4 Things You Should NEVER Buy From Your Cruise Line!

Comments · 370

• NI

  @nickwass9700 · 2 years ago

  Please, take note of what Gary says about travel insurance. If you are one of the "it won't happen to me" brigade, then you take an enormous risk. On our last cruise, we both caught Covid. I was extremely ill and finished up for 10 days in the ICU at Mombasa General hospital. With the shipboard medical fees, the hospital, taxis and finding flights home the total was nearly €40,000. We had full travel insurance that had cost us nearly €400. They paid for everything. The lot. At 1% of the costs, it was a bargain!!

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• SH

  @Sherpa8034 · 2 years ago

  Gary, you are absolutely right. Some years ago, one December, I procrastinated and waited last minute - 48 hours to be exact - to book a flight. The airlines told me they were all sold out for the date and times I wanted. I called up a travel agency, and they immediately got me on a flight on one of the airlines that told me they were sold out. But the bigger surprise was that the agent got me a ticket for a mere $385, a lot down from $770 the airlines quoted me. The agent explained that airlines block and reserve a number of seats on flights for travel agencies. That enables an agency (when they are not sold out) to have available seat, even when the airlines themselves say a flight is booked out.

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• LA

  @lawrencewilhelm7095 · 2 years ago

  About the girl who broke her foot in Cozumel - the cruise lines tell people all the time NOT to rent a scooter because, unless you're really experienced in driving one, it's an accident waiting to happen.

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• NO

  @noahlani1969 · 2 years ago

  I just booked a cruise for 2025. Travel insurance through my travel agency was double for me and my daughter. Purchased the insurance on my own from the same company at a lower cost close to 50% less for me and around 41% less for my daughter. People do your homework but also never travel without. Peace of mind is better than the headache of having to come up with the funds.

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• AL

  @allyhawkes760 · 2 years ago

  I had friends who had an accident on their first day on the cruise and had to be taken off the ship by helicopter, back to Florida for surgery then medical flight back to their home country. Their medical bill was over a $ million. Thankfully they had comprehensive insurance.

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• SK

  @skycaptain3344 · 2 years ago

  The main point here, and the same I’ve learned after over 20 cruises - SHOP AROUND! Applies to the cruise, flights, hotels, and excursions. And keep an eye on prices on things that can be rebooked. Great video!

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• FR

  @francesgill8621 · 2 years ago

  I've noticed cruiselines pick the most expensive hotels.  I have found perfectly fine inexpensive hotels at these locations

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• DA

  @danielbobberson9849 · 2 years ago

  The advice on not purchasing the insurance from the cruise line is really valid and has been the practice of good agents for years.  Book directly with reliable companies such as Allianz etc.

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• TE

  @TeamSkeletor · 2 years ago

  Great advise Gary. You mentioned those two ladies who were injured in Cozumel and didn’t have travel insurance. What made their situation even worse was neither one had passports and thus had issues even getting out of the country and back home.

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• PO

  @portaltwo · 2 years ago

  Completely agree with not booking flights through the cruise line! After a couple of ridiculous routings in the early years, we now always book our own flights. It appears the cruise lines use a computer algorithm that simply chooses the cheapest option, regardless of routing/connections/logic, even though the cost difference may be virtually insignificant. You can sometimes overcome this by subsequently going to the line's in-house travel consultants (or presumably your own travel agent, if applicable), but it's a hassle.

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• CR

  @CruiseDude1 · 2 years ago

  This is another example why Tips for Travelers is the best. Gary does not favor one cruise line and provides a neutral perspective. I'd like to add one very important tip, as Gary mentioned Allianz and other 3rd party travel insurance providers. Definitely don't use the cruiseline travel insurance which is a ripoff but also don't directly contact Allianz (which is excellent) or other providers. Instead, use a travel insurance comparison tool like squaremouth which lays out all the plans, the price, benefits, etc., to be sure you're getting the best possible combination of benefits and price.

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• JA

  @janiekcarney5482 · 2 years ago

  I always want my travel agent so I get personal attention. I’m solo.

  8