We too were on the Wonder Inaugural sailing and agree 100% with your review. It honestly felt as if they knew the ship wasn’t ready and rushed the sailing. I’ve been on several inaugural sailing with Royal and others and this was by far the worst…..
Don't pull the Disney card, a lot of things go wrong at Disney all the time, but most cast member in most departments can just " wing it and make the situation turn from a negative to a positive ". Everything for the guest, and cast members to give it their ' all' even if that means being injured or dying in a performance at Disney! It has happened, but most are sworn to silence.
You are spot on with everything said! Another note on the specialty dining restaurants…They are actually doubling up on profits on that too as you’re paying for dinner every night (included in the cruise price) but then taking more money to eat at a different place while you’re still essentially paying to eat at the main dining hall. I think perfect day is the absolute best business move they could have done…Although haven’t been yet, it looks like it would be an amazing day. They take you to their private island, avoiding port fees for every passenger (“PortMiami charges a head tax of $12.74 per guest. With a mega-ship like Symphony of the Seas with 6,680-guest maximum, it can add up quickly. With a full ship, Royal Caribbean will have to pay PortMiami $85,103 per cruise.”) and enticing you to pay even more to have cabanas, water parks, specialty foods, etc they are straight killing it from a business standpoint. I think they are greedy when it comes to some aspects but overall, I’ve always enjoyed everything that’s included and never felt like I was missing out on something from not paying extra. As bad as I hate trying to be upsold around every corner, I still think cruising is still one of the best and cost effective ways to travel and go on vacation. That’s my $.02 anyway.
Drink packages on all cruise lines are crazy. I would love to see a limited drink package offered. I can't drink $50 of drinks per day, much less $70 /day.
i think one thing most people forget when they think of the drink package prices is that its alcahol only...too many forget that specialty coffees, sodas, bottled water, fresh juice and milkshakes are all included as well...so with that in mind its not hard to justify the price tag when you figure 3-4 "drinks" a day is 35-45 dollars by themselves and them coffees sodas water bottle for excursions and the like ...it values out in the end.
Agreed with everything you said. I had a massage at the spa and the masseuse ambushed me at the end of the massage with a product sales pitch and handed me a bill asking for more gratuity WHILE STILL ON THE MASSAGE BED. I was so uncomfortable and it completely erased any relaxation. Horrible.
@@joeo7693 it was sad. I’m someone who loves the spa. It was a beautiful place, but there were also incredibly loud noises bleeding through into the rooms. We’re paying enough already for the service, we should be able to go in without the fear of being pressured.
Just say no. As with all cruise ship the spa is rented space. I hope you told someone while on the ship. Maybe the spa manager. I used the spa, two massages and the thermal suite. Do you remember the name of your masseuse? Just curious. I had Baby and Sanal.
@@cheryllink7808 It was a couples massage and I very kindly let them know that I was not interested and that we had dinner to get to. That was after a super long spiel that I couldn’t interrupt, just felt super awkward. Also, have you ever heard of being handed the bill while still on the bed? Not sure why I even was handed a bill. They asked me to add more gratuity on top of what was included, stood over me watching what I was writing, and I ended up writing more in a panic just wanting to get out. I was so sad after. I called the front and the manager was so kind and disturbed by my experience. They gave me a free day of using the spa amenities and removed the EXTRA gratuity that I miscalculated way over what was necessary. I didn’t go back to use the amenities. I really wanted it to be a good experience. I don’t remember their names at this point. :(
@@alycat5719 I am very glad you did talk to the manger of the spa. That is a terrible experience to have. Breaks my heart and it shocking. They Are usually super friendly
Jost got off the Wonder on Sunday and gotta tell you it was AMAZING! Our NEW FAV ship and the food was AMAZING! Maybe they were not ready for the inaugural cruise, but food, service and everything else was absolutely perfect our sailing.
J your reviews are always appreciated! You worked incredibly hard on this cruise to give us a real taste of Wonder of the Seas. I have cruised once with RCI, but it was for my honeymoon in 1984 so seeing all the new ships is incredible. I am a little partial to Princess, but love Celebrity as well. Still, I would love to sail on WOTS just to check out the ship! Thanks for all your hard work. You're fast approaching 100k viewers!
Yes...idk if ppl realize that's for ALL drinks, soda, juice, bottled water, shakes, smoothies. The juice in the machines on all cruise ships are ATROCIOUS. I could never survive a week long trip drinking that trash. Also if you are traveling to private islands....the drink package applies. You can't beat that! Nonetheless it is expensive but I can def meet the 70 a day or close to.
You're spot on. No one should be angry at you. You paid for the cruise and the line does have one chance to impress because if it doesn't, they lose customers.
Thanks for the great feedback J. We plan on going on this ship next year. Hopefully they’ll work out those little kinks. But overall great information as always. You showed the best on worst of the ship of course in ur opinion. Which is kool bcuz that’s why we tube into ur channel. So very happy with this video:) 😘
Good overview. I admit I'm loyal to Royal but you made good points about the poor contingency planning on entertainment etc. I will say it is alot easier to not feel nickel and dimed all the time if you do your research to know what's included and not. Eases the stress and frustrations. Planning ahead and booking things ahead of time saves moula.
