do I pay in dollars or pounds

by **chocchick** on Sat Mar 01, 2008 21:20 pm

hi, I am british and im going on caribbean princess in 3 weeks time and i am busy filling in the relevent forms. One forms asks me if i want to pay my credit cardbill in pounds or dollars, which would be more cost effective. Thanks for your help.

by **felix55** on Sat Mar 01, 2008 22:28 pm

Stay with pounds, the exchange rate is good at present, and you won't pay the exchange rate from your credit card.

by **chocchick** on Sun Mar 02, 2008 18:00 pm

Thanks for the advice. I was getting a bit confused. It doesnt take much!!!!!!

by **andante** on Mon Mar 03, 2008 13:49 pm

NO NO NO: do not pay in pounds, you wont get the good rate that we get in UK.
This is how it works: you must put on your embarkation form DO NOT CONVERT: bill in us dollars. My advise is to also check with purser, once on board that this is on your account. IF IT IS NOT THEN: princess will add up you bill in us dollars then they will convert the bill to uk pounds at a very low rate (ie when we went in nov. banks were giving �2.02 to the dollar, princess gave �1.75 AND THEN charged 3% for doing so.

We actually took dollars with us and settled the account the night before, but as I have said as long as you put do not convert, and check this has been done then the bill should come back to your credit card for them to convert and you will get much nearer the bank rate.

Have a nice Time.

by **chocchick** on Mon Mar 03, 2008 18:41 pm

Thanks, it took me a while to get my head round that one. I have been getting conflicting advice off friends etc, but you seem to know what you are talking about so thanks for that. Only 19 days to go. cant wait for a bit of sun!!!!

by **andante** on Mon Mar 03, 2008 20:52 pm

sorry I know that sounds confusing...probably because it is...Princess is not going to encourage or enlighten you on how to get out of one of their money making procedures.

Although we were in the far east on the sapphire, if there is anything I can help with let me know. Also did the caribbean east and west on the grand princess a couple of years ago.

Otherwise just have a fantastic holiday. Anne

by **chocchick** on Tue Mar 04, 2008 17:09 pm

Again, thanks for the advice.

by **SILVERSURFER2** on Sun Mar 09, 2008 22:15 pm

That's good knowledge. I'll have to let my travel agent thecruiservice.com know about that, they certainly know how to give discounted prices for cruises!