
Cruise worker reveals key mistake passengers make
A cruise ship worker has shared a crucial mistake passengers make on embarkation day that has the potential to ruin the entire holiday. Alley Kerr, from California , U.S., has worked as an entertainer on cruises for several years, including the likes of Royal Caribbean International.
She has since transitioned to travel content creating after moving to Japan , where she captures her adventures as a passenger on solo cruises, along with sharing insider tips in videos uploaded to her YouTube channel, @wanderlustalley . In a recent clip, she warned passengers of the hidden traps laying in wait that could hinder their whole experience.
According to the seasoned cruise worker, embarkation day, also known as boarding day, can feel chaotic as long lines of guests queue to get on board. Some passengers worry about securing popular activities, restaurants and add-ons - which often leads to panic buying and everything becoming sold out.
As reported by Ladbible , Alley said: 'On embarkation day, it is absolutely insane. If you can avoid waiting for embarkation day and get it done in advance, your life is going to be so much easier.' She noted that she often witnessed first time cruisers' disappointment after they realized there were no experiences left to book.
Alley added: 'People who have never cruised before often get on the ship and then suddenly at the end of the day, they're like, "Oh, everything's sold out." There's limited availability for a lot of things.' Luckily, cruise passengers can often find cheaper and more varied shore excursions by booking independently through local tour operators at each destination, rather than relying solely on the cruise line's excursions.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
I tried the Middle Eastern cruise trip with desert stays, five-star dining and wildlife safaris
The lifts at Burj Khalifa — naturally the fastest in the world — speed up to the observation deck on the 125th floor in just 60 seconds CELESTYAL CRUISE I tried the Middle Eastern cruise trip with desert stays, five-star dining and wildlife safaris Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) DUBAI brags of having the biggest, longest and highest of everything – but the widest highway in the world? Really? Absolutely, says Ali, the most excitable guide in the world — but only if he is talking about his own country. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 6 Enjoy the high life in ultra-modern Abu Dhabi 6 Relax with a sea view from the onboard pool 6 Take in a wildlife safari 'We have no taxes, VAT is five per cent, the government is rich, we are rich, we have the richest country in the world,' he effuses. We are going to the Dubai Mall, the world's biggest shopping centre, and the towering Burj Khalifa, the tallest (of course) building in the world, soaring 828 metres in the air. That's almost three times the height of London's Shard. The lifts at Burj Khalifa — naturally, the fastest in the world — speed up to the observation deck on the 125th floor in just 60 seconds. What Ali fails to tell us is that getting to the lifts means enduring the slowest queue in the world. It took us a frustrating 90 minutes of shuffling and waiting from one queue to another but, once at the top, you're in selfie heaven. We're in Dubai with Celestyal, a charmingly Greek cruise line that spends summers in Greece and Croatia and winters hobnobbing with the rich and, well, really rich, on one-week voyages around the Arabian Gulf. The cruise starts in Doha, the capital of Qatar, where money can buy you everything — including a room in a super-luxury hotel that towers into the sky and is shaped like a crescent. Our ship, Celestyal Journey, isn't quite so swanky, but way better value, with a week from just £539pp — not much more than a night in the fancy Doha hotel. But where that doesn't even get breakfast thrown in, on board our ship three meals a day are included. So is wifi (and you can also splash out on dinner in the speciality Asian or steak restaurant, which come at an extra charge). Martin Lewis warns about strict passport rule that could see you board your flight - only to get sent home on arrival If you fancy staying in a fab Grand Dream Suite, one of the fanciest staterooms on board, which comes with spacious living area, a sofa bed (on top of the large double bed) and balcony, it's £1,380pp more. It also comes with perks, including free access to an exclusive restaurant and the spa's thermal suite as well as priority check-in. If you can tear yourself away from the room, there's a pool upstairs and numerous bars downstairs with non-stop live music every evening. Our favourite is Spirits & Ales, where barman JD and his team always have smiles on their faces and tricks up their sleeves. Literally. They not only pull a mean pint, but also wow us with a close-up magic show one evening. From Doha we cruise to Dubai, where we're staying overnight so we can go 4x4-ing in the desert on one of several shore excursions offered by the cruise line. It's a thrilling rollercoaster of a ride as our driver revs up, down and along the shifting sands at angles you don't want to think about. Liberal beach culture 'I've never tipped one over,' our driver promises as the jeep suddenly tilts sideways, resulting in a shower of sand. The scary stuff over, we're then wined and dined under the stars, our mouths feasting on local dishes while our eyes feast on entertainment in the form of a fire juggler and whirling dervishes who go into a trance-like state and twirl around and around for at least ten minutes without falling over. It's one of those don't-try-this-at-home moments. And very different to our next stop, Sir Bani Yas Island, a wildlife reserve off the shores of Abu Dhabi. Just 50 years ago, the island was deserted. But today it is home to millions of plants and trees, thousands of animals and 300 rangers to look after it all. It is also a mecca for cruise ships sailing the Arabian Gulf for the more liberal beach culture than on the mainland — bikinis! — and open-truck wildlife safaris. 6 Entertainment includes impressive magic shows 6 Souq up the atmosphere at a traditional market in Bahrain Credit: Getty 6 Celestyal offers a seven-night Desert Days cruise round-trip from Doha and visiting Dubai, Sir Bani Yas Island, Abu Dhabi and Bahrain Credit: supplied It's not up there with Africa (no lions, tigers or buffalo) but there are two cheetahs, loads of deer, gazelles, Barbary sheep from Morocco, cranes from Uganda, African Oryx and even 41 giraffes. It's a welcome respite after the excesses of Dubai, but things ramp up a gear again — literally — in Abu Dhabi with trips to Yas Marina F1 circuit, theme parks and SeaWorld. Or you can go for a cultural overdose at the Louvre (Abu Dhabi has its own version of the French museum) or the shiny Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, which glows spectacularly white in the sun. In Bahrain, our final stop before we return to Doha, a tour whisks us around a souk and fort, but my abiding memory is the mezze served for lunch. Plates of hummus, pitta bread, salad, kebabs, grilled sausages, chicken and more that just keep on coming. As does the wine. It's definitely the best mezze in the world (but shhh — don't tell Dubai).


