6 Cruise Lines We Avoid
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 14 พ.ค. 2024
- Today we will share with you the 6 cruise lines we avoid. We love to cruise and we try to give these cruise lines the benefit of the doubt by taking multiple cruises with them. Each of these cruise lines has certainly made the list on multiple occasions. A couple of these will come as a surprise to many but after trying them several times they were just not for us.
As a cruiser, I LOVE HAL. I have been cruising with them since my 20's. I go for relaxation, interesting ports and the service. Impeccable Service. NO nickle and diming. I want a ship that is NOT an amusement park, a shopping mall, a herd service. I enjoy class, more mature crowd and NOT a huge partying and craziness atmosphere. I have met amazing people and we are booked again to go to Alaska in May. Also, my daughter , who is 22 CHOSE HAL to cruise on for the exact same reasons I mentioned. We adore the Indonesian and Filipino crew. As far as price, I found an incredible deal and it is 1/2 the price of some of the lines you mentioned. Happy Cruising!
I agree!
Going on HAL next month for the first time and looking forward to it!
I agree completely!!! I love HAL!
I completely agree with you!! I've done many cruises with HAL. Yes, I'm an old fart but still enjoy dancing to BB King!! And thank GOD there is very few kids! Take them to Disney or RC so I don't have to trip over them in the buffet!! HAL has class without being stuffy or pretentious. The older cruise ships only carry 1400 passengers!! PS! I TOO am cruising Alaska in May on the Eurodam!!
I don't understand how these guys say HAL is so expensive. In my experience HAL consistently is MUCH less expensive than RCCL, Celebrity, NCL, and Princess. The most comparable pricing with HAL I've found is with CCL.
5 star on HAL, my favorite cruise line. I'm not a senior citizen. However I don't need an amusement park on the top deck to enjoy a cruise. HAL's music walk is unmatched at sea. Yes the 3 new ships have more entertainment & activities. Food, Music, Itineraries & staff are the strengths on HAL!
💯💯💯
I love the Rolling Stone Lounge!
HAL is a much more traditional line than some of the others. They're primarily a more relaxed ship and don't have as much to do as some others. We're 4 stars on HAL and we've been moving toward Princess for shorter (7-14 days) cruises.
I’m a Four Star Mariner because I prefer a laid back cruise experience with great staff and decent food. If I do cruise with another line it would probably be to try luxury and ultra-luxury lines. But for now, HAL hits the sweet spot. BTW, I’m in my early 50s.
HAL isn't a cruise line that I would normally try but they had a great itinerary last June that I could not pass up which was a back to back Mediterranean sailing. Aside from the ports (which was the major draw for me), I enjoyed the main dining room, attentive staff (cruise director was cute) and even liked the entertainment on the ship. I would be willing to sail with them ONLY if the itinerary is right as I'm more of a RCL person and prefer their older ships vs HAL's. I did find out that several people did experience major plumbing issues and saw evidence of it during my sailing (fortunately, I was spared).
I disagree with you about HAL. I LOVE HAL! Food is great, staff is great, music onboard is great, and the ports are fabulous. I cruise for the travel, for the ports, NOT for the ship. Other than being well-fed and entertained at night, I want to get off the ship and see the world. HAL's smaller ships can get into ports that the mega-ships can't.
If you cant afford it don't go
I agree! HAL sucks.
HAL has some beautiful newer ships, like the Koningsdam. The food is generally pretty good, the staff are exceptional, and the vibe is pretty relaxed. Its a traditional type of cruise that offers more enriching itineraries than your usual caribbean booze cruise. They cater to audiophiles and music lovers. I love its absence of younger, rude people, screaming kids, water slides, etc. At 50, I did all that when my kids were younger. We want peace now. HAL delivers. Im with you on NCL. Embarking and disembarking are a nightmare, service wasn't great... It's basically for people who like to drink. I want more out of a vaca.
Exactly! I totally agree about HAL. We want to avoid kids running around, noise, fights...etc.
I like the crows nest and appreciate the better quality buffet food imo of holland
Couldn’t agree more! We did an Hawaiian circle cruise on the Koningsdam. Absolutely gorgeous ship. Top notch food and service. There were people up dancing and having a great time every single night. We were so impressed that we booked another cruise with HAL before we got off the ship.
I was one of many passengers on the Koningsdam during the last week of August 2023 who contracted Covid. The soap dispensers were frequently empty and public areas were frequently neglected: dishes and dirty linens left to pile up. Very disappointing for my first (and possibly last) HAL cruise.
@@barbiedoll2447 sorry that was your experience. You certainly deserved better than that for your dollar, but it was anecdotal, and only one trip. The question in all of this is "is it the exception or the rule"?...and how often does the exception occur? I've had some very good experiences on HAL and only one bad one myself. Meanwhile, I've NEVER had a good experience on NCL. I've also never had a BAD one on Oceania. NCL is cheaper than HAL. Oceania costs MORE than HAL. So the lesson is.....less of a risk of a bad trip when you spend more money. Seems the old adage does apply. You get what you pay for.
I love HAL and I’m only 53, I think Pinnacle class ships (newer) are wonderful. The quality of the food on HAL is amazing.
