The friend that turned me onto cruising and I had a major falling out. So ... I found myself as a solo cruiser. Here is what I know after just one solo cruise: She was holding me back with her brand loyalty and her overall vision of what cruising should be. For her, it was all about beach and laying in the sun baking her brains out (as if she had any to bake .. sorry, still bitter). Me ... I want to experience the world and everything in it. I want to try different lines, different destinations, different experiences. I live in FL. I can be on the gulf or the Atlantic in less than an hour either way. I can be at a freshwater spring in less than 20 mins. If I want sun and sand and all that, I can do that here. Free. But I want adventure and learning that I can't get from an hour drive.
Everyone has different desire for their cruise life. It's hard to wrap your head around someone who seems to have a narrow vision of what they want to do when you have an expansive view. Not worth fighting about and I'm sure if you see this, you've already moved on. And probably you've visited many new places!
You are preaching to the choir here Tony….I have been cruising for over 25 years and have tried almost every line…from luxury lines to budget ones…from inside cabins to suites and everything in between. I love cruising with my husband, with my friends, and I particularly enjoy cruising solo. There are still many places I want to visit and so many new ships coming online that I have yet to discover. The cruise life, for me, is still the best value in vacationing out there and I can’t wait to try it all!
We have been to 35 countries and each one is different and worth the money. We plan our trips carefully to try to get several new countries with each trip. Not only have we had incredible experiences but memories!
We are more like that. We’re doing a Baltic cruise this summer and will go to 6 countries. We are young in our cruise career, but have done Mexico, Alaska, Honduras, Canada, and Greece. Will add Belize, Denmark, Germany, Lithuanian, Estonia, Russia, and Sweden by the end of July.
Love shaking it up. Took a 21 night Panama Canal cruise. That was amazing. Going to the Mediterranean in 2022 and the Middle East in 2023. First time for both. Psyched.
I really need to show this video to some of my friends. They can't understand why I love cruising so much, but they won't spend over $400 on a cruise. I keep trying to tell them that they won't understand until they experience something different. They will never look at anything except the price. I'm not someone with tons of money, but I know that if I want to do a cruise that is a little expensive, there are ways to plan for it. I normally do balcony cabins but for my birthday cruise next year, I plan to upgrade to one of those suites that you mentioned. The way I look at it is, you're not gonna be doing this sort of thing every week or even every month, so just plan and go for it. Life is short and you can't take it with you.
When trying to talk people into cruising and price is the issue. You might ask them to price out their last vacation(food,lodging,gas or airfare,entertainment) then compare that with a cruise which includes food,lodging and entertainment. They will be suprised how much they can save.
The more I have listened to you over the last 2 years, the more I love your insight. Not necessarily new thoughts, but often refocusing on the important stuff. Sorry I didn’t get to meet you on your canceled Marti Gras Cruise we were on. Thanks
DW and I are definitely relaxation cruisers. Love booking an aft balcony and relaxing, watching the wake disappear over the horizon. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours Tony. Thankful that I discovered you and Don a few months ago, enjoying both of you...
Dude this was such a great video.. made me smile because I was able to bravely change several things to my sisters cruise.. She's stuck with 5 day that's fine but I've been cruising for several years versus her few... so I was able to get a great deal on a 7 day that's new to both of us.. I'm so excited.... Keep up the great 🛳 videos!!
This Caribbean, tropical, hardcore beach girl is stepping out of my cruising box and going to Alaska for my 60th birthday cruise! 10 days too, usually I always do 7 day cruises.
My next cruise (May of 2022) will definitely be different from any other cruise I have experienced!! It is a 14 day cruise out of Southampton, UK (London) to Gdańsk, Poland, Visby, Sweden, Stockholm, Sweden, Tallin, Estonia, St. Petersburg, Russia (2days), Helsinki, Finland, Copenhagen, Denmark, Kristiansand, Norway and back to Southampton. It will be on the Sky Princess in a mini-suite!! I can’t wait!!!
Great video! You’ve brought up some great points. We were in the habit of doing mostly Caribbean cruises because of the weather (from Canada so we normally travel in the winter to get away from the cold and snow). The problem is my husband was getting tired of doing the same type of trip. We’ve done one cruise to Hawaii as well and this was one of our favourite trips. I’m hoping our upcoming Panama Canal cruise will get my husband back into cruising.
Changing ships either in one line or other lined is a great experience in it's self. Great when one has seen all the ports in the Caribou where they r all so alike after while.
My DH and I are currently on Liberty of the Seas and having a great time. Just booked for Christmas next year with our triplets on the Allure of the Seas out of Galveston! We also have a cruise scheduled for spring break on Carnival. Life is good!
Thank you, Tony. Cruising to Alaska in 2022 because of your videos and sailing a transatlantic cruise to Spain, too. Excited to sail again. I just had to cancel my cruise for tomorrow due to illness. Hoping to hop on next week’s cruise, which would be my first back to back and first solo. Happy Thanksgiving!
wonderful! Perhaps the best video ever! We have done 32 cruises and we have done all 8 changes you mentioned and yes, it does enhance cruising. We watch the news and we say, “We’ve been there!” We have sailed to ports all over the world in all sorts of cabins on six different cruise lines. We have developed a loyalty to one cruise line because of their perks in a suite. We will be going on another cruise in June, only because the cruise line we prefer is too expensive and does not serve the islands we wish to visit. Tony, Happy Thanksgiving, and thank you for the valuable tips you’ve provided.
