The Mediterranean Region (Spain, Portugal, Italy) has the same Money - the Euro.

It will be accepted in Tunisie and in Britain.

If you board the Ship in the Med, you need no British Pounds, if the Money on the Ship is the Pound, pay your Invoice with Creditcard.

For Tips, all Waiters will accept what they can get. Dollar or Euro is good.

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Originally posted by Snowbird:
For a first time traveller to Europe - cruising the Med on back to back weeks on the Sunbird in September - I would like advise on the best travellers cheques/currency to bring. I assume all shipbord charges including any excursions purchased will be put on your credit card in pound stirling. What is the best to bring for tips, cabs etc? Canadian Travellers cheques? Will the pursers' office change them into any type of currency or should I buy English and Euro dollars in Canada?

Does Mallorca and Minorca use the Euro? What about Malta and Tunisia? Any help would be appreciated.

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Normally the Purser's Office does not change currency - CA$ Travellers cheques are not the best way to go - personally I'd buy a few UK pounds and some Euro before leaving home. You can always use a CC!

If the Cruise starts in UK, it is better to have some Pound, for things to pay there (Taxi Driver, Drinks etc.)

In the Med. Pound is not needed. These countries work all with Euro or accept it.

I myself have always on Cruises Dollars US in small Notes with me, this is accepted Worldwide.

The Euro Room is bigger than the USA, it is about 300 Million People (80 German, 60 French, 60 Italian and a number of smaller Countries. In some Years, other Countries will come in and bring more People (50 Million Polish and so on...)

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Originally posted by Snowbird:
I buy English and Euro dollars in Canada?

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Yes, you will need some sterling cash. The UK does not generally use Euro's - yet! Try not to get notes bigger than £10, if you want to be able to change them easily for small items. At a push, £20 notes should be an absolutely maximum value.

Remember many (most) things in Europe are more expensive than in North America. If you expect to spend 50% more than you would at home, you will have a good cushion.You probably will not spend it all, but at least you will not run out of money.

Take Dollars in small Notes with you, this is accepted everwhere.

Never buy Russian Roubles or Estonian Money, if you do not spend all in the Country - it is without any Value outside.

They accept Dollar and Euro.

When i was last in Estonia with the CENTURY (in 1999), i pay in German Marks - no Problem!

The Mark is now gone and the Euro is here. Euro and Dollar are the Money in an lot of Eastern countries, not their official Currency.

In 1988 in Summer,i visit the Soviet Union with the well-known German Travelcompany HETZEL from Stuttgart (now defunct).

For 100 Roubles i have to pay at the official Changedesk in Hotel (Banks are seldom in Soviet Union) 300 German Marks (DM). Western Money, of course, i am no "Ossi"

For the same 100 Roubles, you pay on the Street 100 German Marks, but it was strictly forbidden.
You rist Problems for you, including Stop of the Holiday and trow into Prison or out of the Country.

The Russian Dealer risks Concentration Camp in Sibiria!!

No Question: i change on the Strees

4 Years later, for the same 100 Marks, you get an official Ratio of 58 for 1, this means 5800 Roubles for your 100 Marks.

On the Street, they pay 100:1, so 100 Marks are 10000 Roubles, and your and your Dealers risk was nothing.

For the official 300 Marks for your 100 Roubles in 1988, you could get 17400 Roubles now official and 30000 on the Street.

At this Time, my Captain of the Motorship NICOLAIJ BAUMANN on the River Volga has an Monthly income of 10000 Roubles, this was on the Street 100 Marks or about 30 Pound Sterling.

Not on an day: in an Month, and from this Money, he had to pay Life for his Wife and his Son!!

An Teacher has at this Time 1500 Roubles an Month, this is 15 German Marks or about 5 British Pound Sterling AN MONTH!!

The great thing about being on for two weeks is that you will actually have a whole day in Palma, your embarkation port, on the middle Saturday.

You won't need cash on the ship (you can even charge your casino investment to your ship card) apart from a few pounds for drinks on disembarkation day. That is because they close the ship card accounts at 2am, but if you have a late transfer you might want to stay on board and you'll need cash for drinks.

Oh, and cash for any non-included tips you decide to leave. Although a few trips ago, I tipped my cabin steward in casino chips! Try to avoid that because it gives the poor lad an awful lot of paperwork!!!

In Palme, go shopping. In Malta, try to get to Mdina (a superb ancient city) but to try to grab a drink in Valetta at The English Pub, almost a shrine to the actor Oliver Reed who died there.

Naples: Pompeii (obviously).

My one word of caution. In Tunis, do go on an organised shorex and NOT risk going your own way. It is the second-most threatening place I have ever visited.

Hope this helps.