As a highly experienced cruiser (38 separate cruise bookings so far), I can tell you that this gentleman knows exactly what he is talking about. One of few posters that actually does. Thumbs up!
As somebody who worked onboard for several years this is sound advice. Also be aware that in many ports the taxis that have access into the port are paying a premium to be there and charge more. Often just walk outside the port and a taxi can be significantly cheaper
I have read that rideshare companies charge much more to pick up at airports, you're better off taking a free shuttle to the nearest hotel and getting picked up there.
My husband swore he'd NEVER go on a cruise, no way, well I booked us a stateroom. He still said he wasn't going. This was a Delbert McClinton Sandy Beaches Cruise with tons of great artists. This was the one time this cruise left from San Diego & traveled down the west coast of Mexico & back up. One day in, my husband is lovin' it! I knew it.
Now using the spa pool, sauna etc, you can often get a deal on them for the first day of the cruise. We paid 200 for a weeks worth, every morning, go work out and the steam, sauna, pool, jacuzzi and hot bed with oranges apples and Kevin water. Made it the best cruise ever!
Excursions: he speaks truth! For a group of 4 (mom, dad, 2 kids) the cost adds up. In Aruba, it would have cost over $75 each (this was in 2002) to go to the beach! A local cabbie took us to the Radisson, where we used the beach, had a lovely lunch under a palm-leaf canopy, 2 went parasailing, cabbie picked us up promptly at the designated time: all for $50! (We tipped him very well). On the same trip, in Curacao, the tour prices were outrageous, so we took our chances with the cabs at the port. We lucked out big time! A local, saving up to buy property (on the island, there is the landed wealthy and abject poverty, without much middle ground) took us in his van, which he had outfitted with speakers and a microphone. He took us to the Curacao liqueur distillery, which we hadn't planned but the kids enjoyed it and even got to taste! Then he drove us on a full tour of the island, and he arrived within 5 minutes of the cave tour we wanted to do; tickets were cheap! He drove us back, got us there in plenty of time for departure, and the whole thing for 4 was well less than the $100+ EACH that ship-based tours would have cost. Plus we avoided the crowds. And yes, we tipped him very well too; I hope he is enjoying his own property by now.
We were on a cruise which stopped in Greece and we wanted to go to the Acropolis, the tour price from the ship was about a hundred dollars each. We got off the ship walked to the train station, paid one euro each for the train ride, about five euros each to enter the Acropolis, and when we had finished our tour of the building it cost one euro each back to the ship, we also bought an ice cream for three euros each, so all in all a good day out for both of us cost approximately twenty euros, bargain 👏👏
@@gamingknight4763 sorry for the confusion, it was one euro to get the train back to the train station near the ship from the Acropolis, and then we walked the short distance back to the ship, no charge to get back on the ship, hope this clarifies 😀
When I walked the Acropolis it was free. Lots of construction at the time. What I missed was a guide to tell me things. I love learning while standing or touching the building.
Excellent tip! Did you have problem with the communication/language, to get to the place and to buy things? English is my second language (it's not perfect)
@@kathyms. we did ask a local lady how to get to the train station and she couldn’t speak a word of English and we don’t speak any Greek, but she realised we needed help and she called over a chap who could speak some English and he explained in pigeon English how to get to the station, which was spot on and they were both very helpful and we all parted ways smiling and waving 😃😃. Getting the train tickets and into the Acropolis was no problem at all, most people in those positions can speak English so it was fine 😄. I think most people in these countries try to help you, like we would here, so don’t be put off, just give it a go, but remember to give yourself plenty of time to get back to the ship before it sails, as they will wait for an organised tour but not too keen to wait for individual couples, happy sailing 😁😁
Another item I found to be a ripoff- the exchange rate given by the purser if I wanted some local currency. Also, on a cruise where one of the perks was 5 specialty dining dates, I had to wait in a long line to reserve the dinners. In general waiting in lines for anything while on a cruise is the biggest negative I encounter.
We had a medical emergency where my son had a severe alleric reaction on his 16th birthday. It was indeed quite expensive to be treated on board, but our travel insurance covered all of it except for the epi-pen.
@@adamrower8993 It was travel insurance we bought before leaving BC. I think they in turn charge the BC government for whatever they can since BC will cover some things if you get sick or hospitalized out of country. I know that BC will NOT cover epipens (we buy extended insurance for this) so it seems that the travel insurance will not either.
Also, be careful of the shops directly near the ports you are going to, most of them if not all are owned by the cruise ship companies. Grand Caymen downtown souvenir shops for example.
....and almost all of the jewellery shops in Alaska, I might add. Skagway (pop. ~1,500) has 15+ shops in the cruise season, and none outside that season. They are owned by the cruise lines and relocated to the Caribbean and the South Pacific for the rest of the year. Then back to Alaska in May. I am a jeweller and have seen a number of ripoffs (on diamond qualities) and certainly no bargains!
I used to work for one of these cruiselines, and what the gentleman says it's real: a regular coke for example can cost you various times more than in a regular market. They offer you mostly occupancy and food, what you spend in the ship's bar will be their earn... Thank you sir for guiding the new(and why not, no so new either) travelers...👍
My wife and I are traveling from Argentina to Antarctica in February 2020 and have bought a Wi-Fi package that is costing us $400 USD for the 14 night cruise. We are leaving our 19 year old, autistic son at home and its vital we have contact with him the whole time we are away. It's a small price to pay for peace of mind.
On P&O you cam buy a 6 or 12 bottle wine package. On a few occasions, we would take the unfinished bottle back to the room, finish the bottle off the next evening and then decant a bittle bought in port in to the ship pirchased wine.
I wish I had seen this before I booked my first cruise. I’m a solo traveler and I was wondering why my booking went from the per person price to double. Now I know. Thank you!
Yes rooms are meant to have a minimum of two people in them... if you travel alone you will be charged to cover the two people minimum.. Best to go with a friend then you share the cost of room
My wife and I had not had a Formal Photo taken since our Wedding. We had a 20th Anniversary Cruise, so, we factored in the cost. It was cheaper than the local photographer.
We had not had a family photo for years. We decided to take them and see how they turned out. I liked that if they were horrible we were not obligated to buy them. They were phenomenal! Plus, like you said it was cheaper than a local photographer!
@@anitapickens7377 I here you Anita have been on a few cruises myself your right about that. Itt's better to bring your own camera let someone else take your picture tthere on board, usually a better outcome with that.
Good tips Gary. Regarding the medical centre, although expensive they may be the only option. My wife and I were on a 40 night cruise from Australia to the UK via Sth Africa. My wife had heart problems when we were sailing along the West coast of Africa with no scheduled stops for many days. The ships doctor and nurse were fantastic. It cost around $2500 for a stay in the on board hospital but it was completely covered by travel insurance. I would never travel without insurance.
@@mfernandez1941 You buy separate travel insurance and medical is included along with loss of luggage, cancelled flights etc. Your travel agent sells them or you can get them on line or often through your bank if you use a credit card. I travelled a lot so I used to buy an annual policy on line which covered myself and a travelling companion (my wife). It was cheaper on line and used the same underwriter as the one from the travel agent. You can buy a policy just for the term of your trip so it's money well spent. I have never used the cruise lines policy but they may cover medical so check out their inclusions.
Great list...I would also include specialty restaurants. For every one that is truly exception, there's two that are not really different from the main dining room. For example, Norwegian has really pushed specialty dining with their most recent boats often having nearly 10 specialty dining restaurants--some of them quite expensive. I have had a $50 steak in their specialty dining room and then gone to the Haven Suites restaurant or main dining room and had a similar steak for free.
From what I heard, the appeal of these restaurants is the ambiance. Some say it is worth it, others do not. I am one who wouldn't find it to be worth it.
To some extent I would agree on the single supplement charge. For ships with solo cabins, my experience is that they go quickly and are generally in less desirable locations: above the theatre, near the anchor/winch machinery etc.
I was wondering, when it comes to sailing single. Would it be better to book closer to the cruise date when the liner is looking to fill vacant Cabin? After all, a single person in a double Cabin brings in more money than sailing with that Cabin vacant.
