Agreed. They picked royal. But if you go on one of The new cities at sea which I have no interest in going on and them something older like the jewel. That is a huge difference
Would love a list of exactly what ships you sailed on in each line. I think there’s a wide gulf in impression to be made depending on if you’re on an older or newer ship in a line.
You make a good point. Most of the cruise vloggers are on the new ships and often give the impression that all the ships on the line offer the same amenities which is simply not the case.
Vloggers and bloggers are allowed their own opinions, we viewers and readers don’t have to agree. Try not to take it personally but for what it is. Pursuing a debate seems defensive. No one’s stopping anyone from doing their own vlog or blog to present another view. Isn’t that what these RUclips videos are for?
I don’t judge a cruise line’s food by judging their specialty restaurants. I paid a price to get one that includes a room and meals. I judge the food that came in that price.
I have been on Disney, Celebrity and Holland America. I put Holland America as the winner of those 3, and I continue to go back to them. I like HAL's food better than either of the other 2. Price wise, cheaper than Disney and comparable to Celebrity. The smaller ship size is also a big plus for me and those with whom I have cruised. But it depends on what you are looking for--if it is a fun time or party atmosphere, don't take Holland America. However, if you are looking for a relaxed atmosphere where you can just unwind and veg out, HAL is a great choice.
Bruh royal Caribbean MSC and Norwegian wins celebrity is mid a little with Holland America I don’t hate Holland America. I just like it because of some activities on the Amsterdam when I went on that ship in 2021 Royal Caribbean wins how the hell is Holland the winner
Rankings are interesting. We’ve sailed many different lines. I must disagree about HAL. HAL caters to a clientele that enjoys the old fashion style cruise. No bells and whistles, no water slides, no spectacle. I actually find HAL a place to truly relax and unwind. I do not want to come home from a cruise exhausted from activities. Since HAL caters to the over 55 age group, we feel more comfortable, as we are in that category. Expectations of cruise experiences has changed with the activities getting out of hand. If I want to visit a park, I’ll do that in land. If I want to go to a mall to shop, I’ll do that on land. If I want a wave pool, I’ll go to the ocean. I’m going to keep seeking cruise lines that offer a calm, relaxing, and laid back presence.
Cruises are what you make it. I go on ships with all the amenities you explain and still relax. Its no pressure to participate. I sleep in and get plenty relaxation 😂
Im glad to hear this. My wife and I are late 20's and just booked HAL for an Alaska trip next September and have been curious if it will be as hustle and bustle as royal was
To each his own. I loved HAL because ships are mainly quiet. I don't cruise for the party. But post pandemic their food has slipped. And changing from shows to all music venues doesn't cut it for me. I think next cruise will be in Virgin
HAL is my cruiseline of choice too. I cruise to relax, see interesting places, talk to interesting people who have been interesting places. I have no interest in a floating theme park or the noise that comes with it and the crowds that come with it.
I am 40yo and been sailing on Holland for over 15 years (almost 4 star mariner- woot!) and if you want peace, quiet atmosphere, good food, a dunk in a thermal hot tub, and an experience that hearkens back to the days of ocean liners, then HAL is all of that. I have gone in a family group, chartered, and even solo for a month through Panama.... Holland has my heart. Little to no drama. No drunk brawls at the Lido deck. Dedicated and friendly staff. Pretty good food overall (specialty dining is excellent). It is what I want in my cruise vacation.
I’m happy that you guys loved virgin. Me and my partner felt the same way. The food was incredible, and i just loved the overall vibe. Staff felt energetic and the biggest winning point is the “no children.” I think people think it’s super young but it’s really not. It seemed to be overall 30-70 from what I witnessed. The 70s disco party was really fun I definitely recommend it.
I love Holland America. No kids running around. More mature adults and enough entertainment to keep busy. Smaller ships. Food is excellent and entertainment is perfect. No complains at all. Don’t need all those gimmicks and kids entertainment. There is a spa, gym, activities, etc. we don’t even want our room clean daily, just need basic services and so Holland America is perfect for us and has good pricing as well. Any recommendations of other smaller ships without fancy and elaborate stuff and no little kids?
They also are big on educational enrichment ,lectures on destinations and ports of call etc, again no screaming kids around the pool ,hot tubs it's more about the cruising experience and relaxing and not a funfair at sea.
Princess. I've always considered Holland and Princess the cruise lines for more cerebral cruisers. They often have some nice enrichment programs. Princess has the best mattresses, too.
I have been on Royal Caribbean, Princess, Carnival, Norwegian, and Holland America. For me Holland America is clearly the best. Best food, best service, best cabins, best shore excursions, best ships, etc. No comparison in my book.
HAL is a very different cruise concept. No flashy neon lights and glitz… No broadway shows… No loud game shows and pool deck parties. It is more subdued. Lectures, beatle music etc. Just like Virgin, it’s a very different concept.
Respectfully: I just disembarked Celebrity SOLSTICE on the 30th. It was my third time aboard her and my 25th on Celebrity vessels. I've done ONE on Princess and was so unimpressed I didn't bother to leave a future cruise deposit. Three on NCL, 'just OK'. No dazzle factor. Royal Caribbean is all about ice rinks & go karts. Not so much on service and food. THAT is where Celebrity DAZZLES. So much so I'm booked monthly on Celebrity ships through February + June of 2024. Take it from a MONTHLY cruiser with 25 Celebrity Experiences that have all been Xceptional. Mac
My wife and I agree with you and we are Disney Cruise line Gold tier and after boarding the Celebrity Solstice and Silhouette we both agree that food and styling, ambiance Celebrity is wayyy ahead of Disney and we have some kids that love the kids clubs and they rated Disney slightly better experience. But the difference in price between DCL and Celebrity is huge. We plan on booking a 10 or 9 night Celebrity Cruise for next year
Hey first time future cruiser here...which cruise line would you recommend that's good enough for a teen but not as crowded like Disney or any of those 5000-6000 cruises. I know I'm being picky but since you have that experience, I'm just trying to pick your brain and point me in the right direction at least.
@@OGutzVentura Royal Caribbean, Carnival, or Celebrity have a nice teen experience! My groups with teens have liked the activities so much that they want a cruise every year and no more Disney world.
@@OGutzVentura Two pieces of advice. Find and stick with ONE cruise line to quickly gain loyalty level. 2nd, ALWAYS leave at least one future cruise credit while aboard ($100 deposit earns you many perquisites for next cruise(s).). In answer to your question. Royal Caribbean (Celebrity's parent company and a step down in service/food/atmosphere) would suit a teen as their ships have skating rinks/go karts/surf riders/roller coasters/wall climbing, etc. They are MEGA in size so will be crowded. Celebrity ships are 'just right' w/o all the distractions/attractions. I leave Saturday for my 26th with Celebrity. Bon voyage.
VIRGIN BLEW US AWAY TOO! It's hard to go back to any other cruiseline! Virgin also never nickles and dimes and this was a breath of fresh air. Their final all inclusive pricing upon booking was also so nice it is great value when you consider all the upcharges, tips, horrendous wifi prices all the other cruiselines do!
Just curious but , does Virgin offer Lobster on their Dinner Menu ? When my wife and I started cruising decades ago (Carnival and Royal Caribbean) there was always at least one Lobster night . Not any more.
I agree with you, I don't like feeling like I'm being nickled and dimed when I'm on vacation. We are going on the Regent Seven Seas Explorer and it is also an all-inclusive cruise ship. I've heard wonderful thing about it. This will be our first time on an all-inclusive ship. We also found that the pricing on an all-inclusive ship was a good value, once you started calculating all the different fees. We may have to try Virgin. I wasn't aware it was also an all inclusive ship. Thank you!
Agreed! VV is truly all inclusive you never ever feel pressured to spend extra money or tip. The food is top tier for cruise food for sure! Now, if they figured out a full drink pre-paid package..🎉🎉🎉
@@lakedog3616 FYI, if you are interested, I just finished a Celebrity Summit 8 night cruise from NJ to Bermuda, and they had 1 Lobster (and Duck L'Orange) night when we left Bermuda to head back to NJ.
@@lakedog3616 I can't speak for Virgin as I haven't sailed them but my last RCL cruise on Vision in January had lobster night. Holland America, on the other hand, always had an upcharge for lobster even on "gala" nights on my cruise last month.
I would like to say....HAL is NOT just for "older" people. I started cruising in my 30's and longed to have a line with class, history, relaxation, and a destination driven cruise line. The Music Walk on HAL......outstanding!
Have to agree w all. Wife and I did a 14 day Baltic cruise and the educational and cultural enrichment focus and music walk experiences were fantastic. Yes it doesn’t have water slides or rock climbing, but that’s not what we’re looking for.
I sailed on the Koningsdam to Alaska last month. Compared to Royal and NCL the crowd is most definitely older. After 11pm it get pretty quiet. I get that works for some people…..mostly the elderly.
As a recent retiree, i am watching these cruising YT channels. It comes down to price vs quality of overall experience. I, myself, would not go the ‘cheap’ route as you basically get what you pay for. Look for the best price, you can get, on a top cruise line.
I think your ranking is fair. I went on my first cruise and it was holland America. I think holland America is great for people with autism because it is not extremely loud and it was quiet at night. I didn’t find a need for speciality dining because over the week there was always good food between the dining room and buffet. There was also a pizza place and a fast food restaurant we really enjoyed when we got back from ports. There’s no water slides, arcades, or that many kid things on holland America. It’s more for a relaxing cruise experience with an emphasis on lectures, classical music, jazz,etc. Most people on the Caribbean cruise I went on were older. There was no loud party people.
Cost wise, yes Virgin is “expensive” but there are no add ones for dining, coffee, soda, Wi-Fi, and tips. So in my opinion it should be looked at differently. I recently priced out cruises on NCL and Royal and Virgin was almost the same when I added Wi-Fi and a few special dinners.
I was very interested in your take on this as it is very subjective. You based your rankings on your experience, age, interests and your own personal idea of what constitutes a great cruise. For us, the ranking would have been very different. We have no interest in rock climbing walls, go-karts, a cruise that caters to families or a huge party atmosphere. Been there, done that, lol. What we want now is a cruise where we can relax, visit interesting and diverse ports and enjoy delicious food with great service. Consequently we love Celebrity, Princess and HAL and would rank those as our top 3. If we're splurging on a more expensive cruise, our choice would be Oceania. Love their smaller, more intimate ships. To each their own, how boring would it be if we were all the same? 😊
I totally agree that choosing a best cruise line is more about who you are which makes it subjective. Thanks for making that clearly known. We have been on 6 different cruise lines all of which were in your review. Just got back from our first Royal Caribbean cruise which took place the end of April though the first part of May. After spring break before summer vacation. We were on a mega ship and the number of families was crazy. We never found a quiet spot to read and relax aside from our stateroom for which we paid a premium so we could have an ocean view. Looking forward to seeing more reviews!
