That's why you should try norwegian. Free style dining. You eat whenever you want and wear whatever you want, within reason. I am diamond and have over 45 cruises on ncl. Food is great and crew is wonderful. I get a lot of perks as diamond. Free laundry, 2 free specialty restaurants, etc.
The thing I hate about cruising is not being on one. If I lived close to a port I would go at least six times a year. As a solo traveler I love being seated at a different table each night for dinner, meeting interesting people from all over the world. I find cruises are full of friends I have not met yet.
And the old joke, let’s have dinner, I’m buying! Well maybe that was funnier back when it was all included. So fun to see the people in your neighborhood and chitchat about your day.
Great commentary Kevin. I agree with all you said, and one additional thing: as a solo traveller, as a woman, and as someone with anxiety, I greatly appreciate the SAFETY of being on a cruise ship!
I love the concept of cruising on paper, but I hate the upsells including the horrible wifi, and the specialty restaurants. Also I agree with Kevin that the time at ports are too little, which just means a ton of tourists walking overcrowding a city but not staying long enough to even have a meal. I wish cruise ships would be required to spend a minimum of 12-18 hours at each port.
There are plenty of overnight stops on cruise ships, just not in the Caribbean (why would they?). We've stayed overnight in Singapore, Sydney, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Cape Town, San Francisco, etc. etc. I hope after the cold weather leaves you'll see more of the cruising world... Also I agree about dressing up. I used to like it but now I just see it as a packing problem!
3:56 my husband and I cruise about 4-5 times a year. In December when the airlines lost our luggage all we had to wear was shorts tshirts and flip flops. We still went to the main dining room and we realized how many other people were not dressed up too! Now we never dress up and we still go. Nobody cares
Baby sea turtle at 2:37 mark 🐢 The thing I hate most about cruising is disembarkation. Feeling sad that I have to go back to the real world. Wish I could live on a cruise ship like you.
You were so right!! What an amazing boat and crew I loved the experience and could’ve done another week I have the time. I can’t wait to go back and cruise again.
Your list is right on point for my travel tastes as well. I had to laugh in agreement when you said you hate dressing up for fine dining...I thought I was the only one! Living in Florida I wear a tank top nearly every day unless I "dress up" to a tee shirt on occasion.
As you know, I’ve just started living mostly on cruise ships too, and I’ve been fortunate enough to start with an overnight stop in Dubai, so it’s been a much less intense start to the experience. That said, I’m 24 hours in and haven’t actually met anyone onboard yet, as most people were ashore enjoying the city last night, so dinner was really fragmented last night. Great video - really enjoy your perspective on all of this!
I heard and saw you on Royals Enchantment of the Sea. You were introducing yourself with a veterans group but I was in the Diamond lounge. Small ship but did not see you again. I agree with your love and hate items! Enjoy your travels.
You'll get that 100k soon! I'm always excited to see people do their unboxing of the wall art they send you for it. still not sold on cruising. I'll keep watching and perhaps you'll change my mind.
Your loves and hates about the cruises make total sense to me! I would also wish that one could stay a lot longer at the ports to get more authenticity of the places.🏖 I just hope that you haven't been seasick or anything like that- that would be a concern to me. Otherwise, enjoy yourself- it sounds like a lot of fun!!! Take care!!!🌺🌅🛳🍽🤗
Great video. I agree with all the likes and dislikes, especially the gratuity black hole. I appreciate the military tidbits you sprinkle in your videos. Six bunks in a small windowless cabin! Full of gratitude to the all volunteer military!
Good point about the gratuities! I've never thought about it, but it would be interesting to see where it goes. I would love the diversity too! It would be so much fun meeting new people from all over the world! Think I could handle not having to do chores for a year! Have fun Kevin!
Agree they don't stay in port long enough but I enjoy getting dressed up for dining int he main room. It adds a little something and if I don't want to get dressed I go to the buffett.
I have done several Caribbean cruises because I live in southern Florida & easy to do. I much prefer the four Mediterranean cruises I have done. I did the 16 day cruise on Sapphire Princess from Beijing to Bangkok. My bucket list for China included walking on The Great Wall, seeing the Terra Cotta Warriors, the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven & Shanghai. I spent a month touring Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam after the cruise. Been following since your early van days and love these cruise videos….great job. You inspired so much to celebrate my 75th birthday & making a dream come true. I booked my sister and me on the Sapphire Princess 14 day cruise out on Vancouver on May 31st to Alaska. That is the only state or U.S Territory I have not traveled to or lived in….military Brat & military spouse!
Ok...so I'd love to do that Beijing to BKK cruise! And it's cool you are heading the the Sapphire Princess again. I really like Princess. I'll be doing an Alaskan cruise later this year. Excited about it.
