Here is some information about money and currency, both on shore and on board your ship.
Currencies & exchange rates
Local currencies vary with the regions where we travel:
• China uses the renminbi (RMB), whose basic unit is the yuan
• Most of Europe uses the euro, except for Hungary which uses the forint
• Hong Kong uses the Hong Kong dollar
• Russia uses the ruble
• Ukraine uses the hryvnia
Current exchange rates are available in the financial sections of newspapers and at: xe.com.
Exchanging currency or travelers checks
Unfortunately, your ship will not be able to change money for you or accept travelers cheques for payment of your shipboard account. You may be able to change cash or travelers cheques at some hotels, most banks and exchange bureaus for a fee.
In China:
To change Chinese currency back to GBP, euros or other currencies, you will need to provide all receipts and currency declarations. Because this process can be quite time-consuming, we suggest exchanging currency in smaller increments, as needed.
In Russia/Ukraine:
Russian and Ukrainian currency is regulated. Change your hard currency (GBP, euros, etc.) only at official exchange points and use only rubles or hryvnia as cash. The local people may be happy to accept notes (GBP, euros, etc.) for tips, taxi rides and souvenirs, but it is technically not allowed.
Cash Machines
Cash machines are a good way to obtain currency when overseas; however, they are not always conveniently located and may be rare in smaller towns along the rivers. And, your itinerary may not always allow you sufficient time to locate one. Please ask your Program Director or tour guide for further assistance.
When available, cash machines dispense local currency for internationally accepted debit/credit cards, and have a varying service fee. If you are planning to use cash machines, you should confirm with your bank prior to departure that your debit/credit card and Personal Identification Number (PIN) will work abroad and whether any charges/fees will be applied.
Credit cards
Euro card, MasterCard, Visa and American Express cards are accepted in all countries in major shops, restaurants and hotels as well as to settle your shipboard account. Before you depart, we recommend that you alert your credit card companies/banks that you plan to use your card(s) on your trip as they will often refuse to honour credit cards if they notice irregular and/or overseas activity.
Currency on board & your shipboard account
In China:
The on board currency is the renminbi, whose basic unit is the yuan. All on board purchases are billed with a guest check and added to your personal shipboard account. At the end of your trip, you may pay in cash (renminbi, GBP, euros), or by credit/debit card (your bill will be converted at the current exchange rate). The ship cannot accept travelers cheques for payment of your shipboard account. Please review your shipboard bill upon checkout so that we can more easily assist you with any questions you may have. Note that all shipboard purchases will appear on your credit card statement as “CQ New Century Cruise.”
In Europe:
The on board currency is the euro. All on board purchases are billed with a guest check and added to your personal shipboard account. At the end of your trip, you may pay in cash (euros), or by credit/debit card (your bill will be converted at the current exchange rate). Unfortunately, travelers cheques cannot be used for payment of your shipboard account. Please review your shipboard bill upon checkout so that we can more easily assist with any questions you may have.
In Russia/Ukraine:
The on board currency is the “unit,” an artificial currency aligned with the euro (1 unit = 1 euro). All on board purchases are billed with a guest cheque and added to your personal shipboard account. At the end of your trip, you may pay in cash (rubles, U.S. dollars or euros), or by credit card (your bill will be converted at the current exchange rate). The ship cannot accept travelers cheques for payment of your shipboard account. Please review your shipboard bill upon checkout so that we can more easily assist with any questions you may have.
Purchasing items
Many locations will accept travelers cheques or credit cards. For incidentals and small vendors, you may be able to use other currencies in small denominations, but we recommend getting some local currency.
Customs
Many countries have laws against the purchase/export of certain items, including antiquities, cultural property and certain animal products. Additionally, U.K. laws prohibit the import of certain items. You can review current restrictions as well as duty free limits by clicking this link.