Royal Caribbean passenger shares warning about a major scam
Cruisers have fallen victim to a number of different scams over the past few years.
A few months ago a number of people reported paying for cruises, then showing up at the port to find that they were not booked at all.
They had tickets and everything seemed in order, but they had sent their money to a scammer, who had not actually booked them. The tickets the prospective cruisers had were fake.Cruisers also have received calls from scammers who were pretending to be from their cruise lines, saying they had a bill outstanding. Instead of hanging up and checking via the company's website, people panicked and turned over their credit card information to the callers, who were pulling off a scam.
Prospective cruisers are especially vulnerable to scams because they're using systems with which most people are unfamiliar.
Important tip: Be extra cautious when it comes to everything related to your cruise.
The safest choice is to use a travel agent. An agent will deal with the cruise line for you and ensure everything gets paid as it's due.
These scams, however, are not the only ones that have affected cruisers. Cruise News Today's Doug Parker has all the details on a new scam and how you can avoid it.This is Cruise News Today with Doug Parker.
Good morning. Here's your cruise news for Monday, February 10.
A cruise passenger is warning others about a potential scam at Port Canaveral after nearly being overcharged for an unofficial ride.
[The] guests debarked Utopia of the Seas and accepted a ride [to Orlando from a man] who claimed to be an Uber driver. [But later they] discovered Uber was not involved at all.
Now, once they arrived to Universal Studios, the driver demanded $345 for the trip, but after a pushback, the guests managed to walk away paying just $100.
A good rule is to always confirm that your ride is part of an official rideshare network by verifying the vehicle type and the driver and confirming fares before entering a nonrideshare vehicle.And Port Miami set a new record on Saturday, hosting 10 cruise ships in a single day. These ships from seven different cruise lines saw nearly 68,000 embarking and debarking guests on itineraries ranging from short cruises to 27 nights.
Cruise lines included Oceana, Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, MSC, Virgin, and Holland America Line. The Miami-Dade County mayor called the milestone a testament to Port Miami's status as a global hub for cruise travel.
(The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise.)
Have questions about booking a cruise?, or call or text Amy Post at 386-383-2472.
And Celebrity Cruises has canceled two upcoming sailings on Celebrity Solstice for next January.
This is for an extended dry dock. The ship is said to require additional repairs, prompting more time in the yard.
Guests can pick alternate ships with a partial refund if at a lower price, a different itinerary on Solstice, or just receive a full refund.
The cruise line has not disclosed specific details about the repairs.
If you have a lead on a story, let us know. Tips@cruiseradio.net.
I leave you with some footage from the Blake Shelton concert over in Las Vegas over the weekend.
I'm Doug Parker with Cruise News Today. Have yourself a great Monday.
Are you taking a cruise or thinking about taking one?
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Yahoo
We took my 90-year-old grandparents on a cruise. I learned 6 important lessons for traveling with older relatives.
I took a four-night cruise with my 90-year-old grandparents and learned some valuable lessons. Cruising with grandparents on such a massive ship meant slowing down and prioritizing their needs. Finding quiet spaces and utilizing accessibility services improved our trip. Earlier this year, I cruised aboard Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas with my 90-year-old grandparents, parents, and extended family. Our four-night cruise from Port Canaveral, Florida was planned months in advance — long before my grandpa's unexpected health decline last fall. We were thrilled when his oncologist gave him the green light to sail on our cruise, which is likely to be one of our last family vacations together. Although I had traveled with my grandparents many times before, I hadn't cruised with them recently. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I learned valuable lessons about traveling with elderly family members. undefined Find quieter spaces away from crowds. We prioritized quality time together during this cruise, so we always had breakfast and dinner as a family. Cruise-ship buffets are notoriously busy, especially during peak hours, so it was often difficult to find a table large enough to accommodate our travel group. Instead, we usually had sit-down meals together. The Park Café in Central Park became our go-to spot, as it was quiet and easy for my grandparents to access. We also spent many afternoons in the adults-only Solarium — a peaceful spot on the top deck with floor-to-ceiling windows and stunning ocean views. Conveniently located next to the elevators, this was the perfect space for our family to relax together while still being comfortable for my grandparents. Take advantage of accessibility-friendly services. Royal Caribbean offers services to help those with mobility concerns, and the ones we used made all the difference during our vacation. First, we utilized accessibility assistance for my grandma during embarkation. As our family was hauling our own luggage onboard, we were relieved to have a crew member push my grandma in a wheelchair up the long, inclined gangway. In addition, Royal Caribbean offers complimentary room service for continental breakfast. My grandpa starts every day with a hot cup of coffee, but he wasn't always wanting to leave his stateroom first thing in the morning. So, we used this service to have a carafe of coffee delivered to his stateroom each day. He loved it, and we liked that it saved his energy and minimized unnecessary walking. Choose a balcony cabin. Utopia of the Seas has many different cabins to book, ranging from low-cost inside staterooms to luxurious suites. Although my husband and I decided to save money by booking an interior cabin, my grandparents and parents got balcony rooms next to each other. This was one of the best decisions we made for my grandparents, who didn't always have the energy to venture far from their cabin. Their private balcony served as a comfortable space for them to enjoy ocean views and fresh air without feeling like they were missing out. Don't be pushy. Cruise ships are jam-packed with activities, restaurants, entertainment, and endless ways to stay busy. However, I quickly learned not to push my grandparents to partake in too many of them. For instance, my grandma normally enjoys cruise-ship entertainment, but she said she was too tired after dinner to stay awake for the nightly shows. Instead of pushing her to join us, we