I Took This Cruiser Back On A Line He HATED First Time!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 30 ก.ค. 2024
- I took my partner (Mark) back on a cruise line he is not a fan of at all based on our Alaska trip 4 years ago, hoping he will like the changes they've made since then so I don't always have to cruise solo on them! Here's how it went - and what I learnt about Holland America and taking cruisers back on lines they've not fans of!
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00:00 Start
00:51 First Big Hurdle
03:02 Second Big Hurdle
03:44 Cruise Evenings
06:27 Cruise Ports
07:22 Cruise Relaxing
08:16 Cruise Cabin
09:06 Cruise Daily Program
10:31 Judgement Day
![[#SHORTS CLIP] ครูอึ้ง กรรมการอึ้ง ฮ่าๆ l ซานิเบาได้เบา l One Playground](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/qeBTuMJs4t0/mqdefault.jpg)
😂 poor partner. !!You pitched it like a good salesman. This is soooo funny. I guess Mark will choose the next few cruises 😊
Mark is delightful, and his antics made me laugh. You need to include him in more videos.
It was surprising to see Mark so animated and playing to the camera. He wasn't the stiff shirt I've noticed when he accompanies you on the live show. Glad you got the starch out of his shirt. Hope he enjoys future HAL cruises with you. We can't wait for April 2024.
He is much more fun for sure than his livestream persona! I'll bring that Mark along to the next live :-) Also he was so in desperate need of a vacation he was happy to oblige my direction !
@@tipsfortravellers Mark is a smart man. He knows when he needs a vacation and he knows he's traveling with the best person in the world who can make him happy. Good job, Gary.
We're happy to hear that Holland America is still in your radar for a future caa-ruze. We sailed on Nieuw Amsterdam along with four other Holland America ships. We love spending time at the fitness center, then swimming laps then relaxing the rest of the morning by the pool. We spend our afternoons soaking in all the entertainment on the Music Walk, especially the classical music in Lincoln Center. We never had a disappointing meal on Holland America. I hope that you will try Rotterdam or Nieuw Statendam next time.
I can tell you also watch La Lido Loca!
I will never go on a cruise, but I love watching your channel. ( combination of professionalism and honesty and genuine). Also love that you often go to places we go in our sailboat. Loved this video as there was. 10 sec clip with a champagne colored mega yacht in the background. We passed it a number of times in the Sea of Cortez. It is so distinct that even 2 sec makes it noticeable.
We need more Mark! I've never cruised on HAL but your enthusiasm for the line is palpable.
He is adorable and quite the ham!
We did HAL in the Canal and the A,B,C, Islands ALL in ALL a 12 Day
Cruise and LOVED it ...Thinking about doing it again at the end of this Year...
And , Cruise ON !!!!
This is my dream itinerary! Just have to convince my better half of it. 😁
You will not REGRET this
Cruise ..
We quite enjoy Holland America cruises. I will say that the newer ships are very lovely and Koningsdam and Statendam are wonderful with great spaces to enjoy….we like the “chiller” vibe and no water slides and go cart tracks. It’s a great cruise line.
Our first cruise on HAL was not impressive, but we gave them another try. Now, it’s our go to line.
😃 you are spoiling him rotten! How cute that you care so very much to crack this nut! (pun intended) I wish someone would care SO much about figuring out how to serve me best. You are awesome, Gary!
Vini is an exceptional concierge and a wizard at solving any concerns you may have. The lounge is a lovely addition to any day and the cabanas are a perfect retreat. I’m not a cruise expert, but I love the koningsdam.
PV is our second home. ALL THOSE PORTS. You talk to an older taxi drivers and ask to show us your city. How much for a 4 hr tour in private taxi. It usually runs around 70 American dollars. We have always had a blast seeing those city's and also stopping for the best lunch spots
I find Cunard and HAL have a lot in common. I love the newer HAL ships, plus great food and service.
Agree.
Great insight on a very rarely discussed topic! Keep it fresh.
This is our actual cruise and ship we're taking in November! Great video with lots of awesome information. Thank you!
