15 Cruise Port Dangers & Safety Tips 2025

[@brucelawson3226]

If you're traveling with a spouse, do not both carry the same credit card. If one is lost or stolen, you will still have the other credit card to use. And keep the emergency phone numbers of the credit card issuers with you so you can cancel the missing card immediately.

[@bruceeigsti5274]

I just go online and cx if needed I carry 2 cards abd my wife does to

[@jfminton54]

My husband and I do this. Good tip.

[@AmyThrush]

Great tip

[@TOhara-eb2lp]

If you’re a woman, never go anywhere without your spouse/friend.

[@frankcutronijr]

@@brucelawson3226 i think it very good to have 2 or 3 credit cards for a trip from different issuers. I was in Europe and had problems using the card. It was constantly flagged for fraud.

[@kingsgaurd]

Congratulations! I just watched a KZbin video on the Sail Away Magazine channel. The were interviewing Gary Bembridge. They said his KZbin Channel and yours "Live Well Cruised" were the two best KZbin channels for cruising.

[@LifeWellCruised]

@@kingsgaurd that was super nice of them! I haven’t seen that episode yet but they’ve got great interviews

[@arosenweig]

Use the buddy system when visiting ports of call regardless of the region. Try to take a ship sponsored shore excursion whenever possible.

[@ryanb4688]

When I went to Nassau couple years ago, I walked by and the only person that bothered me was a “Cuban cigar“ seller, I just said no, and kept walking coming back a little bit later I saw him harassing other people. I decided to go Get lunch at one of the restaurants and I saw him again as I was walking back later there was a lady I had seen on ship and he was getting a little more aggressive with her than he had been with me and she looked petrified, I just walked up and said, “there you are sweetheart, are you ready to go back on the ship?“ She grabbed my hand and after about 10 feet she looked at me and said I could just kiss you right now. I was scared 💩less!

[@LifeWellCruised]

@@ryanb4688 good call

[@bernadine4236]

Yes! We have to look out for each other. Thanks for being awesome!

[@Cruise-hair-why-care]

Set a timer for the amount of time you want to spend off the ship. No worries about time changes. Take a photo of the barcode in the back of your passport. Keep that on your phone and email it to yourself. It holds all the important passport info. We use Allianz annual trip insurance. Thanks for all your wonderful cruise information! Safe travels

[@sarahdixon4735]

We appreciate your Vlogs Ilana, very informative. Last September, we returned to board our RC Ship at Naples Port and we showed photocopies of our Passports. The Port Authority guy told us that we should show our original Passports only! The guy in front of us showed his Passport Photo on his Phone and was told the same thing! I raised this with RC because I do think they need to be a bit more clear with the advice they give passengers when getting off the Ship as I did ask the staff and was reassured what we had was fine and not to worry. We were allowed back on the Ship but it does make me a little anxious about what to do in 2025 going forward when taking European Cruises.

[@AristLiakos]

True story. Years ago we visited Cozumel and a group of us rented a passenger van to get around the island but one young couple from our group thought it would be a good idea to rent a moped. They soon found out why the mopeds have two cargo baskets on them. The baskets are there for picking up the parts of the moped that fall off the moped when you’re on the bumpy roads around the island. We had to stop a lot to wait for them to catch up with our van🤣

[@robine6337]

I know of 2 different people killed on rented mopeds in Cozumel. No thanks to motorized anything!

[@LifeWellCruised]

@@AristLiakos uh oh 😳

[@LifeWellCruised]

@@robine6337 sad 😔

[@charlenebrush7175]

I’ve always kept photos of my important documents on my phone in case I lose them, but this time per your advice I’ve just emailed them to myself! Great idea 💡

[@betty3402]

I agree with you about leaving your passport in your safe. Taking a photo of it and emailing it is essential in case of emergency. Should something happen while you are onshore and ship is going to depart, you can notify the port authority number you are give on your port information sheet, they will contact the ship. The ship will send a couple of officers to your cabin, open your safe and deliver its contents to the port authority so you can have your passport to fly home or to the next port of call. The port authority will assist you.

[@monicajohnson6183]

See, we’ve lived by that every other time we’ve gone to Mexico but the cruise we just got back from you needed your passport to get on and off the ship

[@jerseycatmews828]

Keep it simple and being your passport with you unless your prone to losing things. I’ leave copies of passport on my phone, in safe, and w/someone at home as backup

[@famousamos1]

What happens if the ship departs port and you’re stuck in a different country? Photo copy or a picture on your phone is no good to fly back home right?