Yeah cause some of these people are literally getting 'offended' because they gave their 'opinion' as to how these ships rank. They made it clear that it was just their 'opinion!' Lol
As older cruisers we enjoy smaller ships with interesting ports. Celebrity, Princess & Holland were top 3 for those. Carnival & RC were zoos with too many people. Fine if you are younger and want to party. Not been on NCL or MSC, but vibes from friends were negative. Virgin and Disney would be nice if we were 25-35 or had young children. Your vlog was informative. True it is subjective with many variables. Thanks
I rank Holland America at the top for my likes and dislikes. Yes there are things they could improve on as all of the nine you ranked. At my age of 73, I don't need a zipline or hammock to make me glad I cruise with Holland America.
My cruise decision is primarily based upon ports and, while I prefer the RCL, NCL and Carnival onboard vibe, I'm starting to lean more towards other lines with better itineraries. I just completed my first HAL cruise as the Mediterranean itinerary with Israel and Turkey was too good to pass up. I felt that due to the port intensive nature of the cruise, the onboard amenities were not as important. Ironically enough, HAL's dance productions on Oosterdam were better than the last RCL cruise I completed on Vision (oldest ship) and the food and service surpassed RCL's Vision as well. If the itinerary is right, I'd consider another HAL cruise. My next cruise is on Princess due to the itinerary and timing with my work schedule so I'm up for the adventure.
Carnival, over holland America. That’s pure insanity. Not in any universe. Not in any reality. And Walmart is by far the nicest , cleanest , most well behaved retail store I guess.
Yeah, I think NCL has the biggest PR issues coming out of the pandemic. Service has suffered on all the lines, but NCL seems almost belligerent in public image. Once the overall demand levels out, I predict NCL will have the most problems filling ships.
I was on a Bahamas cruise with the NCL Getaway in March 2023, the ship was full with 4000 people, and it was wonderful. The food was tremendous, I had the best prime rib in my life at the Garden Cafe, and the public restrooms were spotless. I loved it. You must have sailed on some other line. I'm going again on a New England cruise end of August. I had a Club Balcony Suite, and I'm not a budget traveler.
I agree NCL PR issues and pricing will eventually catch up with them in terms of filing their ships down the line. I was apprehensive in sailing with them last April given the negative PR but the Bliss turned out to be the best onboard experience I've had even compared with my 3 RCL sailings and 1 HAL sailing so I was pleasantly surprised.
I have only been on 1 cruise, and it was on HAL. We chose this line because we were going to Alaska. We never had to use the tenders to get to ports and were always front and center, even in Skagway. Also, you are almost guaranteed to get into Glacier Bay, unless there is a weather issue or something similar. As for food, they were great! There were 4 of us who all had different dietary issues. They were VERY accommodating, and the meals were delicious.
HAL and Princess go INTO Glacier Bay. Wouldn't do Alaskan cruise that doesn't go there. We booked our Princess cruise because we got Hubbard Glacier and Glacier Bay. Destination is everything!
not disagreeing with your rankings but just wanted to comment that we recently sailed with holland america on a 14 day cruise in the baltic. it was amazing. the cruise was more about the ports & excursions, which is why we booked with them. the service was incredible and we will gladly sail with them again.
Same here ... Just did my first HAL cruise in the Mediterranean which I booked primarily because of two port stops in Israel. It was my first ever long cruise (19 days). I had a bias about them being for "older" folks but found myself really enjoying the cruise last month and would consider booking with them again if the itinerary is right.
We have been on 57 cruises including Crystal, NCL, RCCL, Celebrity, Princess, and Holland America. Our interests (at 81 and 77) lead us to a smaller ship that still has activities such as ballroom dancing, variety in music, decent food, and pickleball. For these reasons, we like Holland America. We do, however, miss Broadway type production shows, along with variety shows.
Oceania has been gaining popularity, last year we met a couple on a small cruise line (American Cruises - sailing New England Islands) they say that Oceania is their favorite, suggested we take a cruise on that particular line of ships next.
@@elizabethrivetz4838 Except for a couple of special cruises and ones on our own sailboat or bare boat charters, we only use Viking and Oceania. Both cruise lines emphasis is on the destination. They go places like Kotar, Ullapool, Homer and other places too small to handle a multi thousand passenger ship.
Disney’s shows are #1 in my opinion. Real snow falling from the ceiling during Frozen, etc. Their holiday cruises for Halloween and Christmas are outstanding.
I have been on NCL, Carnival, and Disney and my favorite is NCL. I think NCL keeps their prices high to deter the riff raff from booking cruises on their ships. I think you get what you pay for and I like NCL. I would like to try Virgin.
@@SouthernGyrl riff raff to me are the 20 somethings who act like they’re the only people on vacation. There are times I felt unsafe for my kids and myself. One big frat party. There’s one instance where drunk partying was taken to another level. There was a contest that whoever could swallow soft ice cream from the soft serve machine. They put their mouth where the ice cream came out then spit it out. The same group was grabbing food off the buffet then putting it back. There were numerous complaints about the group but nothing done. They were drinking and gambling running up huge bills. This wasn’t an isolated incident. Why would you assume that someone was picking on people due to their financial circumstances. Check yourself @SouthhernGyrl and don’t assume. Makes you sound foolish.
We have only sailed on Carnival and Holland so far. Carnival we felt was a bit too young for us. We didn't appreciate getting bombarded over the loudspeakre constantly from the cruise director. We went to Alaska on Holland, and it was amazing. The rooms are very nice. Food was not amazing, but still very good. We came back and booked another cruise with Holland. BUT we also booked a cruise next year on Royal with our adult kids to Alaska, and we booked a Caribbean cruise with Celebrity after that. So we're definitely going to try them out. We'll have to squeeze a Princess in there as well.
RCL doesn't go to Glacier Bay. Best lines for Alaska is Princess and Holland. They are the only two allowed to dock in some ports while others have to tender.
We were cruise Virgins on our VV (Scarlet) for our 20th anniversary just a few weeks ago. It was fantastic & exceeded all of our expectations. Anyone we spoke with that had traveled other lines said we would never go anywhere else again! They catered to my GF needs, felt like a VIP at times. We already booked another, truly amazing trip❤ Just an aside,when we booked, VV was one of the best deals out there I didn't see them as being more$$$ especially with all the inclusions.
Virgin offered great pricing for the first 2 years or so in order to get people onto their ships. However, their pricing has doubled over the past 6 months. They have developed a stellar reputation and a very loyal base who will pay the higher amount to sail with Virgin. As you said, once you sail Virgin...you will never go to another cruise line!
Because you were surprised that Holland ended up at the bottom means there is no bad cruise line or experience! Amazing that you were able to do all 9 in such a short period of time 😁
You picked the 2 biggest “party” ship lines. This has helped me in knowing how to gage your other recommendations for my style of travel, which is different.
Smh. Most likely your focus is on party, as they didn’t mention anything about that. It’s very possible for a cruise line that you deem “party” to be scored highly for other attributes, that are important to them, such as food, ship aesthetics, service, etc… And FYI, Royal Caribbean is not a party cruise line. It’s also very possible a “party” ship could have all of the above. Your view of their objection is skewed.
NCL no longer has any food that is not sit down at the restaurant. They also will not let you take it to the room. NCL app sucks and you cant group your party. NCL allows the kids to roam free till 1:00am I do like the six omelet stations on NCL Break away. Carnival NCL excursions always last three times longer than they should 1hr doing the excursions 1 hr of some local selling Soap, essential oils, Photo sessions or they feed you at a local kitchen rice and beans when the beach, bars and restaurants are one mile away. Cruise seafood is all crap frozen, the only good shrimp i ever got was from the stand on Carnival, NCL had some great asparagus, specialty dining is never worth it. Royal has the best app and feel their excursions were top notch, carnival always seems to have more pool area than others. I haven’t had a relaxing cruise in a long time. So much to do and all of them push the party atmosphere. Go for the spa rooms or NCL haven if you want relaxing if you go with any of the other crowds it is all about fun and party.
Royal, carnival, and NCL are too busy for me. Not into kids. Virgin is too expensive and lack of pools. The newer Celebrity and Princess ships provide good value for the non kid crowd with lots of pools and hot tubs. Still, lm going to try Holland as l haven't yet. NCL did not impress me much. I don't like buying Starbucks on board. I also didn't find the entertainment very good.
The extra category for me that puts NCL on top is the studio rooms and solo traveler program. If the other lines would add a solo traveler event once a day I’d consider them but the other lines seem much less invested in the solo traveler market
Hmmm...balcony cabin with a low solo supplement on Sky Princess was less than $1000/week. Much larger cabin, and double reward points. I'd rather have that than the tombs that pass for a solo cabin on NCL. The solo lounge is nice but not worth paying $1800.
Folks, when using video reviews, it is best to listen and read between the lines. Do you identify with the person [people] doing the reviews? Do they value the same thing you do, etc... I keep waiting for these folks to begin each video with what they value most. I am on the lookout for a reviewer who says, " hello! I view good service/attention to detail, I consider Egyptian Cotton sheets and robes a must. I typically stay at Omni and Four Seasons hotels, and pay $100/person for dinner out.
We've been disappointed with the pricing on NCL too. It was our favorite cruise line for years, but we've been having a hard time finding reasonably priced cruises. Royal Caribbean has better prices so we've been cruising more with them.
@@Gardis72 Not all RCL ships are mega ships. I sailed with them in January on a smaller vessel with roughly 2K guests and there were no water slides, etc on Vision.
Average to below average on Holland America? Really? I've been on 6 different lines and I always go back to Holland America. Far more relaxing and enjoyable, and better food than most. Enjoyed Celebrity and would go again, but have reservations about Princess, NCL, Royal Caribbean and Carnival.
No ranking for music?? Holland America should come out on top there! I understand they come out on the bottom for "shows", but that's because they don't do huge shows--they do music.
The music walk is fantastic and the entertainers in those venues are always so talented. For me the theatre shows are also ok. My only place where HAL lacks is its buffet too small not enough offering for nowadays.
Celebrity is Top-Notch! New Beyond ship was amazing & older Millineum ship was fantastic Alaska. The food, aesthetics, state of the art entertainment wowed us. It’s hard to go back to other ships like Carnival or Princess after the service we got at Celebrity.