This video flooded my memories from our initial cruise. It was onboard the USS Independence sailing from Honolulu thru the Hawaiian Islands on a now defunct, American Cruise lines. We were stationed with the AF in Hawaii at the time, so took advantage of the "kamaina rates" that were available for unsold cabins at the last minute to get anything filled they could. The first, magical thing that happened we each got a fresh lei boarding the ship, and as we were on the deck for the sailaway, they had a helicopter fly over us and scatter pumeria petals on the open deck....magical. We have sailed all the different lines, and are Elite with Princess, Diamond with Carnival and RCCL and only 2 cruises on NCL (so uncertain of the rating). They are each wonderful, they are each offering something the others dont. We love the staff, the other cruisers, the unity of the cruise family for the week. Sure, have we seen changes we wish had not occurred, of course we have. But hey, none of us look/feel/or move the same as we did 30 yrs ago either, do we. Things evolve, but the one thing that is consistent to me is getting the chance to talk to someone that "this is their very first cruise". They make you feel the excitement, the wonder, the magic of that first cruise. That USS Independence we cruise on, that first ship. This was in 1996. That ship was SO OLD it was the ship that Grace Kelly and wedding party cruised trans-Atlantic on for her marriage to Prince Renier. This ship was so old that it had US Navy type "bulk head" doors in the walk way. I remember how magical it was to my husband and I as we cruised the coastal ways of the islands, we cruised close enough to where the lava was flowing into the bay from Kileha volcano that we got "steam showers" coming up from the lava flowing into the ocean below, and we thought this was the ONLY way to ever vacation. Almost 30 yrs later, we still feel the same.
I'm taking a back-to-back 7 day cruise by myself. My wife was explaining to her friends that were asking why I'm going without her. They just don't understand. My wife doesn't want to cruise yet. I'm ready. The deal was amazing, so I grabbed it. We have done cruises in the past together and even took her Mom with us to Hawaii. As a side note, I've had inside cabins, balconies, owner's suites... I've been on the music cruises. The only cruise line I've used is NCL. I tried to branch out and use MSC, but got absolutely hosed by them.
I decided to take your advice. I’ve wanted to go to Europe but I was afraid of the long flight. I am fluffy like you and confined spaces for extended periods of time make me a little nervous. I also didn’t want to fly that far and pay that much for the ticket for a short trip. Thanks to Black Friday sales, I’m headed to Europe for a 14 day cruise in June 2022!
Great food for thought Tony! This is unique content. Nice work! We have typically cruise Caribbean. Being based in Eastern Canada it’s easier to get to Florida. We extended from a typical 7 night itinerary and did a 12 night Mediterranean and it blew our mind. We have really been expanding our thinking on destinations. Today you have us even more to think about - Thank You
This is a great approach and this is actually my philosophy or approach about cruising. I want to try different cabins, different itineraries, different ships, etc. I’ve done interior, port hole and ocean view. My next two cruises are in different balcony types. Ive always gone to the Caribbean but I have Alaska and a journeys Panama Canal cruise on my bucket list next.
I like your idea of changing it up. Just FYI... Viking Ocean cruises do not have casinos. Perhaps if you want an elevated experience coupled with a little familiarity and a casino 😉 try one of the "cruise within a cruise" lines, like Haven on NCL, Retreat on Celebrity, Yacht Club on MSC.
1. A better experience in not exponentially more than you’re willing to spend, it is literally as little as 50 bucks. While the MDR has pretty good food, spring for 1 specialty restaurant you won’t regret it. 3. Not that we shouldn’t be responsible adults, but on a cruise, stay up past your bed times, sleep a little later and just have “stupid fun” and not worry about what other people think. Chances are you’ll never see most of them again. Pretty soon you’ll get it and realize that your fun is elevated by a factor of 10 for each extra dollar you spend.
Great video, Tony!! I really enjoyed your ideas. We are loyal to Princess but we are going on the Vlogger cruise next in 2023 on NCL. Really looking forward to this cruise. Thanks very much, Tony. I always appreciate the thought you put into your videos.
My husband and I took two 14 day cruises back to back and I experienced something I never imagined. I didn't want to travel for a long time after being gone a month, and that was a surprise.
We are new to cruising this will be our 2 Nd cruise in February but we always want to change what we do . We went on a 5 day this will be 7 day different locations . Love what we do ❤️
Tony, great questions to guide decision making. I've loved HAL and Carnival(easy, live in GA) equally for different reasons. Have finally experienced RC on Radiance of Seas and liked it. Have been avoiding GIANT ships but I've gotta try it one time, right? Have wish list to try Disney, Virgin, Cunard, and then further. Will do first NCL in AUG. Changing up cruising buddies does enhance experience but you have to be flexible. But its so worth it and really fun! We have introduced family members to cruising twice and they fell in love with it. They were enlightened at how easy it is to plan and book and then at how wonderful they were cared for on board. I love visiting new places and trying new foods! Cruising satisfies these desires. Discovering vloggers just these past few months has enhanced my cruise planning!! Love your work, Tony!
One of our sons lives in Sydney. The 29-day from Los Angeles was an amazing cruise. We had never been to New Zealand before. Will be doing it again next year.
Perfect timing of this videp. I am doing one BIG change....I am cruising solo for the first time in few months. Looking fwd to seeing if this is something I will enjoy or not. My brother did 4- solo cruises and he loved it. I am channeling my inner Cruising with JT and doing my first one as well as trying out the solo cabin option for the first time too. Can't wait
I need and like to change it up and if I really like it, then I’ll keep it but still want to explore new ways to do things. That’s why I subscribe to your channel.
Great vlog concept. Really challenged my thinking despite having done 60 cruises: med, Northern Europe, Hawaii, west coast, Tahiti, South America. All are fun in their own way. Just love to be on the water and especially love beautiful sunsets!
I've always been a most ports I've never been to, least sea days kind of girl, but I've recently realized that now that I'm older, I really like more sea days to relax...so I booked a transatlantic. I'm in a cruise line rut due to the awesome freebies I get from HA and carnival. I need to branch out so I get better offers from other lines. Its hard to choose to pay when you can get a free room! I started taking longer cruises and now 7 days feels like a quick, long weekend. Leaving for my 1st solo cruise in 5 days. I'm excited to only have to worry about me and what I want to do, when I want to do it. Sleep til noon? Why the heck not?
