Money for Sea Year

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NCRaider

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What is the preferred method of currency for Sea?
Are travellers checks old school or hard to cash for
them? Exciting time - just trying to prepare
 
DS mostly used his credit card for his sea year(s) outings (Korea, Alaska, Africa). He did carry some cash, but not much. His money was direct-deposited into his account from the various companies he served with (Commercial firms and MSC).

A really good idea is to have a parent on the account with your DD / DS - sometimes they a hard to get in touch with (Like when they are in the Straits of Hormuz). It helps to have someone shore-side to handle deposits and any issues that crop up. Such as, heaven-forbid, the fastest growing crime in the world: Identity Theft.
 
My DS always had enough money when he was on ship. Then there was always the cash money he was given when he got off the ship. His last one he walked off with $650 given to him by the Captain, First Mate and Engineers on the ship. He always seemed to come out pretty good. :shake:
 
Be careful using credit cards overseas. I travel internationally with the airlines and never use my Credit Card outside the US. Just keep enough cash on hand that you will need and if needed go to a reputable bank and use an ATM card to withdraw enough to last a while.

Africa is the worst. Actually saw a waiter take a card and make an electronic copy of a credit card when the customer wasn't looking. I notified the customer immediately and he CNX the card. The card company called him later in the month and said they had several dozen hits on that card.
 
USMMA PREP DAD said:
Be careful using credit cards overseas. I travel internationally with the airlines and never use my Credit Card outside the US. Just keep enough cash on hand that you will need and if needed go to a reputable bank and use an ATM card to withdraw enough to last a while.

Africa is the worst. Actually saw a waiter take a card and make an electronic copy of a credit card when the customer wasn't looking. I notified the customer immediately and he CNX the card. The card company called him later in the month and said they had several dozen hits on that card.
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We've had our credit card compromised right here in the USA. We returned from a cruise a few years ago and got a call from our bank asking about charges on our card from a Rite Aid in Pennsylvania. Turns out our card was compromised in Florida, at the hotel where we stayed pre-cruise. Our son didn't use his card very often during sea year, but we made sure to keep our bank aware of his travels.
 
When I sailed, most of the time I could get the cash that I needed by making a "draw" on my pay before coming into port. Now, this has been a few years. I am not sure if the direct deposit is mandatory, if it isn't then it would probably be the ideal way for the cadet to have funds to draw from to go ashore with. During my sea year, I was also given money from the engineering officers, and they are also generally quite happy to buy a beer or two ashore, if one is a hard worker.

I still travel internationally, and I generally use a combination of both credit card and cash. Places like Africa are generally better as cash only, and as someone stated above, ID theft can happen right at home. I also have the added benifit of a company credit card, but at times I also use my personal card if needed. I can say that there are certain countries (Turkey by my direct experience) that are red flagged by most credit card companies. I had some issues with my cards just by reserving Turkish hotel rooms and flights out of Istanbul when ordering on line from the US. It took a few calls to the credit card companies to let them know that I was going over. It is also a real good idea to let your credit card company know when and where you might be using your card.

As far as changing money, it is best done through the ship's agent, if possible, or at the Seamen's Club in the appropriate port. Short of that, a reputable hotel ashore or a bank are also good sources. Since I travel by air, I usually change what I think I will need for the first couple of days at the airport, then check the hotel and bank exchange rates/charges if I am going to have a protracted stay.
 
Most get cash using ATMs and use that locally rather than credit cards for the theft reason. But too much cash and you can get rolled in some areas. But you don't want to use a credit card in a bar anywhere. There's an interesting story about "buying a round" in Korea, I think, that will serve as an expensive learning experience for a certain former M/S cadet.

Good to get on credit card/bank accounts to do business and check things in a pinch.
 
preferred method of currency

NCRaider said:
What is the preferred method of currency for Sea?
Are travellers checks old school or hard to cash for
them? Exciting time - just trying to prepare
Click to expand...


to answer you ?- your DS/ DD will need a credit card~~((not cash. and not a debit card))
 
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