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@@LifeWellCruised I have your book and used it on my last cruise. I just want to know the excursion company that you spoke about in one of your videos. It was a company which could price out better than those offered by the cruise ship.
Just downloaded the planner. Have watched you for many years. I've learned a bunch. I'm not sure how much I'll use it, but it's my way of saying thanks for the time you put into this channel. 😊
HAL is amazing for several reasons 1) itinerary 2) food and drink , have it all 3) the music walk 4) the Crows Nest and most of all 5) the staff which are absolutely amazing.
I have cruised on Royal, Norwegian, Celebrity, Princess, Carnival and HAL. Once I took a HAL cruise, I stayed with them. Great destinations, smaller ships, food, service--all top notch.
and no flag of convenience! Netherlands flag is a major plus imho 🙂 (I have not cruised yet, just want to someday. I was USN for one enlistment (4 yrs) on subs. 🙂)
We have done 20 cruises over the last 20 years. Once we went on our first cruise, we knew cruising is our most preferred way of vacationing. I agree that the food and services on the Holland America is wonderful, and as boring as it is because they don’t have water slides or mini golf, my two teenagers were happy to spend two weeks on the HA and always found something to do. We still like Royal Caribbean the most thanks to its variety of activities especially for the boy, and their amazing private island. I am not particularly in love with the Norwegian and the Carnival cruise lines because the crowds on those ships are not of the same calibers as the other cruise lines. The crew’s and passengers’ calibers got worse with the older ships when the tickets are not expensive enough. So, I don’t mind paying a bit more to be with the people that I don’t mind being around.
I really liked this review! I have fallen in love with HAL over the years, but your honorable mention of Virgin, kind of have me intrigued. My wife and I will be going on an HAL next Saturday around the Caribbean. And for our honeymoon/1st anniversary, we will be sailing around Norway, which we are very excited for. Thanks again for your videos!
My husband and I are in our mid 50s. We just got off our 2nd HAL cruise and have no desire to try another. Very relaxing, great food, and service. ******* Thank you for your essentials lists.... we have bought a ton of those items. Clothes, magnets, and lots more. Thank you for the great tips!
Great video. I've been on Carnival, Princess, Viking Ocean & Celebrity. All great cruises, but our favorite and now standard line is Celebrity. I think there is a cruise ship for everyone, you just have to find it!
20+ cruises. We've been on several lines over the years but keep coming back to HAL. I love the itineraries and the music walk. I appreciate the more civilized atmosphere. With the destinations my biggest draw, I have no problem with calling bedtime early, as the excursions often begin early in the morning.
I agree - my whole family is platinum with princess and we absolutely love it. Cunard is my favorite, but my teenager would rather die than go on a Cunard voyage- lol
Would elementary aged kids have fun on Princess? I've been on Royal in the past but it seems like they may be losing the classy touch they had. I'm torn 😢 whether or not I would like their big ships. I want to see the sea! I also don't want my kids to be bored to death 😂.
@@blissfuljoy6049 Not sure Princess, much as I love their ships, would be my first choice for elementary age. They have activity rooms for various ranges, e.g. 3 -7 and 8-12, with games and activities but that's about it. With the caveat that I don't have any experience with those facilities, I've not cruised with young kids. But you won't find water parks, go-cart tracks, laser tag arenas, rock climbing walls, extensive arcades (though some Princess ships have replaced their cigar lounges by throwing a handful of video games into the space), and so forth.
@JeremySmith-k6n maybe the newest ship would be ok l. It seems like it's a little more lively. I just don't like over the top parties. My kids might like laser tag and definitely the pool. Small slides would be great but I don't need the big ones. I feel like the pools get so crowded on main lines that it might be frustrating with them. Where we go matters a lot too.
First time cruiser next month-Virgin Voyages. Going solo. Sea Terrace cabin. Celebrating a milestone birthday. I’ll be on Bimini on my big day. I love your videos. You are helping me to expand my travel dreams. Thanks!!!
Tried Margaritaville at Sea- Islander (out of Tampa) 5 night. Very positive, surprised by previous negative responses. Beautiful decor, 3 pools/spas, bigger rooms (feels like more storage - or what it USED to be- we had a balcony). Im comparing to RC/Princess/larger Carnival ships.
I agree! I was on it last month and was very nervous based on reviews but we had the best time and are booked again in May. We are starting to see a lot of positive reviews now. I think early on people may have been confusing Islander with Paradise which are very different experiences.
We just traveled on the MSC Splendida for a week through South America. First cruise. We are a family of 2 adults and a one-year-old baby. We really enjoyed the trip. The crew (especially the restaurant crew) are very friendly. And the pizza is on another level.
First-time cruiser here!! I’m sailing on Royal Caribbean’s Rhapsody of the Seas, and wow, I’ve really gone down the cruise rabbit hole-watching reviews, picking up tips, and learning all about how ships operate, from the engine to the bridge. Even what happens when cruise ships encounter pirates 🙃. That’s when I stumbled upon your channel, and let me just say-what a game changer! You’ve made me feel way more prepared and way less nervous. Thanks so much for sharing such fun and helpful info!
Planning on taking another cruise! Haven't been for about 2 years because the last one was somewhat disappointing! I thought maybe it was the results after the pandemic, but I'm so relieved to hear you say Holland America was your favorite because that's the one I'm planning on taking. I'm looking at a 21 day cruise that takes in the Panamal Canal. I feel much better about my decision now, thanks!
I only cruised 3 times Carnival twice and Royal Caribbean just once. I am going on another Carnival cruise in February. My wife and I both enjoyed Carnival for their value. We are going to the Western Caribbean We love the Sun and sand we can't get enough of it.
Been on three cruises , two with HAL and one on Princess Regal ( The Love boat) part 2 . Like you we perfer the Holland America line . Last on was Koningsdam from Vancouver to Hawaii , what an amazing ship and staff . Will be using them on our next cruise. Great video showing the difference in the cruise lines.
Hi Ilana, thanks for your videos. I'm very excited to be taking my very first cruise next September. We're going on HAL's Niew Statendam through the Mediterranean, Egypt and Turkey. Your information has filled me with confidence that I've made a good choice.
Very good video! My very first cruise was HAL in 2012 and it wasn't great because my cabin was directly above the music stage, so my morning was interrupted with band practices. However, other things were good, so I did another cruise with them and I made sure to be away from the stage and it was absolutely fantastic! HAL has been my favorite so far. I did Celebrity and Royal Caribbean. I'm not to crazy of the food on Royal, but I do like the rooms better.
I am now an experienced cruiser. I went with my mom who is in her 70s and my sister who is in her mid 40s as well as my 7yr old son. I had the time of my life as well as my son. My mom didn't like this particular cruise because the ship was older and didn't have as much variety in food and could feel the turbulence than on the larger cruise ships. They had a kids club where my son had a great time.. they had Broadway shows and comedy that I truly enjoyed. I couldn't have asked for more on my first royal carribean cruise.
Each of your videos is so weĺ done. Always enjoyable. Thank you for all the pertinent tips and information. You are assuredly the best cruise you-tuber!😊
I'm going on my third cruise in April. I've only cruised on Carnival but I came to agree with your statement that the ship can definitely affect the enjoyment of the vacation. I love your content and the variety of topics you cover!
I'm in my early 40s and I've lived in Miami for almost 12 years. Cruise ships never interested me, I was more like an all inclusive resort type. When Virgin Voyages came around the fact that it was adults only caught my attention. I decided to give it a try in 2022. With that being said, VV was my very first cruise and since Oct 2022 I've sailed 10 times with them and have 3 more booked already. I haven't even wanted to try any other line since I find that VV is what I need and like. Thanks for your videos. Ça fait plaisir d'écouter tes vidéos de temps en temps. Merci.