For me, the ship is the destination so I prefer cruising from the port 45 minutes away and I don’t care where it goes. What I’m excited to try changing is the length - I’m soon going on my first shorter cruise, and I’d love to try a much longer one. Good episode.
Tony you propose some interesting questions. We will be our second cruise since the restart in April. Our first cruise was on Oasis and our next cruise will be on Anthem so we have changed answers on 3 of the questions. We had cruised on Carnival in 2011 and now 2 different Royal ships. Thank you for the thought provoking questions. Love your daily vlogs. Happy to be part of the La Lido Loca Fam
Hi Tony! This was really impactful to me, as I've been a strictly Caribbean/Gulf of Mexico cruiser for a long time. For my next cruise, I decided to throw off the bow lines so to speak and take advantage of a great deal to the Mexican Riviera for February. I've also given NCL control of my flights (Yikes). I'm a solo cruiser and I wanted to prep myself for yet another totally different cruise experience for my 60th birthday in 2023 - 12 nights New Zealand and Australia. I've had to work 2 jobs to be able to pay these off, but to me it is worth it. Watching your video has made me consider possibly booking inside cabins for some more cruise time in the future, but maybe for only cooler weather destinations - I do love my early morning coffee on a sultry Caribbean morning. Thanks for all the great ideas!
WOW TONY...This was such a great video...You talked about so many of the things I have been thinking about...So thank you for that...I'm going to switch things up and see what happens...Thanx again Tony...MARK IN ARIZONA...
I couldn't agree more Tony. The world is big and the cruise industry has so many to try. We just did our first Celebrity a fee weeks ago. Love trying new lines. Before Covid we tried Italy and Croatia. So great. Yes the Caribbean is convenient, but I agree try outside your comfort level. And yes, we may skip a year In order to afford a 2 week Baltic or Transatlantic. But it is worth it.
I know this is an older video but as always Tony you are on point. Question #1 I wanna go wherever the ship is going. You are correct about other lines I have been on royal, carnival and ncl. My wife has only been on carnival. I am about to blow her mind in the next 12 months we will experience for the first time celebrity and princess and she will go on ncl for the first time which will leave Holland and royal. From what I have heard once you experience celebrity nothing else matters. As far as length we are pushing the boundaries in about a month with a 21 day 3 ship cruise. We have done 4 day not long enough 5 days, 7 day and 8 day all not long enough. So this summer 21 days. I will let you know how we fair.
Professor you have done it again. Thought provoking. I always travel (cruise/resort) with a purpose with some spontaneity. Where all my wants, needs and enrichment experiences are met.
I loved this. I've been traveling the world for a few years and am on the road more than home so it can get pretty boring when you go through the same routine, for sure. One of my favorite things to do is plan a trip that includes at least one, "Am I really going to try and do this???" It sets me up for an exciting, adrenaline-pumping challenge. If I do it, I feel a tremendous sense of accomplishment. If not, well, at least I tried. For example, I'm on a Transatlantic to Barcelona on Wonder of the Seas in April. I could have just flown home from Barcelona but I decided to travel around a bit. I'm going to fly from Barcelona to Paris for a week, then to Zurich for 3 days, then back to France to stay in Bordeaux for 3 days, then back to Barcelona for 4 days - then I'm flying to Casablanca, Morocco so I can check off Africa, leaving Antarctica as the only continent I won't have visited in the last 2 years. YOLO
#1. Where? Anywhere. I'm easy. #2. $$? As little as possible for what I want as often as possible. I'm frugal. #3. Cruise line? See #2. I've been on four in 16 cruises. #4. Ship? As many different ships as possible. I ❤ cruise ships! #5. Do on board? Relax, gamble, drink, entertainment. #6. Cabin? Porthole at a minimum. Balcony is preferred. #7. Length? Longer the better! #8. With whom? Hubby always. Friends & family are always welcome. I know what I like & I've tried enough variants to know I have my perfect formula now. 👍🏻👍🏻
I have been on P&O Australia 🇦🇺 so far on Pacific Explorer and I got another one next year on Pacific Adventure and then after that I will be on Radiance Of The Seas 2023 and would like to try Princess after that
On number one we've been all over the world, cruising has let us see the world. We have cruised Carnival, Princess, and an Antarctic expedition ship. We are elite on Princess so it's tough to go back to plebe status on another cruise-line. I have thought about trying MSC since they honor other cruise-lines status. I'm all about the destinations and shore excursions, I don't care about the ship. We've always either had full suite, mini-suite, or balcony. There never is enough savings on an inside cabin that makes it worth it to try. If i was offered a free cruise with an inside cabin I'd try it. We've been on 3 day cruises up to 15 day cruises, loved them all. We've cruised with other couples. My wife went on a cruise with her sister once. When I go solo or with friends I like to do a different type of cruising, multi-day white water rafting trips.
We typically try to change something on every cruise we do just to change things up . We have always cruised Carnival after we do the ones we currently have booked we might look to a different cruise line outside of the Carnival group.
What a great set of questions… As we ramp up our cruise life, I hope to use them to diversify my experience on the many different angles you outlined. Gonna put this one in my save folder!
Tony great video chat. You are so right 1. Where? Someplace i have not gone to. i have been sailing since 1972 and there are someplaces i have not hit…still trying😊 2. Getting to old to not to go when I can go…young man😊 3. I have narrowed my cruising to Princess, Celebrity, RCCL. But MSC seashore is on the docket. In the day it was all of the Italian lines…so i am really looking to getting that flavor again on the Seashore 4. Yep taking a variety of ships 5.Always get a Thermal suite pass on any ship i go on, trivia, trivia at sea. Since I am traveling different places excursions are a must 6 i have traveled from inside to mini suite 7.length…i prefer longer but i am going on a short one in January 8 ah who cruise with? I am going with my 2 gfs on Sky dec 18 2021, by myself on Regal Dec 29, 2021 with my son On Mariner jan 24 2022😊
Tony, Wow! This was a different look at cruising and opened my eyes to trying different things...to make cruising gooder. I've been stuck in the "close to the cruise terminal" (5 mins from my house...Mobile, AL) choice and the cost. We're getting a ship back in our port next year, so I may try their longest cruise in a better cabin. Thanks for all the "eye opening" tips.
