Cruise passengers seem especially vulnerable to various scams that have been going around.
That’s at least partially because many cruises are not fully paid for upfront. In many cases, passengers may make a down payment, and then make periodic payments until the final one is due.
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If you don’t make your final payment in time, however, you entire cruise can be cancelled.
Many cruisers know that and have shared horror storied where a change in ports caused them to have unpaid port fees. Thinking they had already paid, some people ignore emails, and end up having their cruise cancelled over a very small balance.
Because of those horror stories, some cruise passengers will hand over their credit card info in their cruise line calls them and asks for money for an unpaid balance.
The problem is that cruise lines generally don’t call when you have an unpaid balance. And, if you call them, it’s really important to make sure you have the right phone number.
Facebook personality Jayson Judson recently shared details of a new scam some Carnival Cruise Line passengers have fallen for.
Carnival Cruise Line passengers almost get scammed
Transcript:
A cruise passengers issued a scam warning as they said they Googled Carnival’s phone number as they needed to make a change to their cruise only to be told that they would need to pay 456 dollars to make that happen.
They hung up and called the number from Carnival’s website where the agent made the change free of charge and they told them that they were the 10th person that day that said they were trying to be scammed.
Has anyone ever tried to scam you?
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How to avoid phone scams
Nearly everything you need to do with a cruise line can be done through its website. Any unpaid balances will show there and you can make payments directly.
If you have to call the cruise line, go to its website and find its phone number there.
In addition, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) shares some broad advice on avoiding scams:
Block unwanted calls and text messages. Take steps to block unwanted calls and to filter unwanted text messages.Don’t give your personal or financial information in response to a request that you didn’t expect. Honest organizations won’t call, email, or text to ask for your personal information, like your Social Security, bank account, or credit card numbers.If you get an email or text message from a company you do business with and you think it’s real, it’s still best not to click on any links. Instead, contact them using a website you know is trustworthy. Or look up their phone number. Don’t call a number they gave you or the number from your caller IDResist the pressure to act immediately. Honest businesses will give you time to make a decision. Anyone who pressures you to pay or give them your personal information is a scammer.
(The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise).
Have questions about booking a cruise? Schedule a free appointment with Come Cruise With Me’s Travel Agent Partner Postcard Travel Planning.
Cruise scams often use the threat of canceling your cruise as a way to get you to make a payment or hand over credit card information. A real cruise line will nearly always allow you to make any crucial payments through its website.
