Same with me. I'm 87 so no chance I'll be taking one. Besides I'm an old destroyer sailor and these cruise ships don't have any 5" 38 guns or quad 40's. Not going without some big guns fore and aft.
I used to feel that it wasn’t worth paying extra to get a balcony cabin, as we spent most of our waking hours up on deck. But once we got a balcony room, our cruise changed considerably, as we rarely went upon deck anymore and in fact if we weren’t eating or at a show, chances are we were out on our balcony. It was like our own private cruise vacation.
@@amybradley5821 as I said, for years I never bothered, but once I tried it I was in love. I was shocked how much it changed the cruise for us. I cruise for the time at sea, the destination is secondary, or really all but meaningless, and probably half the time I’ve ended up staying on board while in port, sometimes with my wife, other she would do an excursion with our son, and/or her parents (my in-laws got me to fall in love with cruising, and most times we cruise together, but in separate rooms of course.) Honestly, if the cruise lines did 7 day cruises to nowhere, I’d definitely be interested. I used to always say, cruising is one of the few times I’d be, “off the clock,” as unless we wanted to catch a specific show, or have dinner in the dining room, the time was basically meaningless, but when we go ashore, we’re back on the clock as we’ve got to be back by a specific time. Although lately being off the clock means much less to me as I’ve had 2 minor and 3 major back surgeries in the last 8 years, and have basically been home bound, well except for doctors appointments, and a rare afternoon at my in-laws, so as you can imagine I’m lucky to know what day it is. When people would complain about the lockdowns being a PITA, I say “hey, it could be worse and you could be in my position, such that the lockdown really didn’t change my life at all, as I’d been social distancing for years already.” 🤣
@@johnpatz8395 me too! I’d like to try a trans-Atlantic because it’s days at sea. I do scuba dive so the ports are important to me too but I would be happy just cruising to nowhere as well. I’m booked for January!
@@amybradley5821 that’s a good idea, I hadn’t consider those cruises before, I’ll have to check into then. I used to dive, in fact one time my wife and I went to Hawaii we took the resort course to get my wife certified, I actually BEEN certified SINCE I was a sophomore in HS, but I took it with her. It was great fun, the dive shop would pick us up in the morning, and we’d spend all day on the drive boat and get in at least two of three dives a day.
Good one G. So easy to blow money on worthless stuff, but so easy to say "no" to something that actually would have been worth it. Thanks for the tips. And so true, once you get that good room it's hard to go back.
While I do like alcohol, I can't drink many of the cocktails I love due to health reasons (too much sugar). I have to limit wine as well. My strategy: Go to the Captain's cocktail party. They usually include free alcoholic drinks as well as appetizers. Go at the beginning for best selection. If you are curious about art auctions you can go to 1 or 2. They will serve you "free" wine after a while. You pay with your time. Some of the artwork is worth looking at. Do not buy anything unless you can get it for a really low price. If you stay for the whole session they may give you a free art print. They are usually printed on decent paper and make a good souvenir. When you get home, buy a frame and hang on the wall or give as a gift.
Another cost optimization: wine costs far more by the glass than it does if you buy a whole bottle. And if you are not able to responsibly consume an entire bottle during one meal - no problem! All ships will "check" a bottle: the sommelier will put your name and cabin number on the bottle, and you can retrieve it for subsequent meals. 1-2 bottles consumed over the entire cruise will work out much cheaper than individual glasses.
Also the "by the glass" limits your choices. There is a wider variety if you buy the bottle. The checked wine can be used in any restaurant, not just the one you bought it from. I mean main dining rooms and specialty ones.
Good video, thanks! I always have a balcony. My favorite thing is to sit in the fresh air watching the ocean go by and if I want to do that in my jammies I can. 😂
I always opt for shore excursions. Years ago, on my one-and-only Caribbean cruise, we chose an excursion into Caracas, Venezuela. It was truly scary. The poverty was depressing, and the tour was cut short because of demonstrations in the streets. I'm convinced that anyone taking three steps from the bus would have disappeared and never found. The ship's guided excursions are the safest ones, unless you know the city and the language.
Why are they the safest? Do they have armed guards riding on the roof? Honestly I think people are divorced from reality, any bus, any excursion can be caught up in a riot. And a cruise excursion doesn’t have magic routes that ‘hides’ poverty behind a curtain. It exists.
@@xr6lad Being in a group on a bus was safer than walking around alone in an uncertain area as was Caracas at that time. Seeing the extent of the poverty was a valuable learning experience, but perhaps not what people on vacation want to see.
In Copenhagen (supposedly "safe"), we were just walking along the street enjoying the architecture, when we got caught up in a riot between football fans (deadly rivals apparently!). The police with full riot gear and batons kept them apart, although a smoke canister was lobbed and came very close to us. In hindsight it was a far more memorable experience than the tours on offer! I had thought the Scandinavians were 'cool' and unemotional but this was something new that was learnt about the culture.
@@SuperNevile The unanticipated experiences can be the most memorable! Nowadays, Moscow would not be considered a "safe" city at night, but in 1993 it was different. Our river cruise group went to the ballet, but the guide's husband, who knew the city well, took four of us on the "scenic" route back to the ship rather than taking the bus. We rode on Moscow subways and explored some of the streets at midnight! All very safe and quiet then.
For most of our cruises we do inside--and not because we are cheap. We like that it almost forces to get out of there and enjoy the ship and the other passengers. We have also found that many ships have "unusual" inside cabins that have a better layout like no closet doors opening into entry way and being narrow. So using the room just for sleeping and getting ready to go somewhere else is actually nicer.
For the drink packages it really depends on the person. When I'm on vacation, I will typically drink a fair amount. Not enough to get wasted, but a bloody mary in the morning, a fruity drink or 2 by the pool, a martini before dinner, a bottle of wine for the table at dinner, a nightcap...etc. The last few cruises we've been on had it included in the package and it was nice not getting that sticker shock at the end of the week from the bar. If you do go to the spa, offer your massage therapist a better tip if he or she doesn't try to sell you any product afterwards - they'll usually get the hint that you won't buy anything. If you like to play the slot machines, do it on the first day or two of the cruise, and then stop. While I can't 100% confirm this, since slots are the one casino game that can legally control the payouts, the ship is more likely to let you win early in the week where you're more likely to spend it on board rather than let you take the cash off the ship.
Keep in mind that drink packages include specialty teas and coffees, sodas, virgin drinks, alcoholic drinks, and bottled water. So when you take into account how many drinks a day would “make it worth it,” consider how many sodas you’ll have or your special coffee or alcoholic drinks. Also, on the drink packages, I like not having to keep track and we don’t have to think about how much we’ve spent so far today or whatever. Just get what you want and don’t think about. Just enjoy it regardless of I have 3 drinks or 15.
@@gloriabowie5629 not if you had to buy each drink individually. On my cruises, I drink at LEAST $35 in soda alone if I were buying them per drink. A lot of people are around that same range. That’s not even including alcohol which run $11-15 on average per drink and some can be more than that. So 3 alcoholic drinks in a day can be $45 so add that to the $35 I would’ve spent on soda and now we are up to $80 for one day. Then you have the specialty coffees that anyone can rack up $15 or so in a day there if they are light coffee drinkers. So now we are at $95. Then you have specialty teas and bottled waters which can easily be $30+ a day. So in one day, it would be easy to drink $125 in beverages if buying them individually which for a 7 night cruise would come out to $875. Drink packages usually cost me around $550-700 depending on the price of the package when I buy it.
Drink package definitely pays off for me. On a cruise I drink like a fish. ~6 drinks a day = Worth buying drink package. I can have 6 drinks for breakfast, haha.
@@sharzoe Not to mention the drinks are smaller and, unless you ask for a double shot, much weaker. ~$10 is a bit crazy for inhaling drinks around the pool.
My wife and I easily make the drinks package pay off every time we cruise. It's a very individual thing, but it's not just alcoholic drinks, I love trying out the specialty coffees, juices, and I really enjoy seltzer water. I also like having bottled water available for shore excursions or just in my cabin. You don't have to go crazy and get wasted every day to make it worth it. I just find I drink a lot of liquids generally and not having to worry about the bill at the end of the cruise makes it really stress-free and enjoyable.
I completely agree with you regarding splurging for the upgraded room. I was adamantly against cruising, but finally caved because my wife really wanted to go. I am a meticulous planner and thought I would hate it. We booked a balcony and went on our first cruise 2 weeks before the industry got shut down during the pandemic, and I'm hooked. I'm not a morning person, but my favorite thing to do was to wake up around 5, go down and get some coffee or a bloody Mary, and come back to watch the sunrise and, a couple of mornings, to see some dolphins, whales and sea turtles hanging around the ship. So relaxing and made the trip infinitely more memorable.
