Cruise Bill Surprises And How to Avoid Them This Year

30. Automatic Currency Exchange Fees on Foreign Cruises

If your cruise visits multiple countries, your purchases onboard may be charged in a different currency depending on where you’re sailing. If your bank or credit card automatically converts these charges, you might be paying an extra 2-3% per transaction. How to Avoid It: Use a credit card with no foreign transaction fees, or set your account to bill in USD whenever possible. If you need local currency for shopping in port, withdraw cash at a bank ATM instead of using onboard currency exchange services, which often have poor rates.