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One of the most alarming tactics scammers use is the “last-minute urgent payment request.” You might get a call or email saying your cruise booking is at risk because some taxes or fees weren’t properly charged—and if you don’t pay immediately, your trip will be cancelled. The often begin with an explanation of a computer glitch, a change in taxes, or that your travel agent made a mistake, or worse! The caller pressures you to confirm your information and make a quick payment via your credit card. This exposes your personal data and credit card. It’s designed to rush you, but in reality, cruise line use a midnight deadline for cancellations – no booking would be cancelled immediately. Stop take the time and verify the issue, either by calling your agent, or calling the cruise line directly.
Another scam to watch out for involves fake phone numbers. When you search online for cruise line contacts or information, scammers may try to trick you by showing fake sites or posts with incorrect numbers. Calling these can put your personal and booking details at risk. If you have questions, always contact us first. We’ll provide accurate answers or get you the information you need. Some clients feel bad "bothering" us. Please do not worry about that - it is what we do. However, if you want to call the cruise line yourself, be sure to start at their official website and carefully verify phone numbers before trusting them.
Another scam to watch out for involves fake upgrades, onboard credit offers, or discounted gift cards. These offers might come through unexpected phone calls, emails, or unofficial retail sites. It’s important to know that if a cruise line is offering you an upgrade or any special perk, it will always come from an official email address - not a phone call. We understand it can be tricky to tell which emails are real and which are scams, but with hundreds or even thousands of cases seen over the years, we’re here to help you spot the difference - just ask! As for gift cards, buying them from unofficial sources is a sure way to get caught in a trap. These cards might be fraudulent, partially used, or simply don’t exist. Cruise lines will not honor these, no matter how much you plead. If a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is.
One of the most dangerous scams involves fraudulent booking websites that look very much like official cruise line pages but are set up solely to steal your money or personal data. These sites often offer prices that are far below market value or “exclusive” deals to lure travelers in. Once you enter your payment information, the scammers disappear, and your cruise reservation is never confirmed. Some fake sites even send a bogus confirmation email to make it seem real. To avoid this trap, always book directly through recognized agencies like Kidd Travel or go straight to the cruise line’s verified website. Before making any payment online, check reviews on trusted sites, verify the agency’s credentials, and watch out for website URLs that don’t exactly match the official company. When in doubt, give us a call; we’re here to ensure your booking is safe, secure, and worry-free.
I wish I could say for certain how the scammers do these things - how they get your information, how they show up at the top of Google searches - but that is above our pay grade! All we know for certain is that we work for you. At Kidd Travel, we’re proud to have earned the VTA Ethics Qualification from the American Society of Travel Advisors, the industry’s gold standard. We will never steer you wrong because honesty and integrity are at the core of everything we do.
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