Echo the repositioning cruises IF you enjoy life on ship OR if you want just to rest. My wife and I joined another couple and paid under $200 per person for a cruise from Miami to Spain over 8 days. We stopped in Bermuda and then Portugal. But we used it as a vacation before an actual trip in Europe, and it was much cheaper than flying over to Europe. The only thing we'd change in the future is do it in reverse so the relax time happens en route home.
We sail reposition cruises 75% of the time, and can often get cheap suites on HAL. American Express Platinum, shareholder, and Travel Agent perks, all add up as well.
i don't understand where Vacations to Go get their 'brochure' prices. Comparing prices with the cruise line direct don't make sense. am i missing something?
Thank you for still producing so many interesting & useful videos despite being landlocked for months! Just a heads up on this particular one - weirdly, the subtitles appear to be for a different video... No idea how that's even possible on YT, but still... It seems to be about things on cruises that drive people crazy. :D
Hi Gary have watched your channel for while & thanks too you , I found the courage to book my 1st cruise (solo traveler)Wanted to be away for a big birthday; so dates fixed, booked just as Covid 19 started getting a grip. Luckily for me booked via nhs discounts , price has now gone up £800 for balcony cabin.Have watched with great internet all your vlogs around the impact of the virus on cruising in general. Keep up the good work.🛳
Have been on quite a few cruise lines. They are not all the same. Food is better on some lines than on others and that is important. We were on some cruises when my wife and I ate at the ports. Food on the ships wasn't so good. A cruise line having good food is pretty important.
Gary- One tip that I will pass on is to watch your favorite Cruise booking site carefully as there are bargains to be had. I was scrolling thru the VTG website and found a 16 night cruise from FL to Rotterdam for $200 PP. I booked it right away! Even after factoring in the port charges, the total cost for the 16 day cruise for 2 is $810. This was a Mariner Society inside cabin. You have to wait for the page to load after it appears, but the price changes from $835 to $200 PP. Yes, it is an inside guarantee cabin and we may have a chance to upgrade, but we end up in Rotterdam with a chance to tour almost anywhere in Europe. one person can't fly to Europe for that amount. Since we are retired, we can relax, dine and sleep in as we cruise our way to Europe.
Very good information. When my wife and I first went on a cruise the line upgraded us to a balcony stateroom. That spoiled my wife. Now I don't have family members to cruise with so I'm alone. Now, will have to pay close attention to cost of inside vs balcony. Some destinations I would still want a balcony. Maybe my casino play could get me moved from an inside to a balcony? Have to wait and see.
Gary I was a travel agent for 25 years. I agree with much of what you say. I find using a travel agent is still the best way and I concentrate on a few lines that I like best. Check them frequently and do the Guaranteed (balcony) often. I also use tap water and get a bucket of ice daily, so refill my plastic water carrier and do that in Venice etc there they have fountains. i also disagree with you about short cruises. I ALwAYS book out of a port that i want to spend a week on land, Barcelona, Venice (now they have moved) but as the air is the same, and now retired, we can go on one or two cruises, combined with a great land bases. The keys for Mia/Fll or Tpa would be Sanibel or Captiva. etc. I also disagree with you regarding excursions. Some "taxis" work out more than an excursion, if you are traveling with friends or meet another couple of a ship, not, but I (and you have I am certain) have watched folks running to catch the ship whereas once on Santorini we were on line to take the vernacular or whatever they call it down and they told us on the tour, as we are 20 people, don't fret they plan for a delay in this port. So we caught the sunset while returning to the ship. Heaven
I love your videos! They are always so informative and its clear you have a wealth of knowledge to draw on. Would you concider an updated "My favorite cruises" video? Or even favorite cruises in each category? It would be a huge help for those us of using this down time to plan our next cruises and Im curious to branch out to a different brand or category when all this COVID stuff is over!
Appreciate you watching. Great to hear. Thanks for the video suggestion. It’s really helpful getting ideas in what people want to watch.,I’ll definitely work on that one then. Just to check, when you say “favourite cruises in each category”, do you mean by group of competing cruises lines or type of cruise ?
