One thing I love about your videos, Gary, is that you get right into the subject rather than talking endlessly about nothing at the beginning of the video!
Cannot say enough about Royal Caribbean. I called and cancelled a cruise, the day before departure, due to the death of my mother. They extended their condolences; refused my offer to send them a copy of the death certificate; and my credit card was credited within a week. I did not even have to use my cruise insurance.
If you get left at a port, hire a local fisherman to take you to the next port. This gives you at least a day to explore the next stop and when the cruise ship does pull in, let everyone get off first then hop back on and enjoy the ghost ship as well. I've missed port calls on purpose if I knew the next port was reachable and had reliable transportation to it.
Omg could you be more selfish? Oh sure, just find a fisherman who has nowhere else to be and who isn’t struggling to make a living, and who isn’t on some kind of schedule, to get you to the next port! That’s a long distance!!! How did you manage to pull that off??!! You just don’t get how stupid and unlikely that sounds!! OMG!
@@howardgofstein9694 Your comment is contradictory and I can tell you're a Tucker, quit being so dramatic. The fisherman is being PAID to take me to the next port. The fisherman also can get you their a lot quicker than the cruise ship, usually 2 to 3 hours. If it was no profit, they wouldn't do it and I've actually had them arguing and negotiating their prices amongst each other to determine who gets to take me since again, it's quick money in their pockets. Tell Karen I said Hi when you get home.
@@howardgofstein9694 I dont understant why this would be selfish. Ok, english is not my native language so maybe the promlem is there.. But anyway he pays extra for that.. and lost everything in the ship during that time he isnt there, which he has already paid. and he has to eat and spent the night (most propably) somewhere and those arent free .. So Iwould say that he can do it if he likes it, not my promlem in anyway...
Every cruise I've been on (8 at last count), they tell you all these things especially about getting back on time or you are on your own. They hammer that one in your head at every port!
Yes indeed! We'd even often still try to wait for people who are late but not on tour. But since we'd have no clue where they are or when they're going to show up (if at all), waiting indefinitely is just not very practical. Or even reasonable to the passengers who did return on time.
Could you give me some advice. We meat with a travel Agent soon. I have no idea on which cruise to choose from. I know I don't want lots of kids running around and what not. But I want to dress in sweet pants or shorts everywhere lol
Ports not guaranteed is a REAL thing. The 7 day Western Caribbean cruise I took refunded all passengers a 20.00 dock fee for not docking at Cozumel due to the Swine Flu break out. So yeah, this is for one’s safety.
On the other hand, when I was cruising with Princess a few years ago, they refunded the entire trip after having a malfunction that prevented us from visiting 3 of the 5 ports. They also paid for the plane ticket home for those of us who wished to disembark immediately instead of waiting for the ship to be repaired. That's the kind of response that makes me confident to go cruising with them again in the future.
I’m retired Canadian law professor who recently took my first cruise on Norwegian’s Pride of America. Norwegian includes a copy of their full contract in the package of materials they send to passengers. As a lawyer, unlike many passengers, I read the full contract with great interest. I was very much impressed by the quality of Norwegian’s lawyers. It appears that every time anyone tries to sue a cruise line with a different cause of action, the Norwegian lawyers must try hard to draft or modify an exclusion clause to protect their cruise line from liability. I say “try” because courts often dislike exclusion clauses when the drafter is the more powerful party to the contract, and interpret them in a way that may still permit liability. If I was still teaching contract law, I would ask Norwegian’s permission to distribute copies of their contact to my law students as a teaching tool.
It says in Terms and Co dictions that by paying a deposit it is implied that a client agrees with Terms and Conditions, thereby has entered into a contract.
Reese, food varies by ship, there is lots of choice. I do not eat garlic or spices but still manage and it is worth me having limitations to go on a cruise.
@@BMH1965 It must help to bring news reporters to your court date, so that the documentation can go world wide. Right now, Carnival Cruise lines have the worst publicity.
Great information Gary as always. Our friend suffered a heart attack while scuba diving and was rushed to the hospital in Belize while on cruise. The ship left and he spent four days in the hospital and his wife had to stay in a hotel. They didn't have the travel insurance...it was a nightmare and VERY expensive!!!
On our 1st cruise we were on a cruise-sponsored excursion . It was in Honduras - we crossed 3 dry creek beds getting to the site. It started raining . . . . .there were about 50 of us from our ship & about the same from another line. Trying to get back where we would board a tender was difficult. Tourist buses couldn't cross the swollen streams. A school bus made it across so some school buses eventually got us back to the tender - almost 3 hours late. Thank goodness we were on a cruise line sponsored trip - they waited for us !!!
You forgot to mention that the Captain may like you and then your cruise as a regular passenger turns into a deluxe fairy tale. I went on a trip from Japan to Australia, via Palau and the captain who is an animal lover had his dogs on the ship with him . One of them got sick , passengers were asked if there was a vet aboard . Being a veterinarian and ethologist i proposed my help , it turned out the dogs ate dark chocolate and coffee and got methylxanthines poisoning . I managed to treat them by induced vomiting and other things, using whatever the ship "doc" had in his cabinet, and the captain was ever so grateful . I was invited to have dinner at the captain's table that evening and we discussed his job and mine for hours. After that pleasant dinner and evening , i was moved to a better room and then an even better room the day after free of charge. My meals changed radically and i received premium organic vegan food instead just trying to just get veggies from the buffet . I met the entire crew, even got to visit the ship from top to bottom . It was tremendous . This captain was kindness personified and the ship was so well run, everybody being treated with equal consideration and respect. My advice to passengers, be nice to everyone working on the ship , this will definitely make your trip a lot more pleasant . I used to get little gifts at every port we stopped at , for the staff, especially the room keepers and the waiting staff and in return i was treated like royalty and we still exchange Christmas and New year cards, some even visited me in Iceland . Always be nice with the staff , they have a tough job and can use the consideration. If they forget to empty your trash , pick it up and find them in the corridor and just give them the trash bag . Don't make them do you bed if you don't really care about it , it will save them some precious time (i personally like to do my bed myself), and when you see them, pick up your towels by yourself , and always smile to them and wish them a nice day . Treat them like you wished people treat them if they were your family or friends , because they definitely are someone's family and friends .