@@limaim26 if you enjoy virgin, you might enjoy Celebrity’s Edge class ships, that have larger more expansive deck areas and interior public spaces. Interesting that you live in Miami now. Merci :)
I’m 70, I travel alone with my grandkids. I’ve taken them on every Disney cruise ship. The 14 year old likes the activity on NCL now. The 8 year old autism child loves the Celebrity Reflection because it has 15 or less children, it’s quiet and he has one on one if he needs it. When I travel with my friends (no kids) I really like Celebrity. I’ve cruised 4 times with them various ships, 12 Disney cruises and RC. With friends we chose according to destination and perks offered at the time of booking. I love your show and I take your advice ❤
My husband and I went on our first cruise last weekend on RC’s Allure of the Seas and absolutely LOVED IT!! I think we just became cruisers, lol, so this video was extremely helpful! I’m already shopping for our next cruise for next month!!!
I have cruised on NCL, Azamara, Carnival, Virgin, and Celebrity. Each was different and I enjoyed each one. My only negative experiences have been embarkation on NCL (Alaska) and Virgin (maiden voyage in Australia), long pushy lines on Carnival, and in the spa on several lines, which is outsourced. Each line has it’s unique brand and I try to go with the flow and enjoy what they do best. I chose NCL and Azamara for their free style cruising. Carnival for the price. Virgin for the food. Celebrity when I had to take a vacation or lose leave, didn’t want to fly, and it was cheaper than my other option of Princess). I will be going on my second Celebrity cruise this week and think it is currently my favorite. I will be on Carnival in June and Azamara in October, so my favorite may change.
Glad you are so open minded, unlike some. I have only done Carnival as I usually go with a cruise group of like minded people and the friend who organizes them has only taken us on Carnival. I took a sister and nephew on the Carnival Paradise and they loved it! The Paradise is one of their smaller ships and I found a great deal just after the pandemic shut down so I was able to pay for both of them to go with me. I want to try the Margaritaville Islander one day, since I am retired military and my fare would be free with another paying guest.
We have done 7 Celebrity cruises. To date, we have not done any other cruise lines. We just got off the Beyond in an Edge Villa and the experience was fantastic. Celebrity has beautiful ships! We booked the Enchanted Princess for April 2025 after talking to people who had a great time on Princess. After seeing this video and reading the comments, we will try Holland America after that. I like the idea of smaller ships. Great video!
Great review! We have many NCL cruises, a couple MSC, one Celebrity, one Costa and one Pullmantur (no longer exists). We least like MSC although it has beautiful ships and the best coffee included in the drink package. Their dining at specified times, the bad customer service experiences. Their personnel is more uptight than other cruise lines we have done. Our favourite is NCL, mostly for the friendly service, the freestyle dining and the speciality restaurants. We would love that they include better coffee options with the drink package…
My wife and I are going on our very first cruise. We chose Holland America line nieuw statendam 7 night Bahamas and Carribean cruise out of fort Lauderdale in early February. I appreciate your helpful tips and very detailed description of the Holland America cruise experience. Hoping for a great time.
We will be on that ship the week before you. It will be our first HAL cruise after 50+ cruises; 27 on Celebrity. Hesitated to sail on HAL because of the benefits we get on Celebrity, but decided to try something new. Ilana’s review helped our decision to sail on the Nieuw Statendam.
I have been on 42 cruises 22 of them with my husband when he was alive. My favorite cruise line is Carnival because they offer me the most perks and the best free cruises that I can take a family member with me and we can enjoy everything.
I've been a fan of your videos for a couple of years now. This is such a comprehensive, excellent, honest piece of work. You really should be on PBS following Rick Steves on Sundays. Thank you!
@@LifeWellCruised You're the best and an absolute professional! You really should/could be on "regular" TV. If I ever ran into you on a cruise, I would go fanboy and ask for a selfie, embarrassing my wife. Thanks again.
I agree with HAL. We did the Panama canal cruise also. We love going to BB Kings every night. Incredible Musicians! We will be back on Roderdam in 2026. First we are trying Celebrity Ascent then Enchanted Princess this new year. Happy new year by the way!!!!🎉
We have tried many other cruise lines but by far our favorite is Viking. They are adults only and more focused on the destination and learning of other cultures.
Yes, but Waaay too expensive for most of us! I keep getting brochures, but usually throw them out without looking at them, because they are so expensive.
Hi! We're planning our first Alaska cruise next year, and have chosen Holland America's Nieuw Amsterdam. I love your videos. They have helped us so much in deciding what to chose.
I am taking my sister who has been caring for her sick husband 24/7 for 3 years, on a Celebrity cruise in a few days. I have never been on Celebrity only smaller lines and Norwegian, Royal Caribbean and Carnival. I am looking forward to a more quiet and upscale experience and hope my sister likes cruising. Thanks for the information, very good comparison.
I did my first cruise, years ago, on HAL. I liked them, so I've done all eight of my cruises with them. Because they are my only experience, I can't compare them with anyone else. So, it's nice to get some comparisons with what other cruise lines have to offer.
This was one of your best videos ever! Thanks for the thoughtful comparisons. We've done more Princess than any other line but have tired Carnival (too much of a party cruise for us), Celebrity, HAL, and Disney when the kids were younger. Except for our bad experience on Carnival, all were fine. We are going to Alaska in late June on HAL and are looking forward to the smaller ship for that itinerary. Also booked on Princess in Japan in 2026. We did LOVE the medallion on our last 2 cruises. Thanks Ilana!
Did you only do one cruise on Carnival? Some ships are better than others and 7 day or more are better than the shorter cruises. I will admit that the noise level at times is too loud.
I have cruised since 1980. After my first cruise on Celebrity Edge to the Med., I fell in love with Celebrity. I have sailed on Celebrity Beyond to the Caribbean. I am currently booked to travel on 5 Celebrity cruises including the maiden voyage for Xcel. I love the Infinite Veranda with the fantastic views. I have sailed on Carnival, NCL, RCL, Disney, Princess as my children were growing up. Now, I am at the time that I prefer a relaxing and upscale cruise experience which Celebrity does offer.
1st time cruiser, sailing on NCL escape end of April for our 25th anniversary. 7 day itinerary through the carribian with an aft facing balcony. Your videos have been a guiding light for us. The content is always relevant and informative. Thank you so much for your continuous content.
In January, I take my very first cruise on the Queen Anne around the world. It stops at a bunch of my "bucket list" places. I am 76 and may not ever get a chance to do this again.
@@elenawaltermusic gonna try. I toured Europe this past summer and still haven't taken the time to build a youtube video. If I get around to it, it will be YakOnTour
Thankyou for the outstanding reviews on these cruise companies. I found it very helpful for choosing our next cruise. The only thing I found lacking from this video are the services and activities for veterans and active duty military.
Margaritaville at Sea gives military and first responders/nurses etc. free cruises as long as they have a paying guest with them. Carnival always has a military appreciation brunch on one of their Sea days. I haven't been on Margaritaville at Sea, but the Islander is their best ship, from what I have heard. I think most, if not all of the cruises give military discounts on their fare.
My wife and I have only ever done Carnival, years ago, and we had the teenage kids with us. I am researching for our next cruise, for just her and I. Something relaxing, with good food, and good entertainment, and not crowded. We are in our 60's and active, but for a cruise, we are not into the party scene or the Active Exercise scene (i.e. Virgin). We want comfort and to be pampered some. My wife likes her specialty coffees and lots of bottled water for both of us. I've been watching these comparison videos of yours and other vloggers, just to get different perspectives.
It sounds like you would enjoy Holland America. We are similar to you in age and what we are looking for, and we have cruised Holland America, Princess, Celebrity, and MSC. We do not recommend MSC: too confused and crowded. The Princess ship we were on 10 or 15 years ago was older and there were lines at lunch time in the buffet, but otherwise it was good. Maybe the newer ships have improved that. Celebrity has the best service in the main dining room, the best buffet, and really good shows. Holland America is just a touch below Celebrity in service and food, so we have settled on them.
