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Cruise Scams to Watch Out for, Protect Against
How to make sure your vacation plans aren’t scuttled and your trip is smooth sailing.
Deirdre van Dyk,
In this story
Common types of cruise scams • How to be a smart consumer • If you've been scammed • How to book a cruise safely
You’re dreaming of bright sun, blue water and gentle sea breezes , and you feel so lucky to have won a free cruise through an ad, a sweepstakes or a raffle. Unfortunately, instead of celebrating your good fortune with piña coladas on the top deck, you find yourself scrambling to recover your money when the cruise is “canceled” or “rescheduled” at the last minute. Or that the whole thing was just a ploy to get your data and steal your money or identity .
Cruising is one of the most popular types of vacations — 30 million people are expected to cruise in 2024 across 360 vessels. With that popularity comes an opportunity for fraudsters to target your wallet.
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Common types of cruise scams
“The old adage rings true that if something seems too good to be true, it usually is,” says Charles Sylvia, vice president of industry and trade relations at Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), which represents cruise lines, travel agencies and agents.
Scammers want their marks to get excited about saving big bucks or receiving a great reward, but this is what they’re really offering:
- Large, unexpected charges. Some people who accept their prize of a free trip find themselves on the hook for charges, such as taxes and fees, which end up costing more than a berth booked with the cruise line directly or through their own travel agent.
- Fake trips. The scammer may cancel the trip at the last minute due to weather, mechanical problems or other excuses. Or they may be offering trips with such restricted time available, it’s impossible to make arrangements. In one recent case, several Americans — one of whom sold her house to pay for her ticket — found that the company they bought their three-year cruise from had no ship available.
- Unscrupulous actors. One scammer, who solicited clients on Facebook offering discounted cruises and two-for-one deals, was convicted in Florida in 2022 for using clients’ money on personal expenses, including a new car. Another fraudulent agent was arrested in January 2024 for claiming to book an Alaskan cruise for customers, but going on the cruise himself.
- Time-share hard-sell. An all-expenses-paid cruise is offered in exchange for a little of your time — which turns out to be a time-share presentation or resort tour lasting several hours. If you survive that, you’ll likely face more high-pressure pitches for costly trip upgrades.
Have you seen this scam?
- Call the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline at 877-908-3360 or report it with the AARP Scam Tracking Map .
- Get Watchdog Alerts for tips on avoiding such scams.
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How to be a smart consumer
- Beware of starting with a search engine. Entering a general “Best Cruises” or “Cruise Deals” when looking for a trip may lead you straight to a scammer’s site. Fraudsters buy ads or create fake sites using their knowledge of how search engines work to appear at the top of your results. Try starting your search instead on the sites of several of the major cruise lines.
- Investigate the company. Check for industry associations like the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA), CLIA or the US Tour Operators Association. Seals will appear at the bottom of a travel company’s web page. You can check with the professional associations to see if they are a member, says Sylvia. In addition, “I always recommend putting in the name of the organization and the word ‘scam’ and seeing what comes up,” Sylvia says. Look for the company’s BBB Business Profile , then check for complaints and how they were resolved as well as trip review sites.
- Check any professional’s credentials. CLIA and the American Society of Travel Advisors verify agents, and the BBB provides business certification. “We have agents in all 50 states,” says Melanie McGovern, director of public relations at the International Association of Better Business Bureaus. “It’s really important when you’re choosing any service provider to do research. Read reviews and see how they handled complaints. If anything went wrong, did they go above and beyond to make it right?” says McGovern.
- Ask detailed questions . “Are there dates that you have to go? Do you have to pay the taxes? Is it transferable, and if you can’t go, is there a cash value?” says McGovern. If you’re considering buying a ticket with a cruise as a prize, “Reach out to the organization and find out how they’re booking it. ... Is it directly with the cruise line? Is it being booked from the travel agency and what travel agency is it?” says Sylvia.
- Study the fine print. Get a clear explanation of all fees and your accommodations. Make sure you understand the cancellation and refund policies and get them in writing. “Any legitimate service provider will give you time to read through contracts, service agreements. If they’re giving you that pressure to sign up right away to book a trip, that’s the time where you should think, OK, maybe I need to do more research to make a good decision , ” says McGovern.
- Confirm bookings with the cruise line . On every genuine reservation there will be a booking number, even if it was bought through a travel agent, which you can plug in to the cruise line’s website and double-check, says Sylvia. Make sure your name and date of birth are correct.
- Avoid sharing personal or financial information . “The vast majority of the cruise lines only need to know first and last as it appears on passport. They never need to know your Social Security number,” says Sylvia. Anything to do with passport numbers and more detailed personal information comes much later in the process, Sylvia adds, “after final payments and online check-in processes have begun, typically 60 days out from departure.”
- Pay with a credit card . This will give you protection if a payment dispute arises. Beware of paying with wire transfers, gift cards or using payment apps .
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If you’ve been scammed:
- Report the incident to your state’s attorney general office , state consumer protection office and the Federal Trade Commission as well as your bank.
- The BBB Scam Tracker is another place to report scams and to search for reports of scams.
How to Book a Cruise Safely
Experts offer a few different options on making sure you get the vacation you’ve been saving for. First, you can book cruises directly through the cruise line’s website. Cruise lines have well-trained agents ready to help you, plus you’ll also be able to see any special offers or sales right there on company websites, says Charles Sylvia, vice president of industry and trade relations at Cruise Lines International Association.
Or you could use a travel adviser to help you find a ship that best matches your preferences, make spa and restaurant reservations and help with flights, hotels and shore excursions. These professionals will often charge a fee for their services. “That’s not a red flag,” says Sylvia.
Erika Richter of the American Society of Travel Advisors confirms advisers charge fees, and suggests consumers ask about any charges upfront as well as interview advisers. It’s a personal relationship with someone who is going to be your advocate, according to Richter. You want to find the best fit.
“And just like with anything, get three bids. Ask, ‘How much are you going to charge us? What services do you provide?’ It’s always good to shop around,” says McGovern.
Verified travel agents can be found through these trade associations. If you have an agent name, you can also check the BBB website to see how they are reviewed:
- Cruise Lines International Association . Search by zip code to find a CLIA-verified travel agent near you. Some have gone through extra training with CLIA to become familiar with ships and services and will have those certification symbols next to their name.
- American Society of Travel Advisors . Later this year, the association should be relaunching their site, allowing you to search for advisers by zip code . For now, enter your name, address and trip preferences, and the association will match you with a few advisers, or call (800) 275-2782 for assistance.
Deirdre van Dyk is an AARP associate editor covering Social Security, caregiving, technology and fraud. She previously worked at USA Today and Time , where she covered business, government, sustainability and innovation.
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Watch Out For These Reoccurring Cruise Scams
The most common cruise scam are letters that are sent in the mail congratulating you with a free cruise. They usually will have the official logo of a cruise line at the top of them to make them look legit. The most common logos you will see are Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian.
If you get one of these letters, look and see who the letter is from. They are usually from travel agencies that will charge you a healthy booking fee for booking your “free” cruise and will hard sell you on upgrading from an inside stateroom. By the time you end up paying the booking fee, port taxes/fees, and the upgrade, you will find that your free cruise is anything but free.
The only thing these letters are good for is starting a fire in your fireplace at home. Use common sense, do you really think that someone is just going to give you a free cruise out of the blue?
Another cruise scam that won’t go away are random phone calls saying that you won a free cruise. I received one of these phone calls one day and in order to get my free cruise, I had to first give them my credit card number. Why would I have to give them a valid credit card number if the cruise is free?
Anytime someone asks for your credit card number over the phone that you do not know, just hang up. You will likely see many extra charges to your card if you give it to them.
Don’t be fooled into thinking that since your number is on the National Do Not Call Registry, the call must be legitimate. Scammers don’t abide by the law and they certainly aren’t going to abide by the rules of the registry.