This video sparked lots of discussion for us on what are our make and break. Really enjoyed this video. thanks
Holland America is the only cruise line we go on
i have to agree with Mark that once you have seen the Step One Dancers shows once, you don't need to see them again. Unfortunately, they have the same shows ALL the time no matter which ship you are on. I am glad he enjoyed the retreat and the Neptune suite. We haven't done those yet. Great video. Thank you
Oh my goodness, Vini! Vini is easily in the top two or three concierges I've worked with on HAL. He was ABSOULTELY amazing! -- We were also on the week before Christmas (12/10), quite a fun trip.
Poor poor Mark. You drag him onto a cruise he does not like... however, I love HAL so you could take ME anytime!!!😁
I was paying. I should have mentioned that as that was the final incentive! Everyone has their price I guess :-)
Hi Gary, Thanks for sharing this review of HAL and Mark's preferences. I'm also someone who adores quiet space and less stimuli coming at me. Very insightful to listen to your review.
Thanks for watching! Great you enjoyed!
Great video! I gave MSC another try just recently after having my worst cruise experience by far in August of 2021. It was like I was on a different cruise line this time. I had a wonderful solo cruise but getting my husband to give MSC another go will have to consist of some selling on my part too. We do Eurodam next month so I'm going to consider the retreat on a sea day.
Great info. I like enrichment lectures too. Sad there weren’t offered.
Sounds like he enjoyed it anyway. You seem like a nice couple. Happy travels!
Thank Mark for agreeing to showcase a different kind of attitude toward cruising. Gary is full of information, but I think I fall a bit more in line with Mark's expectations and hopes for a cruise experience.
We have sailed quite a bit with Holland. I totally agree about the step 1 dancers. Port immersion has been going downhill for the last 5 years. Pretty much nonexistent on recent cruises. I remember being told about 5 years ago about hiking trails in a Norway cruiseport that were "on your own" and great advice--but they just don't provide this type of information anymore. Enrichment is hit or miss. The one thing that I feel has improved is the Lido buffet--getting freshly made pancakes in the AM was so special that we started skipping our suite restaurant in favor of the Lido. 3 days into the cruise the Lido staff knew what we were going to order at their station and our names. And the casino on Holland is also always wonderful. I also agree that they have wonderful itineraries.
I am glad Mark enjoyed the trip. He would never have let you forget it if the cruise had been a dud! LOL! Thank you for the video and have an amazing day!
Thank you Gary. Your video today and Tony's from the leader loca a few weeks ago. Just reinforced that Holland America is not for me. I think I'm like Mark. I'm diamond level and I've always traveled with Cunard and I think I'll stay. There's nothing better than the Queens Grill and being able to see Osmond. He makes my day every time I'm on.
Fascinating video to watch, because I'm just about to sail on my first-ever trip with Holland America, on the Koningsdam's sister ship, Nieuw Statendam -- and, as in your experience, the ship is completely full (due to Valentine's Day, I suspect). Thanks for giving us a nicely varied look around the ship.
We were on the same cruise. I didn't know it was full, I was just relieved everything seemed the same as before covid.
Great topic! I’ve always cruised on Royal Caribbean but the last two cruises have been disappointing. They are cutting corners. Things I value now are:
Inside cabin since I’m only there to sleep and shower. Quite cabin.
Solo cabin and a lounge for solo cruisers.
I would like the opportunity to eat in the main dining room three meals a day or two meals and high tea.
I want a big Broadway show.
Lots of live music all day.
Enrichment speakers even in the Caribbean. Talk about history. Architecture. Economy.
I like having the option of handing my own gratuities. Refusing internet and drink packages and specialty dining. The speciality dining choices are getting boring. I live in Oklahoma and get the best steaks available. We have great Italian restaurants. We don’t have great Indian food. We don’t have anything like the RC Mason Jar. There’s more variety in the main dining room.
Interesting excursions that don’t make me feel like a sack of potatoes hauled around.
I can’t do athletic things now but that’s great when you travel with a family.
Trivia is great for those who like that but RC offers few things during the day except trivia.
I don’t mind if when the ship has shops but I resent it when they drag cheap Chinese stuff into the middle of the promenade. I have to walk around all that stuff. It’s degrading the experience of traveling on a nice ship. This topic helped me think about what’s important to me and maybe I need a different cruise line.