It was before Covid, but post covid DEFINITELY NOT!
I'm a 4-star Mariner on Holland America, so I obviously like what they offer. Older, smaller ships can be a plus for travellers like me who don't want to be part of a small city, providing the cruise line maintains and updates them regularly (which HAL does). Also HAL's itineraries are much better than most, offering ports-of-call that are interesting and give varied travel experiences. Their superb Music Walk venues keep me happy and entertained, so I'm fine with paying a bit of a premium on the cruise fare. I'm sailing on a big Princess ship in a few week's time, so we'll see how my first time on this cruise line goes!
All passenger cruise ships are small cities, every last one of them. Some just have more restaurants and entertainment than others.
You are right. I'm also 4 star Mariner. Love the unusual ports of call and the superb service. As for NCL, yes they're greedy.
Four star also and HAL is one of the best! We have over 55 cruises, 4 star on HAL, Elite on Princess, Diamond on RCCL and Elite on Celebrity. We’ve had one bad cruise on all except Princess. These people are nuts!😂😂
I think you might be slightly disappointed with Princess because they don’t have have those smaller beautiful “tucked away” lounges where you can actually sit down with a cocktail and have a conversation with someone. That was my experience anyway.
0
I went on the NCL Joy for a New England & Canada cruise last fall. I didn't feel nickle & dimed at all. We elected to upgrade our WIFI after we boarded, and gave an additional tip to our room steward due to excellent service, but other than that, didn't spend anything once on board. I don't recall any announcements at all about events they wanted to us attend. I loved it!
NCL was a one and done for us. Definitely felt nickle and dimed. Service was terrible. Food was OK. I think they really struggle with good captains also as our cruise skipped 2 ports because of weather/wind but the other cruise ships going to the same exact ports had no issues at all. In all of our cruises, NCL was the worst experience.
My husband and I love HAL. When we cruise, its the destination thats are important to us, not all the other bells and whistles like the other cruises have. HAL cruises are port heavy so the cruise ship is not the real star. We do love the food and the staff. You are actually able to relax on the ship however I do agree that the entertainment is pretty hokey.
My favorite lines are Princess and HAL. We are starting to sail more on HAL because they offer itineraries that are different - and we prefer the smaller ships.
We have had great cruises with HAL. I like the Eurodam and also the newer ships. Most of all I love the food and their staff is terrific.
We sailed in Holland Konnsigdam in 2023 and we had a blast . We are not in the age demographic you described and we still had a great time. The live music in the music walkway is awesome. Live rock music and when that's done , then live party/hip hop music in the BB Kings hall plays ... everyone was on the dance floor! Once that is done then duelling pianos starts on another stage for aing along fun. Good was also delicious, great service , friendly workers and probably the happiest cruisers I've ever met...and we've sailed princess, ncl , celebrity, regent, carnival and royal.
We haven't been on Norwegian Cruise line in years
Especially since Norwegian Cruise line keeps raising their prices. Even though we are Platinum
After 6 years I am giving NCL a try again. Also Platinum with them. Like an itinerary coming up. But will see ... prices are always higher. Especially excursions. Not going on a huge ship, not keen on more people.
I sailed on the Konnsigdam in its inagural season and it was a great experience. I liked the layout and amnenities it offered. I also like HAL because it tends to not have lots of children onboard.
We love Holland and will be boarding shortly for a 9 day cruise. We are almost 4 star, so they are doing everything right for us. I love that the buffet crew serve you your choices in the line. It’s nice that 500 people haven’t touched that serving spoon before we did! Thanks for your reviews of your worst lines!
Wow, because you are 4 stars.
So, maybe only people who are high stars should cruise with HAL. People with low or non star should not cruise with Hal, I wonder.
😅😂
We just got off our 2nd Holland cruise. We were on the Rotterdam for a 9 day Caribbean cruise and everything was wonderful. The food from the MDR to the buffet to the specialty restaurants was amazing!!! We had a fabulous time every night dancing in their Music walk! Please do another review because you are way way off!!!!
HAL is my favorite cruise line. The staff are always wonderful, the food is great, I like their music options, and I am now handicapped and they were very helpful and considerate. You see fewer kids, and I don't need all the slides, race tracks, climbing walls, etc. I go to relax and visit unique ports.
I like Msc. Their price fits my budget, their itineraries match the competitors, they have new beautiful ships, they are very adequately staffed, and the food and entertainment are what I would expect. I have no complaints after sailing a few times on the Seascape and Seashore. Most TH-cam bloggers on cruise and air travel present their views based on their ability to afford high level cabins. So their reviews are biased towards what people with a lot of money can afford. That caters to only a small audience. The majority of cruisers are not high-end customers that are used to these perks. As a budget customer, I would personally to see a realistic review of what is available to me on cruise for a standard cabin, etc. Think about families with kids who are not rich. Or a couple who is not week to do, but have put some money aside to do a cruise without the premium booking. How can these people keep cruising for a decent price and acceptable expectations? Don't tell us about balconies, suites, yacht club, specialty dining, etc. that most people cannot afford.