Hey Kevin! I’ve been enjoying your videos the last few weeks. It’s been very informative. One of your videos you mentioned being an introvert and how you liked Princess cruises, so I think that will be my first cruise. Hopefully in the fall. Keep doing what you’re doing, enjoying it!
Long term friendships are spontaneous. It depends on both parts to nurture them or not, no matter if they are with neighbor next door or with occasional travel buddies.
I love your content! I hate that I can only cruise once every few years! Then again, we like Viking so we have to save up for those. Maybe we will branch out sometime. We’ve never been anywhere near the Caribbean or South America. We are from Australia and tend to head to cold places 😊 We are going to Norway and Iceland in July and I’m so excited! 🎉 Keep up the great work ❤
@@30AndAWakeUp My wife and I will be on the Island Princess from May 26th (leaving out of Ft Lauderdale) and winding up in Copenhagen on July 12th. We'll be visiting Halifax, Iceland, a couple of nights in England, then 8 ports/fjords in Norway, back to Southampton and finally on to Scandinavia and the Baltic B4 we wind up in Copenhagen and fly home.
Beautiful spot for the sunrise and the water looks amazing! Would love to be sitting there with my coffee watching the color of the sky and water change!
Wha What I like about taking cruise as a trouble option. It gave me sense of independence, to travel safe and meet people and different places to visit and it works better for my current circumstances as a legally blind. Individual,. I still miss traveling Al over as a backpacker but I guess it's better than nothing.
Hi Kevin that's a pretty good love/hate list what I like about cruising is also all the friendly people on board nobody is uptight/pushy what I hate about cruising is getting a cabin with that cheesy shower curtain in the bathroom uuuuuh!! Thanks for sharing kev
There are some multi day stops. I did an MSC that spent 2 days in Bermuds and 2 days in NYC which saved the price of the whole cruise in what I would have spent for a NYC hotel room. Also, no real dress code for dining room as long as all crucial parts are covered
You have mentioned the wonderful feeling of being at sea in other videos and I would include this in my list of things I love about cruises. Being in port is wonderful but so is being out with no land in sight. Thanks, I enjoyed your list.
It would be so amazing to do this. Kelly is loving your life right now. She loves trivia, bingo and the casino most 😂 we hate the gratuity too, we do the same thing you do.
I like that you’ve settled on “cruise family” as your greeting. Although, somewhere out there, teenage Suri is going…dad? I know we haven’t seen each other in a while, but…you look different! 😁
Here's what I think I'd do: I would eat tons of salad - yum. And lobster or crab once a day. Ok, maybe twice. Then I'd walk the deck - a lot. Gotta have sunshine and fresh air. Maybe swim. Some trivia. And I've come to appreciate live music in respectable settings. And I want to know where the gratuity charge goes also (I want proof of complete and equitable distribution). Thanks Kevin!
Gratuities or tips are when you decide to pay them, how much to pay, and who to give it to. I always tip my stewards, and often tip regular waiters in the dining room. If the cruise line sets the amount and decides who to give it to, that is a service charge, not a gratuity. I have no problem with that. I just consider it part of the fare, and consider it when I am booking a cruise. Like you, I have enough experience cruising to be aware of the cost. I think the separate charges have two functions: 1) they make the cruise seem cheaper to newbies and the financially incompetent 2) They allow people who can’t pay for everything at once to pay in three segments, deposit, before and after the cruise.
Hi. Enjoying your videos. Just wanted to share something I recently learnt. If you own 100 carnival shares every time you sail on a carnival ship, which includes Princess you get an onboard credit. The amount differs by the length of the cruise. But it is very easy to do and for someone like you you would easily recoup your initial investment. Stock price is around $9 right now.
Thanks for that Karen. I actually own 100 shares already and have had the onboard shareholder credit applied to all my future cruises. It's an amazing value!
We just got off a 14 day cruise. Definitely hated the rough seas we had on the last night at sea. I wonder why cruise ships do not do overnights in port. Something to ponder.
I think gratuities should be included within the cruise fare, like P&O UK. That way the staff would have to be paid a fair wage, or they wouldn’t work for that particular cruise line, and you can tip on top in cash if you want to.
Great video! I don’t like the dress up for the dinners or the short time in ports. I love the live music scenes, I love walking around the ship early morning for sunrise when no one else around
Hi Kevin, thank you for your service. Maybe you can do a video on the differences between Navy “cruises” and pleasure cruises. My husband and I go on cruises, he was in the Navy, his boat was a fast attack submarine, USS Willian H Bates, he obviously enjoys the pleasure cruises much more. Especially since his bunk on them, usually comes with a view. 😉3 years ago we were on a cruise that travel to the area where he had been but underwater so he was very interested to see what it looked like above the water! I have met people that have been in the Navy that say they would never go on a cruise, only because of time spent on a Navy ship. I try to sway them with a “You don’t have to stand watch!” and the food is better.
