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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.
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0:00
I've been following several Cruise gone
0:02
wrong sagas that inspired me to make
0:04
this they included outraged passengers
0:06
on board silver sea silver Muse in Asia
0:08
raging because the captain decided to
0:10
miss three iconic ports that most have
0:13
booked the cruise for and a distraught
0:15
Denver family facing a medical bill of
0:19
$150,000 after their father fell ill on
0:21
a European Cruise welcome aboard I'm
0:23
Gary benbridge and like you I assume all
0:25
my cruises will be perfect but not all
0:28
are here are the main things that I've
0:30
seen go wrong and how to be ready for
0:32
them and what to do if it happens to you
0:35
let's start with your dream cruise
0:36
disappearing when the cruise line
0:38
cancels it the issue we face is there is
0:41
no legal or regulatory compensation
0:44
required and nothing in the crw contract
0:47
about compensation if they cancel on us
0:49
and so what happens varies even by the
0:52
same line at different times so what
0:55
should you do well first of all there
0:57
are a couple of prevention steps like
1:00
booking cruises with a high risk of
1:01
cancellation to start with for example
1:03
I've always avoided booking Maiden
1:06
voyages because often they're cancelled
1:08
some princess when it came into service
1:10
had multiple of their Maiden voyages
1:12
cancelled for
1:14
example these days due to the Middle
1:16
East troubles don't book anything that's
1:19
going anywhere near the Red Sea and
1:21
relies on going through the sewers Canal
1:23
to get the ship to where you're picking
1:25
it up because the likelihood of
1:27
cancellation is very high second if
1:30
you're not booking flights and hotels
1:32
through the line try and ensure your
1:33
bookings are flexible or have low change
1:36
fees as a line will only offer Mega
1:39
compensation to cover changes if your
1:42
cruise gets cancelled before the trip
1:45
you'll have the option to get refunded
1:46
any money PID to date or to switch to
1:49
another Cruise the problem is they will
1:51
not guarantee the price you pay for
1:53
those cruises and the new Cruise will be
1:55
at the prevailing fairs as well as a
1:57
refund you'll usually be given some
1:58
future Cruise credit or a discount on a
2:01
future cruise is compensation how much
2:04
varies wildly by line if you booked
2:07
flights hotels or excursions through the
2:09
line they will cancel and refund but if
2:12
booked independently the cruise line
2:14
gives relatively small amounts to cover
2:16
flights or hotel changes only usually
2:19
for example I usually see $200 per
2:22
person to cover flight change fees if a
2:24
domestic flight has been booked
2:25
independently and $400 for international
2:28
flights as some insurance companies
2:31
won't cover your costs when a line
2:33
cancels your crew is arguing that you
2:35
need to reclaim them from the line make
2:37
sure you keep detail documentation for
2:40
any costs above that and submit a claim
2:42
to the cruise line anyway but what if
2:45
the cruise isn't cancelled but the line
2:47
makes major port and itinerary changes
2:50
before you go perhaps removing ports
2:52
that actually made you choose that
2:54
cruise unfortunately the cruise contract
2:57
that you agree to when you book your
2:59
cruise allows them to make changes
3:01
without any right for you to cancel or
3:04
receive compensation if they do so if
3:07
you do not like any changes you will
3:10
need to contact the line and argue you
3:12
see the change as significant and demand
3:15
a refund or to change to a different
3:17
Cruise you should of course be in a
3:20
stronger position to get compensation if
3:22
ports are cancelled or changed during
3:25
the cruise but only if it's due to a
3:28
cruise line issue like mechanical
3:29
problem and not weather unrest or safety
3:32
reasons if it is weather related change
3:34
and a port is skipped by the captain for
3:37
safety reasons you should expect to
3:39
standard very little in return you often
3:43
get or can ask for port fees to be
3:45
refunded but Lions generally will not
3:47
offer anything else and will resist
3:49
requests for
3:51
compensation but if it's a mechanical
3:54
issue then as there's no set agreed
