I have only been on a short cruise once which I absolutely hated. Then I decided that cruising was not for me and that I'd rather do my own thing. But for some reason, I came across your channel. Once I started watching your videos I realized that it was not that the cruise I was on was bad, but that I had booked a cruise that was simply not right for me. After watching your videos - which I find very enjoyable and educational - I have decided to dip my toes into cruising again. As per what I have learned from your videos I booked a ship that is slightly smaller with fewer bells and whistles. Thank you for all your content. I feel much better prepared this time.
We took our first cruise on HAL in 2015 after which we said, "Been there--done that. No need to do it again." It wasn't bad. Somehow it just didn't inspire us to cruise. Now, here we are several years later and had two cruises (MSC Caribbean and Virgin Transatlantic) in 2022 and five cruises this year (again MSC and Virgin including another Transatlantic on MSC Divina), and we are already booking into 2024 (MSC-Caribbean and Princess-Alaska and 2025 Azamara Panama Canal/Miami to Lima Peru. Best wishes in your travel adventures at sea.
Yes, you need to do your research before you book or cruising can turn out to be a not very enjoyable experience. I like cruises that don’t cater for children, and have peaceful areas to be able to fully relax , plus not having to dress up too formally . So party ships, or very formal ships or ships with fun rides are not something I would enjoy. I get all these ‘likes’ with Oceania. I have heard from others that they have hated their cruise, and when I have asked how they picked their cruise they admit they just see a good price and off they go. Like buying a home, you have to look into all the variables first!!
@@elaineshelton8006 Do realize that post-pandemic, you really do not have a good way of researching the up-to-date situation on the ship. For example, on our RCCL cruise last May, half of the entertainment talent was not on the ship which meant that there was not a Broadway show which is what cruise bloggers talk about. Also, the mega screen was not working for movies. In December, HAL did not have the staffing in the MDR and the service really suffered. On ALL of the ships, there have been some major and a lot of minor cutbacks that make a lot of cruise bloggers PAST videos not as relevant. For example, I watch all of the TRAVELTOURISTVIDEOS for the food offerings. There have been significant changes in 2023 compared to what was offered in mid 2022 on all of the last three cruises. Before booking last month's cruise on the NCL Epic, I researches everything on the internet and the reviews were great. However, they made changes in December 2022 after the cruise was paid for and the reviews in 2023 have been terrible.
We love the Hop On/Off buses in a lot of cities. sometimes we ride the whole circuit first and then decide on where to get off , other times we have specific venues we want to see and use it for that, then hop back on to get back to port. They are great in Scandinavia!
I traveled by myself to England and Germany 3 times now. I love it but it can be lonely sometimes. That’s why I want to take a cruise next. It’s not that I don’t want other people to come with me, it just doesn’t work out for financial or childcare reasons. I’m always happy to hear other solo travelers talk about their experiences.
Great tip about the 5-sided separation for your cabin. I remember one of our worst cruises was when our cabin was below the galley and there must have been a walk-in freezer above us. Bang-bang all night long, ugh! Now, we make sure we have cabins on all sides (above, below, and both sides) and our door is also far away from elevators and crew doors. And a mid-ship cabin is another great tip! Thank you for your great video and channel!
I find it interesting that you say you don't like to repeat ports. I find that I cannot possibly see everything I need to do in port in one day. I could spend a week in Barcelona, Dublin, Athens, etc. It doesn't bug me at all. I just enjoy to the fullest what I'm doing and try not to rush around seeing everything. I just make a list of what I might want to do if I ever come back. It's like seeing an old friend.
I love that you do most of your cruising solo (granted, by necessity to expand the channel). I do as well, and I've always enjoyed my trips and sharing the experience with others. I think cruise lines are slowly learning that there is a largely untapped solo traveler market that they can welcome to their benefit. Thanks for the excellent information you provide!
I've never cruised! However, I find your channel so informative and relaxing to watch. When I do cruise, I feel I will get so much more out of it, because of YOUR channel. I'm glad you started it!
I'm in the same boa... er, ship. I'm saving up for my first cruise, and toying with which line to use. P&O & Princess are the short list right now. We'll decide once we've chosen our travel agent.
Every time I go on a cruise not princess, I keep finding myself trying to compare it to princess… leading me to not like other lines as much… I gotta stop comparing and just enjoy the cruise
@@avv1435 REALLY! Isn't that funny? OK I have not done 30 cruises like you, but HAL comes out top for almost everything... in my book anyway. I did have a few food issues with them, but that was way before covid. My last 3 with them has been near perfect. Happy Cruising A vV !
Thank you for addressing the solo traveler at the end. I’m a brand new cruiser. My first cruise is coming up in April then my second in May. While both are planned with friends I look forward to possible solo journeys in the future. You may already have a video on solo travel (I’ll search for it) if you haven’t can you do one. I’d love to hear about your experiences.
100% on port stops. We're new to cruising and as much as I enjoy it, motorhoming will always be my first love due to the freedom and ability to manage how long you spend in each location.
Literally just got off an MSC Mediterranean cruise from Marseille about 8 hours ago. First time taking a cruise where English was not the primary language and it was a bit interesting, but MSC did a good job. I had a solo balcony cabin. Didn’t know that existed but glad it did. It was a great deal and I wasn’t stuck either in an interior room with no windows or paying double. Congrats on 100, I’m at 4 now.
I agree with different ports in Europe, but in the Caribbean, I have been there lots and a beautiful beach is a beautiful beach, the difference between those islands isn't big enough to worry if the itinerary isn't varied.
I've been all over the world as a solo traveler. I've never had trouble meeting people & always enjoy getting to know the staff. I post photos & short videos on Facebook & I get recognized occasionally . I do mostly HAL cruises, but not exclusively & I usually run into staff I know from previous cruises. It's a bit like being a celebrity on embarkation day. I agree with all your cruise tricks. I'm going to have to try some of the other lines. I've done HAL & Princess mostly but Norwegian & Royal Caribbean too. 180 days on cruise ships for me since the restart & 71 more in the next 3 months.
My first cruise was on the P&O Canberra, maiden voyage. This ship was later used in the Falkland’s War. 50 years later it was the Princess Regal. Unbelievable ship, I’m now spoiled and comparing all ships to Princess. Thank you for what you do.
The dancer at 3:45 min made my day. You could loop that dancer, and I would watch it for 10 minutes. Great insightful video. This is one of the best vlogs I have seen on cruising. Thank you
Our first cruise in the 1990s was on the old Costa Riviera to Alaska. It was a ship built for the tropics ao a lot of the amenities were unavailable to us. (It was basically the wrong ship to a great destination.) We swore off cruising until 2019. We have been on four cruises since the pandemic. Three were fantastic (RCCL, HAL, and Celebrity). However, last month's cruise on the NCL Epic was one that I would have gotten off after the first day if it had not been prepaid due to a lack of service and responsiveness.
It's wild that your first cruise was as recently as 2004. I wasn't sure it was even possible to do 100 cruises in less than 20 years, averaging out more than 5 cruises a year--and with at least a year lost to the pandemic...Truly incredible.