@@chidebrown4420 I don't agree. You can have a fantastic time without upcharges and utilizing what's included. Pay for booze ALA carte and save money on a drink package.
This was an inaugural sailing and the kinks needed to be sorted out-- It’s a big ship and probably needed a few extra weeks before it’s first sailing I’m on it for the transatlantic and B2B for France and Italy. I’ve never had a problem with RC --BUT IM A LOYAL CRUISER and Diamond Plus so I get whatever drinks I need free. I only cruise with Royal. I’m 71 yrs old and prefer a little luxury than party ships. I have cruised on all the big ships and love them. Especially Boardwalk and Central Park. I eat my dinner in the MDR and Specialty restaurants and breakfast anywhere else. I enjoy formal nights and I dressed to the nines. For me it’s a grand time to be on a Royal Caribbean cruise❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️loved it👌🏽❤️😊🤩😎
I've been on RC, Celebrity, Princess and NCL. I can't believe that YOU didn't check out WOS before getting on the ship using RUclips. When people ask about a ship on fb, I tell them to go to RUclips BEFORE getting on the ship. Do your homework. I would never go on the Bahamas cruise line. I'm going on celebrity apex in a few weeks and I've watched numerous videos on RUclips. RC used to offer a drink package on the 4th or 5th day of the cruise. I think it was 10 drinks for a certain amount.
100% agree about the water park on the private island! I have a family of 5 and every time we travel with Royal my kids are sad we don't go to the water park. It is just way too expensive (for us at least!)
Yes. It is way to expensive. Then the cabanas are outrageous in price but you can hardly find a chair in the shade. The food was good but even better if you spent much more money at the Coco Cay Beach club!!! Up charges every where you went. Sad. The drink package is to expensive for us Seniors who can’t possibly drink enough to justify the cost. They need a package of maybe 10-15 drinks per 7 day cruise. We just got back from Wonder of the Seas in January and they seemed to have worked out many of the problems. Their comedians were not funny and the cruise director was a better magician than the real magician!!!
After watching all the Cruise-Tubers I can honestly say, I have no desire to go on a ship that big. I love the feel of the smaller ships. Smaller intimate is more my style.
yes!!!!! Jewel of the Seas was great!!! Harmony of the Seas was too big, one thing I noticed was the rocking, even with calm seas, that joker rocked!!!
Congrats on 100K! I'm enjoying seeing and learning more about this ship. Might be on it sometime next year, so it's cool to know what to expect, good and bad! :-)
June will be me and my wife’s first cruise…my anxiety is starting to kick in due to all the extra costs…mandatory gratuities for everything, drink, dinner, excursion packages….Wi-Fi…..can we afford it, absolutely, just don’t like to nickel & dimed; not getting my money’s. We have a stateroom of deck 8 w/balcony, ocean view; pretty much smack-dab in the middle of Central Park.
Thanks for information...I cruise Wonder on 10/30/22 - 11/20/22. I agree with everything you said. I usually only do the things that are included with cost of the cruise 🛳.
I love your point of view because you have worked on ships so you see things we may not. I have only been on RC and Carnival. I did like the RC ships better. What surprised me is I had a better time on The Liberty if the Seas than the Anthem of the Seas. I found the crew much more friendly and service impeccable. Thank you for your honest opinion!❤️❤️❤️
I am a new subscriber. Your friend Tony sent me. You are good and I am glad I found you. Keep going. I know how hard you and Tony work to create interesting contents.
I agree with you on all points with this cruise line. Our 3rd and final cruise with them this month has us packing vaseline to ease the pain of bending over. They are greedy , greedy greedy and we are done. ⚓
@itsasia_ each cruise line has a different on board culture and appeal to a target market that will make money for them. We are 4*, platinum and gold on 3 lines, but we have cruised for 30+ years and each line has cut back since pandemic. We loved ncl but since they raised gratuities not so much. Our last cruise on HAL is this week. Geriatric clientele, even though we are mid 70s, is not for us and entertainment is horrible. Royal Caribbean has lots of kids, but great shows however they have cut way back in dining room offerings. We like certain ships in each of those lines. we live 1 hr from tampa and have decided that we will go to Mexico 15 times, never get off the ship, but cruise to get away, gamble, meet different people and not have to cook. I doubt this answers your question but to be honest we don't have a favorite and all have been disappointing since covid. Happy traveling!
Very refreshing comments. The funniest part was you’re explanation in the beginning in not offending those who do not believe in free thought. I like to hear what one believes than a bunch of BS. Great Job and best of luck.
You’re right Jay, too many up sales. RC was my very first cruise and I like everything;but once I experience Carnival party style atmosphere, I was hooked!!! I will sail with RC, but I know not to expect certain things, it’s more laid back. The food on RC use to be high quality, but one year I noticed the changes and I was so disappointed. Since then I haven’t been back. Like I said, I haven’t given up all the way yet; but until then, #Carnival is my cruise of choice
Jay I agree what with you’re saying about the additional cost with the water parks and the specialty restaurants. Especially the drink package is ridiculously expensive!
