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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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: ...
info_outline
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:
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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_outline
In this episode Gary Bembridge, cruise expert and author, shares another Essential Cruise Tip.
Four First-Time Cruise Tips
I was asked by "Cruise International Magazine" to provide a few tips for first-time cruisers for an article they were doing with suggestions from different cruise writers and bloggers.
These are the four that I provided:
(1) Chose your cruise line very carefully. Think about, and ideally write down, what is important to you on a vacation and use that as a checklist when deciding which line to travel with. Most key itineraries are covered by multiple cruise lines but they offer very different on-board experiences. If you want a party atmosphere you don’t want to find yourself on a line focused on traditional and quiet enrichment programs. If you want to avoid children you don’t want to be on a line that caters mostly for families.
(2) Use a cruise agent. Booking a cruise is complex. You need to select the right line, the most suitable cabin and understand what is included and excluded in your fare. There are many permutations and so work with a cruise travel agent. They will also know the latest and most appropriate promotions and offers for your needs.
(3) Check the deck plans when selecting a cabin. Review the layout of the ship you have selected using the brochure or online deck plans. Look what will be above and below you to make sure you have a quiet and calm vacation. Avoid those with public rooms, lido restaurants and decks above or below - and stay away from likely noisy areas like laundry rooms.
(4) When budgeting work on the total cost from leaving home to returning. There can be many extra and hidden costs on a cruise vacation. Understand in detail what the fare covers. The key additional costs are usually excursions (which can cost up to £50 to £100 per person), gratuities (which may be added automatically), Wi-Fi, drinks, and specialty dining. Make sure you have taken into account transfers to and from the ship and good travel insurance that includes cruise cover.
Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you do not miss out on other cruise tips on iTunes or Stitcher Radio