A travel agent is warning about common scams she’s seen that could derail your cruise vacation plans.
Jenn Greene is a travel planner for MEI Travel who frequently books Royal Caribbean cruises. She is one of the highest-paid employees at the company and works with a wide variety of clients.
While most people don’t experience any problems, she has noticed a few bad actors recently creating issues. “With cruising becoming more popular than ever, we’ve seen an increase in scammers trying to take advantage of travelers.”
Consumers should always be wary of sharing personal information and deals that appear to be “too good to be true.”
Whether it’s an overly pushy salesperson on the phone or an overly friendly Facebook profile, there’s a lot to be wary of. Here are the most popular scams Jenn has come across so far.
Oversharing in a cruise group
While joining a group to coordinate with others on a cruise may be a fun idea, users beware because scammers are among you.
We recommend you to search for Facebook groups or name posts Be prepared for your upcoming cruise as it will be a chance to meet new people and learn more about your specific cruise. However, you will need to be alert in these groups.
Ms Green advises against posting too much information about yourself or your cruise, “It’s OK to arrange to meet up at the bar once you’re on board, but don’t trust private messaging to give out your information to other people.”
“Before you know it, the scammer has your phone number, email and booking information, giving them easy access to your holiday plans.”
If you think Ms. Green is exaggerating such concerns, here’s a woman who recently learned that lesson the hard way: She lost $15,000 on a cruise after posting her booking number on social media.
Dial the correct phone number
It may seem trivial, but scammers will pay big bucks to have their fake phone numbers appear in Google search results.
If you are looking for Royal Caribbean’s contact number, go directly to the cruise line’s website rather than the internet search bar.
Ms Green said she had seen an increase in these types of issues, “and just recently, passengers who were booking cruises were almost scammed by these fake numbers pretending to be from the cruise lines.”
She explained that before the phone agent “helps you,” they will tell you that you owe more in boarding or deck fees, which are bogus charges.
“Once you pay, they help you solve whatever problem you had when you called. When you hang up, they’ve taken your money, and your credit card information — and your problem still hasn’t been solved,” she explained.
“Free” Cruise Scam
If something looks too good to be true, it probably is, including offers for free cruises.
Social media is flooded with these posts claiming the chance to get a free cruise, flight or resort trip.
“It’s common to see posts on Facebook, Instagram or other social media offering trips of a lifetime,” Ms. Green explained. “Often they mimic the big cruise lines, offering free cruise giveaways or telling you that you’ve been specially chosen.”
If a cruise line contacts you via social media, don’t trust it, she advises.
Read more: 4 Warning Signs a Cruise Deal Is Too Good to Be True
Fake social media accounts
Scammers often create fake social media accounts based on well-known people in the cruise community, e.g. Captain Kate of Celebrity Cruisesor Michael Bailey, President and CEO, Royal Caribbean.
For example, you might receive a message saying there’s a problem with your cruise booking or there’s an exclusive deal on a particular cruise, but at some point the scammer will ask for your bank details in an attempt to steal your money.
Ms Green added: “It is highly unlikely that a cruise line CEO or captain would communicate with users via social media.”
How to avoid scams
Hopefully, this warning will make you think twice in the future, but another safety measure is to work with a trusted travel agency.
A good travel agent can answer any questions you may have during your trip. You can always contact the travel agent directly to assist with planning.
Want to change your meal times? Not sure if you’ve prepaid your gratuity? A travel agent is here to help. A good agent will never charge you a fee and will help you every step of the way.
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