Personally I just didn’t like the people who were on the ship, the other passengers. The clientele this cruise line attracts. The rudeness and disrespect towards the hardworking crew was astonishing and frankly disgusting and at times derogatory and racist. We sailed out of Southampton. The continuous moaning and complaining, the entitlement from people who paid peanuts and demanding everything, the pushing and shoving, the disregard of smoking areas, the unenforced pool chair hoarding rule, the foul language, the complete selfishness and greed at the buffet, the aggression from drunk abusive men, the sleazy drunk women, the lazy disinterested staff (who can blame them after all they have to put up with). It was a terrible experience from day one. Nice ship (Virtuosa) but crowded beyond belief and had a Cruise Director who obviously has sailed too many times on this ship and was missing in action more times than not and appeared very over it. Maybe I got unlucky but after reading review after review about this cruise line I it might be the norm.
Went on to the MSC World Europa last Summer in the Mediterranean, that was a great trip, difinitely will do MSC again.
Been on the Meraviglia and Divina and loved them both. The staff was amazing, the food was great, and the entertainment was good.
MSC is our favorite line of ones we have been on. We have only been on NCL, Royal, Carnival and MSC. We have always had fantastic service, best shows, best chocolate goodies, and we think their food choice and quality is above the others. Always good pizza. We have cruised 3 of their ships on 5 cruises. The Divina, Seascape, Seashore.
These bloggers can’t understand MSC and its purpose. It isn’t a cruise line but rather a huge ferry or sea bus. Ppl get on and off at every port on a Mediterranean cruise. It’s just a good way to avoid airports. The entertainment was better than Regent anyway
Chacun a son gout -- everyone to their own taste. As a Certified Fuddy-Duddy I like HAL best. I don't need great shows. In fact, if I never hear "Tomorrow! Tomorrow! It's Onlee a dayyyyy awaaaaaay!" again I will be happy. I don't need waterslides, ice skating rinks, roller coasters, etc. etc. I want my money to go to attentive service, pleasant surroundings, good food, and good shore excursions.
Oddly, we had a good experience on Costa. We had talked and talked about a Mediterranean Cruise, so our kids gave us one for Christmas one year. Of course they chose the one they could afford, which was Costa. It had all the faults you mention, but it had two virtues that made the experience enjoyable. First, the personnel were very pleasant. I was sick for the first couple of days due to something I ate in Atlanta. I know they were checking on me in case it was contagious, but they were so nice! They insisted I not worry about the mess in the bathroom and brought me water and tried to be sure I drank it. Friendly care makes good feelings. Second, the shore excursions, which were what we were on the cruise for, were excellent! And speaking of going the extra mile, when I got sick my husband went to the shore excursion desk and explained and they cancelled my reservation for the first shore excursion and refunded the cost! That was amazing!
Oh, and Norwegian -- we have never been on them, but our daughter had a terrible experience with the kids' program. Very badly run.
I have not been on a cruise (yet) but I'm right there with you that the description of the HAL sounds right up my alley 🙂. Of course, I too fall into that age category. lol!
@@Lynn-kh5rs I think it's great that different cruise lines cater to different tastes! I would never mark down a cruise ship because it is really essentially a floating amusement park, but I'm not going to buy a ticket.
In defense of HAL and children, our daughter took us on an Alaska cruise a few years ago. At the time her twins were 8 years old. They spent most of the day at Club Hal and had a wonderful time. The hours for Club Hal didn't include mealtimes, so all the kids were in the general population then and they all behaved themselves well. I didn't see running and screaming, by the pool or anywhere else.
I ve been on 16 NCL Cruises and NEVER EVER Felt like I had to guard my wallet!
NCL is sadly very well known by many dissatisfied cruisers because of their nickel and diming.
I think it’s worse on their Prima class ships
@@Joe-lk6ocAll cruise lines nickel and dime the minute you board. It is up to you whether to spend extra money on things you don't need or want. No one forces you to ride a race car, buy a ridiculous art piece, eat at a specialty restaurant, etc.
I agree that I haven’t felt bombarded. The staff was amazing! When we ate dinner at LeBistro the director of all the food was talking to the guests and he sent up a tray of treats with a personal note and his card. Very nice!
We like NCL because it fits are very laid back style of cruising. That being said, we certainly notice the constant sales pitches and avoid a few activities that sound fun because they are really just sales presentations in disguise.
HAL is one of my favorites after over 60 cruises, 7 continents and 80 countries. Besides destinations, longer cruisers, great food with the fresh fruit at sea they have superior lectures and talks. The music walk on the newer ships has something for everyone and the similar venues on older ships are catching up. If you like music and dancing ballroom and Latin it is the line to go with.
My wife and I went on our first cruise in January, on Holland America Nieuw Statendam, we were not sure we would even like cruising, on the 7th morning before leaving we were both so incredibly sad it was over, loved the ship (if I want an amusement park I will go to 6 flags), loved the music, loved the food. Found a good deal on a Princess cruise in April and are we giving it a try, if Holland is near the bottom of the barrel as you suggest then we are in for a ton of great times in the future.
You will love Princess. It's my go-to cruiseline! Enjoy!!