Hello Gary, two days ago i disemarked off the Norwegian ENCORE. My first ever cruise! I was solo, that's why i have chosen the Norwegian cruiseline as they had a solo traveller offer. I was so happy with it that i already start to plan my next one 🙂 Your videos were such a great help for me as i was not aware of many things. Thank you very much for this channel 🤗
Did you do the single cabin areas? Did they have programs for the solo travelers? If you can, please let me know as I have heard not all the cruises have those programs. Thanks
Hi, yes, i had a solo cabin and and a rate for single person. The Norwegian cruise line is "solo travelers-friendly" because when i compared the prices for similar cruise with other cruiselines, the NCL was the was the best.
I have a totally different attitude to repetition - based on my personal approach to travel. I ALWAYS assume that I'll be back. This removes the pressure to see everything, and lets me follow my mood and any serendipitous moments that might arise. If I find a particularly nice cafe, and want to sit and people watch, I can. A cute shop and friendly shopkeeper? I can stay and chat, or try on more things. Those are the kinds of moments I really enjoy while travelling, and if I'm clock watching to make sure I see every sight on "the" list, I miss out on so much. And, if I make it back, I'll still have plenty of new things to do!
Good advice about avoiding service stairways but how do you know where they are? This is something accommodation plans omit. The best you will get are unlabeled blank spaces here and there which could mean anything.
I just booked a guaranteed interior cabin on odyssey of the seas. It’s for a Mediterranean cruise in July. I am nervous about it but, I needed to keep the cost down as much as possible.. My family and I don’t spend much time in the cabin and I’ll make sure to bring noise canceling headphones just in case..Lol🤞🏻
You taught me to always check your cabin location. What’s above or below it you explained in a video few years ago. It was the best advice of cruising I ever heard! I always research my cabin now, thank you
Great tips, some of which we've learned the hard way with only 10 cruises across four lines. Five cabin surround plus no connection is good. Because we initially favoured NCL because of the price point, we are now at a reward level that really does give us more than other lines. Now we cruise to travel so it is all about the ports and not about the ship or line. Also, being a polyglot, I am not scared of exploring a port on my own but there are certain countries, whether I'm fluent or not, that we opt for a ship excursion due to safety concerns. Also, I think it depends where you live; being Canadian, I've long since explored the Caribbean during my resort holiday years and have no desire to waste money on a cruise to those destinations.
I have been watching your videos from Australia for the past month and really appreciate all the good advice you give - it’s simple, clear and very informative. Appreciate your hard work!
It's encouraging that you travel solo often. I haven't been on a cruise for lack of a travel buddy but now wonder if I might go solo. As a woman though, I am still unsure about going it alone and need to work up the courage.
Go for it! I’ve just completed my first solo, 13 night cruise to New Zealand. It was awesome! I found comfy spots on the Lido and Sanctuary decks where I sat and read, I took the shore tours, and mostly ate in the buffet. Everyone on the tours was lovely and often I was invited to hang with people as we waited for the bus to come pick us back up. They all expressed admiration that I was going solo and we very curious about it all. The freedom of doing as you please was brilliant. Not having to share a cabin was also fantastic (maybe not on the bank balance but still) and I really enjoyed sitting on my balcony watching the sea go by (or for the first half before getting to NZ, the endless fog). I’d say pick a cruise you really want to do, plan it all and just go for it. You’ll have an awesome time. Wishing you lovely travels 💕
Cruising is probably one of the easiest ways to solo travel. Go for it! I have been traveling mostly solo since I was 17. With the right prep, you can do it. I went to China without speaking Mandarin. Study up on the places and take a chance. Been on 14 cruises by myself and made it back alive!
I’ve cruised solo as a widow in her 60’s since 2019, and it has been great! Easy to meet people; you can ask for a sharing table at dinner, and many lines with smaller ships have a social hostess who gathers solo travelers to meet up for pre-dinner cocktails and meals. Also I feel very safe on a cruise ship. Go for it!
Try SAGA , they really look after their solo travellers with meet ups every day & round tables for solos if they want to eat together & also more single cabins than any other line which also all have a balcony 😬🛳
Go for it! you don’t need any courage all your needs are taken care of practically your room is clean, the food is made, activities, arranged you can choose to go to as many or as few as you want, and beautiful scenery from the Promenade from the ship and the ports. On board the ship is practically a very safe area because of the cameras. you still should take care if it’s late at night and people are drinking too much because once in a while things happen but mostly it’s way more safe than on land walking to bars.
Agree especially with the first one. It's good to try different lines based on your budget, ports of call you want to visit, and many other factors. I don't get why some people are loyal to only 1 cruise line. They're missing out a lot.
Love watching your cruise vlogs. My husband and I have only cruised one Norwegian, two Oceania Cruises, (ocean cruises) and The Zambezi Queen and Anawartha Heritage Line in Myanmar, (river cruises). We have a Paul Gauguin coming up shortly that is a 16 day from Bali to Fiji. I truly cannot wait for this cruise after watching your video on the Paul Gauguin, although a different itinerary. We will probably never make it to 100 cruises, however we are now enjoying them as much as we have our travels via air and land. Thank you for your insight and tips on cruising. ❤❤❤. And congratulations on your 100th cruise, may you enjoy 100 more!!!
All I can say Gary; Is thank you very much for your channel! My wife and I have discovered the 20 or so cruises we’ve been on we can expand our vision 10 to 20 times! Bless you, thank you!
My wife and I love balcony rooms, towards the front (we like the motion vs center where everything is barely moving). We also follow the rule of 5 guest rooms! We do not mind the walk to get aft. We also mainly book our own excursions - or none. We've done a total of 3 Cruise Line excursions. We've also had to scramble when weather reverses an itinerary or completely changes the port-of-calls! All part of the fun. :D We have nowhere near the cruises you do. We have several cruise lines we want to try. We are attracted to the smaller cruise ships (size of Carnival Magic or slightly smaller for instance). Looking forward to our next cruise!
As you may remember, I've also done more than 100 cruises. One thing you didn't mention was doing different lines (even though there are several that I'll NEVER redo, even if given for FREE) anyways, it's the DIVERSITY of them. If one does a B2B2B, one would most likely expect to revisit most ship's happenings (incl. the theatre shows). While doing 2 "side to side" cruises in different ships, gives one a diversity, that I relish!
LOL, I go on the cruise and couldn't care less about the cabin. I spend so little time there. The price is key and the destination is 2nd. Recently went on the Carnival Celebration. OMG what an amazing ship. Gonna be hard to do anything but something like that. But tomorrow I go on the NCL Sky. So hope I am not spoiled by the Celebration.
Some excellent tips here Gary; but I would suggest that ship organised tours ARE the best for solo travellers when they first start cruising. You get to see the sights you want (from reading the description) You meet other travellers in small groups = easy to talk and make friends You relax and enjoy the trip without worrying that you MAY get lost and not get back in time. Just my experience looking back at my first 10 cruises going alone (My tip - fridge magnets to put up invites; tickets on cabin walls; free up desk space!)