[@Studentspeaksout]

@@famousamos1 It will help expedite any resolution of your stolen passport available wherever you are.

[@tduck828]

Where in mexico?? You don't even need a passport on closed loop sailings to visit Mexico on most lines. Even ports that require passports I've never had to take it on and off ship.

[@lisasmith5291]

I was on a cruise with my teen-aged son years ago and we ended up on an excursion with a group of married couples and their children that we were assigned to the same table in the main dining room. We ended up on many excursions together and so they looked out for us (I'm a widow and not having a "husband" makes you feel a little more uncomfortable). We had a blast and made some new friends. It was a highlight of the cruise and we felt safer with several men in our group.

[@kene8895]

Yes Ilana, this video was extremely helpful. It's nice to hear cruising things that need to be considered but maybe not thought about very seriously. Great video! Thanks so much...... 🚢

[@jim_condit]

As for credit card usage; when available we like to use "tap-and-pay" for some vendors and cafes. It avoids skimmers and those which might try to double charge (swipe) your card. Also, the CC machines that can take tap-and-pay can also use the app on your phone so you might not even need to use your plastic CC. Small vendors love your cash. I have never had a problem using $USD paper in South America and Caribbean ports. In Europe, I have ever had a problem using a CC or tap-and-pay. When asked, we always select to pay in local currency to avoid exchange issues.

[@BeefromSC]

I take a credit card and cash when going in Ports. I only use credit card if we enter a large store and use cash for smaller vendors….. thanks for sharing these 15 tips!!!!

[@amyemm1012]

Just returned from Antigua (St John was the port city) and as we were walking to the beach a voice told us from a crack in a dark doorway that the walk was 31 mins. I thought, how kind....! Except we met travelers coming toward us that says two tourists had just been robbed up ahead. We all turned around and got directly back on board. Take ship sponsored excursions - it's worth the extra money for peace of mind and safety. San Juan and st. Thomas are both super safe, and are the exception. Also never bring your passport on land. A licence is good enough to get back on board.

[@jennifergieszl7139]

I put all the cruise line contact info for my cruise on my phone in contacts. I have had to use those numbers on 2 different and this made everything much easier.

[@DonnavanBrugge]

Regarding the moped rentals…..when I had a knee replaced several years ago (arthritis) my surgeon told me to never rent a moped in Bermuda. He said the richest person on the island was the orthopaedic surgeon from broken bones from moped crashes! 😩😬 We had just come back from a Bermuda cruise and did not rent one, thankfully. 😀

[@LifeWellCruised]

@@DonnavanBrugge wow!!

[@FrCharlesButler]

Always love your advice, Ilana. We usually do our own excursions, as we find it easier, especially with my wife's mobility issues not being herded around like so many excursions. We enjoyed our excursion to Mayan ruins with the cruise group, as we had several transfers and didn't want to try that on our own. Our best individual excursion to date was when we hired a jeep and driver to take us around the island. It was four hours and about $70 per person. I wouldn't recommend that to new cruisers as it's too easy to get ripped off.

[@kingsgaurd]

I have used the water proof waste pouch on a beach excursion in Aruba. It worked perfectly.

[@sherryc801]

Do you have a link please?

[@francesgill8621]

I appreciate your remarks about avoiding risky behavior. At Peggy's Cove I saw a lot of tourists walking on the slippery rocks. In fact, one man from our bus fell and ended up going to the hospital

[@LifeWellCruised]

Wow, that’s a good one you mentioned. Thanks for sharing

[@romeoserback]

Here's a few tips. Do not ever give your passport when renting out mopeds. They will leverage this against you in saying that there is a scratch/dent and you owe them a lot of money. If you don't, you don't get your passport back. For ship/local time, I recommend setting a timer so that when it goes off, you know it's time to get back. Example: You ask the crew how many hours until you leave. They say 8 hours. You set a timer for 7 hours to give yourself a 60 minute cushion. That's what I do.

[@junedunne]

I love that color on you! I seem to remember one port where they asked for our passports in the Caribbean. My son ran all the way back to our cabin to get mine! 😊

[@kimthomas3399]

If we are doing a beach excursion, I carry a Kyss bag. It is a large tote bag that has a chain that wraps around the charge and locks the zipper.