I'm the kind of person who could single handedly keep Coke & Pepsi in business, so getting the soda package makes sense for me. The alcohol packages (I normally have one or two a day on a cruise), not so much.
James K -- Hear, hear! The card offering the soft drink package on a cruise I took read, "Kids! Teens! Soda drinkers!" then spelled out the offer. As a middle-aged person, at the time, I charitably ignored the billing and saved a TON of money.
I agree as long as the non alcohol package includes specialty drinks, it's been a few years since I was on a cruise but at the time I had to average 2.5 drinks a day to come up even and I definitely surpassed that plus was getting a lot of fruit and good tasting drinks if it was soda only although I would be more hesitant and it would need to be cheap.
I think Gary has some great advice here. I work onboard and I am also a passenger on our ships on vacation. I would never have anything but a balcony. Fresh air, all the sunlight coming in, the sound of the ocean, privacy, relaxing with a beer or wine and watching the world go by. Excursions - I agree with Gary. However, in the Caribbean on small islands you can rent a car for 4 people cheaply and you are never that far from the ship. Also many islands have beaches and seaviews that are not much different from island to island. Just get off and walk around. Specialty dining - sometimes you want a break from your tablemates, you want a quieter less busy dining environment. You want a wider selection of premium food, faster service etc. Its $25 maybe $35 a person. Thats cheap compared to a similar restaurant on land. Cabanas - if you are going to hangout all day. Definitely check if your drink package includes the private island. WIFI very subjective. Its way better than it was a few years ago but will never be as good as land. You can get free wifi at ports at Starbucks, McDonalds, tourist zones etc. In fact sometimes the ship is close enough that you can get it on the ship. Go out on your balcony or on deck to get a better signal. You can get unlimited packages now. Drink packages - if you are a light drinker, not worth it, medium maybe, heavy yes. Your break even depending on what you drink is about 6 - 8 a day. Some drink packages include top shelf brands too. Drink packages also include bottled water, pop, juices, mocktails, milkshakes, specialty coffees, discounts in wine by the bottle etc. Spas, onboard shopping, wine tastings, photos, etc. Gary is right, these are expensive and money makers. But people are on vacation and may want to splurge, when you are onship you have the time. You can take your own photos on the ship but the ship photographers do a great job! Also the spa and salon staff are extremely good or they wouldn't be working on the ship.
I do have one picture from a cruise that I bought and I cherish it. BUT it was a silly set up like a romantic novel cover and it was on the formal night (which was also my birthday) so my husband and I cheesed it up for the camera and it is one of my favorite pictures because of how absolutely ridiculous it is. That is the only time the pictures are worth it.
The main conclusion that I have made after watching this video is "It is worth it to pay for privacy and quietness. Book the private cabana on the beach or the private cabana at the more exclusive end of the indoor pool."
In my experience (travelling with husband and kids) I agree that a balcony cabin is 100% worth it. I also would recommend at least a non-alcoholic package if you travel with kids in hot climates because it makes sure they get enough to drink. We also readily used to bring bottled water included in the package off shore instead of having to buy them on land. Will always recommend drink packages for families. Would also generally not recommend excursion. I have never bern content with one and have always been more content exploring on my (our) own.
Our first cruise in early 2018 my wife and I had 2 excursions on a 5 day / 4 night on Carnival. Definitely worth it. Total package for both of us was $1900.00 and that included the tip package add on and steak night. And since we don't drink sodas we just paid for our drinks as we wanted them. Still much cheaper than the drink package for us, especially since we had 2 excursions.
When booking excursions, you can have a great time and save a lot of $ by going with independent tours, but I would ALWAYS book through the cruise line if it is a tender port. They will move you to the front of the line, if necessary, to help you make that excursion, where you could miss your excursion if you're late due to tender line-ups if you booked independently.
Your comments about cruise line excursions is spot on. My wife and I took a Celebrity Western Caribbean cruise from Miami to Cozumel. Our excursion took us by boat and bus a few hours into Mexico to see the Aztec ruins. We were almost 2 hours late in getting back to the ship. Being an official excursion, we had the peace of mind to know the ship would be waiting for us - and it was. The captain wasn't happy, but we were thrilled!
One tip I learned from cruising the past five years is if you're going to buy a t-shirt on the ship, wait until the next to the last day of the cruise. Royal Caribbean and Carnival both put t-shirts on sale on Friday before the cruise ended. That's on a seven day cruise that leaves and returns on Saturday.
I didn’t use the spa services but on our Norwegian cruise, we paid for the unlimited use of the thermal spa and used that every day. It was heavenly and worth every penny. Who needs a massage after all those whirlpool jets?!?
5:40 I think for me the better thing is to use the free wi-fi on sure information centres normally have them. This means you can catch up, it costs you nothing and it means that your cruise is a cruise without spending time looking at social media etc.
I think it is crucial to compare the costs. On some cruises the discount for interior (or surcharge for balcony depending on you look at it) is so large that it makes sense to get the interior. I saved almost $2000 by getting an interior room.
One thing I find irritating is that on a modern cruise ship around half of the common areas are upsells. (Specialty dining, spa, club deck space, etc). Think about that when you book and account for whether you're going to partake in those areas as part of the cost.
I find it interesting at times what one thinks of as new. My Dad worked on Princesses first ship, while Mum took the ship to Australia from North America to teach for two years. Dad's family cruised a lot before parents met up again, and my first one was early 1990s. Versions of these things were always there. Sometimes as the different class of cabin/passengers that have been mentioned, or things one had to pay extra for. I have actually been on the cheapest first class on the train across Canada, and in Echonomy, similar differences there.
We had a business T-Mobile cell phone plan (US) and called ahead and requested the international feature. It was about a $10 surcharge. We took a Costa cruise from Venice through the Greek Islands returning to Venice via Bari Italy. Since we were near a coastline quite a bit I ended up having not perfect but fairly consistent wi-fi surprisingly. There was enough access to turn on the hotspot for others in our group when we were together and to also download content. I believe this is possible with other types of phone plans. It worked well enough for us and what we wanted to do.
One of your best tip videos. We love the balconies in our cabins, and find them well worth the money. Same for the WiFi package. Shore excursions are usually a good deal to see the area in a safe and friendly manner.
We had an interior cabin on a 6 week Asia (Japan cherry blossoms) cruise. The issue was with how small the room was, so we'll stick to balcony cabins or if we've been there before, an oceanview cabin to save a bit of $$
Fantastic video, Gary. We're on the same page. The very first thing I learned after my first cruise was that it's worth spending the money on the cabin. I remember agonizing over all the choices at first. Now it's easy. 1) Only a balcony, 2) Only an unobstructed ocean view balcony (as opposed to, say, the interior-facing balconies on a lot of the Royal ships with the open atrium design or the dreaded hull balconies and their cute euphemistic names), 3) Has to be as high as possible. Each of those is normally a big jump from the advertised "starts at" price but those are dealbreakers for me. Not so much of a big deal is the upcharge they sometimes have for mid, forward, aft, etc. depending on the layout of the ship. I will only do ship-sponsored excursions, as well. The specialty dining I've done has been disappointing and I only get it if it's basically included, like the NCL cruises where you only pay gratuity. My cruise consultant recommended I buy a fine dining package for my 2-week Transatlantic next year if only to break up the monotony and make the trip more interesting, and I do agree with that idea. I agree on the WiFI, too. I tried to get away with the cheaper package on my first cruise and it was like dialup. Now I go right to the fast speeds even though they're pricey. And I don't drink alcohol or soda so I never get a package. I'm very happy with the coffee and water at the buffet. And I never do the spa, tastings, shopping, or photos unless I have leftover credit and nothing else to spend it on.
Viking cruises may look expensive to a lot of people but all cabins have a balcony, all drinks included at lunch and dinner unless you want to upgrade and a good free excursion at nearly
One of the best perks of a cruise is being disconnected. It's very refreshing to step away from everything and just enjoy the cruise with those around you. I'm very happy to not pay for wifi. I've also done both the balcony and inside cabins interchangeably. An inside cabin is better than not cruising at all. So if money is tight or it means two vacations instead of one, go inside. What I've found most important is cabin location. Being more in the middle of the ship with cabins above and below is more important than a balcony.
