I can't believe you have so few subscribers, your videos are so professional and you're such a great host. Keep up the great work and you'll have such a great audience!
@@CruisingKat I can't place your accent. One profile on line stated you were from N Cali, studied in Georgia and live in Texas. I can't put all that together! And BTW, this is the first (shocking I haven't stumbled on you vids before) time I have seen one of yours.
Ha-ha! That profile wasn't mine. I am originally from Russia and have lived in the US for over 30 years. We live in Nashville, Tennessee area so this is a Russian+Southern accent. I know... It's a hard one to pinpoint 😂 Thank you for watching my videos!
Our first cruise was several decades ago. We were given envelopes for tips for cabin stewards, dining room maitre d, and wait staff. It meant carrying a lot of paper currency. Single gratuity payment is so much easier. And NEVER delete or reduce the gratuity. It’s not fair to the staff. Finally, always fill out the post-cruise questionnaire and mention your cabin steward by name. Good reviews can be a monetary bonus or a better assignment on the next contract.
On our last cruise we were filing out the survey at the end. We was going to give our dining room waiter and oue cabin steward a shout out as they were very nice. The last night onboard our waiter spent our entire hour and a half dinner telling us how he always gets mentioned by passengers and how he has won awards for his service and told us how he sends money home and asked many Many times, well not just ask, pressured us to leave him a fantastic review. He lade our last meal so uncomfortable for us that we just wanted to hurry up and leave. Survey time came around and I contemplated on what to do. Then I thought no, im not actually leaving him any form of review, good or bad considering I was pretty much being forced to leave him one. That's not how they work in my eyes. If some one goes above any beyond to assist me or even is just friendly and happy, then I will leave them a glowing review. But only because they made it enjoyable for me, so I want to do something nice in return. So by him pushing us to say how fantastic he was, he missed out on any form of review and instead our beautiful cabin steward got an even more glowing review than I was going to give. And she deserved it though. She definitely went above and beyond in her service to us. ❤❤❤
I agree! We've had the same experience with some crew that went overboard with the survey thing. Even after we told them that we always leave reviews, they would keep asking us to do so. It's counterproductive in my mind.
@@travelwithdebandnick once you recognize what the game is, you have got to get strong to understand what they are about. just keep in mind that the $18 a day is coming onto your bill. I left my room steward a personal tip because he was deserving of it.
Love your advice about the sales pitch. It’s so true that there are people that LOVE shopping and commercials. Some just love being pitched AT. I really didn’t know this in my younger years. I’m not one of those people, but I recognize that this kind of thing brings joy to others. It really is a case of “just let people enjoy things” and I can give a polite no thank you.
Im so glad that here in Australia that we don't pay gratitudes. That they are already included in our cruise fare when we book. ❤ We usually give our cabin steward and our main dining room waiter an extra tip, if they have been nice to us.❤
I agree with all of your tips. I've used some of them myself on multiple cruises. I love your voice - I love your accent - I love everything about you! I always look forward to your videos. Keep up the great work!
@@CruisingKat I can't place your accent. One profile on line stated you were from N Cali, studied in Georgia and live in Texas. I can't put all that together! And BTW, this is the first (shocking I haven't stumbled on your vids before) time I have seen one of yours.
So glad I found your channel. Subscribed! Your video is so professional, with the movie clip inserts. I have been cruising since 1982. I just completed my 142nd cruise to Japan/Korea on Celebrity Millennium. Just like you, I have seen many changes in the cruise industry, some changes are great (e-muster) others not so much (food quality, increased costs and all the extra charges). I don’t stick to one cruise line, but still managed to have high loyalty status on four of the majors. My earlier cruises this year were on Cunard Queen Mary 2 TAs, then family Royal Caribbean cruise on Harmony, then cruise last month on Celebrity Millennium and my next cruise is on Oceania (Asia), and then on Celebrity Accent (Mediterranean). I am a remote IT software engineer, so can work from anywhere, including cruise ships and Internet cafes worldwide before Starlink premium WiFi
@@MB-uy5kh Thank you for the kind words and I’m glad you’re enjoying my videos. Wow! 142 cruises is so impressive! Also, just as impressive is that you can work as a software engineer on a cruise. I end up having to work on my cruises too but, even with Starlink, I find internet to be so much slower and unreliable on most ships. I try to avoid any bandwidth heavy tasks on cruises.
@CrusingKat - Thanks for a great video! I just discovered your channel and LOVE the great content you have here. Very good advice on "zigging" when others are "zagging," looking for those good alternatives like sunbathing somewhere other than the most popular areas and pools. I am amazed at how many sun decks and other secluded areas there are that are so often completely empty. I would add a tip on the sales / costs of activities and crowded areas of the ship: Port days are fantastic for discounts on things like the spa and having many of the amenities onboard to yourself. I have been to Nassau about 6 times, so no need to get off there again if it on my itinerary, so I can enjoy everything the ship has to offer. I even LOOK FOR one or two ports I have no interest in seeing on potential cruises to I can have a quiet day or two onboard. Keep up the good work! Subscribed and looking forward to more videos!
