I Paid A Fortune to Cruise On “New” Crystal Cruises. Was It Worth It? (Podcast #526)

For many people, the idea of living part, or full-time, on cruise ships sounds like a dream-like paradise. But having spent time closely following several people that have recently tried it, I saw the harsh reality is that dream comes with some darker aspects, nightmare challenges and unexpected problems. Things I think you need to know about. In another video (https://youtu.be/qlV2QabCRkQ  ), I looked at the options and what it REALLY costs to live on cruise ships today but in this, I pull back the curtains on the downsides. Channels mentioned in the video: • 30 & A Wake Up: https://www.youtube.com/@30AndAWakeUp  • Poverty to Paradise: https://www.youtube.com/@PovertyToParadise  • Grounded Life Cruises: https://www.youtube.com/@GroundedLifeCruises  • Fraser At Sea: https://www.youtube.com/@FraserAtSea  Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: https://www.patreon.com/tipsfortravellers and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams Visit my Tips For Travellers YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/tipsfortravellers   Get 10% any order of The Cruise Maps who you visit the site using this link: https://www.TheCruiseMaps.com/TFT    

I've been asking experienced cruisers I’ve met what they did to make their cruise vacation perfect. And they are all saying the same things as other smart cruisers I've asked on past cruises. Well, mostly the same because while there 5 things all agree on, there is one that splits smart cruisers into two opposing camps. As you will hear. Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: https://www.patreon.com/tipsfortravellers and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams Visit my Tips For Travellers YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/tipsfortravellers Get 10% any order of The Cruise Maps who you visit the site using this link: https://www.TheCruiseMaps.com/TFT

I have been shocked at how many videos, blogs, and articles, many by people that cruise passengers see as leading cruise experts, are totally wrong on the topic of who owns what cruise line - and are giving incorrect answers and bad advice to the question I and others are frequently asked: "I want to go on an ocean cruise a non-USA owned line, what are my options?”. People acting on the advice are booking lines they have been told are non-USA owned perhaps by European or other owners but are not in fact. I spent time diving deep into this topic, and even some lines that push a regional or national line are not owned by that nation any longer due to recent changes I talk about. Links mentioned in the video: * Who owns the cruise lines download: https://www.TipsForTravellers.com/owners    Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: https://www.patreon.com/tipsfortravellers and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams Visit my Tips For Travellers YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/tipsfortravellers   Get 10% any order of The Cruise Maps who you visit the site using this link: https://www.TheCruiseMaps.com/TFT

After closely following several people living cruise ships for some time and analysing the different options and ways they do it, I discovered many remarkable things like not only how they make it work, and importantly what it really costs, but I also the uncovered there is an unexpected dark side of living on cruise ships that you need to know about Channels mentioned in the video: • 30 & A Wake Up: https://www.youtube.com/@30AndAWakeUp  • Poverty to Paradise: https://www.youtube.com/@PovertyToParadise  • Grounded Life Cruises: https://www.youtube.com/@GroundedLifeCruises  • Fraser At Sea: https://www.youtube.com/@FraserAtSea   Links mentioned: * Need To Know Before Playing Cruise Ship Casino: https://www.tipsfortravellers.com/cruise-ship-casino-what-you-need-to-know-before-you-play/  * How To Gamble On Cruise Ships To Unlock Free Cruises: https://www.tipsfortravellers.com/how-to-gamble-on-a-cruise-to-unlock-perks/    Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: https://www.patreon.com/tipsfortravellers and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams Visit my Tips For Travellers YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/tipsfortravellers