You are gently nudging me to get back to cruising. I started without a balcony but I’d pass on a trip if balconies weren’t available. Thanks for reminding me why my choices were made!!! Gary, you are great!!!
I get a massage every trip and I have never had them hound me to buy anything. I just tell them when I go in that I don't want to buy anything and that is that.
Every time I get a massage and feel so good and relaxed....then the high pressure sales comes when you have to sign. It just ruins the entire luxury! I never buy and leave quickly. I’ve stopped having any spa treatments. Bummer.
Love the specialty drinks. Our favorite is strawberry daiquiri with whipped cream on top. Mix the whipped cream into the drink and it is like a strawberry milkshake with booze. 😋❤️
I always love the spa. It’s so nice to relax and spas are hard to find where I live. I do agree with spending money on shopping on ports and in towns instead of on ships unless it’s specifically cruise memorabilia.
We agree about the spa. We don't shop or gamble when on a cruise, but we always get a couple's massage and thermal spa pass. It's the only time my husband will actually get a massage, and he really enjoys it. We also go to the spa almost everyday, love the heated loungers and relaxation area. We have room service bring us breakfast and a big carafe of coffee. That's how we cruise. It's all about self care!
I agree with spending up for a good cabin, balconies are the best. We like to upgrade to beverage packages and at least one or two speciality restaurants for the cruise. Learned that time on the ship is important your on it more than off it.
We book balcony cabins on warm weather cruises, and ocean view on cold weather cruises. And we always do ship excursions. We like all the options they have. We don’t do specialty dining unless it is included on a package. With that being said, we got 5 included with our NCL Panama Canal Cruise and we loved it
I agree about skipping the drink packages. I went on a 7 day cruise a couple years ago & a friend and I ended up getting the Beverage Package for something like $300-350/person for the 7 days. By my calculations, we each had to consume around 8 beverages/day to break even. Also, remember that non-alcoholic drinks are free at meals, so this ended up being more for the convenience factor, since we were with our families and not looking at getting completely wasted every day. Next time i’ll skip it.
On longer cruises (7 days or more), I typically do get the drinks package, because I do always manage to make it pay off. There are a few tricks to it, though: First, watch the price of the drinks package leading up to your cruise, the price will vary and will often go to a low point where you can snatch one up saving sometimes upward of a few hundred dollars. Second, don't just go crazy on alcoholic drinks the first few days you're on the ship with the intent to make it worth it. You're likely going to get big hangovers and not want to drink the rest of the time. Just take it easy and make the package worth it each day. You can do this, not just with cocktails, but also specialty coffees, juices, bottled/seltzer water, etc. Grab a bottle of water or lemonade on your way out to the ports or when you're wondering around on the ship. If you won't drink it then, just take it back to your cabin for later. There's a really wide selection of things you can get with the drink packages that people ignore for the alcohol. Lastly, just use the package to try new things. It's a great way to try drinks that you've never heard of and not have to care if you don't like it, you just get another one.
I have to say our 1st picture when you board is a favorite because not all the people are still with us and it was one of most fun times as a family. It was the only pic we bought.
I bought a high end watch onboard Princess… the price was much better than at home, and came with a guarantee that if I found it cheaper in port, they would refund the difference… first port, I found it $200 cheaper and got the salesman to write the price and model on a business card… Princess refunded the difference without flinching… couple ports later, and I again got a quote on a business card that was over $200 lower than my already matched price… Princess actually contacted the port shop the next day (it was a large and recommended shop) to confirm the quote, but in the end did refund the difference… love my watch and know I got a good deal!
I'd be content with an ocean view cabin. I've had both inside and balcony cabins, but from those experiences, daylight is essential but a balcony itself isn't. I definitely used my onboard credit for WiFi on the last cruise I went on. It was surprising that between 2016 and 2019 the importance of being in touch with home increased immensely, even though my second job knew I'd be away.
I agree about the excursions. We didn’t plan excursions in Stockholm or Helsinki because we just spent a lot of money on a two-day tour of St Petersburg. We just walked around, and I don’t feel like we got the most out of our time in those two ports. Mixology sessions are a good value. It was about $20 and got four drinks.
Our first cruise in 2016 was in a cabin with a balcony. We could never travel any other way. Our cruise in 2022 includes a drinks package, wifi, and tips. It was a promotion in 2020 and we decided to book it.
I absolutely agree about cruise line excursions being worth the money after a bad experience with an outside excursion in Belize. Not only did we not see anything worthwhile, I fell and hurt my knee getting out of a boat. Once back on board I went to the medical center and they were very concerned and accommodating until they learned I had not been on a cruise line excursion. Then it was "well in that case you have to pay $125 to see the doctor". This convinced me that cruise line excursions are just safer and that is my #1 concern when traveling, especially outside the US.
We like hiring local taxis to give us a tour that way we decide everything we just tell them take us to the spots and we get more of a local experience and shopping is cheaper away from the more touristy places
Agree with everything except the Spa, I know they are expensive but this is my treat and I enjoy the pampering at the end I listen to the sales pitch but it’s easy to politely decline
In my experience of 4 cruiselines tours and 4 privately booked excursions, all the cruiseline tours have been terrible and the private company excursions have been wonderful.
I have cruised 20 times and I agree with all of your do's and don'ts this is a great video. I'm amused at many people arguing on websites that the drink package is definitely a winner. When I find out how many drinks including sodas fresh-squeezed orange juices, specialty coffees and wines and Cocktails they drink a day and I mention how many calories that is they really get sensitive. I then talked about how that will affect their heart and their waistline they really get sensitive one look at their Facebook period many times they never show their body just says it all
I'm so glad I bought photos of mom & me! It was our last cruise together and I certainly do cherish it! I have the 5x7 in a frame, my kids have a small framed one on display and I carry one with me. Yes, at almost 92, my mom is still vital but I'm glad to have them!,
Taking a cruise in May to Middle East and your videos have been invaluable. Especially not buying a drink package and just using on board credits to buy any drinks. Thanks every so much and keep up the good advice
You've said what not to waste money on rather than what's a good deal. Can you do a specific video about drinks packages, what each cruise company charges and how many drinks including specialty coffees etc would make them worthwhile.
I highly recommend booking a Chef’s Table experience if it’s available. Eight to ten people, and a fantastic meal with paired wines. I’ve done it twice and will do it again.
Also, our first three cruises were balcony rooms. During the 4th we got an interior facing window and loved it more and got those from then on. If I want to see the water I go up deck. If I was to spy on people from the comfort of my own room I do that. Or watch the parade or whatever
For the foreseeable future, most of the major cruise lines won't let you go off on your own when you're onshore due to Covid restrictions, so cruise excursions are mandatory if you want off the ship.
After ensuring that the cabin is the best we can afford and choose, the premium drinks package is worth it as every type of drink/beverage is included.
I think it depends on location. I love balcony but as a single traveller they are so expensive and most cruises an inside cabin might be more worth it. It just depends on the location
Agree a lot. One exception for shopping is cruise line branded merchandise. This is usually inexpensive ($10-20), and we love it. We have so many Disney Cruise Line coffee mugs and Christmas ornaments. But the jewelry and the watches and such? No way. (Occasionally we’ve had to suck it up on sunscreen and once a pair of Sox, but that just happens.) I do enjoy the spa for a nice shave before we go to the specialty restaurant (usually once per cruise). We pa k formal clothes (tux, gowns) for that evening. I love being freshly groomed for that. Some cruise lines offer general access spa passes on the first day. Not specific treatments, but the right to use the steam rooms, etc. My wife loves those. After a long excursion, a pre-paid hour in the sauna helps her sleep.
Great video, valuable information. My Mom-in-Law made the mistake on her first cruise of purchasing every single photograph because she hated the idea of having them thrown away.
I feel like the photo packages can be worthwhile, especially if you go with an unlimited digital option, and you purchase prior to cruising. I find that I end up printing more pictures at home and share more shots on social media when I have those digital copies. Plus I don't have to spend time in the photo gallery trying to figure out what pictures I want to keep. With that said, it's not a "must have". If I don't have a photo package, I may not even venture into the photo gallery.
We really enjoy the cabanas on the cruise lines’ private island. It is a bit expensive but we agree, well worth the money if for no other reason than to have guaranteed shade - since am very fair skinned and need to be able to get out of the sun. We’ve done this with family as well as friends and found it to be a highlight of the cruise.
The island cabana I highly recommend. My friend did this and invited me & my cabinmate to join them. OH WOW! Loved it & we had such great individualized service and time there (the shade!!!) that we booked it for our next one too.
