Getting seasick and being claustrophobic were my two biggest reasons to not go cruising. But so far those fears have no basis. And just being on the ocean is very therapeutic for me. I so love cruising! At 74 years old I wish I would have started cruising much younger!! And I wish I could convince my family to come with me! They are missing out!!
How can anyone say that cruising is not a real vacation? It like a triple vacation. You have the trip (short or long) to and/or from the port, the ship itself is a vacation, the ship takes you to different destinations every day. You unpack once and can wake up in a different port, city, state, country or continent every day…it’s the best type of vacation….
My wife and I went on our first cruise in June. For me, beyond the travel to get to the port, it was the easiest vacation I’ve ever been on. The only rule was don’t miss the ship. It was fun to get up each morning and plan our day and being able to see a show each evening was like being on a date the whole week.
Growing up I definitely thought it was a "rich" person thing to go on a cruise. Getting seasick was a fear but I didn't have a real issue with it. Which was surprising since I can get motion sickness at the movies. (No joke) I'm very glad I decided to go and now I'm hooked. I don't get to as much as I would like, but I'm making plans as much as possible.
We just completed our very first ever cruise. I was afraid of getting seasick since I am not a 'water' person. I took along meds just in case, and surprisingly was NEVER seasick at all. I did laugh at your statement about 'bad things happening". Our sailing presented us with a hurricane (the very capable Captain and crew diverted us and we actually never felt anything of the hurricane). On that same day, a medical emergency developed on the ship and we again had to divert to the Grand Caymans to allow the sick person to be taken for medical treatment. We ended with an announcement from the Captain explaining the diversion for the medical emergency and that we had actually had to turn around for a 3 hour water search for a man overboard! I have laughingly stated that we hit a trifecta on our first ever cruise! The man overboard was just as you stated-someone doing something extremely foolhardy and that everyone is warned to NOT do. Long time cruisers we met onboard asked us if this run of 'unfortunate incidents' would keep us from cruising in the future. Our answer- "no! In fact, we are currently studying and making plans for another cruise in 2024!
This will be my 1st cruise on Royal Caribbean,can’t wait to go the ship looks amazing and so much fun 🤩 I’m looking for to having a blast next year for my birthday I’m November 2024 🎉🎉
I explain cruising in a different way to people I know. I say it's a place where all my meals are there, if I want to have a drink, or some, I can, and I can go back to my room whenever, or as little as I want. I am at my own leisure and ocean view balcony is extremely calming and relaxing. I wish I had started sooner, but I always had a fear of the ship sinking... That has yet to happen.
Totally agree with the eating healthy part! I actually lose weight when I go on cruises because I'm on my feet more. Exploring the ship, on the walking track, on shore excursions, going to scheduled shows/events. Also by avoiding cakes on the cruise. Still got to enjoy entrees/amazing appetizers. I mean, if all you're doing on cruises is eating, drinking and lounging by the pool, who can you really blame!
So many younger people are going to Vegas nowadays, instead of cruising… As a relative cruising neophyte, but a Vegas “expert”(well not really, but I’ve been there probably 70 times in the last 30 years as a southern California native) I would tell anybody that would listen that the majority of the bigger cruise ships nowadays, such as the oasis class on royal Caribbean, are very similar to an upscale Vegas resort for experiences!
Who cares what other people say anyway? The only thing that matters is if you enjoy it. Heck, I hope more people start to think that way, that way the prices will go down!
I always would agree with you about price…. But not anymore…. All inclusive in Cancun at a nice hotel right now is way cheaper then a cruise…. .. there are a lot of channels out there right now saying royal Caribbean has gotten to expensive. And all the up charges are getting ridiculous! I love cruising but it’s def gone up in prize a lot. Thanks for The video Matt!
For someone like me that lives in south Florida it’s much cheaper to cruise than all inclusive with flight . 14 transatlantic Comimg up soon $1,200 balcony cabin .
Before I took my first cruise, I thought cruising was just for old people. The only person I knew who went on cruises was my grandfather. I thought of cruising as dining, theatre shows, art auctions and ballroom dancing haha 😂 I was offered a chance to go for free on a cruise with a friend and although I wasn't sure I would like it, I decided to go because hey, free holiday! I was completely blindsided by just how different cruising was to my expectations. We went on Voyager and it was nothing like I expected. I loved it and have not been able to get enough of cruising since 💙
The idea that cruise travel is not immersive enough is very much up to the individual. We have gone on cruises where we explored on our own, and found immersive, cultural experiences. I’ve also been on land vacations where, walking along a beach even in a small town,everyone seems to be just hanging out at all inclusives and not exploring the surrounding area at all.
Cruising can be anything you want it to be. I think of it as country sampling. You travel to different locations and spend a day there. If you like the area, you can always go back for a land vacation. But on the ship, you can do absolutely nothing and just watch the water or literally be busy every minute of the day. There is truly something for everyone.
I took my first cruise way back in 2002, on the Celebrity Century (now the Marella Explorer 2). I had resisted cruising up until that point because I thought I would be bored on a cruise ship. But I quickly learned that there is so much to do on a cruise ship that you don't have time to be bored. Lately I've really been getting my cruise groove on, having done three cruises since April 2002, most recently on Mariner. Fair to say at this point I have my routine down now for when I'm onboard. Next cruise is coming up in November, on Silhouette which will move me into Elite/Diamond territory.
One misconception I had before I went on a cruise was that everyone just drank and gambled on a cruise. I don't drink or gamble, so I wasn't sure there would be activities I would like. But I'm glad I was wrong. I love cruising so much!
I never had misconceptions or anything about cruises, I just could not get my mother to go on a cruise because she always heard stories about crime situations and so on. Well I finally did talk her into it, however before I got the chance to arrange it, which I was getting ready to do, she passed. Anyway, in 2018 I said the heck with it and booked a cruise for myself. I have gone every year since except during the bad year. Cruising was always a dream of mine and in 3 days Im going to be realizing another dream. Ive never cruised with Royal but, Since that first sailing there was one royal caribbean ship I went nuts over when I seen it and said I will get on that ship one day. So on the 27th I will be walking down the gangplank jumping straight on to the Allure of the seas.
We love cruising and I am not bothered about having things to do. I take my knitting and a couple of good books and I am good to go. I need a rest from my hectic job. We have done RC once on the Independence and it was great but I am not sure about these new huge ships though. I have a friend (who has never cruised) who said that she thought that cruise ships sailed at 70 mph and she was worried about falling over! We have been seasick a couple of times but it did not put us off.
As far as I know we don't have hydroplane cruise ships. I've talked to so many people that claim they don't like cruising and then I ask them how many they've been on and the answer is always "I never cruised". My wife and I just got off our most recent cruise from New Jersey to the Bahamas and it never went any faster than 21 MPH was it's top speed.