[@sunseekermama]

You always have great advice Ilana! Have a wonderful cruise!

[@jfminton54]

Another great video. Good information and tips for everyone..even those cruisers who have cruised a lot and may have become a little relaxed once they get off ship. Well done!! Traveling in Europe this past April, we did have several ports that required a passport to get back on. The rest of the time my DL sufficed. Our cruise line (HAL) let passengers know if a passport was required versus a DL.

[@robertwoodland2387]

Common sense goes along ways !!!!

[@evelyngrammar]

Check the country when it comes to passports. For example, Japan expects one to carry their passport when visiting that country.

[@JulieBeyerRDN]

We use both Allianz and GeoBlue. One comes with more trip protection; one has elevated medical. They are both annual plans.

[@robine6337]

Which has more medical?

[@helenorgarycrevonis2022]

Waste of money, not to mention that Allianz is very expensive. Not to share with others or be proud of - shear stupidity on your part.

[@LaceyJaneOnX]

@@helenorgarycrevonis2022wow. Simmer down now and allow the adults to have a conversation please. I have had to cancel my wedding/honeymoon to my mom having a life-changing accident 5 days before. You know what saved everyone a lot of money? Travel insurance. Or the time I woke up with strep throat the morning after my wedding and had to go to the infirmary! I needed antibiotics and didn’t have to leave the resort because, bingo, travel insurance. My other FAVORITE pro-travel insurance story? That would have to be Hurricane Ian, which “forced” my husband and I to stay in Jamaica a whole 3 more days because there were no flights to the entire eastern half of the USA. But yeah, I’m sure you have a GREAT and exciting story to share about travel insurance!!!!! 😑😑😑😑. So please, whomever was rudely interrupted- please feel free to share your information as I would love to look into them for future trips! 💕 Thanks!

[@JulieBeyerRDN]

@ well you don’t know our health problems so. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@JulieBeyerRDN]

@@robine6337 GeoBlue has more in the way of medical concierge. Prescription replacements, help translating, finding the expert providers should you need surgery, and paying on the spot vs. you paying then having to wait for reimbursement. We don’t have to carry the largest Allianz policy because we have this. We have been pleased with our decision since we travel a lot but also have serious medical conditions.

[@JoeSixpack258]

Thanks for the answering the Passport question for me. Always wondered about that one!

[@Nancy-w6f]

When returning from a ship sponsored shore excursion in Belize, a couple people asked the guide where they could have a good/local meal. The guide had the driver drop them off at the location. When we told our room attendant about it, he was horrified. He said he was from Belize and would never go into that area - it just wasn’t safe.

[@jerilynnolson6676]

Thanks for all of the great tips you share. I have been following you long enough that I've heard most of the really helpful things but it is always good to keep hearing it. Maybe we will bump into your family on a future cruise some time!

[@deborahsmith9239]

Staying on busy, main streets is excellent advice. Once when we were in St. Thomas we decided to look in stores one block off of Bay St. We continued walking past the shopping district because the street was shaded and much cooler. An elderly woman was walking towards us and stopped right in front of us. She asked if we were from the ship. When we told her we were, she told us to go over to Bay St. to continue walking as this street was not safe. We looked over her shoulder and a group of young men were standing at the next corner. We understood what she meant and turned immediately down a side street to get to Bay St. it is important to stay focused even on vacation. If the tourist crowd starts to disappear, it’s time to turn around.

[@lizbush1662]

We use Allianze Travel Insurance for our Cruises.

[@lynneshrode2927]

Another reason for taking cash off of the cruise ship is for tipping your tour guide

[@helenorgarycrevonis2022]

Thank you! Very informative, I agree with all your points.

[@johnhiggins9838]

Deerfield Beach, lived there for 20 years. was a nice area. Had to stop for fuel on our last cruise from Miami, surely has changed. Will stop for fuel for our next HAL cruise from Ft Lauderdale. Another good video!

[@TOhara-eb2lp]

Me too. She looks like she’s on the other side of Jog or Powerline Road.

[@patsigurdson2351]

I have copies of our passports, driver's Licenses and some other important information on a USB and I carry that with me and put it in the safe once we board the ship. Also I always carry my purse crossbody and in front on me usually my hand is on it. I walk with a cane ; my cane is collapsible folds up nicely for carrying. I have a bag that I can put it in and I carry it on my shoulder. Thank you for tips in regards to the jewelry.