@@tipsfortravellers I was origionally thinking more by price point. Someone buying a luxury cruise is hoping their cruise experience is better than a more value brand because they are spending more and hoping more is included. But Im excited by a number of directions you could go with it. You have a special set of knowledge having gone on a number of cruises. So anything that stands out is in a positive manner is definitely something to pay attention to, be it cruises, excursions, meals, etc! Thank you so much for consideration the idea!
Hi, Gary I would love to see a whole in depth video about repositioning cruises if you have the opportunity. Its a really interesting alternative to both cruising and flying across the pond.
@@tipsfortravellers - sir, I am looking for ideas for a good solo cruise. Friends/family have other vacation preferences. Must be from Port Canaveral. But can be flexible on date (last minute can work.) Hope to take 2-3 cruises annually. Price need not be rock bottom. Want to feel comfortable as a single, fitness-oriened 60 YO. Thanks.
Some of the cruise companies offer no fee credit cards that you can have a little extra to spend on the ship or paying for part of your cruise. And some of the cruise lines will also give you onboard credit if you own 100 shares of stock or more. I brought more of Carnival this morning for under $15 a share but I have 6 cruises booked with them and they will give me $100 on board credit so I figured with my credit I got the stock for $9 a share today
Serious question: what are the hours in the bars and restaurants? I just like the idea of looking for the "green flash" at sunrise, looking again for it at sunset, and never having set foot in my cabin the entire time.
Some have started in Europe and more in next two weeks, but the main big cruises not yet. This is looking ahead as most people looking now at booking for into 2021 and beyond.
This might be a good time for the cruise lines to run cruises to nowhere. It would give a chance to check the Covid resistance without going far out to sea for a long period of time, in case the virus breaks out. Oops. I just saw that cruises to nowhere are no longer permitted from U.S. ports.
Good information as always as I look for a good deal recently I booked for a Australia Day Cruise for 2022 on Pacific Adventure and got a balcony room for the same price as an oceanview, also I got one that I booked last year with my sister and two friends and we are sharing the room there on the ship 🚢 🛳
With repositioning there is the extra cost of flying from a different location. Would your advice be to go through the cruise line for the airline ticket or to search for an airline ticket on your own?
I never cruise for more than $100 a day i should figure out the average I wouldnt be surprised if its not below $70 a night and i cruise as a single, and im at 175 cruise nights
Ugh. I am sure this video helps a lot of people but I have never cruised outside of NCL Haven and going on a third Haven cruise in November. I can't even imagine cruising getting better or comparable to that for a cheaper price.
Gary, Lose the description “cheap” or cheaply”. It’s ‘inexpensive’ or ‘lower cost’ ; ‘good value’, etc. Never cheap. Cheap denotes low class or inferior.
Echo the repositioning cruises IF you enjoy life on ship OR if you want just to rest. My wife and I joined another couple and paid under $200 per person for a cruise from Miami to Spain over 8 days. We stopped in Bermuda and then Portugal. But we used it as a vacation before an actual trip in Europe, and it was much cheaper than flying over to Europe. The only thing we'd change in the future is do it in reverse so the relax time happens en route home.
We sail reposition cruises 75% of the time, and can often get cheap suites on HAL. American Express Platinum, shareholder, and Travel Agent perks, all add up as well.
i don't understand where Vacations to Go get their 'brochure' prices. Comparing prices with the cruise line direct don't make sense. am i missing something?
Thank you for still producing so many interesting & useful videos despite being landlocked for months! Just a heads up on this particular one - weirdly, the subtitles appear to be for a different video... No idea how that's even possible on YT, but still... It seems to be about things on cruises that drive people crazy. :D
Hi Gary have watched your channel for while & thanks too you , I found the courage to book my 1st cruise (solo traveler)Wanted to be away for a big birthday; so dates fixed, booked just as Covid 19 started getting a grip. Luckily for me booked via nhs discounts , price has now gone up £800 for balcony cabin.Have watched with great internet all your vlogs around the impact of the virus on cruising in general. Keep up the good work.🛳
Have been on quite a few cruise lines. They are not all the same. Food is better on some lines than on others and that is important. We were on some cruises when my wife and I ate at the ports. Food on the ships wasn't so good. A cruise line having good food is pretty important.
