Essential Cruise Tips

While the cheapest way to go to Antarctica is on a regular cruise line and ship sailing past the Antarctic Peninsula as part of a South America itinerary, there is a huge catch making it less fulfilling as you do not get to land or do zodiac rides to get close to wildlife. For a true Antarctic experience, an expedition cruise is the way to go. However, as the cost of these cruises is prohibitive to most, I asked my friend, Martin Johnson who runs Polar Routes (a dedicated Antarctic and Arctic travel agency), to help me identify the most budget-friendly ways to get there. And in this I share how you can cruise to Antarctica for less and without breaking the bank. Links mentioned in the video Download the PDF comparing the 21 Antarctica cruise lines: https://www.tipsfortravellers.com/polar  Polar Routes: https://www.polarroutes.co.uk Polar Routes Antarctica Hosted Group Cruises: Ponant: https://www.polarroutes.co.uk/cruises/antarctica/emblematic-antarctica-14-days-by-ponant/  and HX Hurtigruten Expeditions:

After doing well over 100 cruises, I thought I knew everything about life on a cruise ship. That was until a dinner hosted by a senior crew member on my last cruise, where they revealed a surprising secret about cruise ship crew that I was totally unaware of! That got me wondering what else I, and other passengers, have no idea about cruise ship crew. Welcome aboard, I am Gary Bembridge and after much research and talking to crew off the record, I found 6 secrets kept well hidden from us passengers that I think you will find surprising and maybe even shocking. Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: https://www.patreon.com/tipsfortravellers and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams Visit my Tips For Travellers YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/tipsfortravellers   Get 10% any order of The Cruise Maps who you visit the site using this link: https://www.TheCruiseMaps.com/TFT

Cruise line glossy brochures and their enticing adverts promise a carefree and trouble-free vacation, BUT they don’t tell the whole story. There are several important things that can and do significantly impact us as passengers that the lines seem reluctant to talk about or be upfront about. Welcome aboard, I'm Gary Bembridge and join me as I unmask five unspoken things that directly affect us all, and why I believe you need to know more about them. Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: https://www.patreon.com/tipsfortravellers and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams Visit my Tips For Travellers YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/tipsfortravellers   Get 10% any order of The Cruise Maps who you visit the site using this link: https://www.TheCruiseMaps.com/TFT

I have done a Panama Canal transit four times and on every trip I see passengers making the same mistakes that get in the way of making it their adventure of a lifetime. But some of the errors are so easy to make that even an experienced cruiser like me can get tripped up – as I did on my most recent Panama Canal trip on Regent Grandeur. So, welcome aboard, I’m Gary Bembridge and hear 5 things I have learnt the hard way that you need to know about doing a Panama Canal cruise. Links mentioned:  David McCullough’s “The Path Between the Seas. The Creation of the Panama Canal” ** Buy on USA Amazon: https://amzn.to/3E3QV65  ** Buy on UK Amazon: https://amzn.to/3CdECnb  Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: https://www.patreon.com/tipsfortravellers and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams Visit my Tips For Travellers YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/tipsfortravellers   Get 10% any order of The Cruise Maps who you visit the site using this link: https://www.TheCruiseMaps.com/TFT

Days before heading off on Regent's newest ship, the Grandeur, the line launched new advertising promising that “nobody does it better”. In in they also claimed to have the “world's most luxurious fleet”, and that no cruise line beats them on destination experiences, hospitality, luxury spaces, and dining. Having been on Regent before, while I found them great, I didn’t think they beat every line, so this latest trip turned into the perfect opportunity to really test out if Regent now does do cruising better than everybody else. I am Gary Bembridge, and this is what I found. And as always to offer an unbiased review I booked and paid for this trip myself like every single cruise I go on Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: https://www.patreon.com/tipsfortravellers and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams Visit my Tips For Travellers YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/tipsfortravellers   Get 10% any order of The Cruise Maps who you visit the site using this link: https://www.TheCruiseMa

I’ve been contacted recently by way too many cruise passengers that have been caught out by new scams that have emerged since my last video about this topic, including one a good friend stumbled upon on his latest cruise – and one using me to scam cruisers like you! Here are the latest cruise scams to watch out for! Links mentioned in the video: Get 10% any of The Cruise Maps products using https://www.TheCruiseMaps.com/TFT *USA ESTA: https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta  UK ETA : https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-an-electronic-travel-authorisation-eta  Canada ETA: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/eta.html CIBT Visa: https://cibtvisas.com Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: https://www.patreon.com/tipsfortravellers and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams Visit my Tips For Travellers YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/tipsfortravellers   Get 10% any order of The Cruise Maps who you visit the site using this link: https://www.TheCruiseMaps.

