interesting points ,if anyone else is searching for Finding Quality Men try - Mahorrla Successful Couple Method - (do a google search ) ? Ive heard some interesting things about it and my m8 got great success with it.
I was going on my first cruise this year for my 40th birthday. It's so sad that it can't happen but watching these videos keep me excited for when I can eventually cruise
Highly recommended! You are in for an experience of a life time. My self and my wife did it last year, Cannot wait to do it again! Most classy, memorable and romantic! You are in for a great treat! Enjoy!!!
@cleo patra Yes you can. Many people do it that way. I fully agree the flight is a put off. Check the Cunard website for details of return sailings. Planet Cruise and other operators also have details. QM2 does not do an overnight in New York which mean you have only a day trip there. However, you could spend a holiday in the US and catch the QM2 when it is back to make the return trip. It has regular return voyages from Southampton the New York. Whichever you decide you will not be disappointed! Should be done at least once in your lifetime. Enjoy!!!
Hi Gary Thanks! Once again, another video packed with a mass of good advice and tips. I have been a big fan of Celebrity but must say that I have been hugely disappointed in the way they are moving away in their newer ships - like Edge - from some of the traditional cruising experience I’ve been accustomed to enjoying, to a more raucous, noisy and less relaxing on-board experience. On my last trip on the Edge, I found it almost impossible to find a place where I could have a quiet drink and unwind. Ken
Cunard is my favourite line and QM2 is my favourite ship it is so elegant. I love the dress up code and the afternoon tea dances. I should have been cruising to Hamburg in May but sadly it was not to be. Hope next year's one goes ahead.
I am over 70 and am in a wheelchair and i love Princess. We have been on Princess several times and have got 2 bookings for next year. We went on Cunard last year and was very disappointed it was not wheelchair friendly and we had some bad experiences with Cunard so will never go with them again.
We sailed on Silversae‘s a couple years ago and it was a great experience. There were less than 300 people on the ship so we really got to know people from all over the world! The service was outstanding .
I would like to point out that the space-per-passernger ratio on Cunard is higher than many cruise lines. It was one of the reasons I chose Cunard for my 2019 cruise. I've found it can be rather unpleasant to be squashed in with a crowd at some locations on a ship that has a lower ratio.
We are in this demographic and new to cruising. We have booked two cruises so far after much research. Our first cruise will be a Viking Mediterranean Cruise. Our second will be on the Celebrity Flora to the Galápagos Islands. We also find Silversea (Alaska?) and Crystal (Croatia?) appealing. I would be interested to hear more about these four choices. Smaller ships that offer some luxury, personal attention and space on cruises that focus heavily on the destinations are most appealing to us. We find your videos very informative and entertaining. Thank you very much.
First and foremost, I LOVE your videos. I get 95% of my cruising info from you, so thank you for your insight, knowledge and experience! Second...40-45 yr olds at the time of this video are Gen Xers, not Boomers. ;-) Sorry. I'm 45 and am years away from the Boomer title. Regardless, I truly do appreciate you. You give me the courage to go on a non-military cruise (I'm retired US Navy.). ❤
You never will have the "Boomer" title. These designations come from birthdate, not from your current age. If you were born after 1964, you'll never be a Baby Boomer. (You poor thing.)
@@ValerieJNorse no shit, they knew that. And no one wants to be a boomer. It’s like saying you’re a self righteous prick. It applies to you, so I can see why you said this.
@@ValerieJNorse Yeah, just reread my comment. My wording was off. Im aware Im not nor ever will be a Boomer. Boomers are cool in a way Millennials and Gen Zers will never understand, but I kinda like my Gen X group of misfits.
I will never sail Princess again. Blocked my 19 year old daughter from the teen room (16-18 year olds) for a one week cruise. As an only child, shy and well behaved (with DS) she was considered an adult at 18 Smh. Excuses given: what about other parents, insurance liability etc. Yuck! She had been 19 for 10 days.
Great info, thank you Gary. My husband and I are in this age group. With 2 older teenagers, we’ve been loyal to Celebrity for years as we found it to be a great fit for us all - dining options are impressive, esp at Blu, and my kids actually prefer the calmer Teen Center atmosphere on board Celebrity. Holland America is one that we’ve been considering trying out while kids are still at home, and Oceania is on our bucket list when we are empty nesters.
We found Holland America abysmal for an Alaska cruise in June, 2019. Food was really, really terrible, entertainment was amateurish and cabins old. Ship was Oosterdam.
At 67 with grand-kids in their 20's, I've outgrown the desire to listen to somebody else's kids running and screaming. I'm looking for a cruise line with no kids. Does one exist like that?
We went on Viking when they started doing the Caribbean after doing a river cruise of China which impressed us and when we did the sea cruise to the Caribbean they had maintained this lovely way to cruise with no kids but not too formal with a better ratio of staff to guests than most other lines. The lounges are very modern and extremely comfortable with sea viewing in mind and the evening club Torshavn is relaxed with nice entertainment and great drink selection, also don’t miss Mamsens for a little bit of a treat not to mention the daily afternoon cream teas absolutely delicious 😋,having tried most cruise lines l would return to Viking anytime without question .
Great video, as always. But, I'm over 50 years old and can't help thinking that those are the cruise lines that fun goes to die. I guess if I needed a whole lot of sleep, then they would be good for that.
Excellent video. I would add two other lines for consideration if you are a middle aged adult looking for a primarily adult cruise. First consider Saga which is 50+ age restricted. They have a great reputation centered on classic cruising. The ambiance is very British. The second one is good for people who are more oriented on destinations and want to go to places that are often skipped by the larger cruise ships. This would be Windstar. They run classic sail powered cruise ships which are also quite small. They are very port intensive and do tend to go to places that normal sized ships don't stop in. However, being smaller ships they don't have quite the same level of onboard entertainment, so its a bit old fashioned in that high maintenance passengers in constant need of shipboard diversions might not be a good fit. Also these ships do not have a lot of facilities for kids. Lastly they are also extremely informal. Their idea of a dress code is a sign asking passengers not to wear wet bathing suits into the main dining room.
I really appreciated this as I'm kind of starting to plan a cruise for our 25th in 5 years. I've sailed twice on Carnival and thought it was well, meh. I loved my first cruise on Disney in 2015. Never saw a kid except a few at dinner. (We ate late).
My wife and I are in our mid 50’s. We want to enjoy our vacation. HAL and Cunard are fine but we prefer Royal. We aren’t dead yet. I still like to get out and shake my butt occasionally. Traditional cruises are good occasionally but I really love the resort style cruises. I enjoy your videos but you definitely skew to a certain type cruise experience. When we do river cruises I prefer a little more luxury and quiet. However on the sea I want a choice. I enjoy the robots. I enjoy the skydive. . Give me Viking and Royal. My two favorite lines.