Zoran Cickaj that’s very kind. Some people are incredibly kind and some are the exact opposite. I always try to walk around with a smile on my face and when someone smiles at me or looks like they are having a bad day I try to find something about them to compliment! Being nice feels good!😘 I’m looking forward to my first cruise in September on the Carnival Liberty!
@@lavanderpham6677how? She was not laying around and decomposing, I hope😈 People demise, happens to all of us. Why is this ruining someone's holiday if it's a stranger?!
Yeah exactly. Don’t go to the other side of the island and try and get back to the ship in the last 30 minutes. It’s not hard to spend a little over three or four hours doing something at the destination and then get back to the ship with time to spare. I always get back an hour before just so I can relax and look at the island before we leave.
Always be sure you have adjusted all of your watches to local time as well. Just imagine putting your water proof watch on going to a beach and not real ssh ing it's set an hour behind. Eek.
Well I guess it's easy to get lost in a foreign country... but having said that you should be more responsible in planning things out so you get back to your ship on time.
yes totally agree Lady Tarasque. They have a schedule to keep and they get fined if they don’t leave port when they say they will. A cruise I was on was two hours delayed leaving because a tour bus broke down but it was a cruise organised tour so they did wait...because it means a large number of people would be missing from the ship. But just a family or one or two they will not wait for.
We did an All Access behind-the-scenes tour on Mariner of the Seas last month and it was fascinating. One of the best things I've ever done on a cruise.
Ray Guzman lol oh please you take more chances walking to school every day. If you haven’t been you have no idea and this blogger has been on many and loves it.
Your typical excellent review. Wife an I look forward to each one. Please keep them coming. You do give a ton of information. Almost have to take notes while viewing.
Full of information, interesting regarding the environmental waste. We will be looking for more behind the scenes tours on our future cruises. Thanks for the tips!
I second your recommendation to take the behind the scenes tours. We did that on the Norwegian Gem and it was fascinating! It did cost about $79 per person but we saw so much and got to talk to senior officers. I especially enjoyed meeting the environmental officer and the procurement officer. Plus we each got a nicely packaged photo included as part of the cost (one for my parents and one for my partner’s parents).
ive worked for Carnival cruise lines and also Chandris Cruise lines and i could tell YOU some stories. this is a great educational tool for your subscribers. i find it interesting. thanks
I love his soothing voice. I love watching him to prepare for the cruise that I'm going on in January but my God listening to him at night to give good advice also give me really good sleep He should do a ASMR.
Thank you so much for your videos. I’ve never purchased insurances when cruising, but because of your videos going forward I will utilize your advice and have complete coverage.
It is not just for a cruise you need medical and cancellation insurance, but any travel. Air fare for instance is non refundable on many fares. Sun packages too.
Thanks, Gary! I would like to add my vote for travel insurance. I needed to cancel an Alaskan land tour and cruise package due to illness and my travel insurance was extremely useful to say the least. I also contacted my airline and was fortunate to receive credit for that expense.
Thank you for educating. Holland America paved the path for recycling. If you could, I highly recommend a video of this. I.e. liege it happens on B deck. They don't let passengers go down. Perhaps the safety officer would take you on a tour. It's an impressive effort. As far as the morgue, The cruise ships have a refrigerator, by the flowers, for the bodies. Thank you again Gary. It's nice learning from you. My husband and I are in Rome now. Going on the Konsington tomorrow.
Royal Caribbean does not consider name change as a cancelation. I fell and broke my leg a week before going on a cruise with my boyfriend. Unfortunately I was unable to go due to surgery to fix my leg. We did not have travelers insurance (even though I told my boyfriend multiple times to get it), but his brother was able to go in my place without any issues. Next trip we will definitely be getting travelers insurance!!
Abigail Wilt Many do though. Plus it may have been their policy to look at it as a cancellation, but you got a deal on it. It will be written under Terms and Conditions.
I was at a MSC-Vruise a couple of years ago and one port was Marseilles in France. But at the time, the port-workers were on strike and the cruise ship coupdn‘t dock there. But they anchored the ship a bit off port and put all the passengers who wanted to get off the ship and into Marseilles in the life boats and brought them to port that way. Honestly was quite thrilling and fun though
Gr8 advice as always! It’s dreadful how bad some of the cruise companies treat their staff, who often have to work 14 hours a day, 7 days a week, for very low wages. Those staff that come from poor countries frequently receive lower wages than people from USA or Europe 🙈
Nothing new here, one thing I agree with is the behind the scene tour, I learned most of these things while taking that tour, (so I guess the cruise line did want us to know, since they did in fact tell us!) they also use grey water to hose salt off the hull, but for a newbie to cruising this video might teach you something :)
Always carry cancellation insurance. I had to cancel a cruise the morning of sailing due to one passenger unexpectedly requiring hospitalization. Even if you think it will never happen to you, it can happen.