@@BroncoJoe07 , Thank you so much for the kind words and I love the additional tip! You’re absolutely right. Port days have some of the best deals on things you can pay on board for.
If you want a quiet place during the day and sometimes with a great view, look for a night club that’s not being used for bingo, trivia or another game. You can really relax and read or talk without a lot of background noise.
I just found your channel and your content is great. Your pleasant and professional persona are a joy. We usually watch RoyalCaribbeanBlog and Hoffman Happy Travels and Life Well Cruised. We’re going on our first Royal Caribbean sailing in November on Oasis OTS after 5 cruises on Disney. Your videos have been very helpful with our planning. Thank you. If it’s not too personal a question, we find your slight accent intriguing. What is your accent?
@@acefox1 Thank you so much! I’m so glad you found my videos helpful and enjoyable. Royal will feel very different from Disney due to its targeted demographic but I think Royal has more for everybody no matter what you like. Oasis class is a good size ship to try it out since it will give you all the different things that Royal has to offer (even though it’s an older ship). Regarding the accent, I was born in Russia and have lived in the US for over 30 years. Still can’t shake the accent though 😂
@@Dominini Will do soon. We just returned from a back-to-back cruise on Utopia where we sailed on a three day cruise and then a four day cruise. Quite a few noticeable changes between the two. I’ll be working on that video soon. 😁
7:25 When gratuities become mandatory, you are no longer giving a tip for good service; you are supplementing the cruise line's payment of employee wages.
Well, that’s what the cruise line calls them and that’s how they show up on our statements so I’m using their terminology to make it clear what I’m referring to. At the same, I agree that they are just service fees that are tacked on to the cruise fare.
2:12 Last day would have been nice to chill out at the end of my first cruise. When I arrived at the departure point 15 minutes after my token group was called, the staff was only interested in berating me. I had to ask 3 times for directions before they would let me pass and join the long queue for another 30 minutes. Next time I will wait until they escort me.
@@philscott7949 Sorry to hear that it was an unpleasant experience. This is one of the big reasons we like self assist departure. We have a window of time when we need to leave the ship and we just go whenever we’re ready. No group to meet, just get in line to disembark and get off the ship. I find it a lot less stressful.
@@fastfrank7328 Yep! I know exactly how it goes. We do get massages every once in a while on the ship. The pressure to tip more is definitely big. While we happily tip extra for any other services like bars or dining room waiters, we end up tipping extra in the spa out of guilt. 😂 The 18% tip on their already overpriced services is hefty as it is.
@@robertashagam1599 Oh my goodness! Thank you so much 😊. No, I’m just an average amateur trying to share my love for cruising with others. I’m so glad you enjoyed it! 😁
We don't have children so, of course, we know more about parenting than parents do. But seriously, the ONE thing we DISLIKE about Carnival is the family friendly attitude that seems to have affected the parents ability to, well, PARENT! On our last (2nd) Carnival cruise, we DID take advantage of Serenity over 21 area (calm down Beavis and Butthead). We were on a 6 day Balt - Bermuda cruise on Legend and it was free. I don't know if that's the norm on longer cruises or other ships. We think our "Forever" line is going to be HAL although they currently have a kids cruise free promotion. Private 'sea air!' We discovered the love of the balcony on a relatively cheap reposition trans-Atlantic cruise on RCL. Now I was not exactly overly fond of the cruise itself - although the 5 straight sea days was nice on one side, but at the same time, they ran out the exact SAME THREE activities every day! But having our own private 'sea air' was REALLY nice. I'm not a big pool guy so having a balcony to go to after picking up a cocktail is REALLY nice. It's also really close to the bed for napping - also with the private 'sea air'. Balcony or bust! One of the reasons cruise lines want you to pay up 3-4 months out is because (hopefully, if you are relatively financially responsible) is you have paid it all off by embarkation day and so you have a 'full wallet'. So caveat emptor. Understand what you have paid for and understand what you STILL have to pay for. Drink packages are NOT for everyone. On our last cruise on NCL we did the 'Free at Sea thing. It included: Wi-fi, drinks (including certain bottles of wine - ask first), 2 nights specialty dining (depends on the length) and excursion credit. This last one ALMOST covered the cost of the package. We are doing the HAL Have it All which is basically the same package. But if you don't drink (or your cabin mate - 'cause everyone over 21 MUST get it or no one does) it might not make sense. The cabin stewards are AMAZING! (ALL of those people make a pittance of salary by our standards but make good living on theirs!) Our first 2 cruises we were aware of the fact that there would be envelopes in the cabin to put cash money in for the cruise ship workers. As mentioned here, they are away from their home country and send a LOT of the money they make home! On our second cruise I noticed that the ship's personnel made a beeline for the nearest pay phone bank and I thought on the next cruise, instead cash money, I would get a buncha