We also love Royal Caribbean, but we love HAL and we choose different cruises depending on how we feel. I don't have a preference for either - I just love them both.
I've been cruising for 30 years have been disappointed with the general direction many of the cruise lines have taken. Cunard, Holland America, Celebrity have been slipping in hotel department standards(food, service, cleanliness of ships). I'm surprised you haven't mentioned Viking Ocean! They are my new favorite cruise line. Gorgeous modern ships, excellent food, service, atmosphere.
Nice reviews, Gary, but I’m 47 and these sound like cruises for old people to me. I’m most excited to try Virgin Voyages and get some dance music that isn’t just the same set of 70’s and 80’s hits on repeat.
I am looking forward to reviewing them in service, I did a short one-night review on board in February when Scarlett Lady came out of the shipyard and was due to cruise in April. I have booked Scarlett Lady (Caribbean) and Valiant Lady (Med) both for next year so will be able to properly review. I may do a first impressions and thoughts video actually now as will be a while......
So glad you put out this video. I was wondering which cruise line would be best for me. The only multi-day cruise I've been on is a river cruise in Europe on Uniworld's S.S. Antoinette, which I loved, and was all-inclusive. It sounds like Oceania or Holland-America are the lines that I would like the best. Thanks for the info!
I’ve been on Celebrity. Very nice experience. It was a back to back cruise from Australia to Asia. It’s under the RCCL umbrella. Several times, when I called the ship company, as I was planning my cruise, I talked to RCCL staff instead of Celebrity staff.
This is by far the best analysis of the attractions or otherwise of the main cruise lines. You have addressed what you think is good and what might be considered bad. My personal favorite is Celebrity but after watching this I would certainly consider either Cunard or Princess. What would be brilliant would be a direct comparison of the three lines using the same guidelines as here. Maybe food,entertainment, cabin quality all the normal things but also maybe one thing each line excels in. For example you said about music variety aboard Holland America and the Poshness aboard Cunard, anything you feel Celebrity or Princess are particularly well known for?
I personally think that Crystal Cruises are the best option in the ultra-luxury category! I'm in my 20's and I've sailed on them with my 50-year-old parents over three times. The food, service, and overall "non-stuffy" makes for an unparalleled experience in my book!
Now Crystal have gone out of business, so Seabourn, Regent Seven Seas and Oceania would be your best bets, if you have the coin. Very expensive, but so was Crystal.
I am a younger millenial and i dream of formal cruising that reminds me of that show "Love Boat" with the gorgeous captain stubing!! I am saving up for the cunard, i actually love that romantic aspect of cruising!
It's a marketing thing. If you say something is for 50+, you'll find mostly people 60+. If he's saying 40+, the 55+ demographic gets to feel like they are 10 years younger.
@@kerisf Worse. Most 50+ establishments are full of 70+ people. We are early 60s but stay well away from the likes of Cunard which is full of geriatrics. We both go to the gym, swim and walk up all the stairways on board.
@@stephanguitar9778 I’m always disappointed in the music played on cruise ships. This piano classical stuff gets bloody annoying. And it’s obvious when the house band ,in atriums and lounge areas, start to play more modern stuff - that people enjoy this. They all get up and dance - and sit back down when the classical stuff starts again.. I’m in my early 60’s and hubby in his early 70’s … we grew up with led zeppelin, David Bowie, Elton John etc etc. I’m not interested in frank sinatra and 40’s and 50’s stuff. Cruise companies need to update their music - even its background music. There’s plenty of wonderful softer modern music.
@@happytraveller2122 I sort of agree, but if they play the wrong sort of modern music like they do at my gym, we would need to take drugs to appreciate it.
Gary..... I booked a surprise second cruise for my wife and I on Oceania Vista (our first) in there penthouse suite on deck 11 mid ship for 12-30-23 thru 1-9-24 10 days and i'm going to surprise my wife with it on Christmas day. We have never sailed on Oceania or in a suite before but they had a nice sale going on thru the end of June with the O life promotion with airfare and other perks saved some dollars despite it being over new years and btw we took the ship board credit. Lol. The fun part is my wife and i are already booked on a cruise in October on Celebrity Equinox 8 days to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary but this cruise at the end of December will be a extension of our celebration of 30yrs of marriage. We are both 55 i think we picked the correct cruises with a two month break in between lol i appreciate your analysis and expertise on the cruise industry as i subscribed some time ago. Thank you!
I have been on Celebrity and Holland America, there is not as much to do at night as on a ship like Royal Caribbean or Carnival, but if you are over 40, you may appreciated the more understated and quiet cruising. There is music on HA as was stated, but you will not find much dancing at night, for instance. Celebrity they would throw a party every night, but otherwise not too much nightlife.
A funny thing is that Hurtigruten has started to focus so much on their arctic cruises now that there has come a new competitor for their traditional business model of running the Norwegian coastal express from Bergen to Kirkenes.
My daughter and I are hoping to go on the Queen Mary 2 with my mother at sometime in the futures. My husband is very casual, so this would not suite his personality at all. I have watched one of your QM2 videos and it looked lovely.
I have never taken a cruise before. I have done a little research on cruise lines and I, being over 50, would like a transatlantic cruise (New York City to London or the reverse). Celebrity and Holland America sound like winners. The Oceania line sounds promising because of the ships being smaller than the larger ships.
Perfect timing. As I round out 45 years next week, I've been looking into a cruise holiday to take myself on. No kids, no crowds... Maybe in a year or two.
From my experience (35 yrs of cruising at an average of just over 1 per year), these are the best lines - I’ve sailed on Cunard, Holland numerous times & Celebrity a few times.
Very helpful, thank you, Gary. I like Holland America because they are the only line that has a priest aboard for Catholics. We also love the classical musicians of Lincoln Center Stage, and are not really interested in loud, big shows.
Who put someone 40 or over in a older bucket? I want to go to have the fun I wanted to have in my 20's and 30's but couldn't afford it bc I had kids when I turned 20....now they are raised, I want to enjoy the activities that were stolen from me by finances and commitments.
Gary.... Please mention the relative prices of the great ships like Oceania and Seabourn vs good ships like Princess and Holland. Is the premium price worth it? Not to me. I consider Princess to be the best VALUE.
I agreed with all except your last one, Princess. Cruise with them a lot (12 cruises at least). The service food quality and experience became worse and worse with each cruise. We will never cruise with Princess again
Gary Gary Gary, I had a smile to myself when you started that Crystal wouldn't get a mention, and sure enough. I find your videos and advice invaluable but the blinkers on Crystal confounds me. Definitely my number 1!