We have never done the same cruise twice, and are always looking for new destinations and experiences. The loyalty programs are great gimmicks for returning to the same cruise line (and we are as guilty of this as other folks), so we are exploring other cruise lines and also thinking about doing a river cruise. We used to always book an oceanview cabin, but then we wanted to go on an expensive cruise, so decided to save money by booking an inside cabin - BIG mistake. On the flipside, our last cruise before the shutdown was our first in a balcony cabin, and that was a huge enhancement to the cruise experience. Great video, Tony. Really crystallized some good(er) thoughts on this topic.
I totally agree, it’s fun to try new lines and ships. So far I’ve only done the Caribbean, which I love!!! But next year we’re doing Mexico out of LA. I’ve only been on 5 lines, but I intend to try more in the future, especially after my kids are grown.
This was interesting because I was just contemplating that for the New Year and beyond…I was going to: 1. Get out of my comfort zone with cruising and try someplace new and 2: I’m going to start taking fewer cruises but more “high end” ones.
I just watched two of your videos about cruising with a scooter and just had to respond. My wife users a scooter and we have made at least 15 cruisers with them. We started by renting but the last 8 or 9 have been our own. Elevators are the number one problem and steps in theaters or lounges are a close number 2. There we must sit at the back (usually noisy) because of the steps. The elevators are always a problem but MUCH worse on embarkation and debarkation days because people are in a big hurry and usually very inconsiderate. I have found a trick for debarkation but don't want to share. During dining we usually try to get a table where we may keep an eye on the scooter. We have had the experience of having someone take our scooter by mistake, which was the fault of dining room personnel. We have learned some tricks for getting on an elevator. There are times you must be a little rude of you will be waiting for half an hour. We must leave events before they are over to bet the crowd. We have had rude comments from people who felt we were getting special service, later to find out that we are seated behind the back row. We have had a person trip over the scooter while we are trying to back it out of the elevator. Also happens on open deck. We are not able to get of the ship at some ports because they require shuttle service. No excursions. We must submit a form with most cruise lines, identifying the disability and describing the scooter. The cruise lines would like for us to take a cabin for disabled which are very limited. Ican go on and on.
All good suggestions. We are taking a 3 day cruise soon and decided not eat in the MDR. We are going to explore different venues. Thank you for those suggestions!
Russia, Northern Europe, South America and reposition there, Alaska, Hawaii, Caribbean, Iceland and surrounding countries, Mediterranean, transatlantic, Mexico,Panama Canal, Canada…just a few of 20 we have taken.
I love to try different things...we have been to Caribbean many times so have done most of your suggestions. As to length, we love transatlantic cruises and enjoy sea days. Since it's mostly ocean and sometimes very cold, we save money by getting ocean view instead of balcony. My best cruise was to Europe and paid around $900 so a great deal!!!
I agree 100%!!! I want to try a suite. I just booked my 1st group cruise and my 1st inaugural cruise!!! I've also never done Celebrity so that's on my list. And I plan to do a southern itinerary a Mediterranean itinerary. Aaaaand I'm going to do a repositioning cruise and a California costal cruise etc..... I could go on and on. My cruise wish list is full and I'm crossing them off on cruise at time!!!!!✈🛳👓👙🏖🏝🧳🍹#cruiselife👄
The friend that turned me onto cruising and I had a major falling out. So ... I found myself as a solo cruiser. Here is what I know after just one solo cruise: She was holding me back with her brand loyalty and her overall vision of what cruising should be. For her, it was all about beach and laying in the sun baking her brains out (as if she had any to bake .. sorry, still bitter). Me ... I want to experience the world and everything in it. I want to try different lines, different destinations, different experiences. I live in FL. I can be on the gulf or the Atlantic in less than an hour either way. I can be at a freshwater spring in less than 20 mins. If I want sun and sand and all that, I can do that here. Free. But I want adventure and learning that I can't get from an hour drive.
Everyone has different desire for their cruise life. It's hard to wrap your head around someone who seems to have a narrow vision of what they want to do when you have an expansive view. Not worth fighting about and I'm sure if you see this, you've already moved on. And probably you've visited many new places!
You are preaching to the choir here Tony….I have been cruising for over 25 years and have tried almost every line…from luxury lines to budget ones…from inside cabins to suites and everything in between. I love cruising with my husband, with my friends, and I particularly enjoy cruising solo. There are still many places I want to visit and so many new ships coming online that I have yet to discover. The cruise life, for me, is still the best value in vacationing out there and I can’t wait to try it all!
I aspire to this, Kelly 🙌🏽 and I agree, solo cruising is awesome 😎
We have been to 35 countries and each one is different and worth the money. We plan our trips carefully to try to get several new countries with each trip. Not only have we had incredible experiences but memories!
That's us....51 cruising countries and counting!...new bucket list 75
@@401Blues as long as the health stays good we have a goal of 50.
Keep that passport handy.
We are more like that. We’re doing a Baltic cruise this summer and will go to 6 countries. We are young in our cruise career, but have done Mexico, Alaska, Honduras, Canada, and Greece. Will add Belize, Denmark, Germany, Lithuanian, Estonia, Russia, and Sweden by the end of July.
Love shaking it up. Took a 21 night Panama Canal cruise. That was amazing. Going to the Mediterranean in 2022 and the Middle East in 2023. First time for both. Psyched.