international phone cards. By the time we got on our 3rd cruise, they started to allow us to put it on our onboard payment card AND cel phones were starting to become more affordable. On our last 2 cruises I put an extra hundie in an envelope for our steward knowing, unfortunately, that he probably had to put it in the steward 'pool'. And I am kicking myself for not giving a hundie to this one bartender on NCL who was AMAZING! We hadn't been on a cruise in 13 years. Older and richer, we weren't QUITE prepared for the hard core spa sales pitch. We thought we were just getting a tour. And then we fell for it - hook, line, sinker. A salon day! Spouse would get a facial, shampoo and a style cut (she was actually about ready for one). Me? a facial, hair shampoo/cut and a shave/trim. I was a little disappointed that the shave wasn't a straight razor shave but with a Gillette throw away. BUT, I WAS happy with my beard/stache trim - especially the mustache! And then it got better - for Carnival at least. I talked about my oily hair. And got suckered into buying specialty shampoos. NEVER AGAIN! On our last cruise I was disappointed that I GAINED 4 pounds. It was NCL 10night Med cruise and every day was sked to have a port day (one was cancelled due to rough seas). And our excursions were for the most part physically challenging in the sense that we had a LOT of walking (IE the original Olympic games site). I guess it could have been worse.
Thank you for such a detailed comment! I love your point about the cruise ship being so family friendly that it affected parents' ability to parent, LOL. It seems like that's the trend nowadays - as cruise lines try to get more families on board, more and more things are getting overlooked and allowed. The service on cruise ships is one of the biggest reasons we love cruising over land vacations. No matter how nice of a resort you stay in, most cruise ship crews will easily beat it by giving that personal attention to you. We always tip our cabin steward, dining room staff and favorite bar tenders extra too.
We love the buffet and smaller included food places so we never use specialty dinning. We always get the top end drink package as most include everything plus alcohol. The ship is my vacation so we don't do a ton of excursion either, we do love a beach or the cruise lines private islands.
Not only does a passport make it easier to go through customs, but if there is a problem (health, etc) that requires that you leave the ship early in a foreign country it will be a PITA to fly home. In the US, if you don't have a passport you will have to get an emergency passport from the State Dept. In addition: insurance is an absolute must have. Don't leave home without it. You may never need it, but if you do need it once, it will pay for all the other times that you didn't need it.
Most of the cruiselines now list the full price including taxes and ports fees for all cruises embarking or disembarking in the US. Just started last month.
@@joleighva Yes, it’s a great change! They still do the sale rotation thing where some sales sound great but are actually more expensive than others. But now, it’s so much easier to compare.
We are writing and warming you regarding our recent experience on the Celebrity Edge Cruise to the Great Barrier, dated 22/10/2024. Upon our return home, I was diagnosed with a throat infection and still have it a week later, which my doctor confirmed is likely due to inhaling soot from the ship’s engines while we were on the sun loungers. Additionally, my wife suffered from nausea and dizziness during our time on board detracting significantly from what was supposed to be an enjoyable experience. I also have a video documenting the heavy soot situation, which I can provide upon request. The Captain has been informed of our concerns; however, we feel it is important to formally request a full refund due to the serious health issues we encountered. Considering the circumstances, we believe this is a reasonable resolution. I also have a video documenting the heavy soot situation, which I can provide upon request. Thank you for your understanding, and we eagerly await for you to caution your Viewers. We appreciate your attention to this matter and look forward to your prompt response.
Thank you for sharing your story. I am very saddened to hear that you had such an ordeal and I hope the cruise line will make it right. I will be researching this issue further. Wishing you fast and complete recovery.
@@bryantanderson430 I hear you! We started our cruising journey with “let’s get an interior room because we’ll never be in our room” mentality, and now we’re at “let’s get a balcony and spend our evenings there away from other people” mindset 😂
The only thing I hate is embarkation day time. I am not an early riser. If I could disembark between 9:30-10am then there would be nothing I hate about cruising.
MSC include gratuities, taxes / fees etc in the initial upfront cost for us Europeans. We prefer a straight up price at the beginning of the process as opposed to a low price that increase with each stage of the booking process. Sales tax is already included in the cost of things we buy when we shop, so the price you see is the price you pay also “Tipping culture” isn’t really a thing on this side of the pond. Decent base pay is the done thing. So just giving one straight up price inclusive of all these add ons right from the beginning certainly suits a European persons cultural mentality far better. I guess it’s what you’re use to.
@@bexinthebox I think a lot of Americans would prefer that too, but the tipping culture is just so ingrained in the USA that it would be too hard to change.
