5 Little-Known Cruise Tricks That Make A Big Difference

[@keawarren]

A friend and I just met up for the first time since Covid. I had mentioned that I had fallen down a weird KZbin rabbit hole, watching cruise videos even though I had never cruised. She immediately asked, “Do you watch Gary?” I said yes and Emma and Ben & David. A week later, and we booked our first cruise together on the Discovery Princess. Thank you, Gary, for the motivation and all the great tips!

[@tipsfortravellers]

Wow! Great to hear! Thanks

[@danielintheantipodes6741]

Hello. A channel called Cruise Monkeys is also worth watching. Enjoy the cruise!

[@keawarren]

@@danielintheantipodes6741 I found them this week after booking. Their cabin on the Sky Princess is exactly two decks above the one we booked on Discovery. Their cabin tour and view out the balcony has me very excited.

[@blatherskite9601]

Fell down the same hole, me. It's like a parallel universe...

[@Shello58]

Me too! Gary was my first! Tips for Travelers. Doh. Seemed s perfect place to stsrt!! And now I only watch travel videos. Find a channel and binge them all... Can hardly wait for my 'first'. It will probably be a river cruise. Starting small...

[@lukelouis7906]

A tip I discovered on my last cruise is to wear an analog watch set to ship time. That way it is easier to be sure to return to the ship after crossing a time line.

[@graemedenisecollis6837]

Hi there, Just wanted to share something I picked up from one of your videos. They are great, thank you :-). You talked about asking the cruise line for a price match if you had booked and hadn’t yet paid the full amount. We are going on a transatlantic and also a transpacific cruise and low and behold, I started checking after your video - there were two price reductions on one of the cruises and one large reduction on the other. We actually got $2000AUD off one cruise and $800 off the other!! Had no idea Before your videos that you could get price reductions, even after you have booked. As long as the final balance hasn’t been paid Royal Caribbean, were happy to do so. It is so unlike airline tickets where the price you pay is the price you pay and they would never price match. Thank you so much :-) :-)

[@ronaldgiles4009]

We booked our first ever cruise a few weeks ago and after watching this vlog I checked. Yes, it was cheaper! I did have to wait 45 min on the phone but got a refund of $330. Thought they would insist on an on board credit but no they refunded. Thank you so much for this tip.

[@tipsfortravellers]

Hooray!!! Great to hear !!

[@Mover-n-Shaker]

I got $1275 onboard credit when I called the celebrity after I watched your previous shows. Thank you!

[@andysky123]

Thank you for these videos. Before I began essentially binge watching your vlogs, I would have never considered a cruise vaca- ever. That has now changed since.. thanks to you. I am currently researching a Panama Canal Tour and potentially an Alaskan Cruise combined with a rail package- Thanks to you.

[@southerncaladygolfer8651]

Cruise Critic roll call is a great source to use while planning a cruise. I have several excursions lined up that are more inclusive, small vans and less expensive than those offered by Oceania for my upcoming September cruise. Great video!

[@joannbanks9963]

Hi Kathleen, you aren't by chance doing the Riviera Istanbul-Barcelona cruise, are you? I am curious about non-Oceania excursions for it.

[@southerncaladygolfer8651]

@@joannbanks9963 hi! No….I am on the Marina from Oslo to Lisbon.

[@teams3345]

We just received a $5,000 person credit a piece prior to final payment due to our price of suite going down. It is FCC so be booked another cruise immediately to lock in for next year. We will watch again before final payment on that one too. Jeff & Neil

[@toothybj]

Doing a “dummy booking” on the website is huge! I recently booked a Mini Suite for a short 4-day cruise we’re doing during Thanksgiving time and the website had 3rd & 4th passengers (our kids) as $249/ea) and with the “Princess Premier” package it was a little more. I called Princess & booked over the phone and was surprised that 3rd & 4th passengers were FREE, so the whole thing ended up being $2400 instead of $3000 like the website was showing. I was really happy about that!

[@RetC130Nav]

I don't understand the "dummy booking" concept. Is it a booking that you'll cancel or not follow through on when payment becomes due? Do you make the deposit with the hopes that you'll recover the funds when you book directly with the cruise line over the phone? Please pardon the questions but we're newbies. Thanks.

[@louisesnare3064]

I really want to know the answer to this, too!

[@caroleceres]

Shore cruise and Shore Excursion. Great tips thanks very much.