[@4daloveofcruising]

Nassau is a NO-GO for us. Been there a few times. The harassment you have to deal with is insane.

[@albertoarce4047]

Great advise, thank you for the information.

[@Roxana-h3f]

When traveling off the ship I’ve always carried my passport ID card as well as the ship card and a credit card. You are very right about Europe, every excursion on my Mediterranean cruise, the tour guide always would warn everyone that there are sticky fingers everywhere. In the Caribbean, especially Spanish speaking countries, try to know the language and you get good deals. You always need to be in alert as if you were in NYC! Hide your purses, carry small bills! Don’t look like a tourist!

[@sheilaklee3982]

Travelon makes cut proof bags for travel

[@gerardacronin334]

I’ve had one of these for years. It’s very secure.

[@LindaTuck-yq3wx]

Have traveled solo for the last 20 years. I bought my first Travelon purse and have bought 4 or 5 different styles since then. I really liked the feature that you could unlock the strap and attach it to the chair you sat in in an airport. I actually use them as my daily purse 95% of the time.

[@gerardacronin334]

Great tips, Ilana! One thing you didn’t mention is having a prepaid credit card like Wise or Revolut. If it gets stolen or scammed, the maximum loss is the amount you have prepaid.

[@USAPatriotUSA]

I swam with sharks while staying at Anthony Key’s resort on Roatan and had a great dive!

[@larryfinkel4102]

I always take a printed copy of my passport besides having it on my phone

[@jenniferdean8302]

I do the same thing, and my state ID as a secondary form of ID.

[@PrepperPotpourriEscapes]

I agree about avoiding ziplines. I know someone who was injured and spent a long time in a questionable hospital due to an injury. There are plenty of ziplines in your home country.

[@robertwoodland2387]

Anything can happen at any time!!!

[@marlashaw595]

Awesome and helpful!

[@karenb2782]

Excellent tips!

[@stevebartley628]

In talking about water you showed Rome. Rome’s water is potable with hundreds of free water fountains ( called nasoni because some look like a nose )

[@BarryCopp]

Really good advice

[@brettparnell8254]

I hold an advanced open water scuba certification and I would agree with you. If anyone is offering a very short dive lesson just to meet the times of the ship it's totally unsafe. I dive on almost every cruise (I'll be diving in Tortola in a few weeks when I'm on NCL Viva), but if you want to learn to dive either do it on a land trip to the Caribbean/Asia/Australia/Egypt or via a licensed dive centre where ever you come from.

[@clarkjeschke3344]

Travel Guard has been a good insurance option

[@donnahampton3632]

I printed a copy of my passport and put it in my waterproof hip bag for when I leave the ship. I keep the original in the cabin safe.

[@bethsilcox727]

I agree $75 to $100. I have sometimes carried up to $150. I also agree to use a credit card. Just don’t forget to let you credit card company know you’ll be traveling so they will know you are out of the country.

[@denisepatrizio3604]

The ship will let you know if you need your passport on land. We had a couple ports overseas that needed them on land

[@thebrentrobinsonshow2882]

You give the best cruise tips on KZbin. Thanks

[@tatsukoclark66]

For travel insurance we use Squaremouth to compare different policies, so each vacation may have a different provider depending on who was offering what we needed.

[@DoloresPerricone]

Very concerned with carrying the Princess medallion in ports. I make sure every credit card and even my passport, is in an RFID protection cover. I not only looked up the risks associated with having all my information on the Medallion. The Google response was that the Medallion is vulnerable to the RFID scanners! Went further to an MIS professional who independently confirmed that my information can be scanned from a Medallion on my personal or in a purse. He suggested that I since I have to carry it off ship in order to reboard that I get an appropriate sized RFID cover and keep it protected.

[@madchatteress]

This is helpful info as I'm getting ready to do my first Princess Cruise. Ugh ... I am nervous about their Medallion thingy ... I prefer the regular ship cards. Now I have a new thing to worry about if that Medallion will cause my info to be vulnerable.

[@DoloresPerricone]

@madchatteress you can get a standard card at Guest Services and turn in your Medallion. As a female solo traveler I also had them remove my name from the door panel. Did not need others to be aware that a single solo was residing in the cabin. Princess may think it is the next best thing to sliced bread I found it invasive. I am perfectly OK with having to hold card to door to open it....very creepy, IMO, to hear the door unlatch 10 or more feet before I arrived and the delay in locking until I was far enough from the door to disengage the Medallion

[@rdenham4250]

Remember to pay the extra $ to the cruise line to get detailed medical records IF you get any treatment at the medical center. If you don't, your travel insurer or other type of health insurer may refuse to reimburse you if all you submit is the summary and the bill.