I really need to show this video to some of my friends. They can't understand why I love cruising so much, but they won't spend over $400 on a cruise. I keep trying to tell them that they won't understand until they experience something different. They will never look at anything except the price. I'm not someone with tons of money, but I know that if I want to do a cruise that is a little expensive, there are ways to plan for it. I normally do balcony cabins but for my birthday cruise next year, I plan to upgrade to one of those suites that you mentioned. The way I look at it is, you're not gonna be doing this sort of thing every week or even every month, so just plan and go for it. Life is short and you can't take it with you.
When trying to talk people into cruising and price is the issue. You might ask them to price out their last vacation(food,lodging,gas or airfare,entertainment) then compare that with a cruise which includes food,lodging and entertainment. They will be suprised how much they can save.
So No one can say what their favorite cruise line is ? I don't get it
I liked your 8 questions. You are helping us think outside of the box instead of following the same routines. Happy Turkey Day!!
The more I have listened to you over the last 2 years, the more I love your insight. Not necessarily new thoughts, but often refocusing on the important stuff. Sorry I didn’t get to meet you on your canceled Marti Gras Cruise we were on. Thanks
DW and I are definitely relaxation cruisers. Love booking an aft balcony and relaxing, watching the wake disappear over the horizon. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours Tony. Thankful that I discovered you and Don a few months ago, enjoying both of you...
Dude this was such a great video.. made me smile because I was able to bravely change several things to my sisters cruise.. She's stuck with 5 day that's fine but I've been cruising for several years versus her few... so I was able to get a great deal on a 7 day that's new to both of us.. I'm so excited.... Keep up the great 🛳 videos!!
Tony, yes gooder! 😂
Happy Thanksgiving Loca Fam! Finished my emed test early this morning! Ready to cruise this Saturday!
Just completed our covid testing for Saturday sailing out of Fort Lauderdale
😍 Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Cruise!!!!! Hope you have a blast.
@@heideleskun1163 Thank you!
Happy Thanksgiving and enjoy your cruise
@@jameswade7550 Thank you!
This Caribbean, tropical, hardcore beach girl is stepping out of my cruising box and going to Alaska for my 60th birthday cruise! 10 days too, usually I always do 7 day cruises.
My next cruise (May of 2022) will definitely be different from any other cruise I have experienced!! It is a 14 day cruise out of Southampton, UK (London) to Gdańsk, Poland, Visby, Sweden, Stockholm, Sweden, Tallin, Estonia, St. Petersburg, Russia (2days), Helsinki, Finland, Copenhagen, Denmark, Kristiansand, Norway and back to Southampton. It will be on the Sky Princess in a mini-suite!! I can’t wait!!!
I love traveling to other countries--especially in Asia and Europe. So glad you're open to other itineraries. Traveling opens up your mind.
Great video! You’ve brought up some great points. We were in the habit of doing mostly Caribbean cruises because of the weather (from Canada so we normally travel in the winter to get away from the cold and snow). The problem is my husband was getting tired of doing the same type of trip. We’ve done one cruise to Hawaii as well and this was one of our favourite trips. I’m hoping our upcoming Panama Canal cruise will get my husband back into cruising.
Changing ships either in one line or other lined is a great experience in it's self. Great when one has seen all the ports in the Caribou where they r all so alike after while.
My DH and I are currently on Liberty of the Seas and having a great time. Just booked for Christmas next year with our triplets on the Allure of the Seas out of Galveston! We also have a cruise scheduled for spring break on Carnival. Life is good!
Thank you, Tony. Cruising to Alaska in 2022 because of your videos and sailing a transatlantic cruise to Spain, too. Excited to sail again. I just had to cancel my cruise for tomorrow due to illness. Hoping to hop on next week’s cruise, which would be my first back to back and first solo. Happy Thanksgiving!
Well said, Tony. Love watching your videos. 👍
wonderful! Perhaps the best video ever! We have done 32 cruises and we have done all 8 changes you mentioned and yes, it does enhance cruising. We watch the news and we say, “We’ve been there!” We have sailed to ports all over the world in all sorts of cabins on six different cruise lines. We have developed a loyalty to one cruise line because of their perks in a suite. We will be going on another cruise in June, only because the cruise line we prefer is too expensive and does not serve the islands we wish to visit. Tony, Happy Thanksgiving, and thank you for the valuable tips you’ve provided.
This video flooded my memories from our initial cruise. It was onboard the USS Independence sailing from Honolulu thru the Hawaiian Islands on a now defunct, American Cruise lines. We were stationed with the AF in Hawaii at the time, so took advantage of the "kamaina rates" that were available for unsold cabins at the last minute to get anything filled they could.
The first, magical thing that happened we each got a fresh lei boarding the ship, and as we were on the deck for the sailaway, they had a helicopter fly over us and scatter pumeria petals on the open deck....magical. We have sailed all the different lines, and are Elite with Princess, Diamond with Carnival and RCCL and only 2 cruises on NCL (so uncertain of the rating). They are each wonderful, they are each offering something the others dont. We love the staff, the other cruisers, the unity of the cruise family for the week. Sure, have we seen changes we wish had not occurred, of course we have. But hey, none of us look/feel/or move the same as we did 30 yrs ago either, do we. Things evolve, but the one thing that is consistent to me is getting the chance to talk to someone that "this is their very first cruise". They make you feel the excitement, the wonder, the magic of that first cruise.
That USS Independence we cruise on, that first ship. This was in 1996. That ship was SO OLD it was the ship that Grace Kelly and wedding party cruised trans-Atlantic on for her marriage to Prince Renier. This ship was so old that it had US Navy type "bulk head" doors in the walk way. I remember how magical it was to my husband and I as we cruised the coastal ways of the islands, we cruised close enough to where the lava was flowing into the bay from Kileha volcano that we got "steam showers" coming up from the lava flowing into the ocean below, and we thought this was the ONLY way to ever vacation. Almost 30 yrs later, we still feel the same.
I'm taking a back-to-back 7 day cruise by myself. My wife was explaining to her friends that were asking why I'm going without her. They just don't understand. My wife doesn't want to cruise yet. I'm ready. The deal was amazing, so I grabbed it. We have done cruises in the past together and even took her Mom with us to Hawaii.
