I have cruised on Royal, Norwegian, Celebrity, Princess, Carnival and HAL. Once I took a HAL cruise, I stayed with them. Great destinations, smaller ships, food, service--all top notch.
HAL is amazing for several reasons 1) itinerary 2) food and drink , have it all 3) the music walk 4) the Crows Nest and most of all 5) the staff which are absolutely amazing.
I really liked this review! I have fallen in love with HAL over the years, but your honorable mention of Virgin, kind of have me intrigued. My wife and I will be going on an HAL next Saturday around the Caribbean. And for our honeymoon/1st anniversary, we will be sailing around Norway, which we are very excited for. Thanks again for your videos!
This was one of your best videos ever! Thanks for the thoughtful comparisons. We've done more Princess than any other line but have tired Carnival (too much of a party cruise for us), Celebrity, HAL, and Disney when the kids were younger. Except for our bad experience on Carnival, all were fine. We are going to Alaska in late June on HAL and are looking forward to the smaller ship for that itinerary. Also booked on Princess in Japan in 2026. We did LOVE the medallion on our last 2 cruises. Thanks Ilana!
I agree - my whole family is platinum with princess and we absolutely love it. Cunard is my favorite, but my teenager would rather die than go on a Cunard voyage- lol
Would elementary aged kids have fun on Princess? I've been on Royal in the past but it seems like they may be losing the classy touch they had. I'm torn 😢 whether or not I would like their big ships. I want to see the sea! I also don't want my kids to be bored to death 😂.
@@blissfuljoy6049 Not sure Princess, much as I love their ships, would be my first choice for elementary age. They have activity rooms for various ranges, e.g. 3 -7 and 8-12, with games and activities but that's about it. With the caveat that I don't have any experience with those facilities, I've not cruised with young kids. But you won't find water parks, go-cart tracks, laser tag arenas, rock climbing walls, extensive arcades (though some Princess ships have replaced their cigar lounges by throwing a handful of video games into the space), and so forth.
@JeremySmith-k6n maybe the newest ship would be ok l. It seems like it's a little more lively. I just don't like over the top parties. My kids might like laser tag and definitely the pool. Small slides would be great but I don't need the big ones. I feel like the pools get so crowded on main lines that it might be frustrating with them. Where we go matters a lot too.
20+ cruises. We've been on several lines over the years but keep coming back to HAL. I love the itineraries and the music walk. I appreciate the more civilized atmosphere. With the destinations my biggest draw, I have no problem with calling bedtime early, as the excursions often begin early in the morning.
Tried Margaritaville at Sea- Islander (out of Tampa) 5 night. Very positive, surprised by previous negative responses. Beautiful decor, 3 pools/spas, bigger rooms (feels like more storage - or what it USED to be- we had a balcony). Im comparing to RC/Princess/larger Carnival ships.
I have cruised on NCL, Azamara, Carnival, Virgin, and Celebrity. Each was different and I enjoyed each one. My only negative experiences have been embarkation on NCL (Alaska) and Virgin (maiden voyage in Australia), long pushy lines on Carnival, and in the spa on several lines, which is outsourced. Each line has it’s unique brand and I try to go with the flow and enjoy what they do best. I chose NCL and Azamara for their free style cruising. Carnival for the price. Virgin for the food. Celebrity when I had to take a vacation or lose leave, didn’t want to fly, and it was cheaper than my other option of Princess). I will be going on my second Celebrity cruise this week and think it is currently my favorite. I will be on Carnival in June and Azamara in October, so my favorite may change.
My husband & I are going in late Jan on Sky Princess to Western Caribbean. We are first timers! And wanted to celebrate our 36th anniversary a little different. Very excited! I’ve listened to many many of your videos and the information I’ve gleaned is amazing! Thank you for sharing your experience!
I've been a fan of your videos for a couple of years now. This is such a comprehensive, excellent, honest piece of work. You really should be on PBS following Rick Steves on Sundays. Thank you!
@@LifeWellCruised You're the best and an absolute professional! You really should/could be on "regular" TV. If I ever ran into you on a cruise, I would go fanboy and ask for a selfie, embarrassing my wife. Thanks again.
1st time cruiser, sailing on NCL escape end of April for our 25th anniversary. 7 day itinerary through the carribian with an aft facing balcony. Your videos have been a guiding light for us. The content is always relevant and informative. Thank you so much for your continuous content.
My husband and I are going on our first cruise in Feb on Scarlet Lady with Virgin. we've been watching alot of your videos in the last few weeks and we appreciate all the tips.
I did my first cruise, years ago, on HAL. I liked them, so I've done all eight of my cruises with them. Because they are my only experience, I can't compare them with anyone else. So, it's nice to get some comparisons with what other cruise lines have to offer.
My husband and I are in our mid 50s. We just got off our 2nd HAL cruise and have no desire to try another. Very relaxing, great food, and service. ******* Thank you for your essentials lists.... we have bought a ton of those items. Clothes, magnets, and lots more. Thank you for the great tips!
