Trip Bacon β€” The secret ingredient to the perfect getaway logo

10 Cruise GOUGES & RIP-OFFS to Absolutely Avoid (If You Can)

Cruzely.com
Cruzely.com
πŸ…Authority
πŸ‘οΈ 61K viewsπŸ“… 2 years ago⏱️ 12:40

Key Moments

Editorial Summary

Tanner from Cruisley.com shares several ways cruise passengers can avoid unnecessary expenses and perceived gouges during their travels. He begins by advising against booking expensive suites on short cruises where passengers spend minimal time in the room. He recounts a personal experience with a tourist trap excursion in Mexico to illustrate the importance of reading reviews before booking shore excursions. The creator also highlights how passengers can save money by bringing their own beverages, such as wine or soda, to avoid high onboard prices. He discusses the high costs of shipboard internet and the potential savings of using rideshare services instead of cruise line shuttles. Additionally, he notes that seasonal pricing can significantly inflate cruise fares during holidays and summer months. The video touches on the frustration of automatic gratuities for self-service or robotic stations and concludes with a tip on using AARP membership to purchase discounted gift cards for major cruise lines. By following these observations, travelers can better manage their budgets and avoid feeling like they received a bad deal.

Written by TripBacon from this video's transcript.

How This Review Compares

This review's score for Royal Caribbean Group
Mild Gripe
All-time creator consensus for Royal Caribbean Group
A Nibble

This review is more critical than the all-time creator consensus.

What This Creator Said
Creator Warns AgainstTips & AdviceπŸ…Authority Creator
Veteran Cruiser

Source: Our analysis of the creator's lived experience, based on what they said in this video.

Creator's Key Takeaways

the suite is nearly $1,800 per person or more than $900 more per person over the interior cabin price

this was the definition of a tourist trap

you're still getting gouged with these set prices now it's just all out in the open

I spent more on the internet for a few days aboard a ship than I do for an entire month at home

Creator's Tips & Advice

βœ“Avoid booking suites on short cruises as you barely use the room
βœ“Check reviews before booking excursions to avoid tourist traps
βœ“Bring your own wine and non-alcoholic drinks to save money
βœ“Use ride-sharing services instead of cruise line shuttles for better value
βœ“Buy AARP discounted gift cards for 8-10% off cruise purchases

πŸ†•New to Cruising? This Creator Addresses:

Overpaying for suites on short cruises β€” Only book suites if priced only a little higher than standard rooms
Falling for tourist trap excursions β€” Always check reviews and research excursions before booking

Questions This Creator Answers

QWhat are common cruise gouges to avoid?
QHow can passengers save money on cruises?
QWhy are some cruise expenses considered bad deals?

Topics Covered

Wifi Connectivity3Β½ Sad BaconValue Pricing3 Sad BaconExcursions4 Sad BaconDining Bars Drinks2Β½ Sad BaconBooking Process1 Happy Bacon

Port Highlights

Amber Cove3Β½ Sad Bacon
CocoCay
Cozumel4 Sad Bacon
Top: Lab Bufadora ($45)
How to read the Trip Bacon Score
Happy Bacon β€” creators loved this aspect
Sad Bacon β€” creators took issue with this
Meh β€” no strong opinion either way

Scale: 0–5 strips in half-step increments. 0 = β€œmeh”, 5 = β€œbacon bliss”. Aggregated from creator-review sentiment, weighted by channel expertise.

About our Bacon Score methodology

Video content sourced from the creator's original upload. Watch on YouTube