Live near a port. Sometimes prices rise as you get closer to the sail date. It's a crapshoot.
Gary- One tip that I will pass on is to watch your favorite Cruise booking site carefully as there are bargains to be had. I was scrolling thru the VTG website and found a 16 night cruise from FL to Rotterdam for $200 PP. I booked it right away! Even after factoring in the port charges, the total cost for the 16 day cruise for 2 is $810. This was a Mariner Society inside cabin. You have to wait for the page to load after it appears, but the price changes from $835 to $200 PP. Yes, it is an inside guarantee cabin and we may have a chance to upgrade, but we end up in Rotterdam with a chance to tour almost anywhere in Europe. one person can't fly to Europe for that amount. Since we are retired, we can relax, dine and sleep in as we cruise our way to Europe.
Very good information. When my wife and I first went on a cruise the line upgraded us to a balcony stateroom. That spoiled my wife. Now I don't have family members to cruise with so I'm alone. Now, will have to pay close attention to cost of inside vs balcony. Some destinations I would still want a balcony. Maybe my casino play could get me moved from an inside to a balcony? Have to wait and see.
Gary I was a travel agent for 25 years. I agree with much of what you say. I find using a travel agent is still the best way and I concentrate on a few lines that I like best. Check them frequently and do the Guaranteed (balcony) often. I also use tap water and get a bucket of ice daily, so refill my plastic water carrier and do that in Venice etc there they have fountains. i also disagree with you about short cruises. I ALwAYS book out of a port that i want to spend a week on land, Barcelona, Venice (now they have moved) but as the air is the same, and now retired, we can go on one or two cruises, combined with a great land bases. The keys for Mia/Fll or Tpa would be Sanibel or Captiva. etc. I also disagree with you regarding excursions. Some "taxis" work out more than an excursion, if you are traveling with friends or meet another couple of a ship, not, but I (and you have I am certain) have watched folks running to catch the ship whereas once on Santorini we were on line to take the vernacular or whatever they call it down and they told us on the tour, as we are 20 people, don't fret they plan for a delay in this port. So we caught the sunset while returning to the ship. Heaven
And this is Laurie not Mike, he was a draftsman/but did attend some "fam"trips with me, so he knows it was not a glamour job....xo
I love your videos! They are always so informative and its clear you have a wealth of knowledge to draw on. Would you concider an updated "My favorite cruises" video? Or even favorite cruises in each category? It would be a huge help for those us of using this down time to plan our next cruises and Im curious to branch out to a different brand or category when all this COVID stuff is over!
Appreciate you watching. Great to hear. Thanks for the video suggestion. It’s really helpful getting ideas in what people want to watch.,I’ll definitely work on that one then. Just to check, when you say “favourite cruises in each category”, do you mean by group of competing cruises lines or type of cruise ?
@@tipsfortravellers I was origionally thinking more by price point. Someone buying a luxury cruise is hoping their cruise experience is better than a more value brand because they are spending more and hoping more is included. But Im excited by a number of directions you could go with it. You have a special set of knowledge having gone on a number of cruises. So anything that stands out is in a positive manner is definitely something to pay attention to, be it cruises, excursions, meals, etc! Thank you so much for consideration the idea!
Great thanks! Will work on this :-)
Hi, Gary I would love to see a whole in depth video about repositioning cruises if you have the opportunity. Its a really interesting alternative to both cruising and flying across the pond.
Thanks for that suggestion ! Will add it to the list!
you will have to fly one way, unless you go east in the spring, stay there all summer and cruise west in Oct/Nov.
@@tipsfortravellers - sir, I am looking for ideas for a good solo cruise. Friends/family have other vacation preferences.
Must be from Port Canaveral. But can be flexible on date (last minute can work.) Hope to take 2-3 cruises annually.