The 3rd cruise scam that has gained in popularity over the past couple of years is on Facebook. If you have been on Facebook for any amount of time, you have most likely seen posts by “Disney” or “Royal Caribbean” saying that if you share a post, you will be entered into winning a free cruise.
First, these posts are not by Disney or Royal Caribbean or any other cruise line. Always look at the page that posted the picture and if you do not see the blue check mark by their name, it is not their official page.
These pages are run by scammers and there is no free cruise that they are giving away. They are just trying to build a large Facebook page so they can start filling your newsfeed with products or services they are trying to sell.
However, cruise lines and large travel agencies will often have legitimate contests where they give away free cruises, but the contest is ALWAYS held on their website.
Remember, if something sounds too good to be true, it usually is.
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12 Tourist Scams that Cruisers Need to Watch Out For
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Cruising is a great way to travel and see the world. However, unfortunately cruise passengers can be the target of tourist scams that have the potential a cruise!
When traveling in cruise ports, cruisers need to be especially careful to avoid common tourist scams. As a cruise traveler, you don’t want to be the target of theft or be taken advantage of in cities and cruise ports of call.
Whether you’re going on a Caribbean or Bahamas cruise, or taking a cruise out of Europe, these are the rips offs, scams and watch outs cruisers should be aware of.
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10 Worst Tourist Scams and Rips Offs Cruise Travelers Need to Know
1. Free Bracelet Scam
One of the most common tourist scam, especially in big cities in Europe is the free bracelet scam.
This “free item” scam targets tourists, and cruise travelers may encounter this in some of the Mediterranean ports of call like Florence and Rome, and other popular tourist cities including Paris.
Essentially, scammers will offer tourists a “free” friendship bracelet and quickly tie it on their wrist. Then, they will ask for a donation. Since you’ve accepted the “free” item, it can be hard to walk away and you may feel coerced.
In some cases, tourists have reported being shown photographs of their children and many say they feel very pressured.
It’s important to avoid accepting any “free” item. Other free things can be rosemary (another common tourist scam), a flower or even a cup of tea in a store. Unless you want to give money, say a firm no thanks and walk away.
2. Excursions with a Factory Tour or Demonstration
Some cruise shore excursions may include a perfume factory tour or a rug making demonstration. While these are not actual tourist scams, they are something to be aware of.
A perfume factory tour in France, rum factory in Mexico or rug making demonstration in Turkey may be interesting, but it usually turns into a big sales pitch. If you want to purchase these items, this is great.
However, keep in mind that a large amount of time during of your tour will be spent waiting for 30-50 other people to shop and buy these items. In our experience, it’s best to do small group or private tours with reputable vendors in these cases, where you can pick and choose the places that you want to see.
3. Luggage Watch Outs
It’s always important to be very careful in airports and when traveling with your luggage. Often we have valuable items, clothing and essentials, and other important items in our suitcases and carry-on bags.
You’ll want to keep your luggage close to you and watch it carefully.
Things to watch out for include:
Someone offering to help you with your luggage
Unfortunately, a common scam in some cities in Europe is that a “nice man” may offer to help lift up or transport your luggage. Then, they will ask for money or a tip.
In some cases, we’ve heard stories of people having their luggage moved quickly to an undesirable location, then being asked for money to get it back.
Luggage switch
Be very careful to watch your luggage closely, as another scam to be aware is having your luggage switched for another. Keep your arm on your suitcase and avoid being distracted as robberies can occur.
4. Taxi Scams
Taxi scams are a common one in many countries. Avoid being a victim of a taxi scam by making sure you only get into a licensed taxi or use a reputable ride sharing app.
When possible, establish a price for the taxi ride before getting in. Sometimes the taxi driver will need to use a taxi meter. A common “rip off” for tourists in some destinations is that a taxi driver may take a longer way to drive up the fare. In this case you can open up your google map app and see the fastest route to your hotel or attraction.
5. Pickpocketing
Pickpocketing can be a big problem for tourists, especially in big cities. In particular, if you are going on a Mediterranean cruise, you’ll want to be especially vigilant in Barcelona and Rome.
Thieves who pickpocket are well organized and adept at what they do. They may work alone or in teams of two. They may use distraction like bumping into you or asking you a question, while someone else quickly grabs your wallet or item of value.
While you can watch out for pickpockets, the best thing is to take precautions to keep your money, passports and valuables secure.
Here are a few suggestions:
Use a money belt or neck wallet
If you are carrying your passport with you and large amounts of money, keep these items safe and secure by placing them in a money belt worn under your clothing.
Recommended: RFID blocking money belt travel pouch (check price & over 3500 4.5* Amazon reviews here)
Wear an anti-theft purse
For traveling in cruise ports of call, having a practical antitheft purse is a good idea. This Travelon purse is roomy enough for a wallet, sunglasses and all your handbag essentials. It’s made with slash-proof straps and locking compartments, making it a very popular travel bag for ladies.
Recommended: Travelon messenger bag (see color options & check price on Amazon here)
Wear your backpack in front of you
This may seem funny, but wearing your backpack on your front will make it harder for people to reach into your backpack, where you cannot see or notice.
Keep your wallet in your front pocket
Never put your wallet in your back pocket. While most of your money and passports should ideally be in a money belt, you’ll want a few dollars, a credit card and an official ID in a wallet.
If you put your wallet in your front pocket, and keep your hand on it at all times, you’ll be much less likely to be a target of pickpocketing.
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6. Wrong Change
When paying in cash, always count your change to make sure you have been shortchanged. Tourists can be distracted, and it can easily happen that we just don’t notice that the wrong change is given.
You’ll also want to be careful when using a credit card or debit card, that the correct amount is being charged.
7. Better Location
Something tourists and cruise travelers want to watch out for, is being taken somewhere by a driver that is a “better location”. If you’ve researched a restaurant, beach resort or attraction and want to go there, beware of drivers and locals that may want to bring you to a “better location”.
While this may be with good intention, it’s also likely that they are being paid to bring you elsewhere than you intended. If you know where you want to go, be firm that you are brought to where you agreed upon.
8. Traffic Infraction
Cruise travelers and tourists need to be careful when renting a moped or car in certain cruise ports of call. The traffic infraction scam has reportedly targeted tourists over the years.
The idea of this tourist scam is that tourists who have rented a vehicle are stopped and issued a ticket or fine for a traffic infraction. Since cruise travelers need to get back to the cruise port so not to miss the cruise ship, they can be an easy target. To avoid going to a police station to sort out the issue, they may be asked pay a picket or fine in cash.
Avoid this by researching your cruise ports and staying in tourist areas closer to the cruise port if you’re on your own.
9. Buyer Beware
While not a scam, sometimes tourists are being taken advantage of. This can happen when tourists are charged a higher price in a restaurant or store than locals.
9As well, in crowded tourist areas, you can expect the prices to be much higher than walking just a couple of blocks away.
Nowadays, it’s easy enough to use google maps and even google reviews and other apps to find alternatives to the more popular, crowded and pricey restaurants on the main road. Consider trying a restaurant a few streets away where the price, service and quality will likely be better.
Video: 10 Worst Tourist Scams (Exposed) Ripping Off Cruisers Right Now
10. Private Excursion Terms & Conditions
For cruisers in particular, something to watch out for are terms, conditions and refund policies or private shore excursions and tours.
In many cruise ports of call, when booking excursions, you have an option of booking cruise line excursions or with a private tour operator. Both have advantages. However, if you choose to book with a third party vendor, make sure you know and understand the deposit and refund policies.
For example, is only a deposit required to hold a booking or are you required to pay in full before your cruise? If the cruise ship is unable to arrive in the port, is the cost of the tour refunded?
11. Souvenir Shop Breakable Items
An unfortunate travel scam that has affected some cruisers can happen in souvenir shops. Be very careful to not touch breakable items, even ones that look like cheap trinkets, mugs or sculptures.
