It isn't accurate or fair to lump all cruise lines into the same category and assumptions about how they operate. Viking, for example, is quite different from other cruise lines and they focus far more on education and the excursions. In my view, they provide a good value and what we look for on a cruise, including great food. They carry about 930 passengers and most everything is included. They also provide local cuisine depending on the port. No formal dress codes and no casinos. No nickel and diming and no photos for sale. Free WiFi. One excursion included at each port. Also, not fair to accuse all cruise lines of getting a cut of sales during excursions. They are a business and want to make money just like the Rick Steves Travel Company, so it will depend on the integrity of each company and their employees. There is a reason why Viking is rated so highly.

Hint for avoiding paying for expensive satellite internet access on the ship: Before you board, buy a SIM card for the local country, prepaid with data included. You can also get prepaid roaming for other European countries if you need it. You will have fast internet access whenever you are within 7 or 8 km of shore, which is most of the time in the Mediterranean, at a fraction of the cost.

The advise to get information in advance is spot on.

What my Father and I do is do a Trans Atlantic Cruise and we pick the end cities of the cruise to explore them for 4 days. In between we stop at ports and take the cruise tours but use them to our advantage. When they go shopping we go for a meal or even a coffee or drink in a local cafe. This year we are spending 4 nights in Amsterdam and 4 nights in Rejkavik with stops in DUblin, Waterford and Cobh Ireland. We are going to see the Medieval Waterford, Waterford Crystal Factory and Blarney Castle. In Dublin we have time to spend time on our own.

Great information. Thank you.

If you want the cruise feel with pools and fancy food. I'd recommend MSC Cruises in the Mediterranean, cause you can get on an off whenever you want, so you can have 2 days in each port. :)

one day I'm are trying to go back to Rome for vacancies in ltaly for 7 day and I will have so much fun nice view of the city of Rome be okay with it just can't wait for so fun

So cruise ships are like the mafia to the Ports of Call, yeeesh

The dress code advise is completely wrong. If you don't want to wear a suit or tux, just go Norwegian. However, if you cruise Cunard, if you don't have a tux, there is just no way you you would feel anything but out-of-place. Just like everything else you can shop the dress code that suits your taste.

A lot of what he says is true; like the info desk not telling you which bus to take to town. Ask a friendly crew unofficially; you get better answers. Been on a few cruises in different categories and i can reiterate “what you pay is what you get; except offshore excursions”. Try to find alternatives. Thanks!

What are the cheapest cruise lines in Northern Europe??

thank you

Your comments on not being able to see Rome at night on a cruise are simply not true. Rome (Civitivecchia) is usually a cruise terminal, therefore you can usually stay there for a day or two before and after the cruise.

Seems like this talk is to discourage cruising which is a shame, glass half empty kind of guy here. I don't think he's qualified to comment on formal nights on cruises if he won't dress up and try it. I've only been on two cruises in my life one with Carnival and one with Disney, both served upscale food on formal nights. Lobster tale in the main dining room is well worth dressing up in my opinion.

There is a word for taking a picture of the cruise lines pictures "stealing".

I’m here to learn about the ins and outs of European travel on Cruises, NOT the good , the bad and the ugly of cruising. Where did this lecture go wrong? Very quickly actually...I am waiting to hear of the ports and you are talking about the dress codes....what????

lol meme t-shirts in the middle 38:00. anyway, very great overview with enough details that applies to most all ships.

Hmm. He makes it sound like he's got all the research done... but when he says "the stores on the ship are re-loaded every two weeks" is not accurate for all ships. I wouldn't trust this guy for information. He's researched, but not very deeply.

this sounds like reasons of why not to cruise. lol