AjG Posted October 6, 2021 Report Share Posted October 6, 2021 Hi first time cruiser, sailing at the last week of the month. At the ports I read that having cash is strongly recommended but unsure if I need to have local currency or if USD is fine to buy souvenirs. I don't imagine us leaving the tourist area, but just in case would I have to change my USD to pesos? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MuttMutt Posted October 6, 2021 Report Share Posted October 6, 2021 It depends on the port but most us based sailings will have ports that will accept the dollar. But be careful as some merchants will give change in the local currency with the worst exchange rate possible which could end up being really bad for you. CruisingOz and 4ensic 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reigert2008 Posted October 6, 2021 Report Share Posted October 6, 2021 Have a varied mix of bills to lessen your change. You don’t want to hand over a $20 for an item that is only $5. Neesa and CruisingOz 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oliver Posted October 6, 2021 Report Share Posted October 6, 2021 Also don’t forget to try to pay with a credit card when you can. Not everybody will take credit cards because they have to pay fees but many will and that way you won’t have leftover change. Especially during COVID times, people are trying to handle money less which can theoretically transmit disease. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AjG Posted October 6, 2021 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2021 Thank you all for your great advice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neesa Posted October 6, 2021 Report Share Posted October 6, 2021 @AjG also, use extreme caution when making purchases. My dumb@ss move, I am so embarrassed but if I can help anyone else. Cozumel, June 2021 off the ship and shopping I purchased an eye serum that I researched before hand for what I was told was 350.00 but it was amazing, right? Then I looked and after tax and everything else my credit card was charged 400.00, okay my bad...but it gets worse. The package was beautifully wrapped, just gorgeous so I did not open until I arrived home in the States, utilized the little samples they gave me, well you guessed it arrived home to an empty tube! Totally my fault I should have checked, I felt so violated. After over a month working with the credit card after a dispute I could not ultimately prove so I lost the dispute loosing the $400.00. I hate that the world is still like this and again MY FAULT I should have checked but be aware sadly they saw me coming a mile away, boy oh boy my loving husband will not let me forget, just be careful. @Reigert2008says pay with the small bills when using cash also, they will use interesting math to make change. Just be aware, I will continue to enjoy my port shopping just being a bit less trusting. CrimsonCruiser, Pattycruise and KristiZ 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokeybandit Posted October 6, 2021 Report Share Posted October 6, 2021 6 hours ago, Oliver said: Especially during COVID times, people are trying to handle money less which can theoretically transmit disease. I think that's generally worn off since it's been quite a while since the CDC said contact transmission chances were very low WAAAYTOOO 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAAAYTOOO Posted October 6, 2021 Report Share Posted October 6, 2021 49 minutes ago, Neesa said: @AjG also, use extreme caution when making purchases. My dumb@ss move, I am so embarrassed but if I can help anyone else. Cozumel, June 2021 off the ship and shopping I purchased an eye serum that I researched before hand for what I was told was 350.00 but it was amazing, right? Then I looked and after tax and everything else my credit card was charged 400.00, okay my bad...but it gets worse. The package was beautifully wrapped, just gorgeous so I did not open until I arrived home in the States, utilized the little samples they gave me, well you guessed it arrived home to an empty tube! Totally my fault I should have checked, I felt so violated. After over a month working with the credit card after a dispute I could not ultimately prove so I lost the dispute loosing the $400.00. I hate that the world is still like this and again MY FAULT I should have checked but be aware sadly they saw me coming a mile away, boy oh boy my loving husband will not let me forget, just be careful. @Reigert2008says pay with the small bills when using cash also, they will use interesting math to make change. Just be aware, I will continue to enjoy my port shopping just being a bit less trusting. OMG that is horrible. Scram from the start to the finish. I learned my lesson about buying "pharmaceuticals" in Coz too. I had read of so many people buying their Z Pak's in Mexico so I bought 3 of them on one of our trips. When I used them, they were absolutely 100% useless. Obvious fake. Never again. Neesa 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrimsonCruiser Posted October 6, 2021 Report Share Posted October 6, 2021 2 hours ago, Neesa said: @AjG also, use extreme caution when making purchases. My dumb@ss move, I am so embarrassed but if I can help anyone else. Cozumel, June 2021 off the ship and shopping I purchased an eye serum that I researched before hand for what I was told was 350.00 but it was amazing, right? Then I looked and after tax and everything else my credit card was charged 400.00, okay my bad...but it gets worse. The package was beautifully wrapped, just gorgeous so I did not open until I arrived