3:56
compensation expect an offer of some
3:58
kind and do push back if you think it's
4:00
not acceptable I've seen lines increase
4:03
compensation if the bulk of passengers
4:05
demand more during the cruise in that
4:08
silver mic example I mentioned the ship
4:10
actually missed ports due to a
4:11
propulsion issue so the captain decided
4:14
to sell direct to Singapore to get it
4:17
seen
4:17
to passengers were in the end offered
4:20
future Cruise credit for the number of
4:22
days they missed in those iconic ports
4:25
the ship by the way had to drop the
4:26
ports because it needed to make its way
4:28
to Singapore for assessment and repairs
4:30
they also by the way arranged excursions
4:32
without any charge for the extra time
4:34
spent in Singapore now three things to
4:36
note here as there's no set agreed
4:38
compensation rate you will need to
4:40
decide if any offer is appropriate
4:43
secondly don't book a cruise based on an
4:46
absolute must go to Port there are too
4:48
many variables and reasons you may not
4:50
get in on a cruise if there's a place
4:52
you absolutely want to see a landbased
4:55
trip rather than a cruise may actually
4:57
be a safer option and thirdly some
5:00
insurance policies in some countries
5:02
will include missed port cover and if
5:04
you have that make sure you get a letter
5:06
from the ship to prove a port was missed
5:09
the next nightmare issue where things
5:10
can go wrong is passengers being refused
5:12
boarding and it happens more than I had
5:15
realized I covered this in detail in a
5:17
recent video but want to warn you that
5:19
the main reason for being denied
5:21
boarding is passengers not having the
5:24
right documents the key one being a
5:27
passport many US a Cruisers are used to
5:30
being able to cruise out of the USA to
5:32
the Caribbean and Alaska with their
5:35
birth certificate and picture ID like a
5:37
driving license for example however many
5:41
many have often Fallen foul going on say
5:43
a Panama Canal cruise forgetting that
5:45
these call into countries that will
5:48
require a passport recently dozens of
5:51
people were refused boarding a Princess
5:53
Cruise Panama cruise out of Port
5:55
Everglades and what makes it worse is
5:58
many had called Princess to check if
6:00
they needed a passport and been told
6:02
they did not a couple this week told me
6:05
they were denied boarding a queen
6:07
married to transatlantic from the UK
6:10
because they hadn't got a USA Esa Visa
6:13
which UK residents need to get into the
6:14
USA they were upset because they said
6:17
kunard hadn't told them they needed one
6:20
so the learning is to avoid being denied
6:22
boarding for the wrong documents you
6:24
must take control and you must check and
6:27
do not rely on the cruise line what
6:29
should you do to make sure this doesn't
6:31
happen to you always cruise with the
6:34
passport even if it's not needed because
6:36
even if you get disembarked in the
6:37
Caribbean of a cruise like when
6:39
Norwegian Encore ran a ground there or
6:42
you need to get home sa for an emergency
6:44
you're going to need to a passport to be
6:46
able to fly into the United States check
6:50
entry and visa requirements for
6:51
countries on sites like the UK foreign
6:53
office and for USA residents the US
6:56
state department travel advisory site
6:59
and remember things keep changing for
7:02
example Europe and the UK are
7:04
introducing Esa visas like the USA and
7:07
Canada have currently for foreign
7:09
visitors if you ever get refused at a
7:12
port because you haven't got something
7:13
like an esta go online and apply there
7:15
and then because some of them get
7:17
approved and issued immediately or
7:19
within an hour or so and so you may
7:21
still be able to board your ship next
7:24
something I actually fear is getting
7:26
back exploring a port and finding the
7:28
ship has left without me like with the
7:31
other nightmares some preparation is
7:34
actually the best way to avoid this
7:37
happening so first of all I check my
7:39
phone and watch on ship time so I know
7:42
what time that the ship is on that I
7:44
must work to usually of course that will
7:46
be the same time as in the port I do not
7:49
rely on my phone changing time
7:51
automatically on a cruise I always set
7:54
the time zone manually I take a photo as
7:58