If you plan to spend most off the day off the ship when it is in port, time a mid-day break so you can get lunch on board your ship. You have already paid for that meal as part of your fare. A brief return to ship will give also you a chance to drop off those heavy shopping bags, wet swimsuits, take a quick shower and change into fresh clothing before going back on shore. Never buy "art" onboard your cruise ship when they are hosting an art auction on board, if you want to be sure you are buying genuine art and that the artist is actually getting paid. Those limited edition prints are not so limited. If you must buy art on vacation, buy originals directly from the local artist in the port or buy local art from an onshore art galley. Many of the foreign art galleries in the tourist areas will package and ship the art to your home and help you with any customs paperwork so you do not have to deal with excess baggage on your flight home or surprises with your county's customs officers. Instead of buying expensive cocktails, wine or beer onboard your ship, buy much less expensive drinks in one of the many bars within walking distance of where your ship or tender docks -- get that drink on the way back to the ship while keeping a close watch on the time so your ship does not sail without you. If you want to have candy bars, cookies/biscuits or other commercially packaged snacks when onboard, buy these items onshore instead of in the cruise ship gift shop. Some of those foreign snacks are both tasty and inexpensive. Be aware that any bottles of wine or liquor you buy onshore at those great foreign prices will be taken from you by the ship's crew when you go through the security screening to board your ship and will be returned to you with your luggage at the end of the cruise. You will have to declare the liquor and other foreign purchases when going through you county's customs screening as well as possibly being charged for excess baggage by your airline. Never pay for teeth whitening treatment onboard your cruise ship. The whitening with leave your with a mouthful of sore teeth for a day or two and diminish your enjoyment of those cruise buffets. Also, if you get teeth whitening done back home by a licensed dentist, you have some guarantee of a quality job and the opportunity for legal recourse if there is a bad outcome. If you absolutely must have a t-shirt or other souvenir with your ship's logo on it, wait until the last day of the cruise when the unsold merchandise in the ship's giftshop will be deeply discounted.
Linda Wright The midday break is a great idea, we’ve done that many times (check the times the buffet is open on that day, you may have a lot of flexibility in timing). I’ve waited for the T-shirts to get discounted near the end of the cruise, but they weren’t. So don’t be disappointed if the discount never happens.
We were on a Holland cruise on which the tap water in our room came out with rust and major sediment. After three days they admitted they couldn’t fix it. So we got free bottled water for the rest of the cruise. We weren’t worried about showering in it. I would have been sad if there had been no bottled water. And, yes, this was the exception. We love Holland.
HAL is great. We've been on 7 cruises so far, (some were back to back, so really it was 12), and all have been with HAL. No reason to switch for us unless we want an itinerary that they don't have.
Great advice! I learned about all of them over several cruises.What I did not know was that there are land based clinics at many ports! One other thing I have recently been experiencing is pressure from the bartenders for tips. I was told not to tip them (unless they gave excellent service) because of the large fee already added to each drink.
Gary can I take my own wine/ drink aboard & replenish at port stops. My beef with the cruise line is the added on gratuities with literally everything I do
@@paulinewait6575 *It depends on the Cruise Line. The Main ones will say* *no to alcohol... Although some will say yes to Champagne and wine to* *drink in room (but again depends on Cruise)* *Don't try to sneak alcohol in your luggage.They will likely find it via* *search screening. So the bottom line is to check with ship regulations* *before you book. Have fun, but do your homework. Merry Christmas.*
When an 18% gratuity is added to the bill, the server DOES NOT receive the entire amount. I asked one of the servers on HAL how the 18% worked and the server got 10% of it. The rest went to a "pool" and was divided between the other workers on board. In the case of the daily gratuity HAL charges, 35% goes to the cabin stewards, 35% goes to the waiters/servers in the dining rooms and the other 30% goes into a pool for the "hidden" staff, ie: cleaners, busboy, dishwashers etc.
That Wi-Fi tip is spot on. Went on a seven night cruise to Alaska and inadvertently left my phone on roaming for 4 days before I noticed. Got a bill for $460 from my carrier. Ouch! My own fault but I am definitely more careful now.
We did Havana hop on and off bus tour, even though we have been to Havana twice whilst we were holidaying in Cuba, the trips we did with the hotel company only took us to some of the sites, it did not matter the hop and off tour the running commentary was in Spanish, we saw a few things we did not see during our day trips in Havana, plus with the added bonus of the cruise ship stopping in Havana overnight it gave me and my parents the chance to have a few drinks in Havana in one of the local bars.
A Scottish couple on one of our cruises latched onto me as I am as tight as a duck's arse. In port at Casablanca, he changed a fiver and had change left over afterwards. But at the end of the cruise when we had to settle up our cruise cards, he outdid me. They were held back because they had spent exactly NOTHING.
I've done the match on solo cabins. One time it was a difference of a dollar between the cabins w/single supplement and the solo cabin. Re: the water, I have found that the bottled water people can NOT be re-trained. They don't even drink tap water at home and I don't even try. I always grab a teabag (fruit ones are great) and put it in my water bottle. You get iced tea.
We took a cruise to Grand Cayman and used Google maps to walk across Georgetown to the Cayman Spirits Co. It was an available excursion but we did it for free, with the exception of the alcohol we purchased. Next we unexpectedly got a ride with a nice local lady who took us to a genuine Caribbean restaurant basically unknown to tourists. Then we called a cab to take us back to the ship with plenty of time to spare. It was an unforgettable experience and I can't wait for our next cruise!
I have a question, can you eat in the lounge area if you bring a bento box from the buffet area, or are there places where you can’t bring food and drinks? Are there places you can go to be quiet or relax to read a book and have a cup of tea if you’re allowed to take food or drinks out of the buffet area? Do most cruises have a library, reading room or something to be very quietly social? Can you use a fan in your room?
I purchased a $2,000 art onboard a cruise ship once, only to cancel 3 days after disembarking. We discovered the same artist in a gallery in Las Vegas, and purchased a one of a kind original for $2,200, far more detailed and personal than the one on the ship, which was meant for mass production (metal art). The gallery owner had a 2nd home in my city, so we even got free shipping the following weekend.
If you purchased travel insurance, it will usually reimburse you for the cost of medical center visits. We found our only trip to a ship's medical center (40 cruises, this was the only use) to be less than the cost of a doctor visit/prescription in the US.
Thank you for mentioning all these areas, Gary. Special warning about art auctions on cruise ships: they have been court cases based on fraud from the auctioneers. Be very careful when they tell you that your art is a Picasso or a Rembrandt. Ask yourself how likely it is to have these kinds of quality artists represented on a cruise ship. Check online for court cases. Having said that, I have purchased several inexpensive pieces of art that are still on my walls and I enjoy them every day. I never pay more than $100 for a piece of cruise art. Buy it because you like it. Do not buy it because you think it’s a good investment. It is not. And be careful with regard to shipping. Read online comments about Cruise art that was never delivered or was damaged in shipping.
Great tips, I totally agree with the spa. We spent alot at the spa, and were suckered in with the hard sell on products. It was our honeymoon and first time cruising so we just decided to enjoy the whole experience and vowed next time, we avoid the spa all together 😄
Once I got lucky getting a really stylish haircut like Barbara Streisand bob. The stylist was amazing. I gave her a good tip. But unfortunately they were out of that product she used on my hair. I saved $200 as that Italian made stuff was priced on the 🚢. But I bought a similar for $50 while in Italy.
Excellent tips! I never buy wifi, water packages, drink packages, buy art, buy jewelry onboard, or get spa treatments. I even get free wine or champagne at the art auctions. I do hate the single supplement. I paid 100% of the fare on my first cruise to Mexico. Thank you again for excellent videos! I also never buy the photos. We take our own or ask someone to take a pic.
Gary, as always you are spot on. I'm continually amazed at the "revenue generators" the cruise ships have ongoing. For instance, Carnival offers their Cherry On Top shop--why oh why would you spend many dollars there when just a short walk will get you the same thing on the Lido deck??? All your other points are exactly correct. Well done. Love cruising, hate rip offs.
I agree with everything except the Spa and Excursions. I agree there is an upcharge for both but you are paying for convenience with the Excursions, as mentioned. I have done tours from the ship and independent tours. Really just depends on the size of the group I'm going with and length of tour. There is a sense of comfort knowing you won't be left by the ship if something happens with a long tour. I will do a spa treatment every once in awhile as a treat and I usually do it on a port day. Again, more of a treat for me.
Great advice. My friends went to a resort as a day trip and had spa treatments in Fiji. I had a hair cut in Vietnam for $10 instead of $65 on the ship. If you like brewed coffee buy a coffee card or drinks package.
My advice would be to take a short cruise, 3 or 4 days to see if you like it and if don't get seasick. I've seen a person take a 12 day cruise for their first one and spent half the time confined to their cabin throwing up.
@@quicksilver2510 i worked on a ship for 13 years in the casino cash desk on celebrity, we give them for free if you come to us and ask, also infirmary has them in the free dispensers for crew(not sure if guests have them). So ask a cabin stewart and he can get it for free for you as well :) they give it out like candy for the crew, cant afford to have sea sick crew ;)
You already touched on this, but the toiletry items sold like nail clippers and a hair brush and such. This can be avoided by Googling a cruising checklist before the trip.
I hate when a cruise ship has single cabins but they are still charging a massive supplement vs the cheapest twin cabin of the same type. It's often at least 50%.
see if i understand this: I pay the fare for passage - cabin, food. they want, say, USD4000 return. because i travel alone but have paid the 4 grand they're gonna charge me at least another say 50% and my fare now becomes $6000? do i have that right?
@@STScott-qo4pw yes, it can be double the price if it is a 2 person cabin but if the cabin only fits one person, it’s supposed to be, only a little more than say $4000.