Gary, I thoroughly enjoyed your video. It had lots of useful information as all your videos have! I am glad that Cunard is in there as it is my favorite! What I cannot understand is why in this modern age most cruise lines charge for WiFi? Go to any hotel and it is free! Is there an unavoidable compelling cost to them that they cannot ignore? I cannot understand this, It sounds like a 'rip off'. If it is, that annoys me. I don not mind paying value for money, but I do not like being 'ripped off' (excuse the language) Putting that aside, the cruise lines you have mentioned are fantastic! Hope to get around them all some day!!!
I agree that as lines try and attract a broader audience and more generally new to cruise, people see Wi-Fi as standard. It is starting to be included more and more like Virgin Voyages, Oceania, Ponant, Saga - but still the more costly lines..
I own a tux and hope to never wear it again (except for grandkids weddings). I am not looking for the formal cruise experience. HAL is the best for me. I can remain informal and it is a great experience.
I want an excellent meal that’s included in my cruise price, a flexible dress code, no kids, lots of included entertainment options, and solo rooms at a reduced cost (less than what I would pay for a double occupancy on the same ship). And I like options to be active and options to relax. I super enjoyed my very first NCL experience. The musicians on board were amazing and acoustic. They played in their own venues and also improvised at times and played together- spur of the moment- in the lounges. The specialty dinning was great, but I’m already paying a lot as a single cruiser, so shouldn’t have to pay more for a great meal. Carnival was tacky. Celebrity was a bit too elitist at times. Anyone have other recommendations? No water slides, climbing walls or go carts needed.
I have not liked cruising since Ocean Village was closed down. I like informal cruising where I can eat when I want to eat, what I want to eat and sit where I like to sit. Are there ANY such cruise ship today?
I highly recommend Star Clippers. I’ve done two of their Indonesian cruises and had a blast. Scheduled to sail this year on one of their trans-Atlantic cruises in November, so I’ve got my fingers crossed.
@@tipsfortravellers hello friend, i was just wondering if holland america is great for an alaskan cruise? Alot of my friends adore HAL but they never been to alaska with them. Im assuming the experience is the same, just a different destination. I was suppose to go on an alaskan cruise with HAL out of seattle in September but of course thats not goin to happen. Im kind of hesitant to book for may 2021 cuz who knows what the future holds. I plan on retiring in alaska someday (i know, im nuts) but i love cold weather 😄 Should i keep HAL for alaska or mayb try princess or a much smaller ship like seabourn?
What about Saga? I know you have been on Saga ships ships, but you were quick to say that they don’t have a casino. This might be important to you, but it isn’t always important to everyone. I think they, particularly because of their amazing staff, deserve a mention.
I had a "second dinner" in The Haven dining room with a lovely couple over 40 (I am only 36 myself). A shame NCL didn't make the list. I haven't cruised on any other line yet so I am also clueless.
Having sailed often on Holland and NCL, NCL doesn’t come close to Holland. NCL is fine; but, whenever I am booking my own cruise (not a group cruise where the organizer has chosen the cruise line) I book in Holland. I’ve also sailed on Cunard which is a wonderful experience; but, as noted in the video, doesn’t sail to the range of ports as Holland (Holland is often the first cruise line into a new port). And, I’ve sailed Celebrity a few times. It is also superior to NCL in my opinion. I think Gary got it exactly right for the point he was making regarding he “older” generation.
I was born in 1980 (I am 40 y.o), the last year of generation X, two months away from 1981 which is the beginning of generation Y... I am definitely not a baby boomer! and can hardly be called generation X, both of my parents are baby boomers though... and they are in their mid 60's. Great video nevertheless, I love your content.
It's hard we cruise every 2-3 years.we don't spend hardly any money on the ship and pick up tours in port.we still spend about $3000-3500 from the time we leave until we get back home.we drive to port.
@@vittoriovuocolo2438 How does that work? Curious. I know gratuity is heavily hinted at, but other than that, what else do you spend money on? Souvenirs?
I'm over 70. I want a cruise line where things are going on. That's why I wouldn't go on one of the cruise lines you just mentioned. They sound boring. I've been on five cruises and I enjoy on board activities as well as excursions. I want something that's fun. After all I'm on vacation. And by the way. 40? Really? You make it sound like these people are getting ready for the retirement home. I guess different strokes for different folks.
You should watch Emma also; she is your age and does lots of videos on cruising. Many ships cater very much for the young; anyway, you are mostly in a port during the day. Cruising is definitely for all ages.
Would we really like Cunard as we do not like dressing up, or formality, but we do like fine dining and a classy experience. I know you said HAL was traditional but less formal, and we have tried them 3 times, love the look of the ships, but we did not find the food that good, or even hot. I enjoy more European staff as we can converse with them better and they have the same sense of humour.
Actually, Cunard are only really formal after 18:00 hours. Then there's "informal" most nights and "formal" wear on only 2 out of 7 nights. Informal would mean suits for men but no tie necessary, ladies something equivalent to that. Ball gowns, tuxes etc. are for formal nights, which can be themed ( black and whiteball). If you're not into that and like to stay in jeans and shirt it's the buffet restaurant for you. Which does not mean that the food's bad. Or cold. You just have to get it yourself. On the Queen Victoria you had all fresco dining with a view . If you're booked in a suite you can have food brought to your suite... During the day it's wear what you like, as long as it's not ripped Jean's or sportswear. Cunard isn't formal 24/7. Have not much experience with other lines except AIDA. Hope you found this a bit helpful.
Our sentiments exactly. We did HAL once and that was surely enough, so we are looking for something as you said - fine dining, refined behavior, but not formal attire.
@@co7580 thank you. I do not wear jeans, but wondering if nice pants and a pretty top would be ok for formal, we just do not have or need otherwise, gowns and tuxes. Plus travelling from Vancouver and combining other forms of travel plus taking my walker, we just do not have the suitcase space for finery.
@@chriswilliams6568 at Cunard nice top and good pants with jacket for the gents would be considered informal. That would be most nights after 6 PM. Per 7 day cruise you can expect 2 formal nights. Ball gowns, tuxes. You'd be confined to the buffet which isn't that bad, but that may not be what you're looking for. You're paying , so you would expect to be able to enjoy as you please. Cunard may then not be the line for you, especially if you're combining the cruise with further travels.
Celebrity are pretty good all round. The only things that people don't like about them are the only entertainment is musical, no films or lectures. There is no passenger laundry and exorbitant charges if you pay them to do your washing for you and sometimes they can be a bit over the top "loud and American". But the balcony cabins are really nice and the food is excellent.