Everyone is going to have different opinions. We did a back to back with Carnival Horizon and Royal Caribbean Freedom of the Seas and my expectation was that Royal would be better but I was disappointed. At this stage in life , mid-40’s with college kids, we will mostly stick to newer or refurbished Carnival ships, on week long cruises.
I’ve been on Carnival, Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, and Princess. I’m 73 now but my first cruise, which was Carnival, was about 12-15 years ago. There is no contest for me. Princess was the clear winner for me.
I agree with MSC being dead last in the food category; that's the only cruise I've been on where every port I was more focused on finding good food to take back on the boat than i was on activities. The only things i was comfortable eating on the boat was hashbrowns and toast. For me RC had better buffet options and carnival better seated dining options.
Thanks for your research. I have sailed Carnival (long time ago), Disney and Royal several times each. We are booked on Virgin later this summer for our anniversary. We have looked and researched the other lines, except MSC, not familiar with that one. Based on our experience, friends experience who sailed on other lines, and things we have read, target demographics etc, I think you nailed it. I guessed what you would say a lot while I watched and was pretty close in most cases. I will take a fresh look at Carnival. They historically had a reputation for being a more down-market party experience. Sounds like that may have changed with some of the newer ships. Also you may consider doing a ranking specifically with cleanliness, buffet appeaeance food safety etc. Sometimes that is a determining factor on which lines people sail. Thanks again.
You guys are super partial to Virgin. First of all, Virgin has only TWO (!!!) ships as of now, so can hardly be considered a " major" cruise line. Second, it's adults only so it's out of the competition, as the bulk of the cruise industry addresses families with kids. Third, their food might be gorgeous but their restaurants feel more like the new place that opened downtown or in the arts district of some city than being on a cruise. They feel urban casual, bistro style, and people want still the grandeur of the high ceilings and the chandeliers and magnum decor, that's why you're going on a cruise, to feel a little bit like in a movie. I can go to my new local hot spot in the city for great food every week . But their biggest flaw is that you really don't have much views of the ocean from the public spaces. You don't really feel like you are on a cruise but in a night club. The energy that I feel while entering the Windjammer buffet in the morning for breakfast, with all the sunlight and the blue waters views hitting my face from all sides cannot be replaced by some good food that I can have also home. As for the entertainment and shows, even to put Virgin and Royal Caribbean in the same sentence, when we are talking about hundred million dollars productions on Royal from water to ice and Broadway theaters, compared to some square room in which some crew dances and interacts with guests( fun indeed) , it's to say the least a stretch
The transatlantic cruise can be boring, a lot depends on your cruise director. A lot depends on what you are looking for on the cruise also. Having recently retired from a very high stress job I've cruised with Holland to help destress and recharge. Since covid I've noticed a lot of changes in the cruise lines and they always haven't been great.
I dislike the huge Royal Caribbean ships. To me they feel like an amusement park, which isn't for me. I've been on most of these and Celebrity is by far my favorite. Princess and NCL are ok. I'd like to try Virgin next.
Thank you for your vlog and for providing your ratings! My husband and I have sailed on most all of the cruise lines that you've listed. I think there are so many factors to consider when rating a cruise line. It would be great to know exactly which ships you sailed. I've had different experiences on different ships from the same cruise line. For the most part I do agree with your overall assessment of your choices for top three however, I would rank MSC much higher for several reasons. I think in the past MSC had experienced some issues, but most recently has really stepped up their game. We've sailed on four MSC ships and the biggest complaint for us is embarkation. The food was much better the last few times we sailed. But MSC is a winner for us because of their private island, it's like a hidden gem! And like you mentioned, the price point cannot be beat. We've found that all of the other major cruise lines prices have gotten out of control, including and especially Carnival. We've recently sailed Celebrity, Princess, NCL and Royal and all four were way cheaper than the prices for similar sailings on Carnival! And, we found that the food on Celebrity was horrible. I was actually shocked by the food. Princess is okay, but again, for us Princess has offered some really great deals so we chose Princess for a few of our sailings. So, all in all, I think you were pretty on point, but people should keep in mind that when comparing cruise ships and cruise lines, it will never be apples to apples. And it really depends what you're looking for. For all in prices, including drinks, wifi, and most often onboard credits, I'd pick MSC or Princess. For fun and entertainment I'd select Royal Caribbean. And if you are an adult traveling without children, then I'd chose Virgin Voyagers! Thanks again!
I got on msc ship and they ran out of coffee creamer 😮 I witnessed this lady throwing her tray at one of the servers the trip was okay until we arrived to Puerto Rico and the ship turned around because they lost a Crew member he jumped off the ship so they gave me $60 port fee 😢 but the food was really good 👍
Going to disagree! Been on multiple cruises and multiple ships and Holland ranks ahead of both Royal and Princess! and not sure how you got pricing info but Holland was better price point for us to Alaska and the ship did have Lincoln Center Stage and the BB Blues lounge so I do not how you would say they are below average just unless your 18 olds at heart! It’s not a constant party like a lot of Carribean specialty lines but I would take them every time over the rest ( not including Virgin as we have not used them yet!)
it is a shame you did not do viking, we have been on a river, and ocean cruise, upgraded both times. their food is good, no nickel and diming, and beer and wine with dinner. we enjoyed it more than the holland america cruise we were on.
@@QueenKayKay47 sorry, but viking itself does not label their ocean cruises as luxury, that is given by some people. I have been on an ocean viking cruise ship, it is nice, but would not classify it as a luxury cruise ship. while oceania cruises from what I have seen is luxurious.
Viking is labeled luxury because of the price. But when you take into account the included beer and wine at dinner, the included special coffee, included excursions in every port AND discounts if you sign up for email and watch the sales on cruises AND airfare (with also includes transfers from airport to ship). When you include all that, Viking cruises are in line with Princess and HAL for total cost.
Looks like the cruisers have already disagreed with ypur rating of Holland America. My wife and I have cruised many lines and the only one we consistently go back to is Holland America. Cruising is a personal preference so try them all your self.
As a music lover, we loved HAL Pinnacle Class ships. Carnival is a little too "Fun". Can't handle Mega Kids experience. Pretty much love all ships anyway (we've done 16 cruises). Really appreciate good production shows, live music, and good food. What line offers that? Wish Virgin had a ship that was not Woke and in your face sex (this coming from a Christian that sins more than most). I want Virgin food, ship and all inclusiveness without compromising our values.
I’ve been on every one of these cruise lines except Holland America and I can tell you that we just took an MSC cruise in Europe and it was fantastic. I think the location of where the cruise is plays a pretty big role as well. The food was excellent on the European cruise, but part of that is probably the difference in their quality of food over there as opposed to America
My husband and I just took an MSC cruise on their newest ship. Sorry, but the pizza was our 'least' favorite food on that ship. It was absolutely horrible!@@adamp2384
You need to list the ship names … surprised how low you ranked the Celebrity Cruise line. 3 of my last 4 cruises have been the Celebrity Edge class ships … ruined me for all others … very impressive 🏅
Hey, happy cruising!! You missed a cruise line. Unfortunately, you can't experience the best cruise line because it sailed the high seas many years ago. In the words of my travel agent, "Royal Viking Line (RVL) was the Cadillac of cruise lines." She was absolutely correct. Everyone was in the Skald Club and attended the Captain's welcome cocktail party. There were free drinks and caviar. Everyone received a shot of aquavit and the Captain led a toast. Everyone received a gift that was a set of two aquavit glasses. There was a $500 certificate to apply to a future booking. Yes, Royal Viking was top of the line!! Today's Viking Cruises is headed by the same gentleman who headed RVL, so it's very close in quality. Bon voyage!!
I would love to see you separate the food rankings between the food that is provided with the cruise fare and specialty dining. I recently went on a Carnival cruise last year and the specialty dining was fantastic, but the buffet and MDR were just plain bad.
I'm always surprised when NCL gets rave reviews. I've only sailed with them twice, but I always leave feeling like I overpaid. I sailed on the Bliss in 2018, and had a great time. But I felt that the activities were lacking. I sailed on the Breakaway in February, and the service was horrible. The staff was clearly overworked. NCL's food is their only saving grace IMO. But I could have sailed on several other cruise lines, and eaten at specialty dining only, for what we paid for that trip.
I’ve sailed on the encore twice in 2023. Nothing really blows me away. With that said I find the value to be top notch. With the Free at Sea and 2 for 1 airfare we’ve saved quite a bit vs Royal.
Last week we sailed on Celebrity. While we had a great time, some sea days and nights we struggled with entertainment. It turns out that we are not that interested in Neil Diamond. Much of what passes for entertainment is art auctions, posture assessments, and photo sessions. The musicians, while talented, played sets geared to people older than me. (I’m in my 60s). The food and service were great, I was just a little surprised at the entertainment.
Just a thought it would be nice to see a good sit down talk video like this on each individual port you guy's visited. You know talking about things to do, see, excursions or any other info you could think of it. You guys are always so helpful not just with the cruises but with the Amtrak. Thanks for all you do!
Never sailed with NCL but I’m not in a hurry to try them. I would book HAL before NCL. I have only sailed Carnival, Royal, Virgin, Disney and MSC. The next cruise line I am trying is Celebrity 🎉
Just back from a back to back HA cruise to Alaska and as a solo traveler I would also point out that they have no discounts for solos or solo cabins. As far as the cruises themselves they were okay and they do have extensive experience in Alaska and always have the best berths at the ports (no tenders). Downsides included poor entertainment (no Lincoln Center; Billboard Online was mediocre; theater entertainment was mostly poor), poor value for money and bad embarkation experiences in Vancouver and Anchorage. While the pizza station was poor the Dive Bar burgers were excellent. MDR food was inconsistent but nothing terrible. Service, particularly drink service / waiters were a high point.
I think it's tough to rank cruises without more an apples to apples comparison. If you want the drinks, and specialty dining, and some internet, the Free at Sea with NCL is a good "value" compared to if you tried to buy ala carte on other lines. Currently Celebrity is my fav, but they have also gotten pricy. It all depends on what people want.
Virgin Voyages unlimited internet, basic bevvies, ALL restaurants, arcade, and tips are includedand you are provided carafes of water in your cabin daily at no additional cost.
I think your ranking is a little skewed. People choose lines like HAL precisely because they don't want the super mega-large ship experience. It's comparing apples to oranges.
Virgin is our favorite. We have booked 3 cruises with them. If you plan it right, with sailor loot and bar tabs, you do not need to spend any money once you are on the cruise. If you can afford a rockstar cabin, you will feel like a rockstar.
Do you mind sharing some of the differences? My wife and I just got off Scarlet Lady and had an awesome time. We pre-booked the MNVV while on-board and are considering upgrading to Rockstar next time. I know the suites are obviously bigger/better, but more interested in other benefits.