Another good review . I’d be totally ok with it not being mobbed all in one spot or certain areas giving a little more relaxed space without being overwhelmed.
Just found your channel but wow...what a difference you tell the truth and a lot of stuff I never knew from other cruise ship channels..l appreciate the honesty...I see why you have so many subscribers...I just became one thx..
I really appreciate this video (and ALL of your videos!!!). I am a Carnival Girl. About to go on my first Royal cruise in a few weeks so this video is very helpful to me. I look forward to your "good things" video coming soon though I like all of them.
I was on the Wonder in April 2022 and I loved everything about it. I’ve been on 8 cruises, all Royal and this is my absolute favorite. I’ll be there again in February and hopefully the ICON shortly after.
Love your shows man! You keep it real! Keep doing what you do. Unfortunately for me because of my immune disorder + COVID your channel is the way the only way I can cruise for now... So let's keep cruising at least virtually for me... LOL
Jay, I have cruised mostly with Royal Caribbean cruises and I welcome your opinions on the line. I have cruised other cruise lines, maybe I should cruise a bit more with other cruise lines to broaden my view.
Thanks for the video. I like your down to earth, honest perspective on things. I could tell by your vlogs that the entertainment was disappointing and you & Lauren ended up eating pizza almost every night. That may be the result of not knowing where all the free food was. And, I totally agree with you about the price of the water park on the private island! That should have been much less $$, $20-25 at most.
We too were on the Wonder inaugural and we agree with your review 100%. It felt as Royal knew the ship wasn’t ready but rushed the sailing regardless. Wasn’t a good showing for Royals flagship.
I eat where its FREE!! The cruise overall cost A pretty penny. The drink packages are over the top. I'm a out to sail on the Ovation. I hope the entertainment will be better.
Your honesty is appreciated. Love your channel. Thanks for taking the risk . It is not easy to talk honestly about the industry that in a way is the one that provides food on your table
Thanks, J, for your honesty! I really appreciate it, and I appreciate YOU! I'm betting that you will hit 100k by the time I get up in the morning. I'm so excited for you!! Best wishes! 💜
I always do my "due diligence" research on CruiseCritic (or as we sometimes call it, "CruiseCranky" :) ) before sailing on a new ship to find out all the "secrets".....such as the free options for embark-day lunch BESIDES the always-crowded buffet, and any out-of-the-way places to grab a complimentary breakfast...or the "secret" decks at the front of many Carnival ships. On the Mardi Gras, which has a staggering number of "free"/included dining venues, that research really paid off! (And I still couldn't make it to all of the places.)
I think RCL should offer a discount for all Wonder of the Seas Inaugural guest to come back to Wonder in future to see all the shows we missed. I think that would make a BAD situation a little better and good PR??? What do you think Jay???
Dude you do VERY WELL in your videos; that being said, I assume that you, at some point, will review the NCL Prima and/or Viva. Let us know, when appropriate.
Love all you do for us keeping us informed. But for my money i go with Carnival everytime. I am about biggest bang for your buck. Been on NCL and on Royal.
I LOVE that you are honest. I have felt the same as you on almost all of these points. I have not been on Wonder but the fact that they do not give you all the info and make you search for it, it's is very frustrating. I happened to go with Royals seasoned cruisers on my first cruise(Thank God) otherwise I def would not have gotten to do all the things I got to do cause I had no idea what was included. Who wants to go do all that homework to find the info they should be giving you? It would take too much time away from your vacation. Not to mention, how are you supposed to find something you do not know exists.
Glad that Carnival kept the breakfast price a low $5 at Emeril's on the Mardi Gras. Makes it much easier for those of us cruising on a budget to try different eateries.
For breakfast hours, the app outlines what is open at what time and what is an up charge! And in terms of entertainment, definitely give Royal another chance. We were blown away on Symphony a few years back. Wonder felt like an off display of what they can do.
All shows will be fully ready in a few months. I did see the documentary while on the ship. Everything that on behind the scenes of making it all come together.
Congrats on 100k subs Jay! Your constant efforts paying off to bring us your unique perspective. Noticed Don and Tony had the same disappointments on this cruise so your opinions are confirmed by them as well. Royal dropped the ball - sorry you guys spent so much $ for less than the full experience. Very good observations on way overpriced options that Royal should reduce. Am going on Harmony next month so will be an interesting comparison on that seasoned similar ship ship.
those drink prices are crazy, i remember seeing it upwards of $84/day and then the auto 18% gratuity added on makes it even worse.... And those excursion prices are also ridiculous. All of these things as well as me being kosher and unable to partake in most everything available and need to either order the usually sub-par frozen kosher meals many ships provide or when RC has their fresh kosher, which btw they charge around $70 p/p/day _ that 18% gratuity , i wonder what makes going on a cruise nowadays so worth it?
I paid $38 for the thrill side. With Royal you have to pay attention to the sales they offer on your planning page. I got a great Black Friday deal for the thrill side and the refreshment package which was 40% off. Same for excursions and internet.
@@chidebrown4420 Setting a base price and then allowing it to go on sale is not price gouging. Price gouging is when you set a base price and have that price go up during times of emergency, because the demand goes up. Like gas during a hurricane or water.
im going on wonder of the seas in July 31st out of barcelona will keep you posted on the shows you mentioned.keep it real and honest great reporting. im a fan.