I would say, there is a big concern now from long-time cruisers about the extra charges on things that used to be free or increased pricing. I personally understand inflation not only hits businesses on land, but also on sea as well, but NCL charging for mini golf? I mean, is it a fancy mini-golf area? Are we going to no longer have ANY dining places or meals included? In the past, having at least some dining options and 'extras' included in the price really helped plan the vacation. If they are going to charge more or extra for things, then I would expect the base price to go down. If the base price went down (you only paid for the room/ticket, nothing else) then okay. But to charge and charge and charge is getting out of hand. I am not saying EVERYTHING should be included, of course, it has never been that way, but I don't think charging for certain things without reducing the base price is fair. Alternatively, increase the base price a little to include things that used to be 'free' or included. The newer ships will of course be more expensive, they have to make back the money they paid for the new ship, which is high in demand and has more things to do. They may price themselves out of the market - there could not possibly be 7K people that could afford a $8K per week vacation week after week year after year - eventually, the demand will go down post COVID and prices will have to come down a little in order to attract customers. There are still a lot of people with vacation money to spend, but that won't last forever, and people probably won't put up with so many extra charges forever. Even the RCCL admits to that.
These ships are extremely expensive (well over $1B) and are bought with borrowed money. The extra fees allow the base prices to be where they are. Imagine a hypothetical law/regulation that everything has to be included. The prices would rise to compensate. You would be potentially paying for things that you would never use.
I will be off on my third cruise in a few weeks, cruising from Sydney to the South Island of New Zealand . It will be my first solo cruise. I will be using My Time dining because I don't enjoy the idea of eating with strangers. I'm grateful that cruise ships have so many options for dining. It is true that a cruise is what you make it. I don't personally think that sailing on a resort type ship to a tropical resort type destination to spend the day at the beach is real travel but it's fine for those that enjoy it. If you live inland and never go to the beach it probably does feel new and exciting. Luckily there are many cruises that take you to places where you can explore and visit interesting places alone or on a tour. Of course a one or two day port stop cannot be as immersive as a land based holiday but it is a goo "taster" experience.
I've never been on a cruise and I am a single guy - I've priced out many lines and can afford the trip even paying for a non-existent 2nd passenger but being seated at dining time with strangers (since I have no "party" to dine with) is what makes me click the cancel button and just fly out to Vegas every single time. Cruises are seemingly NOT made for single people who don't want to have anything to do with other humans. I don't mind crowds, but the "cruising for one" demographic is just not something any cruise line seems to cater to.
I used to think cruising was “dumb” & you wouldn’t get the same feeling from flying. Then took a cruise & honestly, it’s not the same but I do love cruises! It’s a different experience & that’s just fine with me. Plus it’s a great way to hit up a bunch of new places 😊
So I went on my first cruise 4 yrs ago and it was the WORST experience and I actually said I'd never go on another one. However every single person I have spoken to since has told me that it's literally NEVER as bad as what i had experienced (just my luck lol). It was a carnival ship and it had some "mechanical issues". They were handing out vomit bags, the ship couldn't dock at either of our ports.....it was TERRIBLE. However we love the idea of a cruise and I am going on a RCCL in 2 weeks and have been bingewatching your channel. Here's hoping this one is a better experience :)
I think you're underestimating the value of "just" sleeping, eating, and hanging out by the pool...🤣 I leave Sunday on the Allure of the Seas and cannot wait! Your videos have been invaluable in getting me and my wife ready to go. Great videos!
I have cruised about 50 days in total. I'll tell you -- I get seasick every time. I use patches, ginger, looking at horizon, getting in the pool, sea bands, dramamine. Sometimes all at the same time. I still love cruising, but it definitely can be pervasive in some people. I wouldn't let it dissuade anyone from cruising.
As a physician I will say that the scopolamine patches are highly effective but they often cause significant enough side effects (dry mouth, blurry vision/light sensitivity) that people can't wear them for the full 3 days they're supposed to. Meclizine (non-drowsy Dramamine) is also effective and tends to have fewer side effects. A Disney cruise I was on recently had those pills available for free outside the medical facility onboard. Not sure about Royal Caribbean though.
How about the natural patches? I took ones that were Jasmine based. But I don't typically get sea sick. Any proof that stuff works? It did seem to cut down on hangovers! LOL!
So tired of trying to explain these myths to people 😂😂. Everytime I say we are going on another cruise we hear isn’t that for old people or don’t you get bored? Also the dress code you mentioned is spot on I used to bring so much clothes just incase but now shorts shirts and slippers the whole trip. Even restaurants really don’t care your wearing shorts they just want the money
"Cruising isn't real travel". I mean.... cruising is "Travel light". And that's fine! I think "Travel Light" is better than no travel at all. But let's be real here. Going on a cruise, and stopping for a day at a given port is not the same as picking a region and exploring it for weeks. Example, if you take a European ocean cruise, stopping at "Rome", you're really going to Civitavecchia which is at least an hour away (longer with traffic). So you get off the ship, get on a bus and spend at least an hour getting to the city center and finally going on a walking tour or exploring on your own. But you have another hour drive back to the port, so you're limited to maaaayyybe 8 hours in Rome (almost certainly less). There's just no comparing that to spending a week in Rome. But it's not trying to be either. Cruising is like getting a taste of a lot of different places that will *hopefully* inspire you to return for a deeper look and experience.
My wife and I love the cruising.. however our "group" of friends hold all of these ridiculous thoughts in one way or another.. including 'boring' from someone who's favorite thing is sitting reading and doing puzzles... Another one states claustrophobia in that she "can't get off the boat if she wants to" .. whatever that could mean.. So my wife and I go cruising on our own and have stopped discussing\sharing it with them.. it's frustrating. When they say "how was your trip?". "Fantastic". Is the answer and then we change the subject.. I'm not wasting my time and breath on watching them not really care anyway..
You can pay in maybe 2 or 3 installments. They usually require a deposit initially, then you have a few months to pay the balance depending when you start the deposit. You xan break it down by months or pay huge chunk. Usually required to pay in full almost 3months before sailing
As to the point on the video about claustrophobia, people aren't going to know until they try it whether that is an issue for them. I have only been on one cruise. I did find our room very claustrophobic. I dealt with that by spending as little time as I could in the room and trying to make most of that time in the dark. The ship was large but the longer the trip went on the more claustrophobic I became. I felt relief every time I stepped ashore. I am open to another cruise but it would have to be to an area I really want to go to and I would want a port stop every day. Sea days do not agree with me.
Number 10 isn't a misconception. Excursions "give you a taste", of the Port of Call City, not enough time to full appreciate the city's history and culture. Having said that, going to multiple vacation spots in a week is something which cannot be easily replicated on land. So it is a tradeoff.
I do agree that cruise not being travel is a fair argument at least in the US. Just not that much to do in the caribbeans thats not touristy stuff. Similar with alaska. You also often don't have that much time to travel far from the port do things and come back depending on the ships departure schedule. I've heard europe cruises are better if you want to explore the local towns though?
I think that a Mediterranean cruise is worse, not better. Places like Rome, Venice, Istanbul, and Athens can not be experienced in 6 hours. Not even close. Alaska or the fjords, I can't think of a better way to see those than via a cruise. Caribbean cruises are great because you get to sample many different islands rather than being at the same exact beach for a week.
@@Rumline7 ah i see. bummer. For me with the caribbeans is there often isn't much outside of the tourism areas... and those areas often aren't the safest either. So I don't really get the vibe of 'travel' from those trips. Just 'summer vacation' lol.
@ChickenFriedCorgi Absolutely; gotta do what makes you happy. If you like to experience culture in your travel, there are some cruises that are better for that, (smaller ships that focus on enrichment/immersion). But leaving that aside, I think you're right that the best way is a land trip away from the tourist areas.
Getting ready for my first ever cruise in a few weeks. My concern: crowds and noise. I don't like crowds, parties, or loud music. I'm in an interior cabin so planning on spending most of my time around the ship. Am counting on some tranquil decks and low keyed bars.