My first cruise was 37 yrs ago on Royal Viking through Panama Canal. Best ever. Since then have done carnival (boo) and Hal and NCL. We are doing the Haven on NCL to Alaska 9/25. Can hardly wait!
70 years old. We have traveled on 12 cruised over the years. Went the kids were young we traveled on Disney. Loved it. We've done Princess most of the time with and without your kids. We have found it has everything for the family. The last ship it has been just wife and I. Celebrity Beyond has been our choice. We love the Veranda cabins. Choice of 4 different Main Dinning choices was the main thing that won our over.
Excellent video Ilana! Many people will find this extremely helpful! I agree with you on your rankings! I’m a Princess fan, it just suits me! Blessings ❤️
Hi Ilana, thanks for your videos. I'm very excited to be taking my very first cruise next September. We're going on HAL's Niew Statendam through the Mediterranean, Egypt and Turkey. Your information has filled me with confidence that I've made a good choice.
My first cruise ever this year was on Virgin and I loved it so much I came home and booked three more VV cruises in 2025. While I am open to trying another cruise line I honestly believe I've found my home at sea with Virgin. Loved this video of comparisons...thank you so much! 🙂
My wife and I are going on our very first cruise. We chose Holland America line nieuw statendam 7 night Bahamas and Carribean cruise out of fort Lauderdale in early February. I appreciate your helpful tips and very detailed description of the Holland America cruise experience. Hoping for a great time.
I went on my first cruise last month, 8 days on Freedom of the Seas, and it was wonderful! Of course I don't have anything to compare it to, but I loved everything about it. The entertainment and food were great. All of the staff were friendly and helpful. I could not have asked for a better experience! Thanks to your informative videos, I felt prepared. That definitely helped me enjoy the cruise.
I live in New Zealand and took my first cruise last year. There are not that many lines that offer cruises from NZ or our closets neighbor, Australia, so it's this video is great to help me work out which lines might be best for me. For my first cruise a group of us flew to LA for a Royal Caribbean cruise to Mexico, and loved it. In January, we're going on another RC cruise to Cairns (Great Barrier Reef) out of Brisbane. The next cruises will be to Alaska, and the Mediterranean and I think NCL and Virgin will be firmly in the mix.
Re-watching from New York. I have done 3 Norwegian and I have to say I was spoiled on my first one on the Joy. Such a beautiful ship. Then we were on the Pearl which was to small for me. Last one was on the Joy and we had taken my mom on her first cruise ever, we had picked the Joy because it was my first cruise and I just loved it. We were very disappointed and will not be cruising Norwegian again for awhile. We are now looking to book a MSC cruise so I'm hoping this will get me back into loving the cruise life. After seeing this video I really want to try the Virgin cruise line. Thanks for the info loved loved this one very much.
We recently took our first cruise, a 5 day Mexican Riviera on the Carnival Firenze out of Long Beach, CA. Thank you so much for your videos and information, it made our vacation! The ship was beautiful, entertainment was awesome! Ports at Cabo and Ensenada were okay, and a December cruise is quite chilly, but we can’t wait for our next cruise! Already doing the research, love your content, thanks again!
This video was super helpful!!! I’m a Carnival cruiser (18 cruises) and your opinion on carnival was exactly our thoughts as well. Our favorite class is Excel and Vista. We love all the food options. We are wanting to experience other cruise lines and have been exploring Celebrity, HAL, RCCL and MSC. Your video was incredibly helpful!!!!
Our first cruise was RCCL, Symphony of the Seas in Sept 2022. Good service from beginning to end. We loved it. We were also on the the MSC Seascape, Sep 2023 and the Carnival Horizon, Apr 2024. We liked them both but really enjoyed the Symphony of the Seas more. Our last cruise was the Icon of the Seas with and again we loved our cruise with RCCL from beginning to the end. We will be sailing on the MSC World America on 12 Ap 2025 and the RCCL, Star of the Seas in Sept 2025. We will be trying the Celebrity in Arp 2026. We love your review of the different cruise lines. They are very well done and pretty truthful.
Just finished my first Princess and I'm ready to book another. The technology of the medallion was mind blowing. It was awesome not having that 'silly" cruise card in my pocket all the time plus ordering food or dinks right at my location was top notch. The service was excellent with some good food choices in the main dining room. I've sailed on a few other cruise lines such as Carnival RC Celebrity NCL and just like the video there's pro's and cons with each one but for now i'll stick with Princess.
We mostly cruise Carnival and Royal Caribbean because they still have traditional set time dining. We love having a dedicated table, and a dedicated wait staff that we can get to know and who knows us and our desires. As for anytime/my time dining, I don't like waiting for a table. I want our cruise to feel special, not like we're waiting in line at our local restaurant...
Thank you so much for your informative videos. I learned so much from you before our first cruise last Christmas, 2023 to Cabo and Ensenada Mexico on the Norwegian Bliss. It was such an amazing trip that we came home and immediately booked an Alaskan cruise on Norwegian Encore for summer 2025. My husband and I, cousin and husband, another cousin and his wife, and their couple friends went on our first cruise. Such a fun family reunion. Next summer to Alaska the same entourage AND my son and hopefully our new daughter in law will join us all. Yay cruising! And thank you again for the wonderful content.