Haha! That is awesome that a submariner is getting to enjoy cruise life on top of the water. And I am the same, I am always trying to convince my Navy friends to cruise.
Having never been on a cruise I have wondered about the drinks package. How do they work, for a single person, don't drink much but like my coffee and water
So on Royal you can buy a coffee card. Princess used to have this but not any longer. I did the math on drink packages and I had to drink like 6 alcoholic beverages a day to break easy, so it didn't make sense for me.
I totally agree with you on the gratuity issue Kevin. I have no problem paying them either other than I would like some sort of breakdown as to how they are distributed or shared amongst the staff and crew.
I am a cruiser, and I did the most cruising last year (20 cruises). I love meeting new people, and traveling the world. I hate gaining weight, when the food is just too good to resist. 😂
Interesting perspective thanks. It sounds like the good far outweighs the bad. My only problem would be weight control. I would need to be really disciplined.
Cruise ships are out to make MONEY! The Navy already has their MONEY! It’s always about the Money! Cruise ships in and out, follow the money! No rush for the Navy! On to the next port for the ships, spread the wealth!!!! Enjoy your voyage!!!
Kevin, Your videos get better and better on every episode. Loved the Ocean background on this last video! What a sense of freedom. By the way, what editing software are you using?
I'll be on NCL Getaway soon! Excited to try NCL out. Yeah, you have to do must drills. Princess and Royal are really easy. MSC was not as easy but not too bad.
Great content and I love the background. You covered some interesting areas I hadn't considered such as the pre-paid gratuities distribution. Perhaps one of the crew member wound know? Or is that rude to ask them? That information should be disclosed somewhere. I enjoyed the diversity if the passengers and crew in your videos. I so enjoy different perceptions as it broadens my thinking. Thanks Kevin for a great video!
I relate with so much of what you share. I'm getting ready to attend training for a major USA airline to become a flight attendant. I can't imagine committing to a place long term. I'm planning to be based in places for no longer than six months. With all the traveling you've done since you left the military, did you ever experience Commons or Co-living? It seems like a great alternative for me, but I don't know anyone who has done it. Thanks, and congrats on almost 100K subs.
So I traveled with Remote Year my first year which was kind of CoLiving. And then I have booked with Outsite and Salina which are coliving / coworking places across the world..
Good luck with the training and the job. Everyone should have a big adventure in their youth, whether it's a job with the airlines or the military. You will never regret getting out there.
I'm on the fence as to whether I should book a cruise. I was in the U.S. Navy & know what it's like on a ship-cruise ships have more "fluff" & I don't have to work. I've enjoyed being in ports for a week or more although there was Cinderella Liberty outside of U.S. soil. On cruise ships, 8 hours in each port is rushing things & would limit my range if I didn't book an excursion. I don't eat a lot, not a "foodie" & would find buffet food good enough-so I don't have to get dressed up. Meeting new people would be great since I've heard everyone on board are nice. I'm a widower, so that would make me a solo traveler & a challenge with booking a cruise with supplemental fees. Sharing a cabin with a stranger would be awkward & not an option. There's so much to weigh in terms of solo cruising. Good content! You've got me thinking.
Check out my vid on how to find cheap solo cruises. I rarely pay solo supplement. Also, as a vet you can get discounts from most of the cruise lines. As far as whether it's for you...some people love it and some people hate it. Doesn't seem to be middle ground.
Yes! There should be transparency regarding mandatory prepaid gratuities. Is it divided up among the crew or is it a hidden (in plain sight) fee that actually goes toward corporate bonuses?
I’m going on a virgin voyages 15 day cruise from Miami to Barcelona and I’m really looking forward to this cruise, but then, I’m getting on an MSC cruise to Italy and France and I’m less than excited about the food and wanted to ask you your thoughts. I might be eating a lot of pizza on that cruise. Also, I’m staying in an interior studio on msc as well.
Im excited to try Virgin in the future as well. I've only been on one MSC ship and the dining rooms are good. I just wasn't impressed with the buffet but the pizza was good. I've heard it varies pretty drastically from ship to ship with MSC.
@@30AndAWakeUp thanks for the info, I have been enjoying your videos for about a year now. I had a great month in Thailand and liked it so much I have another month scheduled for January. I have an amazing trip planned in October to the Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Austria, Hungary, Italy,, and France along with a family cruise to Alaska. This world is pretty amazing!
Great video I’m loving this new chapter. I’m curious do you spend much time in your room chilling, or are you pretty much mostly out and about? If not, would you spend more time if you had a balcony?
I had a bad experience on a Holland American line. I’m an Asian American so when walked down the hall to my room other passengers would assume I’m a house boy and tell my to take their bags to their room. I’d say “fuck off” then they tell me it’s my job ! No more for me
@@30AndAWakeUp by the way I loved your Thailand motor bike trip video. I’m an American living in Malaysia on MM2H and I love it I look like everyone else
That's why you should try norwegian. Free style dining. You eat whenever you want and wear whatever you want, within reason. I am diamond and have over 45 cruises on ncl. Food is great and crew is wonderful. I get a lot of perks as diamond. Free laundry, 2 free specialty restaurants, etc.
