The Truth About a Queen Mary 2 Crossing: What They Don't Tell You (Podcast #503)
Essential Cruise Tips
A Queen Mary 2 Transatlantic Crossing is unlike almost any other voyage — and many first-time passengers arrive with completely the wrong expectations. After crossing the Atlantic on Queen Mary 2 six times, I reveal the surprises, misunderstandings and easily avoided mistakes that can dramatically affect your experience. From choosing the wrong cabin and underestimating the North Atlantic to unexpected costs, daily life onboard and what really happens when you reach New York, this is what I wish every first-timer knew before boarding. Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: and get exclusive...
info_outline
6 Things Cunard Brochures Aren't Telling You. And Why! (podcast #502)
Essential Cruise Tips
Cunard is one of cruising’s most famous names—but much of what people believe about it is outdated, exaggerated, or simply wrong. After 270 nights aboard Cunard ships, I reveal six persistent misconceptions about its luxury credentials, passengers, dress codes, class system and very different ships. I also explore the recent changes that could reshape the Cunard experience—and why some loyal passengers may not like what comes next. Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams Visit my Tips For Travellers YouTube: ...
info_outline
I Found Out How Cruise Lines REALLY Pick Cabin Upgrade Winners (podcast #501)
Essential Cruise Tips
If you've ever been invited to bid for a cruise cabin upgrade, you probably assumed (like me) that the highest bid wins. But, that's not how it works at all. After losing an upgrade to another passenger who had bid less than I did, I decided to investigate what was really going on behind cruise line upgrade bidding. What I found completely changed how I approach the process. In this video, I reveal what I discovered. Starting with something staring me in the face but had not spotted that that unites every cruise line when it comes to cruise cabin upgrade bidding. This video will help you...
info_outline
7 Cruises You Should Avoid. No Matter How Tempting They Look! (podcast #500)
Essential Cruise Tips
Some cruises look perfect on paper. The ship, the itinerary, the price, the promise. But after more than 130 cruises, I’ve learned there are some cruises I would never book again — or would only book under very specific conditions. In this video, I reveal the seven types of cruises I now avoid, and why. All but one of these I’ve tried myself and found they simply did not suit the way I like to cruise. The other comes with risks, traps, or compromises that many passengers do not realise until it is too late. But this is not just about saying “never book these.” For each one, I also...
info_outline
I Won’t Do A Sailing Ship Cruise Again. But Here's Why You SHOULD! (Podcast #499)
Essential Cruise Tips
I went on my first ever sailing ship cruise expecting something magical, different, and perhaps even better than a regular cruise ship. Instead, after the very first night, I was seriously wondering if I had made a huge mistake. After more than 130 cruises on ocean ships, river ships, expedition ships and even a tiny 14-person barge in France, I finally decided it was time to try a sailing ship. I booked an 8-night Venice to Rome cruise on Windstar’s flagship Wind Surf, one of the world’s largest sailing ships, to find out what this kind of cruising is really like. But the reality was not...
info_outline
I’ve Done Panama Canal 6 Times. Here’s What NO-ONE Is Telling You! (Podcast #498)
Essential Cruise Tips
I’ve transited the Panama Canal six times, and I am still completely obsessed with it. In this video, I take you with me on a full Panama Canal transit from the Pacific side across to the Caribbean / Atlantic side, showing what really happens across the day — the thrilling parts, the surprising parts, and the hot, sweaty, wearisome parts that many cruisers do not expect. I explain how the Panama Canal works, what happens inside the Locks, and how the newer 2016 locks changed the way ships transit the canal. Along the way, I show the reality of a full transit: the very early start, the long...
info_outline
I Was Completely Wrong About Sailing Ship Cruises. Here's Why. (Podcast #497)
Essential Cruise Tips
After 100+ regular ocean cruises, I finally tried a sailing ship cruise — and almost everything I assumed going in turned out to be wrong.I sailed with Windstar on their 342-passenger flagship Wind Surf, an 8-night Venice to Rome itinerary on a five-mast sailing ship. In this video I cover what I discovered including: * How similar (and different) the onboard experience actually is to a regular cruise ship * The truth about sailing with sails * Cabin trade-offs and issues * Itinerary upsides, downsides, and risks * Whether the premium price is worth it * and who this type of cruise is really...
info_outline
Epic Highs & Unwelcome Lows I Had Cruising South America! (Podcast #496)
Essential Cruise Tips
South America cruising delivered some of the most spectacular sights I have ever experienced — but also a few costly, frustrating, and very unexpected lows. On my recent 31-night South America cruise, I filmed live updates from eight of the region’s most popular cruise ports and scenic cruising days, capturing what it was really like in the moment. From leaving the ship for two and a half days to visit Machu Picchu, to standing among penguins in the remote Falkland Islands, sailing past Cape Horn, Glacier Alley and the astonishing Brüggen / Pío XI Glacier, this trip had moments that were...
info_outline
7 Traps I See People Cruising South America Fall Into! (Podcast #495)
Essential Cruise Tips
South America cruises can be spectacular — penguins in the Falklands, Cape Horn, Glacier Alley Chile, fascinating cities in Peru and Chile, end of the world in Ushuaia, Buenos Aires, Lima, Montevideo and more. But after cruising South America several times, including a recent 31-night voyage, I saw experienced cruisers making mistakes that could ruin the trip. In this, I reveal the biggest South America cruise mistakes I saw passengers make, from visa and entry rule surprises to choosing the wrong itinerary, underestimating sea days, misjudging the ports, getting excursions wrong, packing...
info_outline
I've Done 11 Holland America Cruises. Here's What No-One Else Warns About (Podcast #494)
Essential Cruise Tips
I’ve now been on 11 Holland America cruises, including my most recent 31-night South America sailing — and despite having so many cruise lines to choose from, I keep coming back. But Holland America is not perfect. In this, I reveal what I think Holland America does better and worse than other premium cruise lines like Princess, Celebrity, Cunard and Virgin Voyages — including ship size, itineraries, enrichment, entertainment, and dining, and more I look at if Holland America one of the best premium cruise choices — or is it starting to lose its way? Xxx Become a Tips For Travellers...
info_outlineGary Bembridge author of "The Cruise Traveler's Handbook" provides another 60-Second Cruise Tip. For more visit http://www.60secondcruisetips.com and subscribe free to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher Radio and TuneIn Radio.
Cruising the Caribbean
The most popular cruise region is the Caribbean. Many ships sail out of Florida, mostly Miami and Fort Lauderdale, although there are frequent cruises from other USA ports - and occasionally from Europe.
East Caribbean cruises go to islands like Saint Maarten, Saint Thomas, and Antigua. Western ones visit places like Cozumel, Grand Cayman, and Jamaica. Cruise lines often alternate these routes offering back-to-back trips around the region.
Here are some considerations when choosing a Caribbean cruise:
• Ports can get busy with thousands of cruise passengers visiting at one time. This is especially common on the northerly islands close to Florida like Puerto Rico, Saint Thomas and Saint Maarten when seven or more ships can be there together. I prefer cruises to the more southerly islands such as Barbados, Dominica and Saint Lucia as they tend to be quieter and offer a more genuine Caribbean experience.
• Check if the islands you are visiting are owned by the cruise line and uninhabited. These are purely entertainment destinations and you are not seeing authentic destinations.
• Do more than just beach and catamaran excursions and see some cultural and historical attractions to appreciate the differences between the islands.