I’m upset as one item I've taken on every cruise I've done to date has just been banned. But I'm not the only one devastated about new cruise line bans, as three people contacted me about a less-publicised ban making cruising more costly for them. While I saw another recent ban got one cruiser banned for life when she unwittingly broke it. I’m Gary Bembridge, and I’m here to tell you about six items cruise lines have recently banned that could change the way you cruise. Forever.   Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: https://www.patreon.com/tipsfortravellers and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams Visit my Tips For Travellers YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/tipsfortravellers   Get 10% any order of The Cruise Maps who you visit the site using this link: https://www.TheCruiseMaps.com/TFT

Every cruiser can see that cruise fares have been rising scarily fast, and cruise lines are telling Wall Street investors that they expect fares to keep rising well over inflation as demand for cruising is so high. But despite that, I have found ways of paying less than most people on every one of the 12 upcoming trips I've got booked. I'm going to show you how I, and other smart cruisers, cruise for less than others in this time of rising fares. Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: https://www.patreon.com/tipsfortravellers and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams Visit my Tips For Travellers YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/tipsfortravellers   Get 10% any order of The Cruise Maps who you visit the site using this link: https://www.TheCruiseMaps.com/TFT  

If you've got a cruise booked in 2025, or thinking of booking one, there are startling changes being made by cruise lines, governments, and the actions of some local port residents that you need to be ready to deal with. Even if you've been cruising recently and think you know how things work, these changes could catch you by surprise and throw your cruise plans off course. Here are six changes I think you need to be ready for in 2025. Links mentioned in the video: UK ETA: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-an-electronic-travel-authorisation-eta EU ETIAS: https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias_en  Videos Mentioned: Money saving: https://youtu.be/qWLw-tJbSKg  Banned Items: https://youtu.be/WCveKKbpJRw Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: https://www.patreon.com/tipsfortravellers and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams Visit my Tips For Travellers YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/tipsfortravellers   Get 10% any order of The Cruise Maps who you visit the site using this link: https:

I've recently been following several cruise-gone-wrong sagas that inspired me to make this. They include outraged passengers raging because the Captain decided to miss iconic ports that most had booked the cruise for, and a distraught family facing a medical bill of $150,000 after their father fell ill on European cruise. Like you I assume all my cruises will be perfect, but not all are. Here are the main things I’ve seen go wrong, and how to be ready for them and what to do if it happens to you. Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: https://www.patreon.com/tipsfortravellers and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams Visit my Tips For Travellers YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/tipsfortravellers   Get 10% any order of The Cruise Maps who you visit the site using this link: https://www.TheCruiseMaps.com/TFT      

Knowing that the expedition cruise I wanted to do would cost me the same as buying a new luxury car, I needed to make sure that the line I went with would deliver something special and make every dollar worth it. After much deliberating, I decided to entrust Silversea with this huge sum of money as I've been on shorter expedition cruises with them before, thought they did a good job, though I was apprehensive as the cost of getting it wrong was so enormous. On this trip, I discovered just what Silversea Expedition are doing well, and not so that well these days, as you will hear. Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: https://www.patreon.com/tipsfortravellers and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams Visit my Tips For Travellers YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/tipsfortravellers   Get 10% any order of The Cruise Maps who you visit the site using this link: https://www.TheCruiseMaps.com/TFT    

On all three Antarctic trips I've been on, I’ve seen so many passengers thrown by the same things each time. All because expedition lines are not totally transparent until passengers get on board. Then the truth comes out. It often comes as a big shock to many. So, here are the six things I see most passengers are surprised about Antarctic cruising once they get on board. Links mentioned in the video: The Cruise Maps, to get 10% off any order use this link: https://www.TheCruiseMaps.com/TFT Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: https://www.patreon.com/tipsfortravellers and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams Visit my Tips For Travellers YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/tipsfortravellers

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: https://www.patreon.com/tipsfortravellers and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams Visit my Tips For Travellers YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/tipsfortravellers

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 https://www.vacationstogo.com CruiseDeckPlans.com https://www.cruisedeckplans.com/ships/ Fare Tracking https://www.tipsfortravellers.com/faretracking CruiseWatch.com https://www.cruisewatch.com/cruise-price-alerts Cruiseline.com https://cruiseline.com/cruise/price-alerts WhatsInPort.com https://www.whatsinport.com CruiseTimeTables.com https://www.cruisetimetables.com Venture Ashorebhttps://www.tipsfortravellers.com/VentureAshore Shore Excursio

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: https://www.patreon.com/tipsfortravellers and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams Visit my Tips For Travellers YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/tipsfortravellers

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 categories the cruise industry uses: Mass Resort lines, Premium Lines, Small Ship Luxury Lines, Ultra-Luxury Lines and Local-focused Lines. Get 10% off you "The Cruise Map" of you favourite cruise at https://www.thecruisemaps.com/tft   Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: https://www.patreon.com/tipsfortravellers and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams Visit my Tips For Travellers YouTube: https://www

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: https://www.patreon.com/tipsfortravellers and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams Visit my Tips For Travellers YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/tipsfortravellers

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 HTTPS://WWW.THECRUISEMAPS.COM/TFT   Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: https://www.patreon.com/tipsfortravellers and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams Visit my Tips For Travellers YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/tipsfortravellers  

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: https://www.tipsfortravellers.com/calories Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: https://www.patreon.com/tipsfortravellers and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams Visit my Tips For Travellers YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/tipsfortravellers

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: https://www.patreon.com/tipsfortravellers and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams Visit my Tips For Travellers YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/tipsfortravellers