Try the older ships like Vision of the Seas out of Baltimore would be perfect for you. Older crowd but so friendly and happy. The staff is superb and so friendly as well. I loved the food. Loved that there were not many kids on board also. We just got back last week from a 12 night southern caribbean cruise and the itinerary blew us away.
We were in the same boat as you… In our 60’s , still very active, don’t want party crowds… We took a cruise to Alaska on Celebrity and loved it. Lots to do. Food was amazing. We would do Celebrity again. I am also interested in trying HAL! Good luck with your search!
Of the three cruise lines we have tried, we loved HAL the most. We are a laid-back family who are not big 'party people', so we enjoyed the traditional, classy ships and service. I just booked another HAL Alaskan cruise for mid-May this year, since it was our kids' favorite family vacation that we have done.
Have done 6 Celebrity Cruises..love them. Booked on Seabourn Encore 2/11 Hong Kong.. SO excited. Thank you so much for your great insight. Happy New Year.
My husband & I are going in late Jan on Sky Princess to Western Caribbean. We are first timers! And wanted to celebrate our 36th anniversary a little different. Very excited! I’ve listened to many many of your videos and the information I’ve gleaned is amazing! Thank you for sharing your experience!
I will be cruising for the first time in December 2025 with Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas, departing from Sydney to New Zealand. Super excited!😍
In March we are going on our 14 th. cruise on NCL been on another line did not enjoy it as much as we like NCL. We like the freedom to dine where and when you want. We have been on their med size and some of the small ships and enjoy less people. In March we are going on the Encore looking forward to see the difference. Thanks for the Video's I really enjoy them and love some of your tips. Take Care safe Sailing
I didn’t think I would, but I have fallen in love with MSC. I love their status match program too… they even match with big name resorts as well… I was able to jump two loyalty levels just with my Princess Captains Circle membership alone!
Excellent video Ilana! Many people will find this extremely helpful! I agree with you on your rankings! I’m a Princess fan, it just suits me! Blessings ❤️
I’m going to be a first time cruiser in May 2025. Sailing on Celebrity Beyond to Bahamas St Maarten, and St Thomas. I’m going with family but will have my own cabin and hope to meet some young solo cruisers in their 20s and 30s.😊
I hope Captain Kate is your captain. She was our Capt. on our Greece cruise. It's a beautiful ship. If there's only one specialty restaurant you eat at, I recommend Eden. It's an awesome venue & the food is amazing.
Well done! I’d emphasize what you mentioned in passing….it really depends on the ship as much as the line. We are doing the older Eclipse transatlantic this year and we know that we can’t compare it to the new Ascent and Apex. All Celebrity ships. The vibe we hope will be the same.
Exactly! Also the # of days. The longer ones have a more civilized kind of crowd, from what I hear. I have never taken anything less than a 7 day except for one 5 day.
My wife and I went on our first cruise on Carnival Spirit the end of October 2024. Absolutely loved the ship and the staff. We were on a first name basis with the room staff . We enjoyed the size of the ship because we saw the same people pretty much daily. Serenity was highly relaxing. I’m afraid this cruise might take a bit of hit because of the port tax in Mexico but I recommend the Spirit.
We recently took our first cruise, a 5 day Mexican Riviera on the Carnival Firenze out of Long Beach, CA. Thank you so much for your videos and information, it made our vacation! The ship was beautiful, entertainment was awesome! Ports at Cabo and Ensenada were okay, and a December cruise is quite chilly, but we can’t wait for our next cruise! Already doing the research, love your content, thanks again!
This is one of your best videos ever, thank you for sharing your views! I’m a relative newbie, having been on 1 NCL and 2 Princess cruises. Much preferred the NCL ship as it had more focus on the ocean, while Princess had better live music and service. Didn’t find the theater shows amazing on either. Will be on the NCL Prima in 2025 and the Sun Princess in 2026 and, despite some negative reviews, both ships sound like they’re right up my alley.
Our first cruise was RCCL, Symphony of the Seas in Sept 2022. Good service from beginning to end. We loved it. We were also on the the MSC Seascape, Sep 2023 and the Carnival Horizon, Apr 2024. We liked them both but really enjoyed the Symphony of the Seas more. Our last cruise was the Icon of the Seas with and again we loved our cruise with RCCL from beginning to the end. We will be sailing on the MSC World America on 12 Ap 2025 and the RCCL, Star of the Seas in Sept 2025. We will be trying the Celebrity in Arp 2026. We love your review of the different cruise lines. They are very well done and pretty truthful.
First time cruiser and we just got back from our cruise on the Carnival Panorama and we loved it from the food to the entertainment and the vibe of the ship. Our cruise director was incredible as were the destinations on the Mexican Rivera. we can't wait until we go on our next cruise in 2026 to the Caribbean probably we go on carnival again just because of the value the have and what we experienced on this criuse. THank you for all the tips and tricks you have on your page as. we used a lot of them as well as some of the items you have a s cruise essentials.
Very much appreciate your input on all lines. My daughter has been wanting to go on Virgin, I'll share with her. Still undecided myself. Looking forward to at least 1 cruise in 25. Happy cruising!! 💙🛳
My wife and I cruised a lot (18 cruises in 12 years), mostly on Celebrity, but a few on NCL and Princess too. We had a good time on ALL our cruises, and made SO many good memories! But we particularly liked the elegance and comfort of the pre-Edge Celebrity ships, and the food on all of them. The Edge Class ships have some lovely features, especially the Retreat areas and the Magic Carpet, but it's clearly designed for younger people (we were in our late 60s/early 70s) and we had to search VERY hard to find a comfortable chair in the public spaces. Princess always felt like a close competitor but with slightly less-good food. Our last cruise was on the NCL Escape, a much bigger ship than any we'd been on before. We found it VERY noisy everywhere (and hard to find a quiet spot), but sorta fun. Food not up to Celebrity standards and the entertainment was so-so except for The Choir of Man. My wife died in the spring of 2024, so if/when I cruise again it will probably be as a solo. I appreciate your mentioning solos in your extensive review!
My favorite cruise line is Virgin Voyages because of the inclusions plus the different restaurants options at night. Since I am not a drinker, the drink package doesn’t bother me. I enjoyed this nice review comparisons of All the different lines. Job well done.
First time on a cruise next May for our anniversary, will be on Hall onto Alaska via Zaandam. Your videos have helped alot to getting ready for it thanks.
Loved your favourite choice. HAL. We cruised the full Panama transit this past October. Mexican Rivera /Hawaii next. Although loyal to HAL (likely for mariner points) based on our suggestions we might Celebrity another try or even Princess. Have you suggestions re Sliver Seas or Oceania? Thanks - bought your white cover up. I love it!
We’ve been on 37 cruises since 2005. Still love Royal. I’m 67, but love their 70’s, 80’s and their new “one hit wonders” dance parties. It’s mostly just my husband and myself, but we often take our adult son, who has autism. Staff do so well working with him. There’s live music everywhere. The entertainment is unbeatable. Oasis class is a favorite, but we like freedom class as well. I think your experience was due to the short cruise. We do not enjoy unsupervised kids, but try to cruise when school is in session, and take longer cruises,which have less kids as well. Although the aqua shows and original productions in the theatre and ice shows are favorites, I also enjoy the shows in 270 on the quantum class, which are very creative. However, Quantum class feels narrow…it IS narrow compared to Oasis class. In addition, we find the MDR food to be very good and specialty dining is delicious. In addition, I like that they have formal and dress your best nights, since I like wearing my sequined dresses and do not feel out of place.