We do a lot of research about the ports we are stopping in before hand so have a good idea what we want to do. Unless it’s a really exceptional excursion we aren’t interested in giving up our money.
While I agree that the art auction is a rip off the upside is most offer free champagne at them so I always go to them have a few drinks and leave never bidding on anything.
@@ilovesparky13 So far on the cruises I have done that have an art auction there is no fee to go to the auction and they are generous with the bubbly. On one or two that I remember you have to register for the auction but you are under no obligation to bid.
Gary, Another Outstanding Cruise Video. I've done 15 cruises, I wish I had watched this before I stepped aboard the first one. You are an excellent blogger!
Hop On Hop Off seems like it marks you out as a “TOURIST”. But they are a Very good idea! You can ride as long as you like. The tour guides are very often informative and funny. The big plus for me is you learn where you want to visit on your own. Mark the location on your map and plan all or part of your following days going to your favorites. That is if you are staying in the location for more then a day.
In my experience ships with "single" cabins are just as, if not more (looking at you NCL), expensive than traveling as a single traveler in a double occupancy room. I thought these single cabins were supposed to be the solution to saving money as a single cruiser?
Although I like my Wi-Fi, I feel like cruises are a good way to get away form all that and give us time to relax and enjoy the cruise and spend time with people :)
On MSC They wouldn't serve tap water at any restaurants. We bought some in port and they tried to take it, but we were able to make a case for us having a human right to potable drinking water , plus some begging nicely and they let us keep our eight 1 litre bottles. This was some years ago. I don't know if it is still that way, that you can't be served tap water.
Agree with everything except for coffee. The speciality coffee shops usually serve excellent coffee especially when compared to the slop they call coffee at the buffet. Which I have never found drinkable. May be ok on the upscale lines such as Oceania but not drinkable even on the premium lines. Similar with the gelato shops. Much superior to anything you get anywhere else on board.
Great tip about the excursions! The hop on hop off bus is always the way to go. Also, I didn't realize how expensive it is to use wifi on board! So crazy! Thanks for another great video!
It’s good to do some research on every port to find what works best. Sometimes the city is in walking distance, no excursion needed, or cheaper to book a local tour. Sometimes you can even take a regular local bus to your desired destination. Other times, I have found that the excursion offered through the cruise line is the best option, showing you the whole island for example. It also makes sense to watch out for the description of the vehicle that’s used on the excursion. Open safari vehicles can be quite scary, while buses are usually safer.
WiFi cost the cruise company an absolute fortune, as the providers of this service charge unbelievable high amounts. Check what super yachts pay, crazy amounts..
Another big rip up in my opinion is the specialty restaurants. I noticed at least on the two cruise lines on been on which is Princess and Royal Caribbean, menu of the food venues that are included in your fare also I have some of the items that you would pay a premium at a specialty restaurant.
Since my first cruise in 2006, I started planning early and making to do lists and the day before if we are driving to the port the next day is I will do a spa day the before we leave and the day after we get home and it is much cheaper and I am so relaxed because I have done all my packing, the dogs are at the boarding facility etc. We disconnect from all social media while on vacation and want to soak in all of what we want to see and do while on vacation. No need to contact anyone as we have planned well in advance and our family has all of our trip plan and emergency trip info on who to contact and how to reach us during our trip and how the cruise can contact our family. Great tips in your videos. We enjoy watching them and we can't wait to cruise again in the near future.
Great comment! Viking Cruise Line is the only one we will use because of all the crap going on with other cruise ships. We had a horrible experience on Carnival with stopped up toilets and tubs, no air conditioning and surly staff. We would not repeat that fiasco for a million dollars and that is a fact.
Susan T One way or another, you pay for every luxury you receive. Difference that matters to some are the age and interest of fellow passengers. Not a fan where most of the fellow Cruisers think “Lights Out” is 10:00pm...except in the on-board Casino. Love that there are so many choices.
They only have a few freebie excursions. I think there’s 3 on my upcoming 13 day cruise. The rest are not cheap And if your physically challenged there is hardly anything available . May be more fun to just stay on board
mzche1999 Yeah you can stay at home and go to the movie’s and the neighborhood bar and then hit up the local suntan center to get your tan, while your getting your tan you google Hawaii, or probably in your case Mexico. Now I saved you even more money than your all inclusive. Now let me ask you how I can go see 5 countries in ten days? Probably the cheapest way is a cruise.
@@SGTDuckButter I am aware of what I can do at home and trust me, Ohio isn't a tropical getaway. You are correct, cruising affords you the ability to see different locations. I still hate the nickel and diming!
mzche1999 After the first cruise you should know the deal and avoid what you don’t like. But if you would rather just lay around in a different climate, well you can duplicate that at home even in Ohio, well maybe not Ohio, I’d be suicidal if I didn’t get out of that place quarterly for at least a couple of weeks, I’ll pray for you. Nobody likes the tipping, but you can minimize it.
@@SGTDuckButter I will probably eventually go on another cruise. I have been on 3 and enjoyed 2. Our first cruise was AMAZING. I just recognize my preference. My dream cruise would be island hoping in Hawaii.
mzche1999 I looked at that cruise with Princess, From SF in March around the islands and return to LA and almost jumped. Probably in 21 I’ll do it. I’m doing a cruise with Princess, a maiden voyage on a new ship from London to Rome in July. And when Princess offered to pay the tips that’s when I jump I also got 500 bucks for excursions or anything onboard, anyway that is how I minimize tipping. Since you are for real I’ll tell you about another great way to vacation. Like a cruise except a Bus Tour, I’ve been on a few bus tours and enjoy being told what I’m looking at, usually you stay at the main attractions longer than the boat. Unfortunately there is no perfect vacations,,,, on the bus as you have to tip everyone all the time too, but with the added pain of that one person. There will be that one person that doesn’t realize the world doesn’t revolve around them, I have run into this sort of asshole on cruise excursions. The tour guide or whomever tells you to be at the bus/hotel/tour at a certain time, but no, everyone is waiting on Asshole to finish getting their gelato. On the boat you probably won’t see or run into asshole but that one time, but on the bus your stuck with this person for the duration. After about 3 days of putting up with the person that has no clue, usually more than just myself will have a talk with them, which always leads to them hating me. But the tour bus with a great guide can be way better than the brief stop on the boat. If you care about where you are going more than the time of the year, booking either during off season or close, you will find it less crowded and fewer assholes.
Always wonderful information. Gary you are so warm yet direct and clear. I’ve enjoyed and recommended / shared many of the videos. I’m on the celebrity silhouette in March.
I’ve only cruised a couple of times - I hated being on the ships for the most part - but the one thing I found to be universally true was that the official excursions were the worst, both in terms of cost and quality. The best excursions I took were either booked in advance by me, where I booked excursions from a land-based tour company, or when I just got off the ship and paid a local to take me and my friends on a sightseeing tour.
I know what you mean. For a lot more you can pay for a tour that comes with your own guide for each port. I've done that a few times and had an amazing time. You get to meet new people who are on the trip with you. I can no longer travel alone so it works when I don't have anyone else to go with.
David G Austin The selling point of the cruise excursions is that if you're late the ship WILL wait for you. If you go on your own, then it's on you to be back on time.
David, a lot of cruisers told me to go by the old saying "the locals know best." I'm not surprised you said your experiences were much better with locals taking you on a tour.
I remember we booked a snorkeling excursion with a local boat Captain. Only one other group was with us. We were in the water the whole time. The cruise excursion looked like something from a Simpson's episode. Double tier boat packed beyond safety. We talked about it with our table mates over dinner. For about 100 each they got 15 minutes in the water.
Agreed 100%. Such a shame the operators see rip-offs of their captive audience as good business. It spoils the warm, friendly and polite atmosphere they try to encourage.
I have recently returned from a 14 day cruise and your advice is spot on. The problem of solo travelling is not well catered for yet on Australian cruise lines.
As another Aussie, the Australian market isn't set up for singles, whereas, the US market is. And the savings can sometimes easily pay for your airfares
A note on the spa pricing. You will find the premium pricing and add-ons at most luxury spas anywhere, land or sea. Having worked at Forbes 4 star spas for almost 10 years I can say that though you pay a lot, the therapist doesn't get paid as much as you think. They may get 20% of the service cost, not get the full 20% gratuity that is automatically added on, and if they don't hit their sales number can have their pay cut further or position terminated. So if possible waive the added gratuity and tip your therapist personally.
It has been my experience that you can get good deals on fine jewelry if you do your homework before going on the cruise. For example, if you are looking to buy a particular brand of designer watch, check out the prices sold locally in your stores and compare those prices. I have purchased designer watches and other fine jewelry cheaper on the cruise ship than at home. But you must know your price points before embarking on a purchase to avoid paying too much.
My wife and I have had the idea of spending our next holiday on a cruise. This annoying pandemic has put all plans on hold but when things are back to normal we are going to look at a local cruise first so as to 'get our sea-legs'. One of the first things we will also do is to look at more of these excellent video tips. Thank you, Gary.