Bro i been watching everyone else but you, seen you on other people's cruise vlog, i have to give u ur props, u are better at vlogging, more free spirited, information, and entertaining, keep doing ur thing
Thank you for your review. I’m LOYAL to ROYAL. I’m not a Carnaval fan at all. I’m open to other cruise lines (except Carnival). I can’t wait to sail on Wonder (March 24). We’ve got an Alaskan Cruise May 22 on Quantum. It’s my favorite Destination. Thank you again for your review!!! God Bless.
I am going on a back-to-back sailing on the Wonder and I am super excited. I love to cruise and I am looking forward to going on vacation. I agree with you about about the Voom package not being up to par. I think RCCL needs to upgrade their service to Starlink. Thanks for the update!
1. Free wifi would be great 2. Doesn’t the daily cruise compass list all eating options - yep it does :) 3. So glad not a large party vibe 4. Hate the up-sale for products after a massage - enough that I won’t go again 5. Trash or amazing… you say both - sounds like out of their control. Just sensationalism… you also said, “I get it” but I guess not really But I will be judging for myself on the TA next month. Again, “I understand full well” Maybe “hate” is a little too strong…
Hi Justin! Great job on this cruise. We’re cruising on Wonder in 2 weeks so I have been very interested in your recent content. We have cruised 4 times since the return. Three were on RC and one on NCL. The entertainment seemed down on most of them. The ice show on Adventure was solid and we saw a decent comedian on NCL Bliss. We always buy drink packages. We fully realize that we’re not necessarily getting our money’s worth with that. It’s worth it to us to be able to try lots of different drinks without worrying about the cost if it sucks. It makes the decision process easier without having to mentally factor in the cost. We’ve been on a couple of Oasis class ships without ever seeing the Aqua Show. Hopefully it will work out this time around.
We too were on the Wonder Inaugural sailing and agree 100% with your review. It honestly felt as if they knew the ship wasn’t ready and rushed the sailing. I’ve been on several inaugural sailing with Royal and others and this was by far the worst…..
This is the first comparison I’ve seen to other inaugural sailings. Thank you for your perspective
When was the inaugural sailing?
Don't pull the Disney card, a lot of things go wrong at Disney all the time, but most cast member in most departments can just " wing it and make the situation turn from a negative to a positive ".
Everything for the guest, and cast members to give it their ' all' even if that means being injured or dying in a performance at Disney!
It has happened, but most are sworn to silence.
I think its always better to wait a few months after a new cruise ships comes about
We want brutal and honest reporting. Don't sugarcoat it and keep the videos coming.
Exactly.
I agree. I'm tired of so called vloggers afraid to say anything negative.
@kimberly ly that's because they get a bunch of free things on the ship and they don't want to ruin it.
Louder please
@@solusdeathq😊 wqqq1¹1
NEXT ROYAL CRUISES⚓️
ODYSSEY OTS (4/3/2022)
FREEDOM OTS (4/18/2022)
OVATION OTS (5/12/2022)
You totally forgot the 4/24 Oasis OTS bc it's cheap.
It'll be my first non-NCL cruise!
Come have some Sunny Travels!
@@SunnyTravels Tempting but I have the Margaritaville inaugural on the 31st
@@JSHIPLIFE Can’t wait to see you! I’m a check-In agent and I’ll be working on that day for margaritaville.
@@Saxymusicua Really!?!? I’ll be looking out for you!
we will be on the same cruise on Odyssey :)
hope you enjoy
You are spot on with everything said! Another note on the specialty dining restaurants…They are actually doubling up on profits on that too as you’re paying for dinner every night (included in the cruise price) but then taking more money to eat at a different place while you’re still essentially paying to eat at the main dining hall.
I think perfect day is the absolute best business move they could have done…Although haven’t been yet, it looks like it would be an amazing day. They take you to their private island, avoiding port fees for every passenger (“PortMiami charges a head tax of $12.74 per guest. With a mega-ship like Symphony of the Seas with 6,680-guest maximum, it can add up quickly. With a full ship, Royal Caribbean will have to pay PortMiami $85,103 per cruise.”) and enticing you to pay even more to have cabanas, water parks, specialty foods, etc they are straight killing it from a business standpoint.
I think they are greedy when it comes to some aspects but overall, I’ve always enjoyed everything that’s included and never felt like I was missing out on something from not paying extra. As bad as I hate trying to be upsold around every corner, I still think cruising is still one of the best and cost effective ways to travel and go on vacation. That’s my $.02 anyway.
Drink packages on all cruise lines are crazy. I would love to see a limited drink package offered. I can't drink $50 of drinks per day, much less $70 /day.
A limited drink package would be great. Not everyone's other half or friends drink and I don't like being forced to have to buy 2 drink packages.
I have not a problem with getting value of my drink package, I easy drink for $150 or more a day! No problem
@@patrickpedersen3388 You need to attend meetings!
i think one thing most people forget when they think of the drink package prices is that its alcahol only...too many forget that specialty coffees, sodas, bottled water, fresh juice and milkshakes are all included as well...so with that in mind its not hard to justify the price tag when you figure 3-4 "drinks" a day is 35-45 dollars by themselves and them coffees sodas water bottle for excursions and the like ...it values out in the end.