While the cheapest way to go to Antarctica is on a regular cruise line and ship sailing past the Antarctic Peninsula as part of a South America itinerary, there is a huge catch making it less fulfilling as you do not get to land or do zodiac rides to get close to wildlife. For a true Antarctic experience, an expedition cruise is the way to go. However, as the cost of these cruises is prohibitive to most, I asked my friend, Martin Johnson who runs Polar Routes (a dedicated Antarctic and Arctic travel agency), to help me identify the most budget-friendly ways to get there. And in this I share how you can cruise to Antarctica for less and without breaking the bank. Links mentioned in the video Download the PDF comparing the 21 Antarctica cruise lines: https://www.tipsfortravellers.com/polar   * Polar Routes: https://www.polarroutes.co.uk  * Polar Routes Antarctica Hosted Group Cruises: Ponant: https://www.polarroutes.co.uk/cruises/antarctica/emblematic-antarctica-14-days-by-ponant/  and HX Hurtigruten Expeditions: https://www.polarroutes.co.uk/cruises/antarctica/antarctica-falklands-south-georgia-25-days-by-hx/ Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: https://www.patreon.com/tipsfortravellers and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams Visit my Tips For Travellers YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/tipsfortravellers

I have been intrigued as recent reviews of Crystal Cruises have been very positive, including it having the highest passenger ratings on Cruise Critic in the ultra-luxury category, better than Regent Seven Seas, Silversea and Seabourn. So, I decided to test Crystal Cruises out to see if they really are the best of the ultra-luxury lines. This is what I discovered. Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: https://www.patreon.com/tipsfortravellers and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams Visit my Tips For Travellers YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/tipsfortravellers

After doing well over 100 cruises, I thought I knew everything about life on a cruise ship. That was until a dinner hosted by a senior crew member on my last cruise, where they revealed a surprising secret about cruise ship crew that I was totally unaware of! That got me wondering what else I, and other passengers, have no idea about cruise ship crew. Welcome aboard, I am Gary Bembridge and after much research and talking to crew off the record, I found 6 secrets kept well hidden from us passengers that I think you will find surprising and maybe even shocking. Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: https://www.patreon.com/tipsfortravellers and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams Visit my Tips For Travellers YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/tipsfortravellers   Get 10% any order of The Cruise Maps who you visit the site using this link: https://www.TheCruiseMaps.com/TFT

Cruise line glossy brochures and their enticing adverts promise a carefree and trouble-free vacation, BUT they don’t tell the whole story. There are several important things that can and do significantly impact us as passengers that the lines seem reluctant to talk about or be upfront about. Welcome aboard, I'm Gary Bembridge and join me as I unmask five unspoken things that directly affect us all, and why I believe you need to know more about them. Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: https://www.patreon.com/tipsfortravellers and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams Visit my Tips For Travellers YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/tipsfortravellers   Get 10% any order of The Cruise Maps who you visit the site using this link: https://www.TheCruiseMaps.com/TFT

I have done a Panama Canal transit four times and on every trip I see passengers making the same mistakes that get in the way of making it their adventure of a lifetime. But some of the errors are so easy to make that even an experienced cruiser like me can get tripped up – as I did on my most recent Panama Canal trip on Regent Grandeur. So, welcome aboard, I’m Gary Bembridge and hear 5 things I have learnt the hard way that you need to know about doing a Panama Canal cruise. Links mentioned: David McCullough’s “The Path Between the Seas. The Creation of the Panama Canal” ** Buy on USA Amazon: https://amzn.to/3E3QV65  ** Buy on UK Amazon: https://amzn.to/3CdECnb   Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: https://www.patreon.com/tipsfortravellers and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams Visit my Tips For Travellers YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/tipsfortravellers   Get 10% any order of The Cruise Maps who you visit the site using this link: https://www.TheCruiseMaps.com/TFT

Days before heading off on Regent's newest ship, the Grandeur, the line launched new advertising promising that “nobody does it better”. In in they also claimed to have the “world's most luxurious fleet”, and that no cruise line beats them on destination experiences, hospitality, luxury spaces, and dining. Having been on Regent before, while I found them great, I didn’t think they beat every line, so this latest trip turned into the perfect opportunity to really test out if Regent now does do cruising better than everybody else. I am Gary Bembridge, and this is what I found. And as always to offer an unbiased review I booked and paid for this trip myself like every single cruise I go on Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: https://www.patreon.com/tipsfortravellers and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams Visit my Tips For Travellers YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/tipsfortravellers   Get 10% any order of The Cruise Maps who you visit the site using this link: https://www.TheCruiseMaps.com/TFT