Some cruise travelers have reported being in souvenir shops in some Caribbean cruise ports of call, when they have picked up an item off an unsteady shelf. At that point when items fall and break, they are told they owe a large amount of money!
12. Bait & Switch
If it seems to good to be true, it probably is. If you’re offered an expensive, luxury item like a designer handbag or watch, for a low price, it’s often one of two things.
Firstly, the item is likely fake. Secondly, even if the item looks great and you agree to the purchase, it’s unlikely that you won’t get that actual item packed up in the shopping bag.
When you do purchase an item, keep a close eye on what is being packaged and wrapped up, and check the item before you leave the store to ensure that there wasn’t an item swap.
Video: Tourist Scams & Watch Outs All Cruisers Need to Know
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Final Thoughts on Tourist Scams that Cruisers Need to Watch Out For
Cruise passengers can be the target of tourism scams in embarkation ports and cruise ports of call. By being vigilant and aware of your surroundings, and taking a few precautions, you can avoid being the target of theft or another travel scam.
Have you ever seen any of these tourism scams or rip offs when travelling or cruising? Please let me know in the comments below.
Happy Cruising!
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When we were in Rome in October, pick pockets were everywhere!! We even watched a team of three get a young couple with kids!! So sad that you can’t enjoy your surroundings because of these type of people!! Isn’t that the reason you travel??
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6 Cruise Scams You Should Never Fall For
A nationally recognized reporter, writer, and consumer advocate, Ed Perkins focuses on how travelers can find the best deals and avoid scams.
He is the author of "Online Travel" (2000) and "Business Travel: When It's Your Money" (2004), the first step-by-step guide specifically written for small business and self-employed professional travelers. He was also the co-author of the annual "Best Travel Deals" series from Consumers Union.
Perkins' advice for business travelers is featured on MyBusinessTravel.com , a website devoted to helping small business and self-employed professional travelers find the best value for their travel dollars.
Perkins was founding editor of Consumer Reports Travel Letter, one of the country's most influential travel publications, from which he retired in 1998. He has also written for Business Traveller magazine (London).
Perkins' travel expertise has led to frequent television appearances, including ABC's "Good Morning America" and "This Week with David Brinkley," "The CBS Evening News with Dan Rather," CNN, and numerous local TV and radio stations.
Before editing Consumer Reports Travel Letter, Perkins spent 25 years in travel research and consulting with assignments ranging from national tourism development strategies to the design of computer-based tourism models.
Born in Evanston, Illinois, Perkins lives in Ashland, Oregon with his wife.
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Those slick TV ads can make a cruise look like the “dream come true” experience of a lifetime. And a cruise can, in fact, be a wonderful experience. But sometimes that experience morphs from dream to disaster. A cruise is both a means of transportation and a destination resort with its own passport requirements . As a result, it can suffer some of the problems of both—especially if you fall victim to certain cruise scams.
The “Free Cruise” Scam
This ploy has been around a long time, and it dominates the online reports of cruise scams. You get a letter saying you have “won” or “been selected for” a free Bahamas cruise (often from a company with “Caribbean” in its name despite the fact that the Bahamas are not in the Caribbean).
What you actually get in this cruise scam is some combination of (1) “fees and taxes,” including those imposed by the cruise line in addition to government fees; (2) a requirement to sit through a high-pressure timeshare presentation that may go on for four or five hours; (3) a dingy cabin in an obsolete ship without air-conditioning; (4) land accommodations in a run-down resort; and (5) constant pressure to “upgrade” ship or land accommodations. The internet is full of stories from folks who took the bait of this cruise scam.
Local Cruise Scams
Among the most prevalent cruise scams are those involving locals at ports of call. Usually they involve a minor loss of time and money, but occasionally they can be worse. Typical scams include fake taxi drivers who call out “taxi,” grab your baggage, ask for a payment, then hand you over to a real taxi driver who ignores what you paid the tout and charges you the going rate. In other cases, drivers will take you 10 miles for a two-mile trip.
Of course, you can find (or be found by) pickpockets, exchange dealers who give you counterfeit currency , and merchants who cheat on your credit card bill. Be especially wary of a merchant who tries to bill your card in U.S. dollars—it sounds nice, but it puts you on the hook for an extra exchange scam. Vigilance and wariness can insulate you from most of these local cruise scams, but there’s always a chance you’ll still fall victim. And if you get caught, you have very little chance of any recovery.
Bad Sightseeing Tours
This one isn’t quite an outright cruise scam, but many port visitors are really annoyed by a sightseeing tour that spends an hour at a souvenir store chosen because of the quality of its kickbacks rather than of its merchandise. A related minor cruise scam is the artwork produced by local street “artists” who are really just coloring in between the faint lines of a pre-printed scene.
Online Cruise Scams
A potentially dangerous cruise scam can compromise your identity, files, or both: an email apparently sent by a cruise line or resort asking you to hit a link for more information on your upcoming cruise. These originate with someone who has hacked the cruise line’s or operator’s data to get the names of current and prospective customers. And, obviously, either the message itself or the link contains malware. This online cruise scam is like those fake emails from FedEx or UPS going around that ask you to verify something about an upcoming shipment.
Fake List Prices
If it’s “75 percent off,” it’s bound to be a good deal—right? Not necessarily. The base price from which that 75 percent is deducted is often complete fiction. Even “brochure price” means very little. So forget about big discounts from fake list prices. You can decide whether a deal is good by comparing its price with prices for comparable cruises and by checking impartial cruise review websites such as SmarterTravel’s sister site, Cruise Critic .
The Cruise Line Contract
Although not a cruise scam in the classic sense, the worst problems you can face arise from the contract that you agree to when you buy a cruise. Those contracts are outrageously one-sided “contracts of adhesion” you would never sign if you had a chance to negotiate them yourself.
Although contracts differ a bit from company to company, almost all let the cruise line off the hook for a lot of problems and make you sign away what would normally be your rights as a consumer. Among them, the cruise line can:
- Cancel your trip for any lawful reason without prior notice.
- Disembark you or change your accommodations without liability for compensation or refund.
- Require that you accept its refund fees without recourse.
- Deviate from routes and schedules without prior notice.
- Refuse any refund or damage claim resulting from a cancellation or change due to factors not within the cruise line’s exclusive control.
- Make a proportionate refund if your cruise ends early or, at the cruise line’s option, give you only a future cruise credit.
- Insulate itself from any liability for actions performed by any subcontractor, including the ship’s doctor and shore excursion operators.
- Search your stateroom and belongings without prior notice.
- Refuse liability for emotional distress or mental suffering under any circumstances other than those you can prove in court as resulting from personal injury or imminent risk of injury.
- Limit your ability to litigate an issue to a single designated federal court or even a foreign country.
- Prohibit you from entering a class-action lawsuit.
- Value your personal property at no higher than $50 per traveler or $100 per stateroom unless you buy supplemental insurance.
- Prevent you from drinking locally bought liquor while on board.
- Require that disputes be resolved by compulsory arbitration.
The is just a partial list; be sure you’re aware of what you’re signing up for when you make that initial cruise purchase. Consider buying cruise insurance for a little extra protection in case things go wrong.
What to Wear in Curacao
Shop the look.
Tropical Swimsuit
Striped Cover-Up
Tortoiseshell Oversize Sunglasses
Woven Bucket Bag
Boardwalk Crossover Sandal
Men’s gray swim trunks.
Linen Beach Top
Stretch Swim Trunks
Beer Cooler
Ethan Slide Sandal
Lovely yellow dress to wear in mexico.
Embroidered Midi Dress
Platform Sandal
Acetate Frame Sunglasses
Biography Bracelet
Soft Leather Tote Bag
Men’s peach/navy outfit for mexico.