At least Carnival has a set rate. Royal on the other hand, prices change weekly.
Agreed with everything you said. I had a massage at the spa and the masseuse ambushed me at the end of the massage with a product sales pitch and handed me a bill asking for more gratuity WHILE STILL ON THE MASSAGE BED. I was so uncomfortable and it completely erased any relaxation. Horrible.
Yep, the Spa is all about up sales. “Free” samplings or experiences, followed by high pressure sales pitch. Very annoying.
@@joeo7693 it was sad. I’m someone who loves the spa. It was a beautiful place, but there were also incredibly loud noises bleeding through into the rooms. We’re paying enough already for the service, we should be able to go in without the fear of being pressured.
Just say no. As with all cruise ship the spa is rented space. I hope you told someone while on the ship. Maybe the spa manager. I used the spa, two massages and the thermal suite. Do you remember the name of your masseuse? Just curious. I had Baby and Sanal.
@@cheryllink7808 It was a couples massage and I very kindly let them know that I was not interested and that we had dinner to get to. That was after a super long spiel that I couldn’t interrupt, just felt super awkward. Also, have you ever heard of being handed the bill while still on the bed? Not sure why I even was handed a bill. They asked me to add more gratuity on top of what was included, stood over me watching what I was writing, and I ended up writing more in a panic just wanting to get out. I was so sad after. I called the front and the manager was so kind and disturbed by my experience. They gave me a free day of using the spa amenities and removed the EXTRA gratuity that I miscalculated way over what was necessary. I didn’t go back to use the amenities. I really wanted it to be a good experience. I don’t remember their names at this point. :(
@@alycat5719 I am very glad you did talk to the manger of the spa. That is a terrible experience to have. Breaks my heart and it shocking. They Are usually super friendly
Jost got off the Wonder on Sunday and gotta tell you it was AMAZING! Our NEW FAV ship and the food was AMAZING! Maybe they were not ready for the inaugural cruise, but food, service and everything else was absolutely perfect our sailing.
J your reviews are always appreciated! You worked incredibly hard on this cruise to give us a real taste of Wonder of the Seas. I have cruised once with RCI, but it was for my honeymoon in 1984 so seeing all the new ships is incredible. I am a little partial to Princess, but love Celebrity as well. Still, I would love to sail on WOTS just to check out the ship! Thanks for all your hard work. You're fast approaching 100k viewers!
We love a Celebrity cruise 💚 May have to try Princess now!
Thanks for your honest opinions 😉😎😻! Honestly, I agree with you in every aspect. Cruisers pay a lot & then you get ‘nickled & dimed’ 🤦🏽♀️!
Just subscribed finished My first RCL mariner of the seas cruise last week and just booked wonder so your video is right on time
I drink a gallon or more of bottled/sparkling water a day. So when I calculate the bang for the buck, a drink package is worth it.
Yes...idk if ppl realize that's for ALL drinks, soda, juice, bottled water, shakes, smoothies. The juice in the machines on all cruise ships are ATROCIOUS. I could never survive a week long trip drinking that trash. Also if you are traveling to private islands....the drink package applies. You can't beat that! Nonetheless it is expensive but I can def meet the 70 a day or close to.
You're spot on. No one should be angry at you. You paid for the cruise and the line does have one chance to impress because if it doesn't, they lose customers.
Thanks for the great feedback J. We plan on going on this ship next year. Hopefully they’ll work out those little kinks. But overall great information as always. You showed the best on worst of the ship of course in ur opinion. Which is kool bcuz that’s why we tube into ur channel. So very happy with this video:) 😘
Good overview. I admit I'm loyal to Royal but you made good points about the poor contingency planning on entertainment etc. I will say it is alot easier to not feel nickel and dimed all the time if you do your research to know what's included and not. Eases the stress and frustrations. Planning ahead and booking things ahead of time saves moula.
@@chidebrown4420 I don't agree. You can have a fantastic time without upcharges and utilizing what's included. Pay for booze ALA carte and save money on a drink package.
Oasis Class ships are the best. Size (obviously), restaurants, shows, free activities for all ages.
This was an inaugural sailing and the kinks needed to be sorted out-- It’s a big ship and probably needed a few extra weeks before it’s first sailing
I’m on it for the transatlantic and B2B for France and Italy. I’ve never had a problem with RC --BUT IM A LOYAL CRUISER and Diamond Plus so I get whatever drinks I need free. I only cruise with Royal. I’m 71 yrs old and prefer a little luxury than party ships. I have cruised on all the big ships and love them. Especially Boardwalk and Central Park. I eat my dinner in the MDR and Specialty restaurants and breakfast anywhere else. I enjoy formal nights and I dressed to the nines. For me it’s a grand time to be on a Royal Caribbean cruise❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️loved it👌🏽❤️😊🤩😎
I've been on RC, Celebrity, Princess and NCL.
I can't believe that YOU didn't check out WOS before getting on the ship using RUclips.