Celebrity has never let us down. The food in the main dining room has always been exquisite, and the service all over the ship is impeccable. Celebrity do not gear toward young kids like their counterpart,, Royal Caribbean. This suits us fine, as we now have a 16 year old. There are no rock climbing walls or roller coasters at sea. Celebrity is a more serene, elevated experience.
is there such a thing as a all posh/all formal only cruise excursion? the one with no loud parties nor any bare clothed people congregating on pools or any particular area..
M 55 trying to find a cruise to Bahamas? No interest in the spring break booze cruises nor the bingo crowd. Any recommendations? Singles type cruise would begreat. ..I only wear suits to weddings and funerals which I avoid. lol
NCL caters to more families with all the amusements on board. I think what he means by over 40, cruise lines that don't cater to families with go cart tracks, etc.
For service & quality, NCL doesn’t compare to Cunard, Holland or Celebrity (I haven’t been on the other two lines.). Holland & Celebrity offer options other than the traditional “set seating” dinner option. Although, I always chose the set seating option when on those lines - over the years, I have gotten to know many wonderful people at those dinners.
@@bridgetleary1183 For me personally I did Celebrity now to be "fair" I haven't done the other 4 cruise lines. Maybe they different than NCL but at the moment I would have to disagree when comes to service as not sure what you mean by quality you mean as food wise for example? Activities? Types of excursion? The list goes on. For me myself I found service and quality top notice along with Freestyle as I do have to admit bonus points for their solo program and prices. Out of the few celebrity cruises wasn't my cup of tea in many ways. Now would I go back sure if price was right as ports I would like to see. But at the moment I would take NCL over Celebrity.
There are a lot of big fans of the line and will only cruise with them. They are greta of you like a very UK-centric cruise with mostly Brits and very traditional cruise experience. The ships are quite old / dated but well maintained
Have sailed on Cunard. Historical cruise line. Food isn't always good, service is pretty good. Only cruise line that has a planetarium. Their Hight Tea iv very good. Made casino smaller and took out craps tables. Went on one cruise with Holland America to Bermuda. The ship was small and we got to dock in downtown Hamilton which provided a different experience. Holland America has a good enrichment program and the food is good. Drawback is I have to travel to get to their departure ports. Celebrity used to be good. They are trying to appeal to a younger crowd. Best to make Moussaka. Decent Casino. Never went on Oceania. I like smaller ships, but, Oceania has a small casino and no craps table. Seabourn, very small casino with no craps table. Might consider Seabourn if they have round trips. Don't want to fly back from another place.
In my experience, you'll see fewer children on the HAL ships which translates to a more relaxed poolside experience.
I agree totally.
agreed!
The kids are there, but HAL kids programs keep them busy and out of your way
I love your professionalism
interesting points ,if anyone else is searching for Finding Quality Men try -
Mahorrla Successful Couple Method - (do a google search ) ? Ive heard some interesting things about it and my m8 got great success with it.
I was going on my first cruise this year for my 40th birthday. It's so sad that it can't happen but watching these videos keep me excited for when I can eventually cruise
I feel u on that one. I missed my alaskan cruise with holland america to alaska...my bucket list cruise 😭
Was thinking of cruising on HAL for my 60th birthday in August. 😥
just curls and sunshine
My wife & I are taking our First Cruise and we’re going to Alaska in June 2021!!!
@@cyclonemama3907 ive heard nothin but great things about them. My friends always travel with HAL
@@michaelh2716 im hoping for the same nex year!
When cruising opens up I am planning on cruising on Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 from Southampton to New York.
Highly recommended! You are in for an experience of a life time. My self and my wife did it last year, Cannot wait to do it again! Most classy, memorable and romantic! You are in for a great treat! Enjoy!!!
@cleo patra Yes you can. Many people do it that way. I fully agree the flight is a put off. Check the Cunard website for details of return sailings. Planet Cruise and other operators also have details. QM2 does not do an overnight in New York which mean you have only a day trip there. However, you could spend a holiday in the US and catch the QM2 when it is back to make the return trip. It has regular return voyages from Southampton the New York.
Whichever you decide you will not be disappointed! Should be done at least once in your lifetime. Enjoy!!!
Been on 6 times now round trip great ship
I went on a Disney cruise (solo) for my 40th birthday. I had a blast. Lots of adults only sections.
best ship for adults only areas,love it
Thanks for the preview. It's good to see adult cruises.
Very well thought out and thorough commentary on top cruise lines for those of us over 40. Very relevant info. Thanks for sharing Gary...Ed
Glad you enjoyed it!
Hi Gary Thanks! Once again, another video packed with a mass of good advice and tips. I have been a big fan of Celebrity but must say that I have been hugely disappointed in the way they are moving away in their newer ships - like Edge - from some of the traditional cruising experience I’ve been accustomed to enjoying, to a more raucous, noisy and less relaxing on-board experience. On my last trip on the Edge, I found it almost impossible to find a place where I could have a quiet drink and unwind. Ken
Cunard is my favourite line and QM2 is my favourite ship it is so elegant. I love the dress up code and the afternoon tea dances. I should have been cruising to Hamburg in May but sadly it was not to be. Hope next year's one goes ahead.
I love this too. Hoping to be back on board next year after trips this year got cancelled...
I should be boarding the QM2 this Sunday for a transatlantic 😢
Many thanks Gary. The formality of Cunard is putting us off. We dress for work, on vacation prefer more casual. Love Oceania for this reason.
I am over 70 and am in a wheelchair and i love Princess. We have been on Princess several times and have got 2 bookings for next year. We went on Cunard last year and was very disappointed it was not wheelchair friendly and we had some bad experiences with Cunard so will never go with them again.
We sailed on Silversae‘s a couple years ago and it was a great experience. There were less than 300 people on the ship so we really got to know people from all over the world! The service was outstanding .
I would like to point out that the space-per-passernger ratio on Cunard is higher than many cruise lines. It was one of the reasons I chose Cunard for my 2019 cruise. I've found it can be rather unpleasant to be squashed in with a crowd at some locations on a ship that has a lower ratio.
We are in this demographic and new to cruising. We have booked two cruises so far after much research. Our first cruise will be a Viking Mediterranean Cruise. Our second will be on the Celebrity Flora to the Galápagos Islands. We also find Silversea (Alaska?) and Crystal (Croatia?) appealing. I would be interested to hear more about these four choices. Smaller ships that offer some luxury, personal attention and space on cruises that focus heavily on the destinations are most appealing to us. We find your videos very informative and entertaining. Thank you very much.