[@ichaloner]

Amazing tips - I must have watched dozens of "cruise tip" videos on other channels as well as yours, and this particular video is the one that I actually found extremely useful and helpful. Many thanks and I hope your current cruise is going fantastically for you.

[@tipsfortravellers]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching!!!

[@nr22173]

Thank You, Thank you, Thank you, just saved over $2000 on my next cruise using your CruiseWatch tip!

[@mbibi5784]

Hello. I am travelling from Southampton to Norway this August on the MSC for seven days. It's my first cruise ever. I am greatfull I found you.

[@KateandBree]

Gary is absolutely spot on with the midcruise survey! Whilst on my cruise with my mom in the Caribbean, my mom had a very bad reaction to a medicine at a very early hour and was found by security. I might have mentioned (in no shortage of words) how I wasn't able to get a word in edgewise with security, how belittled I felt, and had I gotten a word in edgewise (and allowed to process. After all, it was 4 in the gosh darn morning), I would have said, "This is not normal. Could you please get a doctor?" (I did later have to call the infirmary, but I could have had the whole thing sorted at 4 AM, not 7:45.) Needless to say, management called and expressed apologies and the entire security AND staff was getting retrained. I mean, y'all, I was mad. I don't get mad often, but I. Was. MAD.

[@blackbirds4]

Another amazing and very insightful video, Thanks Gary, I hope to see you out there.

[@terrifromm5085]

Another excellent video. Great tips. I now take advantage of watching cruise fare decreases, noise complaints to Guest Services, and ticking the no auto upgrade box. I have learned valuable lessons from these. We usually receive questionnaires on our last cruise day, though.

[@Reed-2big]

I love the attention to detail forms. If they aren’t given I ask for one if I have a minor problem.

[@Reed-2big]

I should have mentioned that I love being able to use them positively too. For example, I love that my room steward can get in and out during the short time I’m away for breakfast!

[@sheilacrosby4894]

Thank you end of a long day your voice is awesome very classy and smoothing you would be a great voice actor and or narrating audiobooks

[@benyounce8390]

Gary: Great tips but noted that the cruise lines you referenced are high end like Aramara. I’m Elite on Princess and 3 star on HAL. I cannot ever recall a mid cruise survey. With larger/budget priced cruise lines my feeling is there’s not the incentive to upgrade even frequent passengers when ships are at or near capacity. I can say that when an issue arose with my assigned cabin I was moved as soon as it was reported. I will definitely be watching cruise fares on my upcoming Panama Canal cruise for that possible last minute price reduction. Always enjoy and appreciate the wealth of information you share from the many and varied cruises you’ve taken.

[@Jacksbox11]

Thanks again, Gary! Love your live videos! Take care from Ottawa. 🍁

[@tipsfortravellers]

I really appreciate you watching and your kind comments ! :-)

[@stevenlachance5468]

Thank you Gary for the information you share. We always learn something when we tune into one of your videos. We have set the alerts and so far you have saved us $600. Thank you so much!

[@wwaitkus]

Thank you so much for your videos. I'm an over 50 who, like you, would rather get out and explore rather than sitting in the Bingo hall listening to arteries hardening, and I appreciate your perspective. This year will be my first cruise, and your advice has been invaluable. Again, thank you for your help and information.

[@PuenteAJ]

Thank you Gary

[@Jactourn]

Found your page and its been so very helpful! We are cruising to Alaska on Carnival Miracle May 2022.

[@carolynsteele9929]

You give the best tips! I didn’t even know about cruise price decreases and at least I can give it a shot!

[@carolcroft454]

Wow! Invaluable tips - this needs to be qualified by the fact that I’ve actually never been on a cruise but dreaming all the same.

[@tuvia4082]

Thanks Gary, always the best source for information. No fluff, no gimmicks, just helpful information.

[@teams3345]

Gary, we just saw that our cruise fare had dropped $5,000 a piece on a US cruise line. We called our travel agent and she got us FCC for our next cruise. We booked immediately to get the rate locked for next year. We will be watching again before final payment. Thanks as always. Jeff & Neil

[@tipsfortravellers]

AWESOME to hear!!!!

[@tipsfortravellers]

Glad you enjoyed them. I really appreciate you watching and your kind comments !