Norwegian Getaway is my next ship ☺️
The thing I hate about cruising is not being on one. If I lived close to a port I would go at least six times a year. As a solo traveler I love being seated at a different table each night for dinner, meeting interesting people from all over the world. I find cruises are full of friends I have not met yet.
That is a great outlook...I might steal that....cruises are full of friends I have not met yet!
Great point! I love solo cruising too...meeting new people.
And the old joke, let’s have dinner, I’m buying! Well maybe that was funnier back when it was all included. So fun to see the people in your neighborhood and chitchat about your day.
Great commentary Kevin. I agree with all you said, and one additional thing: as a solo traveller, as a woman, and as someone with anxiety, I greatly appreciate the SAFETY of being on a cruise ship!
Good point for sure..
I love the concept of cruising on paper, but I hate the upsells including the horrible wifi, and the specialty restaurants. Also I agree with Kevin that the time at ports are too little, which just means a ton of tourists walking overcrowding a city but not staying long enough to even have a meal. I wish cruise ships would be required to spend a minimum of 12-18 hours at each port.
Yeah, that is definitely the thing I'd change...at least 48 hours in a port.
I love that its all inclusive...room, food & fun. I also love having a casino onboard.
Same!
There are plenty of overnight stops on cruise ships, just not in the Caribbean (why would they?). We've stayed overnight in Singapore, Sydney, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Cape Town, San Francisco, etc. etc. I hope after the cold weather leaves you'll see more of the cruising world... Also I agree about dressing up. I used to like it but now I just see it as a packing problem!
That's good to know. I'll definitely look for some cruises with overnights when I am in Asia.
3:56 my husband and I cruise about
4-5 times a year. In December when the airlines lost our luggage all we had to wear was shorts tshirts and flip flops. We still went to the main dining room and we realized how many other people were not dressed up too!
Now we never dress up and we still go. Nobody cares
@@adryennealvarez I'd love to exist in nothing by shorts, tshirts and flip flops! :)
Be sure to try a princess chef table. It is encouraged to dress but a delicious experience and get to know 9 to 11 other shipmates
Thanks for the tip!
Baby sea turtle at 2:37 mark 🐢
The thing I hate most about cruising is disembarkation. Feeling sad that I have to go back to the real world. Wish I could live on a cruise ship like you.
Yeah, disembarkation day is a sad day for lots of folks.
Today’s cruise 🚢 day 🎉🎉🎉🎉 Ruby Princess here we go!!!! Have fun out there !
Awesome! Ruby is one of my all time favs!
You were so right!! What an amazing boat and crew I loved the experience and could’ve done another week I have the time. I can’t wait to go back and cruise again.
Not going to lie, I'm a little envious. I wish I would've found your channel sooner. Please keep up the good work!
Thanks, Eric!
Your list is right on point for my travel tastes as well. I had to laugh in agreement when you said you hate dressing up for fine dining...I thought I was the only one! Living in Florida I wear a tank top nearly every day unless I "dress up" to a tee shirt on occasion.
haha....that's the life right there..when a t-shirt is dressing up!!! love it
I've never been on a cruise but I enjoy your videos. Keep 'em coming!
Thanks for sticking around.
I have never been on a cruise and would love to go but asthma stops me. I didn't know singles could go as well
Looking forward to your Antarctica (and South Georgia) cruise. No formal/dress-to-impress dining, plus penguins, whales, icebergs, seals, and more!😄
I can't wait! Thanks, Maki!
As you know, I’ve just started living mostly on cruise ships too, and I’ve been fortunate enough to start with an overnight stop in Dubai, so it’s been a much less intense start to the experience.
That said, I’m 24 hours in and haven’t actually met anyone onboard yet, as most people were ashore enjoying the city last night, so dinner was really fragmented last night.
Great video - really enjoy your perspective on all of this!
Congrats! so excited to follow your journey!
I heard and saw you on Royals Enchantment of the Sea. You were introducing yourself with a veterans group but I was in the Diamond lounge. Small ship but did not see you again. I agree with your love and hate items! Enjoy your travels.
Awe cool....they do a good job with the Veteran's meet up here.
You'll get that 100k soon! I'm always excited to see people do their unboxing of the wall art they send you for it.
still not sold on cruising. I'll keep watching and perhaps you'll change my mind.
Yeah, it'll probably be sent to my mom's house. Have to figure out how to do the unboxing!
@@30AndAWakeUp Perhaps, with the power of editing.... all things are possible.