First and foremost, I LOVE your videos. I get 95% of my cruising info from you, so thank you for your insight, knowledge and experience! Second...40-45 yr olds at the time of this video are Gen Xers, not Boomers. ;-) Sorry. I'm 45 and am years away from the Boomer title. Regardless, I truly do appreciate you. You give me the courage to go on a non-military cruise (I'm retired US Navy.). ❤
You never will have the "Boomer" title. These designations come from birthdate, not from your current age. If you were born after 1964, you'll never be a Baby Boomer. (You poor thing.)
@@ValerieJNorse no shit, they knew that. And no one wants to be a boomer. It’s like saying you’re a self righteous prick. It applies to you, so I can see why you said this.
As a
@@ValerieJNorse Yeah, just reread my comment. My wording was off. Im aware Im not nor ever will be a Boomer. Boomers are cool in a way Millennials and Gen Zers will never understand, but I kinda like my Gen X group of misfits.
We are Princess Fans and feel that it is a good choice for Older Individuals.
Snap, they definitely fill the bill for us, although I’d be interested to try Celebrity.
I was sure Princess would have featured in the mix. Very professionally made vid.
I will never sail Princess again. Blocked my 19 year old daughter from the teen room (16-18 year olds) for a one week cruise. As an only child, shy and well behaved (with DS) she was considered an adult at 18
Smh. Excuses given: what about other parents, insurance liability etc. Yuck! She had been 19 for 10 days.
Too many families with kids on Princess
I would recommend Princess over Celebrity. Celebrity used to be . . . but (imo) has slipped down a bit in recent years.
Great info, thank you Gary. My husband and I are in this age group. With 2 older teenagers, we’ve been loyal to Celebrity for years as we found it to be a great fit for us all - dining options are impressive, esp at Blu, and my kids actually prefer the calmer Teen Center atmosphere on board Celebrity. Holland America is one that we’ve been considering trying out while kids are still at home, and Oceania is on our bucket list when we are empty nesters.
We found Holland America abysmal for an Alaska cruise in June, 2019. Food was really, really terrible, entertainment was amateurish and cabins old. Ship was Oosterdam.
At 67 with grand-kids in their 20's, I've outgrown the desire to listen to somebody else's kids running and screaming. I'm looking for a cruise line with no kids. Does one exist like that?
It Did...
Viking
Viking would be one I'd recommend.
We went on Viking when they started doing the Caribbean after doing a river cruise of China which impressed us and when we did the sea cruise to the Caribbean they had maintained this lovely way to cruise with no kids but not too formal with a better ratio of staff to guests than most other lines. The lounges are very modern and extremely comfortable with sea viewing in mind and the evening club Torshavn is relaxed with nice entertainment and great drink selection, also don’t miss Mamsens for a little bit of a treat not to mention the daily afternoon cream teas absolutely delicious 😋,having tried most cruise lines l would return to Viking anytime without question .
Viking. It’s the only line that doesn’t allow kids.
Great video, as always. But, I'm over 50 years old and can't help thinking that those are the cruise lines that fun goes to die. I guess if I needed a whole lot of sleep, then they would be good for that.
OMG! Agree 100%. Music from the 60’s and 70’s on Celebrity. Only fun evening is silent disco when music options are more recent.
@@yellowbird500 Would love the 60's and 70's music, but there just isnt anything to actually do.
Excellent video. I would add two other lines for consideration if you are a middle aged adult looking for a primarily adult cruise. First consider Saga which is 50+ age restricted. They have a great reputation centered on classic cruising. The ambiance is very British. The second one is good for people who are more oriented on destinations and want to go to places that are often skipped by the larger cruise ships. This would be Windstar. They run classic sail powered cruise ships which are also quite small. They are very port intensive and do tend to go to places that normal sized ships don't stop in. However, being smaller ships they don't have quite the same level of onboard entertainment, so its a bit old fashioned in that high maintenance passengers in constant need of shipboard diversions might not be a good fit. Also these ships do not have a lot of facilities for kids. Lastly they are also extremely informal. Their idea of a dress code is a sign asking passengers not to wear wet bathing suits into the main dining room.
Both are great, I agree
Wanting entertainment on a ship is now considered “high maintenance?” 🤨
Sorry you missed out Fred Olsen. We are taking our 10th cruise with them next year & have now used all ships. Our favourite is Boudicca
I'm surprised there not gone under like CMV
They are for over 70s not over 40s
@@ramblingrob4693 They have plenty of money behind them. They will not be going bust
I really appreciated this as I'm kind of starting to plan a cruise for our 25th in 5 years. I've sailed twice on Carnival and thought it was well, meh. I loved my first cruise on Disney in 2015. Never saw a kid except a few at dinner. (We ate late).
My wife and I are in our mid 50’s. We want to enjoy our vacation. HAL and Cunard are fine but we prefer Royal. We aren’t dead yet. I still like to get out and shake my butt occasionally. Traditional cruises are good occasionally but I really love the resort style cruises. I enjoy your videos but you definitely skew to a certain type cruise experience.
When we do river cruises I prefer a little more luxury and quiet. However on the sea I want a choice. I enjoy the robots. I enjoy the skydive. . Give me Viking and Royal. My two favorite lines.
We also love Royal Caribbean, but we love HAL and we choose different cruises depending on how we feel. I don't have a preference for either - I just love them both.
I've been cruising for 30 years have been disappointed with the general direction many of the cruise lines have taken. Cunard, Holland America, Celebrity have been slipping in hotel department standards(food, service, cleanliness of ships). I'm surprised you haven't mentioned Viking Ocean! They are my new favorite cruise line. Gorgeous modern ships, excellent food, service, atmosphere.
Nice reviews, Gary, but I’m 47 and these sound like cruises for old people to me. I’m most excited to try Virgin Voyages and get some dance music that isn’t just the same set of 70’s and 80’s hits on repeat.
I am looking forward to reviewing them in service, I did a short one-night review on board in February when Scarlett Lady came out of the shipyard and was due to cruise in April. I have booked Scarlett Lady (Caribbean) and Valiant Lady (Med) both for next year so will be able to properly review. I may do a first impressions and thoughts video actually now as will be a while......
Im 47 too. The only one I would go on out of the 5 is Celebrity. Had a great time on The Reflection
Thanks once again for a superb informative video. Your vast experience and expertise is so obvious. Look forward to your next video.
Many thanks!
So glad you put out this video. I was wondering which cruise line would be best for me. The only multi-day cruise I've been on is a river cruise in Europe on Uniworld's S.S. Antoinette, which I loved, and was all-inclusive. It sounds like Oceania or Holland-America are the lines that I would like the best. Thanks for the info!
Many of my friends have been on holland america & they all loved it!!!
Glad it was helpful!
I am at the lower end of the boomers and I'm definitely a small ship person but you've got me thinking about doing a Cunard transatlantic.
