10 Biggest Cruise Rip Offs To Watch Out For

Discover the 10 biggest cruise rip offs that you need to watch out for, and tips on how to avoid or overcome them. There are a number of things that, if you are not careful, you could find you are being ripped off and spending too much on. These are the 10 main rip offs that I have seen and watch out for when I go cruising.

SUPPORT THE CHANNEL BY:

WATCH THESE POPULAR RECENT VIDEOS:

Gary Bembridge's Tips For Travellers aims to help you make more of your precious travel time and money on land and when cruising the oceans or rivers of the world. To help you, in every video I draw on my first-hand tips and advice from travelling every month for over 20 years and 74 cruises to date.

Follow Tips For Travellers on:

#CruiseRipOffs #CruiseCosts #CruiseTips

[reneelabis]

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!

[stevenschiro]

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

[ubonrat]

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

[NK-tfjn]

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!

[djb]

The spa would be on the top of my list. Overpriced and hard sell tactics.

[marionlepley]

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 👏👏

[markpatterson]

I fly, but if I cruised, I would use this guy's advice like crazy.I still enjoy this site a lot.

[danielpacheco]

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...👍

[gocanux]

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.

[pagrant]

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,

[magal]

I've been to 6 cruises and all the points mentioned confirm 100% to my experience.

[dimaroyal]

0:23 Rip Off 1
1:41 Rip Off 2
3:47 Rip Off 3
4:48 Rip Off 4
5:53 Rip Off 5
6:55 Rip Off 6
8:09 Rip Off 7
8:56 Rip Off 8
9:43 Rip Off 9
10:23 Rip Off 10

[michaell.]

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.

[gonefishing]

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.

[KollontaiBeads]

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.

[quicksilver]

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.

[aradiadealkirk]

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!

[lph]

For a first time cruiser- I truly appreciate your videos… especially this one! Thank you so much

[syguzman]

1. WiFi
2. Excursions
3. Spa
4. Ship Photograph Gallery
5. Bottled Water
6. Single Supplement Charges
7. On Board Shops
8. On Board Medical Center
9. Art Auction
10. Coffee / Dessert Shops

[johnphelps]

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.