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Can I exchange currency on a Carnival cruise?

Emma-Jane Stogdon
Emma-Jane Stogdon
02.08.24
Read time 3 minutes

If you’ve got a Carnival cruise coming up, you’re likely in the middle of packing your outfits for formal nights and planning your shore excursions. Although this part of getting ready is exciting, deciding what currency to bring on your trip can be a little trickier. After all, you may stop in several countries, or maybe you’re going on a worldwide cruise.

Depending on the cruise, sometimes your pounds sterling won’t be the best currency you could bring with you. That’s why we’ve prepared a quick guide to Carnival cruise currency exchange and what your options are onboard.

We’ll also show you a handy alternative, the Wise debit card. It’s designed for low-cost spending around the world, automatically converting your pounds to the local currency at a fair mid-market exchange rate for low, transparent fees*.

Learn more about the Wise card 💳

Can you exchange money on a Carnival cruise ship?1

You won’t be able to exchange currency on all Carnival cruise ships, since they only offer this service on their US cruises. However, even there, travellers can only exchange Canadian dollars for US dollars.

Carnival recommends that their guests obtain enough currency before embarking or to withdraw it at onboard ATMs.

How does money work on a Carnival cruise ship?

All of your Carnival cruise expenses will be charged to your Sail & Sign onboard account. You can open your account with a credit or debit card, but also with cash or traveller’s checks.

If you want to use your card when opening a Sail & Sign account, these are the credit and debit cards accepted at Carnival cruises:

  • Visa Card and Visa Gift Card
  • MasterCard and MasterCard Gift Card
  • The Discover Card and Discover Gift Card
  • American Express Card and the Carnival Corporation Reward Card from American Express
  • Diner's Club and Diner's Club Gift Card
  • JCB Card

If you choose cash or traveller’s checks as a form of payment, you’ll be able to deposit US dollars only. You can do this on the first day of the cruise at embarkation or before your trip at Carnival.com, My Cruise Manager or when checking in online. You can add more cash to your account throughout the cruise at the Guest Services desk.

All cruise guests receive their personalised Sail & Sign cards, even minors. You can check your balance at any point during the cruise by visiting the Guest Services desk or in the Carnival HUB app.

Can you use cash on Carnival cruises?2

Carnival cruises are completely cashless and you can only use your Sail & Sign card for paying onboard.

What currency is used on Carnival cruise ships?

The official currency on Carnival cruises is the US dollar.3 The only exception are Australian cruises, where guests can use Australian dollars.4

Are there ATMs on Carnival cruise ships?⁵

Yes, ATMs are featured on all Carnival cruise ships. Guests can find them on the Promenade Deck or the Mezzanine Deck.

How to avoid Carnival currency exchange fees

Cruises are known for having unfavourable exchange rates and conversion fees at their ATMs, similar to airport ATMs. For example, there’s a $6.50 fee for every transaction on Carnival ATMs.5

If you want to avoid cruise currency exchange fees, here are a few tips:

  • Exchange currency in advance - visit a currency exchange facility before embarking on your cruise ship and get the currency you need
  • Use an ATM while on land - take advantage of your port days and find an ATM
  • Exchange currency on land - try to find a currency exchange facility in the places you’re visiting
  • Use your debit or credit card - let your card do the conversion instead

An alternative to high fees on the high seas - the Wise card

Want to avoid high conversion fees and exchange rates during your Carnival cruise? Try using the Wise debit card. It automatically converts the currency with only a small, transparent currency conversion fee*.

And if you end up using the ATM aboard your Carnival cruise ship, make sure you only withdraw in US dollars. If that’s not possible for some reason, your Wise card can quickly convert the money in your Wise account to the right currency whenever you withdraw cash, all at the mid-market rate.

On top of that, you can make 2 free withdrawals each month up to 200 GBP with your Wise card, so you won’t have to worry about how you’ll pay on land. You can sit back, relax and enjoy your cruise.

Your Wise card awaits 💳

So that’s our guide to cruise ship currency conversion aboard Carnival - happy cruising! 🚢

Sources used:

  1. Carnival Cruise Line - limited currency exchange on Carnival cruises
  2. Carnival Cruise Line - Sail & Sign account details and cashless information
  3. Cruise Nation - Carnival cruise currency (USD)
  4. Carnival Cruise Line - currency on Australian Carnival cruises (AUD)
  5. Carnival Cruise Line - ATMs on Carnival cruises

Sources last checked on date: 31-July-2024

*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.

This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.

We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.

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