I have been on 42 cruises 22 of them with my husband when he was alive. My favorite cruise line is Carnival because they offer me the most perks and the best free cruises that I can take a family member with me and we can enjoy everything.
Hi there Ilana. Thanks for this summary. It confirms what I pick up from watching vlogs. I want to try Celebrity and Holland. I like Royal Oasis class for the many options and Princess for the music and other activities.
Not a 1st time cruiser, but have only done 1 short cruise in 2010 with Carnival. Older ship & not great itinerary but was still a fun experience. Really looking forward to 1st cruise with Royal coming up in April on SOS with husband🎉
We are in our 70’s and cruised with Virgin Voyage last year. We had fun, loved the food and are returning to one in Jun. our very first cruise was on Regent in Alaska so we were spoiled. Are trying different lines in 2026.
Very informative video! I really appreciate the overviews and pros and cons. I agree that people have to find the cruise line and ship class that is right FOR THEM and, that might change in different stages of life.
Thanks for the overview - found it fair and balanced. I was glad to hear about your Virgin cruise - I saw the pictures of the furniture and knew it would not be a fit for us. We are headed out on your favorite Navigator for a couple weeks of Mexican sun in January. Would love to see you sail higher end lines.
Have a wonderful cruise! Regarding more higher end lines, that’s the plan to try to get that in this year hopefully. If there’s interest from viewers that’s always helpful
I think your point about which cruise line is the best *for you* is the key phrase. My parents loved Holland America, but it never sounded appealing to me. I’ve only been on 3 different lines, and I’ve had both good and bad experiences on all of them, even on the same cruise.
My Teens love itinerary cruises. We love going places like Iceland, Greece, japan, and the like, but they aren't water slide kids. We Love Celebrity and princess for that reason and find them comparable.
Really great reviews! I've been with Carnival and will make Diamond by this time next year, but I am going on the NCL Aqua in April. Looking forward to experiencing other ships, especially the newer, larger ships. Have you ever cruised Solo? Can you do so Solo reviews?
That would be an awesome review. I sail exclusively solo. My next cruise (9th) will be the first time I'll have someone on the ship that I know personally (she's the motivating reason why I booked that particular sailing). I really hate how much more expensive it is for solos.
I’ve been on three cruises so far, one with Celebrity and two on HAL, I absolutely enjoyed them. We look at the itinerary and not overly large ships. We might try Princess as well as we are curious about the ship and they do offer interesting itineraries.
We are now done with Carnival Cruise. Any cruise line that tells you that security can't even handle a guy playing a radio or speaker loudly cannot handle a fight if it breaks out. We cancel three cruises last month and just cancel the 4th yesterday. We rebooked with MSC. Not sure if they have better security for better clientele. Play we are definitely going to give them a try.😊
Well, we have done three cruise lines, Holland was our first and we had many amazing trips, tried Carnival and too much partying for us! Then we went on Royal Liberty and loved the vibe and shows. Utopia is our favorite but don’t care much for the 3 and 4 day cruises. Viking River cruise next June, back on RC Harmony in August and then on Celebrity in 26 for a European cruise,
As a mature solo cruiser, I really prefer Princess. In 2010, I did their Alaska Land and Cruise; 2022 Panama Canal Cruise. In April 2025, I will be taking Princess Cruise to Hawaii.
Our favorite is RC for the last 21 years. But we only had Carnival to compare to (didn’t like Carnival). We have an MSC cruise coming up in a few days that we’re really excited about and another RC in May. Looking forward to trying out the Yacht Club experience on MSC!! Might have to look at Norwegian too based on your video here. My husband is all about the very casual relaxed vibe!
We have just done NCL and we really like Norwegian our next cruise is on the new Norwegian Aqua in November out of Miami , we are thinking about Virgin Voyages in the future we truly love your videos keep up the excellent work.
I can't wait to cruise on MSC World America. I was on MSC Magnifica when you were on MSC Seascape. We passed ships in Nassau. I truly enjoyed my cruise on Magnifica and I believe my cruise on World America will be amazing!!!
We travel with three generations and my grandkids ages 10, 8 and 4 love Princess and are looking forward to their third cruise coming up in May. Their kids clubs are great. There are no water slides but the pool areas are spacious.
Fantastic!! I cruised on Princess with my kids too and did a multi gen cruise with them as well. However I know for some people, they may be disappointed if they think there are waterslides etc & there aren’t. As long as people know what to expect I’m sure they’ll enjoy
We've cruised 23 times. NCL 8 times, I think they give you the most bang for the buck. My favorite ship is the Celebrity Edge though. Cruise lines I won't go back on: carnival and RCCL. I like HAL, but my wife thinks she's too young for HAL.