I leave the ship of the board with the
8:00
audible time to remind me when I'm out
8:02
and about and want to check I consider
8:04
taking a cruise line Excursion because
8:06
they will usually wait if those are
8:08
delayed or the cruise line will get me
8:10
to meet the ship at the next port at
8:12
their cost if they do end up selling
8:14
without me I always get off the ship
8:15
with the details of the port agent and
8:18
ideally my local Embassy those are
8:21
normally within the cruise daily program
8:23
or some cruise lines have it in the app
8:25
so I take a screenshot of that in the
8:27
app a photo of the daily program or I
8:29
just actually take the whole program
8:31
with me when I head off in Port I always
8:34
take a credit card in some form of
8:35
picture ID like a driver's license which
8:37
will be key if I miss a ship and must
8:39
fly to the next Port say in the same
8:41
country or hire a car or book into a
8:43
hotel I have copies of all important
8:45
documents stored online where I can
8:47
access them I use dropbox so that I can
8:50
access copies of my passport Insurance
8:53
Cruise booking and so on the other thing
8:56
that I never go into Port without is a
8:58
phone and often with a a charger as well
9:02
but even with all that in hand what if
9:04
you do get left behind first of all
9:08
contact the cruise line Port agent as
9:10
soon as you can and especially if you
9:12
running late because they can often have
9:14
a discussion with a captain to see
9:16
whether there are any opportunities for
9:18
the ship to wait for you or they will
9:20
start to make plans if they know the
9:22
ship can't wait the port agent will lias
9:25
with the ship on the next best port to
9:27
meet up with the ship and they will give
9:28
you some guun guidance on how to get
9:30
there they nor the cruise line will make
9:33
those arrangements for you nor will they
9:35
cover any costs for you to get to the
9:37
next Port it is possible in some cases
9:40
the line will give the port agent your
9:42
passport especially if they're holding
9:44
it as they have to do in some regions of
9:47
the world or occasionally if they know
9:48
that you're late and you'll need a
9:50
passport to get to the next Port they
9:52
may access your safe to recover it if
9:54
you decide you're not going to try and
9:56
catch up with the ship the line will'll
9:57
of course pack up and ship your
9:59
belongings but at your cost let's talk
10:02
about an unfortunately common nightmare
10:04
these days and that is if your luggage
10:06
doesn't arrive with your flight to join
10:08
a cruise it has happened to me after it
10:12
did I put in place some preventative
10:14
steps first I now try and fly non-stop
10:17
to reduce the risk of my bags getting
10:18
stuck at a connecting airport that seems
10:21
to be where most bags end up missing the
10:23
flight next we spread our clothes across
10:26
our suitcases so instead of having a
10:28
suitcase for my clothes and another for
10:30
my partner we split clothes across the
10:32
suitcases if one goes missing we then
10:35
both have some clothes I take a
10:37
photograph of my bag so I can accurately
10:40
describe it I've traveled all over the
10:41
world with my suitcase and when it went
10:43
missing I actually struggled to describe
10:45
things like even the color next I
10:48
started using Apple tags so I can track
10:51
and find my suitcase and help locate it
10:54
if your bag doesn't arrive speak to the
10:56
baggage customer service desk who will
10:58
be able to check where your bag is in
11:01
the system for example before I had
11:03
Apple tags when my bag did not come out
11:06
on the flights baggage belt they could
11:08
tell me it was actually in the hall but
11:10
it been put on a different flights belt
11:13
if missing they will give you a
11:15
reference number and various contact
11:17
details and they'll take yours and uh
11:20
they will try to get the bags to you
11:22
when of course they arrive asked to if
11:24
they provided any immediate compensation
11:26
to cover buying Essentials and a few
11:28
items of clothing to tide you over many
11:30
of them will do now as soon as you board
11:33
go and see the guest services with those
11:35
details and they will usually take over
11:37
liasing with the airline because they
11:39
understand how difficult it is to make
11:41
those connections with uh people they
