EX-Cruise Workers WARN Us To Never Make These 13 MISTAKES скачать в хорошем качестве

EX-Cruise Workers WARN Us To Never Make These 13 MISTAKES

EX-Cruise Workers WARN Us To Never Make These 13 MISTAKES Picture this: You're on your dream cruise when BAM—a $3,200 surprise bill hits your account. Or you're watching your ship sail away while you're stuck on the dock with your luggage. These aren't made-up horror stories—they're real disasters from passengers who made mistakes ex-cruise employees witnessed over and over during their time at sea. I've talked to former crew from Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Celebrity—people who've seen the same costly mistakes over and over. Today, I'm revealing the 13 biggest blunders these insiders warn you to never make. These aren't typical cruise tips. These are insider secrets that could save your vacation and your bank account. Some mistakes are so common that crew members actually cringe watching passengers make them. And whatever you do, don't skip mistake number 11—that one could literally leave you stranded. Lucy Southerton, a Birmingham native who worked cruise ships for nine years, says this is the number one mistake she witnessed destroy people's vacations. She's seen families board thinking everything's covered, only to get slammed with bills that made grown adults cry at guest services. Here's the brutal reality: that "all-inclusive" cruise you think you booked? It's not even close. Sure, your basic meals and cabin are covered, but literally everything else costs extra. We're talking about specialty restaurants, drinks beyond basic coffee and water, wifi, shore excursions, spa treatments, photos, and even some activities. One family Lucy worked with racked up over $3,200 in surprise charges during just a seven-day Caribbean cruise. The dad was so shocked he actually asked if there was a mistake on the bill. There wasn't. The cruise lines are brilliant at this psychological trick. They advertise these seemingly affordable base prices, but they're banking on you spending two to three times that amount once you're trapped on the ship. And here's the kicker—you can't exactly hop off and find cheaper alternatives when you're in the middle of the ocean. They've got you exactly where they want you, and your wallet is about to feel it. Before you even step foot on that ship, research every single thing that costs extra and create a realistic daily spending budget. Lucy recommends adding at least $100 per person per day on top of your cruise fare for a comfortable experience—and that's being conservative. But budgeting won't save you from mistake number two, which could leave you watching your dream vacation sail away without you... Alley Kerr, a dancer and singer who's worked on over a hundred cruise ships, calls this "one of the worst things that could happen" to your vacation. She's watched it destroy trip after trip, and here's exactly how it goes down. You board the ship feeling relaxed and spontaneous. "We'll figure out what to do when we get there," you tell yourself. Big mistake. While you're unpacking and getting settled in, everyone else is frantically booking every single restaurant reservation and activity slot available. By dinner time on day one, everything you actually wanted to do is completely sold out. The first day onboard is absolute chaos. Everyone's trying to book shore excursions, get their internet sorted, reserve specialty restaurants, and snag spots for popular activities. The cruise lines deliberately limit availability to create this feeding frenzy, and if you're not prepared, you're going to be the one left out. Lucy, that nine-year cruise veteran we talked about earlier, puts it perfectly: "People would wait until the night that they wanted to go to a restaurant and then be really disappointed when it was fully booked." She's seen passengers literally beg the staff to squeeze them in somewhere, anywhere, because they didn't realize how fast everything disappears. Think about it—there are three thousand people on that ship, but the specialty steakhouse only has two hundred seats. The dolphin swimming excursion? Maybe forty spots total. The chef's table experience? Twelve people max. Do the math. Here's what the pros do: they book everything they might want to do before they even step foot on the ship. Most cruise lines let you reserve activities and restaurants online weeks in advance. Sure, you can cancel if you change your mind, but at least you've got options. Because once you're onboard and everything's sold out, your only choice is whatever's left over. ----- Everything we share here reflects our personal opinions and perspectives on financial topics. This is not official financial advice. Always do your own research and consult a qualified financial advisor before making major financial decisions. The content on this channel may include gossip, rumors, or dramatized interpretations of real events. Viewer discretion is advised, and please keep in mind that not all information presented is verified or factual.