Some good tips, although I have never taken the Internet package, when I go on a cruise I enjoy being totally unplugged from work, reality and responsibilities. The world can get along without me for a week. About the only thing I buy on the ship is one photo, and maybe a shirt, cup or otherwise small item with the ships name on it. The drink package is a double edged sword, it’s expensive, but One advantage is that I can try out some different specialty drinks and if I don’t like it then I don’t feel like I threw my money away by getting something else. But I agree with skipping the heavy shopping, auctions, spas, etc....
Definitely upgrade to a Balcony cabin, even my “I’m not paying extra for a Balcony, we’re only going to be sleeping in there” husband is a convert after I insisted on our second cruise. It was lovely to step out on to in the morning still in pjs, over trying to peer through a dirty, water spotted window to see what the day was like. Good to retreat to when over the rest of the cruisers.
I bought a drink package on my last cruise and while I didn't drink enough drinks to justify the per-drink cost, it was VERY nice just not having to worry about it and getting to order whatever I wanted (Patron, Jameson, etc.)
The various cruise ships that dock at Invergordon Scotland connect with some of the WORST land excursions I can imagine. Rushing you from one flimsy tourist trap to the next and coaches (then) insisting on driving through the tiny streets of Inverness and getting stuck for 30+ minutes. You spend far too long in the coach and not at the sites. I don't imagine they've changed much since then. Old dogs - no new tricks.
He's right about cabins. I had cruised previously in inside cabins but after hearing horror stories about them during the pandemic, I booked a balcony for my cruise in June and now I can't think of ever going back to an inside cabin. The cruise was fantastic because of the views from the balcony and also because the ship was only at one-third capacity!
I rarely enjoy your video's. You do a nice job. I completely agree with your thoughts on cabins. A couple of things. My next cabin will be for my 42nd wedding anniversary with my three adult children. 40 and 41 got cancelled. My cabin will be an (H2) Haven Deluxe Owners Suite with Large balcony on the NCL Joy. This is a bucket list item and only happened because of the 125% FCC and the 10% off on next cruise plus the second two passenger are free promotion. Second point, I always use the cruise excursions. My favorite are anything that starts with "All-Inclusive Over the water Bungalow". The Beach Villa on the private island. So, I completely agree with your thoughts. On specialty dinning, it comes with the Haven and I get dinner for two at the French Restaurant with American Express Platinum Perks. So, I purchase my 3-5 passengers the dinning package for three nights so we can all dine together. I hope this supports you channel and thank you again.
We love the non alcoholic beverage package that includes unlimited sparkling water, specialty coffees in addition to the sodas, etc. My husband is a late sleeper and I enjoyed going to relax in an area that I could utilize my wifi and drink my lattes in the morning. We also drank a lot of sparkling water with different fruits in it.
I dine in the main dining room and if they don't have filet mug on I just ask the waiter for it and they actually get it from crown grill an it costs much less and is easier than going to crown grill and you don't have to worry about a reservation Also I don't drink alcohol sids or sugar so extra money for restaurants and a suite is easy to come up with
We have a Special Needs daughter, so we need to have a Cabin with a Balcony, so we always pay the extra to have one. She enjoys sitting out there enjoying the fresh air & the sound of the ocean. I enjoy that too. We are from Sydney & a couple of cruises we've been on have had Dolphins jumping out of the water near the ship & she absolutely loves watching that, too. We are so happy that Cruising is restarting in Australia soon. We already have 2 cruises booked on the P&O Pacific Explorer (September) & the Carnival Splendor (October/November). Can't wait. It's been a long 2+ Years.
If you work remotely or have your own business good wifi is so worth it, less days off those who don’t get much paid vacation days and you can make use of lots of sea days if you’re repositioning!
I would love a balcony suite but the difference in price between a balcony and an ordinary cabin with a window is just eye watering for a South African, as depending on the exchange rate we have to multiply the US price by 15-16!! Only the wealthy can afford a balcony! So for my Alaska 2022 cruise I booked an interior.🙈😂🇿🇦
Totally agree with the drinks package! My last cruise was on P&O Aurora to the Canaries. With 6 sea days out of 14 I thought it would be a good idea to get the package as it was only £40 per day. I found myself during the first few days (sea days) drinking to get value for money out of it. By the time we hit the first port on day 4 I felt really groggy and thought this is silly. I reverted back to sensible drinking (and a few days off alcohol as well) and vowed not to buy a package again. I do actually have it on my Princess staycation in September as it is part of the £30 per day Princess plus package which includes wifi & gratuities too. It makes sense as even a few coffees and a few alcoholic drinks per day makes it worthwhile. Otherwise no thanks, never again
Thank you, Gary. This, like all of your tips videos, is very interesting, as I am going to be a first time cruiser hopefully in 2022 and I am doing lots of research. I am on a budget but think a balcony cabin is a must and certainly would like to try one or two specialty dining experiences and some excursions. My boyfriend eats mostly only fast food so the speciality dining would be my treat for me, wasted on him sadly. I'm not much of a drinker so perhaps a soft drinks package might be a good option. Thanks again for loads of food for thought.
When I going to places that have beaches, I like to bring my own beach chair (light weight with canopy). For me just going to beach at a port with my own beach chair is wonderful.
I like having a beverage package because I don't want to worry about budgeting for the cost at the end and I don't want to have to think about the cost during the cruise. It's nice to just get a glass of wine if I want without worrying about how the charges might be adding up.
About seven years ago, my boyfriend and I along with my parents took the QM2 from New York (really, New Jersey) to South Hampton and had a wonderful time. We bought a very expensive photo package and am very glad we did. None of us were very good photographers and the photos the profession took were fantastic. My father and boy friend have since passed on and I look most of the picture once a week or so. I have most of them up about my townhouse and they bring back such wonderful memories. Other than buying the cruise itself, I think the photos were the best money I spent on the trip.
Why do I keep watching these? I don't imagine I'll ever go on a cruise, but he's so informative and enthusiastic, I keep clicking!
And Gary's voice is so relaxing.
As do I!
After the pandemic is over, go on a cruise. You might find it changes your life and world view.
Same with me. I'm 87 so no chance I'll be taking one. Besides I'm an old destroyer sailor and these cruise ships don't have any 5" 38 guns or quad 40's. Not going without some big guns fore and aft.
Me to
I used to feel that it wasn’t worth paying extra to get a balcony cabin, as we spent most of our waking hours up on deck. But once we got a balcony room, our cruise changed considerably, as we rarely went upon deck anymore and in fact if we weren’t eating or at a show, chances are we were out on our balcony. It was like our own private cruise vacation.
I agree! It makes a big difference
No fighting over deck chairs! I always get a balcony too.
@@amybradley5821 as I said, for years I never bothered, but once I tried it I was in love. I was shocked how much it changed the cruise for us. I cruise for the time at sea, the destination is secondary, or really all but meaningless, and probably half the time I’ve ended up staying on board while in port, sometimes with my wife, other she would do an excursion with our son, and/or her parents (my in-laws got me to fall in love with cruising, and most times we cruise together, but in separate rooms of course.) Honestly, if the cruise lines did 7 day cruises to nowhere, I’d definitely be interested.
I used to always say, cruising is one of the few times I’d be, “off the clock,” as unless we wanted to catch a specific show, or have dinner in the dining room, the time was basically meaningless, but when we go ashore, we’re back on the clock as we’ve got to be back by a specific time.
Although lately being off the clock means much less to me as I’ve had 2 minor and 3 major back surgeries in the last 8 years, and have basically been home bound, well except for doctors appointments, and a rare afternoon at my in-laws, so as you can imagine I’m lucky to know what day it is. When people would complain about the lockdowns being a PITA, I say “hey, it could be worse and you could be in my position, such that the lockdown really didn’t change my life at all, as I’d been social distancing for years already.” 🤣
@@johnpatz8395 me too! I’d like to try a trans-Atlantic because it’s days at sea. I do scuba dive so the ports are important to me too but I would be happy just cruising to nowhere as well. I’m booked for January!
@@amybradley5821 that’s a good idea, I hadn’t consider those cruises before, I’ll have to check into then.
I used to dive, in fact one time my wife and I went to Hawaii we took the resort course to get my wife certified, I actually BEEN certified SINCE I was a sophomore in HS, but I took it with her. It was great fun, the dive shop would pick us up in the morning, and we’d spend all day on the drive boat and get in at least two of three dives a day.
Making me want to take a cruise Gary.