When I was on carnival 4 year ago I had second degree burns on my shoulder they provided the antibiotic cream and the visit free maybe tyata special for them or they used to havent needed to visit a on board doctor since
The casinos weren’t mentioned but stay out of them if you don’t want to be ripped off! Smuggle your booze on board if you can. I never go on the ship’s excursions either.
Chances are you will be caught if you try to smuggle in booze. I believe that when you first embark, you are now allowed to take on board a bottle of wine to be consumed in your cabin, just tell them you have it with you. You can also bring on board a certain amount of soda and bottled water. If you are going to do either of the last 2, I would recommend that you get into your port city a day early and find a grocery store, if they have them. The grocery stores in Europe may not be generally nearly as large as in North America. The U.K. have supermarkets now.
Gary is spot on. Don’t fall for the photos, spa treatments, etc, etc. Easy to succumb to the siren song, but when the final bill comes in, you gotta pay. It’s that simple.
Are there enough lifeboats for the passengers and crew? I mean, 150 is the legal limit occupancy in case of an emergency. Now 6000 passengers and 3000 crew will add up to 9000 people, so 60 lifeboats will be required.
My very first cruise (Carnival in 1996) I told the travel agent I was "willing to share" in order to avoid the single supplement. The cruise line would find me a roommate. They couldn't find anyone else willing to share so I had a fantastic Oceanview single cabin all to my self. It was GREAT. My partner and I will be going on a Norwegian Cruise (Spain, France and Italy) in November (his first). I'm taking notes on all your cruise tips! Thank you!
I've actually found some great sales on board on embarkation day. Plus there are often things on the first day that you won't see later on in your voyage. So it's worth checking out even if you end up not buying anything.
Great movie 🎦 There is one more rip off : Speciality dining 😢 . For little more casual service and food it cost usually around 200 $ up to 400 $ per couple. Especially in Mediterranean for that amount of money 💰 you can dine for 3 days ! Cruising is great and Gary makes it easier to understand
Ship sponsored shore excursions do cost more; however, if you are in an area where English is not widely spoken, roads are not clearly marked and you are not familiar with the area, you need to evaluate the risk. Also, if you want to see something that is several hours away from your port, a ship sponsored tour will make certain that the ship will wait if the bus is late. If you are not on a ship sponsored tour, the ship will not wait for you.
Also, to save on excursions, buy and bring your own snorkeling gear and just follow the crowds. You’re guaranteed to have something to do if you get to port without any plans or ideas. And the cost of snorkeling gear is less than 1 excursion and you can use it at every stop.
I would also suggest to follow the crew. I have and found excellent internet cafes and food stores at reasonable prices. They know the best spots in every port of call. Keep your eye open and learn.
An important benefit of 3rd Party tour guides >>> my "bathroom" needs are unpredictable and sudden. I am NOT incontinent, but I have learned to team-up with 1 or 2 other couples, rent a suitable-sized taxi (with tour guide) and let the driver know in advance of my unpredictable bathroom requirements. Often, these independent drivers can better map the route they will take, based on the availability of public bathrooms (and/or bathrooms in commercial establishments). We ALWAYS have a ball, get to see everything, and >> have no 'accidents'. (I've done this in Casablanca, St. Maartan, Cozumel, etc.)
12 years of the 16 I was in the navy I lived on the ship and we made all our water at sea from saltwater and it was better than on land water sometimes! I never buy bottled water.
Excellent video. I agree with most but I do disagree with the photos. My husband and I have been on 10 cruises and we always take advantage of the casual and formal night photos. We get professional photographers and professional backgrounds and all of the lovely photo editing that shows us at our best. Pictures are expensive but well worth the money and memories.
Re: Art: You don't actually have to bid to buy artwork. You can submit an offer to the dealers for substantial savings. The auction is really just for show - you can haggle! Often, you can match (or beat!) prices found online and from the distributor (Parkwest galleries). I have actually bargained about 30-40% off the asking price on 2 pieces I bought at sea, and these were exclusive to the cruise ships (They were Romero Britto pieces that had been given the 3D treatment).
My wife managed to slice the end of her thumb off on a Cunard cruise. The medical department charged over $400 to look at it and arrange a taxi to the hospital. The Norwegian hospital only charged around $40 to X-ray the thumb numerous times, re-attached the thumb and supply all the dressings and sling.
The biggest rip off for me wasn't even mentioned. Gratuities on alcohol bought at bars are a massive rip off imo. Most of the things mentioned to be fare are laid out in front of you, you just need to be aware of them and make your choice. But if you're not a big drinker like myself so don't purchase a drinks package but still like a few drinks, paying gratuities on your drinks when you've already prepaid them is a massive rip off. After my upcoming cruise with RC my next cruise will probably with Virgin who have done away with hidden and extra charges. Don't know what their prices are yet tho
Belonging to the working class group, I’m about to go into my second cruise which is a phenomenal experience, and even on my first I was thinking of ways to make cuts around prices and what he just said is exactly what I thought myself, just approach everything with a “is it free?” Mindset! :)
As a highly experienced cruiser (38 separate cruise bookings so far), I can tell you that this gentleman knows exactly what he is talking about. One of few posters that actually does. Thumbs up!
only 38 ?
ivor nappinion 😀😀😀😀😀😀
Since you are quite a big cruiser...have you ever injured yourself on board and not been able to get off the ship for the ports?
I hope to get there Renee!! Just 8 for me.
Renee Labis this might be a stupid question, but are the alcohol free on cruise ship?
One of the things I love about cruises, is NOT being online at all. My phone is in airplane mode the entire time and it's amazing
As somebody who worked onboard for several years this is sound advice. Also be aware that in many ports the taxis that have access into the port are paying a premium to be there and charge more. Often just walk outside the port and a taxi can be significantly cheaper
I have read that rideshare companies charge much more to pick up at airports, you're better off taking a free shuttle to the nearest hotel and getting picked up there.
L
I've never been on a cruise nor are planning to go on one. But your videos are so entertaining as well as educational, I can't stop watching!
You have to take a short like 3 days! I love cruising.
You should try going on at least one! You might love it!
My husband swore he'd NEVER go on a cruise, no way, well I booked us a stateroom. He still said he wasn't going. This was a Delbert McClinton Sandy Beaches Cruise with tons of great artists. This was the one time this cruise left from San Diego & traveled down the west coast of Mexico & back up. One day in, my husband is lovin' it! I knew it.
I've never been interested in going on a cruise, but I git hooked on these videos, and now I'm thinking I'd like to try one.
Find a really cheap 7 day alaska one
The spa would be on the top of my list. Overpriced and hard sell tactics.
In the day my lady friend and I would go up to the sauna and make use of them.
Now using the spa pool, sauna etc, you can often get a deal on them for the first day of the cruise. We paid 200 for a weeks worth, every morning, go work out and the steam, sauna, pool, jacuzzi and hot bed with oranges apples and Kevin water. Made it the best cruise ever!
Yeah the spa got us on our first cruise, but we managed to get a % refund.
@@Av8rThor this! I always get the spa pass and I'm in there all day long.
mini bar , I remember when we went on our first cruise with mini bar, we nearly fell in the trap of drinking the drinks provide in the cabin,
I fly, but if I cruised,I would use this guy's advice like crazy.I still enjoy this site a lot.
0:23 Rip Off 1
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Thank you ✊🏾💯❗🤗
Good list! We just cruised and they had a Starbucks on board. We found the coffee on the main deck was just as good
😁😁😁
Excursions: he speaks truth! For a group of 4 (mom, dad, 2 kids) the cost adds up. In Aruba, it would have cost over $75 each (this was in 2002) to go to the beach! A local cabbie took us to the Radisson, where we used the beach, had a lovely lunch under a palm-leaf canopy, 2 went parasailing, cabbie picked us up promptly at the designated time: all for $50! (We tipped him very well). On the same trip, in Curacao, the tour prices were outrageous, so we took our chances with the cabs at the port. We lucked out big time! A local, saving up to buy property (on the island, there is the landed wealthy and abject poverty, without much middle ground) took us in his van, which he had outfitted with speakers and a microphone. He took us to the Curacao liqueur distillery, which we hadn't planned but the kids enjoyed it and even got to taste! Then he drove us on a full tour of the island, and he arrived within 5 minutes of the cave tour we wanted to do; tickets were cheap! He drove us back, got us there in plenty of time for departure, and the whole thing for 4 was well less than the $100+ EACH that ship-based tours would have cost. Plus we avoided the crowds. And yes, we tipped him very well too; I hope he is enjoying his own property by now.
We were on a cruise which stopped in Greece and we wanted to go to the Acropolis, the tour price from the ship was about a hundred dollars each. We got off the ship walked to the train station, paid one euro each for the train ride, about five euros each to enter the Acropolis, and when we had finished our tour of the building it cost one euro each back to the ship, we also bought an ice cream for three euros each, so all in all a good day out for both of us cost approximately twenty euros, bargain 👏👏
By having to pay to get back do you mean to actually board the ship or get to it?