They are a fantastic experience!!
I’ve been on Celebrity. Very nice experience. It was a back to back cruise from Australia to Asia. It’s under the RCCL umbrella. Several times, when I called the ship company, as I was planning my cruise, I talked to RCCL staff instead of Celebrity staff.
This is by far the best analysis of the attractions or otherwise of the main cruise lines. You have addressed what you think is good and what might be considered bad. My personal favorite is Celebrity but after watching this I would certainly consider either Cunard or Princess. What would be brilliant would be a direct comparison of the three lines using the same guidelines as here. Maybe food,entertainment, cabin quality all the normal things but also maybe one thing each line excels in. For example you said about music variety aboard Holland America and the Poshness aboard Cunard, anything you feel Celebrity or Princess are particularly well known for?
Keep watching as this is coming 😀😀😀
@@tipsfortravellers Excellent. Many thanks
I personally think that Crystal Cruises are the best option in the ultra-luxury category! I'm in my 20's and I've sailed on them with my 50-year-old parents over three times. The food, service, and overall "non-stuffy" makes for an unparalleled experience in my book!
Have you sailed Regent? I'm really looking for comparisons between Regent and their competitors like Crystal.
@@triktrak_1451 Not as of yet but I would compare it to Silverseas and Seabourn
“Over three times” …….. so four times?
Now Crystal have gone out of business, so Seabourn, Regent Seven Seas and Oceania would be your best bets, if you have the coin. Very expensive, but so was Crystal.
@@chriswilliams6568 Crystal got bought out by A&K and will be darling again soon!
I am a younger millenial and i dream of formal cruising that reminds me of that show "Love Boat" with the gorgeous captain stubing!! I am saving up for the cunard, i actually love that romantic aspect of cruising!
40-45 is the youngest of Gen X and the oldest of Millennials. Boomers are all 55+ these days.
Which is why the lines he’s recommending seems so boring to me. He’s recommending for boomers but claiming it’s for the 40’s crowd.
It's a marketing thing. If you say something is for 50+, you'll find mostly people 60+. If he's saying 40+, the 55+ demographic gets to feel like they are 10 years younger.
@@kerisf Worse. Most 50+ establishments are full of 70+ people. We are early 60s but stay well away from the likes of Cunard which is full of geriatrics. We both go to the gym, swim and walk up all the stairways on board.
@@stephanguitar9778 I’m always disappointed in the music played on cruise ships. This piano classical stuff gets bloody annoying. And it’s obvious when the house band ,in atriums and lounge areas, start to play more modern stuff - that people enjoy this. They all get up and dance - and sit back down when the classical stuff starts again.. I’m in my early 60’s and hubby in his early 70’s … we grew up with led zeppelin, David Bowie, Elton John etc etc. I’m not interested in frank sinatra and 40’s and 50’s stuff.
Cruise companies need to update their music - even its background music. There’s plenty of wonderful softer modern music.
@@happytraveller2122 I sort of agree, but if they play the wrong sort of modern music like they do at my gym, we would need to take drugs to appreciate it.
How could you omit Viking which has won best cruise lines from Travel and Leisure for several years in a row ?
You can’t beat Seabourne. Simply the best!!!!!
I have sailed on Cunard and Oceania and loved both of them.
Gary..... I booked a surprise second cruise for my wife and I on Oceania Vista (our first) in there penthouse suite on deck 11 mid ship for 12-30-23 thru 1-9-24 10 days and i'm going to surprise my wife with it on Christmas day.
We have never sailed on Oceania or in a suite before but they had a nice sale going on thru the end of June with the O life promotion with airfare and other perks saved some dollars despite it being over new years and btw we took the ship board credit. Lol.
The fun part is my wife and i are already booked on a cruise in October on Celebrity Equinox 8 days to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary but this cruise at the end of December will be a extension of our celebration of 30yrs of marriage.
We are both 55 i think we picked the correct cruises with a two month break in between lol i appreciate your analysis and expertise on the cruise industry as i subscribed some time ago.
Thank you!
I have only ever been on Carnival, I would love to try a “grown-up” cruise for my 50th birthday!
They're boring
Todd Rohleder Carnival or grown up cruises?
I have been on Celebrity and Holland America, there is not as much to do at night as on a ship like Royal Caribbean or Carnival, but if you are over 40, you may appreciated the more understated and quiet cruising. There is music on HA as was stated, but you will not find much dancing at night, for instance. Celebrity they would throw a party every night, but otherwise not too much nightlife.
@@chrys2953 you're not the age yet for really boring cruising. Carnival is fun and lively.
More into smaller ships and immersive experiences. Quark, Viking, Hurtigruten.
I love small ship cruising too
I think C
I love Crystal cruises especially the Symphony.
A funny thing is that Hurtigruten has started to focus so much on their arctic cruises now that there has come a new competitor for their traditional business model of running the Norwegian coastal express from Bergen to Kirkenes.
Very good information as always! Thank you!
Thanks for watching!
Such great videos you put together. Much appreciated.
Glad you like them!
My daughter and I are hoping to go on the Queen Mary 2 with my mother at sometime in the futures. My husband is very casual, so this would not suite his personality at all. I have watched one of your QM2 videos and it looked lovely.
Holland America: Dead ship by 10 pm. No nightlife at all. But you can get pretty much any machine in the casino. Trade-offs.
One of my favorite cruise channels... what are the odds this was Gary himself rocking out at 7:17 😎
Thank you very much Gary. You are very thorough. Great tips
I have never taken a cruise before. I have done a little research on cruise lines and I, being over 50, would like a transatlantic cruise (New York City to London or the reverse). Celebrity and Holland America sound like winners. The Oceania line sounds promising because of the ships being smaller than the larger ships.
But not cheap. Check price per day.
Any thoughts on Crystal Cruises?
Perfect timing. As I round out 45 years next week, I've been looking into a cruise holiday to take myself on. No kids, no crowds... Maybe in a year or two.
From my experience (35 yrs of cruising at an average of just over 1 per year), these are the best lines - I’ve sailed on Cunard, Holland numerous times & Celebrity a few times.
Very helpful, thank you, Gary. I like Holland America because they are the only line that has a priest aboard for Catholics. We also love the classical musicians of Lincoln Center Stage, and are not really interested in loud, big shows.
We are looking at the VIKING cruise called Viking Homelands. Any comments? We are new to cruising...New to your channel. Great tips. Thank you
Holland ships hold 1,400 to 2,600 guests.
Average age of guests is 70
It's easier to answer what cruise lines not to go on if you are over 40, Carnival, NCL, and HAL.
I am over 40 and like NCL. Also, why not HAL? Aren't they geared to mature travelers?
