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Cruising over the age of 55 brings unexpected challenges that younger cruisers don’t even - or need - to think about. I know — because I’ve learned the hard way after more than 100 cruises since turning 55.
In this video, I reveal the real watch outs, traps, and opportunities for older travellers that most cruise advice never covers. From choosing the right itinerary, line, ship, and cabin, to avoiding mobility issues, scams, and bad weather seasons — these are the essential insights every over-55 cruiser should know before booking.
I’ll also share how to find senior discounts, pick the right excursions, pack smarter, and make sure your insurance and travel plans keep you safe and stress-free. Whether you’re newly retired or a seasoned traveller looking for longer or more exotic voyages, this guide will help you cruise smarter and better prepared.
Links mentioned in the video: https://www.tipsfortravellers.com/agents and https://www.whereswaltertravel.com/
Video to watch next: "So Many Repositioning Cruisers Get These 5 Things Wrong" https://youtu.be/VbpLKzDaBtI
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0:00
Cruising over the age of 55 brings
0:02
unexpected watch outs that younger
0:03
cruisers simply don't need to think
0:05
about. I know because I've been there.
0:07
I'm in my 60s and since I turned 55,
0:10
I've been on 100 cruises. And I'll admit
0:13
some of the things I discovered the hard
0:14
way as you'll hear. But these showed me
0:17
where and how we should approach
0:18
cruising differently to ensure
0:20
everything goes smoothly. Welcome
0:23
aboard. I'm Gary Benbridge and I've got
0:25
news about traps and opportunities you
0:27
won't hear if you're listening to advice
0:29
aimed at younger cruisers. Let's start
0:32
with itineraries because this is where I
0:35
see many over 55s trip up.
0:39
One of the joys of being older is we
0:41
have more time or flexibility because
0:43
we're not tied to school vacation and
0:45
public holiday breaks. This more time
0:48
means we can look at longer voyages and
0:50
world cruise segments because they have
0:52
more over 55s on them and they explore
0:55
less welltrodden parts of the world like
0:57
South America, Asia, Australia, New
1:00
Zealand and the South Pacific. It also
1:02
means avoiding the busy cruise regions
1:04
of the Caribbean, Mediterranean or
1:06
Alaska which tend to have more seven
1:08
night itineries well suited for younger
1:11
more timelmited travelers. But if those
1:14
three regions do appeal to you, then I
1:16
recommend you avoid cruising in peak
1:18
school vacation seasons because not only
1:21
is it cheaper, but it also means fewer
1:23
crowds in the ports and the ships will
1:25
be less full. For example, I found for
1:28
us the Caribbean is best in November,
1:30
early December or January, February. The
1:32
Mediterranean is best in June and
1:34
October and Alaska May, early June and
1:37
late September. Also, when cruising
1:39
these regions, look for itineraries
1:41
longer than seven nights because they
1:43
tend to have more 55 plus travelers on
1:45
them and less families. Repositioning
1:48
cruises at the start and end of each
1:49
region's cruising season are another
1:52
perfect option for us, and you'll find
1:54
many fellow a travelers on board. I'm a
1:56
big fan of these and always have these
1:59
in my plans. The most popular are
2:02
transatlantics between Europe and the
2:04
Caribbean and transpacifics between
2:07
Alaska and Japan, but you can also find
2:09
them moving between the Mediterranean
2:11
and Asia and from Australia to Alaska
2:13
via the South Pacific and Hawaii.
2:16
They're usually fantastic value and
2:18
because they include plenty of sea days
2:20
around five or six, they're actually
2:21
more relaxing than port intensive
2:23
itineraries, which is important I think
2:25
for us because it leads me to another
2:27
itinary consideration as we age,
2:30
stamina. As much as we don't like to
2:32
admit it, an itinerary with a port every
2:34
single day could start to be a bit
2:36
wearing. So look at those which do have
2:38
more sea days. Also, when looking at the
2:41
detail of itineraries, look if there are
2:43
tender ports and how many of them they
2:45
are. They may be a bit more awkward, a
2:48
bit more stressful getting on and off
2:49
them, particularly if mobility starts to
2:52
wayne. Something many over 55s have told
2:54
me is that now avoid its at times of the
2:57
year when it has extreme climates,
2:59
especially heat like the Mediterranean
3:02
July and August, which can be sweltering
3:04
and definitely more draining for us.