@@gamingknight4763 sorry for the confusion, it was one euro to get the train back to the train station near the ship from the Acropolis, and then we walked the short distance back to the ship, no charge to get back on the ship, hope this clarifies 😀
When I walked the Acropolis it was free. Lots of construction at the time. What I missed was a guide to tell me things. I love learning while standing or touching the building.
Excellent tip!
Did you have problem with the communication/language, to get to the place and to buy things?
English is my second language (it's not perfect)
@@kathyms. we did ask a local lady how to get to the train station and she couldn’t speak a word of English and we don’t speak any Greek, but she realised we needed help and she called over a chap who could speak some English and he explained in pigeon English how to get to the station, which was spot on and they were both very helpful and we all parted ways smiling and waving 😃😃. Getting the train tickets and into the Acropolis was no problem at all, most people in those positions can speak English so it was fine 😄. I think most people in these countries try to help you, like we would here, so don’t be put off, just give it a go, but remember to give yourself plenty of time to get back to the ship before it sails, as they will wait for an organised tour but not too keen to wait for individual couples, happy sailing 😁😁
Another item I found to be a ripoff- the exchange rate given by the purser if I wanted some local currency. Also, on a cruise where one of the perks was 5 specialty dining dates, I had to wait in a long line to reserve the dinners. In general waiting in lines for anything while on a cruise is the biggest negative I encounter.
We had a medical emergency where my son had a severe alleric reaction on his 16th birthday. It was indeed quite expensive to be treated on board, but our travel insurance covered all of it except for the epi-pen.
Wtf why not the epi pen ? American insurance?
@@adamrower8993 It was travel insurance we bought before leaving BC. I think they in turn charge the BC government for whatever they can since BC will cover some things if you get sick or hospitalized out of country. I know that BC will NOT cover epipens (we buy extended insurance for this) so it seems that the travel insurance will not either.
Also, be careful of the shops directly near the ports you are going to, most of them if not all are owned by the cruise ship companies. Grand Caymen downtown souvenir shops for example.
....and almost all of the jewellery shops in Alaska, I might add. Skagway (pop. ~1,500) has 15+ shops in the cruise season, and none outside that season. They are owned by the cruise lines and relocated to the Caribbean and the South Pacific for the rest of the year. Then back to Alaska in May. I am a jeweller and have seen a number of ripoffs (on diamond qualities) and certainly no bargains!
I used to work for one of these cruiselines, and what the gentleman says it's real: a regular coke for example can cost you various times more than in a regular market.
They offer you mostly occupancy and food, what you spend in the ship's bar will be their earn...
Thank you sir for guiding the new(and why not, no so new either) travelers...👍
One is paying for convenience like a bottle of water in the desert.
My wife and I are traveling from Argentina to Antarctica in February 2020 and have bought a Wi-Fi package that is costing us $400 USD for the 14 night cruise. We are leaving our 19 year old, autistic son at home and its vital we have contact with him the whole time we are away. It's a small price to pay for peace of mind.
On P&O you cam buy a 6 or 12 bottle wine package. On a few occasions, we would take the unfinished bottle back to the room, finish the bottle off the next evening and then decant a bittle bought in port in to the ship pirchased wine.
I've been to 6 cruises and all the points mentioned confirm 100% to my experience.
Ah shut up
@@thomascochran5826 Too late my dear, I said it 1 year ago.😂
@@magal55 LMAO
I wish I had seen this before I booked my first cruise. I’m a solo traveler and I was wondering why my booking went from the per person price to double. Now I know. Thank you!
Yes rooms are meant to have a minimum of two people in them... if you travel alone you will be charged to cover the two people minimum.. Best to go with a friend then you share the cost of room
@@christinefrieb3769 I'm willing to pay more for my sanity...lol
I am a solo traveler as well. Keep in mind you receive double the points
@@AnnnnnaQ me 2
That's what I don't like about cruises.
Some would say gambling on the cruise line can be a rip off with low payouts and high table limits.
And the smell of cigarette smoke is nauseating. Perfect reason to stay away.
Can you go on no smoking cruise ships ?
William Goode yes
@@barrybalik5877 it's a big boat. If you "detest" people enjoying tobacco, then stay out of the tiny tiny smoking areas.
@@barrybalik5877 btw, some people might find you smelly, but we're polite enough to keep our mouths shut about it ;)
My wife and I had not had a Formal Photo taken since our Wedding. We had a 20th Anniversary Cruise, so, we factored in the cost. It was cheaper than the local photographer.
Great idea !!!!!!
We had not had a family photo for years. We decided to take them and see how they turned out. I liked that if they were horrible we were not obligated to buy them. They were phenomenal! Plus, like you said it was cheaper than a local photographer!
I did the same with my family. I think the photo was $10 or $15 dollars. I don't bother with the photos anymore. They all tend to look the same
@@anitapickens7377 I here you Anita have been on a few cruises myself your right about that. Itt's better to bring your own camera let someone else take your picture tthere on board, usually a better outcome with that.
Good tips Gary. Regarding the medical centre, although expensive they may be the only option. My wife and I were on a 40 night cruise from Australia to the UK via Sth Africa. My wife had heart problems when we were sailing along the West coast of Africa with no scheduled stops for many days. The ships doctor and nurse were fantastic. It cost around $2500 for a stay in the on board hospital but it was completely covered by travel insurance. I would never travel without insurance.
With my medical issue of Epilepsy, I would not travel without insurance.
How do you get that medical insurance? It's not the same one offered by the cruise line l imagine...
@@mfernandez1941 You buy separate travel insurance and medical is included along with loss of luggage, cancelled flights etc. Your travel agent sells them or you can get them on line or often through your bank if you use a credit card. I travelled a lot so I used to buy an annual policy on line which covered myself and a travelling companion (my wife). It was cheaper on line and used the same underwriter as the one from the travel agent. You can buy a policy just for the term of your trip so it's money well spent. I have never used the cruise lines policy but they may cover medical so check out their inclusions.
Thank you so much for the detailed information!
@@johnphelps9788 Thank you for that information as well.
In Mykonos we started trying to get a taxi back 2hrs early. All the ships were leaving and there were no rides. We barley made it.
For a first time cruiser- I truly appreciate your videos… especially this one! Thank you so much
Great list...I would also include specialty restaurants. For every one that is truly exception, there's two that are not really different from the main dining room. For example, Norwegian has really pushed specialty dining with their most recent boats often having nearly 10 specialty dining restaurants--some of them quite expensive. I have had a $50 steak in their specialty dining room and then gone to the Haven Suites restaurant or main dining room and had a similar steak for free.
Speciality restaurants usé same kitchens and same chefs as other restaurants on ship
@@barbaracameron5610 In many cases but not all.
From what I heard, the appeal of these restaurants is the ambiance. Some say it is worth it, others do not. I am one who wouldn't find it to be worth it.
We got ripped off once and it was upsetting to the point of spoiling the holiday 😐
To some extent I would agree on the single supplement charge. For ships with solo cabins, my experience is that they go quickly and are generally in less desirable locations: above the theatre, near the anchor/winch machinery etc.
I was wondering, when it comes to sailing single. Would it be better to book closer to the cruise date when the liner is looking to fill vacant Cabin? After all, a single person in a double Cabin brings in more money than sailing with that Cabin vacant.
Bring a mini flashlight. You'd be surprised how often you could use one.
Excellent suggestion!!!👍🤔
Many cell phones have one.
If you plan to spend most off the day off the ship when it is in port, time a mid-day break so you can get lunch on board your ship. You have already paid for that meal as part of your fare. A brief return to ship will give also you a chance to drop off those heavy shopping bags, wet swimsuits, take a quick shower and change into fresh clothing before going back on shore.
Never buy "art" onboard your cruise ship when they are hosting an art auction on board, if you want to be sure you are buying genuine art and that the artist is actually getting paid. Those limited edition prints are not so limited. If you must buy art on vacation, buy originals directly from the local artist in the port or buy local art from an onshore art galley. Many of the foreign art galleries in the tourist areas will package and ship the art to your home and help you with any customs paperwork so you do not have to deal with excess baggage on your flight home or surprises with your county's customs officers.
Instead of buying expensive cocktails, wine or beer onboard your ship, buy much less expensive drinks in one of the many bars within walking distance of where your ship or tender docks -- get that drink on the way back to the ship while keeping a close watch on the time so your ship does not sail without you. If you want to have candy bars, cookies/biscuits or other commercially packaged snacks when onboard, buy these items onshore instead of in the cruise ship gift shop. Some of those foreign snacks are both tasty and inexpensive.
Be aware that any bottles of wine or liquor you buy onshore at those great foreign prices will be taken from you by the ship's crew when you go through the security screening to board your ship and will be returned to you with your luggage at the end of the cruise. You will have to declare the liquor and other foreign purchases when going through you county's customs screening as well as possibly being charged for excess baggage by your airline.
