Essential Cruise Tips

I’m just back from a Sky Princess cruise to Scandinavia, and during that I realised there are a surprisingly large number of things I cannot do on cruises this year that I could last year. For example, as on last year’s Princess cruise, I bought the “Princess Plus” package. While it still includes a Drinks Package, unlike last year, this year they’ve now excluded canned sodas from that package, only allow me one drink per order, and have banned double measures. While this may seem not a huge change, it is an unwelcome change from last year and got me thinking about others. So, welcome aboard, I'm Gary Bembridge and here's eight, yes eight, big things you cannot do on a cruise this year that you could last year! https://www.patreon.com/tipsfortravellershttps://www.youtube.com/tipsfortravellers Get 10% any order of The Cruise Maps who you visit the site using this link: https://www.TheCruiseMaps.com/TFT

Before boarding my Explora Journeys cruise, I had many questions, including if this new line would live up to the rave online reviews, who it is competing with, and who they were aiming at as I’d started seeing many ads targeting families with kids. So, as I boarded Explora II in Barcelona for an 11-night cruise, I was eager to discover more, and I did come away with clear answers, and one hurdle that had me thinking hard if I would cruise with them again. https://youtu.be/qIig4d1E0A0https://youtu.be/IVXdyM5utWc https://www.patreon.com/tipsfortravellershttps://www.youtube.com/tipsfortravellers Get 10% any order of The Cruise Maps who you visit the site using this link: https://www.TheCruiseMaps.com/TFT

Recently, I had to step in to stop some friends making big mistakes while planning their Alaska cruise. It reminded me of all the pitfalls there are when cruising Alaska, and because of that why I meet too many cruisers saying their trip of a lifetime to this stunning region fell short. I'm Gary Bembridge, and I'm going to tell you how I helped my friends have a great Alaska cruise, and help you get your Alaskan cruise right. Links mentioned in the video: https://www.tipsfortravellers.com/AlaskaPortshttps://youtu.be/GmGVi0v2rGAhttps://www.tipsfortravellers.com/shoreexcursions

I'm just back from a cruise on Explora Journeys Explora 2, and was disappointed how many passengers I met on there are still following cruise tips that frankly I know are overrated and out-of-date. Tips that many cruising articles and videos are still recommending cruisers use. I'm Gary Bembridge, and I want to tell you about four overrated cruise tips I think you should ditch overboard and (importantly) what you should be doing instead. Links mentioned in the video - and savings on cruise products https://www.TipsForTravellers.com/GigSkyhttps://www.TheCruiseMaps.com/TFThttps://www.TheWanderClub.com/TFThttps://www.tipsfortravellers.com/shoreexcursions

I meet so many people on cruises who tell me they do not gamble. However, whilst they might not gamble in the casino, they gamble with the most important thing of all on the cruise, the cabin. I'm going to tell you why I think most people get cabins wrong and what savvy cruisers do that I think you should really consider doing, too. I'm Gary Bembridge. And here's my tips on finding the perfect cabin, and why I think most advice that people give you is wrong. https://www.patreon.com/tipsfortravellershttps://www.youtube.com/tipsfortravellers Get 10% any order of The Cruise Maps who you visit the site using this link: https://www.TheCruiseMaps.com/TFT

I've been asking experienced cruisers I’ve met what they did to make their cruise vacation perfect. And they are all saying the same things as other smart cruisers I've asked on past cruises. Well, mostly the same because while there 5 things all agree on, there is one that splits smart cruisers into two opposing camps. As you will hear. https://www.patreon.com/tipsfortravellershttps://www.youtube.com/tipsfortravellers Get 10% any order of The Cruise Maps who you visit the site using this link: https://www.TheCruiseMaps.com/TFT

I have been shocked at how many videos, blogs, and articles, many by people that cruise passengers see as leading cruise experts, are totally wrong on the topic of who owns what cruise line - and are giving incorrect answers and bad advice to the question I and others are frequently asked: "I want to go on an ocean cruise a non-USA owned line, what are my options?”. People acting on the advice are booking lines they have been told are non-USA owned perhaps by European or other owners but are not in fact. I spent time diving deep into this topic, and even some lines that push a regional or national line are not owned by that nation any longer due to recent changes I talk about. Links mentioned in the video: * Who owns the cruise lines download: https://www.TipsForTravellers.com/owners https://www.patreon.com/tipsfortravellershttps://www.youtube.com/tipsfortravellers Get 10% any order of The Cruise Maps who you visit the site using this link: https://www.TheCruiseMaps.com/TFT