Ship's doctor can kick you off if you are sick. No arguing or recourse! I was left in Sri Lanka on my last cruise (Viking). I went to see the doctor hoping for some meds and he had housekeeping pack up my stuff and I was taken to the local hospital, and the ship left without me and my husband. The doctor is not there to help you; he is there to keep the ship healthy.
yes absolutely. A key watch out. I know of many with this experience and so really key too have insurance as then one has an emergency number and service to help sort things out...! Sorry to hear of your experience
@@AxelQC In retrospect it wasn't a problem. It just cost me thousands of dollars and I had no idea how sick I was at the time. When I was discharged from the 3rd world hospital where I had to boil my own drinking water, I asked if I could catch up to the ship and finish my trip and was told "no". My insurance has since paid off, but I still didn't get to see what I'd paid for and dozens of other passengers were also kicked off the ship as well. Don't know what THEY had.
Not all the cruise ships are like this as I personally am working on board a cruise ships it's just that they are just protecting all their guest and the crew from getting sick and I'm really sorry to hear that. And may I know which cruise were you on?
That information was so interesting. I was on a Holland America Cruise that actually was around 45 days - there were three embarkation ports. The passengers were almost all elderly and there were 4 deaths on this ship. Well, one I know was a definite death and the other three I wonder about, as it seemed like too many for one ship.
3 years ago I took this Cruise MSC Divina for 12 days (Vegan cruise vacation) trip to Bahamas, Cayman Island, Jamaica, Cozumel Mexico & back to Florida. That was amazing and thoroughly enjoyed.The food was amazing and the comforts we received were excellent too. Daily basis when we opened the door we were welcomed by some surprise gifts which were left at the front of the door. Every day we received a different surprising gift. Some days they were sweets, another day it's mediterranean spices, special creams, gift wraps soaps, etc. etc. it was pretty cool. Last year again we took the cruise to Alaska via the Princess cruise. However these BOTH cruises we sure enjoyed to the fullest. Thanks cruise liners.
SINternet Entertainment yes if you booked an excursion with that ship. Otherwise it is up to the company you booked with. I booked with SPB in St. Petersburg, and they had a great refund policy.
It's important to note: Many jurisdictions do not allow forum choice clauses (stating where disputes need to be settled) in consumer contracts or only under very strict conditions.
Having only recently got into cruising, I've been enjoying many of your videos and learning a lot from them. One point you made of course is about not being late back to the ship as they won't wait. You suggested they don't draw your attention to this but in fact I think it's the opposite - in our experience they make a big deal of it and we suspect this is so that they can frighten people into to taking their expensive excursions rather than organising their own. And although one should never risk it, we did once see some people about 30 mins late back being allowed back on board. In fact, several crew members were scouring the cruise centre well after the deadline trying to find the missing people, who eventually turned up - to cheers and applause from the many people watching from deck and balconies on that side! As it happens, on this occasion another cruise ship was parked on the other side of the same pier and some of there people were late back too - and were also allowed on.
Cruise lines also dont tell you that they can change ships. The ship you booked is not necessary the ship that will be the one used for your cruise. We had this happen with MSC Cruises. They would not refund when we wanted to cancel after they changed ships!!!
I’m almost certain that somebody down the hall from us died on a cruise a few years back. One day, we noticed a curtain or something blocking the hallway a little down from us, where we noticed crew members were tending to something. Later, we looked at the cruise ship from the outside (it was a port day) and saw crew members in what appeared to be Hazmat suits, cleaning one of the balcony rooms...
I am booked on a cruise from Southampton with 2 Turkish friends for 10 days. If they were NOT granted UK transit visas can they get on the ship at the next port ie Tunisia? Its 10 days and final port is Genoa. ( We all have Schengen visas .)
Just watched the video and it was very interesting and eye-opening. Thank you. It would be good to do a video to tell people what they can do to combat/deal with these things. If there is anything that the average person can do. I'm guessing that the cruise contract is pretty much locked in place so it's not like you can not sign it and still go on the cruise.
Hint: If, by chance, you miss the departure of your ship by mere minutes, you can sometimes hitch a ride on the Harbor Pilot's boat and reboard the ship as it transfers the Pilot and leaves the harbor. Emphasis on the the word 'might' here.
Every cruise I have been on make it very clear that if you are late to the ship, it will not wait. It also states quite clearly in the cruise documentation that they do not guarantee stopping at all ports listed if circumstances warrant avoiding that port. Of course there is going to be some amount of crime on a cruise ship - there are people on board!!! And why wouldn't cruise lines want us to know that they hold themselves to a higher standard than other shipping industries when it comes to waste disposal?
You mentioned that the crew are employed as per laws as where the ship is registered eg Bahamas, Liberia etc. Is that countries laws the laws of the ship for all passengers also? Which countries laws are the laws of a cruise ship? Thanks
Maritime Law applies. I'm not sure which other jurisdictions would apply but the contract would name some of them. Also it would depend on where the ship was and what was under contention and if it was a criminal matter.
I have read the documents and tours for Princess Cruises. yep it states about Ports being variable and guarenteed port returns on registered tours. Self tours are a different matter. Princess have announced on some of our Cruises that late arrivers from tours who miss the boat will need to find their own way to the next port at their own expense. Yes, we have missed a couple of Ports because of weather during the cruise. We missed Bar Harbor Maine and St John on our last cruise (NE/CAN) and quite ok with that because the weather was horrendous but the ship was quite stable and safe. The Captain kept us up to date on weather conditions. Better safe than sorry. Of course any tours cancelled because of missed Ports are credited to your account for a future cruise. We have done it.
People win money in the casinos, on a cruise ship in international waters? Never heard of one. LOL They're not bound by the typical regulations on how much they have to pay out. Seriously, it's a great way to lose money. LOL
I usually win a little but I only play machines and set a budget to lose! As it’s not likely win big. I’m good at stopping. My partner plays blackjack and plays for hours every evening and ends usually about even
Although I've never been on a cruise, or plan on doing so, I found myself watching this video and It was really interesting. Haha, I've even subscribed.
