An ocean cruise is, for many, the holiday of a lifetime. But the dream can easily turn into a nightmare if things go wrong. Cruise expert Gary Bembridge has listed the most comment problems cruisers can face – and how to deal with them.
First of all, he told his YouTube channel Tips for Travellers, there’s the challenge of what to do if your chosen cruise line decides to cancel the cruise for any reason. Aside from the obvious disappointment, you can also be stuck with flights, or other arrangements that you need to cancel.
Prevention is better than cure, travel expert Gary says, and the best policy is to avoid any cruise with a higher-than-average risk of cancellation, such as a new ship’s maiden voyage or any cruise that passes through volatile areas such as the Middle East.
That’s particularly important, he says, because getting compensation from a cruise line can be surprisingly difficult: “The cruise contract you agree to when you book your cruise allows them to make changes without any right to cancel or receive compensation if they do.”
He says you should always make sure any flights or hotel bookings you make to get you to your embarkation point are flexible, fun case of last minute changes.
Dramatic changes to your cruise itinerary can also be a major disappointment, Gary says, and you’ll only be entitled to compensation under very specific conditions, such as if the ship suffers a mechanical failure.
Gary explains: “If you do not like any changes, you will need to contact the line and argue you see the change as ‘significant’ and demand a refund or to change to a different cruise. You should be in a stronger position to get compensation if ports are cancelled or changed during the cruise, but only if it is due to a cruise line issue, like mechanical problem, and not weather, unrest or safety reasons.”
The third problem Gary highlights is when passengers are denied boarding. This can be for a number of reasons but it’s most commonly caused by incomplete or incorrect paperwork – such as when a passenger fails to produce a passport or an entry visa for one or more ports of call.
He says it’s always work making sure you have an up-to-date passport with you – even if the line operators say you won’t need it – because it’s a very handy thing to have in the event of some unforeseen issue.
The worries don’t stop after you’re aboard, though, with the potential problem of being left behind if an exception on land takes longer than you anticipated. Gary recommends manually setting your phone’s clock to ship time – and disabling any automatic time-zone changes that might trip you up.
He adds that keeping essential paperwork with you – such as a passport – can be a lifesaver if you accidentally end up stranded in some foreign port.
Another useful tip, which will come in very handy if your suitcase goes missing somewhere en route to the ship, is to put some of your essential items in your partner’s luggage, so you will at least have clean underwear in the event of a baggage mishap.
Gary’s final two tips both involve something else that should go into your suitcase. Always pack a basic medical kit – such as painkillers and anti-diarrhoea tablets – and an emergency temporary filling in case you break a tooth or lose a filling while on board. Medical bills can mount up dramatically overseas – and cruise shops may have a basic health clinic but they don’t tend to maintain a regular dental surgery.