@@michelleb749 I should expand on this. HAL has the oldest demographics of the deluxe cruise lines. HAL is more like over 70!
@@burningblue1254 Like for over 70 with no taste buds, tone deaf and no sense of smell. HAL is awful, and I'm over 70 but surely not dead.
@@caroleanne8529 What cruise line do you like?
@@caroleanne8529 I mistyped, HAL is best if you are over 70!
since we don't drink alcohol, we'd much rather have free wifi than all the alcohol included. Any good cruise lines that offer that?
Who put someone 40 or over in a older bucket? I want to go to have the fun I wanted to have in my 20's and 30's but couldn't afford it bc I had kids when I turned 20....now they are raised, I want to enjoy the activities that were stolen from me by finances and commitments.
Viking. No kids no casino only 900 passengers. Top pick.
Gary.... Please mention the relative prices of the great ships like Oceania and Seabourn vs good ships like Princess and Holland. Is the premium price worth it? Not to me. I consider Princess to be the best VALUE.
the only kind of cruises or train rides that sound appealing to me would be kind of a retro early 20th century theme i think
Was on the Celebrity Summit last year. Should have been on it this year. Will be on it next year and the Celebrity Millennium in 2022.
I agreed with all except your last one, Princess. Cruise with them a lot (12 cruises at least). The service food quality and experience became worse and worse with each cruise. We will never cruise with Princess again
Gary Gary Gary, I had a smile to myself when you started that Crystal wouldn't get a mention, and sure enough. I find your videos and advice invaluable but the blinkers on Crystal confounds me. Definitely my number 1!
I like Crystal and agree it is great. I do need to talk about them more :-)
Gary, I thoroughly enjoyed your video. It had lots of useful information as all your videos have! I am glad that Cunard is in there as it is my favorite! What I cannot understand is why in this modern age most cruise lines charge for WiFi? Go to any hotel and it is free! Is there an unavoidable compelling cost to them that they cannot ignore? I cannot understand this, It sounds like a 'rip off'. If it is, that annoys me. I don not mind paying value for money, but I do not like being 'ripped off' (excuse the language)
Putting that aside, the cruise lines you have mentioned are fantastic! Hope to get around them all some day!!!
I agree that as lines try and attract a broader audience and more generally new to cruise, people see Wi-Fi as standard. It is starting to be included more and more like Virgin Voyages, Oceania, Ponant, Saga - but still the more costly lines..
I own a tux and hope to never wear it again (except for grandkids weddings). I am not looking for the formal cruise experience. HAL is the best for me. I can remain informal and it is a great experience.
I want an excellent meal that’s included in my cruise price, a flexible dress code, no kids, lots of included entertainment options, and solo rooms at a reduced cost (less than what I would pay for a double occupancy on the same ship). And I like options to be active and options to relax. I super enjoyed my very first NCL experience. The musicians on board were amazing and acoustic. They played in their own venues and also improvised at times and played together- spur of the moment- in the lounges. The specialty dinning was great, but I’m already paying a lot as a single cruiser, so shouldn’t have to pay more for a great meal. Carnival was tacky. Celebrity was a bit too elitist at times. Anyone have other recommendations? No water slides, climbing walls or go carts needed.
Excellent overview!
Planning to try the Neiuw Statendam to Norway's fjords based at least partially on your recommendations.
I have not liked cruising since Ocean Village was closed down. I like informal cruising where I can eat when I want to eat, what I want to eat and sit where I like to sit. Are there ANY such cruise ship today?
NCL
Nice suggestions.
Glad you like them!
I also like Princess Cruises
What about cruising on sailing ships like windjammer, etc?
I highly recommend Star Clippers. I’ve done two of their Indonesian cruises and had a blast. Scheduled to sail this year on one of their trans-Atlantic cruises in November, so I’ve got my fingers crossed.
What about Princess Cruises???
I realy appreciate ur vids...ty so much
Glad you like them!
@@tipsfortravellers hello friend, i was just wondering if holland america is great for an alaskan cruise? Alot of my friends adore HAL but they never been to alaska with them. Im assuming the experience is the same, just a different destination. I was suppose to go on an alaskan cruise with HAL out of seattle in September but of course thats not goin to happen. Im kind of hesitant to book for may 2021 cuz who knows what the future holds. I plan on retiring in alaska someday (i know, im nuts) but i love cold weather 😄 Should i keep HAL for alaska or mayb try princess or a much smaller ship like seabourn?
Just wish celebrity was not so expensive… im almost a diamond on royal. Wonder if id get any discount on a room
What about Saga? I know you have been on Saga ships ships, but you were quick to say that they don’t have a casino. This might be important to you, but it isn’t always important to everyone. I think they, particularly because of their amazing staff, deserve a mention.
I had a "second dinner" in The Haven dining room with a lovely couple over 40 (I am only 36 myself). A shame NCL didn't make the list. I haven't cruised on any other line yet so I am also clueless.
Having sailed often on Holland and NCL, NCL doesn’t come close to Holland. NCL is fine; but, whenever I am booking my own cruise (not a group cruise where the organizer has chosen the cruise line) I book in Holland.
I’ve also sailed on Cunard which is a wonderful experience; but, as noted in the video, doesn’t sail to the range of ports as Holland (Holland is often the first cruise line into a new port).
And, I’ve sailed Celebrity a few times. It is also superior to NCL in my opinion.
I think Gary got it exactly right for the point he was making regarding he “older” generation.
I love Princess and Costa Cruises !!!
any suggestions for classical music ballet opera fans? sports? art palaces? archaeological?
I can only afford steerage on Cunard. 😅
Steerage on QM2 is like 5 star!!!
In the video, when he said: "there are 3 CLASSES on Cunard", that's what I thought he was going to say: 1st Class, 2nd Class & Steerage!!! LOL
😅😅😅
I am really looking for a cruise ship similar to the Minerva which I believe was Swan Hellenic and specialised in historical lectures
We love seabourn
I was born in 1980 (I am 40 y.o), the last year of generation X, two months away from 1981 which is the beginning of generation Y... I am definitely not a baby boomer! and can hardly be called generation X, both of my parents are baby boomers though... and they are in their mid 60's. Great video nevertheless, I love your content.
Great advice if you have $; how about those of us over 55 and living on a minimal fixed income?
Have a video coming up on cruising for less that hopefully will address this too. It comes out this week. Fingers crossed answers this !
It's hard we cruise every 2-3 years.we don't spend hardly any money on the ship and pick up tours in port.we still spend about $3000-3500 from the time we leave until we get back home.we drive to port.
vittorio vuocolo m
@@vittoriovuocolo2438 How does that work? Curious. I know gratuity is heavily hinted at, but other than that, what else do you spend money on? Souvenirs?