As a side note, I've had inside cabins, balconies, owner's suites... I've been on the music cruises. The only cruise line I've used is NCL. I tried to branch out and use MSC, but got absolutely hosed by them.
I decided to take your advice. I’ve wanted to go to Europe but I was afraid of the long flight. I am fluffy like you and confined spaces for extended periods of time make me a little nervous. I also didn’t want to fly that far and pay that much for the ticket for a short trip. Thanks to Black Friday sales, I’m headed to Europe for a 14 day cruise in June 2022!
Great food for thought Tony! This is unique content. Nice work! We have typically cruise Caribbean. Being based in Eastern Canada it’s easier to get to Florida. We extended from a typical 7 night itinerary and did a 12 night Mediterranean and it blew our mind. We have really been expanding our thinking on destinations. Today you have us even more to think about - Thank You
Tony… hands down one of the best videos. Changing things up is good and educational. Love it!
This is a great approach and this is actually my philosophy or approach about cruising. I want to try different cabins, different itineraries, different ships, etc. I’ve done interior, port hole and ocean view. My next two cruises are in different balcony types. Ive always gone to the Caribbean but I have Alaska and a journeys Panama Canal cruise on my bucket list next.
I like your idea of changing it up. Just FYI... Viking Ocean cruises do not have casinos. Perhaps if you want an elevated experience coupled with a little familiarity and a casino 😉 try one of the "cruise within a cruise" lines, like Haven on NCL, Retreat on Celebrity, Yacht Club on MSC.
Happy Thanksgiving Tony, Jenny and all the LocaFam! 🦃 Let's go KA-ruising!! 🛳
Just booked B2B northern England and Baltic Sea area. Need the positive vibes. It is all about attitude. Positive thoughts gives favorable results.
1. A better experience in not exponentially more than you’re willing to spend, it is literally as little as 50 bucks. While the MDR has pretty good food, spring for 1 specialty restaurant you won’t regret it. 3. Not that we shouldn’t be responsible adults, but on a cruise, stay up past your bed times, sleep a little later and just have “stupid fun” and not worry about what other people think. Chances are you’ll never see most of them again. Pretty soon you’ll get it and realize that your fun is elevated by a factor of 10 for each extra dollar you spend.
Thanks Tony! I think it's good to mix up your cruising experience.
A great video, such good points and applicable to lots of situations in life. Thank you, Tony
Agree every cruise should have something different to keep it fresh, pick one of those 8 ideas to change for every cruise.
I luv changing my itinerary …. It expands my horizons in life !!!!!
Great video, Tony!! I really enjoyed your ideas. We are loyal to Princess but we are going on the Vlogger cruise next in 2023 on NCL. Really looking forward to this cruise. Thanks very much, Tony. I always appreciate the thought you put into your videos.
can't believe I missed this 1st time around, Tony you should add this to the Facebook group, it's REALLY good!
My husband and I took two 14 day cruises back to back and I experienced something I never imagined. I didn't want to travel for a long time after being gone a month, and that was a surprise.
We are new to cruising this will be our 2 Nd cruise in February but we always want to change what we do . We went on a 5 day this will be 7 day different locations . Love what we do ❤️
Happy Thanksgiving Tony, Jenny and LaLido family!!
Thank you so much! This has been THE most informative video I've watched!
good insight on different things to do/see/experience. we have been trying some different lines and new ports. its all good
Tony, great questions to guide decision making. I've loved HAL and Carnival(easy, live in GA) equally for different reasons. Have finally experienced RC on Radiance of Seas and liked it. Have been avoiding GIANT ships but I've gotta try it one time, right? Have wish list to try Disney, Virgin, Cunard, and then further. Will do first NCL in AUG. Changing up cruising buddies does enhance experience but you have to be flexible. But its so worth it and really fun! We have introduced family members to cruising twice and they fell in love with it. They were enlightened at how easy it is to plan and book and then at how wonderful they were cared for on board. I love visiting new places and trying new foods! Cruising satisfies these desires. Discovering vloggers just these past few months has enhanced my cruise planning!! Love your work, Tony!
One of our sons lives in Sydney. The 29-day from Los Angeles was an amazing cruise. We had never been to New Zealand before. Will be doing it again next year.
Perfect timing of this videp. I am doing one BIG change....I am cruising solo for the first time in few months. Looking fwd to seeing if this is something I will enjoy or not. My brother did 4- solo cruises and he loved it. I am channeling my inner Cruising with JT and doing my first one as well as trying out the solo cabin option for the first time too. Can't wait
I need and like to change it up and if I really like it, then I’ll keep it but still want to explore new ways to do things. That’s why I subscribe to your channel.
Great vlog concept. Really challenged my thinking despite having done 60 cruises: med, Northern Europe, Hawaii, west coast, Tahiti, South America. All are fun in their own way. Just love to be on the water and especially love beautiful sunsets!
Thank you for helping us think beyond our normal destinations.
Such great stuff to think about! Great points. You’re right we do get comfortable with the familiar, why not mix it up? Thank you!
I've always been a most ports I've never been to, least sea days kind of girl, but I've recently realized that now that I'm older, I really like more sea days to relax...so I booked a transatlantic.
I'm in a cruise line rut due to the awesome freebies I get from HA and carnival. I need to branch out so I get better offers from other lines. Its hard to choose to pay when you can get a free room!
I started taking longer cruises and now 7 days feels like a quick, long weekend.
Leaving for my 1st solo cruise in 5 days. I'm excited to only have to worry about me and what I want to do, when I want to do it. Sleep til noon? Why the heck not?
Going on my first solo in 5 days on Carnival Dream!
We've budgeted to go on Viking once every three years. It costs more, but they treat you so well!
