PASSPORT MISTAKES - Consumer Rescue

Cruise passenger mistakes to avoid in 2026, mild to extreme cruiser mistakes

8 cruise ship passenger mistakes ranked from mild to extreme in 2026

January 13, 2026January 2, 2026 by Michelle Couch-Friedman

Kesha Green* made what is arguably the most dire mistake a passenger can make on a cruise ship. Just hours after boarding Carnival Conquest in Miami, she found herself unexpectedly brawling with two young women. Green says the surprise fisticuffs happened after the strangers stole her son’s iPhone and other belongings from a pool chair.

She tracked down the duo and demanded they return her boy’s property, but instead, the confrontation quickly became physical.

Celebrity cruise, Celebrity Equinox, cruise ship on the ocean, Celebrity cruise passenger forgot passport

A Celebrity cruise passenger forgot her passport. FedEx made things even worse

June 2, 2025April 22, 2025 by Michelle Couch-Friedman

As Sherry Warren and her husband prepared for their upcoming Celebrity cruise, she bought a colorful passport case. The little wallet was stylish and protective, with Radio Frequency Identification(RFID) blocking features. It would be the perfect way to carry their passports, Warren thought.

And it surely would have – had she not forgotten the wallet with their passports inside when they left for the cruise.

How to get U.K. Electronic Travel Authorization, Avoid scammers, Flying to Great Britain get E.T.A

Flying to Great Britain soon? Here’s how to get your UK ETA without getting scammed

October 9, 2025March 21, 2025 by Michelle Couch-Friedman

Since January 8, 2025, United States citizens need an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) to visit Great Britain. The ETA costs about $13, and the online application process is fairly simple. But like lightning, scammers have hit the internet, with official-looking websites aimed at victimizing unaware ETA-seekers.

Princess Cruises can't let these customers board the ship

My Princess cruise sailed without us because of a tiny passport mistake

January 4, 2026February 22, 2025 by Michelle Couch-Friedman

Don’t make the passport mistake these Princess cruise ship passengers made. You’re in the danger zone if your passport has less than six months left before it expires.

Carnival Cruise Line, Carnival's Jubilee, Denied Boarding Carnival cruise

Carnival Cruise Line refused to let me board the ship! Where’s our refund?

October 21, 2025November 17, 2024 by Michelle Couch-Friedman

Getting denied boarding your cruise is probably one of the worst ways to celebrate your birthday. Just ask this Carnival Cruise Line passenger.

A passport mistake caused this solo traveler's vacation to end abruptly in a Mexican jail, A solo female traveler ended up in a detention center in Mexico City.

How did my vacation dreams end with me in a Mexican jail nightmare?

September 29, 2024September 23, 2024 by Michelle Couch-Friedman

If you arrive in a foreign country without a valid passport in your hand, you’re going back home. That’s guaranteed. But sometimes, that’s not all that happens, unfortunately. Here’s how a simple passport mistake landed one female solo traveler with vacation dreams in a Mexican jail nightmare.

Here’s her story.

Swiss Air denied boarding aircraft mistake, refused boarding this aircraft, SWISS, Swiss Air International, airplane in the sky

Swiss Air denied boarding to me by mistake. Who will pay for this?

October 14, 2025February 5, 2024 by Michelle Couch-Friedman

Stepping up to the Swiss Air check-in counter at Newark International, Zivia Berkowitz didn’t expect any problems. She was excitedly on her way to join an expedition team to hike to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro.

At least, that was the plan. But that isn’t what happened. Swiss Air denied boarding to Berkowitz – she says by mistake. So, instead of flying to Africa, she spent the night in an airport hotel scrambling to find last-minute replacement flights.

The ultimate guide to planning a cruise, expert cruise guidance, what cruisers need to know about planning a cruise, taking a cruise guide, Michelle Couch-Friedman cruise fiasco expert

Planning a cruise this year? Here’s how to avoid common mistakes

January 14, 2026January 1, 2024 by Michelle Couch-Friedman

Over the years, I’ve mediated hundreds of requests for help from distressed cruise line passengers. Many of these cruise fiascos were the result of passenger mistakes and could have been avoided by following some simple guidelines. With wave season just beginning, now is the perfect time to review Consumer Rescue’s ultimate guide to planning a cruise.

Here’s all the information you need to know about planning and taking a cruise.

Delta Air Lines aircraft, getting denied boarding a Delta Air Lines flight

Delta Air Lines rejected me and my expired passport by mistake, right?

February 9, 2024December 24, 2023 by Michelle Couch-Friedman

A Delta Air Lines passenger believed she could fly to China with an expired passport, but was denied boarding. She says Delta made a mistake rejecting her documents and should have allowed her to take the flight to China.

Now she’s hoping for a refund and additional compensation for her troubles.

What’s going on here?

Norwegian Cruise Line denied boarding, missing visas, no cruise refund, NCL mistake

Norwegian Cruise Line didn’t tell us we needed visas! Who is responsible here?

August 21, 2025December 11, 2023 by Michelle Couch-Friedman

Sherry Ramhit says a Norwegian Cruise Line consultant made a mistake that cost her family over $12,000 — and ruined a dream vacation. She insists the agent assured her that visas were optional for their Alaska cruise aboard NCL’s Encore last August. Unfortunately, they definitely were not optional.

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