Makes me want to re-watch "Parks and Recreation". TREAT YO SELF!
Yep!🤣
@@BeSkeptical851 Agreed
Q
@@pamelas1002 a
Good one G. So easy to blow money on worthless stuff, but so easy to say "no" to something that actually would have been worth it. Thanks for the tips. And so true, once you get that good room it's hard to go back.
I totally read this in your voice 😂
Agree with getting a balcony room. Love being out when ship departs ports with a drink in hand
agree!
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Agreed and if you have had enough of people you can sit on your balcony , sunbath in peace and just basically chill
As someone who sleeps in complete darkness, inside cabins have always been my go-to room, the cheaper price is a plus
While I do like alcohol, I can't drink many of the cocktails I love due to health reasons (too much sugar). I have to limit wine as well.
My strategy: Go to the Captain's cocktail party. They usually include free alcoholic drinks as well as appetizers. Go at the beginning for best selection. If you are curious about art auctions you can go to 1 or 2. They will serve you "free" wine after a while. You pay with your time. Some of the artwork is worth looking at. Do not buy anything unless you can get it for a really low price. If you stay for the whole session they may give you a free art print. They are usually printed on decent paper and make a good souvenir. When you get home, buy a frame and hang on the wall or give as a gift.
Another cost optimization: wine costs far more by the glass than it does if you buy a whole bottle. And if you are not able to responsibly consume an entire bottle during one meal - no problem! All ships will "check" a bottle: the sommelier will put your name and cabin number on the bottle, and you can retrieve it for subsequent meals. 1-2 bottles consumed over the entire cruise will work out much cheaper than individual glasses.
Also the "by the glass" limits your choices. There is a wider variety if you buy the bottle. The checked wine can be used in any restaurant, not just the one you bought it from. I mean main dining rooms and specialty ones.
Good video, thanks! I always have a balcony. My favorite thing is to sit in the fresh air watching the ocean go by and if I want to do that in my jammies I can. 😂
agree !
I always opt for shore excursions. Years ago, on my one-and-only Caribbean cruise, we chose an excursion into Caracas, Venezuela. It was truly scary. The poverty was depressing, and the tour was cut short because of demonstrations in the streets. I'm convinced that anyone taking three steps from the bus would have disappeared and never found. The ship's guided excursions are the safest ones, unless you know the city and the language.
Wow, that is scary. Better to be on a guided tour should situations like that arise.
Why are they the safest? Do they have armed guards riding on the roof? Honestly I think people are divorced from reality, any bus, any excursion can be caught up in a riot. And a cruise excursion doesn’t have magic routes that ‘hides’ poverty behind a curtain. It exists.
@@xr6lad Being in a group on a bus was safer than walking around alone in an uncertain area as was Caracas at that time. Seeing the extent of the poverty was a valuable learning experience, but perhaps not what people on vacation want to see.
In Copenhagen (supposedly "safe"), we were just walking along the street enjoying the architecture, when we got caught up in a riot between football fans (deadly rivals apparently!). The police with full riot gear and batons kept them apart, although a smoke canister was lobbed and came very close to us. In hindsight it was a far more memorable experience than the tours on offer! I had thought the Scandinavians were 'cool' and unemotional but this was something new that was learnt about the culture.
@@SuperNevile The unanticipated experiences can be the most memorable! Nowadays, Moscow would not be considered a "safe" city at night, but in 1993 it was different. Our river cruise group went to the ballet, but the guide's husband, who knew the city well, took four of us on the "scenic" route back to the ship rather than taking the bus. We rode on Moscow subways and explored some of the streets at midnight! All very safe and quiet then.
For most of our cruises we do inside--and not because we are cheap. We like that it almost forces to get out of there and enjoy the ship and the other passengers. We have also found that many ships have "unusual" inside cabins that have a better layout like no closet doors opening into entry way and being narrow. So using the room just for sleeping and getting ready to go somewhere else is actually nicer.
We like insides too.ive heard too many people complain about their balcony neighbors.
We also prefer inside cabins for the same reason.
@@chantalpatenaude1459 I did find it a bit expensive and they did try to sell me but not too hard!
If you have to be “forced” to leave your cabin then that means you have a nice cabin.
That works unless one is also a bit claustrophobic.
For the drink packages it really depends on the person. When I'm on vacation, I will typically drink a fair amount. Not enough to get wasted, but a bloody mary in the morning, a fruity drink or 2 by the pool, a martini before dinner, a bottle of wine for the table at dinner, a nightcap...etc. The last few cruises we've been on had it included in the package and it was nice not getting that sticker shock at the end of the week from the bar.
If you do go to the spa, offer your massage therapist a better tip if he or she doesn't try to sell you any product afterwards - they'll usually get the hint that you won't buy anything.
If you like to play the slot machines, do it on the first day or two of the cruise, and then stop. While I can't 100% confirm this, since slots are the one casino game that can legally control the payouts, the ship is more likely to let you win early in the week where you're more likely to spend it on board rather than let you take the cash off the ship.
Keep in mind that drink packages include specialty teas and coffees, sodas, virgin drinks, alcoholic drinks, and bottled water. So when you take into account how many drinks a day would “make it worth it,” consider how many sodas you’ll have or your special coffee or alcoholic drinks.
Also, on the drink packages, I like not having to keep track and we don’t have to think about how much we’ve spent so far today or whatever. Just get what you want and don’t think about. Just enjoy it regardless of I have 3 drinks or 15.
Absolutely Robert! That is exact thing Hubby and I think.
good watch out!
Agreed!
Drink package are way too expensive.
@@gloriabowie5629 not if you had to buy each drink individually. On my cruises, I drink at LEAST $35 in soda alone if I were buying them per drink. A lot of people are around that same range. That’s not even including alcohol which run $11-15 on average per drink and some can be more than that. So 3 alcoholic drinks in a day can be $45 so add that to the $35 I would’ve spent on soda and now we are up to $80 for one day. Then you have the specialty coffees that anyone can rack up $15 or so in a day there if they are light coffee drinkers. So now we are at $95. Then you have specialty teas and bottled waters which can easily be $30+ a day. So in one day, it would be easy to drink $125 in beverages if buying them individually which for a 7 night cruise would come out to $875. Drink packages usually cost me around $550-700 depending on the price of the package when I buy it.
Drink package definitely pays off for me. On a cruise I drink like a fish. ~6 drinks a day = Worth buying drink package. I can have 6 drinks for breakfast, haha.
My wife and I found out the hard way that NOT buying the drink package is a BIG mistake. You're on vacation! You are going to drink more than normal.
We are the same we nail the drinks package, it's a British thing for us I think.
@@sharzoe Not to mention the drinks are smaller and, unless you ask for a double shot, much weaker. ~$10 is a bit crazy for inhaling drinks around the pool.
My wife and I easily make the drinks package pay off every time we cruise. It's a very individual thing, but it's not just alcoholic drinks, I love trying out the specialty coffees, juices, and I really enjoy seltzer water. I also like having bottled water available for shore excursions or just in my cabin. You don't have to go crazy and get wasted every day to make it worth it. I just find I drink a lot of liquids generally and not having to worry about the bill at the end of the cruise makes it really stress-free and enjoyable.
I completely agree with you regarding splurging for the upgraded room. I was adamantly against cruising, but finally caved because my wife really wanted to go. I am a meticulous planner and thought I would hate it. We booked a balcony and went on our first cruise 2 weeks before the industry got shut down during the pandemic, and I'm hooked.
I'm not a morning person, but my favorite thing to do was to wake up around 5, go down and get some coffee or a bloody Mary, and come back to watch the sunrise and, a couple of mornings, to see some dolphins, whales and sea turtles hanging around the ship. So relaxing and made the trip infinitely more memorable.
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Bloody Mary on the balcony! What a great idea!
I'm the kind of person who could single handedly keep Coke & Pepsi in business, so getting the soda package makes sense for me. The alcohol packages (I normally have one or two a day on a cruise), not so much.
they will makes case then for sure!
Here here!
James K -- Hear, hear! The card offering the soft drink package on a cruise I took read, "Kids! Teens! Soda drinkers!" then spelled out the offer. As a middle-aged person, at the time, I charitably ignored the billing and saved a TON of money.
I agree as long as the non alcohol package includes specialty drinks, it's been a few years since I was on a cruise but at the time I had to average 2.5 drinks a day to come up even and I definitely surpassed that plus was getting a lot of fruit and good tasting drinks if it was soda only although I would be more hesitant and it would need to be cheap.