Cotton Short-Sleeve Henley
Solid Boardwalker Shorts
Men's Travel Wallet
Leather Belt
Men's Wool Runners
The ultimate women’s outfit to wear in spain.
Coastal Tide Maxi Dress
Duo Leather Strap Sandals
The Denim Jacket
The Day Tote Mini
Travelon RFID Blocking Passport Zip Wallet
More from smartertravel:.
- The 15 Biggest Travel Scams, and How to Avoid Them
- Europe Travel Scams to Watch Out For
- The Worst Decisions You Can Make on a Cruise
Editor’s note: This story was originally published in 2017. It has been updated to reflect the most current information.
We hand-pick everything we recommend and select items through testing and reviews. Some products are sent to us free of charge with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions and do not accept compensation to review products. All items are in stock and prices are accurate at the time of publication. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.
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Buying a Watch on a Cruise Ship: 18 Things You Need to Know
One of the things that many people look forward to doing while on a cruise is shopping. Buying a watch on a cruise ship is an exciting opportunity. But there are things to beware of so you can make an informed decision about your purchase.
The things to know about buying a watch on a cruise that we discuss below are based on the assumption that you’re looking to purchase a high-end luxury watch that costs over $800. Read on for our tips…
Disclosure: This page has affiliate links, meaning we may earn a small commission if you click the link and proceed with a purchase at no cost to you . We truly only recommend cruises, experiences, products, and services we personally use. As Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases.
1. Don’t Buy a Watch the First Day of Your Cruise
Our number one piece of advice is to wait to buy the watch. Do not buy it on the first day of the cruise.
Mikkel and I head to the onboard watch shop as soon as possible when we are on a cruise ship. Though shops usually cannot be open while in a port, as soon as the ship sails….bam! Doors open for business.
While we always try on watches the first day, we never actually consider buying the first day. We look at what they have, see how it fits, and assess if we are interested in purchasing.
Why don’t we buy it right away? Because we spend the next few days researching to see if what we want is available elsewhere and educate ourselves about the watch’s market value.
Additionally, because it’s a big purchase that we don’t take lightly, we want to walk away from it and see how much we think about it when it’s not nearby.
If you can’t get something like that out of your head, that usually means you really want it. If you don’t think about it as much as you thought you would, that may be a good indicator that you don’t love it as much as you thought you did.
Even if the adrenaline rush that comes with the thought of buying a new watch gets the best of you while you’re in the shop, trust us: don’t let it coerce you into a first-day purchase.
That said, there will not be flash sales on luxury watches towards the end of the cruise like there might be on merchandise that is less than $100. These high-ticket items do not get discounted in that way.
2. Do Your Research
Give yourself some cruise homework to know what you are buying. We find that a lot of the time, the watches we see on cruise ships are not the newest released styles.
This could be great because some of the styles could be hard to find on land if you’re looking for something in particular. But it could be bad if you want the latest and greatest. There’s no harm in asking the salesperson when the watch style originally debuted for the brand (not for the ship) if it affects your purchase decision.
What’s more, is that the watch’s price on a cruise ship may seem lower because it’s being offered duty-free. But you have to research to see what the usual market price is; the cruise ship may increase the original price since saying it’s “duty-free” is appealing enough for many people.
Simply do your research to know what you are buying.
How to Do Research Online When You Travel for Less Than Cruise Internet Costs
How do you research watch prices while cruising if you are in a foreign country and didn’t buy an internet package and don’t have a data package with your phone carrier? We use a hotspot.
If you are reading this before you travel on a cruise ship, plan ahead: bring a wifi hotspot. We connect while we’re in ports abroad for free instead of paying for wifi on mega-ships. It saves a lot of money!
Solis Pocket Wifi is the hotspot we always travel with.
- WiFi on up to 10 devices
- Lightweight and pocket-sized
- Works in popular port cities worldwide
Where to Research Discount Watch Prices at an Authorized Online Dealer Before Buying a Watch on a Cruise Ship
The first place we check is Jomashop . It is our favorite online watch retailer.
When Mikkel and I sailed with Princess Cruises a few years ago, we found the Omega DeVille watch onboard, which she had been eyeing for months before the cruise. We were seriously considering buying it. The price wasn’t too dissimilar from what we had been quoted in Omega boutiques on land.
However, we checked the price on Jomashop, and the company was coincidentally having a sale at the time. We ended up buying it from Jomashop instead of the ship.
We’ve purchased from Jomashop twice now for luxury watches, and they’re great. The shop is an authorized dealer with great customer service, and they offer a 30-day return policy for new watches and a 14-day return policy for pre-owned items.
➤ Why We Always Check Watch Prices on Jomashop :
- 30 Day return policy for a new watch.
3. Onboard Cruise Watch Shops Are 100% Legitimate
One of the benefits of buying a watch on a cruise ship is that you can be sure the shop is legitimate and an authentic, authorized retailer.
This is as opposed to buying a watch on one of the Caribbean Islands, for example, where you might be skeptical about the legitimacy of the shop. You don’t have to guess about the legality of a watch shop on a cruise ship with a reputable major cruise line.
4. You May Find Watches On a Cruise Ship That You Cannot Find at Home
If you live in New York City, you’ll unlikely find anything on a cruise ship you cannot find near your home. However, if you live in a small town, the opposite may be true: you won’t be able to find anything in your town that is available on the cruise ship.
Because I seek out luxury watch shops wherever I travel, I recently looked up watch boutiques in a region of western New York while visiting family. I couldn’t find any shops to visit. This is a case where buying a watch on a cruise ship presents a nice option.
5. You Can (and Should) Negotiate the Price
There has never been a time when we have considered a watch from an authorized dealer that we haven’t negotiated the price. It’s part of buying (most) luxury watches.
As the saying goes, if you don’t ask, the answer is no. So, ask. You don’t have anything to lose.
Make sure that you ask for the best they can do. You’d be surprised how much money they’ll knock off the price tag just because you asked.
We always push the salesperson a little more and request he or she ask a manager about the “best offer” if they clearly didn’t ask a manager in front of us. If they have to get back to us hours or a day later, they do. Trust us – they want to make the sale. They always ask for our stateroom number and call if they have to follow up and leave a message if needed.
On average, we have found that they can knock up to 20% off the price tag.
If you’ve negotiated more of a discount on a luxury watch than that on a cruise ship, please comment and let us know; we’re genuinely curious to know if anyone can negotiate more than 20% off.
6. Buying a Watch on a Cruise Ship is Duty-Free
Another benefit of buying a watch on a cruise ship is that it’s likely to be duty-free or tax-free. This can save you hundreds or thousands of dollars, depending on the watch price.
Beware, you may have to declare the watch and pay taxes upon re-entry into the United States .
7. You May Have to Declare the Watch Upon Re-Entry Into Your Home Country
Depending on the price, you’ll likely have to declare the watch when you re-enter your home country. Do you know how customs asks if you have anything to declare when you return from an international trip? A new watch would be one of those items.
This may equate to you having to pay taxes on the watch when you re-enter the United States, for example.
For the latest information on what you must declare when returning to the United States, see the government’s info on “ What to Expect When You Return .” It varies based on the product’s purchase price.
How Does Customs Know You Bought a Watch on a Cruise Ship?
It’s likely the cruise line has to report any onboard purchases above a certain dollar amount, so don’t try to skirt the system. Customs often knows about your purchase before you tell them.
8. Educate Yourself About Watch Movements
A watch movement is the mechanics of the timepiece, comparable to an engine in a car. It’s what makes the watch tick.
There are three types of watch movements listed in terms of what you can expect from most to least expensive: automatic, manual, and quartz.
Here are some examples of brands + watch movements + price points: A Hublot automatic watch can easily be over $10K. A Panerai manual watch may be around $4-$5K. And an Omega quartz watch could be $3K or less. Of course, the brands offer multiple movements and price points, but that’s an example.