3:07
There is another itinerary suggestion I
3:09
have which is consider river cruising
3:12
especially in Europe as they're more
3:14
intimate smaller ships with routes
3:16
excursions at sites that are designed
3:18
with a more mature traveler in mind. Now
3:22
once you're clear on the itinerary
3:24
there's choosing the line to get right
3:27
to. Most cruise lines today seem
3:29
desperate to attract young travelers and
3:32
families even though the west actually
3:34
has an aging population. So there's
3:36
plenty and everinccreasing numbers of
3:38
over 55s looking for great options.
3:41
However, lines traditionally focused on
3:43
our age group are definitely chasing
3:45
families. For example, Honda America run
3:48
kids travel free or discounted rates and
3:51
Princess new ships and programs are
3:53
absolutely targeted more at the family
3:55
market. So other than when looking for
3:57
cruises, say for a multigenerational
3:59
family trip, most over 55s, me included,
4:02
are looking for kidfree cruise options.
4:05
Our choices are narrowing. Adult only
4:08
lines are few and far between. Viking
4:12
and Virgin Voyages are the only two
4:14
mainstream global 18 pluson only cruise
4:18
lines. UK cruisers have the option of
4:21
the over50s Saga and adult only
4:24
ambassador cruise line with Pino
4:26
Cruisers having two adult only ships,
4:28
Arcadian Aurora and Mela running one
4:31
adult only ship. Carnival has been
4:34
testing out some adult only gambling
4:36
focused cruisers out of Florida, so that
4:38
could be one to watch as well. The
4:41
premium and luxury lines tend to be
4:43
better suited to us overall because they
4:45
have programs with more enrichment
4:47
talks, wine tasting, cooking classes,
4:49
live music, trivia, dance classes, and
4:51
certainly way more kind of a program
4:54
than resort style attractions on Royal
4:56
Caribbean, Norwegian, MSE cruises. But
4:59
you can't assume those premium luxury
5:00
lines will be all adult as much as in
5:03
the past because premium lines like
5:05
Holland America, Princess Kunard, and
5:07
Celebrity are becoming more popular with
5:09
families, especially in Alaska and the
5:11
Mediterranean. But they still tend to
5:13
have few families and kids outside of
5:15
school holidays, even with active kids
5:17
clubs running. Now, if your budget is
5:19
larger, the luxury and ultra luxury
5:22
lines do tend to attract even fewer
5:23
families cuz most have no kids clubs or
5:26
programs. Salic, Oceanania, Winstar,
5:28
Azamara, Seaborn, Silver and Regent. But
5:31
you need to be cautious in this category
5:33
because the new Explorer Journeys is
5:34
actively targeting younger travelers
5:36
with year round kids clubs. While
5:38
Crystal's kids clubs are only open
5:40
seasonally at peak school vacation
5:43
times, even choosing a line which ship
5:46
you choose within their fleet
5:48
increasingly matters to us, too.
5:51
As many lines expand, the type of ship
5:53
they're introducing into the fleet is
5:55
changing, making some of their ships in
5:57
the fleets better for us than others.
6:00
Generally speaking, the older ships
6:01
being a better match. For example,
6:04
Celebrity. The new Edgeclass ships are
6:07
very different ships with different
6:08
venues, dining arrangements, and even
6:11
cabin types to their older, more classic
6:13
Solstice and Millennium class ships.
