Essential Cruise Tips

Gary Bembridge
  • 4.6 (76)
  • Places & Travel
  • Updated Weekly

Cruise expert, YouTuber and author Gary Bembridge helps you discover, plan and enjoy unforgettable cruise vacations with his tips packed show. For more visit http://www.youtube.com/tipsfortravellers and http://www.tipsfortravellers.com and look for his books including "The Cruise Traveler's Handbook" and "Essential Cruise Tips".

  1. Sep 23

    Celebrity Cruise Mistakes No-One Realises They're Making (Until It's Too Late!) (Podcast #504)

    Celebrity Cruises promises "modern luxury" and says "nothing comes close", but I see cruisers boarding Celebrity with expectations that can lead to disappointment. Having recently sailed Celebrity again, I've identified six mistakes cruisers make when choosing, booking and sailing with Celebrity Cruises — including some that even experienced Celebrity guests can get caught out by. In this video, I look at why understanding exactly what kind of cruise line Celebrity really is matters, how dramatically your onboard experience can change depending on the cabin and ship you choose, and why some of Celebrity's packages and terminology may not mean quite what cruisers assume they do. I also explore the very different experiences offered across Celebrity's ship classes, an increasingly important change in who Celebrity is trying to attract, and a surprisingly overlooked way that regular Celebrity cruisers could be missing out on valuable perks. Celebrity can deliver a very good cruise, but I believe getting the best from it depends on knowing what you're actually booking — and avoiding these six common mistakes. 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   Offers: Get 10% any order of The Cruise Maps who you visit the site using this link: https://www.TheCruiseMaps.com/TFT Get up to 30% off collectible tokens of place you've visited using the link: https://www.TheWanderClub.com/TFT

    Celebrity Cruise Mistakes No-One Realises They're Making (Until It's Too Late!) (Podcast #504)

  2. Sep 16

    The Truth About a Queen Mary 2 Crossing: What They Don't Tell You (Podcast #503)

    A Queen Mary 2 Transatlantic Crossing is unlike almost any other voyage — and many first-time passengers arrive with completely the wrong expectations. After crossing the Atlantic on Queen Mary 2 six times, I reveal the surprises, misunderstandings and easily avoided mistakes that can dramatically affect your experience. From choosing the wrong cabin and underestimating the North Atlantic to unexpected costs, daily life onboard and what really happens when you reach New York, this is what I wish every first-timer knew before boarding. 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   Offers: Get 10% any order of The Cruise Maps who you visit the site using this link: https://www.TheCruiseMaps.com/TFT • • Get up to 30% off collectible tokens of place you've visited using the link: https://www.TheWanderClub.com/TFT

    The Truth About a Queen Mary 2 Crossing: What They Don't Tell You (Podcast #503)

  3. Sep 9

    6 Things Cunard Brochures Aren't Telling You. And Why! (podcast #502)

    Cunard is one of cruising's most famous names—but much of what people believe about it is outdated, exaggerated, or simply wrong. After 270 nights aboard Cunard ships, I reveal six persistent misconceptions about its luxury credentials, passengers, dress codes, class system and very different ships. I also explore the recent changes that could reshape the Cunard experience—and why some loyal passengers may not like what comes next. 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   Offers: Get 10% any order of The Cruise Maps who you visit the site using this link: https://www.TheCruiseMaps.com/TFT Get up to 30% off collectible tokens of place you've visited using the link: https://www.TheWanderClub.com/TFT

    6 Things Cunard Brochures Aren't Telling You. And Why! (podcast #502)

  4. Aug 26

    I Found Out How Cruise Lines REALLY Pick Cabin Upgrade Winners (podcast #501)

    If you've ever been invited to bid for a cruise cabin upgrade, you probably assumed (like me) that the highest bid wins. But, that's not how it works at all. After losing an upgrade to another passenger who had bid less than I did, I decided to investigate what was really going on behind cruise line upgrade bidding. What I found completely changed how I approach the process. In this video, I reveal what I discovered. Starting with something staring me in the face but had not spotted that that unites every cruise line when it comes to cruise cabin upgrade bidding. This video will help you understand how the system REALLY works—and will improve your chances when bidding for an upgrade (probably for less money than you planned to spend too).   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   Offers: Get 10% any order of The Cruise Maps who you visit the site using this link: https://www.TheCruiseMaps.com/TFT Get up to 30% off collectible tokens of place you've visited using the link: https://www.TheWanderClub.com/TFT

  5. Aug 19

    7 Cruises You Should Avoid. No Matter How Tempting They Look! (podcast #500)

    Some cruises look perfect on paper. The ship, the itinerary, the price, the promise. But after more than 130 cruises, I've learned there are some cruises I would never book again — or would only book under very specific conditions. In this video, I reveal the seven types of cruises I now avoid, and why. All but one of these I've tried myself and found they simply did not suit the way I like to cruise. The other comes with risks, traps, or compromises that many passengers do not realise until it is too late. But this is not just about saying "never book these." For each one, I also explain who they might still be right for, what to watch out for before booking, and what I would choose instead. Whether you are booking your first cruise or your fiftieth, these are the cruises I think you should think very carefully about before handing over your money. 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   Offers: Get 10% any order of The Cruise Maps who you visit the site using this link: https://www.TheCruiseMaps.com/TFT Get up to 30% off collectible tokens of place you've visited using the link: https://www.TheWanderClub.com/TFT