Signed up for a cruise on Royal Caribbean from Baltimore to Bermuda in September. Although RC is not our favorite cruise line we live about a 20 minutes from Baltimore so this will be so easy for us.
Always enjoy your videos. Have only done 40 cruises but your advise to cruise with many different lines is absolutely correct. Have cruised with: NCL, HAL, CCL. RCCL, X, Princess, Viking, and Windstar.
I love your videos and your comparison of cruise lines to friends. If you have not tried the Star Clipper line, please add it to your list. Nothing beats their repo westbound crossings!
Hi Gary I love watching your videos, I’ve watched every one of them, some 2-3 times. I’m wondering how Viking ocean/river cruises compare with the many you’ve reviewed?
We have definitely loved Viking Ocean. We took one Viking river trip that was just meh. However, that was early last March on the Douro. Our cruise director was a drunk. They originally showed us to a below Ocean suite when I was sure we had booked a balcony. They did put us in a balcony after I had complained. I got food poisoning one night and had to miss the tour to Salamanca, Spain the next day. They just didn’t have it together.
I'm so happy you decided to make a YT channel - we learn so much from you! We are addicted to Celebrity but this makes a lot of sense. We already have our cruise booked for this year but I'll be thinking about your rationale when it's time to book our next one. Thanks for all of the great videos/tips/tricks/pointers Gary!!
Whole heartedly agree with cabin location and passenger rooms on 5 sides. We learned this lesson the hard way a few years ago on a Holland America cruise where we were right below the smoker’s section on the lido deck. We didn’t smell anything but heard scraping deck chairs all day and night. Because a typical smoker would only be there for 5-10 minutes they would sit down…scrape…smoke their cigarette and get up…scrape. Ugh. Never again.
Gary, great vlog as always! Thank you. Did I hear right that you plan to coordinate cruises with a small group of your listeners? Please let us know where and when you would go so we can opt to join you. If you do, could I ask for you to consider developing an unique enrichment program, maybe something on the history or music and ask some relevant PHDs in history or music - classical to come along?
I tell people there is a cruise out there for everyone, some of us simply can't afford the one we prefer. My parents met working on a ferry, then Mum went to Australia, three weeks by ship as same cost as the flight, and Dad was hired by Princess for their first cruise. They have inspired my travel habits. It is OK to go to the same place twice, if you have a different experience. Big way is sharing what you enjoyed last time with someone new, or seeing something one missed last time. Cruising is a great way to see many places and not have to unpack all the time. One can decide if going back is worth it or not then. Is one a traveller or a tourist? I'm a bit of both. I travelled in Europe working with Girl Guides in two locations around the time of your first cruise, including up to Orkney and Isle of Skye. I was not the usual 'gap year' traveller because of who I worked with, and when there. Definately some tourist things, but in London, Girl Guides has a Monopoly challenge using the UK board. Looking for the address of my families 1860s bank...was a restaurant, changes how one sees a location.
Excellent. I have done 29 cruises and learned many of the lessons you covered. After being under the stage on a South American cruise with flamenco dancers I have always carefully picked my own stateroom. I agree with all your recommendations and include a few more. I always look at an exterior picture of the ship to be sure my balcony has a great view: left, right, up and down. Being older with mobility issues I also like to be near the elevators, but not so close that there is noise. Unlike you I like to go where I have been before so I don't have to get off the ship if I don't feel up to walking, And I tend to stick with Holland America and its smaller ships as they cater to older clients, and getting from one end of the ship to the other isn't an expedition. I feel the same about Viking and American Cruise Lines. I'm looking for good food, no children, respectful service, lectures, cooking shows, movies and bridge partners. That is entirely different from what I was looking for forty years ago. I like going alone or with friends, but I'm at the stage where I want my own stateroom if traveling with a friend. I am sad to be reaching the end of my cruising days, but have many fantastic experiences and fond memories.
I organised our first cruise this January with Princess Cruises. I knew nothing about cruising at all but managed to bumble my way through and we had a really wonderful, relaxing 5 day cruise. All of us were first timers and we absolutely loved it. Now I'm now hooked on cruising and have already booked another one for January next year. I really wanted to stay with Princess Cruises - I am usually very brand loyal - but didnt see the value in traveling on the exact same ship as unfortunately only one of their ships come to our state, so I booked with P&O. I now think this was a great idea. I want to try different ships and different cruise lines to see what they have to offer and compare and contrast. I'm already seeing a lot of differences in their offerings. I can't wait!!
While I am doing one of the same stops in a few weeks as I did last year, I will be on Princess instead of Virgin, and I am eager to see how the two lines compare. We loved Virgin; it will be a tough act to follow, and it has already cost me about $2k more. We have an additional traveler this time, too, and we will be doing a different excursion at the one port we visited last year.
I just planned my first cruise for my wife and I - We are travelling around the Mediterranean. We are very excited and want to thank you for all the information you have shared. It made the decision process much easier 😎👍
Agree that it is all about the ports and destinations and we try to go to new ones on every cruise. Of course, that is not always possible, but, there are many different things to do at each destination.
Just back from 71 day African cruise with HAL Zaandam for new locations and a 7 day Celebrity Apex for entertainment. Yes, you know what you are talking about. Will go in the Beyond in March! We have not seen you in a while in any of our cruises!
Though I agree with your synopsis I would add there are things to see even at the same port visited prior. For example we are visiting Rome again but this time we will do a truffle hunting excursion to learn about that delicacy and completely skip the city.
Gary, Thank You so much for your informative videos. We have enjoyed cruising much more since finding your channel. All of your little 'tips' are worthwhile for cruisers of all ages and all experiences.
I am coming to the end of my 45 year career and considering retiring soon and never been on a cruise. Only ever been outside Europe on business trips with my work. So I am hoping to try a cruise very soon, just hope the COVID nonsense doesn’t cause problems as I refuse tests and the vax.
Great video Gary thanks for sharing ❤️ we're only new in our cruising life, have only done 2 so far on p and o Australia, but we have one booked for November on royal Caribbean ovation of the seas then our honeymoon cruise booked on virgin voyages resilient Lady in December then another one back on p and o Australia in February on our first overseas holiday to the islands then another on p and o Australia locally here in Australia in August 2024 ❤️ so we have a few new adventures ahead of us 😍
I agree with your concept and analogy of friends. Sure you have your best, but each one brings a different experience and has their own interests. My favorite cruise lines are Holland America and Princess but I choose a cruise based on many factors such as itinerary, cost, location and most recently, my children's school schedule. I like sailing the Caribbean and early August seem to be the only time the kids are not bound to school or sports.
Insurance options vary greatly on where you’re located. For instance, very different options in the UK vs. US. Most important to have repatriation to your home country covered if you have a medical problem, including being airlifted off the ship by helicopter to the closest place with a good hospital first, in case you’re already far from your last or next port. I had that happen to someone on my last cruise who had a serious stroke. They said airlifting him quickly by helicopter saved his life.