6:16
Kunard's Queen Victoria and Queen
6:18
Elizabeth ships are again strikingly
6:20
different to the newer Queen Anne. The
6:23
older Princess ships with smaller ships
6:26
are different to not only the royal
6:28
class ships like Sky Majestic Princess,
6:30
but very different to the more mega
6:32
style ship Sphere class, Sun and Star
6:36
Princess. Generally, I find the smaller
6:38
ships in the fleets are easy to
6:40
navigate, more classic, and often tend
6:42
to be a better match. If you do though
6:45
want to have a truly big ship, more
6:47
result style cruising experience, then
6:49
consider the ship within a ship on those
6:51
ships like Norwegian's The Haven, MSE's
6:54
Yacht Club, Royal Caribbean Starclass,
6:56
or Celebrities The Retreat. Particularly
6:58
if you're in peak vacation times, they
7:00
won't be guaranteed at all only, but
7:02
they will offer a calmer space. Step out
7:04
of those bustling, boisterous big ship
7:06
experiences. Now, let me talk about
7:09
cabins. something where younger
7:11
travelers are often keen to choose a
7:13
lower cost, guaranteed fair that just
7:15
ensures a grade, but not a specific
7:17
cabin nor where it is. Maybe it's just
7:21
me, but I found that as I get older, I
7:23
have got fussier about my cabin and
7:25
where it is located. I want to ensure
7:29
I'm not going to be affected by noisy
7:32
late night venues like nightclubs, live
7:34
music venues, or theaters because I'm
7:36
less likely to be in those venues
7:38
partying these days. but in my cabin
7:40
trying to relax or sleep. I don't want
7:42
to hear pool deck chairs being scraped
7:44
as people move them about when I'm
7:46
perhaps relaxing in my cabin during the
7:48
day or having a lion. I do spend more
7:50
time enjoying and relaxing in my cabin
7:52
than when I was younger. That's why I
7:54
recommend you book a fair and choose
7:56
your cabin following my be surrounded on
7:58
all sides by other cabins rule and check
8:01
the deck plans to ensure that you're not
8:03
near potential issue venues. But also
8:06
these days I find many over 55s also say
8:09
that the following is important to them
8:12
too. Where mobility becomes an issue. A
8:14
cabin closer to elevators are better and
8:17
certainly more midship is going to
8:19
reduce the walking distance between
8:20
dining rooms and venues if you're kind
8:22
of in the center of things. And of
8:24
course paying more attention to the
8:26
bathroom setup could become important.
8:29
So you avoid cabins with showers which
8:31
are in bathtubs in favor of those with
8:33
walk-in showers instead. If
8:35
accessibility and mobility is or
8:37
becoming an issue, it's important to
8:39
check the line rules. Most require a
8:41
wheelchair or scooter to be stored in
8:43
the cabin, and so it must be of a size
8:45
to fit through the cabin door. Many also
8:48
require users to book an accessible
8:50
cabin or at a minimum let them know and
8:52
get approval if you're using a
8:53
wheelchair or scooter in advance.
8:56
Different mobility equipment, oxygen and
8:59
mobility aids can be hired through
9:01
specialist providers that partner with
9:03
the lines and they can be delivered
9:05
directly to your cabin. So check with
9:07
the line who their partners are. Now
9:10
having got some of these cruise basic
9:12
rights, there are ways us over 55s can
9:14
pay less than younger cruisers for the
9:17
same cruise and cabin. Here's how. But
9:20
first to watch out as you look for those
9:22
fairs and deals. Unfortunately, scams
9:25
targeting older travelers are on the
9:27
rise, especially on social media sites
9:30
like Facebook. Also, scammers are buying
9:32
ads that look like actual cruise line
9:35
ones, and they show up on Google search.
9:37
Now, all of these require phoning to get
9:39
deals, but they will connect you to a
9:41
scammer. So, be vigilant about where and
9:44
who you book with. And always check the
9:46
phone number if you're calling. I've
9:48
suggested trusted cruise expert travel
9:51
agents in several countries in an
9:52
article on my blog at tips.com/agents
9:56
if you need some help there. There's
9:57
also a silver lining for us. Senior
9:59
discounts are offered by several lines.
10:02
Celebrity, Royal Caribbean, and Carnival
10:04
offer discounts for travelers over 55
10:07
and MSE Cruises for over 65s on certain
10:10
sailings. In the United States, if you
10:12
become an AARP member, American
10:14
Association of Retired Persons, they
10:17
offer discounts and added perks, not
10:19
just on cruises, but also on hotels,
10:21
flights, and even excursions that you
10:22
may want to use for your cruise, too. Of
10:25
course, cruise loyalty programs could
10:27
work, too, because many of us cruise
10:29
more often. Choosing one or two lines
10:30
and sticking with them could unlock
10:32
major perks over time. And here's
10:35
another tip on fairs. Book your next
10:37
cruise while you're still on board. The
10:39
deals and bonuses are usually much
10:41
better than anything you'll find on
10:43
land. Another thing to consider, which
10:46
can be attractive price-wise, is
10:48
consider going on a group or escorted
10:51
cruise. Many travel agents of all sizes
10:55
will create cruise packages that may
10:57
include hotels and transfers, but will
11:00
have discounted fairs and added onboard
11:02
perks. Many will have a host from the
11:04
agency along to assist, which could be a
11:06
plus as we age. Now, even some
11:09
independent travel agents offer them.