[@dsalinasr]

THANKS!! I JUST used the first trick and I saved about USD$ 1500 because they match my fare with a Labour Day Offer!

[@jimbo7581]

Here's a tip for unrefundable Carnival onboard credits. You can buy Carnival gift cards at the Cherry on Top candy shops. On the last day of the cruise, buy a gift card with the remaining balance. We did that several years ago and used the gift card when booing another cruise, saving money on our booking costs.

[@docsmctink]

More wonderful tips !!! We are very appreciative-you are the best!

[@julimoore3945]

Great video Gary! I'm an original member of Cruise Critic and have shared its resources with many others.

[@cydneystephen2814]

Great tips as usual Sir Gary. Thanks so much.

[@co7580]

Im booked on a Cunard transatlantic. Two single cabins. The very last single cabins. I can't imagine that I could get reductions since they're sold out. They were the first cabins to go I expect since there are not that many single cabins about. I don't want to cancel in the hope of being able to rebook.

[@lizhoward9754]

Tanks so much these (and all) great tips! So much for all your valuable information.

[@nicolehanson6323]

Am leaving on Norwegian Bliss for Alaska on June 11 2022. Can not find the sites for roll call and Meet and Mingle. How do I find the sites, please. Love your tips and tricks and all the info you give Gary, Thank you!

[@dantheman8279]

Excellent tips! Appreciate these great incites!

[@sarahthomas8201]

By signing up for Cruise Watch we saved $1900 when the price dropped on our Enchanted Princess cruise to Canada and New England next fall. Thanks, Gary!

[@drummingfrog463]

My wife and i booked a deluxe veranda on Celebrity a year ago. The price went down since then and we got almost $700 in on board credit. My wife also had royal Caribbean points from her credit card and added $150 on board credit. So we are going into this with over $800 in on board credit. Thanks for the tips.

[@2GringosOnTheGulf]

Great video Thanks for sharing Cheers 2 Canadians living in Mexico Merida sending support Cheers J&D 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇲🇽🇲🇽🇨🇦🇨🇦

[@jackiefarr5703]

Thanks for your videos. I have picked up quite a lot of information which is very helpful. I am booked on a cruise from July 9th and they have sent me an email to upgrade. I took a lot of time choosing the cabin I wanted and decided not to upgrade, but I went to have a look. It's bidding yes, but the lowest offer had a definite price starting point and the perks in that cabin were minimal.

[@mtoporovsky]

Do you have expiriens with post-cruise excursion? I try to find any review about offers of Priceline but noone did... In generally no firm which do post-... never mentioned how they can manage my luggage...

[@jxs20193]

Veery good points Gary! My worst and final cruise more than 10 years ago was a Mexican Riviera Cruise in which my wife and I were "upgraded" to the far front of the ship. Everything about the cabin was horrible, but the main issue was that there were rough seas and motion in this cabin was unbearable, even for me. My wife is very sensitive to motion sickness and never lost her sea legs once we returned to shore. She ended up with extreme vertigo and spent over a week in the hospital. She has never cruised since, and she will never cruise again because of this experience. This is why it was a mistake to take the upgrade for us, and I would never do it again if the opportunity presented itself. I enjoy your channel, still dreaming about something I enjoy but can't experience anymore!

[@RobinH8869]

Some great new tips - Thanks! We will certainly be trying some of these this year.

[@tipsfortravellers]

Great to hear!!! I really appreciate you watching and your kind comments !

[@Jeffdoeswhat]

Great advice. I need to book me another cruise. My next one booked is 2 years out and need a few more before that.

[@donaldwest8130]

Do you have to book direct with the cruise company? Or can you use a third party. I was apparently wrong that the price was "locked in." Thanks

[@passportalwaysready]

Thank you so much for this video - great tips and resources!

[@maryjanekolesar8325]

Never heard or received a part-through questionnaire!? But I do know the Hotelier Director is the one to contact and I make itvmy business to find out the Head's of Departments on every ship. I also write a respectful critique - usually it turns out to be a love letter - mid cruise because I think it's important, especially for crew, to receive praise while I'm still onboard. Twice, this small effort garnered us some wonderful expressions of gratitude.

[@davidali4176]

After paying off my cruise two days later the price dropped. I called RCCL this morning and they gave me the difference of 200 dollars of onboard credit, without any hassle at all. Thank you

[@tipsfortravellers]

Great to hear!