Very helpful information, you just confirmed to me that I will never go on a cruise. I was on a total of 5 in my lifetime over 20 years ago, but not in this crazy world, no way, too many crazy people.
YES! Carnival will charge you $75 to change a name on a ticket. You can change a last name and birthdate for free but if you want to change the first name, they will charge. Also, travel documents must match names EXACTLY, so dont use nicknames or something while booking.
I've flown to many countries, and I've never been on a cruise. Thanks for confirming why I'm probably going to keep it this way. I don't feel like I'm missing a thing.
All of this is on there site and they tell you all of this on the ships... wow good job taking notes during the tour btw. They don't tell u about how they operate because they charge for a tour that tells u everything he is saying. You get to tour all sorts of places on the ship that u would never get to see. I highly recommend.
A comment on cancellation charges. On one occasion I had booked a cruise, then was made redundant. I interviewed for a position and had got a strong indication I would be offered the job, but it needed sign off. This was on a Friday and my cruise payment was due on the Saturday. I explained the situation to my new employer who said they would let me know if possible on the Friday, but it turned out a required signatory was not around. So, because I did not want to risk having to pay for the cruise when I had no job, I cancelled on the Saturday, explaining why. On the Monday I got the offer, and rang back: was there any way of reinstating my booking? Sorry, no, I had cancelled. They could offer me a poorer cabin at a higher price and less OBC, but that was all. And, of course, I lost the original deposit. They were completely in line with their T&Cs, so there was nothing to argue really, but it does emphasise a point you made in the video about them being very strict (at least sometimes.)
Yes it's completely true what you said...sometimes when the ship arriving the port,before the ship dock the cpt will announce due to bad weather we were canceling the port today for our safety the cpt said,sometimes the cpt fool the passenger the ship will not docked today,even though it was not so rough the sea,and they saving money to pay the port...that usually happened in a cruise ship..always cpt said safety is our priority...but the real thing is they don't want to pay the port...my advice is this if you going in a cruise ship don't expect 100% you will go on a port on your 7x days cruise
One thing I love about your videos, Gary, is that you get right into the subject rather than talking endlessly about nothing at the beginning of the video!
Thanks! Really appreciate you watching
💯
Cannot say enough about Royal Caribbean. I called and cancelled a cruise, the day before departure, due to the death of my mother. They extended their condolences; refused my offer to send them a copy of the death certificate; and my credit card was credited within a week. I did not even have to use my cruise insurance.
That is a very humane response. Good on them!
As far as contracts, everyone should always know, the contract is there only to benefit and protect those that wrote it
If you get left at a port, hire a local fisherman to take you to the next port. This gives you at least a day to explore the next stop and when the cruise ship does pull in, let everyone get off first then hop back on and enjoy the ghost ship as well. I've missed port calls on purpose if I knew the next port was reachable and had reliable transportation to it.
Omg could you be more selfish? Oh sure, just find a fisherman who has nowhere else to be and who isn’t struggling to make a living, and who isn’t on some kind of schedule, to get you to the next port! That’s a long distance!!! How did you manage to pull that off??!! You just don’t get how stupid and unlikely that sounds!! OMG!
@@howardgofstein9694 Your comment is contradictory and I can tell you're a Tucker, quit being so dramatic. The fisherman is being PAID to take me to the next port. The fisherman also can get you their a lot quicker than the cruise ship, usually 2 to 3 hours. If it was no profit, they wouldn't do it and I've actually had them arguing and negotiating their prices amongst each other to determine who gets to take me since again, it's quick money in their pockets. Tell Karen I said Hi when you get home.
@@howardgofstein9694 I dont understant why this would be selfish. Ok, english is not my native language so maybe the promlem is there.. But anyway he pays extra for that.. and lost everything in the ship during that time he isnt there, which he has already paid. and he has to eat and spent the night (most propably) somewhere and those arent free .. So Iwould say that he can do it if he likes it, not my promlem in anyway...
What an idiotic and stupid comment.
This feel much more like an emergency, if all else fails, measure. Not something one should be doing deliberately.
Every cruise I've been on (8 at last count), they tell you all these things especially about getting back on time or you are on your own. They hammer that one in your head at every port!
He wasn't late for the ship. He was on the ship saw the Dr. who made him disembark.
Yes indeed! We'd even often still try to wait for people who are late but not on tour. But since we'd have no clue where they are or when they're going to show up (if at all), waiting indefinitely is just not very practical. Or even reasonable to the passengers who did return on time.
how can i book cruise?
@@ashishranjan603 you can book one through a travel agent or call the cruise line you want to cruise with or go to the cruise lines website .
Could you give me some advice. We meat with a travel Agent soon. I have no idea on which cruise to choose from. I know I don't want lots of kids running around and what not. But I want to dress in sweet pants or shorts everywhere lol
Ports not guaranteed is a REAL thing. The 7 day Western Caribbean cruise I took refunded all passengers a 20.00 dock fee for not docking at Cozumel due to the Swine Flu break out. So yeah, this is for one’s safety.
its advised in the terms and conditions small print
On the other hand, when I was cruising with Princess a few years ago, they refunded the entire trip after having a malfunction that prevented us from visiting 3 of the 5 ports. They also paid for the plane ticket home for those of us who wished to disembark immediately instead of waiting for the ship to be repaired. That's the kind of response that makes me confident to go cruising with them again in the future.
Same as with flying essentially. If there's a big thunderstorm over the destination airport they'll have no choice but to go to an alternate.