Never pay for teeth whitening treatment onboard your cruise ship. The whitening with leave your with a mouthful of sore teeth for a day or two and diminish your enjoyment of those cruise buffets. Also, if you get teeth whitening done back home by a licensed dentist, you have some guarantee of a quality job and the opportunity for legal recourse if there is a bad outcome.
If you absolutely must have a t-shirt or other souvenir with your ship's logo on it, wait until the last day of the cruise when the unsold merchandise in the ship's giftshop will be deeply discounted.
Linda Wright The midday break is a great idea, we’ve done that many times (check the times the buffet is open on that day, you may have a lot of flexibility in timing). I’ve waited for the T-shirts to get discounted near the end of the cruise, but they weren’t. So don’t be disappointed if the discount never happens.
Wow. Great advice.
@@schwan44 Carnival always has the end of cruise discounts!
We were on a Holland cruise on which the tap water in our room came out with rust and major sediment. After three days they admitted they couldn’t fix it. So we got free bottled water for the rest of the cruise. We weren’t worried about showering in it. I would have been sad if there had been no bottled water. And, yes, this was the exception. We love Holland.
HAL is great. We've been on 7 cruises so far, (some were back to back, so really it was 12), and all have been with HAL. No reason to switch for us unless we want an itinerary that they don't have.
Great advice! I learned about all of them over several cruises.What I did not know was that there are land based clinics at many ports! One other thing I have recently been experiencing is pressure from the bartenders for tips. I was told not to tip them (unless they gave excellent service) because of the large fee already added to each drink.
Gary can I take my own wine/ drink aboard & replenish at port stops. My beef with the cruise line is the added on gratuities with literally everything I do
@@paulinewait6575 *It depends on the Cruise Line. The Main ones will say*
*no to alcohol... Although some will say yes to Champagne and wine to* *drink in room (but again depends on Cruise)*
*Don't try to sneak alcohol in your luggage.They will likely find it via*
*search screening. So the bottom line is to check with ship regulations*
*before you book. Have fun, but do your homework. Merry Christmas.*
When an 18% gratuity is added to the bill, the server DOES NOT receive the entire amount. I asked one of the servers on HAL how the 18% worked and the server got 10% of it. The rest went to a "pool" and was divided between the other workers on board. In the case of the daily gratuity HAL charges, 35% goes to the cabin stewards, 35% goes to the waiters/servers in the dining rooms and the other 30% goes into a pool for the "hidden" staff, ie: cleaners, busboy, dishwashers etc.
That Wi-Fi tip is spot on. Went on a seven night cruise to Alaska and inadvertently left my phone on roaming for 4 days before I noticed. Got a bill for $460 from my carrier. Ouch! My own fault but I am definitely more careful now.
We did Havana hop on and off bus tour, even though we have been to Havana twice whilst we were holidaying in Cuba, the trips we did with the hotel company only took us to some of the sites, it did not matter the hop and off tour the running commentary was in Spanish, we saw a few things we did not see during our day trips in Havana, plus with the added bonus of the cruise ship stopping in Havana overnight it gave me and my parents the chance to have a few drinks in Havana in one of the local bars.
A Scottish couple on one of our cruises latched onto me as I am as tight as a duck's arse. In port at Casablanca, he changed a fiver and had change left over afterwards. But at the end of the cruise when we had to settle up our cruise cards, he outdid me. They were held back because they had spent exactly NOTHING.
I used a reusable water bottle with a filter and worked out great for my family and me
Yep I will take my small filter kit with me.
Yep the insulated bottles or even a flask keeps drinks cold for hours with ice cubes added
I've done the match on solo cabins. One time it was a difference of a dollar between the cabins w/single supplement and the solo cabin. Re: the water, I have found that the bottled water people can NOT be re-trained. They don't even drink tap water at home and I don't even try. I always grab a teabag (fruit ones are great) and put it in my water bottle. You get iced tea.
We took a cruise to Grand Cayman and used Google maps to walk across Georgetown to the Cayman Spirits Co. It was an available excursion but we did it for free, with the exception of the alcohol we purchased. Next we unexpectedly got a ride with a nice local lady who took us to a genuine Caribbean restaurant basically unknown to tourists. Then we called a cab to take us back to the ship with plenty of time to spare. It was an unforgettable experience and I can't wait for our next cruise!
I have a question, can you eat in the lounge area if you bring a bento box from the buffet area, or are there places where you can’t bring food and drinks? Are there places you can go to be quiet or relax to read a book and have a cup of tea if you’re allowed to take food or drinks out of the buffet area? Do most cruises have a library, reading room or something to be very quietly social? Can you use a fan in your room?
I purchased a $2,000 art onboard a cruise ship once, only to cancel 3 days after disembarking. We discovered the same artist in a gallery in Las Vegas, and purchased a one of a kind original for $2,200, far more detailed and personal than the one on the ship, which was meant for mass production (metal art). The gallery owner had a 2nd home in my city, so we even got free shipping the following weekend.
If you purchased travel insurance, it will usually reimburse you for the cost of medical center visits. We found our only trip to a ship's medical center (40 cruises, this was the only use) to be less than the cost of a doctor visit/prescription in the US.
Gary...You are always cruising. I'm so JEALOUS!!!
I’m jealous of me too ...!!!! I can’t quite believe how fortunate I am
You are envious not jealous.
Use the proper word.
What is so fun about spending time on a floating toilet?
HAPPYTOWN LEADSTOMYHOME I’m soooo jealous too.
There is at least one posibility to cruise cheap(er) or for free(or even get paied to cruise) 🙂.
Thank you for mentioning all these areas, Gary. Special warning about art auctions on cruise ships: they have been court cases based on fraud from the auctioneers. Be very careful when they tell you that your art is a Picasso or a Rembrandt. Ask yourself how likely it is to have these kinds of quality artists represented on a cruise ship. Check online for court cases. Having said that, I have purchased several inexpensive pieces of art that are still on my walls and I enjoy them every day. I never pay more than $100 for a piece of cruise art. Buy it because you like it. Do not buy it because you think it’s a good investment. It is not. And be careful with regard to shipping. Read online comments about Cruise art that was never delivered or was damaged in shipping.
Great tips, I totally agree with the spa. We spent alot at the spa, and were suckered in with the hard sell on products. It was our honeymoon and first time cruising so we just decided to enjoy the whole experience and vowed next time, we avoid the spa all together 😄
Agree! The spa is a rip-off!
Why do you need to go to a spa on a cruise? What is so special about it? Seems that just making it seem special on cruise is how they hook you.
Beside a rip-off the spa personnel have no license in massage. I asked in a free tour one time and really got laid into .
Once I got lucky getting a really stylish haircut like Barbara Streisand bob. The stylist was amazing. I gave her a good tip. But unfortunately they were out of that product she used on my hair. I saved $200 as that Italian made stuff was priced on the 🚢. But I bought a similar for $50 while in Italy.
Excellent tips! I never buy wifi, water packages, drink packages, buy art, buy jewelry onboard, or get spa treatments. I even get free wine or champagne at the art auctions. I do hate the single supplement. I paid 100% of the fare on my first cruise to Mexico. Thank you again for excellent videos! I also never buy the photos. We take our own or ask someone to take a pic.
Package is not worth? I counted I will drink for free after 5 drinks per day:D
I turn off the tech when on vacation.
Me too. It goes in the safe and I listen to music on an old ipod
I actually work in travel, and I have to say a lot of the things you mentioned I had no idea about. Thanks for the information.
Gary, as always you are spot on. I'm continually amazed at the "revenue generators" the cruise ships have ongoing. For instance, Carnival offers their Cherry On Top shop--why oh why would you spend many dollars there when just a short walk will get you the same thing on the Lido deck??? All your other points are exactly correct. Well done. Love cruising, hate rip offs.
After 13 Cruises I feel I can say, Gary is SPOT ON with this advice ❤️❤️❤️
I agree with everything except the Spa and Excursions. I agree there is an upcharge for both but you are paying for convenience with the Excursions, as mentioned. I have done tours from the ship and independent tours. Really just depends on the size of the group I'm going with and length of tour. There is a sense of comfort knowing you won't be left by the ship if something happens with a long tour.
I will do a spa treatment every once in awhile as a treat and I usually do it on a port day. Again, more of a treat for me.
Great advice. My friends went to a resort as a day trip and had spa treatments in Fiji. I had a hair cut in Vietnam for $10 instead of $65 on the ship. If you like brewed coffee buy a coffee card or drinks package.
I have never taken a cruise. Thank you for the video. At 53 I hope to take my first cruise this summer by myself.
You are still a bit young? ;)
My advice would be to take a short cruise, 3 or 4 days to see if you like it and if don't get seasick. I've seen a person take a 12 day cruise for their first one and spent half the time confined to their cabin throwing up.
Quicksilver Did they take the strong dose of seasickness pills and still throw up?
@@schwan44 They didn't have them and refused to get anything from the infirmary due to cost.