[@aj_aka_alan]

Lots of cruise lines are no longer doing meet and mingles. Including Viking. The roll call forums are crickets compared to what they used to be.

[@ThunderBroomPilot]

Darn diddly good advice. Thanks.

[@tipsfortravellers]

Glad it was helpful!

[@delberthageman1152]

I have yet to see a mid Cruz survey would you like to

[@iangillard9397]

Many thanks Gary for your most helpful and informative videos. Your thoughts on how various cruise lines handle covid cases, would be very interesting; I'm aware that due to the constant covid testing on-board is putting a many of our friends off cruising due to the unknown if a test proved positive. I recently tested positive for covid while on-board and was quarantined in a hotel, have to say in my case we were very well looked after by the cruise line. Thanks Ian

[@chevysnfirst]

I switched my Mardi Gras Oct 2023 cruise to Oct 2022 for half the price. I can't wait.

[@karenjensen2345]

I called NCL to get the new price which was well over 1,000 cheaper, they told us that after final payment the won’t adjust it. I plan on complaining on board but it may not work

[@johnkean6852]

They're difficult. I paid a deposit direct to their HQ in the Bahamas by bank transfer (lost my card.) I added way and above the dollar amount (HQ only accept dollar) from Euro as l realised their exchange rate may be low. ( Note my bank were charging £25 for each transfer and forex! ) They said l had not paid the full amount which was rediculous so l cancelled, and they refused to return my money because: "deposits are unrefundable" BUT it wasn't accepted as a deposit so should've been returned, on principle anyway! 😡

[@bobkrakovich1851]

Hi Karen, if you booked through a Travel agency, see if they can help. Mine are fantastic...Cruise Vacation Outlet in Florida. Hi from Bob and Jill in Connecticut

[@anitasexon4033]

Hello Gary ...brill channel thanks. My cruise cost dropped but TA couldn’t care less.Not helpful. Tried the on board credit . or upgrade ...TA wouldn’t entertain it. Any suggestions ...thanks..

[@hchen23]

My family and I have a trip booked for Alaska this May. We made the reservation over a year ago, and have noticed several price drops over that time, BUT every time we note the price drop to our agent/rep, they say it does not matter because accepting the lower price would mean foregoing the “Perks” in the original package/purchase. So I’m kind of confused about this, because this is not mentioned any any of the videos I’ve watched or online forums I’ve read.

[@nena3694]

Thanks for your great tips. I got onboard that I am able to purcharse one shore exculsion. Also like you said the the upgrade was not worthy. Thanks

[@tipsfortravellers]

Glad it was helpful!

[@dariasusa]

Hi Gary! Thank you for your tips! Could you please share information about the little shops in Skagway that you mentioned in your video? Or can I find it in another video?

[@tipsfortravellers]

I cover them in an Alaska video but they are easy to find as the town is tiny and there is one Main Street that you can walk to from the pier and they are on either side of the one key street

[@amandasmith6941]

Gary I don’t know how to do a dummy booking or get an upgrade. would you mind taking the time to explain the process. I’ve been on Royal Caribbean and Princess which seem to be the most popular - leaving from Sydney or Brisbane but I’m sure the process would be the same.

[@evelynhillier2877]

Query: if your grade of cabin shows as fully booked, how do you check whether or not the price has varied since you made the booking? Thank you, as ever, for an informative and interesting piece!

[@marjakrywko82]

I too wonder this same question?

[@LMays-cu2hp]

Thank you again for sharing your trips...

[@tipsfortravellers]

My pleasure! Thanks for much for watching

[@LMays-cu2hp]

@@tipsfortravellers You are welcome. I have a lady friend how is taking her first cruise in June and I had referred her to your channel here to get some great advice...

[@reginaobrien8983]

Always informative videos. You help make returning to cruising seem doable, and increase my confidence as a solo! Thanks so much for your great and helpful videos.

[@TxGambler77]

All these years I've never known where the "roll calls" were located. I had heard of them, and just assumed they were just part of a group cruise. I have only ever joined the FB group for our particular sailing.

[@mtnmann1775]

Someone in the Roll Call usually organizes the M&M. You would have to give them your contact info and Cabin #. They will let you know where and when the M&M will be. Its a great place to meet your fellow cruisers and if you booked private excursions with some of them, this is where you can meet and discuss.

