Now more than ever cruise lines are looking how to get more money from cruise passengers than ever before. I look at 10 things they are doing to extract more cash from us today that I think are rip offs and what I do to reduce or avoid them so all you can too.
GET EXCLUSIVE PERKS LIKE MEMBER-ONLY BONUS VIDEOS BY BECOMING A CHANNEL MEMBER:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_qE-Obs2ocdmPXY0TIU-cw/join
Links mentioned in the video:
https://www.cruisewatch.com/cruise-price-alerts
https://www.resortpass.com
https://www.ventureashore.com
https://www.shoreexcursionsgroup.com
BUY MY CRUISE-THEMED T-SHIRTS
————————————————
* Check out my T-Shirt range at https://tipsfortravellers.myspreadshop.com , http://bit.ly/TFTStore or https://tips-for-travellers.creator-spring.com
SUPPORT TIPS FOR TRAVELLERS
—————————————————————
* Become a Channel Member and get perks: https://www.tipsfortravellers.com/Join
* Become a Patron on Patreon and get perks: https://www.patreon.com/tipsfortravellers
* Make a donation: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=V9STJGYSEMGLJ
* Buy my book “Cruise Traveler’s Handbook: USA Amazon https://amzn.to/2YVFmG4 and https://amzn.to/3tzIxBn
UK Amazon https://amzn.to/3oXbzYc and https://amzn.to/3qawqIQ
FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA
———————————————*
* Blog: https://www.tipsfortravellers.com
* Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/garybembridge
* Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/tipsfortravellers
* Instagram: http://www.instgram.com/garybembridge
* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bembridge
* TikTok: @garybembridge
ABOUT TIPS FOR TRAVELLERS: If you want to get cruising right, Tips For Travellers makes it easy to plan and have the incredible cruise experiences you dream of every time. All my Tips For Travellers advice, tips and tricks tips draw on everything that I have learnt on the 99 cruises I have done to date.
00:00 Start
00:27 Cruise Fare Rips Offs
02:01 Cruise All Inclusive Rips Offs
03:42 Cruise drinks Rips Offs
05:00 Cruise Excursion Rip Offs
07:34 Cruise Spa Rip Offs
08:43 Cruise Photograph Rip Offs
09:52 Cruise Art Rip Offs
10:54 Cruise Insurance Rip Offs
12:12 Solo Cruise Rip Offs
12:45 Cruise Shopping Rip Offs
#cruisetips #CruisingTips #cruiseships
28 Comments
Gary, if ever you want a friend to travel with, drop me a message. My husband barfs on boats, so I don't have a cruise partner. Have passport, want to travel!
I've always been surprised at how many passengers go to the spa, get beauty treatments, and purchase art of any name-brand items from the shops. They could do all this at home for less money. It's a vacation. Just do the things you can't do at home. (Maybe I'm far too frugal. LOL)
Very interesting tips. I've just checked the fare on my cruise with Celebrity and noticed it's dropped by about 20%. I booked through a travel adviser. Should I contact them or the Celebrity direct for a refund/upgrade etc?
Always best to book direct so you can get refunds for fare drops. I have saved thousands over my cruises.
Ripped off by Cunard big time over our Christmas cruise. We had a cruise credit (our own deposit) and were given till the end of June last year tobook. We booked just before the expiry date, Cunard then lowered their price by $1250 per person just after we booked . Rubbish customer service, I tried getting a refund, or upgrade etc as you suggested Gary. We got a big fat NOTHING from chnard. To add insult to injury, the QE was denied access to Fjiordland inNew Zealand on Christmas day. So the highlights of our cruise were missed. There area lot of other lines to choose from.
I haven't booked anything for 2024 as worried I'll be ripped off 🤣
Or you could just pay and stop whining and expecting the cruise lines to pay you for the luxury of cruising 😂😂
Love your channel! I worked on cruiseships as deck officer for 10 years. Love to watch your channel for the tips and tricks. So true! I never heard a wrong thing about how the cruise lines try to make money. We still waiting to plan a cruise together with my partner, to bring back memories ( he s also ex-engineer on HAL). Keep it up!