There is another aspect to beware of if you buy an automatic or manual watch. If you are new to the luxury watch world, you may be surprised to learn that more expensive watches are manual, which means you need to wind them to keep time.
Automatic watches wind themselves as your arm, hand, and wrist move. However, if you take the watch off and don’t wear it for a few days, you’ll likely find the time is wrong a week later when you go to wear it. It’s not broken – it simply needs to be moved around a little bit and wound to the current time.
Quartz is the third kind of movement, which is battery-operated. It’s more likely that a watch around the thousand dollar mark and less are this price point and operation. You’re probably used to battery-operated watches if you’ve worn a watch for years that you’ve bought from a department store, for example.
9. Ask the Salesperson if He/She Can Include Another Watch Strap
Some watches come with an additional watch strap, and some don’t. If the watch you’re looking at doesn’t come with a second strap and it’s something you would like, ask if they can include one as an incentive to buy the watch. Since on-brand watch straps cost hundreds of dollars, this is a great incentive.
While it’s unlikely the onboard watch shop will have the multitude of options an on-land authorized dealer or boutique may have, they usually have some options.
If you are buying a watch with a fabric or textile strap of some kind – like leather, nato, or canvas – you should ask about an additional strap.
If you want to get more watch straps when you’re home, our favorite watch strap shop – which is incredibly well-known amongst the watch-enthusiast community – is Barton Watch Bands .
Our favorite place to shop for watch bands:
➜ check out barton's watch band options.
Use code SOMETIMESHOME for a discount on your purchase.
10. Watch Boxes are Big to Huge
Depending on the watch, the box may be big…to bigger…to huge.
Luxury watch brands nicely present their products in a box that seems to match the price tag. You’ll want to make sure you have a way to carry this box home. DO NOT put an expensive brand-new watch inside a checked piece of luggage. If anything, wear the watch and check the box that does not have the watch in it.
What is Inside a Luxury Watch Box?
So what’s inside the huge box? The watch, of course.
There should be an authenticity and/or manufacturer’s warranty card inside the box. Some brands will include a tool, like a small screwdriver, to change the strap.
Check the watch box’s contents before you leave the ship, especially to ensure it’s the right watch and everything that should be included is inside.
Do You Need the Watch Box?
First and foremost, you need what is inside the box. It’s factored into the price, like any product’s packaging. It’s up to you if you keep the physical box in the long term.
We usually do in case we ever want to resell the watch. It usually helps with the resale price.
11. Understand the Warranty
Be an educated buyer and ask about the watch’s warranty. This is specifically the manufacturer’s warranty, not the cruise ship’s store warranty.
Suppose there is a mechanical problem with the watch, and it stops keeping time correctly eight months after you purchased it. That is something likely covered by the manufacturer’s warranty. Manufacturer defects can happen – that’s why products have warranties.
It’s something to be aware of and know when you’re buying a watch on a cruise ship. It may also help give you peace of mind about buying a watch onboard.
12. Don’t Allow the Salesperson to Pressure You Into a Purchase
Make sure you are running the show, not the salesperson. It’s very easy to become gullible or naive when a salesperson, who is supposed to be the expert in the brand or product, is trying to get you to make a purchase. Their purpose is to make a sale, after all.
I’ve been told more than once by a cruise line watch salesperson, “You won’t find a deal like this anywhere else.” But that’s not usually true.
As a passionate watch collector, I know watch prices fairly well. I won’t let statements like that pressure me into making a purchase I’m not fully prepared for or educated about. And no matter your level of watch knowledge, you shouldn’t let that kind of pressure get to you either.
13. Use a Credit Card
We can’t think of a good reason to pay for anything in cash on a cruise ship. In fact, we’re not even sure all cruise ships take cash anymore in a post-COVID world. Regardless, plan to use a credit card for anything you buy on board for multiple reasons, the most important being credit card points are rewarding and a credit card, like American Express, protects your purchase.
If you buy a watch on a reputable cruise line, the onboard watch stores are authorized dealers. But the more peace of mind reassurance, the better. This is why we put big purchases on American Express credit cards wherever we go, where shops accept Amex.
American Express protects its customers better than any other credit card – Visa and Mastercard included.
14. Know What Brands the Ship Carries
Usually, big cruise ships carry one major company’s brands of watches and the brands under the mega-conglomerate. There are actually fewer independent watch brands than you may think; most of them are owned by one of the major players.
The two main players are Swatch Group and LVMH.
If it’s a Swatch Group ship, the watches they carry will include brands like:
Conversely, if it is an LVMH brand, the watches include:
While it’s not impossible, it’s unlikely that a cruise line with a contract to sell Swatch Group brands also sells some LVMH brands and vice versa. For example, you won’t find a Hamilton watch sharing space with a Tag Heuer watch because they are from two different companies.
We have, however, seen Panerai watches sold where Swatch Group watches are sold – like on Celebrity Cruises ships – and have seen them sold where LVMH brands are sold – like on Disney Cruise Line ships.
Explora Journeys, which is owned by MSC , is the first cruise line to feature an onboard Rolex boutique. EXPLORA I, the first ship in the fleet, has an onboard Rolex at sea mono brand store.
15. Ask if the Shop Has a Full-Length Mirror
You have to see the watch on you before you buy it. And viewing a watch on your wrist in a full-length mirror is so different than seeing it in a small mirror or viewing it on your wrist as you look down at your arm.
Seeing a watch on you in a full-length mirror may help you decide if you love the watch or hate it. Mikkel and I have had both instances happen!
16. It’s Okay to Take Photos of the Watches in the Shop
Don’t be shy to take photos of the watches you’re considering in the shop’s case or – even better – on your wrist.
We’re used to doing it because it’s part of our buying process. We want to be able to look at the photos after we walk away from the store while we’re considering the purchase in the hours and days to come. And what better way than to look at a photo of it on you? You’ll be the one wearing it, after all.
17. Ask if They Can Deliver the Watch to You Before You Leave the Ship
If you are uneasy about having a new watch that costs thousands of dollars in your stateroom, ask the shop if they can deliver it to you just before you disembark if you purchase the watch.
Just don’t forget the watch before you leave the ship!
18. A Watch is a Special Memento from Your Cruise Vacation
You may be sailing on a cruise for a much-needed getaway or a special reason like an anniversary, a wedding, or a proposal. Maybe it’s a family reunion.
No matter the reason, buying a watch on a cruise is an exceptional vacation souvenir.
Even if you find that the watch may be a little more expensive than a deal on land or online , you still may go for it. We support that. And sometimes the cruise ship price is better than what you can find elsewhere.
Regardless, buying a watch on a cruise ship will be memorable and incredibly special.
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http://www.bbb.org/south-east-florida/business-reviews/travel-agencies-and-bureaus/icruisecom-in-delray-beach-fl-30006676/complaints
http://www.ripoffreport.com/r/cheapcruisescom/DelRay-Beach-Florida-33445/cheapcruisescom-icruisescom-WMPH-vacations-Scammed-on-Cruise-Combo-Hotel-transfers-1116992
https://www.icruise.com/about/termsandconditions.html
https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g28932-i36-k6029610-WMPH_Vacations-Hawaii.html
Quite a bit of other stuff, but older:
https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g1-i10703-k831263-Is_Vacationstogo_com_reliable-Cruises.html
http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=26924
http://www.amazon.com/iCruise-com-WMPH-Vacations-Cruise-Finder/dp/B006GDP5UU/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8
Thank you for such a quick reply. I did do a search on TA and got no where. I decided asking was easier.
Good Luck Charlotte
My name is Uf Tukel. I am the Co-President and Founder of WMPH Vacations and iCruise.com.
Yes, we are a legitimate company. WMPH stands for We Make People Happy. We have a number of brands including iCruise.com, AlaskaCruises.com among others. iCruise and our iCruise Cruise Finder App are how most people know us. Personally, I've been selling cruises since 1992. My business partner Don Walker and I started WMPH Vacations in 2004. Since then we have served over 600,000 guests to destinations all over the World.