[@LoredanaT]

Great tips as always, Gary! Sadly, it appears that meet & mingle are paused for the moment on a number of cruise lines, while you can still discuss and plan on the roll call boards.

[@traceymarshall5886]

I never knew about this until Gary mentioned it and joined my roll call - but I am getting bullied and rude comments from the other people on my cruise because I joined the roll call out of the blue just before the cruise goes??

[@LoredanaT]

@@traceymarshall5886 No, there's no excuse for bullying or being rude. Unfortunately, the Internet has given a voice (and a wall to hide behind while being rude) to all sorts of people. Just ignore the ones who speak just for the sake of speaking...

[@traceymarshall5886]

@@LoredanaT what's worrying is that these people are on my cruise and they have "critised" everything i have said. There is a huge difference between internet trolls you will never meet and then people who you will most likely bump into on your upcoming holiday. I googled "why are people on cruise critic so rude" and multiple Reddit threads appear - seems like it is common practise for "experienced retired" cruisers over 65+ to bully anyone below 65. I am shocked 😱 I do not understand why

[@LoredanaT]

@@traceymarshall5886 well... I used to work as a crew member in my 20s (I'm now 33) and came across quite a wide range of... let's say questionable characters. Those kind of people are always there, onboard or on land. But they're a small percentage in the overall equation, and if you haven't noticed them in your previous cruises, no need to let them get to you now. :) It's not like you're wearing name tags or something, so the probability of you bumping into one of those real life trolls is the same as before, you are now just a little more aware of their existence. :) Let them be, you do you and enjoy your cruise! P.S.: To answer your question, sometimes it's just a bad combination of people having too much time at hand + a cry for attention. Also, as mentioned, you may find out that "in person" they suddenly become much less vocal :))

[@traceymarshall5886]

@@LoredanaT thanks for your kind words. It is my 1st cruise so i didnt know about the Meet and Mingle / roll call until Gary mentioned it. I understand with the current situation people might have booked their cruise 2 years ago, or be a pinacle member, or have been on 700 cruises 😆 But it doesnt mean it gives them the green card to be mean to the newbies who might not be retired. I am hoping they are nice people in real life. However at least i am prepared for a different type of holiday and perhaps need some thick skin

[@xXbunnyhopsXx]

Hi Gary! Can you talk about how to find a good travel travel?

[@tonigreen749]

Is there a similar Cruise alert (for price checking) for cruises out of Australia?

[@clarityofthought]

Which travel agent service do you recommend?

[@kimwan1000]

Hi. What’s the name of the cruise price tracker again? You said it so fast I can’t make it out. Thanks

[@tipsfortravellers]

Hi there it's www.cruisewatch.com and www.cruisewatch.com/cruise-price-alerts the link should also be video description, but if like me I never think to look at those :-)

[@buildergradetocustommade]

You are so knowledgeable - why do you use a travel agent instead of booking yourself? ❓

[@tonymack5162]

Gary is fantastic. He gives us so much great info about all aspects of cruising. I have watched many of his videos and learnt a lot. Does anyone know why Princess Cruises charge UK residents so much more than USA residents for the same cruise. For example I looked on the Princess USA website at a Mediterranean cruise for 22 days this October 2022 and the cost came out at equivalent to £7500 for 2 people in a mini suite but for the same cruise and same stateroom on the Princess UK website the cost was £12500, that's +£5000 difference. I double checked that all options were the same and they were. It just doesn't seem fair. Why?

[@michaelvoisey8458]

Unspent OBC? That is an unknown concept in my experience

[@bethhill6546]

Cruisewatch - alerts have saved me almost $700 and a cabin upgrade on my upcoming sailing. I posted this reminder to others and (for the people who have reported back) - almost $5000 in returned fare or OBC.

[@tipsfortravellers]

Awesome to hear !!!!

[@Bahamut_Mega]

So I've wrote reviews on Cruise Critic but don't know how to find the roll call or meet and great for my next Cruise. Any help would be wonderful 😊

[@tipsfortravellers]

If you look at the menu on CruiseCritic and go to `"Boards" a smaller sub menu appears where it includes Roll Call

[@rpervinking]

You suggest independent shore excursions but not the risk of returning late, as you have elsewhere. So I checked the Shore Excursions Group that you mentioned and saw their guaranteed return to ship. You've never talked about such a feature, let alone details of how well such guarantees work out. Please do.