I'm over 70. I want a cruise line where things are going on. That's why I wouldn't go on one of the cruise lines you just mentioned. They sound boring. I've been on five cruises and I enjoy on board activities as well as excursions. I want something that's fun. After all I'm on vacation. And by the way. 40? Really? You make it sound like these people are getting ready for the retirement home. I guess different strokes for different folks.
Big music lover Gary, and we love to go on Holland America. Sadly they don’t seem to, sail from Southampton, and we just don’t fly.
Being 21 and watching a video on cruises for the 40+ crowd😂
:-)
You should watch Emma also; she is your age and does lots of videos on cruising. Many ships cater very much for the young; anyway, you are mostly in a port during the day. Cruising is definitely for all ages.
I think a lot of 40 year olds want you on their ship
@@Sharkwhisperer creepy
No mention of Saga or Silver or Norwegian Cruise Lines?
Great info. Make me wonder how many cruises you have been on.
76 to date. Was supposed to be doing 14 this year. Got to do 2 before the shutdown..
Would we really like Cunard as we do not like dressing up, or formality, but we do like fine dining and a classy experience. I know you said HAL was traditional but less formal, and we have tried them 3 times, love the look of the ships, but we did not find the food that good, or even hot. I enjoy more European staff as we can converse with them better and they have the same sense of humour.
Actually, Cunard are only really formal after 18:00 hours. Then there's "informal" most nights and "formal" wear on only 2 out of 7 nights. Informal would mean suits for men but no tie necessary, ladies something equivalent to that. Ball gowns, tuxes etc. are for formal nights, which can be themed ( black and whiteball). If you're not into that and like to stay in jeans and shirt it's the buffet restaurant for you. Which does not mean that the food's bad. Or cold. You just have to get it yourself. On the Queen Victoria you had all fresco dining with a view . If you're booked in a suite you can have food brought to your suite... During the day it's wear what you like, as long as it's not ripped Jean's or sportswear. Cunard isn't formal 24/7. Have not much experience with other lines except AIDA. Hope you found this a bit helpful.
Our sentiments exactly. We did HAL once and that was surely enough, so we are looking for something as you said - fine dining, refined behavior, but not formal attire.
@@co7580 thank you. I do not wear jeans, but wondering if nice pants and a pretty top would be ok for formal, we just do not have or need otherwise, gowns and tuxes. Plus travelling from Vancouver and combining other forms of travel plus taking my walker, we just do not have the suitcase space for finery.
@@caroleanne8529 Oceania Cruises would fit your bill, recognized as the best dining at sea.
@@chriswilliams6568 at Cunard nice top and good pants with jacket for the gents would be considered informal. That would be most nights after 6 PM. Per 7 day cruise you can expect 2 formal nights. Ball gowns, tuxes. You'd be confined to the buffet which isn't that bad, but that may not be what you're looking for. You're paying , so you would expect to be able to enjoy as you please. Cunard may then not be the line for you, especially if you're combining the cruise with further travels.
I am very curious about Celebrity. I worked with someone who raved about this line.
Celebrity are pretty good all round. The only things that people don't like about them are the only entertainment is musical, no films or lectures. There is no passenger laundry and exorbitant charges if you pay them to do your washing for you and sometimes they can be a bit over the top "loud and American". But the balcony cabins are really nice and the food is excellent.
Celebrity has never let us down. The food in the main dining room has always been exquisite, and the service all over the ship is impeccable. Celebrity do not gear toward young kids like their counterpart,, Royal Caribbean. This suits us fine, as we now have a 16 year old. There are no rock climbing walls or roller coasters at sea. Celebrity is a more serene, elevated experience.
@@davewhetton8932 0m
,n
Suggest you also look at cruise liners offering family type of cruises with children and teens.
You didn´t mention Hapag Lloyd probably the best cruising line of all.
Quite happy to see Celebrity made your list, Gary. We enjoy your insight.
Glad you enjoyed it
is there such a thing as a all posh/all formal only cruise excursion? the one with no loud parties nor any bare clothed people congregating on pools or any particular area..
M 55 trying to find a cruise to Bahamas?
No interest in the spring break booze cruises nor the bingo crowd.
Any recommendations? Singles type cruise would begreat. ..I only wear suits to weddings and funerals which I avoid. lol
50+ with teenagers so which would be best for me. Have gone on all RCL cruises
I prefer NCL and I'm well over 40.
I am surprised Norwegian Cruise Line not on the list? For me I would thought the freestyle part be great for people 40 or older
NCL caters to more families with all the amusements on board. I think what he means by over 40, cruise lines that don't cater to families with go cart tracks, etc.
For service & quality, NCL doesn’t compare to Cunard, Holland or Celebrity (I haven’t been on the other two lines.).
Holland & Celebrity offer options other than the traditional “set seating” dinner option. Although, I always chose the set seating option when on those lines - over the years, I have gotten to know many wonderful people at those dinners.
@@bridgetleary1183 For me personally I did Celebrity now to be "fair" I haven't done the other 4 cruise lines. Maybe they different than NCL but at the moment I would have to disagree when comes to service as not sure what you mean by quality you mean as food wise for example? Activities? Types of excursion? The list goes on. For me myself I found service and quality top notice along with Freestyle as I do have to admit bonus points for their solo program and prices. Out of the few celebrity cruises wasn't my cup of tea in many ways. Now would I go back sure if price was right as ports I would like to see. But at the moment I would take NCL over Celebrity.
Hi Gary, What are your thoughts on Fred Olsen? and would you recommend them?
There are a lot of big fans of the line and will only cruise with them. They are greta of you like a very UK-centric cruise with mostly Brits and very traditional cruise experience. The ships are quite old / dated but well maintained
I don’t mean to sound obtuse, but what do you mean by a “traditional cruise experience”? I’ve only ever sailed Carnival.
Have sailed on Cunard. Historical cruise line. Food isn't always good, service is pretty good. Only cruise line that has a planetarium. Their Hight Tea iv very good. Made casino smaller and took out craps tables. Went on one cruise with Holland America to Bermuda. The ship was small and we got to dock in downtown Hamilton which provided a different experience. Holland America has a good enrichment program and the food is good. Drawback is I have to travel to get to their departure ports. Celebrity used to be good. They are trying to appeal to a younger crowd. Best to make Moussaka. Decent Casino. Never went on Oceania. I like smaller ships, but, Oceania has a small casino and no craps table. Seabourn, very small casino with no craps table. Might consider Seabourn if they have round trips. Don't want to fly back from another place.
Hi, is there a reason you haven’t included princess cruises. I’ve only cruised twice and this was with them and really enjoyed it.