Have only done HAL & NCL. Food & service so much better on HAL. I like the smaller HAL ships, can go to more interesting ports. HAL more sophisticated, gives wonderful port talks in main theater especially panama canal history. Recent NCL cruise gave me zero port info except for shopping. HAL is more about the ports than the ship, their excursions are certainly more affordable than NCLs. Found HAL ships & staterooms much nicer than my recent NCL Gem experience.
I agree on 5 of your 6 - not so much with Holland America. We were on the brand-new Rotterdam last year and the Maasdam in 2017. The food and service are top notch, and the new Music Walk has some fine entertainment.
So happy to have come across your video. I’m new to cruising and this gives me some great insight into all the cruise lines. Thank you 😊
Dont listen to what they said. It is only their taste. I did 52 different cruise in my life i tried all the company they talked about and for me i totally disagree with their opinion!! Like i sad it is a matter of taste
I’ve been on Princess, Carnival, NCL, Royal Caribbean and most recently Celebrity and feel everyone is in the nickel and dime business. Beyond the cruise fare, onboard spending is a primary revenue stream. The cruise lines have all lost a ton of money over the pandemic and are clamoring to get you to spend, spend, spend. Pushing excursions, specialty dining, drink packages, spa services, art auctions, you name it your hard earned vacation dollars are the target 🎯
That’s why everyone goes on Viking now. No more nickle and diming
@double_joseph327 Vikings doesn't have to nickle & dime you during your cruise. They have already ripped you off with the cruise pricing.
@@jojojack4975 sure lol Viking is best value for money in the industry. It’s honestly not that much more expensive then Norwegian/Royal and you have a smaller ship every room has a balcony, all meals are included. Gratuities as well.
@double_joseph327 I have friends that have been all over Europe on Viking cruises. I checked on going with them, really expensive. I personally don't care for the smaller ships. Although they may appear to be less crowded. Many of the smaller ships have less room per person than the larger ships. Plus, there is much less to do while on board. I know Viking is a good line, but I'll stick to the ships I cruise on. I know how to spend just what I want to and not get caught up in the hype of all the junk they try to sell.
@@jojojack4975 not sure what cruise you line you go on but I just looked online to compare like a Greek isles cruise Viking to the big 3 and it’s literally the same price but you get an inside cabin not a balcony and they nickle and dime you onboard lol
We loved Holland America .
Good info. Love your videos. Since 2022, I stick to cruising out of my local port (Baltimore) which is limited in terms of itineraries and restricted to older ships that can pass under the bridge. I make it work though. I sometimes miss cruising out of Miami but flying is too risky now.
Just as an FYI to this from talking to several crew members on MSC and taking many wonderful cruises on them the crew members prefer to work on MSC, I spoke to two crew members and the pay on MSC is 2.5 times better than Carnival or RCL and that is pretty much across most postions and better hours as well , we all like to talk about how the people on cruise ships should make better wages and be treated better let’s put our money where our mouths are, MSC is decently priced provides a good product and service and actually pays their crew members in some instances many times more than other lines so I am supporting MSC as their mission in marine conservation and treating of staff makes them the one I give most of my money too
I agree! This video is pure Bull…
MSC is priced that it makes sense to get the Specialty Dinning, and to consider an exclusive cabin area.
How much is the special cafes per day?
Hey guys. Kevin from “30 and a wake up” talked about you guys and your channel today on his livestream. I love following both your channels. Thanks for the info.
I enjoy Kevin too!!!
You guys are spot on. What happened to NCL? We just cruised with them with their inflated prices and the constant nickel and dimming expecting more and got nothing. Good staff but really bad customer service and management. It was like they went out of their way to make things miserable.
Got an MSC cruise coming up only because it was in the Mediterranean when we I wanted. I think I’ll have to use the same game plan as I did for my last MSC cruise, look forward to the port arrivals just to get the hell off that thing.
Keep em coming guys! Great videos! Happy travels!
We agree with your video. Thanks for this video, it's very well done and very right to the point. What are your comments on Oceania? Can you will do a video with the best top cruise? Thanks Ramon & Zoe
We’ve been on 2 Disney cruises with no kids and absolutely loved it. The food, entertainment and service was outstanding. The service for us was standout and lived up to the Disney standard. Your experiences seem to be different than many others from the comments on other cruise lines too.
We've only done Disney's and we like it. The staff is always good, but entertainment for adults is limited and how much trivia do you really need. The best food is at the walk up windows, which makes no sense.
We've done 9 or 10 Disney cruise both with and without our kids. I prefer the cruises above the parks! Next year we're doing a 7 day disney cruise and the next day hopping on our first RC cruise so we're looking forward to that!
MSC keeps their costs low by hiring less staff. This is why their prices are lower than other lines. They are not incorporated either, so they don't have to cater to stakeholders.
Right. Went on MSC Seascape and loved it. It was our first time sailing MSC despite the horror stories we had heard. Our service was amazing and we were even invited to the special event the captain gave for people that had cruised before even though it was our first time on the ship. We would definitely do Seascape again!
@@pamgordon5051 I had the exact same thoughts!
😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁🚉👅👅💜👅👅👅💜💜👅👅💜👅
Thank you
For this information!! ❤
It is only their opinion of NCL. We did 6 cruises on NCL and very happy
You are spot on about NCL! We were in a new ship, the Prima, in September. It was so disappointing. Nickled and dimed and dollared every day! Plus, we were in a colder climate and could never find a decent place to sit! The buffet missed the boat big time-not near enough tables or food. Never again.
I’ve always been loyal to NCL. The sales pitches are there all the time but it doesn’t matter if you just let it roll off your back and ignore it. The food is the best of all the lines that we’ve been on.
Yeah. I don't really understand why some people are so bothered by that. Especially since NCL is almost always the cheapest option if you want a drinks package. Thanks to the drinks package, I have frequently taken NCL cruises without spending a single extra dollar onboard.
Totally agree. Been on several and Royal wanted to nickel and dime you.
I don't understand the "Nickle and Dime" you to death statement. I just got off of Encore and it was my very first NCL cruise and there was no "surprise charges" or anything of that sort. Yes they charge for the extra items (specialty dining, go carts, arcade games and such) but so does Royal Caribbean (they even charge for the water slide at Perfect Day. And when you compare the price for the cruise that includes Free at Sea, its a great deal. Just my $0.02 worth.
NCL is my favorite cruiseline. I find that it's pretty clear about what is extra. They're great for solos, which is me.
Me too!
Not ours terrible time
@@timelesscollecting9930 😄😆🤣 Good one! I try to see things with a positive perspective.
Uh oh we just booked a 10 night cruise on NCL. Sailing on NCL for the first time. Can we just say NO to the "nickel and diming".... Oh well we will see.... Now I'm picturing people jumping out at us like they do from the kiosks at the mall.... Trying to sell us anti-wrinkle creams and other things. Lol Do they follow you around? Lol, well I guess we know and then are prepared.
NCL was our first cruise ever last year. Fantastic experience… so much that we booked another this year. I do not feel like we were nickel & dimed at all! And no… no one chases you down. Lol
I am getting ready to embark on my 9th Disney cruise next week. I will say, the parks and the cruise line are completely different things- you can't really compare them. If you want a theme park at see, you for sure have to go with Icon of the Seas. I think HAL had great service, but my service on Disney has ALWAYS been far superior. Of course, my last 2 trips were on the Wish and Fantasy, and the Wonder before that... so I can't speak to the Dream as I haven't sailed on her in years. I took my family on Harmony of the Seas in November for our family vacay... I asked each of them, ages 12 to 77- what has been their favorite cruise... the 13 year old said Royal's Navigator of the Seas- everyone else chose the Disney Wonder.
HAL is amazing for folks who want a more traditional cruise experience. Interesting ports around the globe, smaller ships with more intimate venues, great service and well travelled, friendly passengers.
I’ve travelled on all the major cruise lines multiple times and once I found HAL I’ve never gone back.
Btw I started sailing in my 40s which is not the normal demographic but would rather be with interesting world travelers than listen to parents constantly talking about or yelling at their kids which was common on RCL, Carnival, NCL etc
I agree with you on everything except Disney. My first cruise was on Disney, I've cruised on Disney more than any other cruise line, and I still have more fun on Disney than on any other cruise line. I don't think there is anything wrong with Disney; it's just a matter of whether or not it suits your personality. We went on a multi-generational cruise on Holland America, and to my surprise, my 81 year old father liked it the least of all of us! So again, I don't think it's a demographic thing; we had a lot of genuine complaints about a variety of issues on that cruise, from bad food, service issues, a messy dining room, and very disappointing entertainment. We were impressed at first glance, but the longer we were on it, the more problems we saw.
Fascinating perspective. I have only cruised with Princess, and it's interesting to get a look at other lines.
We have cruised NCL at least 5 times and like it but realize with the cruise we are taking in May to Iceland that the excursions are all out of our budget and we are using other private companies. We will be platinum level after that cruise and will decide if it is worthwhile to continue with them.
We are now in our 70s but took a cruise on Holland America in 2017 and felt like youngsters as the passengers were so elderly and all of the entertainment was boring. The staff and food were great and the ship was comfortable.
We have not cruised any of the lines you mentioned.
I’m surprised you said Disney because I find the service outstanding on the ship it’s nice not have to pay for soda. It’s nice to get free room service like you said the entertainment is the best on Sea.
Disney looks like just what I want to do with my son and his family-
Nothing is free on Disney, you simply pay an extravagant price for your cruise.
@@bethharrelson2585 it may seem that way, but you’re not getting nickel and dime with gratuity tax for a can of soda of 18%
@@bethharrelson2585the price on Disney is not much different than what I have paid on other lines.
Disney only does short cruises. I like 10 day or longer cruises. I feel like, with a short cruise, by the time you get relaxed it's time to get off. I might be willing to pay Disneys crazy prices if they had longer cruises.
Thank you. It’s been several years since my wife and I were on a cruise. We went on Princess Cruises to Alaska, New Zealand, and Australia, it was nice. Perhaps we’ll be going again soon.
Whew! I booked my first cruise ever last week with Virgin Voyages so I was holding my breath til the end of your video. I respect your viewpoints and considerations so I'm very happy to know Virgin is not on your list. I am excited about starting this new phase of my life with cruising so I am enjoying your cruise videos. Thanks so much for your reviews. 🙂
You will not be disappointed. Virgin is a cut above.