Your loves and hates about the cruises make total sense to me! I would also wish that one could stay a lot longer at the ports to get more authenticity of the places.🏖 I just hope that you haven't been seasick or anything like that- that would be a concern to me. Otherwise, enjoy yourself- it sounds like a lot of fun!!! Take care!!!🌺🌅🛳🍽🤗
No seasickness yet! :)
Great video. I agree with all the likes and dislikes, especially the gratuity black hole. I appreciate the military tidbits you sprinkle in your videos. Six bunks in a small windowless cabin! Full of gratitude to the all volunteer military!
Thanks, Harsha.
Good point about the gratuities! I've never thought about it, but it would be interesting to see where it goes. I would love the diversity too! It would be so much fun meeting new people from all over the world! Think I could handle not having to do chores for a year! Have fun Kevin!
Not having to do chores is a great thing!!! ! :)
It’s like a new episode of The White Lotus every week 😀😀
haha yes!!!
I was subscribed to Kevin before he hit 100k!
haha! :)
Agree they don't stay in port long enough but I enjoy getting dressed up for dining int he main room. It adds a little something and if I don't want to get dressed I go to the buffett.
I get that for sure and it makes sense.
Transparency in tips👍👍👍👍
Definitely 👍
😊😊 Missing you like crazy!!! 😊😊
Awe! Thanks Nikki!
I have done several Caribbean cruises because I live in southern Florida & easy to do. I much prefer the four Mediterranean cruises I have done. I did the 16 day cruise on Sapphire Princess from Beijing to Bangkok. My bucket list for China included walking on The Great Wall, seeing the Terra Cotta Warriors, the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven & Shanghai. I spent a month touring Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam after the cruise.
Been following since your early van days and love these cruise videos….great job. You inspired so much to celebrate my 75th birthday & making a dream come true. I booked my sister and me on the Sapphire Princess 14 day cruise out on Vancouver on May 31st to Alaska. That is the only state or U.S Territory I have not traveled to or lived in….military Brat & military spouse!
Ok...so I'd love to do that Beijing to BKK cruise! And it's cool you are heading the the Sapphire Princess again. I really like Princess. I'll be doing an Alaskan cruise later this year. Excited about it.
Hey Kevin! I’ve been enjoying your videos the last few weeks. It’s been very informative. One of your videos you mentioned being an introvert and how you liked Princess cruises, so I think that will be my first cruise. Hopefully in the fall. Keep doing what you’re doing, enjoying it!
Thanks, Deb. I personally love Princess.
Long term friendships are spontaneous. It depends on both parts to nurture them or not, no matter if they are with neighbor next door or with occasional travel buddies.
That's a great point.
Cruising out of Brisbane, Australia on Carnival Luminosa today for nearly $100/night AUD. Good luck on the 100K subs
Nice! I've heard that is a great ship.
I learned on princess that if I hang all my clothes up, they will move them to new cabin for me. No need to pack everything 😊
I asked but the did the same for me on one of my cruises which was nice.
Never been on a cruise so all these videos are preparing me. I will go one day. When i was young i wanted to go work in a cruise ship. Lol.
that would have been cool
Yea it would have.
You’re living the exact life that I want to live.👍🏼 I love being out in the middle of the sea
I definitely feel fortunate
2024 I, doing two cruises with same ship to chill out and reLAX
Nice! 😁
I love your content! I hate that I can only cruise once every few years! Then again, we like Viking so we have to save up for those. Maybe we will branch out sometime. We’ve never been anywhere near the Caribbean or South America. We are from Australia and tend to head to cold places 😊 We are going to Norway and Iceland in July and I’m so excited! 🎉
Keep up the great work ❤
So cool! I'll be in Norway and Iceland in June as well!
@@30AndAWakeUp what cruise line will you be on?
We’ll be on Sky Princess next June, Norway and Iceland and can’t wait 🎉 happy cruising and enjoy it
@@mariacarreiro7396 Nice, Ill be on Sky right after you!
@@30AndAWakeUp My wife and I will be on the Island Princess from May 26th (leaving out of Ft Lauderdale) and winding up in Copenhagen on July 12th. We'll be visiting Halifax, Iceland, a couple of nights in England, then 8 ports/fjords in Norway, back to Southampton and finally on to Scandinavia and the Baltic B4 we wind up in Copenhagen and fly home.
Love the little sea turtle.
It was the smallest one I've seen in the wild.
Love this! Can't wait to try it out using all your great tips 😊
No problem
Beautiful spot for the sunrise and the water looks amazing! Would love to be sitting there with my coffee watching the color of the sky and water change!
It's a great coffee drinking spot!
The main dining room on NCL has very very few dress restrictions. You can go however you want.
Ill be on NCL Getaway soon...excited to test that! :)
👍Terrific points. I’m looking forward to cruising for a year someday. Thanks for sharing your journey. 🙏💝
Thanks, LA! 👍
Yup I was subscribed to ya a long time ago LOL Great review of likes and dislikes!
