Secrets The Cruise Lines Don’t Like Talking About

There are a number of topics and issues that cruise lines do not want to talk about, or are reluctant to, with cruise passengers. I think these 7 things should be spoken about more, and so lift the lid on them and why lines are so coy discussing them usually

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00:00 Start
01:00 They're Watching You
05:12 They Make Changes At Will
06:00 Money Matters
07:25 Who's In Their Pocket
09:19 Missing In Action
10:55 Dumping Waste
13:54 What's In Their Small Print

[tamarapetrov]

I was on one cruise where someone just a few cabins up died and it was kind of interesting in a morbid way. We did hear "operation rising star", and everyone in our section of the deck was asked to stay in our cabins, or away from them, depending where we already were. I was in my cabin (and stayed there as told), so heard the commotion in the hall as the body was removed. But moments later there was so much noise I had to look out.... we had a mainly east Asian crew... they were doing a whole dragon dance through the halls like you'd see at Chinese New Year with the full on puppet dragon, lots of things to make noise. I just had to ask one about it when he stopped to ask how I knew to have a dragon dressing gown on (total coincidence)... I was told it was a ceremony to send the departed soul on their way. The interesting things you come across on ships!

[vickyburton]

On my daughter’s first RC cruise, she had a young man who would not leave her alone. After following her for 30 minutes, a security team took the man away and she was never bothered the rest of the cruise. I am glad they have people who are watching us.

[mistybridges]

There are SO many undercover attendees onboard. I realized this when we (my husband, underage son, and myself) cruised in 2015. My son, went missing. Yes, we gave him the freedom to roam in certain areas. Well, we weren't able to locate him. We went and reported him to security. There were 100's of people searching for my child that you would believe were regular passengers. They carried his photo and found him within an hour. I was extremely thankful.

[revneal]

Regarding crime aboard ship: While serving as a cruise chaplain many years ago, I was witness to a youth throwing some of the ship’s furniture overboard. The youth was incarcerated in the ship’s brig, and the entire family were disembarked at the next port. The Ship’s Hotel Manager told me that the family would be billed for the lost furniture. It happens … it’s rare, but it happens.

[rfindlay]

I have watched many, many of your cruise videos, I am subscribed, and may I just say “Thank you!” I have subscribed and then unsubscribed from several cruise blogs/blogs because I was sick of the ranting. I love how you state what the video will address, and then you proceed to cover the information in an organized, mostly objective manner, with personal opinions inserted in appropriate places. How refreshing!!
Well done! 👍🏻😃

[jenniferbaldini]

On our first cruise on Royal Caribbean, the captain was skirting a hurricane all through the night. Very rough seas. The next morning we were docked at a different island, but had a great time and basically were very happy with how the captain managed the bad weather and still docked us at another beautiful island in the morning. You gotta roll with some things.

[gwillis]

A cruise ship population can be as big as a small town on land. In any town, there are bound to be a few nasty people causing trouble.

[druegillis]

Do you want to be informed about security? ALWAYS assume you are being filmed, with the exception of your cabin and rest rooms. Same on the streets. CCTV is utilized everywhere. Just watch a few crime shows like F.B.I. Most Wanted or Chicago P.D. If you have a cell phone, they can track it. A newer model car? G.P.S. can be followed. Facial recognition is everywhere. The safest way to protect your security is to assume you are on camera EVERYWHERE, Because you most likely are. I am not paranoid, just informed. Stay safe!

[nicholaslazzari]

I have an up coming sailing with carnival on the 4th of December and it was originally supposed to go to Jamaica as well as Grand Cayman and Cozumel. They changed the itinerary to a Bahamas itinerary and gave notice. I found an itinerary that was better as I have recently done the Bahamas and they gladly moved my money to the new booking with no penalty. They made it a fair situation for me.

[maddoglep]

Some years ago we sailed from Southampton on a 17 day cruise to the Med. First stop Porto. Before we sailed we became aware of a large extended family causing a lot of upset with their behaviour and foul language. A few days into the cruise we mentioned to another couple that we had not seen them since the first two days. It transpired all 17 of them were thrown off in Porto.