We have just done our first ever cruise - to Alaska on Cunard's Queen Elizabeth. A truly wonderful experience. We spent 3 days in Vancover before the cruise which was great too. My only concern is I think this has spoiled us for other cruise lines - we loved everything about the QE (including the beautiful interior) and imho it's the perfect size, not too big so we were able to get right up to the top of the Tracy Arm Fjord to see the Sawyer glacier. We also spent a little more to get the Club Balcony room - which no one seems to talk about. Slightly bigger room with double the on board spending money, and a lovely private dining room (better menu than the Brittania - open dining at your own table and same waiter for the voyage, and less 'stuffy' than the Grills I think!). We've booked for the Norwegian Fjords next year with Cunard on the new Queen Anne - but I wish it was the QE!
Thanks for sharing your lessons on cruising, especially because you have gone on so many different cruise voyages. I think that the importance of getting it right for people who are new is really important, especially because they are only ever going to go on one or just a few cruises per year, and are inexperienced at cruising. I hope that in the coming years, more cruise lines will make an attempt to better understand the needs of solo travelers.
Gary: I very much appreciate this video and your insights; thank you. Having said that, I’d respectfully make the point that every cruiser is different, as are their motivations for cruising. For instance, there are several places I love so much that I overtly seek out cruises with those destinations regardless of how often I’ve been there. There are other ports that I’ve been to that I don’t care about and enjoy staying on the ship for some solitude while everyone else is ashore. Some of my favorite conversations with less-busy staff from around the world have occurred during those times, and I’ve never regretted staying aboard in those situations. I very much agree with you that being openminded to cruise line is a good thing, as some of my favorite cruises have been utter surprises, and sometimes you just don’t know which line suits you best if you never leave your comfort zone. Like you with P&O, I was a dedicated Celebrity cruiser for years, and Celebrity Horizon is still my favorite ship (RIP Horizon). As Celebrity started with the Solstice class I became less enamored; I went on the Edge once and hated it. I started cruising on Princess more, and now they’re my default, though I’m still up for trying others. My point is this: I think your list makes sense for you, but especially for those new to cruising it’s important to note that everyone’s list may be substantially different. Thanks again!
I watch and enjoy your channel because you always have something new to share. Congratulations on your 100th cruise! I’m currently on my 40th cruise, right now I’m loyal to Royal (I’ve also cruised with NCL). I think of cruises as samplers. I visit a port and then decide if I want to return for a land vacation. I don’t think you can ever really get to know a country and its culture in one day. But I primarily cruise simply because I like being on the water. After I reach top tier with RCI, I look forward to trying other cruise lines per your advice.
@@tipsfortravellers not just watching, I’m binging. I love your videos, I watch them back to back, they are captivating and hook me to the next one, one after the other. My husband watches them too 😊 I’m learning so much, I’m so grateful. Come to think of it, it’s about time I subscribed! LOL
Gary is a treasure. Mark is a lucky guy.
I have only been on a short cruise once which I absolutely hated. Then I decided that cruising was not for me and that I'd rather do my own thing. But for some reason, I came across your channel. Once I started watching your videos I realized that it was not that the cruise I was on was bad, but that I had booked a cruise that was simply not right for me. After watching your videos - which I find very enjoyable and educational - I have decided to dip my toes into cruising again. As per what I have learned from your videos I booked a ship that is slightly smaller with fewer bells and whistles. Thank you for all your content. I feel much better prepared this time.
We took our first cruise on HAL in 2015 after which we said, "Been there--done that. No need to do it again." It wasn't bad. Somehow it just didn't inspire us to cruise. Now, here we are several years later and had two cruises (MSC Caribbean and Virgin Transatlantic) in 2022 and five cruises this year (again MSC and Virgin including another Transatlantic on MSC Divina), and we are already booking into 2024 (MSC-Caribbean and Princess-Alaska and 2025 Azamara Panama Canal/Miami to Lima Peru.
Best wishes in your travel adventures at sea.
Smaller ships are so much better!
@@tomg1247 Sounds absolutely wonderful! Thank you for sharing! Enjoy your upcoming cruises!
Yes, you need to do your research before you book or cruising can turn out to be a not very enjoyable experience. I like cruises that don’t cater for children, and have peaceful areas to be able to fully relax , plus not having to dress up too formally . So party ships, or very formal ships or ships with fun rides are not something I would enjoy. I get all these ‘likes’ with Oceania. I have heard from others that they have hated their cruise, and when I have asked how they picked their cruise they admit they just see a good price and off they go.
Like buying a home, you have to look into all the variables first!!
@@elaineshelton8006 Do realize that post-pandemic, you really do not have a good way of researching the up-to-date situation on the ship. For example, on our RCCL cruise last May, half of the entertainment talent was not on the ship which meant that there was not a Broadway show which is what cruise bloggers talk about. Also, the mega screen was not working for movies. In December, HAL did not have the staffing in the MDR and the service really suffered. On ALL of the ships, there have been some major and a lot of minor cutbacks that make a lot of cruise bloggers PAST videos not as relevant. For example, I watch all of the TRAVELTOURISTVIDEOS for the food offerings. There have been significant changes in 2023 compared to what was offered in mid 2022 on all of the last three cruises. Before booking last month's cruise on the NCL Epic, I researches everything on the internet and the reviews were great. However, they made changes in December 2022 after the cruise was paid for and the reviews in 2023 have been terrible.
I have never been on a cruise 🚢 yet and I’m 63 this year. Hopefully I might try one later this year.
Respect to you for doing 100 cruises Sir…👍🏾
We love the Hop On/Off buses in a lot of cities. sometimes we ride the whole circuit first and then decide on where to get off , other times we have specific venues we want to see and use it for that, then hop back on to get back to port. They are great in Scandinavia!
Same! I often go the full way round first...
Thank you for just saying its OK to cruise alone. I truly appreciate it.
Absolutely!!
Alone, not lonely! I meet more people when I travel alone because you're more approachable than when travelling with others.
Thanks to everyone for making me feel ok as a solo traveler, I greatly appreciate it!
I enjoyed my solo cruise so much after my husband passed.I felt so much freedom without sharing with somebody.
You go girl
What?!?
@@cherylkoski7184seriouslyy😂😂
Solo travel is fantastic! So much freedom.
I traveled by myself to England and Germany 3 times now. I love it but it can be lonely sometimes. That’s why I want to take a cruise next. It’s not that I don’t want other people to come with me, it just doesn’t work out for financial or childcare reasons. I’m always happy to hear other solo travelers talk about their experiences.
Great tip about the 5-sided separation for your cabin. I remember one of our worst cruises was when our cabin was below the galley and there must have been a walk-in freezer above us. Bang-bang all night long, ugh! Now, we make sure we have cabins on all sides (above, below, and both sides) and our door is also far away from elevators and crew doors. And a mid-ship cabin is another great tip! Thank you for your great video and channel!
I find it interesting that you say you don't like to repeat ports. I find that I cannot possibly see everything I need to do in port in one day. I could spend a week in Barcelona, Dublin, Athens, etc. It doesn't bug me at all. I just enjoy to the fullest what I'm doing and try not to rush around seeing everything. I just make a list of what I might want to do if I ever come back. It's like seeing an old friend.