@SandcastleGirl Absolutely loved it. Have already been on another to Alaska, and have two upcoming --New England repeat and Caribbean. I had no trouble finding beautiful and quiet places when I wanted to be alone and company when I wanted interaction. Although I miss getting to know one place intensively by staying longer-term, I loved planning port visits day by day and having so many opportunities for great and meaningful days. I loved spending my time and energy on planning for each day rather than planning on the usual logistics of travel. I realized that a cruise requires a different mind set and I had to come at it with a different attitude: Nothing matters but having great experiences. What I don't do or see, the places I don't get too, don't matter. What matters is what I get from what I do. Among the ports I visited, I visited wonderful museums and historic sites, had great walks, and saw beautiful scenery. Everything I did was awesome.
@abrahamclott5604 awesome! I'm so happy to hear that cruising is for you! I went on my first one last year, Harmony of the Seas, and it was so wonderful! I knew I'd be attracted to cruises because I love being on an itinerary and schedule, don't really care to stay at a place for too long, I'm more of an in and out type of person. As you can see none of the things you listed earlier to your cruise happened (I was worried about too many ppl and crowding) everything is very well spaced out, people and staff are friendly and it doesnt feel like too many people are on the ship. In my opinion, the ship itself is a destination as well, lol! I hope to go on another one as well! Happy cruising 🛳 ☺️ 👍🏾
The worst thing about cruising is the elevators. The 2nd worst is the VERY LOUD music and whatever on the Promenade. I had to leave a restaurant because of the volume. It seems that the volume is aimed at those who are hard of hearing and drunks who can handle loud music.
It just takes one cruise to get people hooked. The few people I know who criticized cruising became converts after one sailing. One of my male anti-cruise friends (called cruises human Petri dishes) took a three-night cruise on RCL in February 2023, he’s going on his THIRD cruise this year over Thanksgiving, because he can get off the ship and visit his family. Of course, now he thinks he knows everything about cruising…
Cruises are crowded. Elevators packed, buffets packed, often with no tables available at peak times. Better to go early, as soon as it opens. Many venues are completely sold out. Want a massage? Book it early. Virtually, every place is crowded on a ship.
Not being able to eat healthy is not true, you are able to. Im ate gluten and dairy free so my options were limited but it was healthier. I usually had salads as a starter and then a normal meal as a main course and vegan ice cream or fruits as desert. The portions weren't thay big and we barely went to the buffet. I didn't gain any weight at all.
We tried a cruise and found it to be… boring. Time on shore goes by quickly and after a couple days you realize - I’m stuck on this ship and on someone else’s schedule for the vast majority of my vacation. You sail away from wonderful locales, each time thinking - I wish I could have stayed longer, that dinner place sounded so incredible, that show would have been fun to see,… We haven’t been on a cruise since.
You can’t deny the lack of freedom/ exposure to the culture you have on cruises compared to land travel. They do a good job of making you forget, but at the end of the day it’s an illusion. A Window shopping style of traveling
I have had most of the misconceptions. Many people still do. I do think there is an older crowd but its likely because of where I cruise and when. I am not sure about people who worry about dressing up. Nothing wrong about looking nice, taking an effort is not a horrible thing. I wear dresses almost every night. Usually a mix of casual and business classy style. I never opt for random seating with strangers.
The sea sick thing is real. Except those silly bands don’t work. Either get the patch or take meds. I don’t get sea sick on huge ships like cruise ships but will on smaller ones when stationary and rocking. So when on smaller ones or when riding on a bus in the Caribbean islands I take Bonine as it’s isn’t drowsy for me. My wife took the patch and loved it.
Getting seasick is real, but it’s also easily treatable. I think a lot of people don’t cruise because they think they’ll instantly get seasick and it’ll be like that for the entire cruisd
Everybody is sensitive to different rocking frequencies. Some people can't deal with fast wobbling like on a catamaran, others with slow rocking like a cruise ship. I'd say it's much less common to be sensitive to a cruise ship's gentle motion. But I did meet a couple at Izumi on my last cruise who did get sick and hadn't brought any meds. We gave them some of ours. Ran into them again a couple of days later, and they were right as rain, having a great time.
@@Rumline7 nice. Yeah the patch worked best for my wife but when we always have plenty of bonine on hand. we’ve given it out to others on more than one occasion.
Our very first cruise is booked for March 2024. Yes I am still a bit concerned about seasickness tho neither of us have ever shown any signs of motion sicknesse in the past. We have fkown, been on fishing boats of different sizes and travel by land. My other concern is being so far from land. Will we feel anxious I wonder.
One thing that may stop some people from cruising is thinking that (thanks to unlimited drinks) there are too many drunk people onboard. I'm sure that varies from one cruise to another, but is there any truth to it?
It really depends on the cruise line and length of sailing, but overall I haven't seen them more than anyplace else that serves alcohol in a tourist spot. Think of it as a scale. Carnival will have more public drunkards than Royal. Longer sailings will have less drunks than 3 nighters. Caribbean sailings will see more than cold water sailings. For example, using these guidelines, a 3-night sailing on Royal to CocoCay will have more drunkards than a 7-night sailing with Carnival to the Western Caribbean. A 4-night Bahamas itinerary will see more drunks than a 4-night sailing to Canada.
If you are in the states you only need your boarding pass, if are in another country always take your passport along with boarding pass. I also take a photo ID, even though they have you photo on file. Have fun.
They will tell you before you leave the ship. Each port may be different. When they say you need your passport i also take a picture with my phone. I dont like to take the physical passport off the ship. I have never had a problem just showing them the pic.
I live in Chicago. I am going to Caribbean next month. And we are only 2 adults. This is going to be our first trip. Could you please recommend which ship is better? Thanks
Most Carribean cruises on RC are already full. Most people book cruises 6,9 or 12 months out. Got to MEI Travel... they are great at this and know RC well. My wife's first cruise was on an Oasis class ship. We have now been on 5 cruises with 2 more planned. The ships don't matter as much as where you are going. I recommend booking one that has a Perfect day at Coca Cay in the itinerary. Grandure is the oldest ship and while I had a great time on it last Oct, ask MEI or any travel agent to get you on an Oasis or Quantum class sailing. It's honestly best to go on a newer ship first. Hope that helps. I'm not associated with RC Blog or MEI, just a huge fan of them and Royal Caribbean.
Now that I'm retired, I'm thinking I'm too OLD to cruise. I'm not wanting to walk the decks of a ship as big as Disney World and with just as many kids. 😕
There are small adult only cruise ships that would be ideal for you. We are also retirement age and can't be bothered with the ships with the zip wires etc.