We are an award, winning, top producing cruise travel agency and are headquartered in Delray Beach, Florida. We have 120 employees serving cruise guests from all over the world. Last year we were the Celebrity Cruises Account of the Year and in 2014, we were name to the Cruise Industry Hall of Fame.
http://www.travelagewest.com/News/CLIA-Honors-Cruise-Executives/#.V2phofkrI-U
I'm not sure when you are booked on cruise . Perhaps you have already traveled. If so, I hope your iCruise agent was friendly and helpful and everyone on our staff provided the level of service you expect and deserve, as well as a good price, of course.
I know it's late, but hope you find this answer satisfactory and that you will consider our services again in the future. It would certain be our pleasure serving you again.
Thanks again.
Kind regards,
Co-President & Founder
WMPH Vacations and iCruise.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/uftukel
https://www.icruise.com/about/aboutus.html
https://www.wmphvacations.com/about/about-wmph-vacations.html
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As always, Kathy Asher who's soooo patience and kind; always returning my phone calls; thank you! The best company to book your cruise with!
Date of experience : March 29, 2024
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Courtney Donovan was a pleasure to work with. She was very helpful and knowledgeable. She went above and beyond to answer all of my questions.
Date of experience : March 21, 2024
Great customer service
Great customer service . The trip advisor was able to accommodate my time constraints for the cruise.
Looking for a great deal to places I wanted to see.
Had no problem finding a great deal. The agent Diane was excellent. Wasn’t planning on booking anything, since I was just looking. Ended up getting a vacation package in the time frame I wanted with one call.
Tjhe young woman who helped me change my…reservation was Denni
The young woman who helped me change my cruise was kind and very helpful. I’m sure others have told you, she is an expert at what she does. She deserves special recognition and a probably a raise and a promotion. Her name is Denni , make sure you don’t lose her. Gerald Wallace Satisfied Customer
Date of experience : March 08, 2024
Be aware and cautious if you book with them
They night offer some decent incentives but they charge a $24.99 junk fee and also charge you $100 cancellation even before final payment is due when there is no cruise line cancellation penalty at that point. Not sure if I will book any further cruises with them. Incentives improved on my cruise but I can not cancel and rebook without being screwed with a $100 fee. So just proceed with caution if you decide to book through them
Date of experience : February 01, 2024
I booked most of my cruises through cruises.com…
I booked most of my cruises through Cruise.com and it’s always a good experience. My experience yesterday, however, was extraordinary. I had the good fortune to work with Taylor S, she really did go above and beyond to meet my requests. I have forward to working with her in the future.
Date of experience : March 06, 2024
Cruises.com will NOT give you best rates!!!! Booked a cruise almost 2 years in…
Booked a cruise almost 2 years in advance on Cruises.com & when on my reservation with Royal Carribean it showed rate dropped $100 pp. I called right away & lady at Cruises.com said she checked with Royal Carribean & rate was actually higher. I double checked again & still said same cruise same time in same room was $100 pp cheaper. Lady wouldn’t give me reduced rate. I don’t even think she called. Terrible customer service!!!! Company doesn’t standing by what they say if rate drops will always get lower rate.
Date of experience : February 21, 2024
First cruise and it was fantastic…
First cruise and it was fantastic already booked another trip. 🙌
Date of experience : March 10, 2024
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Very attentive to needs. Good incentives. Always return my calls in a timely manner. Highly recommend!
Date of experience : March 19, 2024
My representative Susan helped me with…
My representative Susan helped me with the entire process. Any questions I had she immediately answered.
Date of experience : March 20, 2024
Great Deals but be always consider your options
Cruises.com provided great cruise deals that are cheaper than booking directly through the cruise lines, depending on time of booking. Having said that, booking through a third party like cruises.com makes the customer ineligible for deals through the cruise company (in my case, I cannot book the drink and wifi package from the cruise line.) Another con: this was my first time booking through the site and the first five times I tried booking and entered my credit card number, it errors out causing me worry that it was not legit. However, I ended up trying again the following day and everything looks good so far. My booking appeared on Celebrity Cruise lines's website.
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I had called and asked about promotion and was told that it applied to my booking. When my cruise was actually booked and I looked at confirmation it did not include gratuities like I was told it would. When questioned why it was not included was told it didn’t apply to my booking even though earlier in the day was told it would. I was then told for $558 more I could move to a balcony and the gratuities would be included, so I called to upgrade to a balcony and then was told it would be and additional $900 and some odd dollars and another $250 for the deposit. Will never book with this Company again. Just out to rip you off with false advertising and advice.
Date of experience : February 29, 2024
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Excellent experience
We have worked with Kelsey Meyers on 2 different cruises. She has been very professional, courteous and continues to answer all of our questions for our upcoming cruise. Will definitely use her in the future (as we plan our cruise for next year).
Date of experience : February 14, 2024
Customer service is key.
The girl Katie, who helped us, is the reason it was so good. It's our first cruise and we called for help, not wanting to make mistakes, and she was so helpful and knowledgeable. She got us better than we were hoping for. It's all so complicated that without her it would've been hard and miserable and we would have done it wrong.
Date of experience : February 20, 2024
Great prices
All info is clearly displayed on website. Easy to review among many choices. Prices good. Extra benefits appreciated. Easy to complete application. If you need to call the 800 number, a real person answers who is knowledgable.
Date of experience : January 31, 2024
Robin Schafer at Cruises.com is the best!
Robin Schafer at Cruises.com is now our go to person when we want to book a cruise. He is very pleasant and thorough and has surpassed our expectations each time. We often compare *many* cruises and he happily helps us with that, whereas agents with a different website often got grumpy during our past booking attempts.
Date of experience : December 27, 2023
Awesome customer service!
Lisa was so helpful and knowledgeable! She took the time we needed to help us find the right cruise and get three rooms close to each other for our family. She was awesome and happy to get some small perks by booking with cruises.com!!
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American Tourists Left Stranded On Remote African Island After Cruise Ship Leaves Without Them
An American couple nearly experienced being cast away after becoming stranded on a small African island after their cruise ship left without them due to a tour guide’s delay, leading to a series of challenges and acts of kindness. They are still awaiting assistance.
Jill and Jay Campbell, from Garden City, South Carolina, took a cruise to the African continent aboard a Norwegian liner that started on March 20.
But a week into their voyage, the couple and a handful of other passengers were left stranded 5,960 miles from their South Carolina home, North Carolina TV station WRAL reported.
Jill said what was supposed to be a memorable cruise became truly unforgettable but for the wrong reason.
She said: “We have never had an experience like this before.”
Jill and Campbell were among eight passengers left stranded in São Tomé and Príncipe
Image credits: Inside Edition
On Wednesday (March 27), the Campbells and six other people were on a tour in São Tomé and Príncipe, an African island nation close to the equator.
The tour took longer than expected. As Jay recalled: “We were like, ‘Our time is getting really short, ‘and they were like, ‘No problem, we can get you back within an hour.'”
The Campbells reportedly said the tour operator had contacted the captain to let them know passengers were going to be late.
Image credits: Jill Campbell
When the group arrived at the port, the ship was still anchored, but the Campbells said the captain refused to let them on board, as per WRAL.
Jay explained: “The Harbor Master tried to call the ship , [but] the captain refused the call.
“We sent emails to Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), the NCL customer service emergency number, and they said, well, the only way for us to get in touch with the ship is to send them emails, and they’re not responding to our emails.”
The cruise’s captain refused to let the passengers back on board after their tour had taken longer than expected
São Tomé coast guard managed to eventually load all of the passengers on a boat and take them to the anchored ship, but the captain told the coast guard to take the passengers back to the island.