The formal nights, if they are strict with the dress code would be a favorite for me. So many lines have loosened their dress codes for their formal nights. I don't see why one or 2 nights of dressing up, or if not wanting to, eating somewhere else for that night should be such a big deal for some.
My first cruise ever this year was on Virgin and I loved it so much I came home and booked three more VV cruises in 2025. While I am open to trying another cruise line I honestly believe I've found my home at sea with Virgin. Loved this video of comparisons...thank you so much! 🙂
@@eastcoastguy_0803 Yep. From what I have heard about VV, I don't think this morally conservative woman would like them, unless they aren't as sex themed as I have heard.
I went on my first cruise last month, 8 days on Freedom of the Seas, and it was wonderful! Of course I don't have anything to compare it to, but I loved everything about it. The entertainment and food were great. All of the staff were friendly and helpful. I could not have asked for a better experience! Thanks to your informative videos, I felt prepared. That definitely helped me enjoy the cruise.
For me, working put every day and then enjoying an amazing spa area is a huge part of my happiness when I’m on vacation. I know time is tight in these videos, but I kind of wish you had included a brief overview of each ships workout/spa area. The Thermal Spa on the Norwegian Bliss was so amazing, I rebooked another trip for for six month later.
Cunard is my favorite line. Holland America is a close second. I’m a cruiser who prefers a more traditional experience aboard and more classically designed ships. Cunard and Holland American excel at that plus their service and ports of call are fantastic.
First time cruising in 12 years. I chose virgin for this one because of the food and adult only. Also booked with celebrity in 26 for a Mediterranean cruise because of the solo veranda option and itinerary.
First time cruiser! Coming up soon! (Okay, I don't count the two Navy deployments on those big flat-top ships with noisy airplanes...). It has taken me 30 years after those experiences to feel like I could go to sea again, and I'm really looking forward to it, with my wife and several friends. Your videos have given me a lot of tips, and I really appreciate you! Thanks
Thanks! Great review! We are loyal Princess Cruisers. I agree with your positive and negative comments as they relate to Princess. We are scheduled to board one in just a few weeks and have 6 more scheduled in the next 18 months. We'll also be experiencing an Oceania cruise this year for a shot at another cruise line. Love your videos. You've saved me countless hours of research with your helpful hints.
70 years old. We have traveled on 12 cruised over the years. Went the kids were young we traveled on Disney. Loved it. We've done Princess most of the time with and without your kids. We have found it has everything for the family. The last ship it has been just wife and I. Celebrity Beyond has been our choice. We love the Veranda cabins. Choice of 4 different Main Dinning choices was the main thing that won our over.
My Teens love itinerary cruises. We love going places like Iceland, Greece, japan, and the like, but they aren't water slide kids. We Love Celebrity and princess for that reason and find them comparable.
I got married on NCL Getaway in 2017. We haven’t tried NCL again since then… we had a situation where the photographer that worked on board did not communicate with the wedding planner that the camera he brought was not working and he had to go back to his cabin to get another one. By the time he came back, the ceremony was over… and we had to do it all over again (so we got married twice.. lol). We ended up spending the entire week meeting with the photo department manager regarding this and it was handled so poorly to the point where we don’t really remember the cruise at all. I know it’s an odd reason to be hesitant to sail with them again, but we don’t have much interest in the near future.
My husband and I are going on our first cruise in Feb on Scarlet Lady with Virgin. we've been watching alot of your videos in the last few weeks and we appreciate all the tips.
This was a fantastic video, thanks so much for sharing your insights. I went on MSC for the first time recently, World Europa. Awesome ship, awesome price, great itinerary. The huge drawback for me: a percentage of the passengers end their cruise or start their cruise at every port. Every day, huge groups of people waiting with their luggage to exit. For me, this totally ruined the atmosphere of the cruise. Although there were other things that, as an American, weren't my style, like the food, I will be avoiding MSC from now on, just because I lost so much enjoyment because every day seemed like the last day of the cruise, a confusion of entry/exit, instead of being able to enjoy with the same group the whole trip. I wonder if you noticed the same thing.
GREAT vlog! Thank you! We are Princess people but did Celebrity this year and HAL soon since I have not been on for so long. NCL was not for me.. So appreciated all this great info! Bravo!
I’m a first time cruiser come January 25th 2025. Me and my family will be sailing on the carnival Mardi Gras for a 7 day Caribbean cruise and I have to say I really wish I found your channel while researching the different cruise lines. Don’t get me wrong I’m super stoked for the Mardi Gras since I’m the one did all the planning and I was impressed by what is offered on it but I’d never even heard of MSC cruises or Holland America and you honestly did such an amazing job summarizing the character and vibes of the ships in a short time, so much so I already started looking into them for my next cruise haha
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Planning a cruise? Get The Ultimate Cruise Planner. It's a 47 page printable cruise travel planner with packing checklists, shore excursion planning forms and much more! ($10 off for a limited time). Here are the details: lifewellcruised.com/ultimate-cruise-planner
@@LifeWellCruised I have your book and used it on my last cruise. I just want to know the excursion company that you spoke about in one of your videos. It was a company which could price out better than those offered by the cruise ship.
Just downloaded the planner. Have watched you for many years. I've learned a bunch.
I'm not sure how much I'll use it, but it's my way of saying thanks for the time you put into this channel. 😊
I was a first time cruiser recently & found the cruise planner to be a huge help.
@@lynne6638 that’s great! The company I’ve been using is Shore Excursions Group :)
www.shoreexcursionsgroup.com/?id=1422218
@@andramiller6664 I hope you find it helpful, even if for a few things. Thanks for your purchase and support! ☺️
HAL is amazing for several reasons 1) itinerary 2) food and drink , have it all 3) the music walk 4) the Crows Nest and most of all 5) the staff which are absolutely amazing.
That’s awesome!
The crew had incredibly memories, remembering our names, even on two different cruises
What draws me to them is that they are not Flag of Convenience. Netherlands is a good flag 🙂
We had bad experience with HAL. Our boat was so far from Glacier bay that we can't even appreciate the beauty. The staff were awesome.
Sorry you you had a bad experience at Glacier Bay. Both times we sailed HAL to AK we went way inside the bay. Beautiful place.
This lady is somebody that I feel very comfortable with. No wonder she gets so many high reviews.
I appreciate how you stay positive while also being honest in your reviews
Thanks - I always hope this comes across
I have cruised on Royal, Norwegian, Celebrity, Princess, Carnival and HAL. Once I took a HAL cruise, I stayed with them. Great destinations, smaller ships, food, service--all top notch.
Awesome! Thanks for sharing
Been on 24 cruises...All with HAL..❤❤
and no flag of convenience! Netherlands flag is a major plus imho 🙂 (I have not cruised yet, just want to someday. I was USN for one enlistment (4 yrs) on subs. 🙂)
We have done 20 cruises over the last 20 years. Once we went on our first cruise, we knew cruising is our most preferred way of vacationing. I agree that the food and services on the Holland America is wonderful, and as boring as it is because they don’t have water slides or mini golf, my two teenagers were happy to spend two weeks on the HA and always found something to do. We still like Royal Caribbean the most thanks to its variety of activities especially for the boy, and their amazing private island. I am not particularly in love with the Norwegian and the Carnival cruise lines because the crowds on those ships are not of the same calibers as the other cruise lines. The crew’s and passengers’ calibers got worse with the older ships when the tickets are not expensive enough. So, I don’t mind paying a bit more to be with the people that I don’t mind being around.
HAL?
I really liked this review! I have fallen in love with HAL over the years, but your honorable mention of Virgin, kind of have me intrigued. My wife and I will be going on an HAL next Saturday around the Caribbean. And for our honeymoon/1st anniversary, we will be sailing around Norway, which we are very excited for. Thanks again for your videos!
