In this video review of cruises, creator Professor Melissa lays out her take on 8 cruise port day money scams.

8 Port Day Money Scams Every Cruiser Should Know

Melissa, a university professor and cruise content creator, breaks down the eight financial scams travelers most commonly encounter during cruise port days. Covers the fixed-price taxi switch (agree on total price and currency upfront), dynamic currency conversion tricks at ATMs and card readers (always choose local currency), card skimmers at ATMs and handheld readers (includes a sponsored segment for CoverOn identity/fraud monitoring, code MELISSA for 20% off), risks of public port Wi-Fi, vetting independent excursion operators vs. cruise line-booked tours, pickpocket distraction tactics (with examples from Italy), padded bar tabs and double card swipes, and high-pressure "free gift" sales pitches (with an example from Cartagena's emerald shops). Throughout, she emphasizes using a travel credit card over debit, enabling real-time transaction alerts, and staying alert without being paranoid on port days.