Prefer to cruise when schools are in session. Usually we liked to go around the time of our anniversary. Sometimes we went when a special cruise came along. If it's too good to be true, it usually is. Some crew members do work hard. Some don't. Haven't met that many people on cruises. Like to go into some of the stores on the ship. Only go to a few specialty restaurants. I might eat a lot on a cruise, but, I also do a lot of activity.
@@danastewart8709 Absolutely! I haven’t found anything that would deter me from cruising. My goal is to help people get over the little hurdles and enjoy this amazing type of vacation.
Some cruise lines allow you to bring on a bottle of wine or two and also a case of beer I think and soda so that you don’t have to purchase a drink package I just got off symphony of the seas and it was my girlfriends birthday so we brought a bottle of wine with usand we asked a Wheater if they would open it and serve it to us and they did
We do the same thing and love the fact that Royal Caribbean allows a bottle of wine per person plus soda. Many other cruise lines aren't nearly as "nice", lol.
True. There is a lot to know to maximize the cruise experience, but the good news is that even with mistakes, a cruise is an amazing vacation! Then, the more you sail, the better it gets. For us, getting on a ship feels like coming home every time. 😊
One of the things I don't like about cruising these days is the continuing lowering of the dress code. I fully understand this is the reality of cruising with children and the "party crowd". But even on ships which cater to those of us who like the traditional ambience, such as Holland America and Cunard, there has been a steady decline in dress standards. I know not every one wants to wear a Tuxedo or long dress, but formal or gala nights have always had a classy alternative to full formal wear. Fortunately there are a few ships around that have some traditions, but not many. Perhaps the pendulum will swing the other way before long - at least on a few more ships. There are ships for all tastes, of course, but there is a certain sameness about the most modern ones.
@@davidthomas2761 I couldn’t agree with you more! I do understand that people have different preferences, but even when it’s elegant night, you can still see people in shorts, flip-flops, and ball hats in a dining room. 20 years ago, going to the formal dinner was a very different experience.
Our cabins were opened for us was at 3 pm , time we were leaving the port . And the suitcases were in the hallways , blocking the way with a wheelchair to get to our room . And then when the rooms were being cleaned the large cart blocking the hallways , always had to move it so the wheelchair could get through. Could be 9 am or 2 pm . Why put handicap rooms way in the back if you going to block hallways. Cruising getting harder .
@@jennyslavis375 I completely agree! We had our mother use a scooter on one of our cruises and we experienced firsthand how difficult it is for people with scooters and wheelchairs. Not enough room to move around and so many people are inconsiderate of others.
I was thinking about a cruise but after seeing a bunch of u.tubes on cruises......I think you would need a vacation after booking a cruise. Im just going camping instead.
@@bradleyhupp6433 Oh no! That was definitely not the intent of the videos 😂. I absolutely think cruising is the best type of vacation that offers so much more than any other type of vacation. I’m sure you could come up with “9 things you hate about camping”, right? 😉 My main goal is to help people maximize their cruises, but we went on our first cruise not knowing anything. It was still an amazing trip that got us hooked on cruising. So definitely try it out, at least once!
Me too! In fact, one of the best feelings is the last day on a first leg of a back to back cruise. This is where you keep thinking... "I'd be getting off the ship with the rest of these people... But I'm about to get back on!" 😂
Do you have any other things that you hate about cruising and tips on how to overcome them? Share them below!
I can't believe you have so few subscribers, your videos are so professional and you're such a great host. Keep up the great work and you'll have such a great audience!
@@AndrewB.. Thank you so much for the kind worlds! 😁
@@CruisingKat I can't place your accent. One profile on line stated you were from N Cali, studied in Georgia and live in Texas. I can't put all that together!
And BTW, this is the first (shocking I haven't stumbled on you vids before) time I have seen one of yours.
@@nascarmadmanyeah I was thinking the same, I've been trying to work out her accent too hehe I thought maybe Spanish
Ha-ha! That profile wasn't mine. I am originally from Russia and have lived in the US for over 30 years. We live in Nashville, Tennessee area so this is a Russian+Southern accent. I know... It's a hard one to pinpoint 😂 Thank you for watching my videos!
@@CruisingKat OK. Thanks for the clarification. It makes more sense now.
Our first cruise was several decades ago. We were given envelopes for tips for cabin stewards, dining room maitre d, and wait staff. It meant carrying a lot of paper currency. Single gratuity payment is so much easier. And NEVER delete or reduce the gratuity. It’s not fair to the staff. Finally, always fill out the post-cruise questionnaire and mention your cabin steward by name. Good reviews can be a monetary bonus or a better assignment on the next contract.
@@richardgotshall2703 Yes, very good point regarding the reviews. They are extremely important to the crew.