ᴛʜᴀɴᴋs ғᴏʀ ᴡᴀᴛᴄʜɪɴɢ ᴀɴᴅ ᴄᴏᴍᴍᴇɴᴛɪɴɢ ᴏɴ ᴍʏ ʏᴏᴜᴛᴜʙᴇ ᴠɪᴅᴇᴏs ᴛᴇxᴛ ᴍᴇ ᴏɴ ᴛᴇʟᴇɢʀᴀM👆ɪ ʜᴀᴠᴇ sᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ sᴘᴇᴄɪᴀʟ ғᴏʀ ʏᴏᴜ 🏆…
I love that you do most of your cruising solo (granted, by necessity to expand the channel). I do as well, and I've always enjoyed my trips and sharing the experience with others. I think cruise lines are slowly learning that there is a largely untapped solo traveler market that they can welcome to their benefit. Thanks for the excellent information you provide!
im super interested in solo cruising. Im taking my first cruise in April with a group of about 20 gals........
@@mmommo10 That's a great way to get your feet wet with solo cruising!
@@mmommo10 oh, if you’re going with 20 other gals, that’s not exactly solo, but have fun🌴🐬🐠🛳
@@SoloSueTravels 🤣
I've never cruised! However, I find your channel so informative and relaxing to watch. When I do cruise, I feel I will get so much more out of it, because of YOUR channel. I'm glad you started it!
Tomorrow is not guaranteed! Book sooner than later, you’ll love it!
I'm in the same boa... er, ship.
I'm saving up for my first cruise, and toying with which line to use. P&O & Princess are the short list right now. We'll decide once we've chosen our travel agent.
@@juliatarrel1674
Have you cruised? 🤞🏽
@@lightwarrior432 Yes! I have now. I absolutely love it. I totally loved it. Absolutely. It's now my favourite thing ever.
Every time I go on a cruise not princess, I keep finding myself trying to compare it to princess… leading me to not like other lines as much… I gotta stop comparing and just enjoy the cruise
I used to do EXACTLY the same with HAL. I compared ALL cruise lines with HAL.
@@peterjaro6804 really? We did 30 cruises and HAL was our worst
@@avv1435 REALLY! Isn't that funny? OK I have not done 30 cruises like you, but HAL comes out top for almost everything... in my book anyway. I did have a few food issues with them, but that was way before covid. My last 3 with them has been near perfect.
Happy Cruising A vV !
I assume you've never been on the Crown Princess... we know princess is not for us.
I am sorry that Princess sold the Orient and the Pacific. They were the BEST Princess ships. Only took 690 passengers.
Thank you for addressing the solo traveler at the end. I’m a brand new cruiser. My first cruise is coming up in April then my second in May. While both are planned with friends I look forward to possible solo journeys in the future. You may already have a video on solo travel (I’ll search for it) if you haven’t can you do one. I’d love to hear about your experiences.
100% on port stops. We're new to cruising and as much as I enjoy it, motorhoming will always be my first love due to the freedom and ability to manage how long you spend in each location.
Literally just got off an MSC Mediterranean cruise from Marseille about 8 hours ago. First time taking a cruise where English was not the primary language and it was a bit interesting, but MSC did a good job. I had a solo balcony cabin. Didn’t know that existed but glad it did. It was a great deal and I wasn’t stuck either in an interior room with no windows or paying double. Congrats on 100, I’m at 4 now.
I've never been on a cruise. I thought I wasn't cruise material, but you are talking me into it.
Same here.
I agree with different ports in Europe, but in the Caribbean, I have been there lots and a beautiful beach is a beautiful beach, the difference between those islands isn't big enough to worry if the itinerary isn't varied.
I've been all over the world as a solo traveler. I've never had trouble meeting people & always enjoy getting to know the staff. I post photos & short videos on Facebook & I get recognized occasionally . I do mostly HAL cruises, but not exclusively & I usually run into staff I know from previous cruises. It's a bit like being a celebrity on embarkation day. I agree with all your cruise tricks. I'm going to have to try some of the other lines. I've done HAL & Princess mostly but Norwegian & Royal Caribbean too. 180 days on cruise ships for me since the restart & 71 more in the next 3 months.
I deeply feel what you said about the more places you go, the more places you want to go. That's the story of my life!
My first cruise was on the P&O Canberra, maiden voyage. This ship was later used in the Falkland’s War. 50 years later it was the Princess Regal. Unbelievable ship, I’m now spoiled and comparing all ships to Princess. Thank you for what you do.
The dancer at 3:45 min made my day. You could loop that dancer, and I would watch it for 10 minutes. Great insightful video. This is one of the best vlogs I have seen on cruising. Thank you
It was rather manic dancing :-) Thanks for watching and great to hear how useful you found it!
Our first cruise in the 1990s was on the old Costa Riviera to Alaska. It was a ship built for the tropics ao a lot of the amenities were unavailable to us. (It was basically the wrong ship to a great destination.) We swore off cruising until 2019. We have been on four cruises since the pandemic. Three were fantastic (RCCL, HAL, and Celebrity). However, last month's cruise on the NCL Epic was one that I would have gotten off after the first day if it had not been prepaid due to a lack of service and responsiveness.
It's wild that your first cruise was as recently as 2004. I wasn't sure it was even possible to do 100 cruises in less than 20 years, averaging out more than 5 cruises a year--and with at least a year lost to the pandemic...Truly incredible.
19 years ago is recent?
@@R0YB0T to do 100 cruises? Yes..
Easily. Im doing my 19th since November 2022 tomorrow
That's a lot of flights, also!🙄
Hello Gary, two days ago i disemarked off the Norwegian ENCORE. My first ever cruise! I was solo, that's why i have chosen the Norwegian cruiseline as they had a solo traveller offer. I was so happy with it that i already start to plan my next one 🙂
Your videos were such a great help for me as i was not aware of many things. Thank you very much for this channel 🤗
That’s do great to hear. I’m delighted you had a great first cruise and the videos helped! Here’s to your next adventure then !
Did you do the single cabin areas?
Did they have programs for the solo travelers?
If you can, please let me know as I have heard not all the cruises have those programs.
Thanks
Hi, yes, i had a solo cabin and and a rate for single person. The Norwegian cruise line is "solo travelers-friendly" because when i compared the prices for similar cruise with other cruiselines, the NCL was the was the best.
@@Flint92 Cunard also has meetings for singles or solo travelers. Such as an afternoon, tea or coffee.
I have a totally different attitude to repetition - based on my personal approach to travel. I ALWAYS assume that I'll be back. This removes the pressure to see everything, and lets me follow my mood and any serendipitous moments that might arise. If I find a particularly nice cafe, and want to sit and people watch, I can. A cute shop and friendly shopkeeper? I can stay and chat, or try on more things. Those are the kinds of moments I really enjoy while travelling, and if I'm clock watching to make sure I see every sight on "the" list, I miss out on so much. And, if I make it back, I'll still have plenty of new things to do!
Very good point! Less stress and more relaxing. I guess it depends on one’s personality.
Good advice about avoiding service stairways but how do you know where they are? This is something accommodation plans omit. The best you will get are unlabeled blank spaces here and there which could mean anything.
