| Money matters can be confusing when traveling | | | | with the item or it is not what it is |
| but maybe this article will help you out. We | | | | purported to be. |
| always take lots of single and five dollar | | | | |
| bills with us on every cruise. They come in | | | | The very best way to find out where the good |
| handy for taxis, tips for tour guides, tips | | | | shopping is, ask the crew. Some of the shops |
| for the staff, and little souvenirs at craft | | | | actually "sponsor" the cruise lines shopping |
| shops. They are handy if you run across a | | | | lectures. The cruise lines will receive a |
| bartender on the ship that is really treating | | | | commission from the stores they recommend. |
| you well. | | | | It's a great big commercial to a captured |
| | | | audience, but if there is a problem the |
| Europe has now changed to the Euro in many | | | | cruise lines will stick to their policy and |
| countries making it easier to travel from | | | | get you a refund. So it's a matter of |
| country to country. The countries that are | | | | comfort level, go on your own if you think |
| now using that currency are: Austria, | | | | you are savvy enough or go with the cruise |
| Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, | | | | lines recommendation to be safe. |
| Holland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, | | | | |
| Portugal, Spain, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, | | | | The days at sea the cruise the ship's |
| The Vatican, Martinique, Guadalupe, | | | | boutiques will have "sales" so wait until |
| Montenegro, and Kosovo. | | | | then to see if what you want has been |
| | | | reduced. |
| Thanks to the miracle of the ATM machine, it | | | | |
| is now easier that ever to get money in | | | | If you know what you want to buy when you are |
| foreign countries. Use your ATM card in the | | | | cruising, check out the costs at home before |
| machine to get the appropriate amount of | | | | you go, including the discount stores. |
| money for the days you will be in each | | | | Sometimes you can get a better deal at home |
| country. This eliminates carrying lots of | | | | with the comfort of knowing it's returnable |
| Traveler's Checks but take a few in case of | | | | if it is defective. |
| emergencies. Never carry big wads of money no | | | | |
| matter where you travel. It makes you an | | | | If you buy perfume open the sealed box before |
| instant target. | | | | you leave port to make sure the perfume has |
| | | | not evaporated. At one of the islands we |
| Always keep in mind that you will be unable | | | | visited I purchased some perfume and just out |
| to reconvert coins so spend them liberally. | | | | of curiosity opened it when we returned to |
| It will be necessary to know the exchange | | | | the ship. The seal was still it tact but the |
| rate so you can figure out how much you will | | | | bottle was three quarters empty. Since we |
| need. If you are doing a cruise in the | | | | were still in port I was able to return it to |
| British Isles you may make three stops in | | | | the store for another bottle. |
| Ireland so plan for three days of the local | | | | |
| currency if you don't want to keep finding an | | | | I'd like to add just a word on traveling to |
| ATM machine. | | | | different ports everyday and credit cards. |
| | | | When we were traveling in Europe I purchased |
| If you are cruising around the Caribbean, | | | | several things in different ports on |
| every merchant takes dollars and credit | | | | different days. By the third day the credit |
| cards, I recommend using Credit Cards. If | | | | card company would no longer honor my card |
| you don't use the above suggestion about | | | | because they were suspicious of theft. For |
| using the ATM's the ship will provide a | | | | that reason, I always carry two credit cards |
| service to change dollars into Euros or any | | | | and make sure both companies know I will be |
| other currency necessary. You should have | | | | traveling extensively. This is a very good |
| some of the local money for buying small | | | | tip to know. |
| items such as soft drinks or a snacks, tips | | | | |
| or local craft items. Any other purchases | | | | Follow this money and shopping advice and you |
| should be charged to your credit card because | | | | should get along fine no matter which country |
| this protects you if there is something wrong | | | | you visit. Happy Cruising. |