When it comes to cruise holidays, the kind of currency that’s used onboard might confuse some first-time cruisers. Whilst cruise lines operate on a cashless system (where all your expenses are charged to your room account), each cruise line operates under a specific currency: this is the currency your bill, menus and onboard shops will be displayed in.
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A Guide to Cruise Line Currencies
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Whether you want to settle your account in cash at the end of the cruise or you’re planning on tipping employees, find out the onboard currency that each cruise line operates with in our handy guide below.
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What currency is used onboard my cruise?
Azamara Cruises
All transactions onboard Azamara’s ships are in US dollars – only US currency is accepted onboard.
Carnival Cruise Line
Any purchases made onboard Carnival’s ships will be charged to your “Sign & Sail” account (the line’s onboard credit program) in US dollars. ATMs that dispense both euros and US dollars can also be found onboard – though euros tend to be the preferred currency in most of the line’s ports of call.
Celebrity Cruises
All Celebrity ships use US dollars onboard, any onboard purchases you make are posted automatically to your onboard account through the line’s SeaPass card you’ll receive at the start of your cruise.
Costa Cruises
Costa’s non-Caribbean itineraries use euros onboard, with US dollars being used for the line’s Caribbean itineraries.
Cunard
Transactions taking place on Cunard are in US dollars, which are charged to your onboard account and settled at the end of your holiday. However, these charges can be converted into UK sterling, though you’ll also have to pay a 3% conversion charge.
Fred. Olsen
The onboard currency is UK sterling. The line also accepts Eurocard, Mastercard and Visa, though does not accept American Express, along with Maestro, Solo, Electron, or Diners Club travel agent debit cards, pre-paid currency or travellers’ cheque cards.
NCL
Prices onboard Norwegian Cruise Line are in US dollars. Sterling and personal cheques are not accepted, although major credit cards and charge cards are.
P&O Cruises
P&O Cruises use the British pound across all of their ships.
Oceania Cruises
US dollars are used across all of Oceania’s ships.
Princess Cruises
Princess’ onboard prices are in US dollars. However, some Australian-based cruises use Australian dollars as their onboard currency.
Royal Caribbean
All of Royal Caribbean’s ships use US dollars as their onboard currency.
Holland America Line
Transactions onboard Holland America Line are in US dollars only.
MSC Cruises
The currency onboard MSC differs depends on where you’re travelling to. For cruises in the Mediterranean, Canary Islands, Northern Europe, Antilles and southbound cruises departing from Europe, all onboard charges are in Euros. For cruises in the Caribbean, South America, South Africa and transatlantic cruises travelling to Europe, all onboard charges are in US dollars.
Want to know more?
Want to more about how the cashless systems on cruise ships work? Read our frequently asked questions on onboard spending here.
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And for the best cruise deals around, head to our homepage and get yourself onboard for a bargain.
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