I agree the more you travel the more places you want to see. The must do list just keeps growing isn't life great!
I just booked a guaranteed interior cabin on odyssey of the seas. It’s for a Mediterranean cruise in July. I am nervous about it but, I needed to keep the cost down as much as possible.. My family and I don’t spend much time in the cabin and I’ll make sure to bring noise canceling headphones just in case..Lol🤞🏻
I was lucky to be on Cunard Princess for R&R during my deployment during Desert Storm
Thank you for your service, Kent.
You taught me to always check your cabin location. What’s above or below it you explained in a video few years ago. It was the best advice of cruising I ever heard! I always research my cabin now, thank you
Great tips, some of which we've learned the hard way with only 10 cruises across four lines. Five cabin surround plus no connection is good. Because we initially favoured NCL because of the price point, we are now at a reward level that really does give us more than other lines. Now we cruise to travel so it is all about the ports and not about the ship or line. Also, being a polyglot, I am not scared of exploring a port on my own but there are certain countries, whether I'm fluent or not, that we opt for a ship excursion due to safety concerns. Also, I think it depends where you live; being Canadian, I've long since explored the Caribbean during my resort holiday years and have no desire to waste money on a cruise to those destinations.
I have been watching your videos from Australia for the past month and really appreciate all the good advice you give - it’s simple, clear and very informative. Appreciate your hard work!
Great to hear! Thanks!
I liked your little rave dance at 5:17 😁 Joking aside, some great tips and reminders for beginners and oldies alike.
Glad you enjoyed it :-) It was probably scarily how I did use to rave dance back in the day...!
It's encouraging that you travel solo often. I haven't been on a cruise for lack of a travel buddy but now wonder if I might go solo. As a woman though, I am still unsure about going it alone and need to work up the courage.
Go for it! I’ve just completed my first solo, 13 night cruise to New Zealand. It was awesome! I found comfy spots on the Lido and Sanctuary decks where I sat and read, I took the shore tours, and mostly ate in the buffet. Everyone on the tours was lovely and often I was invited to hang with people as we waited for the bus to come pick us back up. They all expressed admiration that I was going solo and we very curious about it all.
The freedom of doing as you please was brilliant. Not having to share a cabin was also fantastic (maybe not on the bank balance but still) and I really enjoyed sitting on my balcony watching the sea go by (or for the first half before getting to NZ, the endless fog).
I’d say pick a cruise you really want to do, plan it all and just go for it. You’ll have an awesome time. Wishing you lovely travels 💕
Cruising is probably one of the easiest ways to solo travel. Go for it! I have been traveling mostly solo since I was 17. With the right prep, you can do it. I went to China without speaking Mandarin. Study up on the places and take a chance. Been on 14 cruises by myself and made it back alive!
I’ve cruised solo as a widow in her 60’s since 2019, and it has been great! Easy to meet people; you can ask for a sharing table at dinner, and many lines with smaller ships have a social hostess who gathers solo travelers to meet up for pre-dinner cocktails and meals. Also I feel very safe on a cruise ship. Go for it!
Try SAGA , they really look after their solo travellers with meet ups every day & round tables for solos if they want to eat together & also more single cabins than any other line which also all have a balcony 😬🛳
Go for it! you don’t need any courage all your needs are taken care of practically your room is clean, the food is made, activities, arranged you can choose to go to as many or as few as you want, and beautiful scenery from the Promenade from the ship and the ports.
On board the ship is practically a very safe area because of the cameras. you still should take care if it’s late at night and people are drinking too much because once in a while things happen but mostly it’s way more safe than on land walking to bars.
Agree especially with the first one. It's good to try different lines based on your budget, ports of call you want to visit, and many other factors. I don't get why some people are loyal to only 1 cruise line. They're missing out a lot.
100ncruises - I’m envious! Great advice and much appreciated.
Thanks for watching!
Love watching your cruise vlogs. My husband and I have only cruised one Norwegian, two Oceania Cruises, (ocean cruises) and The Zambezi Queen and Anawartha Heritage Line in Myanmar, (river cruises). We have a Paul Gauguin coming up shortly that is a 16 day from Bali to Fiji. I truly cannot wait for this cruise after watching your video on the Paul Gauguin, although a different itinerary. We will probably never make it to 100 cruises, however we are now enjoying them as much as we have our travels via air and land. Thank you for your insight and tips on cruising. ❤❤❤. And congratulations on your 100th cruise, may you enjoy 100 more!!!
All I can say Gary; Is thank you very much for your channel! My wife and I have discovered the 20 or so cruises we’ve been on we can expand our vision 10 to 20 times! Bless you, thank you!
ᴛʜᴀɴᴋs ғᴏʀ ᴡᴀᴛᴄʜɪɴɢ ᴀɴᴅ ᴄᴏᴍᴍᴇɴᴛɪɴɢ ᴏɴ ᴍʏ ʏᴏᴜᴛᴜʙᴇ ᴠɪᴅᴇᴏs ᴛᴇxᴛ ᴍᴇ ᴏɴ ᴛᴇʟᴇɢʀᴀM👆ɪ ʜᴀᴠᴇ sᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ sᴘᴇᴄɪᴀʟ ғᴏʀ ʏᴏᴜ 🏆…
You must have tons of friends from all of your cruises 🚢 😊
Your channel is invaluable, I appreciate you and all your hard work. Thank you.
My wife and I love balcony rooms, towards the front (we like the motion vs center where everything is barely moving). We also follow the rule of 5 guest rooms! We do not mind the walk to get aft. We also mainly book our own excursions - or none. We've done a total of 3 Cruise Line excursions. We've also had to scramble when weather reverses an itinerary or completely changes the port-of-calls! All part of the fun. :D
We have nowhere near the cruises you do. We have several cruise lines we want to try. We are attracted to the smaller cruise ships (size of Carnival Magic or slightly smaller for instance). Looking forward to our next cruise!
Yes, after 166 cruises, agree with you 100%. But don’t be afraid of repetition, you always find something new!
As you may remember, I've also done more than 100 cruises. One thing you didn't mention was doing different lines (even though there are several that I'll NEVER redo, even if given for FREE) anyways, it's the DIVERSITY of them. If one does a B2B2B, one would most likely expect to revisit most ship's happenings (incl. the theatre shows). While doing 2 "side to side" cruises in different ships, gives one a diversity, that I relish!
LOL, I go on the cruise and couldn't care less about the cabin. I spend so little time there. The price is key and the destination is 2nd. Recently went on the Carnival Celebration. OMG what an amazing ship. Gonna be hard to do anything but something like that. But tomorrow I go on the NCL Sky. So hope I am not spoiled by the Celebration.
ᴛʜᴀɴᴋs ғᴏʀ ᴡᴀᴛᴄʜɪɴɢ ᴀɴᴅ ᴄᴏᴍᴍᴇɴᴛɪɴɢ ᴏɴ ᴍʏ ʏᴏᴜᴛᴜʙᴇ ᴠɪᴅᴇᴏs ᴛᴇxᴛ ᴍᴇ ᴏɴ ᴛᴇʟᴇɢʀᴀM👆ɪ ʜᴀᴠᴇ sᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ sᴘᴇᴄɪᴀʟ ғᴏʀ ʏᴏᴜ 🏆…
Some excellent tips here Gary; but I would suggest that ship organised tours ARE the best for solo travellers when they first start cruising.