I disagree (somewhat) on three points as someone who has cruised and will cruise again but has also extensively travelled by land. 1. The argument that experienced cruisers don't worry about sea sickness suffers from selection bias. People who suffer seasickness and have an awful time probably don't cruise again. The only way to know if you suffer and how well the drugs help is to cruise and see for yourself. Some people don't want to risk a terrible vacation (no matter how unlikely it is) and that is fine. The risk that you are sick the whole time is really low and the drugs do work well but to say you have cruised 187 times and never had a problem only tells me that YOU are not prone to seasickness. It does nothing to help my (theoretical) fear. 2. The cruising is better value argument depends largely on what kind of traveller you are. I will say for my wife and I cruises represent our most expensive vacations. That doesn't stop us but it is just a fact for us. To get what we want out of travel on a cruise we will need a junior suite, others will be happy in an interior suite. Some may struggle to get the entertainment they value on land, whereas we don't really care about the entertainment. We are happy in little 3 star local greek hotels on the water on islands you have never heard of. Others will want American style hotels and 5 star resorts. So the value proposition is very individual and could be better or could be worse. We are going on a cruise next year, so obviously we still see value in it, but the comparison is apples and oranges and one is definitely not "better value" than the other. 3. It is not snobbish to say that cruises are less culturally immersive than land travel. In the caribbean I don't think it is as obvious, but in Europe you just are not getting the same cultural experience on a cruise that you will get on a land based trip. That isn't to say that one is better than the other, on a cruise you can see a bunch of snippets of culture, but visiting Rhodes or Dubrovnik during the day when the population doubles with cruise guests vs visiting at night are two different experiences. Also you are really not experiencing a place retreating back to american food on board in the evening. For many this is preferable, some culture shock but not too much. So I am not saying one is better than the other but it is a fact that travelling by cruise ship will be less culturally immersive than land based travel. There is a difference between vacationing and travelling, and both have value. Cruise ships could actually do a lot better at bringing the local culture on board in the form of food and entertainment. I could probably write a lot more and give a better nuanced argument on these points, but this is not the place for an essay. Suffice to say that people should try cruising but it certainly isn't for everyone for a number of reasons and that is ok.
I am most concerned about who I'm trapped on a boat with. I've seen too many videos of bad behavior on cruise ships. One one hand, I don't want to be judged or preached at by the snooty. Certain people love eye-rolling and heavy sighing. On the other hand, I don't want to share space with people who order half the menu at a restaurant and then run out on the bill.
Everyone wears headphones. They usually have three different stations (you can tell what someone is listening to by the color their headset glows), and people dance to the music in their headphones.
I remembered carnival sat me and my boyfriend with another couple I was extremely pissed about that I don’t know these people why am I sitting next to them
Cruises are expensive if you don’t live near a port. One has to consider the cost of a round trip airline ticket, and hotel for the night before, with the cost of the cruise itself. There are also numerous add ons that have to be included. Cruises are deleting more and more things that were once standard. Drink packages are overpriced, specialty restaurants as well. If you don’t mind bland buffet food you’re fine.
I have been on 23 cruises and love this style of vacation, but i don't consider it traveling. Spending a few hours in a port doing an excursion or buying a t-shirt just isn't my definition of "traveling".
Man, these cruises are getting insanely expensive. Our Icon cruise has more than doubled in price since we booked it. Stop running cover for these guys.
It depends on what ship you are going on. Cruising the older ships is cheap. My husband and I just booked 5 nights on Independence , balcony room and drinks package for 1700 total. I can take 3 5day cruises a year on the older ships, for the same cost of 5 nights in a newer ship.
@ChuckTownRC51 Not really, the demand is there. When there is demand, prices are subject to go up. The first year of sailings is already sold out, from what I'm hearing. It makes sense they would raise the prices so much. I mean, I'm not gonna pay those prices. I'm sticking with the older cheaper ships. 5 years from now when Wonder and Icon are far cheaper , then I may give them a try.
I cruise quite a bit and it's not real travel. You don't have time to learn the the culture and most places that cater to cruises only offer tourist attractions.
I know that I am in a minority now days but I really like a formal night when everyone gets dressed up nice. The pictures are beautiful and, It adds a touch of elegance and romance to the evening, and, in my real life I never have a reason to put on a tux (I feel like James Bond). But I only get that special feel to the evening if a majority of people participate.
I guess I am pretty boring. I have only been on one cruise. Apart from port time, most of it was pretty boring and claustrophobic. I would consider another but I would need a port stop just about every day and a more expensive (bigger) room. Transatlantic wouldn't work for me.
@michaelme1548 I didn't mean any disrespect. I guess it is very dependent on what someone finds fun. We just never seem to have enough time on the ship between the triva, dance classes, sports tournaments, shows, ice skating... to us it just seems like there is always something going on. Again... I should consider different people find different things fun and not have insinuated because they don't find cruising activities fun that they are boring.
That sounds nice but it isn't true. People enjoy different things. Changing your attitude doesn't make you enjoy things that you don't. I do believe there is a cruise out there that I will enjoy but it will not be just any cruise. I will have to find some kind of specialty cruise.
I explain cruising as traveling to different places while staying at the same hotel for the entire trip!
💯 I use the same response. 😊
I call cruises as a vacation sampler. After the cruise, you can pick a destination later that you love on your cruise to spend a whole vacation.
Getting seasick and being claustrophobic were my two biggest reasons to not go cruising. But so far those fears have no basis. And just being on the ocean is very therapeutic for me. I so love cruising! At 74 years old I wish I would have started cruising much younger!! And I wish I could convince my family to come with me! They are missing out!!
I’ll join you anytime
Leave the family at home! Enjoy yourself!!!! Lol!!!
How can anyone say that cruising is not a real vacation? It like a triple vacation. You have the trip (short or long) to and/or from the port, the ship itself is a vacation, the ship takes you to different destinations every day. You unpack once and can wake up in a different port, city, state, country or continent every day…it’s the best type of vacation….
My wife and I went on our first cruise in June. For me, beyond the travel to get to the port, it was the easiest vacation I’ve ever been on. The only rule was don’t miss the ship. It was fun to get up each morning and plan our day and being able to see a show each evening was like being on a date the whole week.
It’s all about the Eating & Drinking!!
You decide how much or how little you do when cruising. It’s Great!!
Growing up I definitely thought it was a "rich" person thing to go on a cruise. Getting seasick was a fear but I didn't have a real issue with it. Which was surprising since I can get motion sickness at the movies. (No joke) I'm very glad I decided to go and now I'm hooked. I don't get to as much as I would like, but I'm making plans as much as possible.
Which is funny because rich people would never cruise with the "peasants" lol. They have yachts.
@@RedRoseSeptember22 Honestly, when I was little "rich" was basically anyone doing better than us and that was most people.
We just completed our very first ever cruise. I was afraid of getting seasick since I am not a 'water' person. I took along meds just in case, and surprisingly was NEVER seasick at all. I did laugh at your statement about 'bad things happening". Our sailing presented us with a hurricane (the very capable Captain and crew diverted us and we actually never felt anything of the hurricane). On that same day, a medical emergency developed on the ship and we again had to divert to the Grand Caymans to allow the sick person to be taken for medical treatment. We ended with an announcement from the Captain explaining the diversion for the medical emergency and that we had actually had to turn around for a 3 hour water search for a man overboard! I have laughingly stated that we hit a trifecta on our first ever cruise! The man overboard was just as you stated-someone doing something extremely foolhardy and that everyone is warned to NOT do. Long time cruisers we met onboard asked us if this run of 'unfortunate incidents' would keep us from cruising in the future. Our answer- "no! In fact, we are currently studying and making plans for another cruise in 2024!
Thanks so much for sharing this experience!