For me, the ship is the destination so I prefer cruising from the port 45 minutes away and I don’t care where it goes. What I’m excited to try changing is the length - I’m soon going on my first shorter cruise, and I’d love to try a much longer one.
Good episode.
Great questions . Something to think about. Happy Thanksgiving to the loca fam
Tony you propose some interesting questions. We will be our second cruise since the restart in April. Our first cruise was on Oasis and our next cruise will be on Anthem so we have changed answers on 3 of the questions. We had cruised on Carnival in 2011 and now 2 different Royal ships. Thank you for the thought provoking questions. Love your daily vlogs. Happy to be part of the La Lido Loca Fam
Dit is zo belangrijk inderdaad … geweldige video …
Zo waar wat je hier zegt Tony 🤞
Great questions and video. Happy Thanksgiving to you, Jenny, and your family!
Hi Tony! This was really impactful to me, as I've been a strictly Caribbean/Gulf of Mexico cruiser for a long time. For my next cruise, I decided to throw off the bow lines so to speak and take advantage of a great deal to the Mexican Riviera for February. I've also given NCL control of my flights (Yikes). I'm a solo cruiser and I wanted to prep myself for yet another totally different cruise experience for my 60th birthday in 2023 - 12 nights New Zealand and Australia. I've had to work 2 jobs to be able to pay these off, but to me it is worth it. Watching your video has made me consider possibly booking inside cabins for some more cruise time in the future, but maybe for only cooler weather destinations - I do love my early morning coffee on a sultry Caribbean morning. Thanks for all the great ideas!
Let me know how the change is for you!
WOW TONY...This was such a great video...You talked about so many of the things I have been thinking about...So thank you for that...I'm going to switch things up and see what happens...Thanx again Tony...MARK IN ARIZONA...
I couldn't agree more Tony. The world is big and the cruise industry has so many to try. We just did our first Celebrity a fee weeks ago. Love trying new lines. Before Covid we tried Italy and Croatia. So great. Yes the Caribbean is convenient, but I agree try outside your comfort level. And yes, we may skip a year In order to afford a 2 week Baltic or Transatlantic. But it is worth it.
Transatlantic is on my bucket list, I love sea days!
I know this is an older video but as always Tony you are on point. Question #1 I wanna go wherever the ship is going. You are correct about other lines I have been on royal, carnival and ncl. My wife has only been on carnival. I am about to blow her mind in the next 12 months we will experience for the first time celebrity and princess and she will go on ncl for the first time which will leave Holland and royal. From what I have heard once you experience celebrity nothing else matters. As far as length we are pushing the boundaries in about a month with a 21 day 3 ship cruise. We have done 4 day not long enough 5 days, 7 day and 8 day all not long enough. So this summer 21 days. I will let you know how we fair.
Agree 100% with your points. I always consider these for upcoming cruises.
Professor you have done it again. Thought provoking. I always travel (cruise/resort) with a purpose with some spontaneity. Where all my wants, needs and enrichment experiences are met.
I loved this. I've been traveling the world for a few years and am on the road more than home so it can get pretty boring when you go through the same routine, for sure. One of my favorite things to do is plan a trip that includes at least one, "Am I really going to try and do this???" It sets me up for an exciting, adrenaline-pumping challenge. If I do it, I feel a tremendous sense of accomplishment. If not, well, at least I tried. For example, I'm on a Transatlantic to Barcelona on Wonder of the Seas in April. I could have just flown home from Barcelona but I decided to travel around a bit. I'm going to fly from Barcelona to Paris for a week, then to Zurich for 3 days, then back to France to stay in Bordeaux for 3 days, then back to Barcelona for 4 days - then I'm flying to Casablanca, Morocco so I can check off Africa, leaving Antarctica as the only continent I won't have visited in the last 2 years. YOLO
#1. Where? Anywhere. I'm easy.
#2. $$? As little as possible for what I want as often as possible. I'm frugal.
#3. Cruise line? See #2. I've been on four in 16 cruises.
#4. Ship? As many different ships as possible. I ❤ cruise ships!
#5. Do on board? Relax, gamble, drink, entertainment.
#6. Cabin? Porthole at a minimum. Balcony is preferred.
#7. Length? Longer the better!
#8. With whom? Hubby always. Friends & family are always welcome.
I know what I like & I've tried enough variants to know I have my perfect formula now. 👍🏻👍🏻
I have been on P&O Australia 🇦🇺 so far on Pacific Explorer and I got another one next year on Pacific Adventure and then after that I will be on Radiance Of The Seas 2023 and would like to try Princess after that
Tony...only you can say gooder😂. I'm trying solo cruising. Very different but enjoying it more than I expected
Boy you got us thinking, we plan to use these 8 steps to revitalize our cruising.
On number one we've been all over the world, cruising has let us see the world. We have cruised Carnival, Princess, and an Antarctic expedition ship. We are elite on Princess so it's tough to go back to plebe status on another cruise-line. I have thought about trying MSC since they honor other cruise-lines status. I'm all about the destinations and shore excursions, I don't care about the ship. We've always either had full suite, mini-suite, or balcony. There never is enough savings on an inside cabin that makes it worth it to try. If i was offered a free cruise with an inside cabin I'd try it. We've been on 3 day cruises up to 15 day cruises, loved them all. We've cruised with other couples. My wife went on a cruise with her sister once. When I go solo or with friends I like to do a different type of cruising, multi-day white water rafting trips.
We typically try to change something on every cruise we do just to change things up . We have always cruised Carnival after we do the ones we currently have booked we might look to a different cruise line outside of the Carnival group.
Happy Thanksgiving La Lido Loca Fam!
Still have to take my first cruise. This was good for me to think about. Shows are most important to me. Florida Port. My hubby never cruised either.
You bring up a ton of great points to consider!
We did 24 day Rhine, Maine, Danube river cruise with Vantage! Bonn to Black Sea! Amazing and cheaper than Viking etc.