I think Gary has some great advice here. I work onboard and I am also a passenger on our ships on vacation. I would never have anything but a balcony. Fresh air, all the sunlight coming in, the sound of the ocean, privacy, relaxing with a beer or wine and watching the world go by. Excursions - I agree with Gary. However, in the Caribbean on small islands you can rent a car for 4 people cheaply and you are never that far from the ship. Also many islands have beaches and seaviews that are not much different from island to island. Just get off and walk around. Specialty dining - sometimes you want a break from your tablemates, you want a quieter less busy dining environment. You want a wider selection of premium food, faster service etc. Its $25 maybe $35 a person. Thats cheap compared to a similar restaurant on land. Cabanas - if you are going to hangout all day. Definitely check if your drink package includes the private island. WIFI very subjective. Its way better than it was a few years ago but will never be as good as land. You can get free wifi at ports at Starbucks, McDonalds, tourist zones etc. In fact sometimes the ship is close enough that you can get it on the ship. Go out on your balcony or on deck to get a better signal. You can get unlimited packages now. Drink packages - if you are a light drinker, not worth it, medium maybe, heavy yes. Your break even depending on what you drink is about 6 - 8 a day. Some drink packages include top shelf brands too. Drink packages also include bottled water, pop, juices, mocktails, milkshakes, specialty coffees, discounts in wine by the bottle etc. Spas, onboard shopping, wine tastings, photos, etc. Gary is right, these are expensive and money makers. But people are on vacation and may want to splurge, when you are onship you have the time. You can take your own photos on the ship but the ship photographers do a great job! Also the spa and salon staff are extremely good or they wouldn't be working on the ship.
I've been on over 25 cruises with many different lines and I agree with everything you said.
Wowza! Which was your favorite cruise?
I do have one picture from a cruise that I bought and I cherish it. BUT it was a silly set up like a romantic novel cover and it was on the formal night (which was also my birthday) so my husband and I cheesed it up for the camera and it is one of my favorite pictures because of how absolutely ridiculous it is. That is the only time the pictures are worth it.
The main conclusion that I have made after watching this video is "It is worth it to pay for privacy and quietness. Book the private cabana on the beach or the private cabana at the more exclusive end of the indoor pool."
In my experience (travelling with husband and kids) I agree that a balcony cabin is 100% worth it. I also would recommend at least a non-alcoholic package if you travel with kids in hot climates because it makes sure they get enough to drink. We also readily used to bring bottled water included in the package off shore instead of having to buy them on land. Will always recommend drink packages for families. Would also generally not recommend excursion. I have never bern content with one and have always been more content exploring on my (our) own.
Our first cruise in early 2018 my wife and I had 2 excursions on a 5 day / 4 night on Carnival. Definitely worth it. Total package for both of us was $1900.00 and that included the tip package add on and steak night. And since we don't drink sodas we just paid for our drinks as we wanted them. Still much cheaper than the drink package for us, especially since we had 2 excursions.
When booking excursions, you can have a great time and save a lot of $ by going with independent tours, but I would ALWAYS book through the cruise line if it is a tender port. They will move you to the front of the line, if necessary, to help you make that excursion, where you could miss your excursion if you're late due to tender line-ups if you booked independently.
I have very quirky sleeping habits, so I enjoy being able to use the balcony at odd hours
Your comments about cruise line excursions is spot on. My wife and I took a Celebrity Western Caribbean cruise from Miami to Cozumel. Our excursion took us by boat and bus a few hours into Mexico to see the Aztec ruins. We were almost 2 hours late in getting back to the ship. Being an official excursion, we had the peace of mind to know the ship would be waiting for us - and it was. The captain wasn't happy, but we were thrilled!
I guess I'm missing something?? On his "10 Biggest Cruise Rip Offs To Watch Out For", he says to avoid Excursions. On this video, he's promoting them.
The difference now is the only shore embarkation you can do are ships excursions. This may have changed recently
Listening to his other video's he did the same thing...one video's it's scam, another video it's a good buy...
One tip I learned from cruising the past five years is if you're going to buy a t-shirt on the ship, wait until the next to the last day of the cruise. Royal Caribbean and Carnival both put t-shirts on sale on Friday before the cruise ended. That's on a seven day cruise that leaves and returns on Saturday.
agree!!
I didn’t use the spa services but on our Norwegian cruise, we paid for the unlimited use of the thermal spa and used that every day. It was heavenly and worth every penny. Who needs a massage after all those whirlpool jets?!?
Agree. It's so much nicer to relax in the hot tub in the thermal spa than the crowded ones on deck.
I cruise to get away. I spend a lot of time in my cabin, this the best part for me. I also like people watching on the Promenade deck.
This is true. Balcony cabin will justify the extra expenses.
5:40 I think for me the better thing is to use the free wi-fi on sure information centres normally have them. This means you can catch up, it costs you nothing and it means that your cruise is a cruise without spending time looking at social media etc.
I think it is crucial to compare the costs. On some cruises the discount for interior (or surcharge for balcony depending on you look at it) is so large that it makes sense to get the interior. I saved almost $2000 by getting an interior room.
One thing I find irritating is that on a modern cruise ship around half of the common areas are upsells. (Specialty dining, spa, club deck space, etc). Think about that when you book and account for whether you're going to partake in those areas as part of the cost.
Yes, it is on many lines. Maybe will be more post the pandemic as they try and recoup all the $$$ - will be interesting to see
The newest addition to RC that starts sailing March 2022 has a whole area + dining restaurant only available for suite guests.
@@richardgomez1052 that’s been a thing on different ships for many years. For Royal it’s probably just a copy of what they offer on Celebrity.
I find it interesting at times what one thinks of as new. My Dad worked on Princesses first ship, while Mum took the ship to Australia from North America to teach for two years. Dad's family cruised a lot before parents met up again, and my first one was early 1990s. Versions of these things were always there. Sometimes as the different class of cabin/passengers that have been mentioned, or things one had to pay extra for.
I have actually been on the cheapest first class on the train across Canada, and in Echonomy, similar differences there.
Shopping on board - only ship souvenirs on the day before arrival - if 50% off sale !
great tip!!
We had a business T-Mobile cell phone plan (US) and called ahead and requested the international feature. It was about a $10 surcharge. We took a Costa cruise from Venice through the Greek Islands returning to Venice via Bari Italy. Since we were near a coastline quite a bit I ended up having not perfect but fairly consistent wi-fi surprisingly. There was enough access to turn on the hotspot for others in our group when we were together and to also download content. I believe this is possible with other types of phone plans. It worked well enough for us and what we wanted to do.
Good tip!
Yes I agree, I also have T Mobile , it’s great for traveling, no roaming charges. You also get 1 hour free when traveling on Delta Airlines.
And my uncle said it made for very empty ship on the sea side on his last Mediterranean cruise 😊
There should be a special cruise line - Cruising with Gary. I’d book it.
One of your best tip videos.
We love the balconies in our cabins, and find them well worth the money. Same for the WiFi package.
Shore excursions are usually a good deal to see the area in a safe and friendly manner.
Great to hear, thanks for the feedback !
We had an interior cabin on a 6 week Asia (Japan cherry blossoms) cruise. The issue was with how small the room was, so we'll stick to balcony cabins or if we've been there before, an oceanview cabin to save a bit of $$
Fantastic video, Gary. We're on the same page. The very first thing I learned after my first cruise was that it's worth spending the money on the cabin. I remember agonizing over all the choices at first. Now it's easy. 1) Only a balcony, 2) Only an unobstructed ocean view balcony (as opposed to, say, the interior-facing balconies on a lot of the Royal ships with the open atrium design or the dreaded hull balconies and their cute euphemistic names), 3) Has to be as high as possible. Each of those is normally a big jump from the advertised "starts at" price but those are dealbreakers for me. Not so much of a big deal is the upcharge they sometimes have for mid, forward, aft, etc. depending on the layout of the ship. I will only do ship-sponsored excursions, as well. The specialty dining I've done has been disappointing and I only get it if it's basically included, like the NCL cruises where you only pay gratuity. My cruise consultant recommended I buy a fine dining package for my 2-week Transatlantic next year if only to break up the monotony and make the trip more interesting, and I do agree with that idea. I agree on the WiFI, too. I tried to get away with the cheaper package on my first cruise and it was like dialup. Now I go right to the fast speeds even though they're pricey. And I don't drink alcohol or soda so I never get a package. I'm very happy with the coffee and water at the buffet. And I never do the spa, tastings, shopping, or photos unless I have leftover credit and nothing else to spend it on.