[chuckoneill]

I was aware of the policies about itinerary changes before I ever boarded my first cruise. Back then, the line literally mailed us an actual copy of the contract.
I appreciate that you emphasize the fact that people who go overboard do it voluntarily -- that is to say, suicide (or, occasionally, some really stupid stunt). It's even possible that, unfortunately, some disturbed folks book a cruise with the intent to do that. But --- it's practically never a complete accident. I think some folks who've not sailed much just don't appreciate the safety measures the ships have in place to prevent such things -- such as the surveillance systems. Even without the medallions (which use RFID) the system knows when you enter or leave your cabin. And what you buy or where or when you eat. And, of course a ship needs a mourge -- and a brig.
On one of my behind-the-scenes tours, they were practically adjacent.
Cruise passengers, in general, skew older than the general population, and sometimes people pass away while at sea.
Bottom line -- comparing incidents aboard, to normal actuarial figures -- a cruise ship is at least as safe as anywhere else, and usually safer.

[PatJ]

I recently sailed on Eurodam. There were various talks done by senior officers. The talk by the security officer and the talk by the environmental officer were particularly interesting. For the most part, they were very open in their answers.

[melissalawson]

Once I was on a Carnival cruise and I lost a diamond tennis bracelet. I reported it lost and was told to go to my cabin so security could speak with me. They were given permission to go through my purse, our safe, our room. They then watched me on video - I went into a restroom with it on and came out without it on. So after searching the restroom they determined it stolen. Only then was I able to file it with our insurance for a replacement. (I no longer bring expensive jewelry on cruises)- but YES they can see your every move.

[bluesteel]

There have been many videos produced on YouTube regarding this subject. This one is the clearest and most concise that I’ve seen. Nice work. 😊

[imobannon]

I think #1 advice to new cruisers should be: Be prepared for a super small stateroom. A room when on a cruise ship is not a room at a hotel. It is tiny. I've been on 14 cruises, and am still always wanting for space, regardless of the category or class of stateroom. (And also gratuities. Pay them, but the cruise lines need to make that price more obvious in the price.)

[vincewhite]

If you read the early autobiography books of early cruise ship industry, the original reason a doctor was on board was because old passengers often died during cruises .

[bernaclischurchill]

The issue about auto-tips came up 3 yrs ago, when I was on board a Norwegian cruise, which by the way, I will never do again. My steward was excellent, and I had a heated argument with management about having all of my tips given to her, and not to the other members of the staff because of her exceptional work. It was not well received, but I don't care, she deserved it, and even more.

On my Carnival Cruise; there were 3 incidents that took place; 1: two woman who constantly fighting throughout the entire trip, so they were put off the ship when we reached Puerto Rico, the captain had had enough of them; 2:, a man had a heart attack, and since we were close to the US board, the captain radioed for a helicopter to take him to a US based hospital. We had to stop of course, while the helicopter was overhead, so that the man could be lifted on board for hospital transport. Seeing the helicopter crew do that kind of work, was something that I had only seen done in a movie, it was very interesting
3: Three guys drank so much that they thought that they could fly (frankly, I don't know what that bar tender but in their drinks), so they decided to go overboard. The crew fished them out, and the captain had them locked up while on board for the rest of the trip.

All in all a great cruise, though.

Ms. B. Churchill

[FlamingJuneRuns]

This is the most informative cruise video I have seen in years! Well done!

[kvd]

I am so glad that you brought up the cruise contract, passenger and cruise lines rights. Whenever I cruise in a group I always have a meeting the evening before the cruise and read the contract highlights outloud. I am always amazed by the shock and disbelief my fellow travelers have at what I read and I always have to remind them that they have already agreed to the terms. Even as a frequent cruiser I am always very careful to read the contract as terms change by line and over time.

[dh]

Disney most definitely gives you a printout of where your auto-gratuities go. They even give you envelopes to give to your staff of how much they're getting.