Having done an Alaskan cruise with NCL a few years ago, they dock further away from the ports and often requires a shuttle bus to the town. This cuts down on time in port. That was our experience anyway and we are frequent NCl cruisers
Thank you for your reviews. We have only ever sailed with Royal and are now Diamond members. So we've decided to branch out and do one cruise a year with Royal, and another with a cruise line we've not tried. Our first up is Celebrity.
NCL Haven pricing has gotten outrageous...it is literally 75% more expensive than Celebrity Retreat..... 7 days ... NCL Haven $15K Celebrity Retreat $8.5k.
Your review of Princess is spot-on, based on our first cruise with them last December. We're going with them again on the Sun Princess next May, looking very much forward to it. But your recent review of the MSC Yacht Club has me very much interested in them also!
Great review. Celebrity is my current fav, NCL is the best value with stuff included, and I can't wait to try MSC, especially if I can get in the Yacht club.
Looking forward to the changes in the Sphere class vs Royal class, of course I am a Princess loyalist🙂 Just returned from sailing on the Caribbean Princess. 97 days to the big one on the Sun Princess and while on the Caribbean Princess have booked a November cruise too❤ Thx Ilana
Our favorite cruise lines are HAL and Disney. It is just my husband and I cruising together most of the time and despiteDisney being a family cruise line, we usually see more children on the other cruise lines. That being said we cruise Royal Caribbean most of the time because we can sail out of Galveston which is only a day drive for us.
Second time cruiser. My first was Carnival on a Caribbean itinerary just after the pandemic. Doing a transatlantic with NCL early in the new year. Excited about this one, as I think I will like the NCL vibe more. Sounds like there will be a ton of solo cruisers on this voyage-already making friends on Facebook.
I would note that if you are a Solo cruiser: * MSC routinely has the lowest Solo Supplement fee * Norwegian builds solo cabins into all their ships and makes an effort with gatherings. * Virgin has the vibe.
I went on my 2nd cruise recently and I can definitely say we are Princess cruisers. Our experience with NCL wasn't the greatest, still enjoyable but not our vibe
![40 Cruise Food [& Drink] HACKS That Will Blow Your Mind!](/img/1.gif)
I have cruised on Royal, Norwegian, Celebrity, Princess, Carnival and HAL. Once I took a HAL cruise, I stayed with them. Great destinations, smaller ships, food, service--all top notch.
Awesome! Thanks for sharing
HAL is amazing for several reasons 1) itinerary 2) food and drink , have it all 3) the music walk 4) the Crows Nest and most of all 5) the staff which are absolutely amazing.
That’s awesome!
This lady is somebody that I feel very comfortable with. No wonder she gets so many high reviews.
I really liked this review! I have fallen in love with HAL over the years, but your honorable mention of Virgin, kind of have me intrigued. My wife and I will be going on an HAL next Saturday around the Caribbean. And for our honeymoon/1st anniversary, we will be sailing around Norway, which we are very excited for. Thanks again for your videos!
That’s amazing!! Congratulations 🥂
This was one of your best videos ever! Thanks for the thoughtful comparisons. We've done more Princess than any other line but have tired Carnival (too much of a party cruise for us), Celebrity, HAL, and Disney when the kids were younger. Except for our bad experience on Carnival, all were fine. We are going to Alaska in late June on HAL and are looking forward to the smaller ship for that itinerary. Also booked on Princess in Japan in 2026. We did LOVE the medallion on our last 2 cruises. Thanks Ilana!
I'm a big Princess fan and I think your review was spot on in all aspects!
Glad to hear! Princess is one of my faves too. 🛳️
I agree - my whole family is platinum with princess and we absolutely love it. Cunard is my favorite, but my teenager would rather die than go on a Cunard voyage- lol
Would elementary aged kids have fun on Princess? I've been on Royal in the past but it seems like they may be losing the classy touch they had. I'm torn 😢 whether or not I would like their big ships. I want to see the sea! I also don't want my kids to be bored to death 😂.
@@blissfuljoy6049 Not sure Princess, much as I love their ships, would be my first choice for elementary age. They have activity rooms for various ranges, e.g. 3 -7 and 8-12, with games and activities but that's about it. With the caveat that I don't have any experience with those facilities, I've not cruised with young kids. But you won't find water parks, go-cart tracks, laser tag arenas, rock climbing walls, extensive arcades (though some Princess ships have replaced their cigar lounges by throwing a handful of video games into the space), and so forth.
@JeremySmith-k6n maybe the newest ship would be ok l. It seems like it's a little more lively. I just don't like over the top parties. My kids might like laser tag and definitely the pool. Small slides would be great but I don't need the big ones. I feel like the pools get so crowded on main lines that it might be frustrating with them. Where we go matters a lot too.
20+ cruises. We've been on several lines over the years but keep coming back to HAL. I love the itineraries and the music walk. I appreciate the more civilized atmosphere. With the destinations my biggest draw, I have no problem with calling bedtime early, as the excursions often begin early in the morning.
Yes ... I rarely stay up late to enjoy the parties because I want to be rested for my excursions the next day. It's all about the itinerary for me.