I know you were Michelle ☺️
Wha What I like about taking cruise as a trouble option. It gave me sense of independence, to travel safe and meet people and different places to visit and it works better for my current circumstances as a legally blind. Individual,. I still miss traveling Al over as a backpacker but I guess it's better than nothing.
Im glad youre still able to travel
I wish the world could learn about diversity and it'a beauty too, Kevin! Another great video, thank you!💙💚💛
Glad you enjoyed it!
I just love your videos! Keep them coming.
You're too kind! Thank you!
Always helpful and always a pleasure to watch, Kevin. Thanks all the great info you post!
Thanks, Gary. And thanks for being a subscriber for over 2 years now.
Hi Kevin that's a pretty good love/hate list what I like about cruising is also all the friendly people on board nobody is uptight/pushy what I hate about cruising is getting a cabin with that cheesy shower curtain in the bathroom uuuuuh!! Thanks for sharing kev
haha...yeah...shower curtains need to go :)
Great content! The lighting at the end was stupendous!
Yeah, the sun was doing its thing early in the morning!
There are some multi day stops. I did an MSC that spent 2 days in Bermuds and 2 days in NYC which saved the price of the whole cruise in what I would have spent for a NYC hotel room. Also, no real dress code for dining room as long as all crucial parts are covered
good to know...thanks Janet
❤❤ Nice video
Thanks, Milly. 🤗
Cool! I’m booked on a Disney Cruise to the British Isles (England, Scotland, and Ireland) in September! Maybe I’ll see you on my travels again! 😊
That is awesome! I need to do a Disney cruise.
You have mentioned the wonderful feeling of being at sea in other videos and I would include this in my list of things I love about cruises. Being in port is wonderful but so is being out with no land in sight. Thanks, I enjoyed your list.
I agree with that for sure.
Yes you do feel like a king or queen on a cruise ship!they clean your rooms the wait staff I love it!
It is pretty great
We have stayed overnight, sometimes 2 nights in Bermuda, overnight in Florence & St. Petersburg on NCL.
Plus, no formal nights - on NCL too
Im excited to try NCL Getaway soon.
@@30AndAWakeUp have a great time on the Getaway! You’ll love the ship!
I miss your van life videos but anyway like the cruzz videos
One day I'll be back in a van :)
It would be so amazing to do this. Kelly is loving your life right now. She loves trivia, bingo and the casino most 😂 we hate the gratuity too, we do the same thing you do.
Princess if she loves the Casino! We'll talk more!
I like that you’ve settled on “cruise family” as your greeting. Although, somewhere out there, teenage Suri is going…dad? I know we haven’t seen each other in a while, but…you look different! 😁
haha....bald and bearded!
@@30AndAWakeUp 😁
Here's what I think I'd do: I would eat tons of salad - yum. And lobster or crab once a day. Ok, maybe twice. Then I'd walk the deck - a lot. Gotta have sunshine and fresh air. Maybe swim. Some trivia. And I've come to appreciate live music in respectable settings. And I want to know where the gratuity charge goes also (I want proof of complete and equitable distribution). Thanks Kevin!
Nothing better than a morning walk on the top deck as the sun comes up. Nothing like it.
@@30AndAWakeUp 🌞🚶♀👍
Gratuities or tips are when you decide to pay them, how much to pay, and who to give it to. I always tip my stewards, and often tip regular waiters in the dining room. If the cruise line sets the amount and decides who to give it to, that is a service charge, not a gratuity. I have no problem with that. I just consider it part of the fare, and consider it when I am booking a cruise. Like you, I have enough experience cruising to be aware of the cost. I think the separate charges have two functions: 1) they make the cruise seem cheaper to newbies and the financially incompetent 2) They allow people who can’t pay for everything at once to pay in three segments, deposit, before and after the cruise.
great points
❤
We will be buds forever.
I have friends, I am still in contact with, I met on cruises 10 years ago or more !
Hugs
Neal
Thanks again for inviting me to hang with you and your friends!
Hi. Enjoying your videos. Just wanted to share something I recently learnt. If you own 100 carnival shares every time you sail on a carnival ship, which includes Princess you get an onboard credit. The amount differs by the length of the cruise. But it is very easy to do and for someone like you you would easily recoup your initial investment. Stock price is around $9 right now.
Thanks for that Karen. I actually own 100 shares already and have had the onboard shareholder credit applied to all my future cruises. It's an amazing value!
We just got off a 14 day cruise. Definitely hated the rough seas we had on the last night at sea. I wonder why cruise ships do not do overnights in port. Something to ponder.
yeah, that would be nice
I think gratuities should be included within the cruise fare, like P&O UK. That way the staff would have to be paid a fair wage, or they wouldn’t work for that particular cruise line, and you can tip on top in cash if you want to.
Yeah, I agree.