Yeah, Or first stop afte4 leaving Rome was supposed to be Monte Carlo, but there was a race, so they took us to Cannes instead
I’m retired Canadian law professor who recently took my first cruise on Norwegian’s Pride of America. Norwegian includes a copy of their full contract in the package of materials they send to passengers. As a lawyer, unlike many passengers, I read the full contract with great interest. I was very much impressed by the quality of Norwegian’s lawyers. It appears that every time anyone tries to sue a cruise line with a different cause of action, the Norwegian lawyers must try hard to draft or modify an exclusion clause to protect their cruise line from liability. I say “try” because courts often dislike exclusion clauses when the drafter is the more powerful party to the contract, and interpret them in a way that may still permit liability. If I was still teaching contract law, I would ask Norwegian’s permission to distribute copies of their contact to my law students as a teaching tool.
It says in Terms and Co dictions that by paying a deposit it is implied that a client agrees with Terms and Conditions, thereby has entered into a contract.
Reese, food varies by ship, there is lots of choice. I do not eat garlic or spices but still manage and it is worth me having limitations to go on a cruise.
In most developed countries, courts will favour the party without legal knowledge in any contract dispute.
@@BMH1965 It must help to bring news reporters to your court date, so that the documentation can go world wide. Right now, Carnival Cruise lines have the worst publicity.
And, ambiguity in the documents are often resolved against the drafter of the documents.
Great information Gary as always. Our friend suffered a heart attack while scuba diving and was rushed to the hospital in Belize while on cruise. The ship left and he spent four days in the hospital and his wife had to stay in a hotel. They didn't have the travel insurance...it was a nightmare and VERY expensive!!!
Sorry to hear about them. Yes, it is really key that insurance...
Hope they are ok. It really is worth the peace of mind just to have travel insurance.
On our 1st cruise we were on a cruise-sponsored excursion . It was in Honduras - we crossed 3 dry creek beds getting to the site. It started raining . . . . .there were about 50 of us from our ship & about the same from another line. Trying to get back where we would board a tender was difficult. Tourist buses couldn't cross the swollen streams. A school bus made it across so some school buses eventually got us back to the tender - almost 3 hours late. Thank goodness we were on a cruise line sponsored trip - they waited for us !!!
You forgot to mention that the Captain may like you and then your cruise as a regular passenger turns into a deluxe fairy tale. I went on a trip from Japan to Australia, via Palau and the captain who is an animal lover had his dogs on the ship with him . One of them got sick , passengers were asked if there was a vet aboard . Being a veterinarian and ethologist i proposed my help , it turned out the dogs ate dark chocolate and coffee and got methylxanthines poisoning . I managed to treat them by induced vomiting and other things, using whatever the ship "doc" had in his cabinet, and the captain was ever so grateful . I was invited to have dinner at the captain's table that evening and we discussed his job and mine for hours. After that pleasant dinner and evening , i was moved to a better room and then an even better room the day after free of charge. My meals changed radically and i received premium organic vegan food instead just trying to just get veggies from the buffet . I met the entire crew, even got to visit the ship from top to bottom . It was tremendous . This captain was kindness personified and the ship was so well run, everybody being treated with equal consideration and respect.
My advice to passengers, be nice to everyone working on the ship , this will definitely make your trip a lot more pleasant . I used to get little gifts at every port we stopped at , for the staff, especially the room keepers and the waiting staff and in return i was treated like royalty and we still exchange Christmas and New year cards, some even visited me in Iceland .
Always be nice with the staff , they have a tough job and can use the consideration. If they forget to empty your trash , pick it up and find them in the corridor and just give them the trash bag . Don't make them do you bed if you don't really care about it , it will save them some precious time (i personally like to do my bed myself), and when you see them, pick up your towels by yourself , and always smile to them and wish them a nice day . Treat them like you wished people treat them if they were your family or friends , because they definitely are someone's family and friends .
Morgan Olfursson that’s so wonderful. Thank you! 😊
@@marynelson1977 Thanks Mary , I would sell my house to help an animal . It's a matter of principle .
@@temanaia what a piece of shit you are...it is true, guests who were nice and grateful, we treated them with extra care..
Zoran Cickaj that’s very kind. Some people are incredibly kind and some are the exact opposite. I always try to walk around with a smile on my face and when someone smiles at me or looks like they are having a bad day I try to find something about them to compliment! Being nice feels good!😘 I’m looking forward to my first cruise in September on the Carnival Liberty!
I am amazed a cruise ship allows animals on board. I am an animal lover myself but I don't think that is a good idea.
One of the old ladies in the cabin next to mine died during the cruise. Her sister who was traveling with her said, "She died doing what she loved."
What a sad story I hope her
Sister is ok now
Great but sis she ruined it to other people
@Rahul Hemmady You have absolutely no idea how she died. Your comment is just B.S.
@@lavanderpham6677
Yes, we all get to decide when we die in order to ruin other people's vacations.
@@lavanderpham6677how? She was not laying around and decomposing, I hope😈
People demise, happens to all of us. Why is this ruining someone's holiday if it's a stranger?!
Wonder why anyone would treat cruise ships any different than other public transportation... like would you be late to a flight on purpose?
Yeah exactly. Don’t go to the other side of the island and try and get back to the ship in the last 30 minutes. It’s not hard to spend a little over three or four hours doing something at the destination and then get back to the ship with time to spare. I always get back an hour before just so I can relax and look at the island before we leave.
Always be sure you have adjusted all of your watches to local time as well. Just imagine putting your water proof watch on going to a beach and not real ssh ing it's set an hour behind. Eek.
Well I guess it's easy to get lost in a foreign country... but having said that you should be more responsible in planning things out so you get back to your ship on time.
Laurel Brennan clocks to the ships time actually, which can be different.
yes totally agree Lady Tarasque. They have a schedule to keep and they get fined if they don’t leave port when they say they will. A cruise I was on was two hours delayed leaving because a tour bus broke down but it was a cruise organised tour so they did wait...because it means a large number of people would be missing from the ship. But just a family or one or two they will not wait for.