Good point
Tried Margaritaville at Sea- Islander (out of Tampa) 5 night. Very positive, surprised by previous negative responses. Beautiful decor, 3 pools/spas, bigger rooms (feels like more storage - or what it USED to be- we had a balcony). Im comparing to RC/Princess/larger Carnival ships.
Was the first casino seen with no smoking and minimal noise. 😊
So glad you had a great time! Honestly I find extremely negative reviews need to be taken with a grain of salt
I have cruised on NCL, Azamara, Carnival, Virgin, and Celebrity. Each was different and I enjoyed each one. My only negative experiences have been embarkation on NCL (Alaska) and Virgin (maiden voyage in Australia), long pushy lines on Carnival, and in the spa on several lines, which is outsourced. Each line has it’s unique brand and I try to go with the flow and enjoy what they do best. I chose NCL and Azamara for their free style cruising. Carnival for the price. Virgin for the food. Celebrity when I had to take a vacation or lose leave, didn’t want to fly, and it was cheaper than my other option of Princess). I will be going on my second Celebrity cruise this week and think it is currently my favorite. I will be on Carnival in June and Azamara in October, so my favorite may change.
I took my kids to Alaska on HAL at 13 yrs & 9 yrs. When planning a cruise 7 yrs later, they wanted to go with HAL again. ❤
My husband & I are going in late Jan on Sky Princess to Western Caribbean. We are first timers! And wanted to celebrate our 36th anniversary a little different.
Very excited! I’ve listened to many many of your videos and the information I’ve gleaned is amazing! Thank you for sharing your experience!
I've been a fan of your videos for a couple of years now. This is such a comprehensive, excellent, honest piece of work. You really should be on PBS following Rick Steves on Sundays. Thank you!
Thanks so much! Truly appreciate your kind words - I also love Rick Steves so that’s quite a compliment 😊
@@LifeWellCruised You're the best and an absolute professional! You really should/could be on "regular" TV. If I ever ran into you on a cruise, I would go fanboy and ask for a selfie, embarrassing my wife. Thanks again.
I appreciate how you stay positive while also being honest in your reviews
Thanks - I always hope this comes across
1st time cruiser, sailing on NCL escape end of April for our 25th anniversary. 7 day itinerary through the carribian with an aft facing balcony. Your videos have been a guiding light for us. The content is always relevant and informative. Thank you so much for your continuous content.
I asked for this! Thank you!
You are very welcome!
My husband and I are going on our first cruise in Feb on Scarlet Lady with Virgin. we've been watching alot of your videos in the last few weeks and we appreciate all the tips.
That’s awesome! Just an fyi, I have a video about what to pack for Virgin that might be helpful :)
I did my first cruise, years ago, on HAL. I liked them, so I've done all eight of my cruises with them. Because they are my only experience, I can't compare them with anyone else. So, it's nice to get some comparisons with what other cruise lines have to offer.
Glad it was helpful 😊
My husband and I are in our mid 50s. We just got off our 2nd HAL cruise and have no desire to try another. Very relaxing, great food, and service.
*******
Thank you for your essentials lists.... we have bought a ton of those items. Clothes, magnets, and lots more. Thank you for the great tips!
Thank you for your honest reviews, they help so much.
So glad! Thanks for watching
My first cruise was 37 yrs ago on Royal Viking through Panama Canal. Best ever. Since then have done carnival (boo) and Hal and NCL. We are doing the Haven on NCL to Alaska 9/25. Can hardly wait!
70 years old. We have traveled on 12 cruised over the years. Went the kids were young we traveled on Disney. Loved it. We've done Princess most of the time with and without your kids. We have found it has everything for the family. The last ship it has been just wife and I. Celebrity Beyond has been our choice. We love the Veranda cabins. Choice of 4 different Main Dinning choices was the main thing that won our over.
You do your job very well😊. You choose your words,which is nice.
Thanks for watching & I appreciate your comments 😊
First time cruiser! Will be sailing on Holland America for their country music cruise in January. Have appreciated your informative videos.
Sounds amazing!
Excellent video Ilana! Many people will find this extremely helpful! I agree with you on your rankings! I’m a Princess fan, it just suits me! Blessings ❤️
I agree! Princess is definitely a great option 🛳️
Hi Ilana, thanks for your videos. I'm very excited to be taking my very first cruise next September. We're going on HAL's Niew Statendam through the Mediterranean, Egypt and Turkey. Your information has filled me with confidence that I've made a good choice.
Love this video Alanna
So glad!!
My first cruise ever this year was on Virgin and I loved it so much I came home and booked three more VV cruises in 2025. While I am open to trying another cruise line I honestly believe I've found my home at sea with Virgin. Loved this video of comparisons...thank you so much! 🙂
When you find what you really like, why make a change? Sounds fantastic
You really need to try other cruise lines to find out what you have missed. I have done almost 20 cruises and I have to say VV is my least favorite.
My wife and I are going on our very first cruise. We chose Holland America line nieuw statendam 7 night Bahamas and Carribean cruise out of fort Lauderdale in early February. I appreciate your helpful tips and very detailed description of the Holland America cruise experience. Hoping for a great time.