@@quicksilver2510 i worked on a ship for 13 years in the casino cash desk on celebrity, we give them for free if you come to us and ask, also infirmary has them in the free dispensers for crew(not sure if guests have them). So ask a cabin stewart and he can get it for free for you as well :) they give it out like candy for the crew, cant afford to have sea sick crew ;)
You already touched on this, but the toiletry items sold like nail clippers and a hair brush and such. This can be avoided by Googling a cruising checklist before the trip.
I hate when a cruise ship has single cabins but they are still charging a massive supplement vs the cheapest twin cabin of the same type. It's often at least 50%.
see if i understand this: I pay the fare for passage - cabin, food. they want, say, USD4000 return. because i travel alone but have paid the 4 grand they're gonna charge me at least another say 50% and my fare now becomes $6000? do i have that right?
@@STScott-qo4pw yes, it can be double the price if it is a 2 person cabin but if the cabin only fits one person, it’s supposed to be, only a little more than say $4000.
We do a lot of research about the ports we are stopping in before hand so have a good idea what we want to do. Unless it’s a really exceptional excursion we aren’t interested in giving up our money.
While I agree that the art auction is a rip off the upside is most offer free champagne at them so I always go to them have a few drinks and leave never bidding on anything.
Nice.
@@purselmer5931 This is the sort of genius that I come to youtube for. :)
@@Jarrod86202 LOL, right???
Is it free to attend and just observe, or is there some sort of entrance fee?
@@ilovesparky13 So far on the cruises I have done that have an art auction there is no fee to go to the auction and they are generous with the bubbly. On one or two that I remember you have to register for the auction but you are under no obligation to bid.
I have never cruised, but the shopping of a cruise itself seems to be already an adventure in itself. We will see.
Gary, Another Outstanding Cruise Video. I've done 15 cruises, I wish I had watched this before I stepped aboard the first one. You are an excellent blogger!
I agree with the photographs , we only bought two on ship and this was on our first cruise
Hop On Hop Off seems like it marks you out as a “TOURIST”. But they are a Very good idea! You can ride as long as you like. The tour guides are very often informative and funny. The big plus for me is you learn where you want to visit on your own. Mark the location on your map and plan all or part of your following days going to your favorites. That is if you are staying in the location for more then a day.
Hate to tell you this, but people on cruises ARE 'tourists'. I know we dont like to admit it but we are !
Thanks!
The shops have good deals on inexpensive ladies evening bags. I always pick up 2 or 3 for gifts for my girl friends.
In my experience ships with "single" cabins are just as, if not more (looking at you NCL), expensive than traveling as a single traveler in a double occupancy room. I thought these single cabins were supposed to be the solution to saving money as a single cruiser?
MSC seems to be a great choice for singles, with no supplement on the cruises I've been looking at lately.
@@notme222 I actually just got back from an MSC cruise for that very reason.
So why wouldn’t a couple just book two single rooms next to each other?
Although I like my Wi-Fi, I feel like cruises are a good way to get away form all that and give us time to relax and enjoy the cruise and spend time with people :)
On MSC They wouldn't serve tap water at any restaurants. We bought some in port and they tried to take it, but we were able to make a case for us having a human right to potable drinking water , plus some begging nicely and they let us keep our eight 1 litre bottles. This was some years ago. I don't know if it is still that way, that you can't be served tap water.
So, glad I found your channel! Great info for novices like me who plan to retire and enjoy life!
Thanks 😀 Appreciate you watching !
Bonnie Macaraig he is so good & informative.
Agree with everything except for coffee. The speciality coffee shops usually serve excellent coffee especially when compared to the slop they call coffee at the buffet. Which I have never found drinkable. May be ok on the upscale lines such as Oceania but not drinkable even on the premium lines.
Similar with the gelato shops. Much superior to anything you get anywhere else on board.
Great tip about the excursions! The hop on hop off bus is always the way to go. Also, I didn't realize how expensive it is to use wifi on board! So crazy! Thanks for another great video!
Thanks!!! Appreciate you watching. I love hop-on hop-off busses
Wifi onboard is sent through a maritime satellite which is expensive
It’s good to do some research on every port to find what works best. Sometimes the city is in walking distance, no excursion needed, or cheaper to book a local tour. Sometimes you can even take a regular local bus to your desired destination. Other times, I have found that the excursion offered through the cruise line is the best option, showing you the whole island for example. It also makes sense to watch out for the description of the vehicle that’s used on the excursion. Open safari vehicles can be quite scary, while buses are usually safer.
WiFi cost the cruise company an absolute fortune, as the providers of this service charge unbelievable high amounts. Check what super yachts pay, crazy amounts..
Another big rip up in my opinion is the specialty restaurants. I noticed at least on the two cruise lines on been on which is Princess and Royal Caribbean, menu of the food venues that are included in your fare also I have some of the items that you would pay a premium at a specialty restaurant.
Going with premium and luxury cruise lines can eliminate alot of these since these items would be included.
river cruises and oceania ocean olife includes excursions, even airfare sometimes and transfer airport
Yeah, must be nice to be rich and able to afford that upgrade. *eye roll*
Viking wifi here in Antarctica was included. All of the landings (excursions) also were included.
I did buy a 12 pack of water for $4.50 for the room. I'm cool with that.
Since my first cruise in 2006, I started planning early and making to do lists and the day before if we are driving to the port the next day is I will do a spa day the before we leave and the day after we get home and it is much cheaper and I am so relaxed because I have done all my packing, the dogs are at the boarding facility etc.
We disconnect from all social media while on vacation and want to soak in all of what we want to see and do while on vacation. No need to contact anyone as we have planned well in advance and our family has all of our trip plan and emergency trip info on who to contact and how to reach us during our trip and how the cruise can contact our family.
Great tips in your videos. We enjoy watching them and we can't wait to cruise again in the near future.
Consider cruising with Viking. Wi-VI, bottled water, excursions included in fare. Best of all, no casino on board
Great comment! Viking Cruise Line is the only one we will use because of all the crap going on with other cruise ships. We had a horrible experience on Carnival with stopped up toilets and tubs, no air conditioning and surly staff. We would not repeat that fiasco for a million dollars and that is a fact.
That’s cool. Except I love casinos
Susan T One way or another, you pay for every luxury you receive.
Difference that matters to some are the age and interest of fellow passengers.
Not a fan where most of the fellow Cruisers think “Lights Out” is 10:00pm...except in the on-board Casino.
Love that there are so many choices.
They only have a few freebie excursions. I think there’s 3 on my upcoming 13 day cruise. The rest are not cheap And if your physically challenged there is hardly anything available . May be more fun to just stay on board
But considered very expensive overall!
This is why I do all inclusive resorts. The nickel and diming on cruises angers me.
mzche1999 Yeah you can stay at home and go to the movie’s and the neighborhood bar and then hit up the local suntan center to get your tan, while your getting your tan you google Hawaii, or probably in your case Mexico. Now I saved you even more money than your all inclusive.
Now let me ask you how I can go see 5 countries in ten days? Probably the cheapest way is a cruise.
@@SGTDuckButter I am aware of what I can do at home and trust me, Ohio isn't a tropical getaway. You are correct, cruising affords you the ability to see different locations. I still hate the nickel and diming!
mzche1999 After the first cruise you should know the deal and avoid what you don’t like. But if you would rather just lay around in a different climate, well you can duplicate that at home even in Ohio, well maybe not Ohio, I’d be suicidal if I didn’t get out of that place quarterly for at least a couple of weeks, I’ll pray for you. Nobody likes the tipping, but you can minimize it.
@@SGTDuckButter I will probably eventually go on another cruise. I have been on 3 and enjoyed 2. Our first cruise was AMAZING. I just recognize my preference. My dream cruise would be island hoping in Hawaii.
mzche1999 I looked at that cruise with Princess, From SF in March around the islands and return to LA and almost jumped. Probably in 21 I’ll do it. I’m doing a cruise with Princess, a maiden voyage on a new ship from London to Rome in July. And when Princess offered to pay the tips that’s when I jump I also got 500 bucks for excursions or anything onboard, anyway that is how I minimize tipping. Since you are for real I’ll tell you about another great way to vacation. Like a cruise except a Bus Tour, I’ve been on a few bus tours and enjoy being told what I’m looking at, usually you stay at the main attractions longer than the boat. Unfortunately there is no perfect vacations,,,, on the bus as you have to tip everyone all the time too, but with the added pain of that one person. There will be that one person that doesn’t realize the world doesn’t revolve around them, I have run into this sort of asshole on cruise excursions. The tour guide or whomever tells you to be at the bus/hotel/tour at a certain time, but no, everyone is waiting on Asshole to finish getting their gelato. On the boat you probably won’t see or run into asshole but that one time, but on the bus your stuck with this person for the duration. After about 3 days of putting up with the person that has no clue, usually more than just myself will have a talk with them, which always leads to them hating me. But the tour bus with a great guide can be way better than the brief stop on the boat. If you care about where you are going more than the time of the year, booking either during off season or close, you will find it less crowded and fewer assholes.