[@tipsfortravellers]

Great watch out. I usually talk about the guarantee and the risks, but need to make sure always do so people don't find out the hard way. Thanks for that reminder!

[@kahuna1999]

Cruisewatch doesn’t work for me. They only list select cruises, and the ones I’ve booked don’t appear. Plus, when I put in my email for a notification, they say “email already taken.” Huh?

[@tipsfortravellers]

try Cruise critic as they cover lines not on Cruise Watch, and also CruiseMates app. here is an article that may help with setting up Cruise Critic: www.tipsfortravellers.com/cruise-fare-tracking/

[@briannickerson6858]

In our early days cruising, we used a local travel agent that we knew outside his profession. We booked a cruise with a specific stateroom. Sometime later, we got notice either from him or the cruise line that we had been given an upgrade. We immediately called our agent who thought he had done us a favor by accepting the upgrade for us. First, we told him never to do this without confirmation from us. Second, we asked him what upgrade was and stateroom number. We found that while the new stateroom was a category above the one we initially selected, it was in a location on the ship that we considered inferior, based in our preferences. We told him to immediately get our previous stateroom back. He said he wasn’t sure he could. Even though somewhat of a friend, we told him that we would have to reconsider if he couldn’t. He did get our selected stateroom back.

[@chuckvee6408]

Generally, we book through a travel agent and they recommend to book at refundable rates, especially in the era of COVID. Aren't cruise rates booked online with the cruise line for non-refundable rates?

[@tipsfortravellers]

Checking is key as you say. It varies by country so making sure they are our what needs to be done is the best way to go

[@Love2Cruise]

Viking dropped the fares on our last cruise by $500 per person, a month before embarkation. I called and emailed, and they wouldn't budge. I even said I don't want refunds, just some OBCs or a cabin upgrade would be nice. Nope. Viking's onboard service was great. Their shoreside service when it comes to taking care of fare reductions isn't even as good as RCI and Princess.

[@skqq3250]

Didn’t get our money back on rccl Harmony. Saw it cheaper closer to embarkation. called travel agent and they didn’t budge.

[@lauravalentine9488]

I've never had a cruise company reduce the fare after final payment due date. Those super low fares close to sailing are to fill empty cabins. Where I have had luck is to get a better cabin. For example I had booked an interior, after final payment due date, a balcony was now the same price I had paid for an interior. I called the cruise line and they were willing to change me to a balcony. However, they also offered me an upsell for only $450 pp to a suite.

[@Love2Cruise]

@@lauravalentine9488 I've gotten cabin upgrades after final payment and fare reductions before sailing from RCI, Celebrity and Princess. Viking is positioned as a "premium" cruise line, and yet their shoreside customer service wouldn't even do something mass-market lines do on daily basis.

[@lauravalentine9488]

@@Love2Cruise it never hurts to ask, and you've been lucky. Usually those lower fares have a disclaimer that it's for new bookings only.

[@johnkean6852]

That's a bore: we're told not to wait last minute but to book early. I have to book early to get our visas in time. Miffed.

[@danielintheantipodes6741]

I wonder if you status as a regular cruiser helps to get you the cabin upgrades? I suppose it cannot hinder! Thank you for the video. Have a brilliant Sunday!

[@tipsfortravellers]

Absolutely, as with airlines status does help. I have a video on getting upgrades that I will update with latest soon

[@santajoerndt6496]

What's the sight you go to check on cheeper cruises

[@tipsfortravellers]

The links are in the description of the video and so you will find a few there

[@nitab1971]

Quick note: Hotel Director=General Manager on some lines. He/She is always there, sometimes quite discreetly, but there and available if needed. Many do not understand who runs a cruise ship: The Captain runs the ship mechanically, etc. Of, equal stature is the General Manager/Hotel Director. This person is over EVERYTHING else. My experience is that the GM and staff are absolutely delightful, and whose goal is to make sure your cruise is fabulous.

[@francisbtube]

When did it change from “Cruise Director “ like Julie Tewes on the Love Boat to “Hotel Director”?

[@nitab1971]

@@francisbtube Never. There was no Hotel Director on the Love Boat! Captain Stubing handled everything with Gopher's help. But, in real life, the Cruise Director is in charge of onboard activities and reports up to the Hotel Director.