This will be my 1st cruise on Royal Caribbean,can’t wait to go the ship looks amazing and so much fun 🤩 I’m looking for to having a blast next year for my birthday I’m November 2024 🎉🎉
I explain cruising in a different way to people I know. I say it's a place where all my meals are there, if I want to have a drink, or some, I can, and I can go back to my room whenever, or as little as I want. I am at my own leisure and ocean view balcony is extremely calming and relaxing. I wish I had started sooner, but I always had a fear of the ship sinking... That has yet to happen.
the thing about if cruises are expensive or not can depend on if you have to take a flight since flights are often expensive
You're correct. The mainstream media is not the best for corredt information,not just about cruises but any.
Totally agree with the eating healthy part! I actually lose weight when I go on cruises because I'm on my feet more. Exploring the ship, on the walking track, on shore excursions, going to scheduled shows/events. Also by avoiding cakes on the cruise. Still got to enjoy entrees/amazing appetizers. I mean, if all you're doing on cruises is eating, drinking and lounging by the pool, who can you really blame!
So many younger people are going to Vegas nowadays, instead of cruising… As a relative cruising neophyte, but a
Vegas “expert”(well not really, but I’ve been there probably 70 times in the last 30 years as a southern California native) I would tell anybody that would listen that the majority of the bigger cruise ships nowadays, such as the oasis class on royal Caribbean, are very similar to an upscale Vegas resort for experiences!
Only reason my one coworker gives to not wanting to Cruise is the time schedule for ports.
You really hit the nail on the head with that last one. I hate when people say that "cruising is not really traveling" 😡 YES, IT IS!! 🥰
Who cares what other people say anyway? The only thing that matters is if you enjoy it. Heck, I hope more people start to think that way, that way the prices will go down!
@@JaredConnellI know they just haters! 👍🏽
I always would agree with you about price…. But not anymore…. All inclusive in Cancun at a nice hotel right now is way cheaper then a cruise…. .. there are a lot of channels out there right now saying royal Caribbean has gotten to expensive. And all the up charges are getting ridiculous! I love cruising but it’s def gone up in prize a lot. Thanks for
The video Matt!
For someone like me that lives in south Florida it’s much cheaper to cruise than all inclusive with flight . 14 transatlantic Comimg up soon $1,200 balcony cabin .
@@cruisepryor$1,200 for 2 people in a balcony for 14 nights? What cruise line/ship?
The cheap hotel rates result from the high crime rate in Mexico.
Before I took my first cruise, I thought cruising was just for old people. The only person I knew who went on cruises was my grandfather. I thought of cruising as dining, theatre shows, art auctions and ballroom dancing haha 😂 I was offered a chance to go for free on a cruise with a friend and although I wasn't sure I would like it, I decided to go because hey, free holiday! I was completely blindsided by just how different cruising was to my expectations. We went on Voyager and it was nothing like I expected. I loved it and have not been able to get enough of cruising since 💙
The idea that cruise travel is not immersive enough is very much up to the individual. We have gone on cruises where we explored on our own, and found immersive, cultural experiences. I’ve also been on land vacations where, walking along a beach even in a small town,everyone seems to be just hanging out at all inclusives and not exploring the surrounding area at all.
Cruising can be anything you want it to be. I think of it as country sampling. You travel to different locations and spend a day there. If you like the area, you can always go back for a land vacation. But on the ship, you can do absolutely nothing and just watch the water or literally be busy every minute of the day. There is truly something for everyone.
I took my first cruise way back in 2002, on the Celebrity Century (now the Marella Explorer 2). I had resisted cruising up until that point because I thought I would be bored on a cruise ship. But I quickly learned that there is so much to do on a cruise ship that you don't have time to be bored. Lately I've really been getting my cruise groove on, having done three cruises since April 2002, most recently on Mariner. Fair to say at this point I have my routine down now for when I'm onboard. Next cruise is coming up in November, on Silhouette which will move me into Elite/Diamond territory.
Like # 669 just came back from my very first cruise sailing on independence of the sea from CocoCay, Bahamas 🇧🇸
One misconception I had before I went on a cruise was that everyone just drank and gambled on a cruise. I don't drink or gamble, so I wasn't sure there would be activities I would like. But I'm glad I was wrong. I love cruising so much!
But hey, some of us like to gamble and drink.
Thank you for your helpful comments, Matt.
I've shared this video with a non cruising family member, hope it helps them consider taking a ship trip.
Awesome, thank you!
I never had misconceptions or anything about cruises, I just could not get my mother to go on a cruise because she always heard stories about crime situations and so on. Well I finally did talk her into it, however before I got the chance to arrange it, which I was getting ready to do, she passed. Anyway, in 2018 I said the heck with it and booked a cruise for myself. I have gone every year since except during the bad year. Cruising was always a dream of mine and in 3 days Im going to be realizing another dream. Ive never cruised with Royal but, Since that first sailing there was one royal caribbean ship I went nuts over when I seen it and said I will get on that ship one day. So on the 27th I will be walking down the gangplank jumping straight on to the Allure of the seas.
How was it? Did you enjoy your first cruise with royal and would you try it again? 😊
We love cruising and I am not bothered about having things to do. I take my knitting and a couple of good books and I am good to go. I need a rest from my hectic job. We have done RC once on the Independence and it was great but I am not sure about these new huge ships though. I have a friend (who has never cruised) who said that she thought that cruise ships sailed at 70 mph and she was worried about falling over! We have been seasick a couple of times but it did not put us off.
As far as I know we don't have hydroplane cruise ships. I've talked to so many people that claim they don't like cruising and then I ask them how many they've been on and the answer is always "I never cruised". My wife and I just got off our most recent cruise from New Jersey to the Bahamas and it never went any faster than 21 MPH was it's top speed.
I would say, there is a big concern now from long-time cruisers about the extra charges on things that used to be free or increased pricing. I personally understand inflation not only hits businesses on land, but also on sea as well, but NCL charging for mini golf? I mean, is it a fancy mini-golf area? Are we going to no longer have ANY dining places or meals included? In the past, having at least some dining options and 'extras' included in the price really helped plan the vacation. If they are going to charge more or extra for things, then I would expect the base price to go down. If the base price went down (you only paid for the room/ticket, nothing else) then okay. But to charge and charge and charge is getting out of hand. I am not saying EVERYTHING should be included, of course, it has never been that way, but I don't think charging for certain things without reducing the base price is fair. Alternatively, increase the base price a little to include things that used to be 'free' or included. The newer ships will of course be more expensive, they have to make back the money they paid for the new ship, which is high in demand and has more things to do. They may price themselves out of the market - there could not possibly be 7K people that could afford a $8K per week vacation week after week year after year - eventually, the demand will go down post COVID and prices will have to come down a little in order to attract customers. There are still a lot of people with vacation money to spend, but that won't last forever, and people probably won't put up with so many extra charges forever. Even the RCCL admits to that.
These ships are extremely expensive (well over $1B) and are bought with borrowed money. The extra fees allow the base prices to be where they are. Imagine a hypothetical law/regulation that everything has to be included. The prices would rise to compensate. You would be potentially paying for things that you would never use.
I want to go on a solo cruise
I will be off on my third cruise in a few weeks, cruising from Sydney to the South Island of New Zealand . It will be my first solo cruise. I will be using My Time dining because I don't enjoy the idea of eating with strangers. I'm grateful that cruise ships have so many options for dining. It is true that a cruise is what you make it. I don't personally think that sailing on a resort type ship to a tropical resort type destination to spend the day at the beach is real travel but it's fine for those that enjoy it. If you live inland and never go to the beach it probably does feel new and exciting. Luckily there are many cruises that take you to places where you can explore and visit interesting places alone or on a tour. Of course a one or two day port stop cannot be as immersive as a land based holiday but it is a goo "taster" experience.
