Money in advance for non-EU countries
 

On a July cruise, we'll be stopping at ports in Sweden, Finland, Estonia, northern Germany, and Denmark. For lunch on our own, or to rent a bicycle, we'll need some non-EU currency. Our credit union offers a flat fee $15 service to get us all the currency before we leave, and will buy back the larger amounts when we return (at the same exchange rate). I've no idea if there are ATM's by cruise ports for people on their own. Would we have to locate a main train station for an ATM? Or might this service be worth it?

All of those countries are in the EU so should be using Euros.

Only Finland and Germany among those countries use Euros.
ATM are everywhere in Denemark (i've not been in Sweden and Estonia so i wouln't know)

Sorry, you are right - I looked at the EU site and those countries, like the UK, use their own currency. Sounds like for $15 it will be well worth the convenience of not having to run around looking for ATMs.

Sweden: krona, about SEK6.9 for $1.
Estonia: Kroon, about EEK11.6 for $1
Denmark: krone, about DKK5.54 for $1

Before you agree to use the credit union service, you may want to check WHAT EXCHANGE RATE they'll use for SELLING and BUYING CASH.

You should be able to find ATMs locally. Just make sure you have PIN.

Running around looking for ATMs?

I would guess that, conservatively speaking, the density of ATMs in any European city/town/village/crossroads is probably easily quadruple that of the US. I had similar concerns to you, 4 years ago, thinking that surely little old Lubotin (pop. 400) in Slovakia wouldn't have an ATM. But then I looked at the website which tells locations of ATMs around the world, and learned that even Lubotin had FOUR. Four, for &2=## sake! I crumbled up my fears, and threw them away. Since then I take US$50 and an ATM card. Trust me, if you plan to spend money, there'll be an ATM within 200 feet. If you don't plan to, you won't need to worry about having any currency whatsoever.

I do love replies that are succinct and bring a smile to my face. Thanks!

I'm guessing that most (not all) businesses that are geared to services the cruise business are also going to take credit cards....

From a general point of view, the ports of the Baltic Sea are far more than harbors where the occasional odd cruise ship sails in.
They are major hubs for international travel with a huge number of ferries arriving and departing. So the infrastructure you will find at the piers is quite similar to that of a train station or airport.

It may be a good idea to take some extra cash in Euros as even in those non-Euro countries, you may be able to pay in Euro (and get your change in the local currency, so make sure you have enough small Euro bills ;) ) or need Euros to cover the deposit for the bicycles you want to rent.

Take this company for example which rents bicycles in Estonia:
http://www.citybike.ee/?page=1004&lang=2

Presuming you are a US resident..

Wells Fargo - $8 next day shipping; no fees..

https://www.foreignexchangeservices.com/cfx/products

* Australian Dollar (AUD)
* British Pound (GBP)
* Canadian Dollar (CAD)
* Danish Krone (DKK)
* Euro (EUR)
Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain

* Hong Kong Dollar (HKD)
* Japanese Yen (JPY)
* Mexican Peso (MXN)
* New Zealand Dollar (NZD)
* Norwegian Krone (NOK)
* Singapore Dollar (SGD)
* Swedish Krona (SEK)
* Swiss Franc (CHF)
* Thai Baht (THB)

&quot;<i>Wells Fargo - $8 next day shipping; no fees..</i>&quot;

No fee - but <u>really</u> bad exchange rate.

agreed that the rate is not the best, but I'll take the convenience and $8 shipping over saving maybe 3-4% difference in rates..

&gt;I'll take the convenience and $8 shipping over saving maybe 3-4% difference in rates..&lt;

That's $35/$1000

Chacun a son gout

((I))