[@indianasunshine833]

Those were very valid points. The one that opened my eyes were taking a pic of the passport and emailing it to yourself. Traveling with others is always the way to go. I personally won’t put anything I would miss in a larger bag. I would wear a small safety bag under my clothing. Or put it in my bra.

[@skeletor9121]

I take a picture on my phone 3:10 of the info getting in touch in case of an emergency of the cruise ship planner prior to disembarking.

[@bernadine4236]

I also put my meds in the safe as well. I would never want someone to mess with it in anyway.

[@Edera7795]

I always ask the officer on the deck what is ship time when we leave. Then I can adjust accordingly. I also wear a cheap watch I can change the time and stay on Ship time. MEN Buy a wallet with a chain that attached to a belt loop. I have Motorcycle friends who swear by them. If you are traveling alone and find yourself being followed or targeted. Look for ANY ship officer, there are many on shore. Even if it is with a different cruise line, they will usually help you, OR walk into a store like Diamonds International, mention to a salesman your problem. They want to keep their reputation with the cruise lines and can find you someone to escort you back to the ship.

[@EdwardDevin]

Thank you for your tips and presentation.

[@Ddrews-nf4gq]

Best Zipline experience i've ever had was at Dragons Breath Zipline over the Caribbean sea in Labadee Haiti. I use most of these tips also especially when it comes to not wearing any jewelry in port. I mostly use good common sense and haven't had any issues in ports of call.

[@matthewdenham7398]

Some things to think about for my next cruise

[@barbaralazier8352]

In addition to mopeds beware renting seados. A friend’s nephew lost his leg in Florida riding on one. He had never used one before and was tossed off on a tight turn

[@retiredinnameonly8429]

When I cruise I always check the destinations when I get ready to book because it is pointless to go places where I will refuse to leave the ship. If I want just being on the water, transatlantic will do just as well. I also don’t return to locations or excursions that require me to face a gauntlet of determined those’ll locals.. some get really pushy and surround you. TheBufadoro in Ensenada and area around the port in Ochoa rios come to mind.

[@MamaShup]

Thank you ❤

[@debbiehazeltine7674]

We use travelguard

[@laurenschenck5355]

Thank you llana love ur advice ❤️🩷🩷🩷❤️🌹🌹🛳️🩷❤️🛳️🌹

[@annpaq8342]

TRUE STORY: we were on the Sapphire Princess last October on a Carabbean cruise and we booked that particular cruise because Martinique was a port of call and we wanted badly to go there. But the night before, the captain said that, due to civil disputes in Martinique, we would not stop there. So, instead, we visited Ste-Lucia.

[@TOhara-eb2lp]

Been there. The whole place is a big, dangerous, shanty town once you move away from the hotel/pier.

[@markbrockelman316]

In Bermuda, we had to show our passports to get back on the ship.

[@Studentspeaksout]

Well, that means I will not be going to Bermuda by cruise ship!!!!

[@retiredinnameonly8429]

US has the option of a passport card as well as the book. You can’t fly with just this though. I got both card and book when renewing so that way I am covered. I take the card off ship.

[@K.KILLORAN]

You can fly domestically with it tho if you don’t have the update DL

[@tatlowtimes]

Make sure your medical ID screen is updated on your phone. I add my traveling companions, ship number, next place I plan to be etc. Medical and emergency staff will almost always check this first if something goes wrong as it has your meds and allergies too. I also keep a photocopy of all my stuff (passports, credit cards, travel insurance etc) and leave it with a friend at home who is also my emergency contact. That way she has access to everything she will need if I’m not able to help. 😊

[@lynnmccurdythehdmmrc2561]

Our last cruise, Miami, thru Panama to Los Angelese. Announced we would Not be Stopping in Nicaragua due to a notice from the State Dept. We use (Copied) Allianz Global Assistance (Allianz Assistance USA) and a backup "MASA" Medical Transport Solutions.

[@abv5488]

Allianz for travel insurance is good to use.

