Embarrassing Cruise Mistakes You Can Avoid By Reading This

Embarrassing Cruise Mistakes You Can Avoid By Reading This

May 23, 2017 by Chris Owen

The old saying ‘live and learn’ helps us avoid repeating mistakes. That works for many parts of life from where to buy common household items to which brands we like and use. Travel by ship is travel made easy as floating hotels have the ability to take us around the world in comfort. Still, it is amazingly easy to overlook some critical parts of travel; embarrassing cruise mistakes that are easy to avoid, just by reading this.



Large Humans Might Not Fit In Upper Berths

While the idea of a discounted price for third and/or fourth guests sharing the same stateroom might sound good at home, on the ship that can be quite another case. Upper berths have a weight restriction of 250 pounds. The top of that bed is 27” below the cabin ceiling and passengers will have to climb a ladder to get into it.

This is one I stumbled across on a cruise embarkation day years ago. Trying to get into a stateroom rated to accommodate four people were four larger ladies. Only two of them could get through the doorway and there was no way any would fit into the two upper berths in that stateroom.

No, Not Everything Is Included

To say that a cruise vacation is inclusive ‘by nature’ is accurate, compared to land travel where nothing is. But to blindly assume that the cruise fare pays for the lion’s share of expense is not entirely accurate. Worst case: The end of the cruise comes around and a surprising bill appears.
Avoid this embarrassing cruise mistake by checking onboard spending accounts every couple of days. There might be errors on your account that can be fixed far easier any other time than the day you get off the ship. To be sure there is no post-cruise debt lingering around, many cruise travelers set up a cash account just for this reason.

Debit Or Credit, Be Sure The Funds Available

Speaking of shipboard accounts, the cruises line will want a debit or credit card to guarantee onboard purchases that are not included in the cruise fare. Each day, they will place a hold on funds they believe you will need to have available to pay for purchases made by the end of the cruise.

The critical cruise mistake here is not allowing for other charges that might be made on that debit or credit card. Daily holds can often use up daily credit limits travelers may not know they have. Such was the case on a cruise we were enjoying many years ago, right up until the time that we were summoned to the Purser’s Desk. Told ‘the preauthorization we tried to run on your card was declined. How would you like to handle this?’

The easy fix, using either a debit or credit card:

• Be sure the bank knows you are on a cruise before leaving home. Otherwise they might think someone has stolen your card since you live in Kansas and a charge from your cruise line came through from Miami.
• For the same reason, notify your bank of the countries to be visited on your cruise.
• Play it safe: bring more than one card along

Perhaps you too have seen or made some embarrassing cruise mistakes that will probably not be repeated. Share those with us here!

Chris Owen shares frank, inside information about cruise vacations on ChrisCruises.com.

Courtesy: CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association).

For information, any questions & booking, please write to: info@eTravelCruise.com

Our website: eTravelCruise.com

16 Worst Mistakes You Can Make on a Cruise

16 Worst Mistakes You Can Make on a Cruise
July 27, 2017 by Ben Souza

Cruise Fever’s mission is simple, to help you have the best cruise possible.  While we often write articles on things you should do on cruises, here are the worst mistakes that you can make on a cruise.




1. Climbing/horseplay on railings – Although this should be a no-brainer, we occasionally hear accounts of passengers sitting on the ship’s railings or climbing over balcony partitions.

2. Stiffing the crew – While most cruise lines automatically charge a daily gratuity or service surcharge to your stateroom, you can have them removed by going to guest services.  However, just because you are allowed to have them taken off doesn’t mean that you should.  You wouldn’t go to a restaurant without tipping and you shouldn’t go on a cruise without tipping.

3. Getting too drunk – No one enjoys having an obnoxious drunk by them on the lido deck or at their dinner table.

4. Getting left behind in port – When the captain says that the ship is leaving port at 5:00, he means it. He isn’t going to wait around for those that lost track of time.  If you get left behind in port, you are responsible for your own transportation to the next port or back home.  The costs can be several thousand dollars each and will be even more complicated if you are traveling without a passport. Our advice?  Plan on arriving back near the ship 1 1/2 to 2 hours before you are scheduled to leave.  This not only gives you some time to shop in the port area, but also gives you plenty of leeway if you run into traffic or your taxi or bus has a breakdown on the way back.

5. Going by port time instead of ship time – Going by port time instead of ship time is a great way to miss your ship.  Also, never trust the time on your cell phone. Bring a watch and if you don’t have one, pick up a cheap $10 watch and you will never have to worry about getting port/ship times mixed up.

6. Eating only at the buffet – While newer ships like Regal Princess have great buffets, the best food on a cruise is almost always in the main dining room.  By eating only at the buffet, you miss out on the great food and service that is offered in the main dining rooms and specialty restaurants.

7. Line cutting –  We all hate waiting in lines while on vacation, but it’s part of life.

8. Booking late flights on embarkation day – Booking late flights on embarkation day is a great way to miss your cruise.  While it is not always possible for everyone to fly in the day before due to work commitments, you should always plan on arriving the day before if you are able to.

9. Booking early flights on disembarkation day – Cruise lines recommend not booking flights before noon on disembarkation day.  Just because your arrival time says 7:00 a.m., there is almost no chance of catching an 8:30 flight.  There have been times I walked right through customs, and other times it took over an hour to get through the line.

10. Leaving balcony doors open – Leaving your balcony door propped open will create a wind tunnel when your stateroom door is opened.  It’s a great way to get your fingers smashed in the door when it slams shut on you.

11. Leaving your curtains open when pulling into port – More often than not, you will be docked directly across the pier from another cruise ship.  Those on the ship next to you will be able to see into your cabin if your curtains are open.

12. Forgetting to turn data roaming off – Before stepping foot on the ship, you should go to the settings on your phone and make sure that data roaming is turned off.  This will keep your cell phone from racking up huge charges and using data even when it is in your pocket. Putting your phone in airplane mode will also keep you from racking up additional charges.

13. Piling into elevators without letting other passengers out first – This is about having respect for your fellow passengers.

14. Treating the crew like 2nd class citizens – We all have bad days, but how many you would have if you worked 7 days a week and were away from your family for 6-9 months at a time?  Kind words to the crew will go a long way, treat them with the same respect that you give to your spouse.

15. Cruising without travel insurance – Cruising without travel insurance is like playing with fire.  There are a wide range of policies offered that include coverage for medical (your medical insurance most likely won’t cover you out of the country), travel delays and interruptions, and cancellations.

16. Lying on your medical form – Before you board your cruise, you have to fill out a medical form where you check boxes of certain symptoms that you have had over the past 48-72 hours.  Lying on this form is a great way of spreading an illness to other passengers.  Lying on your form is one of the biggest mistakes you can make on a cruise.

Source: Posted CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association).