Viking cruises may look expensive to a lot of people but all cabins have a balcony, all drinks included at lunch and dinner unless you want to upgrade and a good free excursion at nearly
One of the best perks of a cruise is being disconnected. It's very refreshing to step away from everything and just enjoy the cruise with those around you. I'm very happy to not pay for wifi.
I've also done both the balcony and inside cabins interchangeably. An inside cabin is better than not cruising at all. So if money is tight or it means two vacations instead of one, go inside.
What I've found most important is cabin location. Being more in the middle of the ship with cabins above and below is more important than a balcony.
Home can wait. Screw WiFi
ok ;-)
You are gently nudging me to get back to cruising. I started without a balcony but I’d pass on a trip if balconies weren’t available. Thanks for reminding me why my choices were made!!! Gary, you are great!!!
I get a massage every trip and I have never had them hound me to buy anything. I just tell them when I go in that I don't want to buy anything and that is that.
good tip !
Every time I get a massage and feel so good and relaxed....then the high pressure sales comes when you have to sign. It just ruins the entire luxury! I never buy and leave quickly. I’ve stopped having any spa treatments. Bummer.
Good Tip
Love the specialty drinks. Our favorite is strawberry daiquiri with whipped cream on top. Mix the whipped cream into the drink and it is like a strawberry milkshake with booze. 😋❤️
Interior cabins are great for Alaska cruises. You can actually make it dark.
I’ll be cruising on Wonder of the Seas in October 22. 7th cruise with RCL. These tips are very valuable.
I always love the spa. It’s so nice to relax and spas are hard to find where I live. I do agree with spending money on shopping on ports and in towns instead of on ships unless it’s specifically cruise memorabilia.
We agree about the spa. We don't shop or gamble when on a cruise, but we always get a couple's massage and thermal spa pass. It's the only time my husband will actually get a massage, and he really enjoys it. We also go to the spa almost everyday, love the heated loungers and relaxation area. We have room service bring us breakfast and a big carafe of coffee. That's how we cruise. It's all about self care!
I agree with spending up for a good cabin, balconies are the best. We like to upgrade to beverage packages and at least one or two speciality restaurants for the cruise. Learned that time on the ship is important your on it more than off it.
agree, time on the ship is important too
We book balcony cabins on warm weather cruises, and ocean view on cold weather cruises. And we always do ship excursions. We like all the options they have.
We don’t do specialty dining unless it is included on a package. With that being said, we got 5 included with our NCL Panama Canal Cruise and we loved it
If they don't keep pushing back cruising I should be going on my first cruise this August.
Nothing like having room service breakfast on your personal balcony! Order extra coffee.
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I agree about skipping the drink packages. I went on a 7 day cruise a couple years ago & a friend and I ended up getting the Beverage Package for something like $300-350/person for the 7 days.
By my calculations, we each had to consume around 8 beverages/day to break even. Also, remember that non-alcoholic drinks are free at meals, so this ended up being more for the convenience factor, since we were with our families and not looking at getting completely wasted every day. Next time i’ll skip it.
On longer cruises (7 days or more), I typically do get the drinks package, because I do always manage to make it pay off. There are a few tricks to it, though: First, watch the price of the drinks package leading up to your cruise, the price will vary and will often go to a low point where you can snatch one up saving sometimes upward of a few hundred dollars. Second, don't just go crazy on alcoholic drinks the first few days you're on the ship with the intent to make it worth it. You're likely going to get big hangovers and not want to drink the rest of the time. Just take it easy and make the package worth it each day. You can do this, not just with cocktails, but also specialty coffees, juices, bottled/seltzer water, etc. Grab a bottle of water or lemonade on your way out to the ports or when you're wondering around on the ship. If you won't drink it then, just take it back to your cabin for later. There's a really wide selection of things you can get with the drink packages that people ignore for the alcohol. Lastly, just use the package to try new things. It's a great way to try drinks that you've never heard of and not have to care if you don't like it, you just get another one.
I have to say our 1st picture when you board is a favorite because not all the people are still with us and it was one of most fun times as a family. It was the only pic we bought.
I bought a high end watch onboard Princess… the price was much better than at home, and came with a guarantee that if I found it cheaper in port, they would refund the difference… first port, I found it $200 cheaper and got the salesman to write the price and model on a business card… Princess refunded the difference without flinching… couple ports later, and I again got a quote on a business card that was over $200 lower than my already matched price… Princess actually contacted the port shop the next day (it was a large and recommended shop) to confirm the quote, but in the end did refund the difference… love my watch and know I got a good deal!
I'd be content with an ocean view cabin. I've had both inside and balcony cabins, but from those experiences, daylight is essential but a balcony itself isn't.
I definitely used my onboard credit for WiFi on the last cruise I went on. It was surprising that between 2016 and 2019 the importance of being in touch with home increased immensely, even though my second job knew I'd be away.
Totally agree!
I agree about the excursions. We didn’t plan excursions in Stockholm or Helsinki because we just spent a lot of money on a two-day tour of St Petersburg. We just walked around, and I don’t feel like we got the most out of our time in those two ports.
Mixology sessions are a good value. It was about $20 and got four drinks.
Our first cruise in 2016 was in a cabin with a balcony. We could never travel any other way. Our cruise in 2022 includes a drinks package, wifi, and tips. It was a promotion in 2020 and we decided to book it.
agree on the balcony. Think all my cruises booked have that promotion in, as seems being used a lot by the lines!!
It's crazy how cruise costs can add up quick. 2k can end up being 5k by the end of the cruise. Not including airfare or hotel.
Beverage packages are definitely best on cruises that are less port intensive, good advice!
Totally agree!
Agree about Spa treatments, but my hubby does pay for the steam rooms . He gets a pass for the whole cruise. He loves it.
I absolutely agree about cruise line excursions being worth the money after a bad experience with an outside excursion in Belize. Not only did we not see anything worthwhile, I fell and hurt my knee getting out of a boat. Once back on board I went to the medical center and they were very concerned and accommodating until they learned I had not been on a cruise line excursion. Then it was "well in that case you have to pay $125 to see the doctor". This convinced me that cruise line excursions are just safer and that is my #1 concern when traveling, especially outside the US.
We like hiring local taxis to give us a tour that way we decide everything we just tell them take us to the spots and we get more of a local experience and shopping is cheaper away from the more touristy places
Agree with everything except the Spa, I know they are expensive but this is my treat and I enjoy the pampering at the end I listen to the sales pitch but it’s easy to politely decline
In my experience of 4 cruiselines tours and 4 privately booked excursions, all the cruiseline tours have been terrible and the private company excursions have been wonderful.
I have cruised 20 times and I agree with all of your do's and don'ts this is a great video. I'm amused at many people arguing on websites that the drink package is definitely a winner. When I find out how many drinks including sodas fresh-squeezed orange juices, specialty coffees and wines and Cocktails they drink a day and I mention how many calories that is they really get sensitive. I then talked about how that will affect their heart and their waistline they really get sensitive one look at their Facebook period many times they never show their body just says it all
I'm so glad I bought photos of mom & me! It was our last cruise together and I certainly do cherish it! I have the 5x7 in a frame, my kids have a small framed one on display and I carry one with me. Yes, at almost 92, my mom is still vital but I'm glad to have them!,
Absolutely agree with the onboard photo sessions. They were much cheaper AND everyone had a tan.
Taking a cruise in May to Middle East and your videos have been invaluable. Especially not buying a drink package and just using on board credits to buy any drinks. Thanks every so much and keep up the good advice
You've said what not to waste money on rather than what's a good deal. Can you do a specific video about drinks packages, what each cruise company charges and how many drinks including specialty coffees etc would make them worthwhile.
I highly recommend booking a Chef’s Table experience if it’s available. Eight to ten people, and a fantastic meal with paired wines. I’ve done it twice and will do it again.
Also, our first three cruises were balcony rooms. During the 4th we got an interior facing window and loved it more and got those from then on. If I want to see the water I go up deck. If I was to spy on people from the comfort of my own room I do that. Or watch the parade or whatever
The spas on the cruise ships are definitely more expensive, but to date, the quality has been fantastic.
That’s my holiday whilst on holiday. I save for it and relish it …
For the foreseeable future, most of the major cruise lines won't let you go off on your own when you're onshore due to Covid restrictions, so cruise excursions are mandatory if you want off the ship.
the lines are hoping that by Autumn the ports and authorities etc will allow this to lift, but agree this needs to be factored in
After ensuring that the cabin is the best we can afford and choose, the premium drinks package is worth it as every type of drink/beverage is included.