home in the States, utilized the little samples they gave me, well you guessed it arrived home to an empty tube! Totally my fault I should have checked, I felt so violated. After over a month working with the credit card after a dispute I could not ultimately prove so I lost the dispute loosing the $400.00. I hate that the world is still like this and again MY FAULT I should have checked but be aware sadly they saw me coming a mile away, boy oh boy my loving husband will not let me forget, just be careful. @Reigert2008says pay with the small bills when using cash also, they will use interesting math to make change. Just be aware, I will continue to enjoy my port shopping just being a bit less trusting. omg I'm so sorry that happened to you! That's definitely not something you should blame yourself for...when you spend money you expect to be getting product! They (the ones who scammed you) are the bad people here and the only ones who need to feel blame and guilt. bryresangel and Neesa 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MuttMutt Posted October 6, 2021 Report Share Posted October 6, 2021 While in Port at Falmouth Jamaica my friend purchased something at a shop and got change back in JMD but paid in USD. The change wasn't even close to right. It cost like 8 bucks and she paid with a 20 and got 12 bucks back. But in JMD to USD conversion she got about 12 cents back as change. Another note. If you need local currency ATM's have a decent exchange rate and if you use a bank that refunds ATM fees they are hard to beat. I was in Jamaica for a couple weeks and took a few hundred in cash and exchanged at the airport. The rate was like 112 to 1 or something like that. The rate at the atm was closer to 135 to 1. Even with an ATM fee I was better off that way than the exchange places. 4ensic 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ampurp85 Posted October 6, 2021 Report Share Posted October 6, 2021 I had this happen to me on an Egyptian river cruise. We had exchanged money at our hotel in Cairo but need a little bit more cash. So we used an exchange vendor in Luxor, at the time it was 18 EGP to $1. We traded in $50usd expecting about 860 EGP and got back 356; which was less than half of what we exchanged. We had to get someone from the port to fix it and to say that the man was pissed was an understatement. This also happened to me once on a Bahamian excursion, we paid in USD and later learned from a crew member they charged us 3x the amount. Not only do I always do my research, I purposely carry $1, 5 and 10s now. Neesa and Pattycruise 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AjG Posted October 6, 2021 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2021 34 minutes ago, Ampurp85 said: I had this happen to me on an Egyptian river cruise. We had exchanged money at our hotel in Cairo but need a little bit more cash. So we used an exchange vendor in Luxor, at the time it was 18 EGP to $1. We traded in $50usd expecting about 860 EGP and got back 356; which was less than half of what we exchanged. We had to get someone from the port to fix it and to say that the man was pissed was an understatement. This also happened to me once on a Bahamian excursion, we paid in USD and later learned from a crew member they charged us 3x the amount. Not only do I always do my research, I purposely carry $1, 5 and 10s now. Do you recommend a good website to look up the currency rates? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CGTLH Posted October 6, 2021 Report Share Posted October 6, 2021 49 minutes ago, AjG said: Do you recommend a good website to look up the currency rates? My normal goto is xe.com plus they also have an app. KJones and whitsmom 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KJones Posted October 6, 2021 Report Share Posted October 6, 2021 +1 to XE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ampurp85 Posted October 6, 2021 Report Share Posted October 6, 2021 Yes to XE, it is what I use now. I also say to use the ATMs and not like a currency exchange vendor/booth. You pay less to exchange, if you fly don't do it at the airport because they often charge a premium. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annette dora Posted October 7, 2021 Report Share Posted October 7, 2021 (edited) Have small bills n use credit card for larger purchases. Have conversion calculator with you if needed. Edited October 7, 2021 by Annette dora Info already mentioned earlier posts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianB Posted October 7, 2021 Report Share Posted October 7, 2021 I sailed out of New Jersey and tried to exchange my currency to the local Port Canaveral currency but couldn’t find anyone who would make the exchange. They just looked at me funny like…I couldn’t figure it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ampurp85 Posted October 7, 2021 Report Share Posted October 7, 2021 @BrianBPort Canaveral currency is Mickey ears, that's why they were looking at you funny. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USCG Teacher Posted October 7, 2021 Report Share Posted October 7, 2021 3 hours ago, BrianB said: I sailed out of New Jersey and tried to exchange my currency to the local Port Canaveral currency but couldn’t find anyone who would make the exchange. They just looked at me funny like…I couldn’t figure it out. 1 hour ago, Ampurp85 said: @BrianBPort Canaveral currency is Mickey ears, that's why they were looking at you funny. D'oh. BrianB 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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