So Many Caribbean Cruisers STILL Get These 5 Things Wrong (Podcast #406)
Essential Cruise Tips
I’ve just returned from back-to-back Caribbean cruises on two very different ships, the massive 6,000 passenger Symphony of the Seas and the smaller 1,200 passenger Oceania Vista. And on both, despite their dramatic differences, I was amazed how many people were still getting the same five things wrong that I’ve seen on every Caribbean cruise I’ve done over the years. I want to warn you about them, so you can avoid them. 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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Too Many Cruisers Are Missing Out On These Incredible Journeys. Are You? (Podcast #405)
Essential Cruise Tips
Anyone close to cruising knows that cruise lines are incredibly involved with trains and train travel. Some even own and operate them, including some of the most famous and iconic ones, as you will hear. That’s why they really want us to do three things: book train travel before cruises, during cruises as excursions, and after the cruise. 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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5 Cruises You Should Stay Away From These Days. And Why (Podcast #404)
Essential Cruise Tips
I told my friends not to book the cruise as it was one that I keep warning cruisers to stay well clear of as they almost always disappoint. But they insisted and sadly, three days before they were due to depart, what I feared would happen did. It was cancelled. I’m Gary Bembridge and I’m here to warn you about this and 5 cruises I suggest you NEVER book, along with tips of what to do instead - or how to reduce your risk if you really do want to do them. Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams Visit my Tips For Travellers...
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I Put The 5 Leading First Class "Ship-In-Ships" To The Test (Podcast #403)
Essential Cruise Tips
Although most cruise reviewers say there are five, there are strictly speaking only two cruise lines that truly have a “ship-within-a-ship”. A fully self-contained world where passengers paying at least $500 per person a night for a suite are given the special entry card to a door that lets them step out of the regular cruise ship and into an exclusive VIP (Very Important Passenger) one. I have stayed on all 5 of them though and review and rank them Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams Visit my Tips For Travellers...
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I Cruise Silversea To See If Its New Owners Have RUINED It (Podcast #401)
Essential Cruise Tips
Four years ago, Royal Caribbean, best known for huge, good value resort ships, surprised many by buying Silversea known for ultra-luxury small ship cruising. Having cruised on it before the takeover, I decided I should return to see if the online reviews from other pre-takeover cruisers saying things like, "Not the same Silversea” and “Before it was sold, we thought Silversea was superb, well run, with delicious food. Not now” were right or not. So, I booked myself on Silver Spirit for a two-week cruise, and this is what I found Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: and get exclusive...
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6 Things "Polite" Passengers Do That Drive Cruise Crew Crazy! (Podcast #402)
Essential Cruise Tips
I used to think of myself as a considerate cruise passenger, trying to be polite and help make the crews’ jobs simpler, easier, and more pleasant. But I’ve had to reappraise what I was doing after a crew member discreetly told me on this cruise that I am on that some were having the opposite effect, and could get them into trouble with their boss, affect their ability to get a promotion, and even whether their contract would get renewed. Surprised by this, I asked the cruise director, waiters, shore excursion staff, guest services, guest entertainers and speakers, and of course my...
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5 Things You Won't Be Able To Do On Cruises This Year! (Podcast #400)
Essential Cruise Tips
There are five things I took for granted last year as a cruiser that have unexpectedly disappeared this year, the first massive one I experienced first-hand on a recent cruise. I was on the first leg of Silversea Silver Spirit’s 62-night Grand Voyage from Cape Town to Athens via the Seychelles, Dubai, and the Suez Canal. Find out what that was and the 4 others 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 Put Cunard's Controversial Class-Based Cruising To The Test (Podcast #398)
Essential Cruise Tips
Cunard has the reputation of being the most class-based cruise line sailing today, keeping alive the tradition of grand old ocean liners from the Titanic era had of giving First-Class passengers, or what Cunard now call “The Grills”, a more rounded and top-notch experience vastly superior to that of all other guests.But is that the reality. I reveal what it is really like and why 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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So Many Repositioning Cruisers Get These 5 Things Wrong (Podcast #399)
Essential Cruise Tips
Cruise lines charge less per day for repositioning cruises than ANY of their other cruises, making them some of the most inexpensive and appealing to many cruisers. But I’ve met so many people on them discovering too late that being inexpensive alone is not a good reason for doing them, as they’d been caught out or fallen into some traps. The same ones I see repeatedly. 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 Norwegian's Latest Ships To See Why Cruisers So Unhappy (Podcast #397)
Essential Cruise Tips
I met so many regular Norwegian cruisers on my Norwegian Viva cruise that disliked this new Prima class of Norwegian Cruise Line ships that I started wondering if Norwegian had actually gone out of their way to create a new type of ship they knew current cruisers wouldn’t like! Perhaps to attract different cruisers, perhaps cruisers like me. I’m not a regular Norwegian cruiser, largely because I’ve not been a fan of the Norwegian ships I’ve been on, but this ship did some things so differently it made me rethink my position, as you will hear. Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: and...
info_outlineGary Bembridge author of "The Cruise Traveler's Handbook" provides another 60-Second Cruise Tip. For more visit 60SecondCruiseTips.com and subscribe free to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher Radio and TuneIn Radio
How To Avoid Being Surrounded By Old People
Cruises have a reputation, especially among people who have not done one yet, of mostly being for old people. However, if you chose the right cruise line you will be surrounded by people just like you. The profile of people on board differs based on a combination of the destination, time of year and the line itself. Selecting the best match for you is essential. For example, you can cruise around the Mediterranean and Caribbean on the following:
- Cunard or Holland America which offer a more formal and traditional cruising experience and is likely to have more older couples of 60 and above.
- Royal Caribbean which provides high-energy resort attractions like rock climbing, ice skating and water slides and will be more full of families and young couples.
- Seabourn, Crystal and Silversea which sail smaller ultra-luxury ships offering all-suites and butler service and attracts honeymoon couples, young and middle-aged professionals.
- MSC Cruises and Costa that provide a youthful and multi-lingual experience and attract families and groups of young travellers from around the world.
- Carnival Cruise Line which provides on-stop fun around the ship and attracts 20- and 30-somethings, dressed in shorts and t-shirts.
The best way to ensure you are surrounded by people like you is to do your research and chose the right line that matches you!