Though far be it from me to interfere with your domestic issues, Gary, I strongly take your side.
We took our first HAL cruise on Rotterdam last October. Perfectly magical. Zero complaints. Fifteen days nonstop smiles.
Loved Music Walk. Rudi’s, Tamarind and steakhouse all delicious. MDR incredible also.
And the itinerary? Trans Atlantic originating in Rotterdam with stops in Plymouth, UK, Le Havre, France, NYC, finishing in FLL. More perfection.
We enjoyed Bill Miller’s enrichment talks about HAL and NYC. Personal, engaging, fun and informative.
Though we haven’t been on Cunard, I can’t say it’s high on our priority list.
Thanks, Gary! We are sailing the Koningsdam to Alaska for my 60th birthday in September of this year. It will be our 2nd HAL cruise, both times in Neptune suites. So excited! We are fairly big gamblers so it was good to see a big casino…hard to tell from the deck plan…also great to get some views of the ship that the ship reviews don’t often show.
Great to hear this helped!
Sorry it didn't work out for friend Mark the way you had hoped! You tried your best.
Gary, I bet your so attentive to Mark and making sure everything is perfect and planned as much as possible, so he can just relax with you and unwind! On this cruise I would say he probably gets to relax more than you!
Really glad that he would consider holland america again :) i hope in general that he had a nice relaxing time away :)
Just back from a 7 day cruise on HAL Nieuw Amsterdam. Had a great time and enjoyed my first post pandemic cruise. Food and the music options were big hits with my boyfriend who had never been on HAL and had not been on a cruise since 1999. Neptune suit was beautiful and the Neptune lounge was a great perk.
I'm surprised Mark isn't more keen on Azamara for port immersion. Appreciate your perspective, gives me some ideas on how to encourage my husband to try other lines. (He's a ride-or-die Cunarder)
As a HAL cruiser, I'm so delighted that HAL can now be an option for you two! Wonderfully fair video! Happy travels!
Yippee! Go Mark! So glad he liked it enough to go again someday. I’m sure you sweated bullets while you were both onboard. I’ve been in situations, as we all have I’m sure, where you want to impress someone else. Absolutely try the Rotterdam and Nieuw Statendam next. They really looked at what worked and didn’t work on Koningsdam and made the Rotterdam top notch! And that’s coming from a soon to be 4-Star Mariner 😉
Yes,, I'd like to try Rotterdam and see what they have dine with Club Orange on there, as sounds better
I was on a Holland America cruise to Alaska and I really wasn’t impressed. It was my very first cruise and I felt many of my fellow passengers were in the December of their years. I wasn’t wowed by the food quality either.
I think you just proved that there is a cruise line that will feel like home/be a great fit and that will be your favorite. For us that is HAL. A sea day for us is breakfast in bed/on the balcony. Followed by exercise on the sports deck (I love the outdoor exercise machines) and swimming laps in the aft pool (so deep it is completely over my head!). Lunch from NY pizza. Finally back to our room to read on the balcony, shower and get ready for dinner. Last month on Nieuw Statendam we watched a flock of seagulls fishing while sitting with our books. It was so interesting we kept putting our books down. We did the music walk most nights.
Our first cruise was on the Koningsdam when it was out for just a few months. We loved it and promptly booked a Disney cruise with our kids.
Only having cruised twice, i remember the first cruise when people heard it was our maiden voyage and told us that after Crystal we would have a hard time finding something to the same standard. When I see footage of so many people on board... I'm out already! Nope, I will more happily spend a few weeks in our forrest cabin with deer, squirrels, pheasants etc. than with so many people.
That suite is gorgeous!
I have sail HAL 4x, about to do 5th Montréal/Boston this May! I agree with all u stated & I enjoy the enrichment times, music etc! Took your advise &tried Oceania 2x booked 2more 2024. Glad Mark enjoyed.
I miss the cooking classes on HAL. We had none on the Nieuw Amsterdam in January. We still had a great time, but we would love the cooking classes to return soon!
agree!
