7 Things Cruise Lines Don’t Want You to Know

Fascinated about your subsequent cruise? Earlier than you hit that “ebook now” button, there are some things you must know. Cruises aren’t all the time as excellent as they appear, and cruise traces do an incredible job of protecting sure realities beneath wraps.

After years of cruising and digging into the business, I’ve uncovered some secrets and techniques they don’t need you to know.

I’ve put collectively a listing of what I feel are a very powerful ones. Hopefully, they’ll aid you journey smarter and avoid wasting cash!

1. No Port Is Assured

Right here’s the tough reality: that dream cease in Santorini isn’t set in stone. Cruise traces can – and often do – skip scheduled ports with out warning or compensation. 

Climate circumstances, port congestion, or mysterious “operational causes” can result in last-minute modifications. 

I’ve witnessed firsthand ships saying “harmful water circumstances” as the explanation for skipping a port, solely to later uncover the true motive: the port was already totally booked that day.

Whereas some modifications are genuinely safety-related, others would possibly merely be cost-cutting measures in disguise. All the time deal with your itinerary as a “tough draft” moderately than a assure.

To be honest, I’ve additionally skilled a state of affairs the place the ship didn’t dock in Santorini because of genuinely dangerous climate circumstances. Sadly, the island is sort of windy, and it’s not unusual for it to be skipped from the itinerary.

PRO TIP: In case you’re questioning, there aren’t any refunds if a port is skipped. It’s clearly said within the phrases and circumstances of most cruise traces.

Hidden Prices That Can Severely Enhance Your Cruise Value

There are additionally hidden prices that some cruise traces attempt to hold beneath wraps.

One of many most well-known is gratuities, that are charged per passenger, per day, and are thought of necessary.

One other widespread and costly further is drink packages. There are lots of choices, however even should you drink lots, it’s typically onerous to get your cash’s value.As well as, some packages exclude dearer spirits, and an “further” charge is charged in order for you them.

As well as, be aware of onboard actions—some are included within the value, whereas others, like arcades, escape rooms, cooking lessons, or premium reveals, could include further charges.

In case you are unsure about whether or not a service is included or not, simply ask a member of employees for affirmation.

3. Ships Gained’t Anticipate Latecomers

“The ship will wait should you’re on our official tour,” is the gross sales pitch you’ll hear when reserving a cruise. However right here’s the reality: even reserving by way of the cruise line doesn’t assure the ship will wait lengthy should you’re delayed.

I’ve seen passengers left behind after their official tour bus broke down in Italy. Whereas the cruise would possibly assist prepare transportation to the following port, you’re typically by yourself in distant places.

That peaceable day exploring may flip right into a nightmare of catching flights to the following port. My recommendation? All the time construct in a time buffer and follow a strict schedule.

In fact, should you’re on an organized tour, sudden issues can all the time occur—there’s no approach to predict them. However truthfully, they’re not that widespread!

4. Crimes Can Be Frequent

What cruise traces don’t brazenly promote (and understandably so) is that ships aren’t all the time considerably safer than being on land.

With 1000’s of strangers packed collectively, restricted safety personnel, and worldwide waters’ murky jurisdiction, crime does occur. Sadly, sexual assaults are essentially the most reported crimes on cruises, adopted by theft.

Fortunately, in recent times, many cruise traces have been working onerous to cut back the variety of crimes, particularly with improved safety measures and an more and more subtle CCTV system.

Cruise ships can even cease at less-than-safe ports. In that case, you might resolve to remain on the ship. Earlier than leaving, I like to recommend that you just verify the checklist of essentially the most harmful cruise ports on the earth.

5. Medical Services Are Missing

That “ship’s hospital” is nothing like your native medical heart. Most cruise ships solely supply fundamental care with generalist medical doctors who can deal with minor sicknesses.

So, in case you’re having a severe medical emergency, put together for stunning payments. Your common medical insurance most likely gained’t cowl remedy at sea.

Much more, a easy session can price tons of of {dollars}, and drugs costs are extremely excessive. Worse nonetheless, should you want evacuation, you’re 1000’s of {dollars} (often takes place with a helicopter).

Now you’re considering: What’s the cruise line’s resolution to all this? Nicely, they’ll fortunately promote you further medical insurance coverage, however learn that effective print fastidiously.

A while in the past, I already defined to you why cruise journey insurance coverage can save your trip.

6. A Cruise’s Schedule Adjustments Can Wreck Your Plans

These excellent port days you’ve deliberate months upfront would possibly vanish sooner than the midnight buffet. Cruise traces often modify schedules, generally simply days earlier than departure. 

I’ve seen total Caribbean itineraries switched to Mexican ports, European highlights dropped with out clarification, and full-day port stops minimize to half because of “organizational points.”

If it occurs to you, don’t stress an excessive amount of. It will possibly occur, and there’s nothing you are able to do to forestall it; simply attempt to take pleasure in your trip anyway!

7. Good Luck Attempting to Cancel Your Cruise!

Attempt to not get sick earlier than crusing as a result of attempting to cancel your cruise will make you remorse that annoying chilly.

Cruise traces often do all the things they will to maintain your cash. Cancellation insurance policies are fairly inflexible, and so they get stricter yearly. Royal Caribbean, for instance, calls for 75 days’ discover for a full refund on longer cruises.

Carnival cruise traces, alternatively, lately tightened their guidelines to require 56 days’ discover simply to get half your a refund.

These insurance policies hardly ever bend except you or an in depth member of the family has severe well being issues.

As well as, verify the ten Journey Hacks Solely Cruise Execs Know and the ten Issues I Want I Knew as a Cruise Rookie.