For many people, the idea of living part, or full-time, on cruise ships sounds like a dream-like paradise. But having spent time closely following several people that have recently tried it, I saw the harsh reality is that dream comes with some darker aspects, nightmare challenges and unexpected problems. Things I think you need to know about. In another video (https://youtu.be/qlV2QabCRkQ ), I looked at the options and what it REALLY costs to live on cruise ships today but in this, I pull back the curtains on the downsides. Channels mentioned in the video: https://www.youtube.com/@30AndAWakeUphttps://www.youtube.com/@PovertyToParadisehttps://www.youtube.com/@GroundedLifeCruiseshttps://www.youtube.com/@FraserAtSea https://www.patreon.com/tipsfortravellershttps://www.youtube.com/tipsfortravellers

After closely following several people living cruise ships for some time and analysing the different options and ways they do it, I discovered many remarkable things like not only how they make it work, and importantly what it really costs, but I also the uncovered there is an unexpected dark side of living on cruise ships that you need to know about Channels mentioned in the video: • 30 & A Wake Up: https://www.youtube.com/@30AndAWakeUp • Poverty to Paradise: https://www.youtube.com/@PovertyToParadise • Grounded Life Cruises: https://www.youtube.com/@GroundedLifeCruises • Fraser At Sea: https://www.youtube.com/@FraserAtSea Links mentioned: * Need To Know Before Playing Cruise Ship Casino: https://www.tipsfortravellers.com/cruise-ship-casino-what-you-need-to-know-before-you-play/ * How To Gamble On Cruise Ships To Unlock Free Cruises: https://www.tipsfortravellers.com/how-to-gamble-on-a-cruise-to-unlock-perks/ https://www.patreon.com/tipsfortravellershttps://www.youtube.com/tipsfortravellers

I have been intrigued as recent reviews of Crystal Cruises have been very positive, including it having the highest passenger ratings on Cruise Critic in the ultra-luxury category, better than Regent Seven Seas, Silversea and Seabourn. So, I decided to test Crystal Cruises out to see if they really are the best of the ultra-luxury lines. This is what I discovered https://www.patreon.com/tipsfortravellershttps://www.youtube.com/tipsfortravellers

While the cheapest way to go to Antarctica is on a regular cruise line and ship sailing past the Antarctic Peninsula as part of a South America itinerary, there is a huge catch making it less fulfilling as you do not get to land or do zodiac rides to get close to wildlife. For a true Antarctic experience, an expedition cruise is the way to go. However, as the cost of these cruises is prohibitive to most, I asked my friend, Martin Johnson who runs Polar Routes (a dedicated Antarctic and Arctic travel agency), to help me identify the most budget-friendly ways to get there. And in this I share how you can cruise to Antarctica for less and without breaking the bank. Links mentioned in the video https://www.tipsfortravellers.com/polarhttps://www.polarroutes.co.uk https://www.polarroutes.co.uk/cruises/antarctica/emblematic-antarctica-14-days-by-ponant/ https://www.polarroutes.co.uk/cruises/antarctica/antarctica-falklands-south-georgia-25-days-by-hx/ https://www.patreon.com/tipsfortravellershttps://www.youtube.com/tipsfortravellers

After doing well over 100 cruises, I thought I knew everything about life on a cruise ship. That was until a dinner hosted by a senior crew member on my last cruise, where they revealed a surprising secret about cruise ship crew that I was totally unaware of! That got me wondering what else I, and other passengers, have no idea about cruise ship crew. Welcome aboard, I am Gary Bembridge and after much research and talking to crew off the record, I found 6 secrets kept well hidden from us passengers that I think you will find surprising and maybe even shocking. https://www.patreon.com/tipsfortravellershttps://www.youtube.com/tipsfortravellers Get 10% any order of The Cruise Maps who you visit the site using this link: https://www.TheCruiseMaps.com/TFT

Cruise line glossy brochures and their enticing adverts promise a carefree and trouble-free vacation, BUT they don’t tell the whole story. There are several important things that can and do significantly impact us as passengers that the lines seem reluctant to talk about or be upfront about. Welcome aboard, I'm Gary Bembridge and join me as I unmask five unspoken things that directly affect us all, and why I believe you need to know more about them. https://www.patreon.com/tipsfortravellershttps://www.youtube.com/tipsfortravellers Get 10% any order of The Cruise Maps who you visit the site using this link: https://www.TheCruiseMaps.com/TFT