On our last cruise we were filing out the survey at the end. We was going to give our dining room waiter and oue cabin steward a shout out as they were very nice. The last night onboard our waiter spent our entire hour and a half dinner telling us how he always gets mentioned by passengers and how he has won awards for his service and told us how he sends money home and asked many Many times, well not just ask, pressured us to leave him a fantastic review. He lade our last meal so uncomfortable for us that we just wanted to hurry up and leave. Survey time came around and I contemplated on what to do. Then I thought no, im not actually leaving him any form of review, good or bad considering I was pretty much being forced to leave him one. That's not how they work in my eyes. If some one goes above any beyond to assist me or even is just friendly and happy, then I will leave them a glowing review. But only because they made it enjoyable for me, so I want to do something nice in return. So by him pushing us to say how fantastic he was, he missed out on any form of review and instead our beautiful cabin steward got an even more glowing review than I was going to give. And she deserved it though. She definitely went above and beyond in her service to us. ❤❤❤
I agree! We've had the same experience with some crew that went overboard with the survey thing. Even after we told them that we always leave reviews, they would keep asking us to do so. It's counterproductive in my mind.
@@travelwithdebandnick once you recognize what the game is, you have got to get strong to understand what they are about. just keep in mind that the $18 a day is coming onto your bill. I left my room steward a personal tip because he was deserving of it.
@@travelwithdebandnick If someone asks for a good review I won't give one unless they actually earn it.
Great video Kat.
Thank you!
Love your advice about the sales pitch. It’s so true that there are people that LOVE shopping and commercials. Some just love being pitched AT. I really didn’t know this in my younger years. I’m not one of those people, but I recognize that this kind of thing brings joy to others. It really is a case of “just let people enjoy things” and I can give a polite no thank you.
Thank you! I'm one of those people that hates shopping LOL, so I had to figure out how not to get bothered by it. 😁
Im so glad that here in Australia that we don't pay gratitudes. That they are already included in our cruise fare when we book. ❤ We usually give our cabin steward and our main dining room waiter an extra tip, if they have been nice to us.❤
@@travelwithdebandnick A lot of people in the US would prefer that too!
I agree with all of your tips. I've used some of them myself on multiple cruises. I love your voice - I love your accent - I love everything about you! I always look forward to your videos. Keep up the great work!
@@davidtavakoli5858 Thank you so much!!! 😊
@@CruisingKat I can't place your accent. One profile on line stated you were from N Cali, studied in Georgia and live in Texas. I can't put all that together!
And BTW, this is the first (shocking I haven't stumbled on your vids before) time I have seen one of yours.
Your videos are the best in explaining cruising. Thank you so much for sharing. I will be checking your videos from now on.
@@maddybee4523 Thank you so much! I’m so glad they are helpful 😊
So glad I found your channel. Subscribed! Your video is so professional, with the movie clip inserts. I have been cruising since 1982. I just completed my 142nd cruise to Japan/Korea on Celebrity Millennium. Just like you, I have seen many changes in the cruise industry, some changes are great (e-muster) others not so much (food quality, increased costs and all the extra charges). I don’t stick to one cruise line, but still managed to have high loyalty status on four of the majors. My earlier cruises this year were on Cunard Queen Mary 2 TAs, then family Royal Caribbean cruise on Harmony, then cruise last month on Celebrity Millennium and my next cruise is on Oceania (Asia), and then on Celebrity Accent (Mediterranean). I am a remote IT software engineer, so can work from anywhere, including cruise ships and Internet cafes worldwide before Starlink premium WiFi
@@MB-uy5kh Thank you for the kind words and I’m glad you’re enjoying my videos. Wow! 142 cruises is so impressive! Also, just as impressive is that you can work as a software engineer on a cruise. I end up having to work on my cruises too but, even with Starlink, I find internet to be so much slower and unreliable on most ships. I try to avoid any bandwidth heavy tasks on cruises.
@CrusingKat - Thanks for a great video! I just discovered your channel and LOVE the great content you have here. Very good advice on "zigging" when others are "zagging," looking for those good alternatives like sunbathing somewhere other than the most popular areas and pools. I am amazed at how many sun decks and other secluded areas there are that are so often completely empty.
I would add a tip on the sales / costs of activities and crowded areas of the ship: Port days are fantastic for discounts on things like the spa and having many of the amenities onboard to yourself. I have been to Nassau about 6 times, so no need to get off there again if it on my itinerary, so I can enjoy everything the ship has to offer. I even LOOK FOR one or two ports I have no interest in seeing on potential cruises to I can have a quiet day or two onboard.
Keep up the good work! Subscribed and looking forward to more videos!
@@BroncoJoe07 , Thank you so much for the kind words and I love the additional tip! You’re absolutely right. Port days have some of the best deals on things you can pay on board for.
If you want a quiet place during the day and sometimes with a great view, look for a night club that’s not being used for bingo, trivia or another game. You can really relax and read or talk without a lot of background noise.