I developed a desire to start cruising just recently, and I’m really enjoying these videos. They are very different then the others I’ve seen.
Always wonderful information. Gary you are so warm yet direct and clear. I’ve enjoyed and recommended / shared many of the videos. I’m on the celebrity silhouette in March.
A big reason why we always use Princess is because we are now Platinum members (or higher) so we can get a certain amount of free wifi.
I’ve only cruised a couple of times - I hated being on the ships for the most part - but the one thing I found to be universally true was that the official excursions were the worst, both in terms of cost and quality. The best excursions I took were either booked in advance by me, where I booked excursions from a land-based tour company, or when I just got off the ship and paid a local to take me and my friends on a sightseeing tour.
I know what you mean. For a lot more you can pay for a tour that comes with your own guide for each port. I've done that a few times and had an amazing time. You get to meet new people who are on the trip with you. I can no longer travel alone so it works when I don't have anyone else to go with.
David G Austin The selling point of the cruise excursions is that if you're late the ship WILL wait for you. If you go on your own, then it's on you to be back on time.
David, a lot of cruisers told me to go by the old saying "the locals know best." I'm not surprised you said your experiences were much better with locals taking you on a tour.
I remember we booked a snorkeling excursion with a local boat Captain. Only one other group was with us. We were in the water the whole time. The cruise excursion looked like something from a Simpson's episode. Double tier boat packed beyond safety. We talked about it with our table mates over dinner. For about 100 each they got 15 minutes in the water.
Agreed 100%. Such a shame the operators see rip-offs of their captive audience as good business. It spoils the warm, friendly and polite atmosphere they try to encourage.
True
How did they rip you off?
It’s a choice
I have recently returned from a 14 day cruise and your advice is spot on. The problem of solo travelling is not well catered for yet on Australian cruise lines.
As another Aussie, the Australian market isn't set up for singles, whereas, the US market is. And the savings can sometimes easily pay for your airfares
I fully agree with that. Same goes for gay cruises none operate in Australian waters
A note on the spa pricing. You will find the premium pricing and add-ons at most luxury spas anywhere, land or sea. Having worked at Forbes 4 star spas for almost 10 years I can say that though you pay a lot, the therapist doesn't get paid as much as you think. They may get 20% of the service cost, not get the full 20% gratuity that is automatically added on, and if they don't hit their sales number can have their pay cut further or position terminated. So if possible waive the added gratuity and tip your therapist personally.
Therapist.....where did that job description come from. It's all garbage.
It has been my experience that you can get good deals on fine jewelry if you do your homework before going on the cruise. For example, if you are looking to buy a particular brand of designer watch, check out the prices sold locally in your stores and compare those prices. I have purchased designer watches and other fine jewelry cheaper on the cruise ship than at home. But you must know your price points before embarking on a purchase to avoid paying too much.
My wife and I have had the idea of spending our next holiday on a cruise. This annoying pandemic has put all plans on hold but when things are back to normal we are going to look at a local cruise first so as to 'get our sea-legs'. One of the first things we will also do is to look at more of these excellent video tips. Thank you, Gary.
When I was on carnival 4 year ago I had second degree burns on my shoulder they provided the antibiotic cream and the visit free maybe tyata special for them or they used to havent needed to visit a on board doctor since
The casinos weren’t mentioned but stay out of them if you don’t want to be ripped off! Smuggle your booze on board if you can. I never go on the ship’s excursions either.
Casino techniclly does not qualify as a rip off because the person should know exactly what can happen at a casino.
My view anyway
Or have your porter get alcohol for you, in port. Don't forget the tip.
Chances are you will be caught if you try to smuggle in booze. I believe that when you first embark, you are now allowed to take on board a bottle of wine to be consumed in your cabin, just tell them you have it with you. You can also bring on board a certain amount of soda and bottled water. If you are going to do either of the last 2, I would recommend that you get into your port city a day early and find a grocery store, if they have them. The grocery stores in Europe may not be generally nearly as large as in North America. The U.K. have supermarkets now.
@@hume6900 there are UA-cam videos on how to put liquor into wine bottles without detection.
@@gregkienle3378 I haven’t heard this one. Will they actually do it for you????
Gary is spot on. Don’t fall for the photos, spa treatments, etc, etc. Easy to succumb to the siren song, but when the final bill comes in, you gotta pay. It’s that simple.
This is the second video I've seen. I just love your channel.
Are there enough lifeboats for the passengers and crew? I mean, 150 is the legal limit occupancy in case of an emergency. Now 6000 passengers and 3000 crew will add up to 9000 people, so 60 lifeboats will be required.
My very first cruise (Carnival in 1996) I told the travel agent I was "willing to share" in order to avoid the single supplement. The cruise line would find me a roommate. They couldn't find anyone else willing to share so I had a fantastic Oceanview single cabin all to my self. It was GREAT. My partner and I will be going on a Norwegian Cruise (Spain, France and Italy) in November (his first). I'm taking notes on all your cruise tips! Thank you!
I've actually found some great sales on board on embarkation day. Plus there are often things on the first day that you won't see later on in your voyage. So it's worth checking out even if you end up not buying anything.
Great movie 🎦
There is one more rip off :
Speciality dining 😢 . For little more casual service and food it cost usually around 200 $ up to 400 $ per couple. Especially in Mediterranean for that amount of money 💰 you can dine for 3 days !
Cruising is great and Gary makes it easier to understand
Ship sponsored shore excursions do cost more; however, if you are in an area where English is not widely spoken, roads are not clearly marked and you are not familiar with the area, you need to evaluate the risk. Also, if you want to see something that is several hours away from your port, a ship sponsored tour will make certain that the ship will wait if the bus is late. If you are not on a ship sponsored tour, the ship will not wait for you.
I have done both official and unofficial tours and found benefits in both. Relax and enjoy man.
Excellent advice! Things that you don't often realize until you've taken one or two cruises. Save the newbies some money!
No, just do a little research. Most of this is common sense.
Also, to save on excursions, buy and bring your own snorkeling gear and just follow the crowds. You’re guaranteed to have something to do if you get to port without any plans or ideas. And the cost of snorkeling gear is less than 1 excursion and you can use it at every stop.
I wouldn't go snorkeling on a fjords cruise but ok
@@normalisboring2831 Question: Are there enough lifeboats for the passengers and crew?
I would also suggest to follow the crew. I have and found excellent internet cafes and food stores at reasonable prices. They know the best spots in every port of call. Keep your eye open and learn.
An important benefit of 3rd Party tour guides >>> my "bathroom" needs are unpredictable and sudden. I am NOT incontinent, but I have learned to team-up with 1 or 2 other couples, rent a suitable-sized taxi (with tour guide) and let the driver know in advance of my unpredictable bathroom requirements. Often, these independent drivers can better map the route they will take, based on the availability of public bathrooms (and/or bathrooms in commercial establishments). We ALWAYS have a ball, get to see everything, and >> have no 'accidents'. (I've done this in Casablanca, St. Maartan, Cozumel, etc.)
12 years of the 16 I was in the navy I lived on the ship and we made all our water at sea from saltwater and it was better than on land water sometimes! I never buy bottled water.
Yeah, Condensers on all ships I know of, Cannot imagine buying water on ships
Excellent video. I agree with most but I do disagree with the photos. My husband and I have been on 10 cruises and we always take advantage of the casual and formal night photos. We get professional photographers and professional backgrounds and all of the lovely photo editing that shows us at our best. Pictures are expensive but well worth the money and memories.
Re: Art: You don't actually have to bid to buy artwork. You can submit an offer to the dealers for substantial savings. The auction is really just for show - you can haggle! Often, you can match (or beat!) prices found online and from the distributor (Parkwest galleries). I have actually bargained about 30-40% off the asking price on 2 pieces I bought at sea, and these were exclusive to the cruise ships (They were Romero Britto pieces that had been given the 3D treatment).
My wife managed to slice the end of her thumb off on a Cunard cruise. The medical department charged over $400 to look at it and arrange a taxi to the hospital. The Norwegian hospital only charged around $40 to X-ray the thumb numerous times, re-attached the thumb and supply all the dressings and sling.
The biggest rip off for me wasn't even mentioned. Gratuities on alcohol bought at bars are a massive rip off imo. Most of the things mentioned to be fare are laid out in front of you, you just need to be aware of them and make your choice. But if you're not a big drinker like myself so don't purchase a drinks package but still like a few drinks, paying gratuities on your drinks when you've already prepaid them is a massive rip off. After my upcoming cruise with RC my next cruise will probably with Virgin who have done away with hidden and extra charges. Don't know what their prices are yet tho
Belonging to the working class group, I’m about to go into my second cruise which is a phenomenal experience, and even on my first I was thinking of ways to make cuts around prices and what he just said is exactly what I thought myself, just approach everything with a “is it free?” Mindset! :)
Hello. Can you give any tips on the things to watch out for money wise.....did you find any hidden charges on the final bill..?