Cruise ship passengers have been alerted to a lesser-known excursion scam that has recently affected numerous travellers. A cruise ship specialist has revealed that many passengers have fallen victim to new cruise scams that have surfaced in recent months. Cruise expert Gary Bembridge, in his latest Tips for Travellers video, shed light on how unsuspecting tourists are being exploited, often by individuals posing as friendly locals or resort representatives.
He warned cruisers to reconsider before signing up for travel clubs, which can entail hefty fees and long-term commitments. He initiated the video by stating: “This one seemed to be an issue mostly in busy Caribbean and Mediterranean ports, but a couple on my recent cruise that called into ports on the Mexican Riviera got trapped too.
“On researching this scam for this, I discovered a new article had appeared on ‘The Points Guy,’ a large and well-known travel advice website, warning about the growth of this one.
“They spoke about how significant numbers of seriously out-of-pocket cruisers had been contacting them coming home from cruises affected by this one.”
The expert then broke down how the scam operates. According to Mr Bembridge, at cruise ports, seemingly friendly representatives at well-maintained stands offer what appears to be a dream deal: a complimentary day pass to a stunning resort, inclusive of transfers, food, and drinks – all for attending a brief presentation.
Once holidaymakers settle into the resort with a few drinks, they’re often lured into a travel club pitch. It’s the age-old high-pressure tactic: dazzling promises of cut-price deals on flights, hotels and excursions, all in exchange for a hefty initial fee and regular monthly payments.
He warned: “Caught up in the buzz and drink, many sign the contract to join the travel club.
“Only once back on the ship fully realising how much it will cost them, and how restrictive they can be, as they soberly reflect on it.
“Unlike countries like the USA and UK, the laws in those countries do not have ‘cooling off’ periods and so they are locked in for years with the provider having their financial details.
“So before accepting a day pass for anywhere, fully understand what your obligation is in exchange.
“Be extremely cautious if you go to any of these with the presentations and refuse to sign anything on the day and say that you’ll come back to them. There’s no such thing as a free resort pass in reality.”
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