A big rip off fromNCL. We booked our flights through NCL. It is reserved and paid for before we knew what the schedule was. We just got the schedule which included an overnight flight arriving in Tampa at 6:00 AM. We are 80 years old and could not endure an all night flight. We cancelled. NCL charged us $520 cancellation even though we cancelled 60 days before the flights
Thanks won't be cruising anytime soon
Excellent video.
Wow lucky you! Great information thank you!
Any cruise lines offer an all inclusive, including alcoholic drinks?
What is the orange thing @2:09? I have watched a few of your videos. A little more volume would not hurt, you have a naturally low voice which is difficult to me.
Hey tips for travellers just in regards to the drink package for royal caribbean in terms of everyone in the room that's 21 and over much purchase it as well. I wanted to let you know if you call royal caribbean you can request that you the one purchasing the alcohol package want that package and the other person with you will purchase the soda package instead as they don't drink alcohol. I found this to be a loop hole around this if the other person in the same cabin does not wish to buy the alcohol cabin but are happen with a soda package as royal caribbean allow this but they do need to either purchase the alcohol or either the soda package cause if not then they will not allow for only one person in the cabin to purchase a drink package but in doing this way it will save $$$.
As a member of the travel industry for years, I prefer personally and professionally a neutral view of these areas and not using "rip off" as it's a personal opinion as to what a traveller considers value and another excess or not necessary spending. European travel is quite different from US/Caribbean/Mexico and going into traveling Australia, Asia, S Pacific Even in Europe, major areas that have Hop On Hop Off may work but if the Cruiser has limited time and doesn't realize there could be more than one line, making some of the similar stops but not necessarily returning to one convenient to getting back to the ship on time can be very costly Re Travel Insurance — times are changing and so are Insurance policies. Read carefully — yes, read the policy and review with an eye to worst case scenario coverage esp if you' plan to travel to long distance, medical facilities questionable" location(s).
When I get notiffication about price drop, how can I then contact cruise line? Do I show them that notofication? Sorry, I'm not familliar with allthose things.
On royal carribean once final payment is made/due you can't change price. I spoke to them.
excellent main bugbear solo prices are a rip off
Whatever you do DO NOT book a cruise with NCL, They suck….. They constantly cancel stops, They change stops and make it a sea Day at their discretion without proper compensation. Apparently they do not realize that the stops that they cancelled might be the reason why you booked they cruise….
Having never taken a cruise, I am now thoroughly confused about whether or not I want to take one by watching so many of your videos. 😉
Gary, you mentioned getting money back as the cruise fare was cheaper. I assume that was before the cruise was paid I’m full? My understanding is once pain on full no refunds are given. Please advise
Great content. Thanks for your hard work.
Holland America .. worse cruise we went on
Thank you for your videos. I am new to cruising. I returned from a Princess cruise in November 2022, in December booked a February and April cruise. I discovered last night my April cruise for same cabin is nearly $500 less. I contacted Princess, was on hold for hours, switched to three agents only to be told, it was too late to do anything. Needless to say, I am soured about my up coming cruises. Also in December, I became a Carnival shareholder. I have been kicking pebbles since my call. Any suggestions??
Gary, your videos are awesome. I just completed my 4th cruise (Noumea/ Vanuatu ) 2 weeks ago. Every thing you say is 100% correct. I have taken some of your tips away with me. Thank you
It's 2:30 AM in here and I'm binge watching your videos. As I mentioned to you on Instagram – I have been selling cruises for almost 30 years now, being all this time with one major Canadian travel agency, however my career with them came to an end a year ago, so I had a long break and just now getting back to it with another travel agency – this time working from home, so your tips and updates are priceless to me and I have been taking some notes. Gary – thanks again and have a lovely day!
hi Gary, you've done viking river cruises before?
My MIL is a “solo” traveler. We often tag along for a free vacation! 😉