[@SaraMc-ez2mv]

I have only been on two cruises…one in the Caribbean and one around Iceland. We required our passports to reboard the ship on both cruises

[@QueenKayKay47]

I travel solo solo, I just use common sense and my God given discernment for the most part.

[@mruggier0]

I suggest Allianz for travel insurance. You can buy for one trip or an entire year. they have plans. Don't ever leave home without it! The basic insurance is just that basic! read it throughly!

[@heideleskun1163]

I'm cautious in cruise ports but more so in any U.S. city.You should NEVER not be aware of your surroundings.

[@lightwarrior432]

More so, really???

[@heideleskun1163]

@@lightwarrior432 Um, yes. How is that even close to surprising. Get out much?

[@robbroere1384]

@@lightwarrior432I think if the US government would do travel advice as well within the US, which they do not, some cities and ports would be high up for dangers and Scams as well. Just because it is US does not mean it is safer than abroad. Gun violence in US exceeds many countries across the globe.

[@Draylis64]

When I was in Rome a couple of weeks ago, our tour guide said all the fountains and these little water pipes constantly flowing water were safe to drink. I did not test that theory, I always took the Bottles Viking gave us when we left the ship, but I saw plenty of other people drinking from or filling bottles from them.

[@harlanabraham7772]

Howdy Ilana, am subscribed and hit the like button. Never wear jewelry much less take them with me. Always check for government advisories. Go on tours sponsored by cruise line. Other tour companies have bad reputations. Don't like swimming with sharks. You could be their next meal. Always have left Passport in safe. Always stay on ship time. Like to be near cruise ship one hour or more before sailing. Some ports of call I wouldn't get off the ship.

[@dorothywilken0306]

Falmouth was scary AF when we went last year February. The dock that NCL used was awful. We got off the ship, walked to the end of the gangway and got bombarded by locals. We turned around and spent the day on the ship instead

[@mtnmann1775]

We stopped there a few years ago. To this day it is probably the port where I felt the least safe. Stay on the ship or in the secured area, or do a ship sponsored tour ( And we never do those).

[@davidandrew1078]

As they said in Apocalypse Now, "Never get off the boat". If it has a level 4 warning your insurance your insurance probably won't cover you. If you need a bus over one hour to get to the city such as Rome, it is too risky if you miss the bus. Taxis are expensive to get back.

[@kerrychabot]

Not me over here having booked to swim with sharks and rays in Cozumel 😅 It’s on my bucket list, so wish me luck!

[@mylynn545]

I swam with the stingrays in Grand Cayman on my last cruise. Loved it and doing it again on my next cruise in September.

[@kerrychabot]

@ that’s where we’re doing it too! It’s wonderful to know that it was so good that it’s worth doing twice!!

[@Wrexxxx]

Beware, I visited the excursion company site she spoke of. It shows the prices to be reasonable. Then you go to book and surprisingly it’s (in some instances) an extra $100 PER PERSON Gotta love those greedy companies that LOVE fleecing their customers.

[@JackieLazzaro]

I've used Shore Excursions Group a number of times in the past. They have always been great. I currently have 3 excursions booked with them now for an upcoming cruise.

[@Wrexxxx]

@ I’m not arguing that they’re not legit or great, but it’s a bit deceptive to try to lure someone with a average price and then try to charge you double by the time you checkout.

[@kenyattaclay7666]

Having grown up in Chicago then traveling throughout other parts of the world I’ve found that a few simple things can keep you safe. First, if you bring cash keep it separate from your wallet and when I say separate, I mean completely separate as in at minimum different pockets. For men, keep your wallet in your front pocket or if you put it in your backpack make sure it’s a compartment that is not exposed. Second, if you have one of those magnetic wallets you attach to the back of your phone, take it off and put it away. At minimum if you happen to lose your phone you still have your wallet. However at worse people will snatch your phone and if your wallet is attached it’s gone also. Third, along the lines of not wearing your keycard around your neck, don’t wear matching outfits. People with bad intentions already know who the tourist are but when everyone is wearing the same t-shirt in port it’s like a limping Buffalo to a lion. Lastly, be aware of your surroundings. Pay attention to where you are & who is around you. Take notice of landmarks and street names. This is something more along the lines that I learned in the military but in case you get lost, before you leave the pair open the compass app on your phone and face the ocean to see what direction the ship has to take to leave, or at minimum any known point. That way if you get turned around you know which direction you need to go.