I sailed on VV, and it was the first time my final bill was 000.00. Sailed solo and had the time of my life. LUV VV, and I can't wait for my TA in April, 2024.
This is a great video, thanks so much for making it. I’ve been on many cruises in my lifetime as I live in Miami Florida and I’ve seen the cruising industry evolve from the time I was a little child in the 1960s. I sailed on the original carnival cruise ship, and my first cruise was on a Costa ship called the Franca C and that was in the early 1960s when my grandparents took me on that weeklong Caribbean cruise. After that I was hooked on cruising, and I’ve been cruising ever since. I find that I select a cruise depending on the ports and what I’m looking for and the experience that I want to have. I’ve sailed on all the 9 cruise lines that you mentioned, but I have to say that my go to cruise lines are Norwegian and Princess. I find that both have a consistent product. I agree with you about Norwegians food, as well as the other comments that you made about the cruise line nickel and diming passengers once on board. Princess is a totally different experience and I like it when I want to relax, read some books, and have a more traditional cruising experience. I am a little surprised about the ranking for Holland America as a sailed on the koningsdam and I really like the music walk but I see where you’re coming from as far as other perspectives regarding Holland America. Keep on making videos, this was a great one!
I think it has to do with why you are booking an itinerary. #Disney is a family experience with kids with the itinerary being 2nd. #Holland America is about the itinerary with music front and center. #Virgin Voyages inclusive, Adult experience and it helps if you are open minded. #Princess, #Celebrity are both elevated experiences, as with the 3 lines above you should not feel crowded. CCL RCL NCL MSC crowds can be an issue. #CCL no table clothes pay with AARP gift cards for 10% off. Food varies check your restaurant options. #MSC great private Island, Americanized in the Caribbean, International otherwise. #RCL Floating Mega Ships #NCL good rates for Solo Sailors
Thanks for the breakdown. I decided on Celebrity for an upcoming cruise though I've heard their quality has dropped. Hoping to do a Virgin Voyage cruise after that.
virgin food over celebrity? I would rank this the opposite with Celebrity over Virgin. The food hall is not always open and the food is always served cold. Celebrity buffet is much better. Been on both over three times.
Holland America excellent with music venues especially the BB Kings Blues Club with an 8 piece band. Never bored on HAL and food excellent should have been ranked higher!
100% accurate with MSC. We are doing a week at Disney World in January, we have an RC cruise booked leaving 3 days later, and I was able to book a 3 day cruise for 3 people on MSC for much less than 3 nights in orlando with food and an uber to the port would have cost. It's like $500 less... so even though MCS wouldn't be my first choice, Im saving some money and its still a cruise 🤷♀️
I was on the Norwegian Epic in February 2023 and I would say the following: 1) The food was decent BUT the service was miserable. I should not take 2+ hours for dinner after a 40 minute wait to get in. The staff almost never smiled and they were understaffed to the tune of 100+ employees. 2) The entertainment venues from the theatre to the smaller venues are tiny for a ship carrying 4400 passengers. The venues were smaller than Celebrity Millenium or HAL Konigsdam , both ships with 1500 fewer passengers. 3) I have never seen a ship where you can board and make it all the way to your cabin without an employee speaking to you. This was such an absoltely stark difference from our experiences on Celebrity and HAL. 4) I have never seen a ship with better entertainment than HAL.
Have you tried comparing the prices POST cruise? For example, the NCL fare plus all the add on costs vs Virgin all inclusive? Just curious. I have been hearing such good things about Virgin. All of the bloggers I follow have just "wowed" over it. Makes me want to Try Virgin! But... what about my "loyalty" status on Princess? Hahaha (yup I fall for that.) But all Princess ships are basically the same. You know how to find your way around Day 1. Hahaha. Gary Bembridge did a Virgin tour and talked about all the small individual venues and shops and restaurants onboard. We are specialty diners so that appealed to me. Next time I price a cruise I am going to check Virgin. We spend 8-10k on every cruise we take! It's ridiculous!
I have done 4 virgin Voyages cruises this year. Try to find a TA to get you a placement holder so you can get $300 bar tab + $600 on board plus if you have loyalty status with another cruise line you can apply for Virgin and get so many perks including an extra $100 in a bar tab. And your TA might be able to get you another $100 on board credit
I MIGHT try virgin for the high ratings I hear from you and others... And I certainly would like to try something new and innovative along with the outstanding food that I hear about. But a big thing for me with Virgin is that I really don't think I'm the demographic for it. I am a female solo traveler that is getting a bit older. I'm not a prude, by any means, But if I don't meet up others of my own age and sense of humor,. I'm gonna feel really out of place watching rauchier entertainment by myself in a crowd of younger party-ers. I think my feeling out of place would trump a lot of the other, higher-ranking features. And I'm sorry aboutthat, because I might very well be missing out. 😒
With all due respect, i couldn't disagree more. I feel like your criteria might have been all over the place and not comparable on each cruise and/or ship. Celebrity is a VERY good cruise line, a little more expensive but great service. Princess in excellent for a middle of the road cruise line. NCL was a great disappointment. Yes, Carnival is cheap.
Have to agree that Celebrity is a very good cruise line. Have graduated from Royal to celebrity now that I’m in my late 60’s. No longer have the urge or ambition to go down a water slide or party like I did in my 30’s.
I have only cruised 4 times and we always picked Disney! I love their ships even the old ship still look good and Disney keeps them clean and good looking. I love the food on Disney, the rooms are good love the split bath it helps in getting everybody ready for dinner after a port day. The cast members are amazing! So polite eager to help. I’d like to do Virgin next then Royal Caribbean. I don’t have the desire to cruise with Carnival until the get more newer ships which they are working on but the bad press they get with rowdy,drunk fighting, just not my scene.
My husband and I cruised Royal Caribbean last summer on Freedom and hated almost everything about it, aside from our junior suite. Perhaps we just aren’t cruisers or maybe we just had bad luck but it was truly awful. I was expecting Royal to rank low on everything except the ship itself, just based on our experience. We both lost 5 pounds on a 3 day cruise.
I wish you had listed the details of each cruise in the description - ship and itinerary. I think you had some hits, but several big misses, like Celebrity at #8 for ships.
our best cruises have been on Oceania! (NCL family) haven't ever had bad cruise out of the 8 cruises we have been on. (2 each on Oceania, NCL, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity) Royal Caribbean is our second favorite on their larger ships. We have been on 5 out of U.S. ports and 3 out of European ports and we feel the European cruises were much better than the east or west coast cruises.
I am planning a cruise, and your video has given me, so much information on the selection of the cruise ship for a vacation. I have traveled with carnival in the past and thinking of choosing another cruise line. Thanks for the video, which has given me more information in the selection of the cruise ship for our upcoming vacation.
I found carnival to be subpar. Sunrise Ship was dirty. Lots of the young partying type. Only 2 small pools and they were crowded 24/7. Not family friendly in my opinion.
The Excel class ships have really good fast foods (and Shaq's). But outside of the fast/quickserve foods, I find Carnival to be a bit below par. And we never do lido for dinner b/c there is never much selection or it 's all really heavy/starchy.
The buffet on MSC Seashore wasn't good but the dining room was great. Definitely better than Carnival or Princess. The ship was also the most beautiful one I've been on. I liked it better than the Celebrity Edge. Celebrity was my favorite until I sailed on MSC. I haven't been on a Virgin cruise yet.
Should have listed the names of the ships that you cruised on. That indeed could have made a big difference!
Agreed the new celebrity edge class ships are amazing!
Totally agree, While I still rank NCL as my favorite .It would have been nice for them to show which ships they went on.
Agreed. They picked royal. But if you go on one of
The new cities at sea which I have no interest in going on and them something older like the jewel. That is a huge difference
So Royal
Is a floating party? Isn't that what everyone accused Carnival of? lol like one poster said. Heat ships were you
On?
Thanks! Some surprises- especially Virgin 👍🏻
Would love a list of exactly what ships you sailed on in each line. I think there’s a wide gulf in impression to be made depending on if you’re on an older or newer ship in a line.
You make a good point. Most of the cruise vloggers are on the new ships and often give the impression that all the ships on the line offer the same amenities which is simply not the case.
Came here to say the same - diff ship age/type can vary experiences even within cruise lines🙂
Vloggers and bloggers are allowed their own opinions, we viewers and readers don’t have to agree. Try not to take it personally but for what it is. Pursuing a debate seems defensive. No one’s stopping anyone from doing their own vlog or blog to present another view. Isn’t that what these RUclips videos are for?
Agreed, Celebrity’s Edge class blow others out of the water with wow factor and entertainment. There old ships not so much.
i agree. with rc specifically, their features do depend on which one you go on
I don’t judge a cruise line’s food by judging their specialty restaurants. I paid a price to get one that includes a room and meals. I judge the food that came in that price.
I have been on Disney, Celebrity and Holland America. I put Holland America as the winner of those 3, and I continue to go back to them. I like HAL's food better than either of the other 2. Price wise, cheaper than Disney and comparable to Celebrity. The smaller ship size is also a big plus for me and those with whom I have cruised. But it depends on what you are looking for--if it is a fun time or party atmosphere, don't take Holland America. However, if you are looking for a relaxed atmosphere where you can just unwind and veg out, HAL is a great choice.
Bruh royal Caribbean MSC and Norwegian wins celebrity is mid a little with Holland America I don’t hate Holland America. I just like it because of some activities on the Amsterdam when I went on that ship in 2021 Royal Caribbean wins how the hell is Holland the winner
Rankings are interesting. We’ve sailed many different lines. I must disagree about HAL. HAL caters to a clientele that enjoys the old fashion style cruise. No bells and whistles, no water slides, no spectacle. I actually find HAL a place to truly relax and unwind. I do not want to come home from a cruise exhausted from activities. Since HAL caters to the over 55 age group, we feel more comfortable, as we are in that category. Expectations of cruise experiences has changed with the activities getting out of hand. If I want to visit a park, I’ll do that in land. If I want to go to a mall to shop, I’ll do that on land. If I want a wave pool, I’ll go to the ocean. I’m going to keep seeking cruise lines that offer a calm, relaxing, and laid back presence.
Cruises are what you make it. I go on ships with all the amenities you explain and still relax. Its no pressure to participate. I sleep in and get plenty relaxation 😂
Im glad to hear this. My wife and I are late 20's and just booked HAL for an Alaska trip next September and have been curious if it will be as hustle and bustle as royal was
To each his own. I loved HAL because ships are mainly quiet. I don't cruise for the party. But post pandemic their food has slipped. And changing from shows to all music venues doesn't cut it for me. I think next cruise will be in Virgin
HAL is my cruiseline of choice too. I cruise to relax, see interesting places, talk to interesting people who have been interesting places. I have no interest in a floating theme park or the noise that comes with it and the crowds that come with it.