We did an All Access behind-the-scenes tour on Mariner of the Seas last month and it was fascinating. One of the best things I've ever done on a cruise.
I'm not into cruising but I love your channel. Keep the videos coming
So informative and clearly presented. Thanks so much.
Never been on a cruise out of fear for most of things you just mentioned. Thank you for educating us.
Ray Guzman lol oh please you take more chances walking to school every day. If you haven’t been you have no idea and this blogger has been on many and loves it.
I just want to say thank you for your very informative and efficiently presented videos. They are very helpful to me!
Thanks so much! Appreciate you watching and then taking time to leave this comment. Great to hear you find them interesting 😀😀👍🏻
The two cruises I've been on that had Mystery Island, did not stop at Mystery Island. That Island is still a mystery
In the Terms and Conditions in back of brochures, they do say that they reserve the right to change itinerary due to weather and safety concerns.
Your typical excellent review. Wife an I look forward to each one. Please keep them coming. You do give a ton of information. Almost have to take notes while viewing.
A very good clip with a few things that certainly I hadn't thought of. Thank you!
Full of information, interesting regarding the environmental waste. We will be looking for more behind the scenes tours on our future cruises. Thanks for the tips!
Thanks. Appreciate as always you watching! The tours are really interesting
I second your recommendation to take the behind the scenes tours. We did that on the Norwegian Gem and it was fascinating! It did cost about $79 per person but we saw so much and got to talk to senior officers. I especially enjoyed meeting the environmental officer and the procurement officer. Plus we each got a nicely packaged photo included as part of the cost (one for my parents and one for my partner’s parents).
Very helpful. I knew some but several were new to me. Thanks!
ive worked for Carnival cruise lines and also Chandris Cruise lines and i could tell YOU some stories. this is a great educational tool for your subscribers. i find it interesting. thanks
I love his soothing voice. I love watching him to prepare for the cruise that I'm going on in January but my God listening to him at night to give good advice also give me really good sleep He should do a ASMR.
Great tips! Thanks for a great video. Nice to know that more cruise ships are dealing with their environmental impact.
Thank you so much for your videos. I’ve never purchased insurances when cruising, but because of your videos going forward I will utilize your advice and have complete coverage.
Thanks for watching. Great to hear they helping. Insurance is really key I think.
It is not just for a cruise you need medical and cancellation insurance, but any travel. Air fare for instance is non refundable on many fares. Sun packages too.
Thanks, Gary! I would like to add my vote for travel insurance. I needed to cancel an Alaskan land tour and cruise package due to illness and my travel insurance was extremely useful to say the least. I also contacted my airline and was fortunate to receive credit for that expense.
Absolutely! Great to hear you got your cancellation covered
Well wouldn’t you buy one insurance to cover everything you paid for on the trip.
Itinerary change possibilities are spelled out in all the contracts and most brochures.
Gary thank you for your helpful information
Thank you for educating. Holland America paved the path for recycling. If you could, I highly recommend a video of this. I.e. liege it happens on B deck. They don't let passengers go down. Perhaps the safety officer would take you on a tour. It's an impressive effort. As far as the morgue, The cruise ships have a refrigerator, by the flowers, for the bodies. Thank you again Gary. It's nice learning from you. My husband and I are in Rome now. Going on the Konsington tomorrow.
Once again, another interesting and very informative video. Thanks, Gary!!!
Royal Caribbean does not consider name change as a cancelation. I fell and broke my leg a week before going on a cruise with my boyfriend. Unfortunately I was unable to go due to surgery to fix my leg. We did not have travelers insurance (even though I told my boyfriend multiple times to get it), but his brother was able to go in my place without any issues. Next trip we will definitely be getting travelers insurance!!
Abigail Wilt Many do though. Plus it may have been their policy to look at it as a cancellation, but you got a deal on it. It will be written under Terms and Conditions.
I was at a MSC-Vruise a couple of years ago and one port was Marseilles in France. But at the time, the port-workers were on strike and the cruise ship coupdn‘t dock there. But they anchored the ship a bit off port and put all the passengers who wanted to get off the ship and into Marseilles in the life boats and brought them to port that way. Honestly was quite thrilling and fun though
I’ve been on 2 Cruises Both Carnival and I loved it. Love Carnival !
Operation Rising Star .....wow didn't know that one. Great knowledge you passed on to us....thanks man.
Something one does not want to hear,......
Dont wait for that announcement because its different on every cruise line... from brightstar to medical response team..
Each company will have a unique code for it . And of course they don’t want to say it , it will ruin the cruise for many people.
Gr8 advice as always! It’s dreadful how bad some of the cruise companies treat their staff, who often have to work 14 hours a day, 7 days a week, for very low wages. Those staff that come from poor countries frequently receive lower wages than people from USA or Europe 🙈
Always entertaining and always valuable. Thanks.
You have finally convince me not to go on a cruise thank you so much for the information you have given me
Cruises are great. You get to visit places and see where you'd like to go back again for a week or more.
Nothing new here, one thing I agree with is the behind the scene tour, I learned most of these things while taking that tour, (so I guess the cruise line did want us to know, since they did in fact tell us!) they also use grey water to hose salt off the hull, but for a newbie to cruising this video might teach you something :)
Nice video and information Gary.
Thanks! Appreciate you watching as always !
Always carry cancellation insurance. I had to cancel a cruise the morning of sailing due to one passenger unexpectedly requiring hospitalization. Even if you think it will never happen to you, it can happen.
Great work. Very good.
Making YT videos or any vids isn’t easy. You had nice comments compared to some others I’ve seen.