Love Holland America for taking a sea journey. Wonderful staff, quality cuisine, interesting destinations complete with entertainment often tied with were you are. I do prefer the newer ships for the upgraded music experience and specialty restaurants. I guess it really depends if one wants a ship with an amusement park attached or a ship experience. I am 4 Star with HAL though enjoy Princess and Celebrity as well.
We've been on numerous Holland America cruises - they are our favorite for sure. As slightly older folks, we are not interested in waterslides, etc. In fact it's great to have few (if any) kids aboard. If we wanted to take the grandkids, we'd definitely choose a different cruise line. Conversely, if you want a less kid-oriented experience, HAL is fabulous. We were recently on their newest ship, The Rotterdam and it was fantastic - the food, service, music, cabins....I could go on and on. We have been on their older ships as well, and they are still lovely. It all depends on what sort of a cruise experience you are looking for. We prefer more laid back.
We prefer Celebrity and Royal. We have cruised on Carnival and NCL. We recently did a Viking river and it was really nice. If this is how the ocean cruises are then we would try them. We are going on an Oceania trip next year and are excited with the added options if we do like Oceania. In the future we plan to use the cruises that are repositioning, transatlantic, and transpacific as a way to skip the flights in retirement. We do prefer a childfree experience so the longer trips will continue to be our go to. Happy travels!
I have only done Cunard and I like it immensely. They have great service that is professional, serious and also engaging. However, this is my first cruise in 23 years so I may be easy to impress.
Have done one HAL to Alaska. was in my early 50 when I went. I do not need car races, water slides, etc.. The food and staff was great. I enjoyed the simple layouts of the ship.
Thanks for the great information. You are right about the difference between the entertainment on EU cruises vs US cruises. We are not really into the enrichment programs, dog training, table etiquette, but the star gazing would have been good, except for cloudy for 5 nights. We got spoiled on cruises 12-15years ago,and now just have to set our sights lower.
Appreciate your wisdom and love your videos! I do still love HAL best; but I am the demographic that they appear to embrace. Just wanted to add…I totally agree with both of you when you note that flights, especially LONG international flights; airports; flight delays and cancellations; airport terminals and having to literally RUN through airport terminals anymore to catch your connecting flight is very very downright ‘icky’ tee hee. The absolute least favorite aspect of my travels anymore. Love cruising but strive to just cruise out of ports that are fairly close to where I live thereby avoiding long flights. Thankyou so much for your wonderful advice and videos. Love and always learn from all of your channels.
I agree with you about NCL and we are very close to being sapphire level on NCL
I feel msc is great cruise line
Over the years I found the staff very helpful
I would recommend msc over carnival
I like the way they think outside the box
Amen to that! Lol
I agree with you about Holland America, we went on the New Statendam last Spring and they have replaced public comfort with cabins. The Pomenade deck had no view and does not even go half way around the ship. Many promotions around jewelry and spa. The music and staff and MDR were excellent, but we will choose a different line this year.
When are you guys coming to Australia! My husband and I love your train and have just begun watching your cruise ones. We have done NY to Washington and settle to Vancouver and it was great to see those
I cruise them all and enjoy each one in its own areas of excellence. I cruise MSC (only the Sea"type" named ships) as these are excellent and at their prices only book a cruise with everything upscaled as then it is equal to the prices of the Royals, Carnival Xl's, NCL Prima prices but I am in a suite or Yatch Club with everything included and it beats the other lines then.
You are right on about HAL. I’ve cruised for 35 yers, I’m finished with dodge cars and roller coasters. I want a quieter, longer cruise cruise and HAL fits the bill.
I like MSC I am a Gold Star member. I plan to do Amtrak from NYC to Orlando and do a three-day cruise and return to NYC by train.
ThAnk for your great advise. What is your opinion of Princess Cruises please ??
You have an amazing job. 😊
My wife and I have sailed with P&O 3 times and each time have thoroughly enjoyed the experience. We've sailed on their older ships and on their brand new ship and both have been equally enjoyable for different reasons. They are pitched very much at the UK market and their pricing is exceptionally keen. They don't pretend to offer a super high-end luxury experience but we've found the food to be good, the on-board entertainment to be excellent, the prices for drinks, etc. to be very reasonable and the service to be friendly and attentive. For the price I think what they offer is excellent value.
I have just returned from a P&O cruise and had a great time was my first cruise, I agree it’s targeted at the uk market. MSC seems a solid option as well if you are comfortable with Mediterranean food.