Cruise all over the world for only port taxes is my way of cruising ;-) its too easy and we are loving it!❤❤
What a great set of questions… As we ramp up our cruise life, I hope to use them to diversify my experience on the many different angles you outlined. Gonna put this one in my save folder!
I try to pick different destinations and change up the cabin. But any cruise is a great cruise in my opinion.
I have tried them all! So far Celebrity is my favorite and l have booked 2 more but l still will change lines if the deal works !!
Tony great video chat. You are so right
1. Where? Someplace i have not gone to. i have been sailing since 1972 and there are someplaces i have not hit…still trying😊
2. Getting to old to not to go when I can go…young man😊
3. I have narrowed my cruising to Princess, Celebrity, RCCL. But MSC seashore is on the docket. In the day it was all of the Italian lines…so i am really looking to getting that flavor again on the Seashore
4. Yep taking a variety of ships
5.Always get a Thermal suite pass on any ship i go on, trivia, trivia at sea. Since I am traveling different places excursions are a must
6 i have traveled from inside to mini suite
7.length…i prefer longer but i am going on a short one in January
8 ah who cruise with? I am going with my 2 gfs on Sky dec 18 2021, by myself on Regal Dec 29, 2021 with my son On Mariner jan 24 2022😊
Tony….this was a very helpful video. Good questions to ask yourself.
You find comfort in familiarity and adventure in the unknown but never get stuck in one or the other.
We have always done Caribbean. I'm looking into Alaska as an option now, and we're upgrading from Royal to Celebrity. Can't wait!
Tony, Wow! This was a different look at cruising and opened my eyes to trying different things...to make cruising gooder. I've been stuck in the "close to the cruise terminal" (5 mins from my house...Mobile, AL) choice and the cost. We're getting a ship back in our port next year, so I may try their longest cruise in a better cabin. Thanks for all the "eye opening" tips.
Great suggestions! Thanks ⚓️.
great info
Yes, I totally Agree, we always try to Switch things up! 👍😁 Hope you had a Happy Thanksgiving 🍁🦃🍂
We are new to cruising with 4 cruises in the books. We have planned cruises including many of your points .
This was a fantastic video, Tony!
We have never done the same cruise twice, and are always looking for new destinations and experiences. The loyalty programs are great gimmicks for returning to the same cruise line (and we are as guilty of this as other folks), so we are exploring other cruise lines and also thinking about doing a river cruise. We used to always book an oceanview cabin, but then we wanted to go on an expensive cruise, so decided to save money by booking an inside cabin - BIG mistake. On the flipside, our last cruise before the shutdown was our first in a balcony cabin, and that was a huge enhancement to the cruise experience. Great video, Tony. Really crystallized some good(er) thoughts on this topic.
I totally agree, it’s fun to try new lines and ships. So far I’ve only done the Caribbean, which I love!!! But next year we’re doing Mexico out of LA. I’ve only been on 5 lines, but I intend to try more in the future, especially after my kids are grown.
Happy thanksgiving Tony!
Hi Tony, Happy Thanksgiving. We always get a balcony, but I would love to do something like NCL's Haven at least once. Great questions
Yep ..were going on the Encore in the Haven next week...after sailing Celebrity and RCL for 10 years....
This was interesting because I was just contemplating that for the New Year and beyond…I was going to: 1. Get out of my comfort zone with cruising and try someplace new and 2: I’m going to start taking fewer cruises but more “high end” ones.
I just watched two of your videos about cruising with a scooter and just had to respond. My wife users a scooter and we have made at least 15 cruisers with them. We started by renting but the last 8 or 9 have been our own. Elevators are the number one problem and steps in theaters or lounges are a close number 2. There we must sit at the back (usually noisy) because of the steps. The elevators are always a problem but MUCH worse on embarkation and debarkation days because people are in a big hurry and usually very inconsiderate. I have found a trick for debarkation but don't want to share. During dining we usually try to get a table where we may keep an eye on the scooter. We have had the experience of having someone take our scooter by mistake, which was the fault of dining room personnel. We have learned some tricks for getting on an elevator. There are times you must be a little rude of you will be waiting for half an hour. We must leave events before they are over to bet the crowd. We have had rude comments from people who felt we were getting special service, later to find out that we are seated behind the back row. We have had a person trip over the scooter while we are trying to back it out of the elevator. Also happens on open deck. We are not able to get of the ship at some ports because they require shuttle service. No excursions. We must submit a form with most cruise lines, identifying the disability and describing the scooter. The cruise lines would like for us to take a cabin for disabled which are very limited. Ican go on and on.
All good suggestions. We are taking a 3 day cruise soon and decided not eat in the MDR. We are going to explore different venues. Thank you for those suggestions!
Happy Thanksgiving. Very good ideas. I see the Suite life in my future. Thanks for sharing.😎
Happy Birthday Tony! 🎂
Great idea. Really has me thinking now.
Russia, Northern Europe, South America and reposition there, Alaska, Hawaii, Caribbean, Iceland and surrounding countries, Mediterranean, transatlantic, Mexico,Panama Canal, Canada…just a few of 20 we have taken.
I love to try different things...we have been to Caribbean many times so have done most of your suggestions. As to length, we love transatlantic cruises and enjoy sea days. Since it's mostly ocean and sometimes very cold, we save money by getting ocean view instead of balcony. My best cruise was to Europe and paid around $900 so a great deal!!!
Nicely put.. enjoyed the content. thanks
The other questions I ask is , what new food will I try this cruise.
I agree 100%!!! I want to try a suite. I just booked my 1st group cruise and my 1st inaugural cruise!!! I've also never done Celebrity so that's on my list. And I plan to do a southern itinerary a Mediterranean itinerary. Aaaaand I'm going to do a repositioning cruise and a California costal cruise etc..... I could go on and on. My cruise wish list is full and I'm crossing them off on cruise at time!!!!!✈🛳👓👙🏖🏝🧳🍹#cruiselife👄