When people ask about a ship on fb, I tell them to go to RUclips BEFORE getting on the ship. Do your homework.
I would never go on the Bahamas cruise line.
I'm going on celebrity apex in a few weeks and I've watched numerous videos on RUclips.
RC used to offer a drink package on the 4th or 5th day of the cruise. I think it was 10 drinks for a certain amount.
Gotta book early, they look for sales. Usually, u can find drink wifi and dining packages for 40-50% off.
Exactly. The day after Thanksgiving or aka Black Friday.
100% agree about the water park on the private island! I have a family of 5 and every time we travel with Royal my kids are sad we don't go to the water park. It is just way too expensive (for us at least!)
Yes. It is way to expensive. Then the cabanas are outrageous in price but you can hardly find a chair in the shade. The food was good but even better if you spent much more money at the Coco Cay Beach club!!! Up charges every where you went. Sad. The drink package is to expensive for us Seniors who can’t possibly drink enough to justify the cost. They need a package of maybe 10-15 drinks per 7 day cruise. We just got back from Wonder of the Seas in January and they seemed to have worked out many of the problems. Their comedians were not funny and the cruise director was a better magician than the real magician!!!
After watching all the Cruise-Tubers I can honestly say, I have no desire to go on a ship that big. I love the feel of the smaller ships. Smaller intimate is more my style.
I agree 💯
It's worth going on one just for central park it's just amazing at night
I always prefer bigger, exploration is a big fun factor for me
yes!!!!! Jewel of the Seas was great!!! Harmony of the Seas was too big, one thing I noticed was the rocking, even with calm seas, that joker rocked!!!
@@mtvjackass74 I thought you can't feel the rock in bigger ships.
Agreed wit all points I was surprised at the upsell on drinks on coco cay are $16.50 on the ship they are $12-$13
Thanks for the video. This made me glad that I went with Virgin Voyages for my first cruise
Pert near 100k congrats, someone is looking down with a smile on their face🙏🏼
🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
Congrats on 100K! I'm enjoying seeing and learning more about this ship. Might be on it sometime next year, so it's cool to know what to expect, good and bad! :-)
June will be me and my wife’s first cruise…my anxiety is starting to kick in due to all the extra costs…mandatory gratuities for everything, drink, dinner, excursion packages….Wi-Fi…..can we afford it, absolutely, just don’t like to nickel & dimed; not getting my money’s. We have a stateroom of deck 8 w/balcony, ocean view; pretty much smack-dab in the middle of Central Park.
I hope it has gotten better. I'm treating my daughter on this ship in Nov 2023.
She worked for Carnival in 2000.
Thanks for information...I cruise Wonder on 10/30/22 - 11/20/22. I agree with everything you said. I usually only do the things that are included with cost of the cruise 🛳.
Love your honesty what cruise line and ship would you recommend for a family with kids, teens and young adults 🙂
Congratulations on 100K. Love the feedback
Congratulations on 100K Subs. Great achievement. Keep up the great Vlogs.
This is an amazing review. Excellent job my brother.
I love honesty. Truth helps to make informed decisions
Luv your honest opinions you haven’t fail me .
I love your point of view because you have worked on ships so you see things we may not. I have only been on RC and Carnival. I did like the RC ships better. What surprised me is I had a better time on The Liberty if the Seas than the Anthem of the Seas. I found the crew much more friendly and service impeccable. Thank you for your honest opinion!❤️❤️❤️
Hey Jay my son and I say the same thing about royal vs carnival with the sail away is very dead carnival they have fun
I am a new subscriber. Your friend Tony sent me. You are good and I am glad I found you. Keep going. I know how hard you and Tony work to create interesting contents.
I agree with you on all points with this cruise line. Our 3rd and final cruise with them this month has us packing vaseline to ease the pain of bending over. They are greedy , greedy greedy and we are done. ⚓
What cruise line would you prefer now?
@itsasia_ each cruise line has a different on board culture and appeal to a target market that will make money for them. We are 4*, platinum and gold on 3 lines, but we have cruised for 30+ years and each line has cut back since pandemic. We loved ncl but since they raised gratuities not so much. Our last cruise on HAL is this week. Geriatric clientele, even though we are mid 70s, is not for us and entertainment is horrible. Royal Caribbean has lots of kids, but great shows however they have cut way back in dining room offerings. We like certain ships in each of those lines. we live 1 hr from tampa and have decided that we will go to Mexico 15 times, never get off the ship, but cruise to get away, gamble, meet different people and not have to cook. I doubt this answers your question but to be honest we don't have a favorite and all have been disappointing since covid. Happy traveling!
Very refreshing comments. The funniest part was you’re explanation in the beginning in not offending those who do
not believe in free thought.
I like to hear what one believes
than a bunch of BS. Great Job
and best of luck.
The included meals should be in the daily cruise program you receive each evening.
Overall good video. we just did the Wonder in May 2023 and going back on Oct 2023. I don't agree with all the points, but do see your side.
100k! OMG! Congrats, man! You rock !!! And we wanna see you cry lol 😁😁😁 Just jokin, God bless you!