That’s amazing!! Congratulations 🥂
My husband and I are in our mid 50s. We just got off our 2nd HAL cruise and have no desire to try another. Very relaxing, great food, and service.
*******
Thank you for your essentials lists.... we have bought a ton of those items. Clothes, magnets, and lots more. Thank you for the great tips!
Great video. I've been on Carnival, Princess, Viking Ocean & Celebrity. All great cruises, but our favorite and now standard line is Celebrity. I think there is a cruise ship for everyone, you just have to find it!
20+ cruises. We've been on several lines over the years but keep coming back to HAL. I love the itineraries and the music walk. I appreciate the more civilized atmosphere. With the destinations my biggest draw, I have no problem with calling bedtime early, as the excursions often begin early in the morning.
Yes ... I rarely stay up late to enjoy the parties because I want to be rested for my excursions the next day. It's all about the itinerary for me.
Good point
I'm a big Princess fan and I think your review was spot on in all aspects!
Glad to hear! Princess is one of my faves too. 🛳️
I agree - my whole family is platinum with princess and we absolutely love it. Cunard is my favorite, but my teenager would rather die than go on a Cunard voyage- lol
Would elementary aged kids have fun on Princess? I've been on Royal in the past but it seems like they may be losing the classy touch they had. I'm torn 😢 whether or not I would like their big ships. I want to see the sea! I also don't want my kids to be bored to death 😂.
@@blissfuljoy6049 Not sure Princess, much as I love their ships, would be my first choice for elementary age. They have activity rooms for various ranges, e.g. 3 -7 and 8-12, with games and activities but that's about it. With the caveat that I don't have any experience with those facilities, I've not cruised with young kids. But you won't find water parks, go-cart tracks, laser tag arenas, rock climbing walls, extensive arcades (though some Princess ships have replaced their cigar lounges by throwing a handful of video games into the space), and so forth.
@JeremySmith-k6n maybe the newest ship would be ok l. It seems like it's a little more lively. I just don't like over the top parties. My kids might like laser tag and definitely the pool. Small slides would be great but I don't need the big ones. I feel like the pools get so crowded on main lines that it might be frustrating with them. Where we go matters a lot too.
First time cruiser next month-Virgin Voyages. Going solo. Sea Terrace cabin. Celebrating a milestone birthday. I’ll be on Bimini on my big day. I love your videos. You are helping me to expand my travel dreams. Thanks!!!
Tried Margaritaville at Sea- Islander (out of Tampa) 5 night. Very positive, surprised by previous negative responses. Beautiful decor, 3 pools/spas, bigger rooms (feels like more storage - or what it USED to be- we had a balcony). Im comparing to RC/Princess/larger Carnival ships.
Was the first casino seen with no smoking and minimal noise. 😊
So glad you had a great time! Honestly I find extremely negative reviews need to be taken with a grain of salt
I agree! I was on it last month and was very nervous based on reviews but we had the best time and are booked again in May. We are starting to see a lot of positive reviews now. I think early on people may have been confusing Islander with Paradise which are very different experiences.
@@connieledford1745 I have heard Islander is better than Pradise.
We just traveled on the MSC Splendida for a week through South America. First cruise. We are a family of 2 adults and a one-year-old baby. We really enjoyed the trip. The crew (especially the restaurant crew) are very friendly. And the pizza is on another level.
First-time cruiser here!! I’m sailing on Royal Caribbean’s Rhapsody of the Seas, and wow, I’ve really gone down the cruise rabbit hole-watching reviews, picking up tips, and learning all about how ships operate, from the engine to the bridge. Even what happens when cruise ships encounter pirates 🙃.
That’s when I stumbled upon your channel, and let me just say-what a game changer! You’ve made me feel way more prepared and way less nervous. Thanks so much for sharing such fun and helpful info!
First time cruiser! Will be sailing on Holland America for their country music cruise in January. Have appreciated your informative videos.
Sounds amazing!
Planning on taking another cruise! Haven't been for about 2 years because the last one was somewhat disappointing! I thought maybe it was the results after the pandemic, but I'm so relieved to hear you say Holland America was your favorite because that's the one I'm planning on taking. I'm looking at a 21 day cruise that takes in the Panamal Canal. I feel much better about my decision now, thanks!
I only cruised 3 times Carnival twice and Royal Caribbean just once. I am going on another Carnival cruise in February. My wife and I both enjoyed Carnival for their value. We are going to the Western Caribbean We love the Sun and sand we can't get enough of it.
Been on three cruises , two with HAL and one on Princess Regal ( The Love boat) part 2 . Like you we perfer the Holland America line . Last on was Koningsdam from Vancouver to Hawaii , what an amazing ship and staff . Will be using them on our next cruise. Great video showing the difference in the cruise lines.
Hi Ilana, thanks for your videos. I'm very excited to be taking my very first cruise next September. We're going on HAL's Niew Statendam through the Mediterranean, Egypt and Turkey. Your information has filled me with confidence that I've made a good choice.
Very good video! My very first cruise was HAL in 2012 and it wasn't great because my cabin was directly above the music stage, so my morning was interrupted with band practices. However, other things were good, so I did another cruise with them and I made sure to be away from the stage and it was absolutely fantastic! HAL has been my favorite so far. I did Celebrity and Royal Caribbean. I'm not to crazy of the food on Royal, but I do like the rooms better.
I am now an experienced cruiser. I went with my mom who is in her 70s and my sister who is in her mid 40s as well as my 7yr old son. I had the time of my life as well as my son. My mom didn't like this particular cruise because the ship was older and didn't have as much variety in food and could feel the turbulence than on the larger cruise ships. They had a kids club where my son had a great time.. they had Broadway shows and comedy that I truly enjoyed. I couldn't have asked for more on my first royal carribean cruise.
Each of your videos is so weĺ done. Always enjoyable. Thank you for all the pertinent tips and information. You are assuredly the best cruise you-tuber!😊
Thanks for watching! I appreciate your kind words ☺️
I'm going on my third cruise in April. I've only cruised on Carnival but I came to agree with your statement that the ship can definitely affect the enjoyment of the vacation. I love your content and the variety of topics you cover!
The Vista is my favorite Carnival ship!
I'm in my early 40s and I've lived in Miami for almost 12 years. Cruise ships never interested me, I was more like an all inclusive resort type. When Virgin Voyages came around the fact that it was adults only caught my attention. I decided to give it a try in 2022. With that being said, VV was my very first cruise and since Oct 2022 I've sailed 10 times with them and have 3 more booked already. I haven't even wanted to try any other line since I find that VV is what I need and like. Thanks for your videos. Ça fait plaisir d'écouter tes vidéos de temps en temps. Merci.
@@limaim26 if you enjoy virgin, you might enjoy Celebrity’s Edge class ships, that have larger more expansive deck areas and interior public spaces. Interesting that you live in Miami now. Merci :)
First time cruiser. My wife and I will be sailing on NCL in the summer of 2025. We liked the dates and itinerary.
I’m 70, I travel alone with my grandkids. I’ve taken them on every Disney cruise ship. The 14 year old likes the activity on NCL now. The 8 year old autism child loves the Celebrity Reflection because it has 15 or less children, it’s quiet and he has one on one if he needs it. When I travel with my friends (no kids) I really like Celebrity. I’ve cruised 4 times with them various ships, 12 Disney cruises and RC. With friends we chose according to destination and perks offered at the time of booking. I love your show and I take your advice ❤
@@theresabrown6789 that’s awesome!! Thanks for sharing:)
My husband and I went on our first cruise last weekend on RC’s Allure of the Seas and absolutely LOVED IT!! I think we just became cruisers, lol, so this video was extremely helpful! I’m already shopping for our next cruise for next month!!!
Where do you shop for for tickets? Any good deals?
Getting on our first HAL on January 4! Good to see all the great reviews on here.
