing money.

As for purchases in shops overseas, we really try to use credit cards; just in case something happens (see past posts re: Malta Glass Factory :( ).

Have a great cruise!

We use more cash than $400 a person per week so we need to take travellers checks for the ship, too. (for the casino, dining and purchases on shore, etc)

Marc mentioned that the $400 weekly amount you could have charged to your shipboard account could be taken in euros or dollars. What kind of currency exchange rate is charged to your shipboard account for the euros rather than dollars?

Karen, I guess we don't use much cash; we usually bring home all that we get onboard. But you are right, if you need more cash, travellers checks work. It could be a better use of time than to use ATMs in ports.

Travellers checks do make sense; I stand corrected.

srlima, I have never taken advance in Euros nor converted money onboard, so I am of no help. I don't imagine it would be as good as a bank, however.

Marc

AMEX just came out with a product "traveller check card"...anybody tried it yet? That sounds like the way to go now, if you want to use traveller checks

Personally I have not used a traveller check in about 10 years. I have used ATM's all over Central/South America, China, Japan, Hong Kong, Italy, France, England without a hitch...I directed my parents to do the same when they went to Europe this summer for 24 days, they also used it without a hitch. I always call the bank ahead of time and let them know what I'm doing and where I'm are going to be.

Like Marc, we never take traveller's checks. We get Euro's (or whatever the local currency is) from ATM machines and use our US dollars for casino or places where US dollars are gladly accepted. As for the $400 per week, it really is nice to get it, bring it home and redeposit it....good way to accrue miles/points on your cc. We always use cc to pay for purchases whenever possible.

Travelers checks though are hard to "use" in many stores as the stores usually require to see your passport ( which is being held on the ship) when you make purchases using them. So best bet if you feel that you need to bring them, is to cash them on th eship...you might also get them in Euros before you go..then you won't have to pay the ship for exchange too.

While we are on the topic, is the american express credit card widely accepted in Europe...?

I think once I had to use Visa instead of Amex; all others accepted the Amex. You might want to search the site hear regarding fees for various cards. I think Amex charges 2%, otheres more or less. There are a couple of threads (I don't remember where) on this.

I always take one of the other cards, and have had to use them from time to time, especially with smaller vendors.

On Visa & Mastercard be sure to notify the company you will be leaving the country. Had a problem with MC in Copenhagen once because I hadn't done this. So for my 2nd trip I even called AMEX. They almost laughed in my face assuring me it wasn't necessary to call. I was such a novice then. Probably still am.

On the WC there were several times we had to use Visa or MC so it's good to have either one of them. Otherwise, we always use our AmEx.

I'm going to get a seperate card that isn't linked to my major account. That way I can use it in ATM's and not worry about ID theft. That's an idea I got from the bank. I used travelers checks once, they were 100's. The ship (Crystal)wouldn't let you change the local money back into dollars, so I still have a large collection of South Pacfic money, that's very pretty but worthless. The banks here won't take it.

Clare: We took all 3 cards and mostly used MC - probably because it is my card and Tony was trying to get out of paying -

Isn't there any kind of charge for the $400 advance? Do they just post it on your final bill and then you pay with your credit card?

Bette, no charge. Posted on your bill like any other charge. I use it just to earn some extra Amex miles, no other reason. Now that Marc has said it is $400 per person rather than per cabin, I will double my miles! Always looking for ways to earn miles from now on.