Good to know! Seems like a good plan !
I think it depends on location. I love balcony but as a single traveller they are so expensive and most cruises an inside cabin might be more worth it.
It just depends on the location
I am surprised at your take on specialty dining, but I agree. You are right they need to be done sparingly to make it special.
Good to see you agree 😀
Agree a lot.
One exception for shopping is cruise line branded merchandise. This is usually inexpensive ($10-20), and we love it. We have so many Disney Cruise Line coffee mugs and Christmas ornaments. But the jewelry and the watches and such? No way. (Occasionally we’ve had to suck it up on sunscreen and once a pair of Sox, but that just happens.)
I do enjoy the spa for a nice shave before we go to the specialty restaurant (usually once per cruise). We pa k formal clothes (tux, gowns) for that evening. I love being freshly groomed for that. Some cruise lines offer general access spa passes on the first day. Not specific treatments, but the right to use the steam rooms, etc. My wife loves those. After a long excursion, a pre-paid hour in the sauna helps her sleep.
Thanks for adding these comments, it is always interesting see how people approach these
Great video, valuable information. My Mom-in-Law made the mistake on her first cruise of purchasing every single photograph because she hated the idea of having them thrown away.
I feel like the photo packages can be worthwhile, especially if you go with an unlimited digital option, and you purchase prior to cruising. I find that I end up printing more pictures at home and share more shots on social media when I have those digital copies. Plus I don't have to spend time in the photo gallery trying to figure out what pictures I want to keep.
With that said, it's not a "must have". If I don't have a photo package, I may not even venture into the photo gallery.
We really enjoy the cabanas on the cruise lines’ private island. It is a bit expensive but we agree, well worth the money if for no other reason than to have guaranteed shade - since am very fair skinned and need to be able to get out of the sun. We’ve done this with family as well as friends and found it to be a highlight of the cruise.
The island cabana I highly recommend. My friend did this and invited me & my cabinmate to join them. OH WOW! Loved it & we had such great individualized service and time there (the shade!!!) that we booked it for our next one too.
Some good tips, although I have never taken the Internet package, when I go on a cruise I enjoy being totally unplugged from work, reality and responsibilities. The world can get along without me for a week.
About the only thing I buy on the ship is one photo, and maybe a shirt, cup or otherwise small item with the ships name on it.
The drink package is a double edged sword, it’s expensive, but One advantage is that I can try out some different specialty drinks and if I don’t like it then I don’t feel like I threw my money away by getting something else.
But I agree with skipping the heavy shopping, auctions, spas, etc....
Definitely upgrade to a Balcony cabin, even my “I’m not paying extra for a Balcony, we’re only going to be sleeping in there” husband is a convert after I insisted on our second cruise. It was lovely to step out on to in the morning still in pjs, over trying to peer through a dirty, water spotted window to see what the day was like. Good to retreat to when over the rest of the cruisers.
I bought a drink package on my last cruise and while I didn't drink enough drinks to justify the per-drink cost, it was VERY nice just not having to worry about it and getting to order whatever I wanted (Patron, Jameson, etc.)
The various cruise ships that dock at Invergordon Scotland connect with some of the WORST land excursions I can imagine. Rushing you from one flimsy tourist trap to the next and coaches (then) insisting on driving through the tiny streets of Inverness and getting stuck for 30+ minutes. You spend far too long in the coach and not at the sites. I don't imagine they've changed much since then. Old dogs - no new tricks.
I think you’re right about the drinks packages. Bought them for convenience. I probably won’t break even on them.
He's right about cabins. I had cruised previously in inside cabins but after hearing horror stories about them during the pandemic, I booked a balcony for my cruise in June and now I can't think of ever going back to an inside cabin. The cruise was fantastic because of the views from the balcony and also because the ship was only at one-third capacity!
I rarely enjoy your video's. You do a nice job. I completely agree with your thoughts on cabins. A couple of things. My next cabin will be for my 42nd wedding anniversary with my three adult children. 40 and 41 got cancelled. My cabin will be an (H2) Haven Deluxe Owners Suite with Large balcony on the NCL Joy. This is a bucket list item and only happened because of the 125% FCC and the 10% off on next cruise plus the second two passenger are free promotion. Second point, I always use the cruise excursions. My favorite are anything that starts with "All-Inclusive Over the water Bungalow". The Beach Villa on the private island. So, I completely agree with your thoughts. On specialty dinning, it comes with the Haven and I get dinner for two at the French Restaurant with American Express Platinum Perks. So, I purchase my 3-5 passengers the dinning package for three nights so we can all dine together. I hope this supports you channel and thank you again.
We love the non alcoholic beverage package that includes unlimited sparkling water, specialty coffees in addition to the sodas, etc. My husband is a late sleeper and I enjoyed going to relax in an area that I could utilize my wifi and drink my lattes in the morning. We also drank a lot of sparkling water with different fruits in it.
I dine in the main dining room and if they don't have filet mug on I just ask the waiter for it and they actually get it from crown grill an it costs much less and is easier than going to crown grill and you don't have to worry about a reservation Also I don't drink alcohol sids or sugar so extra money for restaurants and a suite is easy to come up with
We have a Special Needs daughter, so we need to have a Cabin with a Balcony, so we always pay the extra to have one. She enjoys sitting out there enjoying the fresh air & the sound of the ocean. I enjoy that too. We are from Sydney & a couple of cruises we've been on have had Dolphins jumping out of the water near the ship & she absolutely loves watching that, too. We are so happy that Cruising is restarting in Australia soon. We already have 2 cruises booked on the P&O Pacific Explorer (September) & the Carnival Splendor (October/November). Can't wait. It's been a long 2+ Years.
If you work remotely or have your own business good wifi is so worth it, less days off those who don’t get much paid vacation days and you can make use of lots of sea days if you’re repositioning!
I've had a inside cabin and a balcony cabin, I'll always get a balcony. I used it mornings and evenings mostly and that's fine
I would love a balcony suite but the difference in price between a balcony and an ordinary cabin with a window is just eye watering for a South African, as depending on the exchange rate we have to multiply the US price by 15-16!! Only the wealthy can afford a balcony! So for my Alaska 2022 cruise I booked an interior.🙈😂🇿🇦
Totally agree with the drinks package! My last cruise was on P&O Aurora to the Canaries. With 6 sea days out of 14 I thought it would be a good idea to get the package as it was only £40 per day. I found myself during the first few days (sea days) drinking to get value for money out of it. By the time we hit the first port on day 4 I felt really groggy and thought this is silly. I reverted back to sensible drinking (and a few days off alcohol as well) and vowed not to buy a package again. I do actually have it on my Princess staycation in September as it is part of the £30 per day Princess plus package which includes wifi & gratuities too. It makes sense as even a few coffees and a few alcoholic drinks per day makes it worthwhile. Otherwise no thanks, never again
Thank you, Gary. This, like all of your tips videos, is very interesting, as I am going to be a first time cruiser hopefully in 2022 and I am doing lots of research. I am on a budget but think a balcony cabin is a must and certainly would like to try one or two specialty dining experiences and some excursions. My boyfriend eats mostly only fast food so the speciality dining would be my treat for me, wasted on him sadly. I'm not much of a drinker so perhaps a soft drinks package might be a good option. Thanks again for loads of food for thought.
Thanks for watching, and great to hear the videos are helping - and that you are planning your first cruise !
@@tipsfortravellers Thank you. I just can't wait to try it. 😊
When I going to places that have beaches, I like to bring my own beach chair (light weight with canopy). For me just going to beach at a port with my own beach chair is wonderful.
I like having a beverage package because I don't want to worry about budgeting for the cost at the end and I don't want to have to think about the cost during the cruise. It's nice to just get a glass of wine if I want without worrying about how the charges might be adding up.
Good option for cheapwads like me as well who worry about a purchase because of the price and in heart really do want it nevertheless.
I use the Lido deck as my balcony. There is fresh air, sunshine, drinks, food, and friends all around. 😂
About seven years ago, my boyfriend and I along with my parents took the QM2 from New York (really, New Jersey) to South Hampton and had a wonderful time. We bought a very expensive photo package and am very glad we did. None of us were very good photographers and the photos the profession took were fantastic. My father and boy friend have since passed on and I look most of the picture once a week or so. I have most of them up about my townhouse and they bring back such wonderful memories. Other than buying the cruise itself, I think the photos were the best money I spent on the trip.