I have cruised on NCL, Azamara, Carnival, Virgin, and Celebrity. Each was different and I enjoyed each one. My only negative experiences have been embarkation on NCL (Alaska) and Virgin (maiden voyage in Australia), long pushy lines on Carnival, and in the spa on several lines, which is outsourced. Each line has it’s unique brand and I try to go with the flow and enjoy what they do best. I chose NCL and Azamara for their free style cruising. Carnival for the price. Virgin for the food. Celebrity when I had to take a vacation or lose leave, didn’t want to fly, and it was cheaper than my other option of Princess). I will be going on my second Celebrity cruise this week and think it is currently my favorite. I will be on Carnival in June and Azamara in October, so my favorite may change.
@@ruff113s very nice!! Enjoy 🚢
Glad you are so open minded, unlike some. I have only done Carnival as I usually go with a cruise group of like minded people and the friend who organizes them has only taken us on Carnival. I took a sister and nephew on the Carnival Paradise and they loved it! The Paradise is one of their smaller ships and I found a great deal just after the pandemic shut down so I was able to pay for both of them to go with me.
I want to try the Margaritaville Islander one day, since I am retired military and my fare would be free with another paying guest.
We have done 7 Celebrity cruises. To date, we have not done any other cruise lines. We just got off the Beyond in an Edge Villa and the experience was fantastic. Celebrity has beautiful ships! We booked the Enchanted Princess for April 2025 after talking to people who had a great time on Princess. After seeing this video and reading the comments, we will try Holland America after that. I like the idea of smaller ships. Great video!
Giiiirrrl! This is such a great video! So helpful! Thank you!
Great review! We have many NCL cruises, a couple MSC, one Celebrity, one Costa and one Pullmantur (no longer exists). We least like MSC although it has beautiful ships and the best coffee included in the drink package. Their dining at specified times, the bad customer service experiences. Their personnel is more uptight than other cruise lines we have done. Our favourite is NCL, mostly for the friendly service, the freestyle dining and the speciality restaurants. We would love that they include better coffee options with the drink package…
My wife and I are going on our very first cruise. We chose Holland America line nieuw statendam 7 night Bahamas and Carribean cruise out of fort Lauderdale in early February. I appreciate your helpful tips and very detailed description of the Holland America cruise experience. Hoping for a great time.
@@scottmacintyre7385 we loved that ship! I think you’ll find a video about it if you’re looking (was our first HAl cruise)
We will be on that ship the week before you. It will be our first HAL cruise after 50+ cruises; 27 on Celebrity. Hesitated to sail on HAL because of the benefits we get on Celebrity, but decided to try something new. Ilana’s review helped our decision to sail on the Nieuw Statendam.
@@davidhurwitz2291 We love Celebrity too. I want try HAL! All the best on your trip.
I have been on 42 cruises 22 of them with my husband when he was alive. My favorite cruise line is Carnival because they offer me the most perks and the best free cruises that I can take a family member with me and we can enjoy everything.
That’s fantastic
I've been a fan of your videos for a couple of years now. This is such a comprehensive, excellent, honest piece of work. You really should be on PBS following Rick Steves on Sundays. Thank you!
Thanks so much! Truly appreciate your kind words - I also love Rick Steves so that’s quite a compliment 😊
@@LifeWellCruised You're the best and an absolute professional! You really should/could be on "regular" TV. If I ever ran into you on a cruise, I would go fanboy and ask for a selfie, embarrassing my wife. Thanks again.
I agree with HAL. We did the Panama canal cruise also. We love going to BB Kings every night. Incredible Musicians! We will be back on Roderdam in 2026. First we are trying Celebrity Ascent then Enchanted Princess this new year. Happy new year by the way!!!!🎉
HAL checked all the boxes for me. LOve the relaxing atmosphere 😊
We have tried many other cruise lines but by far our favorite is Viking. They are adults only and more focused on the destination and learning of other cultures.
Yes, but Waaay too expensive for most of us! I keep getting brochures, but usually throw them out without looking at them, because they are so expensive.
Hi! We're planning our first Alaska cruise next year, and have chosen Holland America's Nieuw Amsterdam. I love your videos. They have helped us so much in deciding what to chose.
I am taking my sister who has been caring for her sick husband 24/7 for 3 years, on a Celebrity cruise in a few days. I have never been on Celebrity only smaller lines and Norwegian, Royal Caribbean and Carnival. I am looking forward to a more quiet and upscale experience and hope my sister likes cruising. Thanks for the information, very good comparison.
@carolpool5583 that is very kind of you taking your sister. I hope that you guys have a great vacation and enjoy yourself!
This may be the gold standard which I share with anybody who is looking to choose their first cruise. Thank you and great job!
I did my first cruise, years ago, on HAL. I liked them, so I've done all eight of my cruises with them. Because they are my only experience, I can't compare them with anyone else. So, it's nice to get some comparisons with what other cruise lines have to offer.
Glad it was helpful 😊
First time cruiser. Going on a 10 day Caribbean on Celebrity Eclipse leaving Fort Lauderdale Feb 17/25. Over the moon excited!!!!
This was one of your best videos ever! Thanks for the thoughtful comparisons. We've done more Princess than any other line but have tired Carnival (too much of a party cruise for us), Celebrity, HAL, and Disney when the kids were younger. Except for our bad experience on Carnival, all were fine. We are going to Alaska in late June on HAL and are looking forward to the smaller ship for that itinerary. Also booked on Princess in Japan in 2026. We did LOVE the medallion on our last 2 cruises. Thanks Ilana!
@@melodeekistner2936 that’s great! Thanks for sharing your experiences & glad you enjoyed the video
bon voyage!
Did you only do one cruise on Carnival? Some ships are better than others and 7 day or more are better than the shorter cruises. I will admit that the noise level at times is too loud.
However Holland has some of the best itineraries and great enrichment so I will probably sail with them again 😊
👏👏
I have cruised since 1980. After my first cruise on Celebrity Edge to the Med., I fell in love with Celebrity. I have sailed on Celebrity Beyond to the Caribbean. I am currently booked to travel on 5 Celebrity cruises including the maiden voyage for Xcel. I love the Infinite Veranda with the fantastic views. I have sailed on Carnival, NCL, RCL, Disney, Princess as my children were growing up. Now, I am at the time that I prefer a relaxing and upscale cruise experience which Celebrity does offer.
1st time cruiser, sailing on NCL escape end of April for our 25th anniversary. 7 day itinerary through the carribian with an aft facing balcony. Your videos have been a guiding light for us. The content is always relevant and informative. Thank you so much for your continuous content.
@@Wintersbite happy anniversary!
Also, Celebration Key is Carnival 's.
Great information. You are so great at what you do.
Fantastic!! I’m looking forward to checking it out when it opens
In January, I take my very first cruise on the Queen Anne around the world. It stops at a bunch of my "bucket list" places. I am 76 and may not ever get a chance to do this again.
Wow, I just checked your cruise, sounds incredible. Will you make a video for UA-cam about?
@@elenawaltermusic gonna try. I toured Europe this past summer and still haven't taken the time to build a youtube video. If I get around to it, it will be YakOnTour
Thankyou for the outstanding reviews on these cruise companies. I found it very helpful for choosing our next cruise. The only thing I found lacking from this video are the services and activities for veterans and active duty military.
Margaritaville at Sea gives military and first responders/nurses etc. free cruises as long as they have a paying guest with them. Carnival always has a military appreciation brunch on one of their Sea days. I haven't been on Margaritaville at Sea, but the Islander is their best ship, from what I have heard. I think most, if not all of the cruises give military discounts on their fare.
My wife and I have only ever done Carnival, years ago, and we had the teenage kids with us. I am researching for our next cruise, for just her and I. Something relaxing, with good food, and good entertainment, and not crowded. We are in our 60's and active, but for a cruise, we are not into the party scene or the Active Exercise scene (i.e. Virgin). We want comfort and to be pampered some. My wife likes her specialty coffees and lots of bottled water for both of us.