We just got off a celebrity cruise and having previously cruised with MSC, we hated the value of Celebrity and personally prefer the value of MSC (including the yacht club) over the insane nickel and diming that Celebrity offered us. It was extra money around every corner. The all inclusive drink package wasn't even all inclusive 😂
My wife won't do Royal again for some issues on the last couple with them. We have been looking for the most comparable because Royal is so good. I enjoy the breakdown of each one.. What is your favorite? I saw the video ranking each level, but what could you be on everyday (Oasis?)? Thank you
We are starting to move to NCL from Royal. Royal prices have gone up a lot since COVID. Of the cruises we have looked at NCL fare is consistently about 20% cheaper for our bookings. Plus the FAS. So NCL seems to have a better value for our family. Totally agree with you about DCL.
as everyone is different and have different needs when cruising for us we only cruise HAL ships .. have done so since 1997.. just completed our 115th cruise with HAL on back to back Hawaii cruises on the Koningsdam... we're in their top tier Mariners with 1700+ sailing days.. we call it the 'older cruise line'.. hay we're old.. but always loved the smaller ships like the Maasdam (28x) (1250pax) .. but many of these were sold off since the pandemic.. never thought I'd say I'd get to like the larger ships like their Koningsdam.. Nieuw Statendam and Rotterdam but they have it all- 2600 pax .. with only 2 of the smaller ships left in their fleet the Volendam and Zaandam (sister ships that hold 1450 pax) it's still nice to sail on them these days- booked on our annual Boston-Montreal 4 back to backs for the month of June for 28 days on the Volendam.. then 42 days to the Med roundtrip from Ft Laud on the Volendam in November thru December when we hop on the Nieuw Statendam in Port Everglades-Ft Laud for 28 more days thru the Caribbean.. don't want to go anywhere near ships that hold 4-5K pax like MSC ..RC .. a crowded nitemare at least for us.. but to each their own.. we'll stick with HAL and enjoy laid back casual cruising with a super staff and crew
Great video. I agreed with you about NCL. We used to be loyal to NCL and its freestyle dining. But same here that we will no longer cruising with them if we can help it because of their "nickle and dime" strategy and how we were treated when our cruise was canceled due to COVID. We love RCL and have booked our first Virgin and Carnival Celebration. Hope to try Celebrity one day. We have watched other TH-cam video rating MSC, Costa, and P&O very low as well. Have fun traveling.
I took a HAL cruise (smaller, older ship) for the first time last summer. The staff and food were both excellent, but definitely got bored with a limited selection of activities. I understood that it could be the case and enjoyed walking or relaxing. I'm torn whether I will go with them again, but maybe on a newer, bigger ship with ax little bit more to do.
Wow! I have sailed on NCL four times out of my 20 cruises. I did a transatlantic with them in 2023 and I did not have no pickpocketing feeling whatsoever. There was nothing that I attended where they wanted me to buy something I was on the ship for 15 days
AGREED. I have been on 17 cruises, nine were on NCL. I choose NCL mostly because of the free style. I like to do what I want when I want. NCL is not perfect, but they don't nickel and dime any more than other lines. There is extreme pressure to buy junk at every port when you get off the ship. Does that keep you from enjoying the rest of the port? Making the choice to spend money is up to you.
Thank you two so very much for a well done video. My comment is a question, hope that is ok, not a travel question. I really like the quality of video and lighting you use. I own a coffee import and roasting company in Ca. I am wanting to add video marketing to my product / services. Camera to camera type or cell phone for video? do you use a cast lighting product? Any insight is appreciated. Brian
We have only sailed once on MSC. We heard all the bad but we went anyway and we had a great experience. We were on the Merivilia out of NYC. The MDR food and service was great. The room stewards were fantastic. The buffet was great for breakfast lunch and pizza but we never ate there for dinner. We loved the nights under the dome with their fun team and the entertainment was good but different. I think they have really started to fix the things that were not working for the American market.
As always I enjoy your videos!
Hi there, we have never been on P&O or Costa but I agree with you on the rest except for NCL...we would add Carnival - just not our jam. Thank you for the video!
I find that HAL caters to the destination and the education surrounding it. I enjoyed the entertainment and the food was and service was very good. I agree NCL nickel and dimes you and I was shocked by the amount of alcohol that was consumed. Even my party hard 31 year old daughter was shocked. Bottles were being cracked at 8-9am. It was also extremely crowded, which was more a me problem than a them problem. It was a much larger ship than I am used to so that would be a reason for the crowds. I LOVE Disney ships. It can be as much or as little Disney as you want. We enjoy the adult only spaces and the entertainment and bars. Our staff has always been amazing and they go out of their way to make our trip the best! Thanks for your reviews! It's nice to hear different perspectives.
New subscriber. Very good video and information. You guys seem like a very nice couple. Hopefully, my wife and I will run into you on the seas. All the best and have a great time on your next cruise.
This video is five stars. You're wonderful. Thanks for the video. I've decided to cruise only Carnival. I absolutely love the party atmosphere. My children really enjoyed their first experience on the Carnival Mardi-Gras for Christmas 2023. I'm booked for their winter break February 2025. I also love Carnival because they have cruises out in 2026. I can book my children winter break and spring break. By the way, it is six of us. Once again, thanks for the video.
We loved our HAL cruises because they had great itineraries. We also loved the crew on each of the ships. But that was before they started to cater to children more, so I don't know if the service has suffered.
Appreciate your wisdom. We are trying to stay with NCL. It seems like NCL is more affordable especially with the beverage package. When I compare prices NCL seems to come out cheaper. The fact that Carnival and Royal don’t quote their beverage prices when booking is a problem because after you book you don’t want to get hit with another $1500 for a beverage package. Celebrity gives you an option to do the cruise only or a package with wifi and liquor. I like this option.
