Show Me the Euros

You’re reading Part 3: Show Me the Euros 
Check out Part 1: All About U - Onboard Life
Check out Part 2: Exploring Ashore

River cruising is a great bargain when it comes to visiting Europe. Not only do you unpack once as your boutique hotel floats from city to city, but you’ll also know most of your costs upfront and not have to budget for things like meals (brunch and dinner are included with U by Uniworld) or seek out random cafes with free internet to get your daily Wi-Fi fix.

Here are a few tips every U by Uniworld traveler should know when it comes to what you need to budget for your U cruise.

How much do the excursions cost on U by Uniworld?

In addition to the included excursions, the U Time extras run from €29-$99 (roughly $35-$115) though this is subject to change. We did four U Time excursions, for a total of €265 and every dollar spent was well worth it. Even on days we did excursions, we usually still had time to join the included walking tour or explore on our own. All of the prices were right in line with how much you’d spend doing the same activities on your own, plus you didn’t have to worry about finding transportation or standing in line for your entrance tickets. 

Is the U by Uniworld beverage package worth it?

The biggest benefit of the beverage package is not having to mentally tally how much money you’re spending every time you take a sip of your drink. Even if you don’t think you’ll drink a lot every day, the drink package quickly becomes worth it even if you just have an afternoon cocktail on the deck, two glasses of wine with dinner and a night cap with your new friends in the lounge – or maybe more if there’s a DJ playing that night. 

Do I need to take out Euros for my U by Uniworld trip?

Unlike in the U.S. where you can charge a dollar on your credit card, many European shops won’t take credit cards for small purchases, so having Euros will definitely come in handy. You’ll even find some bathrooms cost a few cents, so hang on to your change. Talk to your bank about getting Euros before your trip, but to avoid having to carry around tons of cash, it’s always good to have a credit card that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees when traveling abroad, such as an American Express Gold Card. A word of advice though, when checking out, you’ll often times be asked if you’d like the charge to run through as Euro or USD and it’s usually best to have the charge go through in the local currency to get the best exchange rate. Don’t have an American Express? Ask your Cruise Planners travel advisor if they can hook you up with a special offer.

What should I do about internet and cell service while traveling on U by Uniworld? 

Wi-Fi is free on board (THANK YOU, U!) and the speed is good for posting all your awesome photos and videos on social media letting your friends back home know how much you miss them…not. This also means you can use FaceTime or WhatsApp to call home while connected to the Wi-Fi. If you’re looking to use data while in port, you can either rent a wireless hotspot from the front desk for €10 a day that can connect to a few devices, or you can ask your current cellular provider how much an international plan costs. This may be as low as $10 per day and allow you to still use your current call, text and data allotments. 

Of course, costs are subject to change, especially when it comes to cruise rates, so book with your Cruise Planners travel agent as soon as possible to lock in your rate. You’re travel agent is a huge resource when it comes to helping you figure out what to expect when traveling abroad. If you don’t have a travel agent already, find a river cruise travel agent now. Your adventure is waiting!