You’re right Jay, too many up sales. RC was my very first cruise and I like everything;but once I experience Carnival party style atmosphere, I was hooked!!! I will sail with RC, but I know not to expect certain things, it’s more laid back. The food on RC use to be high quality, but one year I noticed the changes and I was so disappointed. Since then I haven’t been back. Like I said, I haven’t given up all the way yet; but until then, #Carnival is my cruise of choice
Jay I agree what with you’re saying about the additional cost with the water parks and the specialty restaurants. Especially the drink package is ridiculously expensive!
Thanks for the honest reviews. I can't stand to watch a couple channels where every thing is perfect.
You aren’t wrong about the free breakfast. I went on Sympathy a few years ago and didn’t know. I’ll be on Wonder this weekend.
Another good review . I’d be totally ok with it not being mobbed all in one spot or certain areas giving a little more relaxed space without being overwhelmed.
Just found your channel but wow...what a difference you tell the truth and a lot of stuff I never knew from other cruise ship channels..l appreciate the honesty...I see why you have so many subscribers...I just became one thx..
I really appreciate this video (and ALL of your videos!!!). I am a Carnival Girl. About to go on my first Royal cruise in a few weeks so this video is very helpful to me. I look forward to your "good things" video coming soon though I like all of them.
I was on the Wonder in April 2022 and I loved everything about it. I’ve been on 8 cruises, all Royal and this is my absolute favorite. I’ll be there again in February and hopefully the ICON shortly after.
Love it. Keep the honest comments coming Jay. Shout out from Tampa.
Love your shows man! You keep it real! Keep doing what you do. Unfortunately for me because of my immune disorder + COVID your channel is the way the only way I can cruise for now... So let's keep cruising at least virtually for me... LOL
Jay, I have cruised mostly with Royal Caribbean cruises and I welcome your opinions on the line. I have cruised other cruise lines, maybe I should cruise a bit more with other cruise lines to broaden my view.
Thanks for the video. I like your down to earth, honest perspective on things. I could tell by your vlogs that the entertainment was disappointing and you & Lauren ended up eating pizza almost every night. That may be the result of not knowing where all the free food was. And, I totally agree with you about the price of the water park on the private island! That should have been much less $$, $20-25 at most.
As a former tap dance teacher, I’m a hard sell. If you’re doing a tap routine, you better be tapping! 😂🤣
I am really enjoying your videos. Keep up the great work please!
Well good news about WiFi is Royal Caribbean are adding Starlink terminals to their ships, which should drastically improve connectivity.
We too were on the Wonder inaugural and we agree with your review 100%. It felt as Royal knew the ship wasn’t ready but rushed the sailing regardless. Wasn’t a good showing for Royals flagship.
I eat where its FREE!! The cruise overall cost A pretty penny.
The drink packages are over the top.
I'm a out to sail on the Ovation. I hope the entertainment will be better.
Thank you , this is the review we were looking for, appreciate you hard work
Your honesty is appreciated. Love your channel. Thanks for taking the risk . It is not easy to talk honestly about the industry that in a way is the one that provides food on your table
Congrats on reaching 100K subscribers!!!!🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾.
Thanks, J, for your honesty! I really appreciate it, and I appreciate YOU! I'm betting that you will hit 100k by the time I get up in the morning. I'm so excited for you!! Best wishes! 💜
I always do my "due diligence" research on CruiseCritic (or as we sometimes call it, "CruiseCranky" :) ) before sailing on a new ship to find out all the "secrets".....such as the free options for embark-day lunch BESIDES the always-crowded buffet, and any out-of-the-way places to grab a complimentary breakfast...or the "secret" decks at the front of many Carnival ships.
On the Mardi Gras, which has a staggering number of "free"/included dining venues, that research really paid off! (And I still couldn't make it to all of the places.)
I think RCL should offer a discount for all Wonder of the Seas Inaugural guest to come back to Wonder in future to see all the shows we missed. I think that would make a BAD situation a little better and good PR??? What do you think Jay???
I see 100k! 👀 CONGRATULATIONS!!!!
CONGRATS ON 100K!!! You are a ROCK STAR. Jay, your content is awesome.. Keep up the great work! 👏🏽👏🏽🎉🎉👍🏽👍🏽🥰🥰
Dude you do VERY WELL in your videos; that being said, I assume that you, at some point, will review the NCL Prima and/or Viva. Let us know, when appropriate.
I appreciate your honesty. I am sailing on Wonder of the Sea later in 2024. Trying to decide what to do and / or buy is a challenge.
One of my complaints is the prices of the cabanas on Cocoa Cay. Way too much for my budget.
Love all you do for us keeping us informed. But for my money i go with Carnival everytime. I am about biggest bang for your buck. Been on NCL and on Royal.
I LOVE that you are honest. I have felt the same as you on almost all of these points. I have not been on Wonder but the fact that they do not give you all the info and make you search for it, it's is very frustrating. I happened to go with Royals seasoned cruisers on my first cruise(Thank God) otherwise I def would not have gotten to do all the things I got to do cause I had no idea what was included. Who wants to go do all that homework to find the info they should be giving you? It would take too much time away from your vacation. Not to mention, how are you supposed to find something you do not know exists.