Great video! I don’t like the dress up for the dinners or the short time in ports. I love the live music scenes, I love walking around the ship early morning for sunrise when no one else around
Hi Emily! The early morning sunrise walks are my favorite as well.
Love the baby turtle! :-)
Do you have any favorite ports?
I really like Puerto Rico and St. Croix
Almost to 100K!
So close!
Next video 100K! A drone will deliver the 100K plaque from UA-cam on to the ship. Please film you catching it, ha!
haha..that would be awesome! :)
I will be doing this soon
nice
Hi Kevin, thank you for your service. Maybe you can do a video on the differences between Navy “cruises” and pleasure cruises. My husband and I go on cruises, he was in the Navy, his boat was a fast attack submarine, USS Willian H Bates, he obviously enjoys the pleasure cruises much more. Especially since his bunk on them, usually comes with a view. 😉3 years ago we were on a cruise that travel to the area where he had been but underwater so he was very interested to see what it looked like above the water! I have met people that have been in the Navy that say they would never go on a cruise, only because of time spent on a Navy ship. I try to sway them with a “You don’t have to stand watch!” and the food is better.
Haha! That is awesome that a submariner is getting to enjoy cruise life on top of the water. And I am the same, I am always trying to convince my Navy friends to cruise.
Having never been on a cruise I have wondered about the drinks package. How do they work, for a single person, don't drink much but like my coffee and water
So on Royal you can buy a coffee card. Princess used to have this but not any longer. I did the math on drink packages and I had to drink like 6 alcoholic beverages a day to break easy, so it didn't make sense for me.
Hate missing johnnies meet-up in September!
Me too
Hope to see you on Caribbean Princess
I'll be there! :)
Thanks Kevin. We always enjoy your insightful cruise perspective.
Thanks guys!
I love love love the elegant and also fun food that I’ve had on cruises. Like you Kevin I hate the short stays at port-need more time there for sure
Yeah, we need more time in port :)
Please do not lose your "I make my bed", that is an important character aspect of you.
haha..i do in any other scenario!
I totally agree with you on the gratuity issue Kevin. I have no problem paying them either other than I would like some sort of breakdown as to how they are distributed or shared amongst the staff and crew.
Agree!
@@30AndAWakeUp Wow , 3 mins , lol. Impressive !
Amazing! Would love to live on a cruise ship for a few months of the year but unfortunately can't afford it.
I've been luckily finding some pretty good deals. It's not as expensive as you might think.
Comment for the algorithm. Keep it up!
Thanks, friend!
I am a cruiser, and I did the most cruising last year (20 cruises). I love meeting new people, and traveling the world. I hate gaining weight, when the food is just too good to resist. 😂
haha...so far...I haven't gained any weight! Fingers crossed that continues.
Interesting perspective thanks. It sounds like the good far outweighs the bad. My only problem would be weight control. I would need to be really disciplined.
Yeah, definitely have to be careful with that.
Cruise ships are out to make MONEY! The Navy already has their MONEY! It’s always about the Money! Cruise ships in and out, follow the money! No rush for the Navy! On to the next port for the ships, spread the wealth!!!! Enjoy your voyage!!!
fair point
2:32: where exactly is that? looks amazing
Huatulco Mexico
Best video yet! I agree with all of it!
Thanks so much, Alex.
Kevin, Your videos get better and better on every episode. Loved the Ocean background on this last video! What a sense of freedom. By the way, what editing software are you using?
Thank you. I use Final Cut Pro and shoot primarily with an Iphone 12
@@30AndAWakeUp Ahhh. So you are using a Mac Laptop as well. Ok Thanks.
Great insights Brother! Always look forward to your video's. Those cruise ships definitely beat out the Container vessel's I use to ride😊
haha..yeah definitely!!! Hope you are enjoying Asia!
@@30AndAWakeUp Yes, doing well here In Siem Reap Cambodia 🇰🇭Getting ready to head back to Phuket Thailand in a few days.
Great video! Cannot wait for you to hit the 100k subscribers!! ❤🎉
Awwwww thank you, Dawn.
My favourite is Norwegian free style. No dress code unless u want too. Do u have to do muster drills?
I'll be on NCL Getaway soon! Excited to try NCL out. Yeah, you have to do must drills. Princess and Royal are really easy. MSC was not as easy but not too bad.
The worst part about cruising is embarkation and debarkation days. Ugh! The stories I could tell!
Those are good actually! I've been fortunate to not have any nightmare embarkations yet but some of the debarkation have been interesting.
I’m in touch with a couple people in Facebook. 15 years with one of them.
nice
Bunks on 744air crew are good
that's good
Great content and I love the background. You covered some interesting areas I hadn't considered such as the pre-paid gratuities distribution. Perhaps one of the crew member wound know? Or is that rude to ask them? That information should be disclosed somewhere. I enjoyed the diversity if the passengers and crew in your videos. I so enjoy different perceptions as it broadens my thinking. Thanks Kevin for a great video!