Price need not be rock bottom. Want to feel comfortable as a single, fitness-oriened 60 YO.
Thanks.
Great tips. I am sort of a cheapie on board ship. I also find drinks and alcohol prices are sometimes less expensive in port.
Terri Fromm only if you are going to a 3 rd world country or Caribbean.
Some of the cruise companies offer no fee credit cards that you can have a little extra to spend on the ship or paying for part of your cruise. And some of the cruise lines will also give you onboard credit if you own 100 shares of stock or more. I brought more of Carnival this morning for under $15 a share but I have 6 cruises booked with them and they will give me $100 on board credit so I figured with my credit I got the stock for $9 a share today
Kevin Russak I bought my 100 shares of Carnival a couple months ago when it was down to $8.20 a share! Can’t wait to get my $100 on board credit
Serious question: what are the hours in the bars and restaurants? I just like the idea of looking for the "green flash" at sunrise, looking again for it at sunset, and never having set foot in my cabin the entire time.
Depends on the ship, but usually will be bars open until early hours though if nightclub can be open until 5am
Thank you Gary. Appreciate as always😁🥂
Very welcome
@@tipsfortravellers Hubby loves his Teeshirts 😉👊👍
Fab👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
What cruise ? Didn't think any were running now ?
Some have started in Europe and more in next two weeks, but the main big cruises not yet. This is looking ahead as most people looking now at booking for into 2021 and beyond.
Do/can travel agents watch fair ups and down, upgrades etc if you book through them?
Really good tips.
The closed captions are incorrect for this one Gary.
This might be a good time for the cruise lines to run cruises to nowhere. It would give a chance to check the Covid resistance without going far out to sea for a long period of time, in case the virus breaks out. Oops. I just saw that cruises to nowhere are no longer permitted from U.S. ports.
Good information as always as I look for a good deal recently I booked for a Australia Day Cruise for 2022 on Pacific Adventure and got a balcony room for the same price as an oceanview, also I got one that I booked last year with my sister and two friends and we are sharing the room there on the ship 🚢 🛳
Have you done videos about cruising solo?
Yes have done. Most recent that hope helps: 8 Ways To Cruise Solo Better and Cheaper
ua-cam.com/video/ycYFFZdmWaA/v-deo.html
@@tipsfortravellers Thank you--I'll check it out.
Hi Gary, great video what lots of tips! But, how do you get your shots of the ships and other things?
So helpful, thank you! I always book as soon as itineraries are released.
With repositioning there is the extra cost of flying from a different location. Would your advice be to go through the cruise line for the airline ticket or to search for an airline ticket on your own?
It can vary for sure, compare both. (from a retired Travel Agt.)
I never cruise for more than $100 a day i should figure out the average I wouldnt be surprised if its not below $70 a night and i cruise as a single, and im at 175 cruise nights
so would a 7 day cruise cost you $700? Not being a wise guy but where and what ship are you on???
Are we ever going to cruise again?
There is a significant time delay between the video and your subtitles.
Thanks for letting me know, will see if can sort that
Wtf is that on the carpet at 8:48 if it was red it would look like someone was murdered
Typo on the title - *are paying
Thanks 👍🏻
ALERT! The closed captions for this episode do NOT directly relate to the title .... ???!!
Ugh. I am sure this video helps a lot of people but I have never cruised outside of NCL Haven and going on a third Haven cruise in November. I can't even imagine cruising getting better or comparable to that for a cheaper price.
Gary,
Lose the description “cheap” or cheaply”.
It’s ‘inexpensive’ or ‘lower cost’ ; ‘good value’, etc.
Never cheap. Cheap denotes low class or inferior.
Agree, I was wrestling with that and think it says different to what I was talking about. Thanks for that
For example, I’d never buy my wife a “cheap dress”. lol. Maybe a good value, etc. haha
🤣 only idiots will take a cruise during a pandemic 😝
There are no cruises sailing during the pandemic, all are suspended
Really, are you locked in the closet right now?the pandemic is right outside your door as we speak get a life and don't bother grown folks.