I've been watching these comparison videos of yours and other vloggers, just to get different perspectives.
It sounds like you would enjoy Holland America. We are similar to you in age and what we are looking for, and we have cruised Holland America, Princess, Celebrity, and MSC. We do not recommend MSC: too confused and crowded. The Princess ship we were on 10 or 15 years ago was older and there were lines at lunch time in the buffet, but otherwise it was good. Maybe the newer ships have improved that. Celebrity has the best service in the main dining room, the best buffet, and really good shows. Holland America is just a touch below Celebrity in service and food, so we have settled on them.
Try the older ships like Vision of the Seas out of Baltimore would be perfect for you. Older crowd but so friendly and happy. The staff is superb and so friendly as well. I loved the food. Loved that there were not many kids on board also. We just got back last week from a 12 night southern caribbean cruise and the itinerary blew us away.
We were in the same boat as you… In our 60’s , still very active, don’t want party crowds… We took a cruise to Alaska on Celebrity and loved it. Lots to do. Food was amazing. We would do Celebrity again. I am also interested in trying HAL! Good luck with your search!
Of the three cruise lines we have tried, we loved HAL the most. We are a laid-back family who are not big 'party people', so we enjoyed the traditional, classy ships and service. I just booked another HAL Alaskan cruise for mid-May this year, since it was our kids' favorite family vacation that we have done.
Have done 6 Celebrity Cruises..love them. Booked on Seabourn Encore 2/11 Hong Kong.. SO excited. Thank you so much for your great insight. Happy New Year.
My husband & I are going in late Jan on Sky Princess to Western Caribbean. We are first timers! And wanted to celebrate our 36th anniversary a little different.
Very excited! I’ve listened to many many of your videos and the information I’ve gleaned is amazing! Thank you for sharing your experience!
Sky is one of my very favourite ships. I am sure you will have an awesome cruise.
I will be cruising for the first time in December 2025 with Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas, departing from Sydney to New Zealand. Super excited!😍
I love Princess because of the Medallions. The best feature on the Medallion is being able to find the people you are with on the GPS map.
In March we are going on our 14 th. cruise on NCL been on another line did not enjoy it as much as we like NCL. We like the freedom to dine where and when you want. We have been on their med size and some of the small ships and enjoy less people. In March we are going on the Encore looking forward to see the difference. Thanks for the Video's I really enjoy them and love some of your tips. Take Care safe Sailing
I didn’t think I would, but I have fallen in love with MSC. I love their status match program too… they even match with big name resorts as well… I was able to jump two loyalty levels just with my Princess Captains Circle membership alone!
Excellent video Ilana! Many people will find this extremely helpful! I agree with you on your rankings! I’m a Princess fan, it just suits me! Blessings ❤️
I agree! Princess is definitely a great option 🛳️
I’m going to be a first time cruiser in May 2025. Sailing on Celebrity Beyond to Bahamas St Maarten, and St Thomas. I’m going with family but will have my own cabin and hope to meet some young solo cruisers in their 20s and 30s.😊
@@MisterWheelzProductions that’s great! We really enjoyed this ship & love St. Maarten. Enjoy!!
I hope Captain Kate is your captain. She was our Capt. on our Greece cruise. It's a beautiful ship. If there's only one specialty restaurant you eat at, I recommend Eden. It's an awesome venue & the food is amazing.
Well done! I’d emphasize what you mentioned in passing….it really depends on the ship as much as the line. We are doing the older Eclipse transatlantic this year and we know that we can’t compare it to the new Ascent and Apex. All Celebrity ships. The vibe we hope will be the same.
Exactly! Also the # of days. The longer ones have a more civilized kind of crowd, from what I hear. I have never taken anything less than a 7 day except for one 5 day.
My wife and I went on our first cruise on Carnival Spirit the end of October 2024. Absolutely loved the ship and the staff. We were on a first name basis with the room staff . We enjoyed the size of the ship because we saw the same people pretty much daily. Serenity was highly relaxing. I’m afraid this cruise might take a bit of hit because of the port tax in Mexico but I recommend the Spirit.
We recently took our first cruise, a 5 day Mexican Riviera on the Carnival Firenze out of Long Beach, CA. Thank you so much for your videos and information, it made our vacation! The ship was beautiful, entertainment was awesome! Ports at Cabo and Ensenada were okay, and a December cruise is quite chilly, but we can’t wait for our next cruise! Already doing the research, love your content, thanks again!
@@shellyvangroll7756 so glad to hear!
This is one of your best videos ever, thank you for sharing your views! I’m a relative newbie, having been on 1 NCL and 2 Princess cruises. Much preferred the NCL ship as it had more focus on the ocean, while Princess had better live music and service. Didn’t find the theater shows amazing on either. Will be on the NCL Prima in 2025 and the Sun Princess in 2026 and, despite some negative reviews, both ships sound like they’re right up my alley.
Our first cruise was RCCL, Symphony of the Seas in Sept 2022. Good service from beginning to end. We loved it. We were also on the the MSC Seascape, Sep 2023 and the Carnival Horizon, Apr 2024. We liked them both but really enjoyed the Symphony of the Seas more. Our last cruise was the Icon of the Seas with and again we loved our cruise with RCCL from beginning to the end. We will be sailing on the MSC World America on 12 Ap 2025 and the RCCL, Star of the Seas in Sept 2025. We will be trying the Celebrity in Arp 2026. We love your review of the different cruise lines. They are very well done and pretty truthful.
Wow! You’ve done a lot of cruises since 22! Thanks for sharing your experiences. Royal has a great product
What a fantastic summary! Thank you for the time and effort that went into this video!
First time cruiser and we just got back from our cruise on the Carnival Panorama and we loved it from the food to the entertainment and the vibe of the ship. Our cruise director was incredible as were the destinations on the Mexican Rivera. we can't wait until we go on our next cruise in 2026 to the Caribbean probably we go on carnival again just because of the value the have and what we experienced on this criuse. THank you for all the tips and tricks you have on your page as. we used a lot of them as well as some of the items you have a s cruise essentials.
I am going on the Panorama next month!
Very much appreciate your input on all lines.
My daughter has been wanting to go on Virgin, I'll share with her.
Still undecided myself.
Looking forward to at least 1 cruise in 25.
Happy cruising!! 💙🛳
My wife and I cruised a lot (18 cruises in 12 years), mostly on Celebrity, but a few on NCL and Princess too. We had a good time on ALL our cruises, and made SO many good memories! But we particularly liked the elegance and comfort of the pre-Edge Celebrity ships, and the food on all of them. The Edge Class ships have some lovely features, especially the Retreat areas and the Magic Carpet, but it's clearly designed for younger people (we were in our late 60s/early 70s) and we had to search VERY hard to find a comfortable chair in the public spaces. Princess always felt like a close competitor but with slightly less-good food. Our last cruise was on the NCL Escape, a much bigger ship than any we'd been on before. We found it VERY noisy everywhere (and hard to find a quiet spot), but sorta fun. Food not up to Celebrity standards and the entertainment was so-so except for The Choir of Man.
My wife died in the spring of 2024, so if/when I cruise again it will probably be as a solo. I appreciate your mentioning solos in your extensive review!
My favorite cruise line is Virgin Voyages because of the inclusions plus the different restaurants options at night. Since I am not a drinker, the drink package doesn’t bother me. I enjoyed this nice review comparisons of All the different lines. Job well done.
First time on a cruise next May for our anniversary, will be on Hall onto Alaska via Zaandam. Your videos have helped alot to getting ready for it thanks.