Royal Carribean...Honolulu to Sydney awesome!.
I love Cruising, it’s the best & I always choose Royal Caribbean 👌
I've never been on a cruise and I am a single guy - I've priced out many lines and can afford the trip even paying for a non-existent 2nd passenger but being seated at dining time with strangers (since I have no "party" to dine with) is what makes me click the cancel button and just fly out to Vegas every single time.
Cruises are seemingly NOT made for single people who don't want to have anything to do with other humans. I don't mind crowds, but the "cruising for one" demographic is just not something any cruise line seems to cater to.
I used to think cruising was “dumb” & you wouldn’t get the same feeling from flying. Then took a cruise & honestly, it’s not the same but I do love cruises! It’s a different experience & that’s just fine with me. Plus it’s a great way to hit up a bunch of new places 😊
So I went on my first cruise 4 yrs ago and it was the WORST experience and I actually said I'd never go on another one. However every single person I have spoken to since has told me that it's literally NEVER as bad as what i had experienced (just my luck lol). It was a carnival ship and it had some "mechanical issues". They were handing out vomit bags, the ship couldn't dock at either of our ports.....it was TERRIBLE. However we love the idea of a cruise and I am going on a RCCL in 2 weeks and have been bingewatching your channel. Here's hoping this one is a better experience :)
How was your experience this time around? I hope you enjoyed it and now enjoy cruising. Id love to hear your feedback 🛳 😎
@@SandcastleGirl it was literally night and day! No seasickness at all! Already planning the next one! Woohoo
I think you're underestimating the value of "just" sleeping, eating, and hanging out by the pool...🤣 I leave Sunday on the Allure of the Seas and cannot wait! Your videos have been invaluable in getting me and my wife ready to go. Great videos!
Have fun!
I love when people tell me how to travel. It's as easy as just going somewhere
I have cruised about 50 days in total. I'll tell you -- I get seasick every time. I use patches, ginger, looking at horizon, getting in the pool, sea bands, dramamine. Sometimes all at the same time. I still love cruising, but it definitely can be pervasive in some people. I wouldn't let it dissuade anyone from cruising.
As a physician I will say that the scopolamine patches are highly effective but they often cause significant enough side effects (dry mouth, blurry vision/light sensitivity) that people can't wear them for the full 3 days they're supposed to. Meclizine (non-drowsy Dramamine) is also effective and tends to have fewer side effects. A Disney cruise I was on recently had those pills available for free outside the medical facility onboard. Not sure about Royal Caribbean though.
Thanks for sharing this!
How about the natural patches? I took ones that were Jasmine based. But I don't typically get sea sick. Any proof that stuff works? It did seem to cut down on hangovers! LOL!
I had really bad side effects with the patch, in my Navy days
@@wstlndiesel Not too sure about jasmine but ginger is a good natural antiemetic.
I’m a physician too and came here to say the same!
So tired of trying to explain these myths to people 😂😂. Everytime I say we are going on another cruise we hear isn’t that for old people or don’t you get bored? Also the dress code you mentioned is spot on I used to bring so much clothes just incase but now shorts shirts and slippers the whole trip. Even restaurants really don’t care your wearing shorts they just want the money
"Cruising isn't real travel". I mean.... cruising is "Travel light". And that's fine! I think "Travel Light" is better than no travel at all. But let's be real here. Going on a cruise, and stopping for a day at a given port is not the same as picking a region and exploring it for weeks. Example, if you take a European ocean cruise, stopping at "Rome", you're really going to Civitavecchia which is at least an hour away (longer with traffic). So you get off the ship, get on a bus and spend at least an hour getting to the city center and finally going on a walking tour or exploring on your own. But you have another hour drive back to the port, so you're limited to maaaayyybe 8 hours in Rome (almost certainly less). There's just no comparing that to spending a week in Rome. But it's not trying to be either. Cruising is like getting a taste of a lot of different places that will *hopefully* inspire you to return for a deeper look and experience.
Cruising is travel on rails. Still fun to see other countries.
My wife and I love the cruising.. however our "group" of friends hold all of these ridiculous thoughts in one way or another.. including 'boring' from someone who's favorite thing is sitting reading and doing puzzles...
Another one states claustrophobia in that she "can't get off the boat if she wants to" .. whatever that could mean..
So my wife and I go cruising on our own and have stopped discussing\sharing it with them.. it's frustrating.
When they say "how was your trip?". "Fantastic". Is the answer and then we change the subject..
I'm not wasting my time and breath on watching them not really care anyway..
Do you advice paying monthly for a cruise or do a one time payment
You can pay in maybe 2 or 3 installments. They usually require a deposit initially, then you have a few months to pay the balance depending when you start the deposit. You xan break it down by months or pay huge chunk. Usually required to pay in full almost 3months before sailing
As to the point on the video about claustrophobia, people aren't going to know until they try it whether that is an issue for them. I have only been on one cruise. I did find our room very claustrophobic. I dealt with that by spending as little time as I could in the room and trying to make most of that time in the dark. The ship was large but the longer the trip went on the more claustrophobic I became. I felt relief every time I stepped ashore. I am open to another cruise but it would have to be to an area I really want to go to and I would want a port stop every day. Sea days do not agree with me.
Number 10 isn't a misconception. Excursions "give you a taste", of the Port of Call City, not enough time to full appreciate the city's history and culture. Having said that, going to multiple vacation spots in a week is something which cannot be easily replicated on land. So it is a tradeoff.
Especially in the smaller ports, the city can be very different when there is a ship in port and when there is not.
I enjoy cruising because the cost is reasonable and I can do everything or nothing. It is my vacation. Cruising offers many options to those who sail.
Too many people will make me claustrophobic. No huge ships for me.
There has been more people overboard this year, fights and other things.
I do agree that cruise not being travel is a fair argument at least in the US. Just not that much to do in the caribbeans thats not touristy stuff. Similar with alaska. You also often don't have that much time to travel far from the port do things and come back depending on the ships departure schedule. I've heard europe cruises are better if you want to explore the local towns though?
I think that a Mediterranean cruise is worse, not better. Places like Rome, Venice, Istanbul, and Athens can not be experienced in 6 hours. Not even close. Alaska or the fjords, I can't think of a better way to see those than via a cruise. Caribbean cruises are great because you get to sample many different islands rather than being at the same exact beach for a week.
@@Rumline7 ah i see. bummer. For me with the caribbeans is there often isn't much outside of the tourism areas... and those areas often aren't the safest either. So I don't really get the vibe of 'travel' from those trips. Just 'summer vacation' lol.
@ChickenFriedCorgi Absolutely; gotta do what makes you happy. If you like to experience culture in your travel, there are some cruises that are better for that, (smaller ships that focus on enrichment/immersion). But leaving that aside, I think you're right that the best way is a land trip away from the tourist areas.
Been Cruising [ 89 Cruises ] since 1973 and still confuse at times ...
SO JUST Cruise ON !!!
Getting ready for my first ever cruise in a few weeks. My concern: crowds and noise. I don't like crowds, parties, or loud music. I'm in an interior cabin so planning on spending most of my time around the ship. Am counting on some tranquil decks and low keyed bars.
Where are those?