Daily Mail
12 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Travel expert warns holidaymakers to NEVER use common plane freebie
It's not uncommon for passengers to be offered items to help boost their comfort on long-haul flights. But a travel expert has warned holidaymakers to avoid one common plane freebie - the blankets. Many passengers use them to sleep or keep warm, and some even take them home. But, despite how appealing the blankets may seem, Busbud CEO, LP Maurice, who has worked with industrial laundry managers, says they may not actually be clean. However, there's a way to tell. Maurice told Fodors Travel: 'On a typical long-haul turn, the linen carts roll straight off the aircraft and go to a contractor that washes at 60°C - 90°C with peroxide, dries on high heat, and shrink‑wraps each blanket or pillowcase. 'When you see a tight plastic envelope on your seat, it usually means that the item came off a wash line earlier that day.' But, Maurice explained the situation can be different when a flight is late and there isn't time to properly change the blankets. He said: 'However, if the preceding flight landed late and the aircraft is turning in 25 minutes, crews will keep any blanket that looks unused. Travellers have been urged to not use the free plane blankets given out on some journeys 'They fold it, place it back on the seat, and hope the next traveller does not notice.' The expert revealed that a line manager once admitted to him that in 'one busy hub' only a fifth of blankets on economy flights are washed, while the others are folded 'unless visibly stained'. One passenger found this out the hard way when she realised the blanket she was using wasn't clean. Travel advisor Georgia Fowkes told Fodor how she opened a 'sealed' blanket once and discovered 'long hairs tucked inside the folds'. She went on to detail the further issues she noticed, including foundation stains and 'a faint shampoo smell'.


Daily Mail
15 hours ago
- Daily Mail
People told to stay off gorgeous California beach after hidden threat found in the water
A pristine stretch of Lake Tahoe's southern shore that is normally buzzing with sunbathers, swimmers, and paddle-boarders, has suddenly fallen quiet after the water became contaminated. Federal officials issued an urgent warning on Friday advising the public to stay out of the water near Camp Richardson Resort after testing revealed 'high levels' of E. coli bacteria lurking beneath the lake's famously clear surface following a sewage leak. The US Forest Service's Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit sounded the alarm urging beachgoers, boaters, and swimmers to avoid all recreational water activity between Jameson Beach and the Valhalla Boathouse. While the bacteria levels at those two endpoints do not yet exceed state standards, the entire area is being treated as a hot zone until further testing proves otherwise. E. coli is a bacteria most commonly found in the intestines of people and animals. While many strains are harmless, certain types can cause severe illness, including diarrhea, urinary tract infections, pneumonia, and even life-threatening sepsis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC advises people to never swallow lake water and to wash hands thoroughly after contact with natural water sources, even when no contamination is suspected. The Lake Tahoe warning underscores how quickly a hidden threat can emerge in one of California's most popular summer destinations. In the wake of the discovery, a coordinated emergency response effort has sprung into action. The USDA Forest Service, Camp Richardson Resort, El Dorado County Environmental Management, Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board, and the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency are now working in tandem to contain the contamination. Tests taken east and west of Camp Richardson have so far shown no elevated levels, but officials aren't taking chances. With peak summer tourism in full swing, the advisory has left vacationers shocked and local business owners bracing for the fallout. It's not Lake Tahoe's first brush with bacterial contamination. Last summer, 125,000-gallons of raw sewage spilled into the waters in front of a popular North Shore restaurant. Authorities were forced to close two beaches as bacteria levels spiked. That incident led to a months-long investigation, culminating last month in an $850,000 fine levied against Caltrans and the North Tahoe Public Utility District, after officials concluded a contractor accidentally pierced a sewage main. The latest leak is smaller but equally dangerous. Experts warn that even moderate E. coli exposure can pose serious health risks, particularly to children, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems. Officials say the water will continue to be monitored daily, with additional samples being collected over the weekend.