Some cruise lines are charging a currency-exchange fee of 3 percent when you purchase a cruise, even though you're paying in the U.S. in U.S. dollars. A couple of years ago, I warned about Oceania Cruises and MSC Cruises doing this, but now Regent Seven Seas and Sea Dream Yacht Club have gotten into the act too, according to Richard Turen one of my most trusted cruise specialists on the list of the world's top travel agents that I update annually in Conde Nast Traveler . Here's what Richard has written about "Luxury Cruise Lines and the Great Credit Card Rip-Off" on his must-read Travel Truth blog:

"Oceania Cruises has been running U.S. bank-issued credit cards through a financial institution based in Dublin, Ireland. This has resulted in scores of Oceania passengers, many of them unaware, being charged an additional fee of up to 3% on their cruise deposits and final payments.

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That should made for some unhappy cruisers.

Thanks for the heads up.

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