4 Things You Should NEVER Buy From Your Cruise Line!

While Cruise lines make it easy and convenient to book and buy most things for a cruise directly with them, have you stopped to ask if it’s in your best interest? I have!

Cruise lines are banking on us not shopping around and discovering that some non-cruise line alternatives not only cost less, but are better, safer, and more comprehensive. Including as you will hear, one that I think will totally surprise you.

Join me, Gary Bembridge, as I help you get cruising right by knowing the 4 things you should stop buying through the cruise lines and why.

By the way: The first one might sound completely counter intuitive and crazy!

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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.

#cruisetips #CruisingTips #cruisetipsandtricks

00:00 Start
00:40 Direct, or not?
02:22 Don't Travel With Me
07:20 Better Coverage
10:33 Exploring in Port

[nickwass]

Please, take note of what Gary says about travel insurance. If you are one of the "it won't happen to me" brigade, then you take an enormous risk. On our last cruise, we both caught Covid. I was extremely ill and finished up for 10 days in the ICU at Mombasa General hospital. With the shipboard medical fees, the hospital, taxis and finding flights home the total was nearly €40, 000. We had full travel insurance that had cost us nearly €400. They paid for everything. The lot. At 1% of the costs, it was a bargain!!

[dakg]

Gary, you are absolutely right. Some years ago, one December, I procrastinated and waited last minute - 48 hours to be exact - to book a flight. The airlines told me they were all sold out for the date and times I wanted. I called up a travel agency, and they immediately got me on a flight on one of the airlines that told me they were sold out. But the bigger surprise was that the agent got me a ticket for a mere $385, a lot down from $770 the airlines quoted me. The agent explained that airlines block and reserve a number of seats on flights for travel agencies. That enables an agency (when they are not sold out) to have available seat, even when the airlines themselves say a flight is booked out.

[allyhawkes]

I had friends who had an accident on their first day on the cruise and had to be taken off the ship by helicopter, back to Florida for surgery then medical flight back to their home country. Their medical bill was over a $ million. Thankfully they had comprehensive insurance.

[lawrencewilhelm]

About the girl who broke her foot in Cozumel - the cruise lines tell people all the time NOT to rent a scooter because, unless you're really experienced in driving one, it's an accident waiting to happen.

[akeolsson]

Always always get travel insurance! We had a cruise booked and had to cancel on the morning at the airport when one of the covid tests came out positive. Got full refund of cruise fare and air travel.7000€

[skycaptain]

The main point here, and the same I’ve learned after over 20 cruises - SHOP AROUND! Applies to the cruise, flights, hotels, and excursions. And keep an eye on prices on things that can be rebooked. Great video!

[skeletor]

Great advise Gary. You mentioned those two ladies who were injured in Cozumel and didn’t have travel insurance. What made their situation even worse was neither one had passports and thus had issues even getting out of the country and back home.

[danielbobberson]

The advice on not purchasing the insurance from the cruise line is really valid and has been the practice of good agents for years. Book directly with reliable companies such as Allianz etc.

[portaltwo]

Completely agree with not booking flights through the cruise line! After a couple of ridiculous routings in the early years, we now always book our own flights. It appears the cruise lines use a computer algorithm that simply chooses the cheapest option, regardless of routing/connections/logic, even though the cost difference may be virtually insignificant. You can sometimes overcome this by subsequently going to the line's in-house travel consultants (or presumably your own travel agent, if applicable), but it's a hassle.

[cherifurr]

Good advice, Gary. I booked my own hotel in Buenos Aires and a driver from the airport who had been recommended. Hotel was great & let me check in at 12:00! Booked a Viator for that night for Argentinian steakhouse and tango show and morning city tour. They picked me up & dropped me off at the hotel. My booked ride took me from the hotel to the port later, and hotel stored my luggage that morning.

[donkiml]

Great advice. We cruised every 3-5 years so able to save travel miles for free airfare. Early on we did all tours with the cruise line because we were newbies and when we started cruising, no internet. As time progressed we started doing independent tours. We used Allianz for 5 of 6 cruises. We had some bad luck when cruising a couple of times with mother dying and husband’s illness. Travel insurance covered everything cancellations, medical and travel. Always get insurance, you never know. We used it 3 of 6 cruises. 😮

[allisoningram]

Thank you so much for supporting travel agents! There is so much misconception in booking with a travel agent.
For instance, I’m a nurse who specializes in accessible travel. This is something so many people don’t know exists.

[noahlani]

I just booked a cruise for 2025. Travel insurance through my travel agency was double for me and my daughter. Purchased the insurance on my own from the same company at a lower cost close to 50% less for me and around 41% less for my daughter. People do your homework but also never travel without. Peace of mind is better than the headache of having to come up with the funds.

[timduggan]

RE: Airline travel arranged by the cruise company? NO! I'm retired airline (pilot) and my opinion is, shop the airline options separately from the cruise lines' offers. IF there are flight disruptions, for example, you're better off dealing directly with the airline and your PNR in the reservation. And of course, ALWAYS plan to arrive the day before embarkation!! A hotel night is worth the peace of mind and NOT "missing the boat"!!

[heatherqualy]

Because of your recommendations in your videos, my sister and I used Shore Excursions on our cruise last fall. Exceptional service! More options for excursions. The instructions for meeting and what to bring, what to wear, what to expect were very clear. Communication was no problem. And we had no worries about getting back to the ship because of their guarantee. Thank you thank you for this fabulous tip!

[ChristianLehrer]

So glad you brought up the real need for Cruise Insurance. Most American Employer provided insurance plans do not cover you outside the US. Neither does Medicare or Medicare Supplement plans. Many plans do not even cover you out of state or a very limited service area. Most Credit Card travel benefits are meager and many don’t even cover you on a cruise. You can purchase a yearly plan from Allianz or other reliable carrier for travel protection or at least medical coverage.

[averageguy]

I booked through AAA. While I'm sure it wasn't the absolute lowest, the agent helped me get cabins that weren't listed directly, placed me near enough to dining but not too close, got me credit, provided insight, and suggested insurance. I thought the insurance was a needless upsell at the time, but two of our family members caught COVID and were refunded fully. So, travel agents will be the only way I'll go from now on.

[kvom]

Although a recent convert to taking repositioning cruises, I instinctively followed all of these ideas. For my first one, the agent gave me excellent advice on which cabin and where on the ship, plus some good advice on insurance. Second, I've been a traveler for many years and have always booked my own airfare and hotels. I also did DIY excursions on all the cruises, but on my most recent one I booked a tour with Shore Excursions for Gibraltar and wasn't disappointed. I'd add photos to the list of what I don't buy onboard.

[peggywoods]

Transportation shuttle from airport to cruise port through cruiseline: $50-60 or more
Public transportation: $5 perhaps.
I travel with a small carry-on only, so I love hopping on the bus or train! In 2022 I sailed in & out of Los Angeles. We disembarked on a Tuesday, which happened to be election day. LA has free public transportation that day, so it cost me ZERO to get to LAX 😊

[lawrencepsteele]

Wish I'd watched this a few weeks ago!

I've taken scores of flights and booked scores of hotel stays and booked them myself. It's so easy to do these days that I've often wondered why anyone would go through an agent. Naturally, I took the same approach to my cruise I just booked. I'm learning now that an agent might be a better option.