You get to see the sights you want (from reading the description)
You meet other travellers in small groups = easy to talk and make friends
You relax and enjoy the trip without worrying that you MAY get lost and not get back in time.
Just my experience looking back at my first 10 cruises going alone
(My tip - fridge magnets to put up invites; tickets on cabin walls; free up desk space!)
Magnetic hooks even better!
Signed up for a cruise on Royal Caribbean from Baltimore to Bermuda in September. Although RC is not our favorite cruise line we live about a 20 minutes from Baltimore so this will be so easy for us.
So agree that ports and places are extremely important. I love coming back to that haven of the ship.
So true, cabin selection is very important.
Congrats on 100 cruises!
Always enjoy your videos. Have only done 40 cruises but your advise to cruise with many different lines is absolutely correct. Have cruised with: NCL, HAL, CCL. RCCL, X, Princess, Viking, and Windstar.
ᴛʜᴀɴᴋs ғᴏʀ ᴡᴀᴛᴄʜɪɴɢ ᴀɴᴅ ᴄᴏᴍᴍᴇɴᴛɪɴɢ ᴏɴ ᴍʏ ʏᴏᴜᴛᴜʙᴇ ᴠɪᴅᴇᴏs ᴛᴇxᴛ ᴍᴇ ᴏɴ ᴛᴇʟᴇɢʀᴀM👆ɪ ʜᴀᴠᴇ sᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ sᴘᴇᴄɪᴀʟ ғᴏʀ ʏᴏᴜ 🏆…
Congratulations on 100! Great tips and cheers to another 100 🥂
This is your BEST cruise video by far! It’s so good I’ve taken notes! 😊 Thank you for sharing all your wisdom! 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
What ship lines & shore activities can you recommend for Antarctica? Thanks!
BTW, I just found your channel & love your content!!! ♥️
I love your videos I just love them. Thank you.
I'm so glad! Thanks for watching
I agree each line has its highlights for different itineraries, people and occasions
I love your videos and your comparison of cruise lines to friends. If you have not tried the Star Clipper line, please add it to your list. Nothing beats their repo westbound crossings!
This might be my most favorite and your best video ever Gary! Brilliant stuff, wisdom through experience. Thank you!⭐
Hi Gary I love watching your videos, I’ve watched every one of them, some 2-3 times. I’m wondering how Viking ocean/river cruises compare with the many you’ve reviewed?
We have definitely loved Viking Ocean. We took one Viking river trip that was just meh. However, that was early last March on the Douro. Our cruise director was a drunk. They originally showed us to a below Ocean suite when I was sure we had booked a balcony. They did put us in a balcony after I had complained. I got food poisoning one night and had to miss the tour to Salamanca, Spain the next day. They just didn’t have it together.
You are more sophisticated and eloquent than a lot of you tubers
Thanks good information I vicariously travel with you I am going on holland this year
I'm so happy you decided to make a YT channel - we learn so much from you! We are addicted to Celebrity but this makes a lot of sense. We already have our cruise booked for this year but I'll be thinking about your rationale when it's time to book our next one. Thanks for all of the great videos/tips/tricks/pointers Gary!!
Whole heartedly agree with cabin location and passenger rooms on 5 sides. We learned this lesson the hard way a few years ago on a Holland America cruise where we were right below the smoker’s section on the lido deck. We didn’t smell anything but heard scraping deck chairs all day and night. Because a typical smoker would only be there for 5-10 minutes they would sit down…scrape…smoke their cigarette and get up…scrape. Ugh. Never again.
Gary, great vlog as always! Thank you. Did I hear right that you plan to coordinate cruises with a small group of your listeners? Please let us know where and when you would go so we can opt to join you. If you do, could I ask for you to consider developing an unique enrichment program, maybe something on the history or music and ask some relevant PHDs in history or music - classical to come along?
Really interesting, Gary!!!!! Here's to Gary's 200th cruise!!!
Hopefully I am around to hit that milestone. That would be quite something :-)
I tell people there is a cruise out there for everyone, some of us simply can't afford the one we prefer.
My parents met working on a ferry, then Mum went to Australia, three weeks by ship as same cost as the flight, and Dad was hired by Princess for their first cruise. They have inspired my travel habits.
It is OK to go to the same place twice, if you have a different experience. Big way is sharing what you enjoyed last time with someone new, or seeing something one missed last time.
Cruising is a great way to see many places and not have to unpack all the time. One can decide if going back is worth it or not then.
Is one a traveller or a tourist? I'm a bit of both. I travelled in Europe working with Girl Guides in two locations around the time of your first cruise, including up to Orkney and Isle of Skye. I was not the usual 'gap year' traveller because of who I worked with, and when there. Definately some tourist things, but in London, Girl Guides has a Monopoly challenge using the UK board. Looking for the address of my families 1860s bank...was a restaurant, changes how one sees a location.
Excellent. I have done 29 cruises and learned many of the lessons you covered. After being under the stage on a South American cruise with flamenco dancers I have always carefully picked my own stateroom. I agree with all your recommendations and include a few more. I always look at an exterior picture of the ship to be sure my balcony has a great view: left, right, up and down. Being older with mobility issues I also like to be near the elevators, but not so close that there is noise. Unlike you I like to go where I have been before so I don't have to get off the ship if I don't feel up to walking, And I tend to stick with Holland America and its smaller ships as they cater to older clients, and getting from one end of the ship to the other isn't an expedition. I feel the same about Viking and American Cruise Lines. I'm looking for good food, no children, respectful service, lectures, cooking shows, movies and bridge partners. That is entirely different from what I was looking for forty years ago. I like going alone or with friends, but I'm at the stage where I want my own stateroom if traveling with a friend. I am sad to be reaching the end of my cruising days, but have many fantastic experiences and fond memories.
I organised our first cruise this January with Princess Cruises. I knew nothing about cruising at all but managed to bumble my way through and we had a really wonderful, relaxing 5 day cruise.
All of us were first timers and we absolutely loved it.
Now I'm now hooked on cruising and have already booked another one for January next year.
I really wanted to stay with Princess Cruises - I am usually very brand loyal - but didnt see the value in traveling on the exact same ship as unfortunately only one of their ships come to our state, so I booked with P&O.
I now think this was a great idea. I want to try different ships and different cruise lines to see what they have to offer and compare and contrast. I'm already seeing a lot of differences in their offerings.
I can't wait!!
Aw look at that strapping young man at the beginning of the video! 😊😉
We went on now-defunct Star Cruises from Bali to Singapore. One of the best experiences of my life.
I can't even wrap my mind around 100 caa-ruzes. And in such a short time frame. I think that it's wonderful that
While I am doing one of the same stops in a few weeks as I did last year, I will be on Princess instead of Virgin, and I am eager to see how the two lines compare. We loved Virgin; it will be a tough act to follow, and it has already cost me about $2k more. We have an additional traveler this time, too, and we will be doing a different excursion at the one port we visited last year.