How was your experience? Did you enjoy it and would you ever cruise again?
@SandcastleGirl Absolutely loved it. Have already been on another to Alaska, and have two upcoming --New England repeat and Caribbean. I had no trouble finding beautiful and quiet places when I wanted to be alone and company when I wanted interaction. Although I miss getting to know one place intensively by staying longer-term, I loved planning port visits day by day and having so many opportunities for great and meaningful days. I loved spending my time and energy on planning for each day rather than planning on the usual logistics of travel. I realized that a cruise requires a different mind set and I had to come at it with a different attitude: Nothing matters but having great experiences. What I don't do or see, the places I don't get too, don't matter. What matters is what I get from what I do. Among the ports I visited, I visited wonderful museums and historic sites, had great walks, and saw beautiful scenery. Everything I did was awesome.
@abrahamclott5604 awesome! I'm so happy to hear that cruising is for you! I went on my first one last year, Harmony of the Seas, and it was so wonderful! I knew I'd be attracted to cruises because I love being on an itinerary and schedule, don't really care to stay at a place for too long, I'm more of an in and out type of person. As you can see none of the things you listed earlier to your cruise happened (I was worried about too many ppl and crowding) everything is very well spaced out, people and staff are friendly and it doesnt feel like too many people are on the ship. In my opinion, the ship itself is a destination as well, lol! I hope to go on another one as well! Happy cruising 🛳 ☺️ 👍🏾
Looking forward to our next RCL cruise in January '24!!!
The worst thing about cruising is the elevators. The 2nd worst is the VERY LOUD music and whatever on the Promenade. I had to leave a restaurant because of the volume. It seems that the volume is aimed at those who are hard of hearing and drunks who can handle loud music.
As a beach lover cruising does not appeal to me at all!! Interesting video!
For those who do get seasick, I highly recommend wearing Sea Bands while cruising and eating ginger chews when you feel queasy
It just takes one cruise to get people hooked. The few people I know who criticized cruising became converts after one sailing. One of my male anti-cruise friends (called cruises human Petri dishes) took a three-night cruise on RCL in February 2023, he’s going on his THIRD cruise this year over Thanksgiving, because he can get off the ship and visit his family. Of course, now he thinks he knows everything about cruising…
I love that you recommend cruising to him. At least now he knows it's not perri dish and has become obsessed lol
Cruises are crowded. Elevators packed, buffets packed, often with no tables available at peak times. Better to go early, as soon as it opens. Many venues are completely sold out. Want a massage? Book it early. Virtually, every place is crowded on a ship.
Not being able to eat healthy is not true, you are able to. Im ate gluten and dairy free so my options were limited but it was healthier. I usually had salads as a starter and then a normal meal as a main course and vegan ice cream or fruits as desert. The portions weren't thay big and we barely went to the buffet. I didn't gain any weight at all.
I went on my first cruise, but I had to stick to the higher end because I hate crowds. 300 people I can handle.
We tried a cruise and found it to be… boring.
Time on shore goes by quickly and after a couple days you realize - I’m stuck on this ship and on someone else’s schedule for the vast majority of my vacation.
You sail away from wonderful locales, each time thinking - I wish I could have stayed longer, that dinner place sounded so incredible, that show would have been fun to see,…
We haven’t been on a cruise since.
Also the news makes people think everybody will get sick/norovirus if you go on a cruise. In reality it’s a rare occurrence.
Exactly!
The annoying part is the people spreading these misconceptions are people that have never cruised.
Bingo
Maybe most, but you can certainly have some of these opinions after cruising.
You can’t deny the lack of freedom/ exposure to the culture you have on cruises compared to land travel. They do a good job of making you forget, but at the end of the day it’s an illusion. A Window shopping style of traveling
I have had most of the misconceptions. Many people still do. I do think there is an older crowd but its likely because of where I cruise and when. I am not sure about people who worry about dressing up. Nothing wrong about looking nice, taking an effort is not a horrible thing. I wear dresses almost every night. Usually a mix of casual and business classy style. I never opt for random seating with strangers.
Ummm….cruising is EXPENSIVE. Just like every other vacation venue. However, I feel I get more bang for my bucks with cruising.
actually, if you live near a port, cruising is a much less expensive option than a land vacation
@@emmib1388exactly 💯
The sea sick thing is real. Except those silly bands don’t work. Either get the patch or take meds. I don’t get sea sick on huge ships like cruise ships but will on smaller ones when stationary and rocking. So when on smaller ones or when riding on a bus in the Caribbean islands I take Bonine as it’s isn’t drowsy for me. My wife took the patch and loved it.
Getting seasick is real, but it’s also easily treatable. I think a lot of people don’t cruise because they think they’ll instantly get seasick and it’ll be like that for the entire cruisd
Everybody is sensitive to different rocking frequencies. Some people can't deal with fast wobbling like on a catamaran, others with slow rocking like a cruise ship. I'd say it's much less common to be sensitive to a cruise ship's gentle motion. But I did meet a couple at Izumi on my last cruise who did get sick and hadn't brought any meds. We gave them some of ours. Ran into them again a couple of days later, and they were right as rain, having a great time.
@@Rumline7 nice. Yeah the patch worked best for my wife but when we always have plenty of bonine on hand. we’ve given it out to others on more than one occasion.
Our very first cruise is booked for March 2024. Yes I am still a bit concerned about seasickness tho neither of us have ever shown any signs of motion sicknesse in the past. We have fkown, been on fishing boats of different sizes and travel by land. My other concern is being so far from land. Will we feel anxious I wonder.
How was your experience? Did you enjoy your trip and are you open to trying more cruises in the future?
@@SandcastleGirl loved it. Second cruise is on Norwegian Encore in January 2025
@sandishull2378 yay! I'm glad you loved it! So happy to hear you enjoy cruising 🛳 😎
One thing that may stop some people from cruising is thinking that (thanks to unlimited drinks) there are too many drunk people onboard. I'm sure that varies from one cruise to another, but is there any truth to it?
It really depends on the cruise line and length of sailing, but overall I haven't seen them more than anyplace else that serves alcohol in a tourist spot. Think of it as a scale. Carnival will have more public drunkards than Royal. Longer sailings will have less drunks than 3 nighters. Caribbean sailings will see more than cold water sailings. For example, using these guidelines, a 3-night sailing on Royal to CocoCay will have more drunkards than a 7-night sailing with Carnival to the Western Caribbean. A 4-night Bahamas itinerary will see more drunks than a 4-night sailing to Canada.
When you leave the port for the day, what do you need to get back on the cruise. Getting ready for my first cruise
If you are in the states you only need your boarding pass, if are in another country always take your passport along with boarding pass. I also take a photo ID, even though they have you photo on file. Have fun.
They will tell you before you leave the ship. Each port may be different. When they say you need your passport i also take a picture with my phone. I dont like to take the physical passport off the ship. I have never had a problem just showing them the pic.
I live in Chicago. I am going to Caribbean next month. And we are only 2 adults. This is going to be our first trip. Could you please recommend which ship is better?
Thanks
Most Carribean cruises on RC are already full. Most people book cruises 6,9 or 12 months out. Got to MEI Travel... they are great at this and know RC well. My wife's first cruise was on an Oasis class ship. We have now been on 5 cruises with 2 more planned. The ships don't matter as much as where you are going. I recommend booking one that has a Perfect day at Coca Cay in the itinerary. Grandure is the oldest ship and while I had a great time on it last Oct, ask MEI or any travel agent to get you on an Oasis or Quantum class sailing. It's honestly best to go on a newer ship first. Hope that helps. I'm not associated with RC Blog or MEI, just a huge fan of them and Royal Caribbean.
