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6 NEW Cruise Scams & Tricks To Watch Out For This Year!

Tips For Travellers
Tips For Travellers
🥈Expert
👁️ 92K views📅 1 years ago⏱️ 12:57

Key Moments

Editorial Summary

Gary Benridge identifies several emerging scams targeting cruise passengers, ranging from digital fraud to in-person deception. He warns against fake travel agents on social media who use cash transfer apps to solicit deposits for non-existent bookings. To avoid this, he advises researching agents via reputable review sites, paying with credit cards for consumer protection, and verifying reservation codes directly on official cruise line websites. The creator also highlights fraudulent websites targeting travelers seeking electronic visas, such as the US ESTA or UK ETA, noting that these sites harvest sensitive personal data. Onboard and in port, Benridge describes scams involving roadside artists selling cheap prints as handmade paintings, and deceptive resort day passes that lead to high-pressure travel club sales presentations. Additionally, he warns of a scam involving the popular cruise duck phenomenon where individuals charge postage for ducks that are never sent. Finally, he addresses the use of celebrity and creator likenesses in unauthorized social media advertisements designed to drive traffic to aggressive affiliate link articles.

Written by TripBacon from this video's transcript.

What This Creator Said
Creator Warns AgainstTips & Advice🥈Expert CreatorSponsored
Veteran Cruiser

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

Creator's Key Takeaways

I've been contacted recently by way too many Cruise passengers that have been caught out by new scans that have emerged since my last video on this topic

real agents should be able to take cards and credit card companies will have done some screening of the providers

make sure you're only using the official government one for that country so for example look at sites that have pr.gov in the title

there is no such thing as a free Resort pass in reality

Creator's Tips & Advice

Research unfamiliar travel agents online for reviews before paying
Always pay with a credit card, not cash transfer apps
Check reservation codes directly on the cruise line's website
Only use official government websites for e-Visas
Refuse to sign anything at resort pass presentations

🆕New to Cruising? This Creator Addresses:

Falling for fake cruise dealsResearch agents, use credit cards, and verify reservations on cruise line sites
e-Visa application scamsOnly use official government websites for e-Visas

Questions This Creator Answers

QWhat are the latest cruise scams to watch out for this year?
QHow can I avoid being scammed when booking a cruise?
QWhat should I do if I encounter a suspicious travel offer?

Topics Covered

Booking Process4½ Sad BaconExcursions3½ Sad BaconValue Pricing3 Sad Bacon

Port Highlights

Mexican Riviera3½ Sad Bacon
Top: Free resort day pass
Port Canaveral4 Sad Bacon
Rome2½ Sad Bacon
Top: Tour near Coliseum
How to read the Trip Bacon Score
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Sad Bacon — creators took issue with this
Meh — no strong opinion either way

Scale: 0–5 strips in half-step increments. 0 = “meh”, 5 = “bacon bliss”. Aggregated from creator-review sentiment, weighted by channel expertise.

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