Thanks! Yes I do versus what many others get 😀
Ship's doctor can kick you off if you are sick. No arguing or recourse! I was left in Sri Lanka on my last cruise (Viking). I went to see the doctor hoping for some meds and he had housekeeping pack up my stuff and I was taken to the local hospital, and the ship left without me and my husband. The doctor is not there to help you; he is there to keep the ship healthy.
yes absolutely. A key watch out. I know of many with this experience and so really key too have insurance as then one has an emergency number and service to help sort things out...! Sorry to hear of your experience
Why is this a problem? You were obviously too ill for his care, and his options were to get you care, or for you to infect the rest of the ship.
@@AxelQC In retrospect it wasn't a problem. It just cost me thousands of dollars and I had no idea how sick I was at the time. When I was discharged from the 3rd world hospital where I had to boil my own drinking water, I asked if I could catch up to the ship and finish my trip and was told "no". My insurance has since paid off, but I still didn't get to see what I'd paid for and dozens of other passengers were also kicked off the ship as well. Don't know what THEY had.
W hat happened
Not all the cruise ships are like this as I personally am working on board a cruise ships it's just that they are just protecting all their guest and the crew from getting sick and I'm really sorry to hear that. And may I know which cruise were you on?
Thanks for info. I will read contract the next time we sail. Keep up the good work.
That information was so interesting. I was on a Holland America Cruise that actually was around 45 days - there were three embarkation ports. The passengers were almost all elderly and there were 4 deaths on this ship. Well, one I know was a definite death and the other three I wonder about, as it seemed like too many for one ship.
I think you are awesome and I love your videos.
Thank you for your awesome tips! 🙂🛳
These videos are really well done. Excellent job.
Very interesting. Love your accent and your knowledge of the industry is exceptional. Thank you for your high quality videos.
Thanks for watching! Great to hear you enjoy them. Keep watching! Hope you are also subscribed...
3 years ago I took this Cruise MSC Divina for 12 days (Vegan cruise vacation) trip to Bahamas, Cayman Island, Jamaica, Cozumel Mexico & back to Florida. That was amazing and thoroughly enjoyed.The food was amazing and the comforts we received were excellent too. Daily basis when we opened the door we were welcomed by some surprise gifts which were left at the front of the door. Every day we received a different surprising gift. Some days they were sweets, another day it's mediterranean spices, special creams, gift wraps soaps, etc. etc. it was pretty cool. Last year again we took the cruise to Alaska via the Princess cruise. However these BOTH cruises we sure enjoyed to the fullest. Thanks cruise liners.
A port we meamt to go on was missed and switched on the morning, was not safe to take the tender boats out
What happens if you don’t go to a port but you booked a excursion? Do you get your money back or do you just lose that money
SINternet Entertainment yes if you booked an excursion with that ship. Otherwise it is up to the company you booked with. I booked with SPB in St. Petersburg, and they had a great refund policy.
It's important to note:
Many jurisdictions do not allow forum choice clauses (stating where disputes need to be settled) in consumer contracts or only under very strict conditions.
Most of these are just plain common sense. Why would the captain go into a port when there is a hurricane? Travel I insurance is just plain sesnsible.
Murphy law ! There is no laws.
No common sense at sea.the ocean Rules!
Sadly, common sense isn't so common anymore...
Emily Goodknecht yes, it never was.
If you can afford to even travel
That first port is Skagway, AK I lived there for 18 years, it is beautiful in the summer during cruise ship season.
I had an excursion that was late and they waited for us so I can vouch for that one.
Wow!!! So informative
Thanks for watching. Great to hear you found it helpful 😀
I have taken the behind scenes tour and honestly I loved it , it was pricey but well worth it though
Having only recently got into cruising, I've been enjoying many of your videos and learning a lot from them.
One point you made of course is about not being late back to the ship as they won't wait. You suggested they don't draw your attention to this but in fact I think it's the opposite - in our experience they make a big deal of it and we suspect this is so that they can frighten people into to taking their expensive excursions rather than organising their own.
And although one should never risk it, we did once see some people about 30 mins late back being allowed back on board. In fact, several crew members were scouring the cruise centre well after the deadline trying to find the missing people, who eventually turned up - to cheers and applause from the many people watching from deck and balconies on that side! As it happens, on this occasion another cruise ship was parked on the other side of the same pier and some of there people were late back too - and were also allowed on.
Cruise lines also dont tell you that they can change ships. The ship you booked is not necessary the ship that will be the one used for your cruise. We had this happen with MSC Cruises. They would not refund when we wanted to cancel after they changed ships!!!
I,ve never had been on a cruise ship so thanks for the video
Thanks for watching!
Princess tells you that the ports can be changed. Princess tells you that you will be left if you are not back in time.
ALL cruise lines tell you those things.
I’m almost certain that somebody down the hall from us died on a cruise a few years back. One day, we noticed a curtain or something blocking the hallway a little down from us, where we noticed crew members were tending to something.
Later, we looked at the cruise ship from the outside (it was a port day) and saw crew members in what appeared to be Hazmat suits, cleaning one of the balcony rooms...
Great overview on environmental issues.
Isn't the greywater stored onboard for exterior cleaning and firefighting use?
I wish I had watched this video upon cruising. Thank you!
Very interesting. Thanks for sharing. ⭐️
Love ur content. But i do wish there wasn’t so much stock filler videos.. The shots of the ships are very nice tho :)
Thanks. Agree, I have started to stop using those and / as build more and more of my own shots to use instead of these
@@tipsfortravellers ♥ ♥ ♥
I am booked on a cruise from Southampton with 2 Turkish friends for 10 days. If they were NOT granted UK transit visas can they get on the ship at the next port ie Tunisia? Its 10 days and final port is Genoa. ( We all have Schengen visas .)
All of this is soooo good to know! Thank you so much for this! = D
Interesting information. You really seem to know your stuff.
Thanks! Much appreciate you watching and great to hear you think the content is in depth!