[@francisbtube]

@@nitab1971 Thanks for the reply and insight. I was thinking about the character Julie, (Lauren Tewes?) and realised as you said, she was the Cruise Director. What was Gopher's Job Title/role again, apart from being the ship's "Gopher" Lol?

[@lindaridd4393]

Dear Gary, I took your recommendation and saw from an P and O email that my cruise had come down, this was in an advert of some cruises they were pushing, I contacted my cruise agent and asked if I could rebook, to my surprize they did and I saved myself £400, yipee!! The prices for single travellers are outrageous, paying double and sometimes more than double, I have no idea how they get away with this, it is blatant discrimination, thank you Gary for your wonderful tips, I am waiting for my cruise on P and O Aurora, my favourite ship on 5 August, take care

[@tipsfortravellers]

Fantastic news !!!!! Thanks for letting me know

[@dplanetta]

Is there an advantage to booking your next cruise while on a cruise at the customer service desk?

[@tipsfortravellers]

There is always extra discounts or extra on-board credit so yes. You can have the booking allocated to your regular travel agent too, so they can manage it and they earn commission so you both benefit

[@caroll5459]

Princess would not credit or refund $900.00 of my Alaska cruise when I discovered price change 8 days after making final payment. Same answer when I wanted to change my last leg on the return flight which was booked with Princess ez flight. Not willing to help in any way. My cruise is May 31st-June 7th, 2023. Any ideas house to get some kind of credit….even land excursion or credit of some kind. Thanks, Carol

[@deniselanglois6193]

What do u suggest for solo travelers

[@102810281028nl]

Great tips

[@tipsfortravellers]

Glad it was helpful!

[@jeffreyclinard2002]

I can't recommend Shore Excursions. Several years ago I booked with them for several ports well in advance of my cruise. A few months before the cruise, they canceled one of my excursions, and shortly before the cruise they canceled the rest of them. The only thing they did was hold my money for several months and leave me scrambling to find alternatives with little notice. I feel they are in the business of collecting money and making money on the interest rather than being a bone-fide provider of excursions.

[@traceymarshall5886]

Thanks for the tips. I joined Cruise Critic but unfortunately the other people on the cruise roll call have been really rude to me. Claiming I am not on the cruise, claiming i am a scammer as i just joined a couple of days out of the blue before the cruise. Is this normal behaviour? It seems very odd way to treat people who are going to be on the same cruise? I'm worried now about going due to the rude comments left by these people

[@deborahworpell9516]

how do you do a dummy booking? Dont you have to put in birthdate, social sec. etc?

[@mathonamoore123]

Greetings from Ireland 9th of April 2022. X

[@tipsfortravellers]

Greetings !!!

[@RetiredSignDude]

NEVER take an auto upgreade. My last one I got positioned right above the smoking section.

[@tipsfortravellers]

Agree!!!

[@Themvaldes2]

How did you get moved from vista to veranda on silver cloud?

[@Hawkeye2001]

I've saved well over $2,000 on a 16 day UK / Norway cruise since my original booking. You do have to watch, and ask.

[@raymullen3583]

Your ''' VERY RIGHT '' about an Up-grade sight unseen..... Years ago We took one on HOLLAN AMERICAN and the Cabin was larger and very nice , But go out on the Baloncy and We look DIRECTLY into a Life Boat ......Never again......

[@simon54]

I've watched several of your videos but not all, so maybe you addressed this already: how much do you notice the other passengers? I would like to try cruising as a holiday but being cooped up with thousands of strangers would be my idea of hell. Are they intrusive? Can you get away from other passengers if you want to? Are the buffets a competition to get something to eat? What do you have to book to get room service? How are you received , as a gay man, by the crew?

[@ExestentialCrisis]

As an introvert, every time Gary mentions meeting people on the cruise my stomach turns in anxiety. I have no desire to "mingle". So with that said, let me tell you that you can easily be away from everyone else if you want to. Of course that means I don't go to dinner at peak times. And I move the deck chairs to wherever I want to sit, not where the line puts them. Balcony cabin so I literally don't have to leave the room at all. Room service is super easy. I get breakfast every morning in my cabin. Just fill out the little card with what you want and what time you want it. Buffets aren't difficult if you just go a little off peak dining time. 30-45 minutes later can make a world of difference. By eating at buffet, and not main dining room, you can choose your own spot to sit, and make it as far away from others as possible. Also, the library on a ship is usually deserted so it's a great place to be alone. Can't speak to the gay man experience. But believe me, the whole "stuck with people in a tin can" is far from the truth.