I went on my first cruise last month, 8 days on Freedom of the Seas, and it was wonderful! Of course I don't have anything to compare it to, but I loved everything about it. The entertainment and food were great. All of the staff were friendly and helpful. I could not have asked for a better experience! Thanks to your informative videos, I felt prepared. That definitely helped me enjoy the cruise.
So glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for sharing
I live in New Zealand and took my first cruise last year. There are not that many lines that offer cruises from NZ or our closets neighbor, Australia, so it's this video is great to help me work out which lines might be best for me. For my first cruise a group of us flew to LA for a Royal Caribbean cruise to Mexico, and loved it. In January, we're going on another RC cruise to Cairns (Great Barrier Reef) out of Brisbane. The next cruises will be to Alaska, and the Mediterranean and I think NCL and Virgin will be firmly in the mix.
This was a great review! Thanks so much.
Very good and informative post, thank you.
Re-watching from New York. I have done 3 Norwegian and I have to say I was spoiled on my first one on the Joy. Such a beautiful ship. Then we were on the Pearl which was to small for me. Last one was on the Joy and we had taken my mom on her first cruise ever, we had picked the Joy because it was my first cruise and I just loved it. We were very disappointed and will not be cruising Norwegian again for awhile. We are now looking to book a MSC cruise so I'm hoping this will get me back into loving the cruise life. After seeing this video I really want to try the Virgin cruise line. Thanks for the info loved loved this one very much.
We have done (1) Carnival, (1) Royal and (3) Holland. Holland is our favoriate so far. We are taking our first Celebrity cruise in a few weeks!
We recently took our first cruise, a 5 day Mexican Riviera on the Carnival Firenze out of Long Beach, CA. Thank you so much for your videos and information, it made our vacation! The ship was beautiful, entertainment was awesome! Ports at Cabo and Ensenada were okay, and a December cruise is quite chilly, but we can’t wait for our next cruise! Already doing the research, love your content, thanks again!
This video was super helpful!!! I’m a Carnival cruiser (18 cruises) and your opinion on carnival was exactly our thoughts as well. Our favorite class is Excel and Vista. We love all the food options. We are wanting to experience other cruise lines and have been exploring Celebrity, HAL, RCCL and MSC. Your video was incredibly helpful!!!!
my first cruise is on Holland America. where are they on the list?
Glad it was helpful & thanks for your comments 😊
Also, Celebration Key is Carnival 's.
Great information. You are so great at what you do.
Fantastic!! I’m looking forward to checking it out when it opens
Our first cruise was RCCL, Symphony of the Seas in Sept 2022. Good service from beginning to end. We loved it. We were also on the the MSC Seascape, Sep 2023 and the Carnival Horizon, Apr 2024. We liked them both but really enjoyed the Symphony of the Seas more. Our last cruise was the Icon of the Seas with and again we loved our cruise with RCCL from beginning to the end. We will be sailing on the MSC World America on 12 Ap 2025 and the RCCL, Star of the Seas in Sept 2025. We will be trying the Celebrity in Arp 2026. We love your review of the different cruise lines. They are very well done and pretty truthful.
Wow! You’ve done a lot of cruises since 22! Thanks for sharing your experiences. Royal has a great product
Just finished my first Princess and I'm ready to book another. The technology of the medallion was mind blowing. It was awesome not having that 'silly" cruise card in my pocket all the time plus ordering food or dinks right at my location was top notch. The service was excellent with some good food choices in the main dining room. I've sailed on a few other cruise lines such as Carnival RC Celebrity NCL and just like the video there's pro's and cons with each one but for now i'll stick with Princess.
Great video as usual!! I appreciate hearing your views on all these cruise lines. ❤
Glad you liked it! Thanks for watching Cindy!
However Holland has some of the best itineraries and great enrichment so I will probably sail with them again 😊
👏👏
First time cruiser!
Booked on MSC Virtuosa next summer with family, a multi generational trip and cannot wait, it looks amazing, if a little crowded
We mostly cruise Carnival and Royal Caribbean because they still have traditional set time dining. We love having a dedicated table, and a dedicated wait staff that we can get to know and who knows us and our desires. As for anytime/my time dining, I don't like waiting for a table. I want our cruise to feel special, not like we're waiting in line at our local restaurant...
That makes sense
Thank you so much for your informative videos. I learned so much from you before our first cruise last Christmas, 2023 to Cabo and Ensenada Mexico on the Norwegian Bliss. It was such an amazing trip that we came home and immediately booked an Alaskan cruise on Norwegian Encore for summer 2025. My husband and I, cousin and husband, another cousin and his wife, and their couple friends went on our first cruise. Such a fun family reunion. Next summer to Alaska the same entourage AND my son and hopefully our new daughter in law will join us all. Yay cruising! And thank you again for the wonderful content.
I did Cabo and Mexican Riviera on the Bliss April 2023... REALLY enjoyed the experience on board.
That’s amazing!! So glad my videos have been helpful
I have been on 42 cruises 22 of them with my husband when he was alive. My favorite cruise line is Carnival because they offer me the most perks and the best free cruises that I can take a family member with me and we can enjoy everything.