Jay further recalled: “The captain could have made an easy decision to turn one of the tender boats back, pick us up, safely load us, and then go on the way.
“They had no port to call for the next day, they were simply going to be at sea. “
The group consisted of seven Americans and two Australians, four of whom were elderly. One passenger had a heart condition, and another was a paraplegic, WRAL reported.
Additionally, there was a married couple from Delaware, and the wife was reportedly pregnant.
While stranded, the group met an 80-year-old woman who got a concussion and lost part of her vision following a different cruise line tour, WRAL reported.
Elderly people with medical conditions were left stranded on the remote island
The Campbells said she was left at the hospital without any money or her belongings, and her emergency contact was never notified by the cruise line. However, the couple was able to help her.
Jay said: “I truly believe sometimes we’re put in certain places for a reason, and I believe we were put in this place for the 80-year-old woman who was left alone.
“God forbid what would have happened to that lady if we were not here.”
Image credits: ncl
According to WRAL, none of the other passengers had their medications or even credit cards that were accepted on the island.
The Campbells said they were the only ones in the group with a Visa card. As a result, they’ve paid over $5,000 in food, toiletries, and hotels for the group.
Jay was just happy to have his wife by his side, as he revealed: “This woman has been a saint.”
You can watch the incident’s new report below:
“I don’t know where the whole group would be without her strength, guidance, and compassion for others.
“I’m honored and blessed that I have the smartest woman in the world next to me.”
The Campbells said they would get help from the U.S. Embassy in Angola. On Sunday (April 7), the castaway group will be expected to fly to Gambia.
However, the stranded passengers can currently only get on the ship if the cruise line approves their request. The Campbells said they have not heard back from Norwegian Cruise Line about the incident.
Bored Panda has contacted NCL for comment.
“This is so unfair,” a reader commented
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Cruise ship stuck in Spain will resume sailing after Bolivian passengers with visa problems removed
Spain bolivia cruise ship.
MADRID (AP) — A cruise ship stuck in the northeastern Spanish port of Barcelona will be able to resume its route after a group of Bolivian passengers with visa problems were taken off the vessel on Thursday, authorities said.
The Spanish government said in a statement it had reached an agreement with MSC Cruises Company in which 69 Bolivian passengers were removed from the boat and taken to a transit zone in the port, but were not granted permission to enter Spanish territory.
The ship got stranded in Barcelona this week after the Bolivian passengers were not allowed to disembark because they lacked valid documents to enter the European border-free Schengen area, an ID-check-free travel zone comprising 29 European countries that Spain is part of.
Barcelona was meant to be the final destination for the Bolivian passengers, but the boat was scheduled to travel onward to other countries.
The cruise company agreed to provide another boat from Livorno, Italy, for the Bolivian passengers later Thursday, the government statement said. It was not clear if that boat would remain in Barcelona until the situation is resolved or take the Bolivian passengers elsewhere.
Under the agreement, MSC Cruises will also provide food and health care for the impacted Bolivians and immigration officials will work to resolve the passengers' visa problems as quickly as possible, it added.
The MSC Armonia, with more than 1,000 passengers reportedly on board, plans to sail to Italy on Thursday, the cruise company said.
Solange Duarte, a Bolivian diplomat in Barcelona, told The Associated Press on Wednesday she had received reports that some of the stranded Bolivians had been duped into obtaining fake visas but had no further information.
“We have asked the families to indicate who has processed this visa and we have not gotten answers,” she said.
Spain’s national police were looking into the possibility of a fake visa scam, Duarte said.
MSC Cruises said in a statement Wednesday the Bolivian “passengers appeared to have proper documentation upon boarding in Brazil" but Spanish authorities later said the visas were not valid for entry into the Schengen area.
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Passengers set to rejoin cruise after reportedly being left behind on African island
HORRY COUNTY, S.C. ( WMBF /Gray News) - A group of passengers who were reportedly left on an African island by their cruise liner is planning to return to the ship on Tuesday.
In a statement, Norwegian Cruise Line said the group is set to rejoin the cruise in Dakar, Senegal.
The passengers were originally supposed to reboard on Monday in Banjul, Gambia, but the ship could not dock safely due to the weather.
Norwegian Cruise Line said its protocol means guests are typically responsible for any travel costs to rejoin the ship at the next port of call, but Norwegian will reimburse the group because of the weather issues.
The guests, which include a Garden City couple Jill and Jay Campbell, haven’t been back on the ship since March 27, while the ship was in São Tomé and Príncipe.
Norwegian Cruise Line said the guests were on a private tour and did not make it back in time.
“We were waiting for the tender boats to come back and get us because our boat was anchored off the harbor, but they didn’t come back to get us,” Jay Campbell previously shared.
According to the cruise line, all guests were told about an all-aboard 3 p.m. call time that day, but the guests missed it by more than an hour. It added that their passports were left with the local port agents for retrieval.
Norwegian Cruise Line explained that it works closely with local tour operators to ensure excursions are planned to the cruise line’s schedule to guarantee timely arrivals back to port. However, since the group was on a private tour, it was not in communication with the tour operator.
The Campbells were eight days into the 21-day cruise, which started in South Africa.
Norwegian Cruise Line claimed that once the guests did not make it back to the ship, it worked with them and the local port agent to help with obtaining the necessary visas for them.
Over the weekend, the passengers shared that they tried reaching out to Norwegian Cruise Line but they did not hear back from the company promptly regarding reembarking the ship.
“We paid a lot for this trip to Africa, so we hope to make it through the rest of this trip and end in Spain,” Jay Campbell previously shared.
Copyright 2024 WMBF via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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Traffic, weather and more: What you need to know before next week's solar eclipse in Ohio
The total solar eclipse is just four days away.
On Monday, April 8, millions of Ohioans will see the total eclipse , which is set to cross the U.S. from southern Texas traveling northeast through the Midwest and Ohio to Maine. It comes less than seven years after the last one on Aug. 21, 2017. The 2017 eclipse was the first one to sweep the nation since 1918.
This is the first eclipse to cross Ohio in around 200 years, and we won't see another one in the Buckeye state until the end of the century.
Here's everything to know:
What is a solar eclipse?
During a total solar eclipse, the moon blocks the entire face of the sun — known as the photosphere — briefly revealing its outer atmosphere, the corona, or “crown.”
As described by the American Astronomical Society : "At the beginning and end of totality, the thin middle layer of the sun’s atmosphere, the chromosphere, blazes in an arc of ruby red. The sky darkens to a deep twilight blue, with yellow, orange, and pink sunrise/sunset colors on the horizon in all directions. Bright stars and planets shine forth, and the air temperature drops noticeably."
When does the solar eclipse start near me and how long does it last?
The total eclipse will last for approximately three minutes and 40 seconds for those in the path of totality. Southwest Ohio may begin to see it at 3:05 p.m., in Lima at 3:10 p.m., and over Akron and Cleveland at 3:15 p.m., according to NASA projections.
Use the ZIP code locator below to find out when the eclipse begins and ends in your area — and what it will look like.
What will traffic be like in Ohio during the eclipse?
Officials expect 150,000 to 575,000 visitors when the total solar eclipse casts its shadow over Ohio on April 8. The 124-mile-wide path of totality will cross the state from southwest to northeast, briefly blanketing cities like Dayton, Mansfield, Akron and Cleveland in darkness. Cincinnati and Columbus are just south of totality.
More: Where could Ohio traffic be bad during the solar eclipse? See the map from ODOT
The total eclipse will last only a few minutes, but some of the state's major highways could be jammed for hours as people head home, according to the Ohio Department of Transportation.
Southwest and central Ohio may experience some gridlock that morning, and all four models show demand increasing in the hours before the eclipse. But the real snarls are expected once it's over. The heaviest traffic appears in the forecast late afternoon and doesn't appear to ease up for hours.
