Taking a cruise with a week's stay in Copenhagen prior to the cruise and a trip through the fjords of Norway after. Am prepaying cruise, hotels, metro/museum cards, and trains, etc prior to the trip. So I know roughly how many euro, swedish , norwegian, danish and russian rubles I need as it is mainly for drinks, snacks, etc. Since it does not come to more than $500 am I better off keeping things simple and carrying cash or open an account and get a debit card?

If dollars, what is the best denomination to bring-$20's or $100 bills? I also always bring $1 and $5 for tips, emergencies, etc. Thanks.

Bringing $$$ would be useless. If you gave someone a $5 tip, what good would it do him? If someone gave you €5, what could you do with it?

I would use a credit card wherever possible, and maybe get a small amount of currency at each stop. I'm sure your cruise line will have some provision for currency exchange, which will probably have a very unfavorable rate, but for convenience it may be worth it. The other option is to make small withdrawals at ATMs in each port.

I would use a debit card or a cc. U.S. dollars will be worse than useless for anything.

On a couple trips I visited 3 to 4 different countries with a different currency in each one... As soon as I hit the airport or train station I'd withdraw some local currency with my debit card. The trick is to not take out too much and be stuck with it, unless you plan to return.

This would be an awesome trip... I haven't been to Norway yet, but I really did enjoy Copenhagen.

Agree to use CC for as much as possible and pull small amount of currency from ATMs to avoid spending time finding a place to change $ - and getting the awful rate of exchange plus paying the fee.

As for $ - you may as well give someone monopoly money what are they supposed to do with them?

We visited all these countries a few years ago. We just hit the atm upon arriving in each country for a few dollars for snacks, drinks etc. I don't like to use the debit card for a couple dollars, or rubles, purchase. Atms are everywhere. We never had a problem with running out of money or ending up with too much. If anything we would just buy a few snacks at the airport or train station before we moved on to the next stop, thereby using up our leftover money.

No one has mentioned this.. b$ ut its perhaps a good idea for you to read up on tipping etiquette for where you are going.. tipping is no where near the same as America.
Norway and Sweden are not huge tipping countries.. Norway in particular..
You would be generous to tip 5-10 % in many places, ,in some a round up of a few coins would be sufficient, tipping the American 15-25 % would be a bit gauche..

I have no idea about Russia though..

Here's another thought on what to do with any local foreign currency left over at the end of the trip.

You can use it for tips on the cruise. The staff on the ship know what to do with it - even if it's US dollars.

In Norway and Sweden you will not need any cash, everything can be paid by card, even the smallest amount. Norwegians would not use cash for a coffee. Many people do not even carry cash any more. Tipping is virtually non-existent - perhaps round up a restaurant bill to a whole sum, but not more than 5% and certainly not necessary. Just make sure your card doesn't have ridiculous foreign transaction fees. And best if you can get a chip and pin card.
To use up cash, just pay your last bill partly in cash and rest with card.

I live in Sweden and I NEVER carry cash. Pay your drinks, coffees, ice creams, subway tickets etc with your card.

Most people in Sweden will leave a small tip in restaurants if they are happy with the service and the food. It is not necessary and some people don't. Never tip in a self-service establishment. Only American tourists leave a 15-20% tip, locals leave perhaps 5% or even less. And never try to figure out if tip or service is included in the bill or not. Service charges don't simply exist in Sweden. You pay exactly the prices stated in the menu. No extra charges (service, tax etc) will be added to your bill as this would be illegal. The tip is something you decide if you want to leave or not and will never be added to your bill.

Thanks very much. Good idea for using money extra tips to crew and will also use for a tip when I leave my hotels. I don't mind keep a little bit sort of a souvenir.

YOu don't add service charges to the bill in many countries in Europe, but that doesn't mean there isn't one by law, it's just already included in the price, that's all. Really, it's semantics as places set their prices to include the cost of service to begin with. That's the difference with the US where it is legal to pay less than minimum wage on the theory that the waitstaff is supposed to get paid something by the clients.

Service charges are also included in hotel bills, you don't need to tip in those countries for hotels.

My understanding is that Sweden does indeed have a service charge, but it's already include on the bill, that's all, just like in France. In fact, this is the official govt tourist site and it says that. http://www.visitsweden.com/sweden/Sw...weden/Tipping/

If you bring some USD as backup, don't bring $100 bills.

YOu should use an ATM/debit card. It sounds like you dont' even have a bank account if you don't have one, I can't imagine traveling without one.

I would like to confrim that Russia is much closer to Norway and Sweden in tipping: do not give tips to everybody.
Only at restaurants 5-10% (10% for flawless outstanding service, usually not more than 5-7%), a little bit to taxi driver, but not too much (max 5%). They have enough salary and their service is included into rate.

No hidden service charge, taxes, e.t.c. You pay exactly as it is written in menu. You can add tips as you wish. You can give 0 tips if you don't want so.

The only legal currency is Russian ruble, so tipping in $ isn't a good idea. People will have no use of it, anyway they have to go to bank to change it to RUB.

ATM's are everywhere, near to 100% of shopping malls and restaurants accepts VISA/Mastercard. But you still need some cash for street vendors or small private fastfood cafes.

Same thing with Copenhagen as far as tipping as using debit/credit cards. We used some cash there, but very little.

Look, some nylons and a few packs of Luckies should cover your tipping needs.

US$ are SO yesterday.

Most international airports have a charity bin to collect your left over currency - usually the money goes to a local charity. Good way to dispose of your unused cash.