11:44
can also let them of course know exactly
11:46
where and how to get the bags to the
11:48
ship I found that where my bags went
11:50
missing that took away a lot of stress
11:53
and my bags did arrive at the ship the
11:55
next day and we actually had an
11:56
overnight so it was even easier in that
11:58
case if if you need to buy any clothes
12:00
to cover you of course keep any receipts
12:03
because you'll need that to make an
12:04
insurance claim the next thing where
12:06
your cruise could go wrong is if you
12:07
fall ill or injure yourself whilst on
12:10
the cruise or even in the ports what
12:12
should you do and expect if you find
12:14
yourself in this particular situation
12:16
again preparation could help I always
12:18
take a first aid kit to cover the basics
12:20
with me like painkillers anti dial
12:22
seasickness bad a and so on which could
12:25
and should address everyday issues but
12:28
if it's not call the Medical Center
12:30
cruise ships have a doctor and nurses
12:31
and the ability to treat routine issues
12:34
and do tests including x-rays on many
12:35
ships and they have a pharmacy it is
12:38
though really costly starting at at
12:39
least $100 a visit and costs will Mount
12:42
up really fast now even though you can
12:44
claim back from your insurance by
12:46
submitting the bill after the cruise you
12:49
will have to pay the cruise line before
12:51
disembarking the full amount due the
12:54
Medical Center's job is to stabilize
12:56
people and deal with minor issues if
12:58
you've got something more serious
13:00
that'll either disembark you in a
13:01
hospital at the next port or if it's
13:03
serious they'll arrange for a medivac by
13:07
helicopter or by some sort of boat that
13:09
is why it's essential to have insurance
13:11
and make sure that you're adequately
13:14
covered at the beginning of this I
13:16
mentioned a couple facing
13:18
$150,000 Bill Diane and Adrian Matlock
13:22
from Denver USA were on a European
13:24
cruise and he felt ill with flu and was
13:26
disembarked in the Danish hospital he
13:29
spiral engine pneumonia and then had
13:30
actually unfortunately some minor
13:32
strokes now they had some insurance but
13:34
it only covered them for up to
13:36
$24,000 but his bill hit over
13:39
$150,000 as the doctors felt he needed
13:42
to be medivaced back to the USA to
13:44
finish treatment at home when you take
13:46
out insurance make sure that it's got
13:48
Cruise cover and will cover you for
13:50
medivac and stays in treatment in
13:52
foreign hospitals they can be really
13:54
costly if you're feeling seasick the
13:56
cruise line will normally provide you
13:58
seasick pills for free at gu services
14:00
and if that does not work the doctor can
14:02
prescribe or give you an injection if
14:05
you have the symptoms of norovirus like
14:07
diarrhea you can't buy anti-diarrheal
14:10
products from the ship shops because
14:12
it's a flag for either Co or norovirus
14:14
so you can only get those from the
14:16
medical center if You' taken a first aid
14:18
pack and you've got some see if that
14:20
helps first if you contact the medical
14:22
center and assess norovirus risk you may
14:25
be required to quarantine in your cabin
14:27
usually with free rooms service and
14:29
Wi-Fi similarly if you have covid
14:32
symptoms if you've brought some tests
14:34
then check you are expected to advise
14:37
the medical center who likely to ask you
14:40
to quarantine till a negative test these
14:42
days only some lines will refund in
14:45
future Cruise credit days if you're
14:46
required to quarantine if you have teeth
14:49
problems like when I had part of a tooth
14:50
crack off on a Caribbean cruise
14:52
embarcation day other than painkillers
14:54
the medical center cannot help as there
14:57
are no dentists on cruise ship
14:59
I always take a tooth repair kit which I
15:01
buy from my local pharmacy and if it
15:03
cannot wait I find an emergency dentist
15:05
online in a future Port I contact them
15:08
to arrange an appointment like I had to
15:09
do once in Key West on that trip I
15:11
mentioned I mentioned earlier there are
15:13
many reasons people are denied boarding
15:15
so join me over in this video to find
15:17
out what they are and what you can do to
15:19
avoid all of them see you over there
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