listened. Throughout the cruise, we tried to respect their limits, whether that meant calling it an early night or taking an afternoon break. Although slowing down wasn't always easy, it helped keep the trip enjoyable for everyone. Splurge on special experiences. This was a very special cruise considering my grandpa's health scare, and we wanted to celebrate our precious time together. So, we splurged on specialty dining for two evenings. On each of those nights, we visited an onboard restaurant that was quieter and less crowded than the main dining room. The food was better, too. My grandparents said these dinners were the highlight of the cruise. During one of them, my grandpa even gave a tear-jerking toast to the family that I'll always remember. Even with a few minor hiccups, our cruise together was very special and memorable. If our family learned anything over the last year, it's the importance of savoring time with our loved ones. We definitely traveled at a slower pace and had to navigate new layers of logistics throughout the cruise, but the trip was worth it. A cruise with older relatives may not always be action-packed, but the memories we made were priceless. Read the original article on Business Insider
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Attempted rape victim 'confused' in 999 call
A 999 call from a woman who a man allegedly posing as an "unofficial Uber" driver attempted to rape has been played in court. Graham Head, of Pevensey in East Sussex, is alleged to have had latex gloves, condoms, Viagra tablets and a balaclava in his silver Mercedes when he was arrested in November 2022. The 68-year-old is accused of kidnapping, sexually assaulting and attempting to rape a 25-year-old woman after picking her up in Brighton city centre. The woman died in December 2024. He denies the charges, stating that he offered the woman a lift home but did not touch her, jurors at Lewes Crown Court were told. The court heard that in a 999 call made by the woman, she told the operator: "A man put me to sleep. I don't know what he did. I woke up. He had gloves on. I need some help. This man is clearly doing this to people. "I'm confused, I'm really confused. "He was pulling my trousers down and then I kicked him and he's driven off. "He had a mask on and he had plastic gloves on his hands. He said he was an Uber, he said he was going to drive me home. I didn't order one and I was reluctant." The woman remembered part of a number plate and Mr Head was arrested minutes later after a police pursuit through Hove, the court was told. According to the prosecution, in a police interview, the woman said Mr Head told her he was finishing his shift and would drive her home. "I tried to sit in the front and he said I couldn't. I closed the window and fell asleep. I was fading in and out of consciousness and becoming aware I had been in the car for a really long time," she said. "He kept stopping the car and was groping me. He got into the back and he had these rubber gloves. I was so out of it, I thought maybe this guy is going to chop me into pieces." Mr Head is also accused of assaulting 19-year-old woman he picked up near Hove Park, which he denies. The trial continues. Man posed as taxi driver to abuse women, court told HM Courts & Tribunal Service
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Gang ‘followed and killed tourist after failed bag snatch'
A gang of five allegedly followed and stabbed a Greek tourist multiple times after a failed attempt to steal his bag, a court has heard. Antonis Antoniadis, 26, was allegedly followed and attacked on a doorstep in New Cross, south-east London, on July 7 last year. He died two weeks later from his injuries. Four men – Shian Johnson, 25, Sofian Alliche, 20, Joshua McCorquodale, 20, and Alfie Hipple, 18 – as well as a 17-year-old youth are charged with his murder and planning to rob his personal items. Opening their trial at the Old Bailey on Thursday, William Emlyn Jones KC, prosecuting, said the defendants tracked Mr Antoniadis across London before fatally stabbing him in the chest and thigh as he tried to defend himself on the ground, causing 'catastrophic blood loss'. Mr Antoniadis, who travelled to London for a week's holiday with two friends, went to the 32 Portland Place nightclub in Marylebone in the early hours of July 7, jurors were told. The trio did not leave the venue until after 8am and booked an Uber back to a friend's address in New Cross where they were staying. Mr Emlyn Jones said: 'They had no idea that five young men had been hanging around outside that nightclub all night in a stolen car, looking for someone they could rob. 'It seems that when that group of five saw Antonis come out of the club, those robbers thought they had found a suitable target. 'So when they saw him come out and get into his Uber, they, in their stolen car, followed him.' The defendants then followed the taxi for more than half an hour to its destination, the court heard. As one of Antoniadis's friends struggled to find the house key upon arriving at the address, the victim 'was approached by four figures in hoods and balaclavas', with the fifth group member acting as a getaway driver, the prosecutor said. Mr Antoniadis managed to hit one of the robbers with a brandy bottle as he struggled against the group, who appeared to want to take a bag he was carrying. 'Tragically, whether it was brave or whether it was just an instinctive response, that reaction was to cost him his life,' Mr Emlyn Jones said. At least two of the attackers were carrying large knives, the court heard. After he was punched and kicked by the attackers, Mr Antoniadis was then stabbed in the middle of the chest and suffered a large, deep stab wound to his right thigh, severing his femoral artery. He also suffered cuts and bruises to his face and head and wounds to his arms, the prosecutor said. The attackers then fled the scene in the getaway car, leaving the victim to bleed to death. There was no CCTV footage of the incident, but some or all of the incident was heard or seen by a number of people, the court heard. Antoniadis was treated at the scene and taken to hospital where attempts were made to save his life, but he later died from his injuries on July 21 last year. Mr Emlyn Jones said: 'It is the prosecution case that the five robbers were the five young men sitting in the dock in this room, and that all five of them are jointly responsible for the murder.' The prosecutor told jurors the group were 'clearly prepared to use really serious violence' in their efforts to rob Antoniadis's possessions. The car allegedly used by the robbers – a stolen Kia Sportage with false number plates – was captured on CCTV on two occasions leaving the area around the nightclub and following a different car on the night of July 7, the court heard. All five defendants, from Camden, north London, deny murder and conspiracy to commit robbery. The trial continues. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