Glad that Carnival kept the breakfast price a low $5 at Emeril's on the Mardi Gras. Makes it much easier for those of us cruising on a budget to try different eateries.
Thanks for your honesty………question, What’s ur favorite ship…and did you do a video on it?
For breakfast hours, the app outlines what is open at what time and what is an up charge! And in terms of entertainment, definitely give Royal another chance. We were blown away on Symphony a few years back. Wonder felt like an off display of what they can do.
All shows will be fully ready in a few months. I did see the documentary while on the ship. Everything that on behind the scenes of making it all come together.
@@cheryllink7808 we saw that too! I agree, there was a lot more at play here
Congrats on 100k subs Jay! Your constant efforts paying off to bring us your unique perspective. Noticed Don and Tony had the same disappointments on this cruise so your opinions are confirmed by them as well. Royal dropped the ball - sorry you guys spent so much $ for less than the full experience. Very good observations on way overpriced options that Royal should reduce. Am going on Harmony next month so will be an interesting comparison on that seasoned similar ship ship.
I love how you get straight to the point. Thanks for sharing your opinion.
Congrats on 💯...I knew it would happen for you...
Thank you so much!!!!⚓️
those drink prices are crazy, i remember seeing it upwards of $84/day and then the auto 18% gratuity added on makes it even worse....
And those excursion prices are also ridiculous. All of these things as well as me being kosher and unable to partake in most everything available and need to either order the usually sub-par frozen kosher meals many ships provide or when RC has their fresh kosher, which btw they charge around $70 p/p/day _ that 18% gratuity , i wonder what makes going on a cruise nowadays so worth it?
I was hoping my subbing would put you at 100K darn it. 😅 won’t be long now! And great video! I found out about you from Tony and you on the ship.
You should go on another cruise now and give us a update video. Just to see what They've addressed and what is possibly a lost cause at this point.
COMPLETELY. LOVING. YOUR. TOTAL. HONESTY, IT. IS. SOoooooooo. APPRECIATED. ** YOU. ARE. JUST. AWESOME. THANK. YOU. **!!!!!!!
I paid $38 for the thrill side. With Royal you have to pay attention to the sales they offer on your planning page. I got a great Black Friday deal for the thrill side and the refreshment package which was 40% off. Same for excursions and internet.
@@chidebrown4420 Setting a base price and then allowing it to go on sale is not price gouging. Price gouging is when you set a base price and have that price go up during times of emergency, because the demand goes up. Like gas during a hurricane or water.
Congrats on your 100k!!!
Thank you!!!
im going on wonder of the seas in July 31st out of barcelona will keep you posted on the shows you mentioned.keep it real and honest great reporting. im a fan.
Thanks for all the pros and cons of the cruise life. It's important to know whst to expect.
Bro i been watching everyone else but you, seen you on other people's cruise vlog, i have to give u ur props, u are better at vlogging, more free spirited, information, and entertaining, keep doing ur thing
Thank you for your review. I’m LOYAL to ROYAL. I’m not a Carnaval fan at all. I’m open to other cruise lines (except Carnival). I can’t wait to sail on Wonder (March 24). We’ve got an Alaskan Cruise May 22 on Quantum. It’s my favorite Destination. Thank you again for your review!!! God Bless.
Thanks for being honest with your dislikes onboard Wonder of the Seas. Looking forward to hearing about things that you loved!
I am going on a back-to-back sailing on the Wonder and I am super excited. I love to cruise and I am looking forward to going on vacation. I agree with you about about the Voom package not being up to par. I think RCCL needs to upgrade their service to Starlink. Thanks for the update!
1. Free wifi would be great
2. Doesn’t the daily cruise compass list all eating options - yep it does :)
3. So glad not a large party vibe
4. Hate the up-sale for products after a massage - enough that I won’t go again
5. Trash or amazing… you say both - sounds like out of their control. Just sensationalism… you also said, “I get it” but I guess not really
But I will be judging for myself on the TA next month.
Again, “I understand full well”
Maybe “hate” is a little too strong…
Hi J, wow, your so athletic, that back flip was awesome!
Thank you for being honest and helping with some decisions
Thanks for posting this. All good points, especially the up charges.
Hi Justin! Great job on this cruise. We’re cruising on Wonder in 2 weeks so I have been very interested in your recent content. We have cruised 4 times since the return. Three were on RC and one on NCL. The entertainment seemed down on most of them. The ice show on Adventure was solid and we saw a decent comedian on NCL Bliss. We always buy drink packages. We fully realize that we’re not necessarily getting our money’s worth with that. It’s worth it to us to be able to try lots of different drinks without worrying about the cost if it sucks. It makes the decision process easier without having to mentally factor in the cost. We’ve been on a couple of Oasis class ships without ever seeing the Aqua Show. Hopefully it will work out this time around.
You should make some videos on the hidden secrets of cruises, that would be awesome.
Thanks for all the great videos!!
You make great points. I want to know the good the bad and the ugly. I want to know what your experience was like.
Hi Jay! Thanks for the info! This is needed for first timers!
Congratulations on your 100k! Job well done!
I'm late but congratulations on your 100k
This was very helpful information. Thank you!