ODOT said to expect the worst congestion in northwest Ohio around Toledo and Findlay, the closest viewing spot for eclipse tourists from Michigan. Other areas that could be busier than normal include Interstate 71 and Interstate 270 in the Columbus area, Interstate 75 from Dayton to Cincinnati and in northwest Ohio, and Interstate 77 between Akron and Canton.
You can view ODOT’s traffic forecasting map at bit.ly/ODOTeclipsemap .
What is the weather forecast Monday in the Columbus area?
According to the National Weather Service Wilmington office, it will be partly sunny next Monday with a high near 65 degrees with a chance of showers. Dayton also expects partly sunny weather, although Cincinnati is expected to be mostly cloudy.
Where can I watch the eclipse in Columbus, central Ohio?
Here are some central Ohio locations with events and celebrations for viewing the eclipse:
- Columbus Zoo & Aquarium Solar-bration , 4850 W. Powell Road, Powell, noon to 4 p.m. - COSI will bring a hands-on activity and demonstrate how the moon blocks the sun during a solar eclipse. Also, Columbus Recreation and Parks will host a trivia game centering around eclipse and conservation questions and Velvet Ice Cream will offer a special "SUNdae" for April 8 only. This event is included with Zoo admission. For admission prices, visit columbuszoo.org/hours-and-rates . ( columbuszoo.org/events/solar-eclipse-solar-bration )
- COSI Solar Eclipse Experience 2024 , 333 W. Broad St., 1-4 p.m. - COSI will offer hands-on educational STEAM demonstrations and activities, a live video stream of the eclipse in totality, free solar eclipse glasses and STEAM kits (while supplies last), and more. While you're there, check out of the new video, "Eclipse: The Musical," made in partnership with Alphabet Rockers. Tickets to COSI will be available for those who want to continue the learning experience. ( cosi.org/2024eclipse/index.html )
- COSI and Columbus Metropolitan Library Solar Eclipse Watch Party , 96 Grant Ave., 1-4:40 p.m. - Kids and their families can take part in hands-on science activities and hear stories about space and the eclipse. ( columbuslibrary.org/solar-eclipse-2024 )
- Dublin in the Dark , Riverside Crossing Park, 6635 Riverside Drive, and Coffman Park, 5200 Emerald Parkway, 1:30-4:30 p.m. - These viewing events will include music by a DJ and strolling entertainment. ( dublinohiousa.gov/eclipse )
- Under the Sun: Solar Eclipse Viewing , The Dawes Arboretum, 7770 Jacksontown Road, Newark, 2-4 p.m. - In addition to hands-on activities for all ages to celebrate the total solar eclipse, representatives from the Newark Earthworks will be on hand to discuss the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks and astronomy. Guests are encouraged to bring their own chairs, blankets and solar eclipse viewers. ( dawesarb.org/calendar-events-dawes-arboretum )
View a full list of central Ohio locations on The Dispatch's website.
How to find 2024 solar eclipse glasses
Do not look at the sun on April 8 (or any other day, for that matter) without certified glasses. That is, glasses that meet the International Organization for Standardization for direct solar viewing.
Certified glasses have the ISO 12312-2 labeling clearly printed on them or in the description. The American Astronomical Society website has a long list of approved vendors (see below).
Beware of eclipse scams
Also be on the lookout for fake glasses available on websites like Amazon.
The Ohio Attorney General's Office received a complaint March 19 about possibly fake glasses being sold on Amazon. The listing for the glasses stated that they were "NASA approved," The Dispatch previously reported.
More: Don't be blinded by solar eclipse scams. Here's how Ohioans can spot them
NASA does not endorse glasses, said Rick Fienberg, project manager for the solar eclipse task force of the American Astronomical Society (AAS) , a Washington, D.C.-based organization that promotes scientific education and research. The AAS, however, does offer a list of approved glasses vendors online .
When is the next eclipse in Ohio?
The next total solar eclipse visible in Ohio will be on Sept. 14, 2099, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources . The next total solar eclipse that can be seen from the contiguous U.S. will be on Aug. 23, 2044.
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Cruises are heading to different ports because of the Baltimore bridge collapse, and Carnival says it's only taking a little loss
- The Baltimore bridge collapse will have a small impact on Carnival's bottom line.
- Carnival secured a temporary home port in Norfolk, Virginia, to minimize operational changes.
- Royal Caribbean and American Cruise Line's operations may also be affected.
Tuesday's Baltimore bridge collapse may marginally affect the world's largest cruise company.
All vessel traffic has been halted at Baltimore's port, stopping both containerships and cruise ships.
Josh Weinstein, the CEO of Carnival, addressed the incident at the start of Wednesday's earnings call, thanking emergency services and the Coast Guard. Noting the "fluid" situation, he said the port closure's impact was not factored into full-year guidance or the earnings presentation, which covered the three months ending February 29.
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"We expect the situation to have less than a $10 million impact on a full-year guidance," Weinstein said .
The company said it secured a temporary home port in Norfolk, Virginia, for as long as needed, which should minimize operational changes. One of its cruises, the Carnival Legend, departed on Sunday for a seven-day round trip from the Baltimore port and will return instead to Norfolk. Its passengers will be bussed back to Baltimore , Weinstein said.
Without factoring in the collapse, Carnival's adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization for 2024 are expected to be $5.63 billion, according to its earnings release .
Carnival stock fell about 3% at 10:20 a.m. in New York after the earnings call before paring losses. Competitors Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line were up around 3% and 6% respectively at closing.
Other cruise companies that sail out of Baltimore are similarly adjusting their plans.
The second-largest cruise operator, Royal Caribbean, has about 30 cruises out of Baltimore scheduled for the rest of this year. One left Baltimore on Saturday, with plans to return on April 4. The company is working on "alternatives" for that ship and others slated to sail out of the port, per the Washington Post .
American Cruise Line also frequents the Baltimore port on East Coast itineraries — its American Glory cruise is set to sail next week. The company has over 30 cruises scheduled from the Baltimore port for the rest of 2024.
The Baltimore port is the 17th-largest in the US, and the bridge collapse has left six construction workers presumed dead . While the cruise industry has adapted swiftly and does not expect the collapse to affect its bottom line significantly, the port closure is expected to hit the auto industry especially hard.
Watch: The container ship that destroyed the Francis Scott Key Bridge has crashed before
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Welcome to r/scams. This is an educational subreddit focused on scams. It is our hope to be a wealth of knowledge for people wanting to educate themselves, find support, and discover ways to help a friend or loved one who may be a victim of a scam.
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I double checked again & still said same cruise same time in same room was $100 pp cheaper. Lady wouldn't give me reduced rate. I don't even think she called. Terrible customer service!!!! Company doesn't standing by what they say if rate drops will always get lower rate. Date of experience: February 21, 2024.
MADRID (AP) — A cruise ship stuck in the northeastern Spanish port of Barcelona will be able to resume its route after a group of Bolivian passengers with visa problems were taken off the vessel ...
Story by Donata Leskauskaite. • now • 4 min read. An American couple nearly experienced being cast away after becoming stranded on a small African island after their cruise ship left without ...
A cruise ship stuck in the northeastern Spanish port of Barcelona will be able to resume its route after a group of Bolivian passengers with visa problems were taken off the vessel on Thursday ...
River Danube cruise ship crashed after it was 'suddenly no longer able to maneuver,' 17 passengers injured. Cameron Manley. Mar 31, 2024, 5:53 AM PDT. The ship crashed into a concrete wall in the ...
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HORRY COUNTY, S.C. ( WMBF /Gray News) - A group of passengers who were reportedly left on an African island by their cruise liner is planning to return to the ship on Tuesday. In a statement ...
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The second-largest cruise operator, Royal Caribbean, has about 30 cruises out of Baltimore scheduled for the rest of this year. One left Baltimore on Saturday, with plans to return on April 4. The ...