Now that I'm retired, I'm thinking I'm too OLD to cruise. I'm not wanting to walk the decks of a ship as big as Disney World and with just as many kids. 😕
There are small adult only cruise ships that would be ideal for you. We are also retirement age and can't be bothered with the ships with the zip wires etc.
There are lines that are much more adult oriented, no water parks or the like. I'd suggest looking into Celebrity or Holland America.
I disagree (somewhat) on three points as someone who has cruised and will cruise again but has also extensively travelled by land.
1. The argument that experienced cruisers don't worry about sea sickness suffers from selection bias. People who suffer seasickness and have an awful time probably don't cruise again. The only way to know if you suffer and how well the drugs help is to cruise and see for yourself. Some people don't want to risk a terrible vacation (no matter how unlikely it is) and that is fine. The risk that you are sick the whole time is really low and the drugs do work well but to say you have cruised 187 times and never had a problem only tells me that YOU are not prone to seasickness. It does nothing to help my (theoretical) fear.
2. The cruising is better value argument depends largely on what kind of traveller you are. I will say for my wife and I cruises represent our most expensive vacations. That doesn't stop us but it is just a fact for us. To get what we want out of travel on a cruise we will need a junior suite, others will be happy in an interior suite. Some may struggle to get the entertainment they value on land, whereas we don't really care about the entertainment. We are happy in little 3 star local greek hotels on the water on islands you have never heard of. Others will want American style hotels and 5 star resorts. So the value proposition is very individual and could be better or could be worse. We are going on a cruise next year, so obviously we still see value in it, but the comparison is apples and oranges and one is definitely not "better value" than the other.
3. It is not snobbish to say that cruises are less culturally immersive than land travel. In the caribbean I don't think it is as obvious, but in Europe you just are not getting the same cultural experience on a cruise that you will get on a land based trip. That isn't to say that one is better than the other, on a cruise you can see a bunch of snippets of culture, but visiting Rhodes or Dubrovnik during the day when the population doubles with cruise guests vs visiting at night are two different experiences. Also you are really not experiencing a place retreating back to american food on board in the evening. For many this is preferable, some culture shock but not too much. So I am not saying one is better than the other but it is a fact that travelling by cruise ship will be less culturally immersive than land based travel. There is a difference between vacationing and travelling, and both have value. Cruise ships could actually do a lot better at bringing the local culture on board in the form of food and entertainment.
I could probably write a lot more and give a better nuanced argument on these points, but this is not the place for an essay. Suffice to say that people should try cruising but it certainly isn't for everyone for a number of reasons and that is ok.
I am most concerned about who I'm trapped on a boat with. I've seen too many videos of bad behavior on cruise ships. One one hand, I don't want to be judged or preached at by the snooty. Certain people love eye-rolling and heavy sighing. On the other hand, I don't want to share space with people who order half the menu at a restaurant and then run out on the bill.
You care too much about people. Gurantee they don't care about you. It's all in your head
@@sindilacion Live in the world of men and you will see all manner of creatures. Their thoughts are not my concern. Their actions are.
7:51 What the heck is a “silent disco?”
Everyone wears headphones. They usually have three different stations (you can tell what someone is listening to by the color their headset glows), and people dance to the music in their headphones.
Great video
I remembered carnival sat me and my boyfriend with another couple I was extremely pissed about that I don’t know these people why am I sitting next to them
Cruises are expensive if you don’t live near a port. One has to consider the cost of a round trip airline ticket, and hotel for the night before, with the cost of the cruise itself. There are also numerous add ons that have to be included. Cruises are deleting more and more things that were once standard. Drink packages are overpriced, specialty restaurants as well. If you don’t mind bland buffet food you’re fine.
I have been on 23 cruises and love this style of vacation, but i don't consider it traveling. Spending a few hours in a port doing an excursion or buying a t-shirt just isn't my definition of "traveling".
Oxford-Travel (verb) go from one place to another, typically over a distance of some length.
@@AM-dr9qd Congratulations you know how to use Google. What did I say?! "I don't consider it.."
@@jonc3903 Thank you 😊
Man, these cruises are getting insanely expensive. Our Icon cruise has more than doubled in price since we booked it. Stop running cover for these guys.
It depends on what ship you are going on. Cruising the older ships is cheap. My husband and I just booked 5 nights on Independence , balcony room and drinks package for 1700 total. I can take 3 5day cruises a year on the older ships, for the same cost of 5 nights in a newer ship.
@@reenakemp9132 So you don't that the Icon cruises doubling in price in the last 9 months is alarming?
@ChuckTownRC51 Not really, the demand is there. When there is demand, prices are subject to go up. The first year of sailings is already sold out, from what I'm hearing. It makes sense they would raise the prices so much. I mean, I'm not gonna pay those prices. I'm sticking with the older cheaper ships. 5 years from now when Wonder and Icon are far cheaper , then I may give them a try.
If you want to avoid gaining weight....Skip lunch and skip dessert at dinner.
I cruise quite a bit and it's not real travel. You don't have time to learn the the culture and most places that cater to cruises only offer tourist attractions.
If I have to take medicine to vacation then it’s a no for me.
All true points. However the topic of people being allergic to tailored clothing these days is a separate conversation lol
I know that I am in a minority now days but I really like a formal night when everyone gets dressed up nice. The pictures are beautiful and, It adds a touch of elegance and romance to the evening, and, in my real life I never have a reason to put on a tux (I feel like James Bond). But I only get that special feel to the evening if a majority of people participate.
Bad things do always happen on cruise ships carnival cruise ships
If you go star class, there is a lot of flexibility in the dress code.
For me it would be dress code confusion.
No confusion--wear what you want. Sounds like anything goes outside of bare feet/swimwear.
But there are still over-represent old people who take cruises, so its not wrong.
@9:42 i think you mean fortunately? lol
UP NEXT
1970's Love Boat forever, I have had 5 mia tai, give me a shotgun I'm going to shoots some skeet.
Sorry... you are not going to find a better vacation value than a transatlantic cruise!
And only boring people are bored on a cruise. LOL
I guess I am pretty boring. I have only been on one cruise. Apart from port time, most of it was pretty boring and claustrophobic. I would consider another but I would need a port stop just about every day and a more expensive (bigger) room. Transatlantic wouldn't work for me.
@michaelme1548 I didn't mean any disrespect. I guess it is very dependent on what someone finds fun. We just never seem to have enough time on the ship between the triva, dance classes, sports tournaments, shows, ice skating... to us it just seems like there is always something going on. Again... I should consider different people find different things fun and not have insinuated because they don't find cruising activities fun that they are boring.
A cruise is what you make of it. So with the right attitude, you won’t be bored
That sounds nice but it isn't true. People enjoy different things. Changing your attitude doesn't make you enjoy things that you don't. I do believe there is a cruise out there that I will enjoy but it will not be just any cruise. I will have to find some kind of specialty cruise.
Same with LIFE! @@RoyalCaribbeanBlog
10:13 …except the Costa Concordia…
08:56..... y'all see the rug on that dude's head entering the MDR? Whoa.