[@jfminton54]

All very good tips!

[@geminiots2121]

I never leave a ship without my passport. I keep it on my person with a neck or waist bag whenever I'm in another country. I wear an undershirt so it's safely tucked in between. I do not trust printed copies as they can get damaged and i dont trust electronics because devices dont always cooperate when you want them to. Of course, do what you're comfortable with. But for me, it will be on me at all times off the ship.

[@psychman2000]

I use Allianz insurance. I buy the annual plan.

[@devinthomas5534]

If you are venturing out on your own make a plan, stick to it and have an idea of directions to the location. In St Lucia we let a taxi driver talk us out of our plans and go to a different beach. We stepped out of the taxi into a crowd of overzealous vendors that we later found out the driver was working with. They followed us all around the beach until we took shelter in a restaurant, harassing us and ruined the experience.

[@R-xb4wv]

For US travelers get a passport card. We always leave the passport on board and take the passport card with us.

[@SrSrk98]

We do not leave passports on the ship... we carry it in a separate fanny bag inside waterproof pouch inside the swimwear ( that touches my belly?back all the time) and carry other things in another bag/backpack...reason being, if for some reason we are late to the port and the ship leaves without us, we are on international grounds and we need passports and other legal travel documents to travel to US... also, we keep cash and card in separate areas on us so even if we lose something, we got something to save us... one cannot be too prepared... but we try to be cautious... shopping scams are true... like you mentioned in the video, they lure you into the stores and keep us occupied for a while... my husband is strict about it and says NO...and walks away..hehe... safety is top priority, then have fun...

[@ddc163264]

When the cruise excursion busses are held up in Mexico and yet the cruise lines STILL make those plans, of course they don't care about your safety! It's all about the money grab for them! I always set a timer at an hour before departure plus the time it took for me to get to my destination. That way if I want to go back early I'm fine, but if I stay later, I know that I've accounted for delays and travel time as well. I also paid for both the passport and the card. I leave my passport in my cabin and take my card for ID purposes and emergencies. When I was younger, to avoid being beatup, myself and other small kids were trained to be pickpockets. As adults wouldn't think twice about rugrats running around. So since then I've NEVER been pickpocketed, as I'm always on alert. Don't think that those little kids are just so sweet. They are targeting you as well.

[@joannechludzinski1805]

I was at a beach in Bermuda, and we found out that a woman who was on our cruise was killed riding moped when it was hit by a bus, and her family saw it happen.

[@sherryc801]

I don't see the link for the waterproof pouch for the beach you mentioned. May I have the link please? I have the waterproof carrier for my phone you recommended. It works awesome!! Thanks!! 💜

[@Greengoat58]

I also leave my passport in the safe. But I do take my passport card with me.

[@laurenschenck5355]

I’m very cautious in crusie ports in other countries and USA 🩷🛳️🛳️🛳️🩷❤️❤️🩷🛳️❤️🌹🌹🛳️🛳️🛳️🩷❤️🌹🩷🩷🩷🩷🛳️❤️🌹❤️🩷

[@Freaysclaw56]

A co workers husband rented scuba diving equipment in the Caribbean. The mouth piece had a bacteria that he breathed in and went to his heart causing damage to his heart. Our standards are followed by other countries.

[@FronaTressler]

Hi…great video..we are going on our own to Nachi Cocoa in Cozumel next week….seems to be monitored taxi system lined up to take people there…we chose because less crowded beach resort…your opinion on this and taxis in Cozumel? Thanks

[@annettehasten7755]

I have a request. I just finished a 12 day cruise. Every port had the same souvenirs, even at the excursion sites. There needs to be more of a variety.

[@DBR00]

I'm not a fan of cruise ports. The casino is closed during port days. 😢

[@sherholubowich9627]

We went on Panama Canal Cruise in November 2023 and the absolutely worst port we stopped at was Falmouth Jamaica. Filthy dirty, stunk to high heaven, constantly harassed by locals wanting to take us on “excursions”, go into shops/restaurants, usual scams, I have never felt so unsafe in a place before.

[@lovesweetpeas47]

Oh my gosh we’re going on a cruise in March and our last port is Falmouth Jamaica and we have an excursion there. Now I am a bit worried about going there.

[@dking1362]

@@lovesweetpeas47 An excursion through the cruise line should be safe.

[@sheilaklee3982]

Aig or John Hancock travel ins are the most inclusive