Thanks for opening our eyes to a new option
Love Holland America line. I'm on the Koningsdam in 12 days to Hawaii & French Polynesia for 35 days. Then 36 days on the Nieuw Statendam, Trans Atlantic to Rome, then Amsterdam with less than 2 weeks in between. I have traveled many lines & have decided HAL is where I'm spending my time & money, with a few Princess cruises thrown in!
Only sail HAL now. Great cabins, great food and service. Love them
What a fun and funny video!! I loved reluctant Mark (Marc?)
Very good information as usual. I have just disembarked the Queen Elizabeth just a short voyage couldn't fault the service b
I am actually on a HA Rotterdam cruise right now in a Neptune Suite and agree with many of your comments. We love the Music Walk, the personal experience in Club Orange and in the Neptune Lounge. We also enjoyed the World Stage, especially their story telling shows. I agree fully that the enrichment opportunities and port lectures were very much missing. One suggestions is to book the cabana early. Our cabanas were all sold out from the point of our booking. Final point, I fully agree that their daily schedule was filled with promotions, but at least you understood it was a promotion, and we completely avoided those. Most cruise lines we have taken this was not the case. We watch all your videos and appreciate how you present your content.
Hope you are having a great time, sounds like you are. Key point on the early booking cabanas!
Thank you for the video. I am similar to Mark. I enjoyed Queen's Grill on Cunard and enrichment talks. I have been looking into Neptune suite on HAL. I will watch your other videos to see which is the most suitable for me
We adore the Retreat on HAL! Makes all the difference
We LOVE the retreat cabanas!
Love HAL and are 4 star mariners. On a 34 day Pacific cruise in a couple of weeks. Just tried Cunard Princess grill for 4 nights and found the lines similar. Both are good, if you can find the itinerary you want. Will definitely use Cunard again, but HAL will always be our first choice.
Ah, I'm about to push the button on a 21 night Holland America cruise, and was a bit nervous as they're a fully new line. However, delighted to know that you really enjoy sailing with them - that's enough of a thumbs up for me!
I do. I am heading off in 2 weeks on a 14-night South America cruise with them. My first Group Cruise in April 2024 is also on HAL :-)
Great review - I’d just highlight that many of the port ambassadors and many of the talks depend on the destination.
We see them in Alaska and Caribbean - and most Europe. They seem to not has many options in central / South America.
Also, very fair comparison between the lines.
My favorite cruise line. Just came back from my first Princess Cruise and I wish I had taken a Holland America cruise instead.
Poor Mark! I wish he could pry himself away from work and go on more trips with you. I totally understand the struggle with balancing travel with work. Can’t do one without the other!
We have done that exact itinerary a couple of times on HAL, once on the Kdam. We live in California, and Mexican Riviera cruises are handy for us. My husband is a huge fan of the Music Walk, especially Lincoln Center, and he also spends plenty of time in the casino. Next time, you can skip Club Orange. The food is the same in the MDR (and it's always good, I think) but the venue is nicer in the dining room. We never had a problem getting a table for two and never waited in long lines to be seated (though, frankly, we do prefer traditional fixed dining.) The Club Orange room is the former home of the American Test Kitchen (which they have stopped) and it's meant to be visible from all angles. Glass walls all over the place, and passers-by can stop and gawk at what you are eating. I saw that happen more than once as I made my way to the dining room down the public walkway right next to the venue.
Great video Gary we so want to do a HAL cruise at some point soon
Hope you get to! Thanks for watching :-)
Booked April 2023 on a transatlantic on QM2 and January 2024 on Oosterdam, Sth America/Antarctica. I was going to give roulette a go on my recent cruise on QE but never did, will have to give it a go on QM2
I'm gearing up ...saving to go on Queen Anne 2024 looking for bargains ,Cunard are my favourite ❤
I was going to say the food in the Britannia was underwhelming very few choices but love the ship afternoon tea was the same in the Queens Room I just wish Cunard was here more often but booked next season.
Good sport Mark!
The last time we cruised was 14 day on HAL, our favorite of the 6 cruises we’ve done.
Excellent video again - thank you!