That’s fantastic
Hi there Ilana. Thanks for this summary. It confirms what I pick up from watching vlogs. I want to try Celebrity and Holland. I like Royal Oasis class for the many options and Princess for the music and other activities.
Not a 1st time cruiser, but have only done 1 short cruise in 2010 with Carnival. Older ship & not great itinerary but was still a fun experience. Really looking forward to 1st cruise with Royal coming up in April on SOS with husband🎉
My favs in order MSC, Viking Ocean, Royal Caribbean. Honorable mention to Carnival (only cruised them once). Least fav, one and done, HAL.
This was a very very good video! Thank you so much!
We are in our 70’s and cruised with Virgin Voyage last year. We had fun, loved the food and are returning to one in Jun. our very first cruise was on Regent in Alaska so we were spoiled. Are trying different lines in 2026.
Loved this video. Very thorough. Sailed NCL most. First Disney this year and wasn’t blown away. Sailing celebrity next year and cannot wait!
Awesome!
Very informative video! I really appreciate the overviews and pros and cons. I agree that people have to find the cruise line and ship class that is right FOR THEM and, that might change in different stages of life.
Totally agree!
I've been on 9 cruise lines recently and they were all good. I have my favorites and those may not be others favorites. That's the cruise life.
Absolutely!!
Thanks for the overview - found it fair and balanced. I was glad to hear about your Virgin cruise - I saw the pictures of the furniture and knew it would not be a fit for us. We are headed out on your favorite Navigator for a couple weeks of Mexican sun in January. Would love to see you sail higher end lines.
Have a wonderful cruise! Regarding more higher end lines, that’s the plan to try to get that in this year hopefully. If there’s interest from viewers that’s always helpful
Great video. You really covered it all
I think your point about which cruise line is the best *for you* is the key phrase. My parents loved Holland America, but it never sounded appealing to me. I’ve only been on 3 different lines, and I’ve had both good and bad experiences on all of them, even on the same cruise.
You’re right, it really comes down to personal preference!
Great video! Much appreciated ❤
Glad you enjoyed it! 😊
Great video! We're going on Celebrity in 2026. First time on Celebrity. Hope the food is good ❤😂 Maybe the chef is watching?!
My Teens love itinerary cruises. We love going places like Iceland, Greece, japan, and the like, but they aren't water slide kids. We Love Celebrity and princess for that reason and find them comparable.
Amazing!!
I'll stick with Princess. Finally made platinum with them and really enjoy the experiences.
Nice!!
Really great reviews! I've been with Carnival and will make Diamond by this time next year, but I am going on the NCL Aqua in April. Looking forward to experiencing other ships, especially the newer, larger ships.
Have you ever cruised Solo? Can you do so Solo reviews?
That would be an awesome review. I sail exclusively solo. My next cruise (9th) will be the first time I'll have someone on the ship that I know personally (she's the motivating reason why I booked that particular sailing). I really hate how much more expensive it is for solos.
Your cruise sounds amazing! I haven’t cruised solo but will see how I can share more info
I’ve been on three cruises so far, one with Celebrity and two on HAL, I absolutely enjoyed them. We look at the itinerary and not overly large ships. We might try Princess as well as we are curious about the ship and they do offer interesting itineraries.
We've only cruised with NCL (twice on a Sixthman music themed cruise and once on a 'normal' cruise) and we love the informality and casual approach.
That’s awesome! We always enjoy the casual but fun atmosphere as well
We are now done with Carnival Cruise. Any cruise line that tells you that security can't even handle a guy playing a radio or speaker loudly cannot handle a fight if it breaks out. We cancel three cruises last month and just cancel the 4th yesterday. We rebooked with MSC. Not sure if they have better security for better clientele. Play we are definitely going to give them a try.😊
First time cruiser!! Going through carnival to Alaska in the end of April!
Well, we have done three cruise lines, Holland was our first and we had many amazing trips, tried Carnival and too much partying for us! Then we went on Royal Liberty and loved the vibe and shows. Utopia is our favorite but don’t care much for the 3 and 4 day cruises. Viking River cruise next June, back on RC Harmony in August and then on Celebrity in 26 for a European cruise,
The best review so far, thank you so much.
I’m glad you found it helpful! Thanks for watching
I really appreciated all of your information about these cruise lines..gives me alot to think about. Thank you!
So glad!
As a mature solo cruiser, I really prefer Princess. In 2010, I did their Alaska Land and Cruise; 2022 Panama Canal Cruise. In April 2025, I will be taking Princess Cruise to Hawaii.
Fantastic!
1st time cruiser and will be doing the MSC Seascape in April.
I’ll be going on my 1st cruise on the carnival celebration in March🎉 I watch your videos faithful to help me prepare
That’s awesome! I’ll have a review with info soon
Our favorite is RC for the last 21 years. But we only had Carnival to compare to (didn’t like Carnival).
We have an MSC cruise coming up in a few days that we’re really excited about and another RC in May.
