Comments on: Did we say dollar? We meant euro

By: Richard

Richard — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 03:42:35 +0000

Sorry mate, but you’re transferring from a second currency (USD) to a primary one (EUR). We’ve now overtaken you.

By: Nigel Appleby

Nigel Appleby — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 04:58:54 +0000

Some cruise lines charge in the currency of the issuing bank of the card used to pay on board. Some years ago we used a UK card even thought we are resident in Canada. The cruise line converted US$ to pounds and then charged the card. I would have got a much better exchange rate if the card had done the exchange rather than the cruise line.
A few years later and a different cruise line wanted to do the same. I still have the UK card but all my otheres are issued by Canadian institutions so I have to be vigilant and ensure that they will charge in US$.
Perhaps something similar happend in this case?
Hope this helps.

By: BriCo

BriCo — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 18:52:35 +0000

I wonder if this is just another scam by the cruise lines (remember “fuel surcharges” AFTER payment had been received?), or even a couple of unscrupulous travel agents. In every Sunday Travel section for the last several months I have read about the “cruise bargains” for cruising/cruise tours in European countries because “cruise ships charge in dollars, not euros”. Once you’re on board, or even before (since you’ve already paid and won’t receive a refund), you are stuck!

By: Charlotte

Charlotte — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 16:39:20 +0000

It is not only the cruise lines, et al. who profit from charging Euros, but your credt card/ bank make a killing on administration fees, exchange fees, percentage fees – alas all fees – that are piled upon the initial charge. On a recent dining experience, which cost me 60 euro, a total of $22 was added to my credit card statement for that one event.

I have sinceI realised that cash is a much better alternative, and costs less even in ATM withdrawal fees.

By: Sorrell

Sorrell — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 13:25:45 +0000

I am the Director of Customer Service at Vacations To Go and I regret that you were not able to get the most current information when you called our company. Chris, we appreciate you bringing this to our attention and we have updated our website to reflect every instance where onboard charges are in Euros instead of dollars.

By: Jasper

Jasper — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 16:36:04 +0000

@ Jet Set Life: The conversion factor will simply reveal that a euro is about $1.60-1.70.

It is not surprising that the dollar has slid over the years as the current policy of the US is not to care about the exchange rate of the dollar, because ‘the American economy is strong’. Only recently, the president has said that he has a ‘strong dollar policy’. However, nobody is really sure what that policy is. Regardless, I haven’t heard any democrats complain, so I have to assume they agree.

Just to throw in another quote on the US exchange rate policy. A couple of years ago, when EU members showed their concern about a possible weakening of the dollar value due to the double US deficit, the answer from the administration was, that if the (massively negative) American trade-balance was a concern to the Europeans, perhaps they could make it smaller by purchasing some fine American products. I.e.: “We are not going to stop importing so much, but we’ll be happy to export more”.

Regarding the oil price, in other currencies it hasn’t increase nearly as much as in dollars (about 15% over the last year in euroland). Oil producing countries simply see the sliding dollar, and make sure that they are getting the same value for their oil.

Oh, and in Europe, the EU is nicely increasing taxes on diesel (yeah, and actual tax increase in stead of a tax holiday). Nobody really knows why, but French president Sarkozy was laughed at for suggesting to max that new tax on diesel (i.e. make sure that the tax which is levied as a percentage of the price, can not go over a certain fixed value in cents). The Dutch PM responded with “We should not lower oil prices, we should use less oil”.

I am digressing. Sorry Chris. I apologize.

@ JetSetLife: Do your Jet Set Lifers really care about money? I would guess that a real Jet Setter is so wealthy, (s)he does not care.

By: Jet Set Life

Jet Set Life — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 15:03:33 +0000

The Euro mess is killing us!. We own a company called http://www.jetsetlife.tv that caters to the jet set traveler and we’re heading to Greece for a month next week and we’re scared to see what those nasty conversions reveal.

By: MarkA

MarkA — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 12:06:38 +0000

Chris – maybe I’m just being thickheaded this morning, but I don’t know if I understand the problem. Are you saying that THEY – the big THEY – are quoting prices – via menus, price sheets, whatever – in dollars, but actually charging in euro? If that’s the case then, by all means, that is defiinitely a big no-no. But if they’re simply charging in euro – and not hiding the fact – and passengers are ASSUMING dollars, then I really can’t find fault with the cruise lines on this one. That is, of course, unless the prices are in big, bold, 36-point font, and the disclaimer “Prices quoted are in euro” is in teeny, tiny, 2-point font on the back of the menu.