So I've booked a cruise because I'm too lazy to plan out a proper vacation. Any tips on how to avoid being scammed? I know the excursions are in tourist traps, and I'm not planning on tipping everyone for everything on board the ship, anything else I should worry about? Other than not wandering around the seedy non tourist areas?
Mind saying where you're sailing? I'll assume the Caribbean since that's one of the most common destinations.
Everyone on the islands accepts dollars. You can haggle prices down just based on the fact that the dollar is worth 10000x whatever their seashell currency is. Carry some cash, but obviously not so much where you'd be totally screwed in the event it was stolen.
The ship will be packed with upmarket duty-free shops in a similar manner to an airport terminal. To be avoided.
All the port towns where the ship calls are absolute shitholes, so be mentally prepared for that. If there's a nice beach you want to check out then chances are it's on the other side of the island. There are jitneys available.
A jet-ski / wave-runner / sea-doo excursion over the open ocean is a wild and unforgettable experience. Drop some coin and do this if you're not afraid to die.
Try the local rum, it's tasty. They don't want you bringing shore booze back onto the boat, though. They try to confiscate it during re-embarkation on the promise of giving it back at the conclusion of the cruise. If you want to smuggle, be prepared with empty suntan lotion bottles or something.
About the no-tipping thing, you can do that, but you need to go to the Purser's office and arrange it in person. Otherwise they will automatically add it on to your bill.
