Changes EVERYONE Cruising in 2024 Needs To Know About

After listening to what cruise lines are telling investors they're doing this year, I'm convinced that in 2024 we are going to be facing five new and unwelcome challenges. But I also have some suggestions on how to work around these and get ahead of them, including one solution that you may not even realise is possible.

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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 101 cruises I have done to date.

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00:00 Start
00:35 Capacity Changes
04:50 On Board Changes
06:57 Experience Changes
08:49 New Ship Changes

[CruiseDude]

This is such a great Cruise Channel, the very best. Never sensationalizing, smart, practical advice, concise and always relevant. Bravo.

[geraldkoger]

As a experienced cruiser (50+) I find your vid filled with excellent advice and tips. I still feel that cruising is the best value in travel. Your point about “packages” is spot on. My wife has Alzheimer’s. Cruising allows us to travel in complete comfort, even with the challenges we cut face as we walk our journey. Thanks again.

[mgweir]

This May will be my first ocean cruise. I thought 2, 000 passengers was a lot. I couldn't imagine being on a ship with 7.600 passengers.

[chelsealee]

I think it really is important to avoid any school holidays, if you want fewer kids, no matter what the line now. Unless adults only cruise line, all are advertising for families more often. We went on princess when children would be in school and we had hardly any children on board. We planned it that way.

[rarelycares]

Not for me, sticking with Viking. Pay more up front, no unexpected charges later. All cabins are assigned, drinks are free with lunch and dinner, only 930 guests max, no art auctions or jewelry/photography hard sells, and no paying to eat (even room service is free).

[TVHouseHistorian]

As a solo cruiser, I’ve noticed over the last couple of years how cruise lines seem to be shooing solos away in favor of families. Family bookings yield a much higher profit margin, obviously. Never mind the fact that families impose the greatest burden on vacation pleasure and enjoyment. It’s very sad how cruise lines are going in this direction.

[reggiethecommenter]

So how do they compensate those who had their cruises cancelled? In most cases, people have to fly to ports, get hotels, take time off work, take kids out of school, etc. I would be livid.

[Diana-]

Great update Gary, happy new year to you and yours. You are absolutely correct I noticed with NCL last year whilst onboard both their new ships that it’s all about attracting the younger crowd, shoring up their future customer base which makes business sense to an extent however ignoring their traditional regular loyal cruisers is a risk that may not pay off. I for one will not be cruising this year, the passenger behaviours and atmosphere on many lines feels as if it has gone downhill and I’m no fuddy duddy 😁 The nickel and diming is also beyond a joke, I just hope the golden era of cruising is not past, I’m holding out for the Queen Anne 🤞if she’s not rated I think sadly I may be sticking to land based hols. 🥰🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇬🇧

[R.a.t.t.y]

Dear Shareholder,
In 2024 we plan to:

1. Sell more and more cabins that we don't have and keep people's money until after the cruise sails. Our only cost is a "Your holiday is ruined" letter that is given to people when they turn up. We make make interest from people for months between them paying us and us refunding the money

2. Gouge people for more and more money. Expect less items to be included, effective after cruisers have booked, signed their contract and paid.

3. Pay our staff even less. This will be made up for by raising gratuities so that cruisers are expected to pay even more for the staff on board

4. We are planning to have a musician playing drums for free 24 hours a day. It's part of our "everyone row at the same time" package.

Any other suggestions for making money at the expense of passengers, please let us know.

[singbike]

I can't believe they will overbook and then, when you show up after having flown and gone through travel hassles, just say "well, sorry, tough luck." They took your money, they confirmed the booking. Passengers should not have to pay a higher "ransom fare" instead of guaranteed price so they are sure to get on a cruise they paid for and are confirmed for. Sounds like a lawsuit waiting to happen. I have a cruise for 2024, but after hearing so many bad things about the cutbacks and things like this, not sure if I'll bother going on a cruise after this trip. I really don't like how cruise lines seem to be pushing using apps onboard, cramming people in, building ships that so large you have almost no connection to the ocean or feeling of being on a ship. Hopefully, the market for smaller, but not crazy expensive, ships expands. The only line that seems to be smaller ships, fairly inclusive, but not astronomically priced, is Azamara.

[kumber]

as someone who's never cruised but wanted to during the pandemic, my desire is quickly diminishing 😬

[abrahamclott]

Perhaps things will sort out as the new large resort/mall /amusement park ships come into service giving more options to families travelling with kids or others who want that experience. Once those beds are on the market, perhaps those of us who enjoy the mid-range 2000-3200 ships wothout the rides and other gimmicks on lines such as Princess, HAL, and Celebrity will find that the lines cater to our needs to fill up the ships in this class. What's happening this year may be more chaotic transition than permanent change. I hope.

[kimhayes]

I just heard that Royal Caribbean is going to be building a smaller ship this year, yay! I think they might’ve been listening to all of the cruisers that wanted a cruise that wasn’t a floating circus😊

[neutrinox]

Have to tell you, tip for travelers, you are the embodiment of how it is that many of us want to live our lives as we age! Still vibrant and jovial, as if you were decades younger! 🙂

Love your videos, and love that you also talk about the cruise lines that I prefer, the ones that are not Flag of Convenience, for me that's an important distinction 🙂 I wish Cunard was still in that category...but I also try to have some understanding that re-flagging the Cunard fleet was probably not the choice of Cunard. 🙂

[mim]

I certainly hope that with this push to extract more money out of travellers, cruise lines are factoring in the expense of a better experience. I feel like people are at breaking point right now. They are tired of prices constantly rising, but quality constantly decreasing. Businesses across multiple industries are going to get a rude shock when people walk away in protest, or somply can no longer afford to keep enabling their greed.

[robertk]

We booked our first Princess cruise in June 2024 for 14 days on what will also be our first time to Alaska. We opted for the Premier Package for as close to an all inclusive experience that was available between the various cruise lines we were considering for our 25th anniversary 2nd honeymoon trip. Gratuities still included in the package unlike another line. Included room service unlike many other lines today. We cruise every 3-5 years in any case. The new floating hotels don't capture the reasons that we like to cruise. They tend to be going in the opposite direction.

[tuvia]

Thanks for the info Gary. I'll pass this year and maybe '25 as well. Too many people in one place to be able to relax. Maybe an older smaller ship, but bigger is not always better. The cruise lines want more money for their investors while the underpaid crew bugs a person for a good review.

[Leo-vkqm]

That's very worrying that cruises over book, as a solo traveller I'd feel very anxious about booking a cruise now as solos will be the first to be dumped. Would be interested to know how this interacts with consumer law or whether consumer law even applies given the international nature of cruising.

[owensmith]

I've never booked on a cruise line that even offers guaranteed cabin types. I am baffled why anyone would be content to not know their cabin number when booking. In 2024 I'm booked on Viking Ocean in Alaska, and Viking on the Nile. All adults only, cabin numbers chosen at booking, and more inclusive fair than ever given they are throwing in drinks package and gratuities as promotions. The only extras to pay are optional excursions, spa treatments, and premium drinks.

[arokh]

You make an excellent point in regard to packages. Generally speaking, I'm happy with included dining, I cruise to switch off from devices, and I don't drink alcohol or soft drink, for me, it's tea, juice, and milkshakes, so a drinks package offers zero value for me. I was recently pricing some cruises, and to use Princess as an example, a cruise advertised at $1632 AUD pp, 6 day Tasmania trip ex Sydney, balcony cabin, drops to about $1242 AUD pp for "Princess Standard", the advertised price being for Princess Plus. That $800 AUD, total for 2 people, saving, is a lot of spending money to be used elsewhere.