I have done a Panama Canal transit four times and on every trip I see passengers making the same mistakes that get in the way of making it their adventure of a lifetime. But some of the errors are so easy to make that even an experienced cruiser like me can get tripped up – as I did on my most recent Panama Canal trip on Regent Grandeur. So, welcome aboard, I’m Gary Bembridge and hear 5 things I have learnt the hard way that you need to know about doing a Panama Canal cruise. Links mentioned: David McCullough’s “The Path Between the Seas. The Creation of the Panama Canal” ** Buy on USA Amazon: https://amzn.to/3E3QV65 ** Buy on UK Amazon: https://amzn.to/3CdECnb https://www.patreon.com/tipsfortravellershttps://www.youtube.com/tipsfortravellers Get 10% any order of The Cruise Maps who you visit the site using this link: https://www.TheCruiseMaps.com/TFT

Days before heading off on Regent's newest ship, the Grandeur, the line launched new advertising promising that “nobody does it better”. In in they also claimed to have the “world's most luxurious fleet”, and that no cruise line beats them on destination experiences, hospitality, luxury spaces, and dining. Having been on Regent before, while I found them great, I didn’t think they beat every line, so this latest trip turned into the perfect opportunity to really test out if Regent now does do cruising better than everybody else. I am Gary Bembridge, and this is what I found. And as always to offer an unbiased review I booked and paid for this trip myself like every single cruise I go on https://www.patreon.com/tipsfortravellershttps://www.youtube.com/tipsfortravellers Get 10% any order of The Cruise Maps who you visit the site using this link: https://www.TheCruiseMaps.com/TFT

I’ve been contacted recently by way too many cruise passengers that have been caught out by new scams that have emerged since my last video about this topic, including one a good friend stumbled upon on his latest cruise – and one using me to scam cruisers like you! Here are the latest cruise scams to watch out for! Links mentioned in the video: https://www.TheCruiseMaps.com/TFThttps://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-an-electronic-travel-authorisation-eta https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/eta.htmlhttps://cibtvisas.comhttps://www.patreon.com/tipsfortravellershttps://www.youtube.com/tipsfortravellers Get 10% any order of The Cruise Maps who you visit the site using this link: https://www.TheCruiseMaps.com/TFT

I’m upset as one item I've taken on every cruise I've done to date has just been banned. But I'm not the only one devastated about new cruise line bans, as three people contacted me about a less-publicised ban making cruising more costly for them. While I saw another recent ban got one cruiser banned for life when she unwittingly broke it. I’m Gary Bembridge, and I’m here to tell you about six items cruise lines have recently banned that could change the way you cruise. Forever. https://www.patreon.com/tipsfortravellershttps://www.youtube.com/tipsfortravellers Get 10% any order of The Cruise Maps who you visit the site using this link: https://www.TheCruiseMaps.com/TFT

Every cruiser can see that cruise fares have been rising scarily fast, and cruise lines are telling Wall Street investors that they expect fares to keep rising well over inflation as demand for cruising is so high. But despite that, I have found ways of paying less than most people on every one of the 12 upcoming trips I've got booked. I'm going to show you how I, and other smart cruisers, cruise for less than others in this time of rising fares. https://www.patreon.com/tipsfortravellershttps://www.youtube.com/tipsfortravellers Get 10% any order of The Cruise Maps who you visit the site using this link: https://www.TheCruiseMaps.com/TFT

If you've got a cruise booked in 2025, or thinking of booking one, there are startling changes being made by cruise lines, governments, and the actions of some local port residents that you need to be ready to deal with. Even if you've been cruising recently and think you know how things work, these changes could catch you by surprise and throw your cruise plans off course. Here are six changes I think you need to be ready for in 2025. Links mentioned in the video: UK ETA: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-an-electronic-travel-authorisation-eta EU ETIAS: https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias_en Videos Mentioned: Money saving: https://youtu.be/qWLw-tJbSKg Banned Items: https://youtu.be/WCveKKbpJRw https://www.patreon.com/tipsfortravellershttps://www.youtube.com/tipsfortravellers Get 10% any order of The Cruise Maps who you visit the site using this link: https://www.TheCruiseMaps.com/TFT

I've recently been following several cruise-gone-wrong sagas that inspired me to make this. They include outraged passengers raging because the Captain decided to miss iconic ports that most had booked the cruise for, and a distraught family facing a medical bill of $150,000 after their father fell ill on European cruise. Like you I assume all my cruises will be perfect, but not all are. Here are the main things I’ve seen go wrong, and how to be ready for them and what to do if it happens to you. https://www.patreon.com/tipsfortravellershttps://www.youtube.com/tipsfortravellers Get 10% any order of The Cruise Maps who you visit the site using this link: https://www.TheCruiseMaps.com/TFT