Cruise spending money - multiple distinations

ste1200

Hi, I am going on a cruise in April which is stopping in Spain, France, Italy and Gibraltar. What is the recommended way of paying for items when visiting those countries ? I have a Visa Debit and a Mastercard Credit card. Do those countries charge for using these, including Gibraltar ? Am I better off taking Euros (and UKP for Gibraltar) ? Can you draw money from cash machines abroad without paying a fee ?

Thanks in advance.
Ste

luci

It is not the countries that impose the charges, it is your card providers. Either check on their websites or call them to check.

Which bank and credit card do you have as the fees and loading vary widely, some are much better than others?

ste1200

My debit is Natwest (who I have a meeting with tomorrow, I will ask) and my CC is Tesco

luci

You will need to check with each of them, either on their website or by phone, to check what their fees and charges are.

daveyjp

Which cruiseline? With P&O you can charge currency to your cabin for no fee and as it's a cabin charge there will be no handling fee from your card providers - the currency forms part of the bill to be paid at the end of the cruise.

For card usage ashore you'll need to check with your card provider.

mickey234

If it is P&O avoid their front desk exchange, their rate is the worse you will find. You are not charged commission or a handling charge, you just get a very poor rate of exchange, hence you are worse-off.

Ideally use a Zero rated Credit card to pay for all services and goods where ever possible and take Euros for the incidentals. (Safe, reasonable rate from Post Office before you leave)

daveyjp

Before going I'd call P&O and ask them what the on ship rate will be.

On both our P&O cruises we have found exchange rates to be very competitive - on a Fjord trip last year the deal was 9.1 krona to the £, best I could find before leaving was 8.8, but I needed to change £500.

The previous year the Euro rate was on a par with both Post Office and M&S rates.

ste1200

My Tesco CC charges 2.75% for transactions in foreign countries. Does anyone know of a 0% card that doesn't charge please ?

mickey234

ste1200 wrote: »

My Tesco CC charges 2.75% for transactions in foreign countries. Does anyone know of a 0% card that doesn't charge please ?

Santander ZERO credit card is 0% for all foreign transactions (except ATM's as there are regarded as Cash Advances).
You get the Mastercard or Visa quoted daily rate, which is the best you'll get anywhere.

Pay it off in full at the end of the month and the foreign exchange will cost nothing.

ste1200

According the website it is for current account holders only, and I don't really want to open another bank account, thanks but any other suggestions please ?

travellerboy

ste1200 wrote: »

My Tesco CC charges 2.75% for transactions in foreign countries. Does anyone know of a 0% card that doesn't charge please ?

To get the Santander ZERO card, you need a Santander Current Account.

Try Halifax Clarity Credit card (open to all, no requirement to hold a current account with them) zero foreign transaction fees but like the Sandtander Zero you pay interest on cash withdrawls from ATM's.
It works out to be about £1 for every £100 withdrawn if you pay back within the month, thats much better than buying TC or foreign cash.