Great tip! Thank you for adding it 😁
I just found your channel and your content is great. Your pleasant and professional persona are a joy. We usually watch RoyalCaribbeanBlog and Hoffman Happy Travels and Life Well Cruised.
We’re going on our first Royal Caribbean sailing in November on Oasis OTS after 5 cruises on Disney. Your videos have been very helpful with our planning. Thank you.
If it’s not too personal a question, we find your slight accent intriguing. What is your accent?
@@acefox1 Thank you so much! I’m so glad you found my videos helpful and enjoyable. Royal will feel very different from Disney due to its targeted demographic but I think Royal has more for everybody no matter what you like. Oasis class is a good size ship to try it out since it will give you all the different things that Royal has to offer (even though it’s an older ship).
Regarding the accent, I was born in Russia and have lived in the US for over 30 years. Still can’t shake the accent though 😂
Please make the video of 3 day vs 4 day cruises! Totally here for it!! Great content!
@@Dominini Will do soon. We just returned from a back-to-back cruise on Utopia where we sailed on a three day cruise and then a four day cruise. Quite a few noticeable changes between the two. I’ll be working on that video soon. 😁
7:25 When gratuities become mandatory, you are no longer giving a tip for good service; you are supplementing the cruise line's payment of employee wages.
Exactly.
@@CruisingKatthen stop calling them gratuities. Call them service fees
Well, that’s what the cruise line calls them and that’s how they show up on our statements so I’m using their terminology to make it clear what I’m referring to. At the same, I agree that they are just service fees that are tacked on to the cruise fare.
2:12 Last day would have been nice to chill out at the end of my first cruise. When I arrived at the departure point 15 minutes after my token group was called, the staff was only interested in berating me. I had to ask 3 times for directions before they would let me pass and join the long queue for another 30 minutes. Next time I will wait until they escort me.
@@philscott7949 Sorry to hear that it was an unpleasant experience. This is one of the big reasons we like self assist departure. We have a window of time when we need to leave the ship and we just go whenever we’re ready. No group to meet, just get in line to disembark and get off the ship. I find it a lot less stressful.
1st day massage special. 75 minute massage added 25 minutes free. At the end upsale like crazy😊
Yes, the end upsale “almost” spoils the experience.
@CruisingKat True. Plus I handed her a $100 tip and when I was handed the bill there was already a $50 tip added. I got 50 back
@@fastfrank7328 Yep! I know exactly how it goes. We do get massages every once in a while on the ship. The pressure to tip more is definitely big. While we happily tip extra for any other services like bars or dining room waiters, we end up tipping extra in the spa out of guilt. 😂 The 18% tip on their already overpriced services is hefty as it is.
Are you a movie producer. I have no interest to cruise but this was entertaining. Thank you :)
@@robertashagam1599 Oh my goodness! Thank you so much 😊. No, I’m just an average amateur trying to share my love for cruising with others. I’m so glad you enjoyed it! 😁
We don't have children so, of course, we know more about parenting than parents do. But seriously, the ONE thing we DISLIKE about Carnival is the family friendly attitude that seems to have affected the parents ability to, well, PARENT! On our last (2nd) Carnival cruise, we DID take advantage of Serenity over 21 area (calm down Beavis and Butthead). We were on a 6 day Balt - Bermuda cruise on Legend and it was free. I don't know if that's the norm on longer cruises or other ships. We think our "Forever" line is going to be HAL although they currently have a kids cruise free promotion.
Private 'sea air!' We discovered the love of the balcony on a relatively cheap reposition trans-Atlantic cruise on RCL. Now I was not exactly overly fond of the cruise itself - although the 5 straight sea days was nice on one side, but at the same time, they ran out the exact SAME THREE activities every day! But having our own private 'sea air' was REALLY nice. I'm not a big pool guy so having a balcony to go to after picking up a cocktail is REALLY nice. It's also really close to the bed for napping - also with the private 'sea air'. Balcony or bust!
One of the reasons cruise lines want you to pay up 3-4 months out is because (hopefully, if you are relatively financially responsible) is you have paid it all off by embarkation day and so you have a 'full wallet'. So caveat emptor. Understand what you have paid for and understand what you STILL have to pay for. Drink packages are NOT for everyone. On our last cruise on NCL we did the 'Free at Sea thing. It included: Wi-fi, drinks (including certain bottles of wine - ask first), 2 nights specialty dining (depends on the length) and excursion credit. This last one ALMOST covered the cost of the package. We are doing the HAL Have it All which is basically the same package. But if you don't drink (or your cabin mate - 'cause everyone over 21 MUST get it or no one does) it might not make sense.