Loved your favourite choice. HAL. We cruised the full Panama transit this past October. Mexican Rivera /Hawaii next. Although loyal to HAL (likely for mariner points) based on our suggestions we might Celebrity another try or even Princess. Have you suggestions re Sliver Seas or Oceania? Thanks - bought your white cover up. I love it!
We’ve been on 37 cruises since 2005. Still love Royal. I’m 67, but love their 70’s, 80’s and their new “one hit wonders” dance parties. It’s mostly just my husband and myself, but we often take our adult son, who has autism. Staff do so well working with him. There’s live music everywhere. The entertainment is unbeatable. Oasis class is a favorite, but we like freedom class as well. I think your experience was due to the short cruise. We do not enjoy unsupervised kids, but try to cruise when school is in session, and take longer cruises,which have less kids as well. Although the aqua shows and original productions in the theatre and ice shows are favorites, I also enjoy the shows in 270 on the quantum class, which are very creative. However, Quantum class feels narrow…it IS narrow compared to Oasis class. In addition, we find the MDR food to be very good and specialty dining is delicious. In addition, I like that they have formal and dress your best nights, since I like wearing my sequined dresses and do not feel out of place.
The formal nights, if they are strict with the dress code would be a favorite for me. So many lines have loosened their dress codes for their formal nights. I don't see why one or 2 nights of dressing up, or if not wanting to, eating somewhere else for that night should be such a big deal for some.
My first cruise ever this year was on Virgin and I loved it so much I came home and booked three more VV cruises in 2025. While I am open to trying another cruise line I honestly believe I've found my home at sea with Virgin. Loved this video of comparisons...thank you so much! 🙂
When you find what you really like, why make a change? Sounds fantastic
You really need to try other cruise lines to find out what you have missed. I have done almost 20 cruises and I have to say VV is my least favorite.
@@eastcoastguy_0803 I don't need to. Your least favorite is my favorite. Vive la difference!
@@eastcoastguy_0803 Yep. From what I have heard about VV, I don't think this morally conservative woman would like them, unless they aren't as sex themed as I have heard.
@@eastcoastguy_0803 Yeah, I don't get the VV thing. Maybe I would have to try just one to see, though. Maybe it wouldn't be as bad as I imagine.
Loved this review, Ilana. Love that you covered such a huge variety of lines in a short period of time here, and great overview!
Thank you for your honest reviews, they help so much.
So glad! Thanks for watching
I went on my first cruise last month, 8 days on Freedom of the Seas, and it was wonderful! Of course I don't have anything to compare it to, but I loved everything about it. The entertainment and food were great. All of the staff were friendly and helpful. I could not have asked for a better experience! Thanks to your informative videos, I felt prepared. That definitely helped me enjoy the cruise.
So glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for sharing
WOW! You created a perfect video! Very informative and helpful and easy to follow and understand! Great job!!
👍🏼
For me, working put every day and then enjoying an amazing spa area is a huge part of my happiness when I’m on vacation. I know time is tight in these videos, but I kind of wish you had included a brief overview of each ships workout/spa area. The Thermal Spa on the Norwegian Bliss was so amazing, I rebooked another trip for for six month later.
Cunard is my favorite line. Holland America is a close second. I’m a cruiser who prefers a more traditional experience aboard and more classically designed ships. Cunard and Holland American excel at that plus their service and ports of call are fantastic.
Going on my second cruise in a few weeks. My first was on Carnival and I decided to stick with Carnival because of the VIFP club.
First time cruising in 12 years. I chose virgin for this one because of the food and adult only. Also booked with celebrity in 26 for a Mediterranean cruise because of the solo veranda option and itinerary.
First time cruiser! Coming up soon! (Okay, I don't count the two Navy deployments on those big flat-top ships with noisy airplanes...). It has taken me 30 years after those experiences to feel like I could go to sea again, and I'm really looking forward to it, with my wife and several friends. Your videos have given me a lot of tips, and I really appreciate you! Thanks
Thank you for doing this video. I requested it a few months ago & you said you would do it.
Thank you again for this much needed video.
Excellent run through! We’ve only sailed on Carnival and NCL, but want to sail more. We’ll keep these tips in mind for future cruises!
Glad you enjoyed it! I hope it helps with your future plans
Thanks! Great review! We are loyal Princess Cruisers. I agree with your positive and negative comments as they relate to Princess. We are scheduled to board one in just a few weeks and have 6 more scheduled in the next 18 months. We'll also be experiencing an Oceania cruise this year for a shot at another cruise line. Love your videos. You've saved me countless hours of research with your helpful hints.
Helpful overviews of each major line, thanks!
70 years old. We have traveled on 12 cruised over the years. Went the kids were young we traveled on Disney. Loved it. We've done Princess most of the time with and without your kids. We have found it has everything for the family. The last ship it has been just wife and I. Celebrity Beyond has been our choice. We love the Veranda cabins. Choice of 4 different Main Dinning choices was the main thing that won our over.
My Teens love itinerary cruises. We love going places like Iceland, Greece, japan, and the like, but they aren't water slide kids. We Love Celebrity and princess for that reason and find them comparable.
Amazing!!
I got married on NCL Getaway in 2017. We haven’t tried NCL again since then… we had a situation where the photographer that worked on board did not communicate with the wedding planner that the camera he brought was not working and he had to go back to his cabin to get another one. By the time he came back, the ceremony was over… and we had to do it all over again (so we got married twice.. lol). We ended up spending the entire week meeting with the photo department manager regarding this and it was handled so poorly to the point where we don’t really remember the cruise at all. I know it’s an odd reason to be hesitant to sail with them again, but we don’t have much interest in the near future.
Going on my 1st ever carnival cruise in March but I want to go on a Virgin cruise next. I’ve learned so much from your channel and groups!!
I am taking my first cruise next month on Norwegian Pride of America around Hawaii
You do your job very well😊. You choose your words,which is nice.
Thanks for watching & I appreciate your comments 😊
Great post Ilana, you really nailed the comparisons pretty much bang on.
My husband and I are going on our first cruise in Feb on Scarlet Lady with Virgin. we've been watching alot of your videos in the last few weeks and we appreciate all the tips.
That’s awesome! Just an fyi, I have a video about what to pack for Virgin that might be helpful :)
My favorite cruise!
We've only cruised with NCL (twice on a Sixthman music themed cruise and once on a 'normal' cruise) and we love the informality and casual approach.
That’s awesome! We always enjoy the casual but fun atmosphere as well
This was a fantastic video, thanks so much for sharing your insights. I went on MSC for the first time recently, World Europa. Awesome ship, awesome price, great itinerary. The huge drawback for me: a percentage of the passengers end their cruise or start their cruise at every port. Every day, huge groups of people waiting with their luggage to exit. For me, this totally ruined the atmosphere of the cruise. Although there were other things that, as an American, weren't my style, like the food, I will be avoiding MSC from now on, just because I lost so much enjoyment because every day seemed like the last day of the cruise, a confusion of entry/exit, instead of being able to enjoy with the same group the whole trip. I wonder if you noticed the same thing.
First time cruiser! Will be on the Celebrity Silhouette Nov 15-23 heading to the ABC islands! Can’t wait 😜
PS I got your ultimate cruising guide too!
GREAT vlog! Thank you! We are Princess people but did Celebrity this year and HAL soon since I have not been on for so long. NCL was not for me.. So appreciated all this great info! Bravo!
I’m a first time cruiser come January 25th 2025. Me and my family will be sailing on the carnival Mardi Gras for a 7 day Caribbean cruise and I have to say I really wish I found your channel while researching the different cruise lines. Don’t get me wrong I’m super stoked for the Mardi Gras since I’m the one did all the planning and I was impressed by what is offered on it but I’d never even heard of MSC cruises or Holland America and you honestly did such an amazing job summarizing the character and vibes of the ships in a short time, so much so I already started looking into them for my next cruise haha