@@christineE9301what is hal
I am 40yo and been sailing on Holland for over 15 years (almost 4 star mariner- woot!) and if you want peace, quiet atmosphere, good food, a dunk in a thermal hot tub, and an experience that hearkens back to the days of ocean liners, then HAL is all of that. I have gone in a family group, chartered, and even solo for a month through Panama.... Holland has my heart. Little to no drama. No drunk brawls at the Lido deck. Dedicated and friendly staff. Pretty good food overall (specialty dining is excellent). It is what I want in my cruise vacation.
I’m happy that you guys loved virgin. Me and my partner felt the same way. The food was incredible, and i just loved the overall vibe. Staff felt energetic and the biggest winning point is the “no children.” I think people think it’s super young but it’s really not. It seemed to be overall 30-70 from what I witnessed. The 70s disco party was really fun I definitely recommend it.
I love Holland America. No kids running around. More mature adults and enough entertainment to keep busy. Smaller ships. Food is excellent and entertainment is perfect. No complains at all. Don’t need all those gimmicks and kids entertainment. There is a spa, gym, activities, etc. we don’t even want our room clean daily, just need basic services and so Holland America is perfect for us and has good pricing as well. Any recommendations of other smaller ships without fancy and elaborate stuff and no little kids?
Viking
They also are big on educational enrichment ,lectures on destinations and ports of call etc, again no screaming kids around the pool ,hot tubs it's more about the cruising experience and relaxing and not a funfair at sea.
Princess. I've always considered Holland and Princess the cruise lines for more cerebral cruisers. They often have some nice enrichment programs. Princess has the best mattresses, too.
Virgin Voyages is adults only, a smaller ship, and food beyond compare!
@@JC-vw6nr very expensive compared to the others
I have been on Royal Caribbean, Princess, Carnival, Norwegian, and Holland America. For me Holland America is clearly the best. Best food, best service, best cabins, best shore excursions, best ships, etc. No comparison in my book.
HAL is a very different cruise concept. No flashy neon lights and glitz… No broadway shows… No loud game shows and pool deck parties. It is more subdued. Lectures, beatle music etc.
Just like Virgin, it’s a very different concept.
You'd probably like Celebrity too
@MAEUNC I like Celebrity better, havent done Virgin
Love HAL!!!
Respectfully: I just disembarked Celebrity SOLSTICE on the 30th. It was my third time aboard her and my 25th on Celebrity vessels. I've done ONE on Princess and was so unimpressed I didn't bother to leave a future cruise deposit. Three on NCL, 'just OK'. No dazzle factor. Royal Caribbean is all about ice rinks & go karts. Not so much on service and food. THAT is where Celebrity DAZZLES. So much so I'm booked monthly on Celebrity ships through February + June of 2024. Take it from a MONTHLY cruiser with 25 Celebrity Experiences that have all been Xceptional. Mac
My wife and I agree with you and we are Disney Cruise line Gold tier and after boarding the Celebrity Solstice and Silhouette we both agree that food and styling, ambiance Celebrity is wayyy ahead of Disney and we have some kids that love the kids clubs and they rated Disney slightly better experience. But the difference in price between DCL and Celebrity is huge.
We plan on booking a 10 or 9 night Celebrity Cruise for next year
Hey first time future cruiser here...which cruise line would you recommend that's good enough for a teen but not as crowded like Disney or any of those 5000-6000 cruises. I know I'm being picky but since you have that experience, I'm just trying to pick your brain and point me in the right direction at least.
@@OGutzVentura Royal Caribbean, Carnival, or Celebrity have a nice teen experience! My groups with teens have liked the activities so much that they want a cruise every year and no more Disney world.
@@marythomas9509 thank you! It's a start for me!
@@OGutzVentura Two pieces of advice. Find and stick with ONE cruise line to quickly gain loyalty level. 2nd, ALWAYS leave at least one future cruise credit while aboard ($100 deposit earns you many perquisites for next cruise(s).). In answer to your question. Royal Caribbean (Celebrity's parent company and a step down in service/food/atmosphere) would suit a teen as their ships have skating rinks/go karts/surf riders/roller coasters/wall climbing, etc. They are MEGA in size so will be crowded. Celebrity ships are 'just right' w/o all the distractions/attractions. I leave Saturday for my 26th with Celebrity. Bon voyage.
VIRGIN BLEW US AWAY TOO! It's hard to go back to any other cruiseline! Virgin also never nickles and dimes and this was a breath of fresh air. Their final all inclusive pricing upon booking was also so nice it is great value when you consider all the upcharges, tips, horrendous wifi prices all the other cruiselines do!
Just curious but , does Virgin offer Lobster on their Dinner Menu ? When my wife and I started cruising decades ago (Carnival and Royal Caribbean) there was always at least one Lobster night . Not any more.
I agree with you, I don't like feeling like I'm being nickled and dimed when I'm on vacation. We are going on the Regent Seven Seas Explorer and it is also an all-inclusive cruise ship. I've heard wonderful thing about it. This will be our first time on an all-inclusive ship. We also found that the pricing on an all-inclusive ship was a good value, once you started calculating all the different fees. We may have to try Virgin. I wasn't aware it was also an all inclusive ship. Thank you!
Agreed! VV is truly all inclusive you never ever feel pressured to spend extra money or tip.
The food is top tier for cruise food for sure!
Now, if they figured out a full drink pre-paid package..🎉🎉🎉
@@lakedog3616 FYI, if you are interested, I just finished a Celebrity Summit 8 night cruise from NJ to Bermuda, and they had 1 Lobster (and Duck L'Orange) night when we left Bermuda to head back to NJ.
@@lakedog3616 I can't speak for Virgin as I haven't sailed them but my last RCL cruise on Vision in January had lobster night. Holland America, on the other hand, always had an upcharge for lobster even on "gala" nights on my cruise last month.
I would like to say....HAL is NOT just for "older" people. I started cruising in my 30's and longed to have a line with class, history, relaxation, and a destination driven cruise line. The Music Walk on HAL......outstanding!
I think it’s because HAL has a very different take on entertainment.
100% agree! & me as well. I'm not 60 yet and am 5 star!
Have to agree w all. Wife and I did a 14 day Baltic cruise and the educational and cultural enrichment focus and music walk experiences were fantastic. Yes it doesn’t have water slides or rock climbing, but that’s not what we’re looking for.
I sailed on the Koningsdam to Alaska last month. Compared to Royal and NCL the crowd is most definitely older. After 11pm it get pretty quiet. I get that works for some people…..mostly the elderly.
I did my honeymoon cruise at 35 on HAL. I'd take kids now too on them because not alot of kids so no zoo
As a recent retiree, i am watching these cruising YT channels. It comes down to price vs quality of overall experience. I, myself, would not go the ‘cheap’ route as you basically get what you pay for. Look for the best price, you can get, on a top cruise line.
I think your ranking is fair. I went on my first cruise and it was holland America. I think holland America is great for people with autism because it is not extremely loud and it was quiet at night. I didn’t find a need for speciality dining because over the week there was always good food between the dining room and buffet. There was also a pizza place and a fast food restaurant we really enjoyed when we got back from ports. There’s no water slides, arcades, or that many kid things on holland America. It’s more for a relaxing cruise experience with an emphasis on lectures, classical music, jazz,etc. Most people on the Caribbean cruise I went on were older. There was no loud party people.
Cost wise, yes Virgin is “expensive” but there are no add ones for dining, coffee, soda, Wi-Fi, and tips. So in my opinion it should be looked at differently. I recently priced out cruises on NCL and Royal and Virgin was almost the same when I added Wi-Fi and a few special dinners.
Oooo Virgins Wi-fy was badddddd!!
I was very interested in your take on this as it is very subjective. You based your rankings on your experience, age, interests and your own personal idea of what constitutes a great cruise. For us, the ranking would have been very different. We have no interest in rock climbing walls, go-karts, a cruise that caters to families or a huge party atmosphere. Been there, done that, lol. What we want now is a cruise where we can relax, visit interesting and diverse ports and enjoy delicious food with great service. Consequently we love Celebrity, Princess and HAL and would rank those as our top 3. If we're splurging on a more expensive cruise, our choice would be Oceania. Love their smaller, more intimate ships. To each their own, how boring would it be if we were all the same? 😊
I totally agree that choosing a best cruise line is more about who you are which makes it subjective. Thanks for making that clearly known. We have been on 6 different cruise lines all of which were in your review. Just got back from our first Royal Caribbean cruise which took place the end of April though the first part of May. After spring break before summer vacation. We were on a mega ship and the number of families was crazy. We never found a quiet spot to read and relax aside from our stateroom for which we paid a premium so we could have an ocean view. Looking forward to seeing more reviews!
Yeah cause some of these people are literally getting 'offended' because they gave their 'opinion' as to how these ships rank. They made it clear that it was just their 'opinion!' Lol
HAL is number one on my list and I’m not even 55. I don’t want to go to a party or theme park at sea. HAL has fantastic cruises and explorations too.
As older cruisers we enjoy smaller ships with interesting ports. Celebrity, Princess & Holland were top 3 for those. Carnival & RC were zoos with too many people. Fine if you are younger and want to party. Not been on NCL or MSC, but vibes from friends were negative. Virgin and Disney would be nice if we were 25-35 or had young children. Your vlog was informative. True it is subjective with many variables. Thanks
I think you’re right, I still like Royal Caribbean for standard Caribbean cruises though
I rank Holland America at the top for my likes and dislikes. Yes there are things they could improve on as all of the nine you ranked. At my age of 73, I don't need a zipline or hammock to make me glad I cruise with Holland America.
@@glfarwell I’m only 62 and am sick of big ship gimmicks. But we’re going on Odyssey due to a great itinerary in the Mediterranean.
Viking!
My cruise decision is primarily based upon ports and, while I prefer the RCL, NCL and Carnival onboard vibe, I'm starting to lean more towards other lines with better itineraries. I just completed my first HAL cruise as the Mediterranean itinerary with Israel and Turkey was too good to pass up. I felt that due to the port intensive nature of the cruise, the onboard amenities were not as important. Ironically enough, HAL's dance productions on Oosterdam were better than the last RCL cruise I completed on Vision (oldest ship) and the food and service surpassed RCL's Vision as well. If the itinerary is right, I'd consider another HAL cruise. My next cruise is on Princess due to the itinerary and timing with my work schedule so I'm up for the adventure.