The cabin stewards are AMAZING! (ALL of those people make a pittance of salary by our standards but make good living on theirs!) Our first 2 cruises we were aware of the fact that there would be envelopes in the cabin to put cash money in for the cruise ship workers. As mentioned here, they are away from their home country and send a LOT of the money they make home! On our second cruise I noticed that the ship's personnel made a beeline for the nearest pay phone bank and I thought on the next cruise, instead cash money, I would get a buncha international phone cards. By the time we got on our 3rd cruise, they started to allow us to put it on our onboard payment card AND cel phones were starting to become more affordable. On our last 2 cruises I put an extra hundie in an envelope for our steward knowing, unfortunately, that he probably had to put it in the steward 'pool'. And I am kicking myself for not giving a hundie to this one bartender on NCL who was AMAZING!
We hadn't been on a cruise in 13 years. Older and richer, we weren't QUITE prepared for the hard core spa sales pitch. We thought we were just getting a tour. And then we fell for it - hook, line, sinker. A salon day! Spouse would get a facial, shampoo and a style cut (she was actually about ready for one). Me? a facial, hair shampoo/cut and a shave/trim. I was a little disappointed that the shave wasn't a straight razor shave but with a Gillette throw away. BUT, I WAS happy with my beard/stache trim - especially the mustache! And then it got better - for Carnival at least. I talked about my oily hair. And got suckered into buying specialty shampoos. NEVER AGAIN!
On our last cruise I was disappointed that I GAINED 4 pounds. It was NCL 10night Med cruise and every day was sked to have a port day (one was cancelled due to rough seas). And our excursions were for the most part physically challenging in the sense that we had a LOT of walking (IE the original Olympic games site). I guess it could have been worse.
Thank you for such a detailed comment! I love your point about the cruise ship being so family friendly that it affected parents' ability to parent, LOL. It seems like that's the trend nowadays - as cruise lines try to get more families on board, more and more things are getting overlooked and allowed.
The service on cruise ships is one of the biggest reasons we love cruising over land vacations. No matter how nice of a resort you stay in, most cruise ship crews will easily beat it by giving that personal attention to you. We always tip our cabin steward, dining room staff and favorite bar tenders extra too.
Great job!
@@SausalitoVicki Thank you so much!
We love the buffet and smaller included food places so we never use specialty dinning. We always get the top end drink package as most include everything plus alcohol. The ship is my vacation so we don't do a ton of excursion either, we do love a beach or the cruise lines private islands.
We feel the same way about the ships being our vacation. A cruise is so much better than just going to the beach somewhere in Florida. 🌴
Great video!!! Just subscribed
@@ScottLara Thank you! 😊
Not only does a passport make it easier to go through customs, but if there is a problem (health, etc) that requires that you leave the ship early in a foreign country it will be a PITA to fly home. In the US, if you don't have a passport you will have to get an emergency passport from the State Dept.
In addition: insurance is an absolute must have. Don't leave home without it. You may never need it, but if you do need it once, it will pay for all the other times that you didn't need it.
@@JFretiredRRT Excellent points! I completely agree on both.
Great video!!!!!
Thank you so much!
Most of the cruiselines now list the full price including taxes and ports fees for all cruises embarking or disembarking in the US. Just started last month.
@@joleighva Yes, it’s a great change! They still do the sale rotation thing where some sales sound great but are actually more expensive than others. But now, it’s so much easier to compare.
We are writing and warming you regarding our recent experience on the Celebrity Edge Cruise to the Great Barrier, dated 22/10/2024.
Upon our return home, I was diagnosed with a throat infection and still have it a week later, which my doctor confirmed is likely due to inhaling soot from the ship’s engines while we were on the sun loungers. Additionally, my wife suffered from nausea and dizziness during our time on board detracting significantly from what was supposed to be an enjoyable experience.
I also have a video documenting the heavy soot situation, which I can provide upon request.
The Captain has been informed of our concerns; however, we feel it is important to formally request a full refund due to the serious health issues we encountered. Considering the circumstances, we believe this is a reasonable resolution.
I also have a video documenting the heavy soot situation, which I can provide upon request.
Thank you for your understanding, and we eagerly await for you to caution your Viewers.
We appreciate your attention to this matter and look forward to your prompt response.
Thank you for sharing your story. I am very saddened to hear that you had such an ordeal and I hope the cruise line will make it right. I will be researching this issue further. Wishing you fast and complete recovery.
Thanks for your concern. Pay it forward! Affect everyone! Breathing SOOT is a major health issue. ✌️❤️
New Sub here. Great video.
Thank you! 😁
What bothers me the most is other people being on the cruise making noise and getting in my way.
@@bryantanderson430 I hear you! We started our cruising journey with “let’s get an interior room because we’ll never be in our room” mentality, and now we’re at “let’s get a balcony and spend our evenings there away from other people” mindset 😂
The only thing I hate is embarkation day time. I am not an early riser. If I could disembark between 9:30-10am then there would be nothing I hate about cruising.
@@pw-sz6ds I vote for 5 pm disembarkation 😃
Never seen you before, so I'm subscribing to see how you are. Hopefully, not clickbaity and angry.