For me, the huge emphasis on quality musical offerings is enough by itself to draw me to Pinnacle Class. I’m somewhat surprised that Mark was unimpressed since I cannot imagine a broader possible spectrum. As regards casinos, I very much enjoy playing in Vegas, Macau and some other places, but I would never consider the casino as part of a cruise. Essentially, I don’t like being gouged - and no cruise line offers anything approaching fair odds, even at higher stakes.
A question - is Pinnacle Class now a no-brainer if choosing Holland America? Is there any reason to book onto the older ships?
My first HAL cruise is Nieuw Statendam in 3 weeks! Doing a balcony, but I'm thinking next HAL cruise will be budget inside cabin with full week's cabana purchase. Still cheaper than a balcony, and you get a butler on top of it.
Kudos to Mark for giving HAL a 2nd chance!😃👌🏻We love HAL Gary! @TipsForTravellers🎉
Agree 👍🏻
Lovely idea for a video.
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed
Thx Gary, he should try Celebrity, in their Retreat suites. Fabulous.
Mark is adorable.
We mostly has done our cruising on Holland America, however We did the same cruise that you took on Koningdam A month before you out of San Diego to Mexico and I have to agree There were some things that were lacking.
I'm facing this very scenario my husband & I took princess 5 yrs ago Panama canal .. lots of scooters.. & nothing to do after 10 p.m.. ( One night we were the only ones up at 11:30).. well we're doing sky in couple weeks.. fingers crossed..got a great deal.. looks like more going on & its Caribbean ..different demographic..I hope 🙏
It is our favorite cruise line but we can see it is not for everyone. We love BB Kings and Rolling Stone in the evenings and otherwise are self-entertaining.
I was also underwhelmed by the variety of evening entertainment on Holland America. It also wrapped up very early. I found myself wandering the ship with not much to do
We all need a Vinny in our lives.
agree!
Interesting topic, I went on Cunard in January and hated it. QV is a fly infested rust bucket, with some of the most miserable overworked staff at sea. I had already booked QV again for June, almost cancelled but port enrichment talks is important to me on that itinerary so hopefully it will be better than last time.
The most important things on the cruise My cabin, Food, entertainment & destinations❤
I've seen this one a couple of times, to be certain I KNOW what's important to you, etc..... by comparison, I tell whoever is coming with me (if so) that I don't do: "shopping", NO "cooking" (of any kind), no loud "music", etc ..... I enjoy immensely the lectures, of any kind, and reading/sitting by the pool. (I would love the dance classes, but me being a relatively good dancer, these classes, never come up to standards.) BTW... also, you have two bits on the Lincoln Center Stage, both of which have only 2 musicians (instead of the now 4 musicians... they used to be 5), been told, the Lincoln Center musicians will be "in the past'.
HAL was my first "never again" line. After this video, I'm more convinced than ever.
your cruise was Mexican Riviera? Hal does a LOT of very interesting cruises in Europe, Scandinavia area, and I think they do more enrichment talks on those cruises. Mexican Riviera and Caribbean (which we've done w/Hal) are not really their focus and they definitely don't do a ton of enrichment things for these cruises. You should look into a Pinnacle class ship doing their 'viking voyage' or similar, since that's more of the 'authentic hal' experience. For us, the pricing on their December caribbean cruises is excellent, the food is great, we're fine with it. Mark's a tad 'higher maintenance' than us...
Correct me if I'm wrong but I saw in 2x in your video, that Lincoln Center Stage has gone from 5 musicians (2 violins, a viola, celo and piano player) to 2 (or so) musicians. THIS would be a "gamechanger" for me.
Great video. My boyfriend likes Carnival, and I would rather do Windstar. I think we will compromise with Virgin Voyages.
We are 5 star mariners on HAL. The Koningsdam is not exactly new! We sailed a transatlantic on her in 2016. We enjoyed it very much. We think they have the best food at sea.
I enjoy your videos comparing the cruise lines. I’m looking for something instead of RC. But some of the lines are so expensive that even if I could afford them I wouldn’t want to spend my money like that.