11:10
For example, Walter Biscardi of Where's
11:12
Walter Travel? One of the agents I
11:14
recommend in the United States, runs
11:16
frequent hosted groups with great deals.
11:19
First, port excursions are another area
11:22
where being realistic about our limits
11:24
pays off. It's tempting to book that
11:27
musty excursion without properly
11:29
checking how demanding is actually going
11:31
to be. I've seen too many people caught
11:34
out by long walking tours over uneven
11:36
cobblestones, excursions that involve
11:38
steep climbs in hot, humid weather, and
11:40
on a recent cruise in French Polynesia
11:42
where most people on an ebike excursion
11:44
struggled because involves steep hills,
11:46
off-road terrain, and many had to
11:48
withdraw partway through because they
11:50
hadn't really thought about their
11:52
ability to do it. Always read the
11:54
descriptions the cruise line has in the
11:56
notes of the tour carefully or ask the
11:58
shore excursions team if you're
12:00
slightest bit unsure. The tour
12:02
description small print will include
12:04
fitness levels, distances, type of
12:07
ground, number of stairs, and so on.
12:08
I've been on way too many excursions
12:10
where I've seen people simply cannot
12:13
cope. One thing to consider is to
12:15
sidestep cruise line excursions and find
12:17
alternative small group or private tours
12:20
where you can go at your own pace and
12:21
the guide can easily adjust to any of
12:24
your needs along the way. And they don't
12:26
have to be costly because sites like
12:28
tours bylocals.com list local guides
12:30
often at very affordable rates. Of
12:33
course, also look at companies like
12:35
Shore Excursions Group, Venture Shore,
12:37
and Viotor because they will also list
12:39
options too. And remember, you don't
12:42
have to do something in every port.
12:45
Pacing yourself is better than overdoing
12:47
it, and mixing up some tours with more
12:49
casual self-exploring could make all the
12:52
difference. Packing also changes as we
12:54
get older. And here's a few important
12:56
things to note. First, I recommend
13:00
packing as light as possible and
13:01
consider using the laundry ball. Lighter
13:04
means not having to lug suitcases and
13:06
baggage around the airport, cruise
13:08
terminals, and so on. it will be much
13:11
more pleasant. But if you do want to
13:13
bring more luggage, do what I do and
13:15
book transfers and hotel arrangements
13:18
with the cruise line. When I do this, it
13:21
means my bags are handled for me. They
13:22
take them from the airport to the hotel.
13:25
Usually, I can leave them outside my
13:26
hotel room. They collect them, load them
13:28
onto the transfer bus to go to the port
13:30
and so on. It does make it so much
13:32
easier. Few other packing things that
13:35
apply more to us these days. Medications
13:37
are critical for many of us. Ships don't
13:39
have pharmacies to fill our
13:41
prescriptions, so bring more than enough
13:43
of what you need. I always bring
13:45
actually several weeks more than the
13:47
cruise. Keep it in your hand luggage.
13:50
And I like to bring it in the original
13:51
packaging with a photo of my
13:54
prescription just in case. I always
13:57
bring a personalized first aid kit. I
13:59
see that as a must because it means
14:01
avoiding going to the costly medical
14:02
center kind of for more mundane issues
14:05
that that kit could deal with. Don't
14:07
forget technology. Cruise lines now run
14:09
so much through their apps and so having
14:11
your phone or tablet ready to use with
14:13
the Cruise Line app already loaded will
14:15
make your life so much easier. The app
14:18
always runs without having to buy a
14:19
Wi-Fi package, but so much is done on
14:21
the app. You really do need to be ready
14:23
for that. This next one is a really
14:25
important point. You need to make sure
14:27
things go right even when they go wrong.
14:30
Travel insurance is non-negotiable, but
14:32
it must be the right kind. Make sure
14:34
your policy covers pre-existing
14:36
conditions and includes medical
14:38
evacuation off the ship and repatriation
14:41
home. The reality is as we get older,
14:43
the chance of needing medical help
14:46
statistically goes up and evacuation
14:48
costs can be eyewatering. So make sure
14:51
you've got the right insurance, not you
14:53
just rely on, say, credit card
14:54
insurance. I mentioned that
14:56
repositioning cruises were a great
14:58
option for us over 55 travelers. So,
15:00
join me over in this video where I look
15:01
at the pros, the cons, and tricks to
15:03
find and have amazing repositioning
15:05
cruisers.
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