There are plenty of legitimate things to worry about when planning a cruise. Picking the right ship, choosing a stateroom, figuring out excursions, and making sure you get back to the ship on time are all part of the process.
Getting scammed shouldn’t be.
Unfortunately, cruise passengers make easy targets because they’re often excited, distracted, unfamiliar with the destination, and willing to spend money to make their vacation better. Scammers know this, and they’re always looking for ways to take advantage.
The good news is that most of these scams aren’t exactly sophisticated. In fact, many of them can be avoided with a little common sense and by taking a few seconds to stop and think before handing over your money or credit card number.
Here are three cruise scams that continue to catch passengers off guard.
Calling the Wrong Cruise Line Phone Number
This one happens before you even leave home and Facebook groups have posts every single day from people who fell for this one.
You need to call Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, or another cruise line, so you do what most people do. You open Google and search for something like “Carnival Cruise Line phone number.”
The problem is that instead of going directly to the cruise line’s website, you’re trusting whatever number Google decides to put in front of you.
Search results can be filled with travel agencies, third-party booking companies, and scammers who buy ads hoping you’ll call them instead of the actual cruise line. Some of the listings are designed to look official, and when the person answers the phone, they may even say the cruise line’s name.
From there, they’ll ask for your booking number, personal information, and credit card.
They may tell you that you need to pay an additional fee, that there’s a problem with your reservation, or that they can sell you some type of priority boarding package or upgrade. The problem is that many of these add-ons don’t exist, and they’ll never show up on your actual cruise reservation.
By the time you figure out what happened, the charge has already gone through and the person you spoke with is nowhere to be found.
This is one of those scams that should be very easy to avoid.
Don’t Google the cruise line’s phone number and blindly call the first result.
Go directly to the cruise line’s official website, find the contact page, and use the phone number listed there. Better yet, log into your cruise account and handle payments, upgrades, dining packages, and other purchases through the website or app.
Should someone tell you that you need to pay for something unusual, especially priority boarding or some type of fee that doesn’t appear in your reservation, hang up and call the verified number from the cruise line’s website.
It only takes a few extra seconds and can save you a major headache.
The “I’m Your Waiter” Scam in Port
This one has been around forever, and it still works because cruise ships carry thousands of passengers and crew members.
You’re walking around a port when someone approaches you and says, “Hey, I’m your dining room waiter,” or, “I work on your ship. Don’t you remember me?”
Most passengers won’t remember every waiter, bartender, room steward, or crew member they’ve seen onboard, so the claim can sound believable.
The person probably knows the name of your ship, and they may even know where it’s docked or what time it leaves. That doesn’t mean they work there. Cruise ship schedules are public, and it’s not difficult to stand near the port and watch passengers coming and going.
Once they get your attention, they’ll usually try to lead you somewhere.
Maybe their cousin owns a gift shop. Maybe they know a place where you can get a great deal on jewelry, cigars, souvenirs, or a private tour. Maybe they have a friend with a taxi who can take you around the island.
What a coincidence!
Crew members aren’t going to approach you in port and solicit you. Your dining room waiter isn’t going to chase you down on the sidewalk and introduce you to a cousin who just happens to own a store.
Should someone claim to work on your ship, ask to see their crew identification.
A real crew member will have it. A scammer will suddenly have an excuse, change the subject, or become annoyed that you asked.
The best thing to do is keep walking.
You don’t need to argue with them, prove them wrong, or explain yourself. Just say no thank you and move on.
The Taxi Fare That Changes When You Arrive
Taxi drivers in cruise ports know passengers are on a schedule, unfamiliar with the area, and usually carrying cash. Most drivers are honest, but there are always a few who see cruise passengers as an easy payday.
The scam usually starts with a driver offering to take you to a beach, shopping area, restaurant, or attraction for what sounds like a reasonable price.
You agree, get in the taxi, and everything seems fine until you arrive.
That’s when the price suddenly changes.
The driver may claim the original price was per person instead of for the entire vehicle. There may suddenly be luggage fees, waiting fees, tolls, port fees, traffic surcharges, or some other charge that was never mentioned when you got into the cab.
A $25 ride can quickly become $60 or $80.
At that point, you’re standing in an unfamiliar place, possibly with your bags still in the trunk, and the driver knows you probably don’t want a confrontation.
The easiest way to avoid this is to confirm the total price before getting into the taxi.
Don’t just ask, “How much?”
Ask whether the price is per person or for the entire cab. Ask whether it includes tolls, luggage, waiting time, and any other fees.
Be specific.
“The total price for everyone in the taxi from here to the beach is $30, correct?”
That leaves a lot less room for games once you arrive.
Whenever possible, use the official taxi stand at the port. Many destinations have posted rates or dispatchers who will give you a written fare slip. That’s much better than accepting a ride from the loudest person standing outside the terminal yelling, “Taxi, taxi, best price!”
It’s also a good idea to carry smaller bills. Handing a driver a $100 bill for a $30 fare can lead to the sudden discovery that they don’t have any change.
Best Advice: Use Your Head
Most people you’ll meet during a cruise are honest and hardworking, and most passengers will never have a problem.
Still, cruise ports are tourist areas, and tourist areas attract people looking to make quick money.
Scammers rely on people being distracted, rushed, embarrassed, or too trusting. They want you to act before you stop and think.
So stop and think.
Go directly to the cruise line’s website. Ask to see identification. Confirm the total taxi fare before you get in.
None of this requires years of travel experience or some special ability to spot a scam. It’s simply common sense.
Taking a few seconds to verify something can be the difference between enjoying your vacation and spending the rest of the cruise trying to dispute a credit card charge or arguing over a taxi fare.