Carnival cruisers get scam alert; Celebrity Xcel homeport revealed
A scam targeting cruise line passengers and other travelers is on the rise again.
As summer travel season kicks into high gear, travel scams are picking up, too.
If you’re cruising this summer (or anytime, really) it’s important to be aware that scammers continue to use convincing tactics to defraud cruisers and other travelers.
Related: Carnival Cruise Line rep addresses a troubling tipping rumor
While scammers often target travelers who are looking to book cruises, hotels, or flights with legitimate-looking fake booking websites that offer enticing deals, that isn’t the only tactic they use.
These tricksters also prey upon travelers who need to get in touch with their cruise line, hotel, or airline about their existing reservation.
One Carnival Cruise Line passenger recently posted a warning about this kind of scam on Reddit. It’s one that’s very easy to fall for, and although it isn’t a new travel scam, it’s on the rise again as travelers take summer cruises and other trips.
And it’s not just Carnival cruisers who are being targeted with this sophisticated scheme. Royal Caribbean cruisers have reported falling for it, or nearly falling for it, too.
Doug Parker shared more details on the trending travel scam, and other cruise news including the future home port for Celebrity Cruises’ new ship Celebrity Xcel, on the June 13th edition of Cruise News Today.
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Carnival Cruise Line passenger warns of phone scam
Transcript:
This is Cruise News Today with Doug Parker.
Good morning, here's your cruise news for Friday, June 13th.
A Carnival guest is warning others after nearly falling for a phone scam while trying to fix an online check-in issue. Yes, she called what appeared to be a Carnival number found on a Google search, but it turned out to be fake.
The scammer offered to rebook her cruise for $1,000 less under a bogus bulk room promotion. She hung up and confirmed with the real Carnival that it was just a scam. Carnival has now locked her account to prevent any tampering.
Passengers are urged to double-check phone numbers and avoid deals that seem too good to be true. And to be clear, this trend is happening with many cruise lines, hotels, and airlines, not just Carnival.
Related: Carnival Cruise Line passengers targeted by more travel scams
Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth begins first cruises from Seattle
And Cunard's Queen Elizabeth has officially arrived Seattle, marking its first-ever home port season in the Pacific Northwest.
The 90,000-gross-registered-ton ship completed a 19-night transpacific crossing and started its Alaska sailings yesterday, June 12th.
The ship will operate 11 round-trip cruises from Seattle through late September, visiting ports like Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan, and Glacier Bay.
Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Xcel to home port in Miami
And Celebrity Cruises' newest Edge-class ship, Celebrity Xcel, will reposition to PortMiami after a Mediterranean season next summer. The LNG-powered ship will offer six- to eight-night Caribbean cruises from Miami to the ABC Islands.
Currently under construction, Xcel will launch later this year and begin preview cruises from Port Everglades in November. It will then replace Celebrity Beyond in Miami next year and continue through at least early 2027.
Related: Celebrity Cruises tries to bring its destinations onboard
And the photo of the week comes from Mike — of Utopia of the Seas, arriving in Nassau. Great photo, Mike. You can send yours in photos@cruiseradio.net. All photos are subject to broadcast.
And cruise stocks ended lower on Thursday. Carnival Corporation: down 1%, 23.57; Royal Caribbean: flat, 265.73; Norwegian: down 2%, 18.72; and Viking: flat, 47.73.
If you have a lead on a story, let us know: tips@cruiseradio.net.
Have yourself a great weekend. Here at the Miami Airport — red-eye back from Seattle, Jacksonville next — I'm Doug Parker with Cruise News Today. Have yourself a great weekend.
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