#10 the water is deep
So, if a ship skips a port and you've booked an excursion, will they refund the cost? What if it's an excursion not sponsored by the cruise line?
Just watched the video and it was very interesting and eye-opening. Thank you. It would be good to do a video to tell people what they can do to combat/deal with these things. If there is anything that the average person can do. I'm guessing that the cruise contract is pretty much locked in place so it's not like you can not sign it and still go on the cruise.
Enjoyed the video Gary. Do you use a service for stock footage/photography? - Tony
thanks. Yes use Videoblocks
Hint: If, by chance, you miss the departure of your ship by mere minutes, you can sometimes hitch a ride on the Harbor Pilot's boat and reboard the ship as it transfers the Pilot and leaves the harbor. Emphasis on the the word 'might' here.
...ohhh...and if you are in trouble at sea or under threat...the country where that ship is registered comes to save you.
Good information!
Every cruise I have been on make it very clear that if you are late to the ship, it will not wait. It also states quite clearly in the cruise documentation that they do not guarantee stopping at all ports listed if circumstances warrant avoiding that port. Of course there is going to be some amount of crime on a cruise ship - there are people on board!!! And why wouldn't cruise lines want us to know that they hold themselves to a higher standard than other shipping industries when it comes to waste disposal?
You mentioned that the crew are employed as per laws as where the ship is registered eg Bahamas, Liberia etc. Is that countries laws the laws of the ship for all passengers also? Which countries laws are the laws of a cruise ship? Thanks
Maritime Law applies. I'm not sure which other jurisdictions would apply but the contract would name some of them. Also it would depend on where the ship was and what was under contention and if it was a criminal matter.
I have read the documents and tours for Princess Cruises. yep it states about Ports being variable and guarenteed port returns on registered tours. Self tours are a different matter. Princess have announced on some of our Cruises that late arrivers from tours who miss the boat will need to find their own way to the next port at their own expense. Yes, we have missed a couple of Ports because of weather during the cruise. We missed Bar Harbor Maine and St John on our last cruise (NE/CAN) and quite ok with that because the weather was horrendous but the ship was quite stable and safe. The Captain kept us up to date on weather conditions. Better safe than sorry. Of course any tours cancelled because of missed Ports are credited to your account for a future cruise. We have done it.
pondering a thought, if you win money in the ship casino, do you pay taxes on it? If so, does the ship forward this information to your home country?
People win money in the casinos, on a cruise ship in international waters? Never heard of one. LOL They're not bound by the typical regulations on how much they have to pay out. Seriously, it's a great way to lose money. LOL
I usually win a little but I only play machines and set a budget to lose! As it’s not likely win big. I’m good at stopping. My partner plays blackjack and plays for hours every evening and ends usually about even
Absolutely! You don’t see poor casinos.....
Great, succinct tips and advice! I really appreciated it.
Quimquat he had good points but keep-in mind that everything he said is not hidden at all.. all of this info is in the booking papers. :)
Although I've never been on a cruise, or plan on doing so, I found myself watching this video and It was really interesting. Haha, I've even subscribed.
Sign of a good youtuber, eh!
@@pauliewalnuts3040 , Aww, thank you!
Very helpful information, you just confirmed to me that I will never go on a cruise. I was on a total of 5 in my lifetime over 20 years ago, but not in this crazy world, no way, too many crazy people.
We subscribed and will follow your videos thanks 😎😎-The Boyz
8:45 to 8:47 where is this beautiful hidden port?! It looks gorgeous.
YES! Carnival will charge you $75 to change a name on a ticket. You can change a last name and birthdate for free but if you want to change the first name, they will charge. Also, travel documents must match names EXACTLY, so dont use nicknames or something while booking.
I've flown to many countries, and I've never been on a cruise. Thanks for confirming why I'm probably going to keep it this way. I don't feel like I'm missing a thing.
Cruising is a great way to sample places you might like to go back to
This was really helpful thank you
Carnival tells you up front that ports are not guaranteed and they won't wait on you if you're late. They emphatically tell you don't be late.
All of this is on there site and they tell you all of this on the ships... wow good job taking notes during the tour btw. They don't tell u about how they operate because they charge for a tour that tells u everything he is saying. You get to tour all sorts of places on the ship that u would never get to see. I highly recommend.
A comment on cancellation charges. On one occasion I had booked a cruise, then was made redundant. I interviewed for a position and had got a strong indication I would be offered the job, but it needed sign off. This was on a Friday and my cruise payment was due on the Saturday. I explained the situation to my new employer who said they would let me know if possible on the Friday, but it turned out a required signatory was not around. So, because I did not want to risk having to pay for the cruise when I had no job, I cancelled on the Saturday, explaining why. On the Monday I got the offer, and rang back: was there any way of reinstating my booking? Sorry, no, I had cancelled. They could offer me a poorer cabin at a higher price and less OBC, but that was all. And, of course, I lost the original deposit.
They were completely in line with their T&Cs, so there was nothing to argue really, but it does emphasise a point you made in the video about them being very strict (at least sometimes.)
Thanks.
Very informative thanks so much 😀👍
Great information. Thank you!
If the ships are registered in other countries, why do we have to pay taxes on casino winnings?
Because you are bringing the money back home with you maybe?
They let you win money???
Yes it's completely true what you said...sometimes when the ship arriving the port,before the ship dock the cpt will announce due to bad weather we were canceling the port today for our safety the cpt said,sometimes the cpt fool the passenger the ship will not docked today,even though it was not so rough the sea,and they saving money to pay the port...that usually happened in a cruise ship..always cpt said safety is our priority...but the real thing is they don't want to pay the port...my advice is this if you going in a cruise ship don't expect 100% you will go on a port on your 7x days cruise