    7 Cruises You Should Avoid. No Matter How Tempting They Look! (podcast #500)

  6. Aug 12

    I Won't Do A Sailing Ship Cruise Again. But Here's Why You SHOULD! (Podcast #499)

    I went on my first ever sailing ship cruise expecting something magical, different, and perhaps even better than a regular cruise ship. Instead, after the very first night, I was seriously wondering if I had made a huge mistake. After more than 130 cruises on ocean ships, river ships, expedition ships and even a tiny 14-person barge in France, I finally decided it was time to try a sailing ship. I booked an 8-night Venice to Rome cruise on Windstar's flagship Wind Surf, one of the world's largest sailing ships, to find out what this kind of cruising is really like. But the reality was not what I expected. In this video, I reveal what surprised me, what disappointed me, what went wrong in my cabin, how much the cruise really cost, what sailing ships do and do not actually do with their sails, and why the experience depends far more on the weather and itinerary than I had realised. I also look at the big claims made about sailing ship cruising, including whether they really can get you into better ports, whether the smaller passenger numbers make a big difference, and why so many passengers I met absolutely loved the experience and keep coming back. 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   Offers: Get 10% any order of The Cruise Maps who you visit the site using this link: https://www.TheCruiseMaps.com/TFT Get up to 30% off collectible tokens of place you've visited using the link: https://www.TheWanderClub.com/TFT

  7. Jul 29

    I've Done Panama Canal 6 Times. Here's What NO-ONE Is Telling You! (Podcast #498)

    I've transited the Panama Canal six times, and I am still completely obsessed with it. In this video, I take you with me on a full Panama Canal transit from the Pacific side across to the Caribbean / Atlantic side, showing what really happens across the day — the thrilling parts, the surprising parts, and the hot, sweaty, wearisome parts that many cruisers do not expect. I explain how the Panama Canal works, what happens inside the Locks, and how the newer 2016 locks changed the way ships transit the canal. Along the way, I show the reality of a full transit: the very early start, the long waiting, the crowds on deck, the "lock fatigue", the intense heat, the excitement of being inches from the lock walls and mules, the peaceful cruise through Gatun Lake and the Culebra Cut, and the huge variety of ships that pass through this incredible waterway. I also look at why water is so crucial to the Panama Canal, how drought can affect transits, why Gatun Lake matters so much, and why this remains one of the most astonishing cruise experiences in the world. If you are thinking of doing a Panama Canal cruise, or wondering whether a full transit is worth it, this will show you what the day is really like — and why, even after six transits, I still find it one of cruising's most remarkable experiences. 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   Offers: Get 10% any order of The Cruise Maps who you visit the site using this link: https://www.TheCruiseMaps.com/TFT Get up to 30% off collectible tokens of place you've visited using the link: https://www.TheWanderClub.com/TFT

    I've Done Panama Canal 6 Times. Here's What NO-ONE Is Telling You! (Podcast #498)

  8. Jul 22

    I Was Completely Wrong About Sailing Ship Cruises. Here's Why. (Podcast #497)

    After 100+ regular ocean cruises, I finally tried a sailing ship cruise — and almost everything I assumed going in turned out to be wrong.I sailed with Windstar on their 342-passenger flagship Wind Surf, an 8-night Venice to Rome itinerary on a five-mast sailing ship. In this video I cover what I discovered including: * How similar (and different) the onboard experience actually is to a regular cruise ship * The truth about sailing with sails * Cabin trade-offs and issues * Itinerary upsides, downsides, and risks * Whether the premium price is worth it * and who this type of cruise is really for  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   Offers: Get 10% any order of The Cruise Maps who you visit the site using this link: https://www.TheCruiseMaps.com/TFT Get up to 30% off collectible tokens of place you've visited using the link: https://www.TheWanderClub.com/TFT

    I Was Completely Wrong About Sailing Ship Cruises. Here's Why. (Podcast #497)
See All (502)

4.6
out of 5
76 Ratings

About

Cruise expert, YouTuber and author Gary Bembridge helps you discover, plan and enjoy unforgettable cruise vacations with his tips packed show. For more visit http://www.youtube.com/tipsfortravellers and http://www.tipsfortravellers.com and look for his books including "The Cruise Traveler's Handbook" and "Essential Cruise Tips".

Information

  • Creator
    Gary Bembridge
  • Years Active
    2013 - 2026
  • Episodes
    502
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Gary Bembridge 2017
  • Show Website
    Essential Cruise Tips

You Might Also Like