An Excellent video which gave me a different view on some aspects of cruising and travel.
I just planned my first cruise for my wife and I - We are travelling around the Mediterranean. We are very excited and want to thank you for all the information you have shared. It made the decision process much easier 😎👍
Oh Gary…you never disappoint with your content! Thank you so much….hope to cruise soon and I’ll review the videos I’ve saved!
My next cruise will be my 42nd cruise.
Agree that it is all about the ports and destinations and we try to go to new ones on every cruise. Of course, that is not always possible, but, there are many different things to do at each destination.
Always appreciate watching your videos. I feel like I learn something new everytime.
Just back from 71 day African cruise with HAL Zaandam for new locations and a 7 day Celebrity Apex for entertainment. Yes, you know what you are talking about. Will go in the Beyond in March! We have not seen you in a while in any of our cruises!
We do have one line we prefer and that we have status on but now, as long-time cruisers, we choose mainly based on itinerary, regardless of the line.
Though I agree with your synopsis I would add there are things to see even at the same port visited prior. For example we are visiting Rome again but this time we will do a truffle hunting excursion to learn about that delicacy and completely skip the city.
Gary, Thank You so much for your informative videos. We have enjoyed cruising much more since finding your channel. All of your little 'tips' are worthwhile for cruisers of all ages and all experiences.
I am coming to the end of my 45 year career and considering retiring soon and never been on a cruise. Only ever been outside Europe on business trips with my work. So I am hoping to try a cruise very soon, just hope the COVID nonsense doesn’t cause problems as I refuse tests and the vax.
Great video Gary thanks for sharing ❤️ we're only new in our cruising life, have only done 2 so far on p and o Australia, but we have one booked for November on royal Caribbean ovation of the seas then our honeymoon cruise booked on virgin voyages resilient Lady in December then another one back on p and o Australia in February on our first overseas holiday to the islands then another on p and o Australia locally here in Australia in August 2024 ❤️ so we have a few new adventures ahead of us 😍
Amazed that you haven't yet tried a Croatia small ship cruse!
Thank you so much for this video. It is truly FANTASTIC! Great information and so beautifully organized. Cheers!
After my first cruise I now go on all excursions I arrange on my own.
Great video, Gary, (as always)!
I am about to do my sixth Alaska cruise. That's a place I will never tire of.
What do you like best?
@@bob_frazier Endless beautiful vistas.
Agree!
Nice video, as always. Liked and subscribed to the channel. Keep the great job, mate!
I agree with your concept and analogy of friends. Sure you have your best, but each one brings a different experience and has their own interests. My favorite cruise lines are Holland America and Princess but I choose a cruise based on many factors such as itinerary, cost, location and most recently, my children's school schedule. I like sailing the Caribbean and early August seem to be the only time the kids are not bound to school or sports.
Thanks!
Thanks so much! Greatly appreciated
Gary, can you do a segment on travel and medical insurance for cruises?
Insurance options vary greatly on where you’re located. For instance, very different options in the UK vs. US. Most important to have repatriation to your home country covered if you have a medical problem, including being airlifted off the ship by helicopter to the closest place with a good hospital first, in case you’re already far from your last or next port. I had that happen to someone on my last cruise who had a serious stroke. They said airlifting him quickly by helicopter saved his life.
Happy 💯and thank you for your channel.
We have just done our first ever cruise - to Alaska on Cunard's Queen Elizabeth. A truly wonderful experience. We spent 3 days in Vancover before the cruise which was great too.
My only concern is I think this has spoiled us for other cruise lines - we loved everything about the QE (including the beautiful interior) and imho it's the perfect size, not too big so we were able to get right up to the top of the Tracy Arm Fjord to see the Sawyer glacier.
We also spent a little more to get the Club Balcony room - which no one seems to talk about. Slightly bigger room with double the on board spending money, and a lovely private dining room (better menu than the Brittania - open dining at your own table and same waiter for the voyage, and less 'stuffy' than the Grills I think!).
We've booked for the Norwegian Fjords next year with Cunard on the new Queen Anne - but I wish it was the QE!
Thanks for sharing your lessons on cruising, especially because you have gone on so many different cruise voyages.
I think that the importance of getting it right for people who are new is really important, especially because they are only ever going to go on one or just a few cruises per year, and are inexperienced at cruising.
I hope that in the coming years, more cruise lines will make an attempt to better understand the needs of solo travelers.
I totally agree!!
Excellent video, Gary. You are so inspiring! Thank you!
I never mind repeating ports so many adventures
... congratulation on all your adventures ... over 100 now ...only been on three here ... ready to go again once the airports are staffed up again ...
Gary:
I very much appreciate this video and your insights; thank you.
Having said that, I’d respectfully make the point that every cruiser is different, as are their motivations for cruising. For instance, there are several places I love so much that I overtly seek out cruises with those destinations regardless of how often I’ve been there. There are other ports that I’ve been to that I don’t care about and enjoy staying on the ship for some solitude while everyone else is ashore. Some of my favorite conversations with less-busy staff from around the world have occurred during those times, and I’ve never regretted staying aboard in those situations.
I very much agree with you that being openminded to cruise line is a good thing, as some of my favorite cruises have been utter surprises, and sometimes you just don’t know which line suits you best if you never leave your comfort zone. Like you with P&O, I was a dedicated Celebrity cruiser for years, and Celebrity Horizon is still my favorite ship (RIP Horizon). As Celebrity started with the Solstice class I became less enamored; I went on the Edge once and hated it. I started cruising on Princess more, and now they’re my default, though I’m still up for trying others.
My point is this: I think your list makes sense for you, but especially for those new to cruising it’s important to note that everyone’s list may be substantially different.
Thanks again!
ᴛʜᴀɴᴋs ғᴏʀ ᴡᴀᴛᴄʜɪɴɢ ᴀɴᴅ ᴄᴏᴍᴍᴇɴᴛɪɴɢ ᴏɴ ᴍʏ ʏᴏᴜᴛᴜʙᴇ ᴠɪᴅᴇᴏs ᴛᴇxᴛ ᴍᴇ ᴏɴ ᴛᴇʟᴇɢʀᴀM👆ɪ ʜᴀᴠᴇ sᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ sᴘᴇᴄɪᴀʟ ғᴏʀ ʏᴏᴜ 🏆…
I watch and enjoy your channel because you always have something new to share. Congratulations on your 100th cruise! I’m currently on my 40th cruise, right now I’m loyal to Royal (I’ve also cruised with NCL). I think of cruises as samplers. I visit a port and then decide if I want to return for a land vacation. I don’t think you can ever really get to know a country and its culture in one day. But I primarily cruise simply because I like being on the water. After I reach top tier with RCI, I look forward to trying other cruise lines per your advice.
Nice guy, great advice.
Thanks for watching!
@@tipsfortravellers not just watching, I’m binging. I love your videos, I watch them back to back, they are captivating and hook me to the next one, one after the other. My husband watches them too 😊 I’m learning so much, I’m so grateful. Come to think of it, it’s about time I subscribed! LOL