Yeah, no one really wants to discuss. I am pretty sure they are not supposed to discuss it.. it's kind of strange actually which makes me suspicious.
@@30AndAWakeUp that makes me suspicious too. Thanks.
Very informative Kevin. Dress code for dining feels a bit colonial.
Next video: Top 5 or 10 things not to do on cruise ships.
Thanks for the idea!
I spy with my little eye, at 2:37, a sea turtle! 🐢
haha..yes!! :) I mostly put that in there for you! :)
@@30AndAWakeUp 🤗
I didn’t like the format of gratuities either. That’s why I said I wouldn’t prepay it on my next cruise…
Understand that for sure...I still do it but Im trying to get more clarity.
I relate with so much of what you share. I'm getting ready to attend training for a major USA airline to become a flight attendant. I can't imagine committing to a place long term. I'm planning to be based in places for no longer than six months. With all the traveling you've done since you left the military, did you ever experience Commons or Co-living? It seems like a great alternative for me, but I don't know anyone who has done it. Thanks, and congrats on almost 100K subs.
So I traveled with Remote Year my first year which was kind of CoLiving. And then I have booked with Outsite and Salina which are coliving / coworking places across the world..
@@30AndAWakeUp Would you recommend co-living?
Good luck with the training and the job. Everyone should have a big adventure in their youth, whether it's a job with the airlines or the military. You will never regret getting out there.
@@RedStickHistorian thank you, I'm starting this adventure after 30 years of service in the USAF!
I'm on the fence as to whether I should book a cruise. I was in the U.S. Navy & know what it's like on a ship-cruise ships have more "fluff" & I don't have to work. I've enjoyed being in ports for a week or more although there was Cinderella Liberty outside of U.S. soil. On cruise ships, 8 hours in each port is rushing things & would limit my range if I didn't book an excursion. I don't eat a lot, not a "foodie" & would find buffet food good enough-so I don't have to get dressed up. Meeting new people would be great since I've heard everyone on board are nice. I'm a widower, so that would make me a solo traveler & a challenge with booking a cruise with supplemental fees. Sharing a cabin with a stranger would be awkward & not an option. There's so much to weigh in terms of solo cruising. Good content! You've got me thinking.
Check out my vid on how to find cheap solo cruises. I rarely pay solo supplement. Also, as a vet you can get discounts from most of the cruise lines. As far as whether it's for you...some people love it and some people hate it. Doesn't seem to be middle ground.
Why don't cruises do multi-day port stops? Just because people want to see more places, or is there a dramatically higher cost at ports?
Not sure to be honest
carnival mardi gras may 6th for me
Nice! I've heard Mardi Gras is awesome!
@@30AndAWakeUp yes! it'll be my first carnival ship i've done symphony 2 times and msc meraviglia and seashore.
Are you color grading your videos or is the ocean waters really that blue?
I don't color grade other than a little contrasting.
Yes! There should be transparency regarding mandatory prepaid gratuities. Is it divided up among the crew or is it a hidden (in plain sight) fee that actually goes toward corporate bonuses?
yeah, that's what Im curious about as well
I’m going on a virgin voyages 15 day cruise from Miami to Barcelona and I’m really looking forward to this cruise, but then, I’m getting on an MSC cruise to Italy and France and I’m less than excited about the food and wanted to ask you your thoughts. I might be eating a lot of pizza on that cruise. Also, I’m staying in an interior studio on msc as well.
Im excited to try Virgin in the future as well. I've only been on one MSC ship and the dining rooms are good. I just wasn't impressed with the buffet but the pizza was good. I've heard it varies pretty drastically from ship to ship with MSC.
@@30AndAWakeUp thanks for the info, I have been enjoying your videos for about a year now. I had a great month in Thailand and liked it so much I have another month scheduled for January. I have an amazing trip planned in October to the Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Austria, Hungary, Italy,, and France along with a family cruise to Alaska. This world is pretty amazing!
Great video I’m loving this new chapter. I’m curious do you spend much time in your room chilling, or are you pretty much mostly out and about? If not, would you spend more time if you had a balcony?
Usually, out and about but chilling! I might spend more time if I had a balcony but only to justify the price of the balcony!
I had a bad experience on a Holland American line. I’m an Asian American so when walked down the hall to my room other passengers would assume I’m a house boy and tell my to take their bags to their room. I’d say “fuck off” then they tell me it’s my job ! No more for me
oh wow...that is awful
@@30AndAWakeUp by the way I loved your Thailand motor bike trip video. I’m an American living in Malaysia on MM2H and I love it I look like everyone else
@@Photojouralist123 very cool...I love Malaysia too...can't wait to get back there and have some nasi lemak
@@30AndAWakeUp look me up I’ll take you around it would be fun 🤩