Looking forward to trying out the Yacht Club experience on MSC!!
Might have to look at Norwegian too based on your video here. My husband is all about the very casual relaxed vibe!
We have just done NCL and we really like Norwegian our next cruise is on the new Norwegian Aqua in November out of Miami , we are thinking about Virgin Voyages in the future we truly love your videos keep up the excellent work.
I can't wait to cruise on MSC World America. I was on MSC Magnifica when you were on MSC Seascape. We passed ships in Nassau. I truly enjoyed my cruise on Magnifica and I believe my cruise on World America will be amazing!!!
That’s awesome! I’m looking forward to MSC World America too
We travel with three generations and my grandkids ages 10, 8 and 4 love Princess and are looking forward to their third cruise coming up in May. Their kids clubs are great. There are no water slides but the pool areas are spacious.
Fantastic!! I cruised on Princess with my kids too and did a multi gen cruise with them as well. However I know for some people, they may be disappointed if they think there are waterslides etc & there aren’t. As long as people know what to expect I’m sure they’ll enjoy
We've cruised 23 times. NCL 8 times, I think they give you the most bang for the buck. My favorite ship is the Celebrity Edge though. Cruise lines I won't go back on: carnival and RCCL. I like HAL, but my wife thinks she's too young for HAL.
Doing our first cruise in April on NCL to Alaska. Really looking forward to the week of relaxing and taking in new scenery!
Amazing cruise!!
Having done an Alaskan cruise with NCL a few years ago, they dock further away from the ports and often requires a shuttle bus to the town. This cuts down on time in port. That was our experience anyway and we are frequent NCl cruisers
very nice video, thank you!
Love watching your videos. Very informative. We are very excited about our first cruise in June. Royal Carribean wonder of the seas.
That’s awesome!! Enjoy 🛳️🎉
1st time cruiser! Taking NCL Escape
Yay!! That’s a great fun ship
Thank you for your reviews. We have only ever sailed with Royal and are now Diamond members. So we've decided to branch out and do one cruise a year with Royal, and another with a cruise line we've not tried. Our first up is Celebrity.
NCL Haven pricing has gotten outrageous...it is literally 75% more expensive than Celebrity Retreat..... 7 days ... NCL Haven $15K Celebrity Retreat $8.5k.
Wow, I hadn’t priced it out
Fantastic video.
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching
Your review of Princess is spot-on, based on our first cruise with them last December. We're going with them again on the Sun Princess next May, looking very much forward to it. But your recent review of the MSC Yacht Club has me very much interested in them also!
Glad it was helpful! I have to say we really enjoyed YC 😂
First time cruiser! Going on Royals Harmony of the Seas in April 2025 solo!
Great review. Celebrity is my current fav, NCL is the best value with stuff included, and I can't wait to try MSC, especially if I can get in the Yacht club.
That’s awesome!
Looking forward to the changes in the Sphere class vs Royal class, of course I am a Princess loyalist🙂 Just returned from sailing on the Caribbean Princess. 97 days to the big one on the Sun Princess and while on the Caribbean Princess have booked a November cruise too❤ Thx Ilana
That’s amazing!! I would like to book a longer cruise on the ship to experience it more :)
Our favorite cruise lines are HAL and Disney. It is just my husband and I cruising together most of the time and despiteDisney being a family cruise line, we usually see more children on the other cruise lines. That being said we cruise Royal Caribbean most of the time because we can sail out of Galveston which is only a day drive for us.
Excellent job. I agree with most assessments.
So glad to hear
My first ship was Navigator of the Seas as well and next year I will be sailing with sister ship Voyager of the Seas.
First time cruise .. NCL
Encore Panama Canal
April 2025
Awesome cruise!
Second time cruiser. My first was Carnival on a Caribbean itinerary just after the pandemic.
Doing a transatlantic with NCL early in the new year.
Excited about this one, as I think I will like the NCL vibe more. Sounds like there will be a ton of solo cruisers on this voyage-already making friends on Facebook.
Enjoy!!
Spot on! Thank you for this!
Awesome! Thanks for watching
I've done over 20 cruises and Celebrity is my favorite
First time cruiser. Going on the Sky Princes in Feb 2025.
Congrats for the vídeo !
Royal Caribbean is the Best !
They’re a great cruise line! Thanks for weighing in!
I would note that if you are a Solo cruiser:
* MSC routinely has the lowest Solo Supplement fee
* Norwegian builds solo cabins into all their ships and makes an effort with gatherings.
* Virgin has the vibe.
Fantastic! Thanks for sharing
I went on my 2nd cruise recently and I can definitely say we are Princess cruisers. Our experience with NCL wasn't the greatest, still enjoyable but not our vibe
Thanks for sharing!!
Another great video. Thanks
Glad you enjoyed it
Liked the video… I WILL NEVER CRUSE ON NCL AGAIN. IF they were the only cruise line I would NEVER cruise again.
Oh no! Sounds like you had a bad experience. Which cruise line are you sailing with now?
@ Carnival. I love them and I am a single cruiser.