Carnival, over holland America. That’s pure insanity. Not in any universe. Not in any reality.
And Walmart is by far the nicest , cleanest , most well behaved retail store I guess.
Yeah, I think NCL has the biggest PR issues coming out of the pandemic. Service has suffered on all the lines, but NCL seems almost belligerent in public image. Once the overall demand levels out, I predict NCL will have the most problems filling ships.
I was on a Bahamas cruise with the NCL Getaway in March 2023, the ship was full with 4000 people, and it was wonderful. The food was tremendous, I had the best prime rib in my life at the Garden Cafe, and the public restrooms were spotless. I loved it. You must have sailed on some other line. I'm going again on a New England cruise end of August. I had a Club Balcony Suite, and I'm not a budget traveler.
I agree NCL PR issues and pricing will eventually catch up with them in terms of filing their ships down the line. I was apprehensive in sailing with them last April given the negative PR but the Bliss turned out to be the best onboard experience I've had even compared with my 3 RCL sailings and 1 HAL sailing so I was pleasantly surprised.
I have only been on 1 cruise, and it was on HAL. We chose this line because we were going to Alaska. We never had to use the tenders to get to ports and were always front and center, even in Skagway. Also, you are almost guaranteed to get into Glacier Bay, unless there is a weather issue or something similar.
As for food, they were great! There were 4 of us who all had different dietary issues. They were VERY accommodating, and the meals were delicious.
HAL and Princess go INTO Glacier Bay. Wouldn't do Alaskan cruise that doesn't go there. We booked our Princess cruise because we got Hubbard Glacier and Glacier Bay. Destination is everything!
@@veronicanolastname2467 So true! I think HAL and Princess are part of the same company.
@@veronicanolastname2467 Wished I had known that but my first real cruise was Alaska with RCL so no Glacier Bay only Hubbard.
It all depends on what ship you were on. I hate the huge ships, no way is Carnival rated above Princess.
not disagreeing with your rankings but just wanted to comment that we recently sailed with holland america on a 14 day cruise in the baltic. it was amazing. the cruise was more about the ports & excursions, which is why we booked with them. the service was incredible and we will gladly sail with them again.
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Same here ... Just did my first HAL cruise in the Mediterranean which I booked primarily because of two port stops in Israel. It was my first ever long cruise (19 days). I had a bias about them being for "older" folks but found myself really enjoying the cruise last month and would consider booking with them again if the itinerary is right.
And measuring a trans-Atlantic cruise against port intensive itineraries doesn’t quite seem “even”
We have been on 57 cruises including Crystal, NCL, RCCL, Celebrity, Princess, and Holland America. Our interests (at 81 and 77) lead us to a smaller ship that still has activities such as ballroom dancing, variety in music, decent food, and pickleball. For these reasons, we like Holland America. We do, however, miss Broadway type production shows, along with variety shows.
Oceania has been gaining popularity, last year we met a couple on a small cruise line (American Cruises - sailing New England Islands) they say that Oceania is their favorite, suggested we take a cruise on that particular line of ships next.
Oceania is very much a foodie cruise, older age, not really for young people or families
What is MSC?
@@elizabethrivetz4838 Except for a couple of special cruises and ones on our own sailboat or bare boat charters, we only use Viking and Oceania. Both cruise lines emphasis is on the destination. They go places like Kotar, Ullapool, Homer and other places too small to handle a multi thousand passenger ship.
@@bevtaggart1406is a cruise line. We are going on it for the first time in 2 weeks
Disney’s shows are #1 in my opinion. Real snow falling from the ceiling during Frozen, etc. Their holiday cruises for Halloween and Christmas are outstanding.
NCL joy had real snow as well a month ago... so cool
I have been on NCL, Carnival, and Disney and my favorite is NCL. I think NCL keeps their prices high to deter the riff raff from booking cruises on their ships. I think you get what you pay for and I like NCL. I would like to try Virgin.
I agree. We sailed with them often in the past but the JOY had very little to offer.
I did a 22-day NCL through the Panama Canal. The experience was ok, but I still like Holland better.
When you say riff raff, are you referring to hardworking poor people?
@@SouthernGyrl riff raff to me are the 20 somethings who act like they’re the only people on vacation. There are times I felt unsafe for my kids and myself. One big frat party. There’s one instance where drunk partying was taken to another level. There was a contest that whoever could swallow soft ice cream from the soft serve machine. They put their mouth where the ice cream came out then spit it out. The same group was grabbing food off the buffet then putting it back. There were numerous complaints about the group but nothing done. They were drinking and gambling running up huge bills. This wasn’t an isolated incident. Why would you assume that someone was picking on people due to their financial circumstances. Check yourself @SouthhernGyrl and don’t assume. Makes you sound foolish.
We have only sailed on Carnival and Holland so far. Carnival we felt was a bit too young for us. We didn't appreciate getting bombarded over the loudspeakre constantly from the cruise director. We went to Alaska on Holland, and it was amazing. The rooms are very nice. Food was not amazing, but still very good. We came back and booked another cruise with Holland. BUT we also booked a cruise next year on Royal with our adult kids to Alaska, and we booked a Caribbean cruise with Celebrity after that. So we're definitely going to try them out. We'll have to squeeze a Princess in there as well.
RCL doesn't go to Glacier Bay. Best lines for Alaska is Princess and Holland. They are the only two allowed to dock in some ports while others have to tender.
We were cruise Virgins on our VV (Scarlet) for our 20th anniversary just a few weeks ago. It was fantastic & exceeded all of our expectations. Anyone we spoke with that had traveled other lines said we would never go anywhere else again! They catered to my GF needs, felt like a VIP at times. We already booked another, truly amazing trip❤ Just an aside,when we booked, VV was one of the best deals out there I didn't see them as being more$$$ especially with all the inclusions.
Virgin offered great pricing for the first 2 years or so in order to get people onto their ships. However, their pricing has doubled over the past 6 months. They have developed a stellar reputation and a very loyal base who will pay the higher amount to sail with Virgin. As you said, once you sail Virgin...you will never go to another cruise line!
Because you were surprised that Holland ended up at the bottom means there is no bad cruise line or experience! Amazing that you were able to do all 9 in such a short period of time 😁
Yes our Holland cruises were fantastic and fun so I guess cursing is fun.
You picked the 2 biggest “party” ship lines. This has helped me in knowing how to gage your other recommendations for my style of travel, which is different.
Smh. Most likely your focus is on party, as they didn’t mention anything about that. It’s very possible for a cruise line that you deem “party” to be scored highly for other attributes, that are important to them, such as food, ship aesthetics, service, etc… And FYI, Royal Caribbean is not a party cruise line. It’s also very possible a “party” ship could have all of the above. Your view of their objection is skewed.
I was just on Royal. Hardly a party ship. No one was unruly/drunk. But they had a ton of activities. Kept me physically active all day.
Party ship lines. Carnival is the party ship line. Not those top 3
NCL isn't a party line in my opinion. Carnival and MSC are the party ships.
I'm really curious what Celebrity ship y'all sailed on to rank the beauty of their ships so low?
No kidding! To hear how low Celebrity was rated overall was rather laughable. Below Carnival. 😂
NCL no longer has any food that is not sit down at the restaurant. They also will not let you take it to the room. NCL app sucks and you cant group your party. NCL allows the kids to roam free till 1:00am I do like the six omelet stations on NCL Break away. Carnival NCL excursions always last three times longer than they should 1hr doing the excursions 1 hr of some local selling Soap, essential oils, Photo sessions or they feed you at a local kitchen rice and beans when the beach, bars and restaurants are one mile away. Cruise seafood is all crap frozen, the only good shrimp i ever got was from the stand on Carnival, NCL had some great asparagus, specialty dining is never worth it. Royal has the best app and feel their excursions were top notch, carnival always seems to have more pool area than others. I haven’t had a relaxing cruise in a long time. So much to do and all of them push the party atmosphere. Go for the spa rooms or NCL haven if you want relaxing if you go with any of the other crowds it is all about fun and party.
Royal, carnival, and NCL are too busy for me. Not into kids. Virgin is too expensive and lack of pools. The newer Celebrity and Princess ships provide good value for the non kid crowd with lots of pools and hot tubs. Still, lm going to try Holland as l haven't yet. NCL did not impress me much. I don't like buying Starbucks on board. I also didn't find the entertainment very good.
I have been booking more cruises with MSC because they have the best solo rates hands down!
The extra category for me that puts NCL on top is the studio rooms and solo traveler program. If the other lines would add a solo traveler event once a day I’d consider them but the other lines seem much less invested in the solo traveler market
Hmmm...balcony cabin with a low solo supplement on Sky Princess was less than $1000/week. Much larger cabin, and double reward points. I'd rather have that than the tombs that pass for a solo cabin on NCL. The solo lounge is nice but not worth paying $1800.
Folks, when using video reviews, it is best to listen and read between the lines. Do you identify with the person [people] doing the reviews? Do they value the same thing you do, etc... I keep waiting for these folks to begin each video with what they value most. I am on the lookout for a reviewer who says, " hello! I view good service/attention to detail, I consider Egyptian Cotton sheets and robes a must. I typically stay at Omni and Four Seasons hotels, and pay $100/person for dinner out.
We've been disappointed with the pricing on NCL too. It was our favorite cruise line for years, but we've been having a hard time finding reasonably priced cruises. Royal Caribbean has better prices so we've been cruising more with them.
but don't you find it hard to be with so many people?
@@Gardis72 Not all RCL ships are mega ships. I sailed with them in January on a smaller vessel with roughly 2K guests and there were no water slides, etc on Vision.
Average to below average on Holland America? Really? I've been on 6 different lines and I always go back to Holland America. Far more relaxing and enjoyable, and better food than most. Enjoyed Celebrity and would go again, but have reservations about Princess, NCL, Royal Caribbean and Carnival.
No ranking for music?? Holland America should come out on top there! I understand they come out on the bottom for "shows", but that's because they don't do huge shows--they do music.
absolutely agree!!!!!!!!!!!! I put HAL.....in a separate class from the "mall and fair" ships. Class.....is just HAL.
The music walk is fantastic and the entertainers in those venues are always so talented. For me the theatre shows are also ok. My only place where HAL lacks is its buffet too small not enough offering for nowadays.
Concerned that HAL has removed Lincoln Center programs on several ships. Not a good move
My main difference is that I could never rank Carnaval above Celebrity. I just came off of the Celebrity Beyond. What an amazing ship!!!
Celebrity is Top-Notch! New Beyond ship was amazing & older Millineum ship was fantastic Alaska. The food, aesthetics, state of the art entertainment wowed us. It’s hard to go back to other ships like Carnival or Princess after the service we got at Celebrity.