We loved the afternoon tea on Holland America, but on our last cruise we were seated with others, a small tray of sandwiches was brought, no more than one of any one kind, tea was served, and immediately the wait staff was gone, not to return. It was very disappointing compared to what it had been in the past. July '22 Alaska cruise on the Eurodam.
Nieuw Amsterdam is actually Signature class (as is Eurodam). But otherwise, great video!
Alas, the lack of decent port talks and enrichment seems to be a consistent post-pandemic thing. I've now been on two HAL cruises since restrictions lifted - Alaska last summer and the Caribbean over the holidays, and that was a consistent beef with me. The holiday cruise was a bit better, but I suspect that was because of the cruise director, not line policy. I hope they bring it back!
Gaey what puzzles me is that many cruisers are saying HAL like other cruise lines is still good but not as good as it was so why do you believe it was better when all cruise lines are going backwards. Great video by the way.
This video underlines why I travel alone. Why spend *my* getaway stressing about what may or may not suit someone *else* ?
Then again, you do have plenty of "alone" cruises to enjoy as you see fit.
I hope that having cruise time with your beloved Mark was enjoyable for you, as well, after the extreme effort you extended to find one to *his* liking.
My practice has been to book a cabin and cruise of my choosing, and then invite a friend or family member to accompany me, if they wish. And I never schedule anything for myself. . .not specialty dining venues, excursions, nothing. Because, what if I don't feel like doing that particular thing when the time comes? But I have seen cruise mates who decided to come along with me schedule such things for themselves, and that's fine! You do you! We'll meet back in the cabin at some point.
In my experience, trying to start off pleasing someone else doesn't usually end well. It puts them basically in charge, while you do all the work, and if they're not pleased after all -- what a disappointment for you both! Doesn't bode well for what is supposed to be a pleasant respite -- for *both* .
I love Holland America! 5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'s
We are booked on the oosterdam 15 night fort launderdale to Rome. We are very excited. NO RUNNING AROUND CHILDREN.
Does the ship provide highlighter pens in that lovely colour, as you used, here….
9:21?
Been cruising with HAL since I was a kid. Sailed with plenty of other lines. Something about HAL keeps me coming back. No roving bands of drunks late at night. Great food. Interesting ports of call. Easy to chill. Not a floating mall.
Mark .. such a baby. 😂😂😂
The Pennicle Grill has the best food. We usually eat there.
I would guess that “wandering about” is not something that sells well in Mexico. We don’t even bother getting off the ship. Well, we get the only available in Mexico booze, but that’s it. It will be interesting if that is different on the not Mexico cruise.
You bring up something very important to think about--when you are bringing a friend to cruise, find out from THEM what would be important to them. Otherwise I think it's just a default that a person thinks "Let's go on this one! I think it's great!"
One thing that I absolutely love is sail away parties. I love being on the pool deck, dancing in the sun to music. We went on a Celebrity cruise last year... and while the staff was fantastic and the ship was nice, there was NO sail away parties! I remember, as we left one port, a Princess cruise was right next to us; I could hear their sail away music and see the people dancing, and I wished I had wings so I could fly onto their ship and dance with them!
Also, I agree that there should be more videos with Mark! :) He may not admit it, but he's quite the ham, and really adds a cute element to your videos. :)
Also a long time HAL cruiser until about five years ago. Absolutely dissatisfied with the direction HAL has gone in terms of new ship design, food, & entertainment. My last "give 'em another try" was aboard Koningsdam. The crew were great as typically HAL are, everything else fell short of my admittedly persnickity expectations. Once I discovered Viking Ocean I never looked back. It means I cruise less, but to me Viking Ocean is worth every penny. I know Viking would be completely off Mark's list because of the lack of casino.
I couldn't agree with you more. HAL is boooring and common. Been on N amsterdam in June, Alaska, snooze... N statendam in January [casino rate] and our last cruise with them will be on Rotterdam (casino rate). Food was mediocre on both, entertainment was common and during the day you better get the drink package or bring a book. Compared to years ago, absolutely horrible experiences. And we are ****☹️
Agree completely. We just returned from our first HAL cruise and were quite disappointed. The entertainment was only fair as was the food with a couple exceptions. The staff were only polite not fun and engaging the way we have found on Celebrity.