Too Many Cruisers Fall For These Cruise Drink Package Traps (Podcast #434)
Essential Cruise Tips
A drinks package can easily add $1,000 or more to the cost of your seven-night cruise. They've become popular and cruise lines push cruisers hard to buy them, arguing they’re great value, but are they really? And who exactly should, and should not, be buying them and why? I highlight how to avoid falling into traps that so many cruisers do with drinks packages. Links mentioned in the video: * Drinks Package calculators: https://www.cruzely.com/cruise-line-drink-package-calculator/ and https://www.cruisemummy.co.uk/cruise-drinks-package-calculator/ Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: and...
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Smart Cruisers Rely On These Game-Changing Cruise Resources (Podcast #433)
Essential Cruise Tips
Over the years I've been cruising, I have made many mistakes, but thanks to other cruisers I've met along the way, they suggested various tools, sites, and apps that helped make sure I avoided making those – and other - mistakes again. So, I'd like to share those that I use on every cruise to make every trip epic. Including some rather quirky and unusual ones that you may find surprising and even rather amusing! Links mentioned in the video: Get 10% off any order of The Cruise Maps using https://www.TheCruiseMaps.com/TFT (discount applied at check out) VacationsToGo.com...
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Which Cruise Line Is The VERY BEST By Region? And Why? (Podcast #432)
Essential Cruise Tips
In every weekly live cruise Q&A livestream that I do on YouTube, I am asked by a cruiser what is the best cruise line they should use in one of the regions of the world so they can see and get the most of it. So, I decided to make this to share in one place what I have found from my experiences to be the very best cruise lines to choose in each of the 8 most popular cruising regions. I have cruised all several times and, as you will see, many of the lines are not the obvious nor the biggest. Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and...
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Cruisers Pick Their Best & Worst Lines RIGHT NOW! (Podcast #431)
Essential Cruise Tips
I'm constantly asked if I think that cruise lines are worse now than they used to be. After analysing how cruisers are rating them right now, the answer seems to be mostly yes. I've poured over the online reviews and ratings of 25 of the biggest cruise lines aimed at English-speaking cruisers over the last nine months. A staggering 20 of them are being rated lower than ever before, with just two being rated higher. Welcome aboard, I am Gary Bembridge and to make my findings as helpful as possible for you, I'm going reveal the current best and worst rated lines right now in each of the 5...
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Smart Cruisers Stay On Board On Port Days More Than Ever. Here’s Why (Podcast #430)
Essential Cruise Tips
I noticed that more cruisers than ever are staying on board their cruise ship rather than getting off in ports to self-explore or go on excursions. With many changes in ports and on ships in recent years, I too have started remaining on board in more ports too. There were even two cruises in the last year where I did not get off the ship in any port at all! What is going on? And why and when should you also make the smart choice to stay on board in port? Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams Visit my Tips For Travellers...
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Avoid Doing These 6 Things Or Risk Driving Cruise Crew Crazy (Podcast #429)
Essential Cruise Tips
Until recently I used to think of myself as a self-aware and understanding cruise passenger, but that changed after I caught up with some crew members I know over dinner on a recent cruise. They told me there are 6 things blissfully unaware passengers keep doing that really wind the crew up, but most passengers don’t realise they are doing it as crew members have to hide their frustration when they do these. I want to reveal these so you can avoid doing these from here on. GET 10% OFF YOUR "THE CRUISE MAPS" AT Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: and get exclusive Patron-only...
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Too Few Cruisers Know About These 9 FREE Afternoon Teas At Sea (Podcast #428)
Essential Cruise Tips
As a HUGE fan of them, and because I see only a small percentage of passengers going to many of them, and as I think too many are missing out on one of the best culinary experiences on a cruise, I’m going to let you in on my list of the best included afternoon teas at sea, so you too know where you can indulge in this fantastic experience. “Cruise Calories Don’t Count” T-shirt you can buy it from my merchandise store in a range of colours: Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams Visit my Tips For Travellers YouTube: ...
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I Test Seabourn Expedition Cruising To See Why Cruisers Are So Unhappy (Podcast #427)
Essential Cruise Tips
Looking at reviews before heading off on Seabourn Venture, one of the new expedition ships from the ultra-luxury Seabourn line, I was concerned when I saw recent reviews calling it disappointing, saying it had unappealing food, the entertainment was abysmal, and the decor felt downscale versus other Seabourn ships. This is what I discovered when I went. Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams Visit my Tips For Travellers YouTube:
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River Cruise Lines To Steer Clear Of These Days. And Why! (Podcast #426)
Essential Cruise Tips
As I don’t want to waste my precious time and money on a European river cruise line that isn’t on top of their game, I've been diving into the latest cruise reviews and ratings, to see what lines are doing well and, maybe more importantly, what lines we might need to approach with more caution. There are 5 lines you should be wary of and they include some of the best-known names on the rivers of Europe. I was surprised about the first of the lines on the lower-scoring list as I had expected them to be rated better. Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: and get exclusive Patron-only...
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River Cruise Lines Everyone Is Raving About RIGHT NOW (Podcast #425)
Essential Cruise Tips
I decided to see how today’s travellers spending their own hard-earned money river cruising in Europe are rating the lines on review sites. I quickly discovered the rankings were not as I expected them to be and were different to those of the magazines and sites. So, I let you in on the top 8 traveller best rated river cruise lines right now, and why. Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams Visit my Tips For Travellers YouTube:
info_outlineIn another episode of 60-Second Cruise Tips, Gary Bembridge, author of "The Cruise Traveler's Handbook", "Essential Cruise Tips" and "River Cruising Essential Tips and Tricks" shares another cruise tip. This time it is:
Seasickness
Seasickness is unpleasant and cruise lines do everything they can to reduce the probability of you suffering from it. Steps they take include scheduling and sailing itineraries that minimise the chance of encountering rough seas, using ships equipped with stabilisers to help keep the ship steady in rough seas and swells and taking advantage of modern radar systems to avoid poor weather.
If you are concerned or prone to seasickness there are a number of steps you can take such as traveling in a cabin in the middle of the ship and low down as movement is least here and take over-the-counter motion sickness pills like dimenhydrinate (marketed as Dramamine, Gravol, etc.) in North America and cinnarazine (marketed as Stugeron or Stunarone) in Europe. You must buy them before you go. They may make you drowsy for a few hours, but resolve the problem.
If you do not want to use medication here are some other tips:
- Try the pressure pads behind the ears or wrist bands. Both are available at drugstores and pharmacies.
- Eat ginger.
- Look at the horizon and get fresh air.
- Go on a river cruise as you will not suffer from motion sickness.
- If none of the above work, visit the medical centre as they will offer an injection which will make you sleep usually but will solve the problem fast. Do not let the fear of sickness put you off a cruise!
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