Everyone is going to have different opinions. We did a back to back with Carnival Horizon and Royal Caribbean Freedom of the Seas and my expectation was that Royal would be better but I was disappointed. At this stage in life , mid-40’s with college kids, we will mostly stick to newer or refurbished Carnival ships, on week long cruises.
Your comparing a ship that’s 12 years older Not gonna be a even comparison
How about the category of use/ease of ship. Elevator wait times, easy to navigate on the ship, vibration/sound, hours open etc.
I’ve been on Carnival, Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, and Princess. I’m 73 now but my first cruise, which was Carnival, was about 12-15 years ago. There is no contest for me. Princess was the clear winner for me.
I agree with MSC being dead last in the food category; that's the only cruise I've been on where every port I was more focused on finding good food to take back on the boat than i was on activities. The only things i was comfortable eating on the boat was hashbrowns and toast. For me RC had better buffet options and carnival better seated dining options.
Thanks for your research. I have sailed Carnival (long time ago), Disney and Royal several times each. We are booked on Virgin later this summer for our anniversary. We have looked and researched the other lines, except MSC, not familiar with that one. Based on our experience, friends experience who sailed on other lines, and things we have read, target demographics etc, I think you nailed it. I guessed what you would say a lot while I watched and was pretty close in most cases.
I will take a fresh look at Carnival. They historically had a reputation for being a more down-market party experience. Sounds like that may have changed with some of the newer ships.
Also you may consider doing a ranking specifically with cleanliness, buffet appeaeance food safety etc. Sometimes that is a determining factor on which lines people sail.
Thanks again.
You guys are super partial to Virgin. First of all, Virgin has only TWO (!!!) ships as of now, so can hardly be considered a " major" cruise line. Second, it's adults only so it's out of the competition, as the bulk of the cruise industry addresses families with kids. Third, their food might be gorgeous but their restaurants feel more like the new place that opened downtown or in the arts district of some city than being on a cruise. They feel urban casual, bistro style, and people want still the grandeur of the high ceilings and the chandeliers and magnum decor, that's why you're going on a cruise, to feel a little bit like in a movie. I can go to my new local hot spot in the city for great food every week . But their biggest flaw is that you really don't have much views of the ocean from the public spaces. You don't really feel like you are on a cruise but in a night club. The energy that I feel while entering the Windjammer buffet in the morning for breakfast, with all the sunlight and the blue waters views hitting my face from all sides cannot be replaced by some good food that I can have also home. As for the entertainment and shows, even to put Virgin and Royal Caribbean in the same sentence, when we are talking about hundred million dollars productions on Royal from water to ice and Broadway theaters, compared to some square room in which some crew dances and interacts with guests( fun indeed) , it's to say the least a stretch
The transatlantic cruise can be boring, a lot depends on your cruise director. A lot depends on what you are looking for on the cruise also. Having recently retired from a very high stress job I've cruised with Holland to help destress and recharge. Since covid I've noticed a lot of changes in the cruise lines and they always haven't been great.
I dislike the huge Royal Caribbean ships. To me they feel like an amusement park, which isn't for me. I've been on most of these and Celebrity is by far my favorite. Princess and NCL are ok. I'd like to try Virgin next.
Thank you for your vlog and for providing your ratings! My husband and I have sailed on most all of the cruise lines that you've listed. I think there are so many factors to consider when rating a cruise line. It would be great to know exactly which ships you sailed. I've had different experiences on different ships from the same cruise line. For the most part I do agree with your overall assessment of your choices for top three however, I would rank MSC much higher for several reasons. I think in the past MSC had experienced some issues, but most recently has really stepped up their game. We've sailed on four MSC ships and the biggest complaint for us is embarkation. The food was much better the last few times we sailed. But MSC is a winner for us because of their private island, it's like a hidden gem! And like you mentioned, the price point cannot be beat. We've found that all of the other major cruise lines prices have gotten out of control, including and especially Carnival. We've recently sailed Celebrity, Princess, NCL and Royal and all four were way cheaper than the prices for similar sailings on Carnival! And, we found that the food on Celebrity was horrible. I was actually shocked by the food. Princess is okay, but again, for us Princess has offered some really great deals so we chose Princess for a few of our sailings. So, all in all, I think you were pretty on point, but people should keep in mind that when comparing cruise ships and cruise lines, it will never be apples to apples. And it really depends what you're looking for. For all in prices, including drinks, wifi, and most often onboard credits, I'd pick MSC or Princess. For fun and entertainment I'd select Royal Caribbean. And if you are an adult traveling without children, then I'd chose Virgin Voyagers! Thanks again!
I got on msc ship and they ran out of coffee creamer 😮 I witnessed this lady throwing her tray at one of the servers the trip was okay until we arrived to Puerto Rico and the ship turned around because they lost a Crew member he jumped off the ship so they gave me $60 port fee 😢 but the food was really good 👍
Going to disagree! Been on multiple cruises and multiple ships and Holland ranks ahead of both Royal and Princess! and not sure how you got pricing info but Holland was better price point for us to Alaska and the ship did have Lincoln Center Stage and the BB Blues lounge so I do not how you would say they are below average just unless your 18 olds at heart! It’s not a constant party like a lot of Carribean specialty lines but I would take them every time over the rest ( not including Virgin as we have not used them yet!)
Wish I would've watched this 😢 before we went on our Norwegian Cruise. We were nickel and dimed on everything. Food was terrible. Done with NCL.
it is a shame you did not do viking, we have been on a river, and ocean cruise, upgraded both times. their food is good, no nickel and diming, and beer and wine with dinner. we enjoyed it more than the holland america cruise we were on.
They did feedback on the Regular cruise lines. Viking is a luxury cruise line.
@@QueenKayKay47 not really.
@@williamthawley9251 it's labeled as such.
@@QueenKayKay47 sorry, but viking itself does not label their ocean cruises as luxury, that is given by some people. I have been on an ocean viking cruise ship, it is nice, but would not classify it as a luxury cruise ship. while oceania cruises from what I have seen is luxurious.
Viking is labeled luxury because of the price. But when you take into account the included beer and wine at dinner, the included special coffee, included excursions in every port AND discounts if you sign up for email and watch the sales on cruises AND airfare (with also includes transfers from airport to ship). When you include all that, Viking cruises are in line with Princess and HAL for total cost.
Looks like the cruisers have already disagreed with ypur rating of Holland America.
My wife and I have cruised many lines and the only one we consistently go back to is Holland America.
Cruising is a personal preference so try them all your self.
As a music lover, we loved HAL Pinnacle Class ships. Carnival is a little too "Fun". Can't handle Mega Kids experience. Pretty much love all ships anyway (we've done 16 cruises). Really appreciate good production shows, live music, and good food. What line offers that? Wish Virgin had a ship that was not Woke and in your face sex (this coming from a Christian that sins more than most). I want Virgin food, ship and all inclusiveness without compromising our values.
In your face sex? Curious about what you mean. Have not been on their ships.
I will also go back to Hollander American HAL I cruise 🚢 cross Panama 🇵🇦 canals Enjoy their food very much’
I’ve been on every one of these cruise lines except Holland America and I can tell you that we just took an MSC cruise in Europe and it was fantastic. I think the location of where the cruise is plays a pretty big role as well. The food was excellent on the European cruise, but part of that is probably the difference in their quality of food over there as opposed to America
Good to know ... Maybe I might consider trying them out in Europe as that is where they have the most experience. How were the excursions?
Yea I think MSC always gets crapped on, it is an amazing value for the price and it has no matter what anyone says the best Pizza at sea
My husband and I just took an MSC cruise on their newest ship. Sorry, but the pizza was our 'least' favorite food on that ship. It was absolutely horrible!@@adamp2384
I'm glad to hear that. I'll be on my first MSC cruise next year, in the Mediterranean. I'll be interested in how it ranks against my previous cruises.
You need to list the ship names … surprised how low you ranked the Celebrity Cruise line. 3 of my last 4 cruises have been the Celebrity Edge class ships … ruined me for all others … very impressive 🏅
Hey, happy cruising!! You missed a cruise line. Unfortunately, you can't experience the best cruise line because it sailed the high seas many years ago. In the words of my travel agent, "Royal Viking Line (RVL) was the Cadillac of cruise lines." She was absolutely correct. Everyone was in the Skald Club and attended the Captain's welcome cocktail party. There were free drinks and caviar. Everyone received a shot of aquavit and the Captain led a toast. Everyone received a gift that was a set of two aquavit glasses. There was a $500 certificate to apply to a future booking. Yes, Royal Viking was top of the line!! Today's Viking Cruises is headed by the same gentleman who headed RVL, so it's very close in quality. Bon voyage!!
We had horrible food on princess, had better food on carnival, I guess the ship matters. Look forward to our virgin cruise next year.
Sailing Virgin in 12 days for the first time. I have been on Carnival 7 times.
Cruised 8 times on carnival, how was the virgin voyage?
@@monixx9081 Love it! I was with a group and now Virgin is one of my favorites. I'm sailing it again in July 2024. ❤
I would love to see you separate the food rankings between the food that is provided with the cruise fare and specialty dining. I recently went on a Carnival cruise last year and the specialty dining was fantastic, but the buffet and MDR were just plain bad.
I'm always surprised when NCL gets rave reviews. I've only sailed with them twice, but I always leave feeling like I overpaid. I sailed on the Bliss in 2018, and had a great time. But I felt that the activities were lacking. I sailed on the Breakaway in February, and the service was horrible. The staff was clearly overworked. NCL's food is their only saving grace IMO. But I could have sailed on several other cruise lines, and eaten at specialty dining only, for what we paid for that trip.
I’ve sailed on the encore twice in 2023. Nothing really blows me away. With that said I find the value to be top notch. With the Free at Sea and 2 for 1 airfare we’ve saved quite a bit vs Royal.
Last week we sailed on Celebrity. While we had a great time, some sea days and nights we struggled with entertainment. It turns out that we are not that interested in Neil Diamond. Much of what passes for entertainment is art auctions, posture assessments, and photo sessions. The musicians, while talented, played sets geared to people older than me. (I’m in my 60s). The food and service were great, I was just a little surprised at the entertainment.
Just a thought it would be nice to see a good sit down talk video like this on each individual port you guy's visited. You know talking about things to do, see, excursions or any other info you could think of it. You guys are always so helpful not just with the cruises but with the Amtrak. Thanks for all you do!
Never sailed with NCL but I’m not in a hurry to try them. I would book HAL before NCL.