[@simon54]

@@ExestentialCrisis thank you, that is good to know. Another question I have is what you do all day? Eating and shopping aren't going to fill the whole time. Once you know your way around it seems theres only activities involving lots of people; swimming, talks, courses etc..

[@ExestentialCrisis]

@@simon54 I hate shopping. Never do that. On Holland America they have a fantastic array of movies to watch. I know that sounds boring, but I never get to see them when not on vacation. LOL. I can sit and read all day, so I do that a lot. My husband and I bring a deck of cards and play games together. I find most of the "talks" are pretty much sales gimmicks couched in a pretend education forum. A *few* are actually educational. Maybe an hour in the casino. Just walking around and exploring the ship is fun. Holland America has fabulous art collections onboard, so every floor of every elevator is different. The pool can be busy but that depends on the line. Carnival cruises are geared towards younger crowds and families. They have dance parties, loud music, etc around the pool. Holland America is aimed more towards the older generation so honestly I've never seen more than 3 people in the pool at once. But take that with a grain of salt because I usually cruise during January/February, when 70 degrees feels great compared to the -10 at home, but it still isn't so warm that a dip in the pool is refreshing. There are usually trivia and/or games going on throughout the day. I take a seat in the back, away from people, and enjoy from afar. HA has a daily crossword and Soduku available as well. I've brought small 300 piece puzzles with me. They fit nicely on just about any table and when I'm done I either give it to someone else who may have seemed interested or leave it in the library for another cruiser. Same with my books - I usually leave them behind as well. On my last cruise we sailed into and out of a storm. I sat on the balcony just watching the sea, sky and clouds. Didn't even realize it had been 3 hours. Ship time is so different than real life time. :) Also, it depends on your itinerary. If your island hopping in the Caribbean or around the Mediterranean, you can go into port every day and then only have to fill your nights. But some itineraries are heavy on sea days where you'll need to be content with what's onboard. If you're concerned about being "bored" onboard then an itinerary that is heavy on ports is probably better for you. I prefer every other day, myself. A 7 day cruise with 3 or 4 ports is perfect. I would love to do a transatlantic that has 5 to 7 straight sea days, just for the experience. Again, hope that helps a little.

[@simon54]

@@ExestentialCrisis that is very helpful advice, thanks. Books are the best pass time for me.

[@ExestentialCrisis]

@@simon54 The Rotterdam has an excellent library. I could spend my whole week there! Not all ships have one, so if you don't want to bring your own stash, definitely want to check that out before booking. I will say that I thought the shops onboard would be an option for purchasing books, but it really isn't. And going to Caribbean Islands, finding a bookstore while on land was nearly impossible as well. I asked everywhere. I am not a fan of reading on a tablet/electronic device, so it's either ship library or hauling my own.

[@kathryngoodson4464]

Does anyone have experience booking with one of the alternate shore excursions site when the cruise itinerary changes during the trip? Our captain reversed our ports due to weather

[@Snoopy-qe7kt]

You always point upwards to another video that you are referencing at the end of your videos. But there’s nothing there! How do we find the video you’re talking about?

[@johnkean6852]

NCL - They're difficult. I paid a deposit direct to their HQ in the Bahamas by bank transfer (l'd lost my card.) I added way and above the dollar amount (HQ only accept US dollar) from Euro as l realised their exchange rate may be lower than Google. ( Note my bank were charging £25 for each transfer and forex! ) They said l had not paid the full amount which was _rediculous_ as l paid an excessive amount to cover it, so l cancelled. They refused to return my money because: "deposits are unrefundable" BUT it wasn't accepted as a _deposit_ so should've been returned, on principle anyway! 😡 Think of the thousands of people that do this every day - that Bahama HQ must be raking in cash.

[@MiaHessMusic]

Thank you, Gary!! Do you think these tips would benefit me on a cheaper crusie line like Carnival? There's a family trip coming up and I've sailed carnival twice before and have been underwhelmed. Your channel is great, by the way!

[@cind2548]

Why is Royal Caribbean not going to grand bahama island?

[@tipsfortravellers]

I doing know ! I will see if can find out more

[@cind2548]

@@tipsfortravellers Thank you.