@@EKA201-j7f Thank you for subscribing! I have no intention of being clickbaity or angry. The goal is to be interesting and objective. 😁
MSC include gratuities, taxes / fees etc in the initial upfront cost for us Europeans. We prefer a straight up price at the beginning of the process as opposed to a low price that increase with each stage of the booking process. Sales tax is already included in the cost of things we buy when we shop, so the price you see is the price you pay also “Tipping culture” isn’t really a thing on this side of the pond. Decent base pay is the done thing. So just giving one straight up price inclusive of all these add ons right from the beginning certainly suits a European persons cultural mentality far better. I guess it’s what you’re use to.
@@bexinthebox I think a lot of Americans would prefer that too, but the tipping culture is just so ingrained in the USA that it would be too hard to change.
Prefer to cruise when schools are in session. Usually we liked to go around the time of our anniversary. Sometimes we went when a special cruise came along. If it's too good to be true, it usually is. Some crew members do work hard. Some don't. Haven't met that many people on cruises. Like to go into some of the stores on the ship. Only go to a few specialty restaurants. I might eat a lot on a cruise, but, I also do a lot of activity.
All great points! 😁
You have to take the good with the bad
@@danastewart8709 Absolutely! I haven’t found anything that would deter me from cruising. My goal is to help people get over the little hurdles and enjoy this amazing type of vacation.
Some cruise lines allow you to bring on a bottle of wine or two and also a case of beer I think and soda so that you don’t have to purchase a drink package I just got off symphony of the seas and it was my girlfriends birthday so we brought a bottle of wine with usand we asked a Wheater if they would open it and serve it to us and they did
We do the same thing and love the fact that Royal Caribbean allows a bottle of wine per person plus soda. Many other cruise lines aren't nearly as "nice", lol.
Cruising is a nightmare for newcomers, so much to know. Not knowing enough, mistake after mistake
True. There is a lot to know to maximize the cruise experience, but the good news is that even with mistakes, a cruise is an amazing vacation! Then, the more you sail, the better it gets. For us, getting on a ship feels like coming home every time. 😊
One of the things I don't like about cruising these days is the continuing lowering of the dress code. I fully understand this is the reality of cruising with children and the "party crowd". But even on ships which cater to those of us who like the traditional ambience, such as Holland America and Cunard, there has been a steady decline in dress standards. I know not every one wants to wear a Tuxedo or long dress, but formal or gala nights have always had a classy alternative to full formal wear. Fortunately there are a few ships around that have some traditions, but not many. Perhaps the pendulum will swing the other way before long - at least on a few more ships. There are ships for all tastes, of course, but there is a certain sameness about the most modern ones.
@@davidthomas2761 I couldn’t agree with you more! I do understand that people have different preferences, but even when it’s elegant night, you can still see people in shorts, flip-flops, and ball hats in a dining room. 20 years ago, going to the formal dinner was a very different experience.
Elegant night was ok when they gave unlimited lobster.
Yes! We miss those days!
I am that person and love it who much that is why I started RUclips 😂
@@delbosquevacations Awesome! Wishing you success with your RUclips channel! 😁
The only thing I hate about cruising is when the ship of full to capacity. It makes hard to enjoy the amenities.
Yes! I agree. That makes it not as enjoyable.
Our cabins were opened for us was at 3 pm , time we were leaving the port . And the suitcases were in the hallways , blocking the way with a wheelchair to get to our room . And then when the rooms were being cleaned the large cart blocking the hallways , always had to move it so the wheelchair could get through. Could be 9 am or 2 pm . Why put handicap rooms way in the back if you going to block hallways. Cruising getting harder .
@@jennyslavis375 I completely agree! We had our mother use a scooter on one of our cruises and we experienced firsthand how difficult it is for people with scooters and wheelchairs. Not enough room to move around and so many people are inconsiderate of others.
I want to try the steakhouse on board.
@@4444mrjason It’s very good! We go there on every cruise and always get filet mignon.
I was thinking about a cruise but after seeing a bunch of u.tubes on cruises......I think you would need a vacation after booking a cruise. Im just going camping instead.
@@bradleyhupp6433 Oh no! That was definitely not the intent of the videos 😂. I absolutely think cruising is the best type of vacation that offers so much more than any other type of vacation. I’m sure you could come up with “9 things you hate about camping”, right? 😉
My main goal is to help people maximize their cruises, but we went on our first cruise not knowing anything. It was still an amazing trip that got us hooked on cruising. So definitely try it out, at least once!
The worse thing I hate about cruising is the last day of cruising. I dont let anything/anyone ruin my vaca while on vaca.
Me too! In fact, one of the best feelings is the last day on a first leg of a back to back cruise. This is where you keep thinking... "I'd be getting off the ship with the rest of these people... But I'm about to get back on!" 😂