I have only sailed Carnival, Royal, Virgin, Disney and MSC. The next cruise line I am trying is Celebrity 🎉
Try one of celebrity edge class ships: Beyond, Apex, the Edge (the original of the class, Ascent (comes out in October).
If you’re ok with spending money, it’s amazing. Just be prepared.
Just back from a back to back HA cruise to Alaska and as a solo traveler I would also point out that they have no discounts for solos or solo cabins. As far as the cruises themselves they were okay and they do have extensive experience in Alaska and always have the best berths at the ports (no tenders). Downsides included poor entertainment (no Lincoln Center; Billboard Online was mediocre; theater entertainment was mostly poor), poor value for money and bad embarkation experiences in Vancouver and Anchorage. While the pizza station was poor the Dive Bar burgers were excellent. MDR food was inconsistent but nothing terrible. Service, particularly drink service / waiters were a high point.
No Lincoln Center stage? What happened? ,
Does Hillary have a solo package without paying double occupancy???
MSC is the worst food on the sea. Was on a 28 day transatlantic cruise and they made you crave Denny's
I think it's tough to rank cruises without more an apples to apples comparison. If you want the drinks, and specialty dining, and some internet, the Free at Sea with NCL is a good "value" compared to if you tried to buy ala carte on other lines. Currently Celebrity is my fav, but they have also gotten pricy. It all depends on what people want.
Virgin Voyages unlimited internet, basic bevvies, ALL restaurants, arcade, and tips are includedand you are provided carafes of water in your cabin daily at no additional cost.
What a shame you’ve not travelled via Cunard I suppose it’s in a category of its own tbh. Nothing comes close IMHO.
Can you link your breakdown in a google spreadsheet?
I think your ranking is a little skewed. People choose lines like HAL precisely because they don't want the super mega-large ship experience. It's comparing apples to oranges.
Virgin is our favorite. We have booked 3 cruises with them. If you plan it right, with sailor loot and bar tabs, you do not need to spend any money once you are on the cruise. If you can afford a rockstar cabin, you will feel like a rockstar.
Do you mind sharing some of the differences? My wife and I just got off Scarlet Lady and had an awesome time. We pre-booked the MNVV while on-board and are considering upgrading to Rockstar next time. I know the suites are obviously bigger/better, but more interested in other benefits.
I sailed on VV, and it was the first time my final bill was 000.00. Sailed solo and had the time of my life. LUV VV, and I can't wait for my TA in April, 2024.
What is "sailor loot"?
This is a great video, thanks so much for making it. I’ve been on many cruises in my lifetime as I live in Miami Florida and I’ve seen the cruising industry evolve from the time I was a little child in the 1960s. I sailed on the original carnival cruise ship, and my first cruise was on a Costa ship called the Franca C and that was in the early 1960s when my grandparents took me on that weeklong Caribbean cruise. After that I was hooked on cruising, and I’ve been cruising ever since. I find that I select a cruise depending on the ports and what I’m looking for and the experience that I want to have. I’ve sailed on all the 9 cruise lines that you mentioned, but I have to say that my go to cruise lines are Norwegian and Princess. I find that both have a consistent product. I agree with you about Norwegians food, as well as the other comments that you made about the cruise line nickel and diming passengers once on board. Princess is a totally different experience and I like it when I want to relax, read some books, and have a more traditional cruising experience. I am a little surprised about the ranking for Holland America as a sailed on the koningsdam and I really like the music walk but I see where you’re coming from as far as other perspectives regarding Holland America. Keep on making videos, this was a great one!
I think it has to do with why you are booking an itinerary.
#Disney is a family experience with kids with the itinerary being 2nd.
#Holland America is about the itinerary with music front and center.
#Virgin Voyages inclusive, Adult experience and it helps if you are open minded.
#Princess, #Celebrity are both elevated experiences, as with the 3 lines above you should not feel crowded.
CCL RCL NCL MSC crowds can be an issue.
#CCL no table clothes pay with AARP gift cards for 10% off. Food varies check your restaurant options.
#MSC great private Island, Americanized in the Caribbean, International otherwise.
#RCL Floating Mega Ships
#NCL good rates for Solo Sailors
Thanks for the breakdown. I decided on Celebrity for an upcoming cruise though I've heard their quality has dropped. Hoping to do a Virgin Voyage cruise after that.
E love the smaller ships, hate the "disney" ships that have water slides etc... we try to stay 3000 or less
I love, love Celebrity Cruise Line all my cruises are on Celebrity.
virgin food over celebrity? I would rank this the opposite with Celebrity over Virgin. The food hall is not always open and the food is always served cold. Celebrity buffet is much better. Been on both over three times.
Are you both retired? You seem so young.
HAL in last place? Yes I get it my 1st & last on that line just ended never going HAL
Holland America excellent with music venues especially the BB Kings Blues Club with an 8 piece band. Never bored on HAL and food excellent should have been ranked higher!
I wish you would rank by location.. alaska vs Caribbean
100% accurate with MSC. We are doing a week at Disney World in January, we have an RC cruise booked leaving 3 days later, and I was able to book a 3 day cruise for 3 people on MSC for much less than 3 nights in orlando with food and an uber to the port would have cost. It's like $500 less... so even though MCS wouldn't be my first choice, Im saving some money and its still a cruise 🤷♀️
What MSC ships have you been on. I have been on Meraviglia (2), Divina, and Seascape. I find the food in MDR and Buffet to be about like carnival.
I was on the Norwegian Epic in February 2023 and I would say the following:
1) The food was decent BUT the service was miserable. I should not take 2+ hours for dinner after a 40 minute wait to get in. The staff almost never smiled and they were understaffed to the tune of 100+ employees.
2) The entertainment venues from the theatre to the smaller venues are tiny for a ship carrying 4400 passengers. The venues were smaller than Celebrity Millenium or HAL Konigsdam , both ships with 1500 fewer passengers.
3) I have never seen a ship where you can board and make it all the way to your cabin without an employee speaking to you. This was such an absoltely stark difference from our experiences on Celebrity and HAL.
4) I have never seen a ship with better entertainment than HAL.
Have you tried comparing the prices POST cruise? For example, the NCL fare plus all the add on costs vs Virgin all inclusive? Just curious. I have been hearing such good things about Virgin. All of the bloggers I follow have just "wowed" over it. Makes me want to Try Virgin! But... what about my "loyalty" status on Princess? Hahaha (yup I fall for that.) But all Princess ships are basically the same. You know how to find your way around Day 1. Hahaha. Gary Bembridge did a Virgin tour and talked about all the small individual venues and shops and restaurants onboard. We are specialty diners so that appealed to me. Next time I price a cruise I am going to check Virgin. We spend 8-10k on every cruise we take! It's ridiculous!
FYI Virgin will give you even more with loyalty status match ;-)
Had a wonderful connection with a friend who works for Virgin, my husband and I got to go for just the cost of taxes. Great experience by far.
I personally won’t go on any Disney cruise. We are boycotting them. I’d like to try Virgin and Viking.
I have done 4 virgin Voyages cruises this year. Try to find a TA to get you a placement holder so you can get $300 bar tab + $600 on board plus if you have loyalty status with another cruise line you can apply for Virgin and get so many perks including an extra $100 in a bar tab. And your TA might be able to get you another $100 on board credit
I MIGHT try virgin for the high ratings I hear from you and others... And I certainly would like to try something new and innovative along with the outstanding food that I hear about. But a big thing for me with Virgin is that I really don't think I'm the demographic for it. I am a female solo traveler that is getting a bit older. I'm not a prude, by any means, But if I don't meet up others of my own age and sense of humor,. I'm gonna feel really out of place watching rauchier entertainment by myself in a crowd of younger party-ers. I think my feeling out of place would trump a lot of the other, higher-ranking features. And I'm sorry aboutthat, because I might very well be missing out. 😒
We were on Virgin in May and none of us (a group of 10) were at all impressed with the food. I'll take Royal Caribbean any day over Virgin.
With all due respect, i couldn't disagree more. I feel like your criteria might have been all over the place and not comparable on each cruise and/or ship. Celebrity is a VERY good cruise line, a little more expensive but great service. Princess in excellent for a middle of the road cruise line. NCL was a great disappointment. Yes, Carnival is cheap.
Have to agree that Celebrity is a very good cruise line. Have graduated from Royal to celebrity now that I’m in my late 60’s. No longer have the urge or ambition to go down a water slide or party like I did in my 30’s.
I have only cruised 4 times and we always picked Disney! I love their ships even the old ship still look good and Disney keeps them clean and good looking. I love the food on Disney, the rooms are good love the split bath it helps in getting everybody ready for dinner after a port day. The cast members are amazing! So polite eager to help. I’d like to do Virgin next then Royal Caribbean. I don’t have the desire to cruise with Carnival until the get more newer ships which they are working on but the bad press they get with rowdy,drunk fighting, just not my scene.
My husband and I cruised Royal Caribbean last summer on Freedom and hated almost everything about it, aside from our junior suite. Perhaps we just aren’t cruisers or maybe we just had bad luck but it was truly awful. I was expecting Royal to rank low on everything except the ship itself, just based on our experience. We both lost 5 pounds on a 3 day cruise.
I wish you had listed the details of each cruise in the description - ship and itinerary. I think you had some hits, but several big misses, like Celebrity at #8 for ships.
Agreed. Are you talking Edge Class Ships on Celebrity?
I had the same issue. Without knowing the ships of each of these lines, you really can’t get a very clear picture.
our best cruises have been on Oceania! (NCL family) haven't ever had bad cruise out of the 8 cruises we have been on. (2 each on Oceania, NCL, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity) Royal Caribbean is our second favorite on their larger ships. We have been on 5 out of U.S. ports and 3 out of European ports and we feel the European cruises were much better than the east or west coast cruises.
I am planning a cruise, and your video has given me, so much information on the selection of the cruise ship for a vacation. I have traveled with carnival in the past and thinking of choosing another cruise line. Thanks for the video, which has given me more information in the selection of the cruise ship for our upcoming vacation.
I found carnival to be subpar. Sunrise Ship was dirty. Lots of the young partying type. Only 2 small pools and they were crowded 24/7. Not family friendly in my opinion.
The Excel class ships have really good fast foods (and Shaq's). But outside of the fast/quickserve foods, I find Carnival to be a bit below par. And we never do lido for dinner b/c there is never much selection or it 's all really heavy/starchy.
The buffet on MSC Seashore wasn't good but the dining room was great. Definitely better than Carnival or Princess. The ship was also the most beautiful one I've been on. I liked it better than the Celebrity Edge. Celebrity was my favorite until I sailed on MSC. I haven't been on a Virgin cruise yet.
Exactly as I felt!
Thought Virgin was for LGBTQ...