I have had great experiences on MSC. On my last cruise the pizza was always excellent. Even at midnight there were lines for their pizza. Gelato is extra special too.
All of my service experiences were excellent. Staff went above and beyond to make sure I was comfortable and my needs were met. Because I have a bad knee, the expedition agent made sure I always had the first seat on the bus for my excursions. She did this without me asking. I appreciate her thoughtfulness. I had à wonderful host in the dining room. It was always a treat to see his bright smilimg face when I went to eat. If I showed up for breakfast or lunch he always made sure I had English speaking guests to talk to. The man that cleaned my room was always asking me about my needs and wanting to give me more. I can't recommend the staff more highly. I cruise on the MSC Magnifica out of Spain.
I had very good experience with Holland America in 2019 before COVID, nice staff, great food.
We went on our first cruise this past January we loved it we did RC wonder if the seas !! I can’t wait to go again food and staff were amazing !!!
When did you last go on P&O I have just come back from a 2 week cruise on Arvia. The ship is very big and beautiful loads of space. The food was very good pleanty of different restaurants the only one to avoid was the buffet restaurant . Entertainment was varied and excellent.
All the staff I talked were lovely and helpful. Yes there were some negative points but not enough to put them on the never again list!
I’ve been sailing since the early 1980’s. Been on most of the upper priced cruise lines. I took my daughter, her husband and the grandson on a RCL Christmas-News year cruise on the Sovereign of the Seas. I must say that the food was way above what I would’ve expected. The specialty restaurants equalled the 6 star lines. Only negative was the plethora of children everywhere.
Thanks for the suggestions
We have mostly used HAL and stay in the Neptune suites. We were on their first sailing after Covid (from Athens) which was limited to 950 passengers! We love not dealing with all the kids. We have nine of our own grandkids. We travel for the excursions not the entertainment. The staff is what makes HAL so special.
We have cruised on everything from Crystal, Regent, Seabourn, Queen Mary to Royal Caribbean and we are now 4 star on HAL. I guess that lets you know which cruise line we have decided is our favorite. We only cruise on the newer HAL ships though. Try a newer HAL ship. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.
Love, love your channel ❤❤❤
Only been once and it's celebrity solstice. Loved it!! ❤
From all I've heard, I wouldnt go on MSC, but I was surprised by the criticism that tailoring the experience to their different markets is bad--you called it "inconsistency." To me, it makes sense to tailor food and entertainment to the taste of the audience. Do you disagree? Or is the problem that they do it badly?
MSC is an Italian cruise line that just recently entered the US market. The ships are beautiful, I have sailed with them five times since 2020. I find their entertainment to be better than Royal
We went to an Alaskan cruise with HAL. Loved the experience, very memorable.
I got off a 15-day cruise with NCL on the Bliss in December. I didn't experience anything you talked about. Sure, some of the game shows required purchasing a ticket. But other than that it was great. Loved the quiz events, loved the entertainment. I got the all-inclusive package and there were no extras on my final invoice. I paid $2000 for a balcony cabin on my own on a 15-day cruise. I think that's great value.
Our Panama Canal cruise on the NCL Jewel was absolute perfection. Free at Sea airfare was a phenomenal deal. Our invoice when we left the ship was $10!
I’ve never been on a cruise so all this information is very helpful
I just discovered you guys. I love your take on things. Do you guys like Fred Olsen or the German Tui?
Totally agree about NCL. They were the first line we went on and did 4 with them before we branched out. Nickel and dime for sure. Service is so so and embark/disembark is terrible. We have been on 2 MSC cruises and enjoyed one of them and not the other. Their service is definitely lacking. We have really enjoyed Virgin, best food and service we have had.
Absolutely. We stood in line for 3 1/2 hours to board. Nobody checked on the seniors or children in line to see if they needed a chair. If I was managing that, I would've had staff also offer drinks, cookies or something, not to mention bathroom breaks. They cancelled two of the ports of call due to weather. Im reasonable. I can expect that. What I DONT expect is to wait 3 more hours to disembark and THEN be told it's cancelled, all without an apology for the wait, or a plan b. If you manage hospitality on a boat, there should be an alternative plan for days that ports are cancelled. A party ... Games.... Special buffet....a free drink... all pennies to avoid dollars that will never return again.
@@pullcarsmelly8051 I don't think NCL thinks ahead much.
We just got off NCL Epic today and we disappointed with some areas. We had been on in 2011 and loved it. It's not the same. The free drink package offered was nice but it came with less staff, long, long, long lines for drinks and cans and drink cups everywhere that weren't cleaned up. The food was just average and the lines were huge for seating. The staff we met were terrific but they're totally understaffed. Is that every cruise line now post - Covid? We did have fun but were disappointed somewhat. Thank you for your insights.
My first HAL cruise was on the original Statendam in the late 1970's. I also was a travel agent for 50yrs. HAL is my favorite.
I classify them as moderately priced elegance. I live in Orlando so if I wanted to ride rides I would just go to one of the parks. Cruising is for relaxation
Thanks for your honest opinion.