Yes, and a company can say they guarantee you back to the ship, but they can't hold the ship.

So, here is how cruise line “back to ship guarantees work”. If the excursion is delayed, they will communicate with the ship. The ship will coordinate with the tour operator, and, if possible, may delay departure if the operator has a plan on how to get the pax back to the ship. If the ship cannot delay, then the cruise line works with the local port agent and tour operator to provide lodging and transportation to the affected pax to get to the ship at the next port which is reasonable to fly pax to. I don’t have a clue who is on the hook to pay for pax lodging and food, or who handles all the arrangements to move folks around, but I suspect that the tour operator is responsible for costs. The port agent and cruise line are likely responsible for arrangements. Note how all ship sold excursions seem to have plenty of time cushion built into them relative to ship return times?

Unless you fall off the boat.

Sounds like you work for a cruise line 😮‍💨

@@TheFortissimo1 or he’s smart!

Good point !!!

Jacksonville is a wonderful port to cruise out of.

I believe I’ve sailed out of both on Carnival.

I wish there were more ships sailing out of Jacksonville!!

Fort Lauderdale, at least they did at one point.

Hard to hire locals without knowing where to look and who to trust though

Whole fun of travel us getting to know the people, just be cautious

@@stephaniesanchez2057 such is life...many things that many people can explore, research and find easily...is very hard for others. Fear is also a big factor.

If you are on an excursion booked through the cruise ship and something happens like a bus breakdown, the ship will wait for you. If booked outside of the cruise line and you are late to return, you will have to figure out how to get to the next port on your own. I have had good luck in the past not using the the ship's excursions, but it is a risk to keep in mind.

Ii I’m

Painful lesson....I won't buy any baubles from the cruise ships...nor from the port shops. Just being in the chaos (cozumel) of thousands of tourists milling around, popping in and out of shops, the owners of those shops know they won't see you again. A lot of substandard junk is sold.....Maybe Grand Cayman is genuine, Jamaica, never. Puerto Rico...not too well known for fine jewelry.

Going on a Cruise and "hunting" for quality jewelry don't belong in the same Universe. Fine jewelry is sold where wealthy people go, and the finest only where the richest go; _and even then you have to watch out as if you were in Monroe, Louisiana._

Check out a Moissanite stone. Much less expensive, almost as hard and I think much more beautiful. I own diamonds and Moissanite jewelry. You really cannot tell the difference except the Moissanite reflects more colors!

You mean my Velvet Elvis and Dogs Playing Poker aren't priceless works of art?

@@thisismagacountry1318 They are to you and to every one else that has them and then insists on hanging them where every one else has to see them..........

Unfortunately Gary, these large international retailers can't ask the locals to do what you expect them to do. You can't have them pricing diamonds in a diamond store. That will never happen. And they are likely to steal. you can't have them selling alcohol because once again, theft. The locals could work the 'Del Sol" shop at the port (maybe) and hand out Del Sol t-shirts but not work the register. That requires literacy and that is not as common among the locals in the Caribbean as you and I would like to believe. And you can't trust them around the cash. So they are stuck in jobs like cab driver or waiter or handing out flyers.

Locals hard to understand over charge. Rather have a showered Cali hippie sell me fridge magnets.

That's usually because the original owners of the properties have sold the property to a foreigner, legally or not. "locals" are not "Amerindians" on a regular basis.

try cabo san lucas why bother going to mexico..

@@konichiwa3744 Then stay home. The purpose of travel is to meet different people, eat different food, see different sights and to have new experiences that will expand your mental horizons. If some sanitized version of the world is all you are after, then ride it's a small world at Disney or go to Epcot.

I remember it was a party feeling every time we left Miami. I used to work on them

Great thanks!! Agree it’s just something to do every now and then

Yes I have to agree! I sailed solo on Anthem from Cape Liberty to Caribbean a month later than you, July 2018! LOVE Anthem! 💙🛳

Cool! Glad it worked out well for you. My daughter and I sometimes go down to Bayonne and watch that ship (Anthem) leave port at 3 pm on Sundays.

If that's your definition of hard work....gimme me some😂😂😂😂

Glad to hear it! I was not sure if this format would work and be enjoyed so your feedback is very helpful! Thanks

Thanks for watching! Have a great cruise !

Have fun!!

how was it?

@@anthonynelson1187 it was awesome! I’m hooked!!

He gives terrible advice.

Did you complete your cruise yet? We're doing Western Caribbean Thanksgiving week. Stuck traveling during school breaks...hubby is a teacher.

I appreciate that! Thanks!

Oh, it was so amazing to hear about Hubs and you and Hubs. Does he call you "Petal"?

I hope it was memorable

Why wouldn’t you do it again?

@@dannyfitzpatrick9783 Hubs is now ex hubs

@@leslieebony I would definitely hang out with Mama and her friends. I loved them. I don't think I would do the part driving around the third world areas where a lot of guys walked the streets with AKs on there backs and you saw dead farm animals at the side of the road

If a problem happens with a ship sponsored excursion... The ship waits for you if you are late. If you privately nook an excursion, the ship does not wait for you.

@@lauramata4244 That's what I always believed, too - and told people over the years. But here's the thing. The big third party companies like the ones Gary mentioned have a guarantee to get you back to the ship in time. He mentioned that in the video, too. For example, Shore Excursions Group says, "We have never had a customer miss their ship. Our team possesses over 80 years of combined cruise line experience and we are not aware of a single case in which a customer on an independent tour missed a ship. In the extremely unlikely event that you miss your ship due to the late arrival of one of our tours, we will arrange and pay for your accommodations, meals, and transportation to the next port of call, and we will pay you an additional $1,000 USD per customer for the inconvenience." Others have a similar guarantee. I never booked outside the cruise line for the reason you said - I thought it was risky.

@@larry4111 k

@@lauramata4244 Comes down to risk (missing your cruise) vs reward (saving some money.)😅

@@lauramata4244 The private excursions can contact the ship directly & let them know to wait. I've seen it done.

You are completely right. On the ship it is clean and safe with loads to do, we love RC the Oasis class. We are in our early 60’s but I love zip lines and escape rooms and laser tag, etc. i also like to relax with a drink for sometime at a pool.

Completely agree. I've been to the Caribbean 9 times now, many of the same ports. I love the large ships, to me that is the vacation! Going to Europe, Hawaii and Alaska are completely different - there you want to be off the ship as much as possible!

@@danasandoval624 Isn't being out in the ocean enough to do? Why be inside when you're out there? You stay inside all day at work...

I think you are so correct about the ship experience. The entertainment at night, the food, the experience of meeting other people, relaxation on your balcony hearing the water, entertainment during the dayis truly worth the money.

Don't forget he has to make 13 minutes of "content" so he'll bring in all kinds of stuff to fill time. Some of that stuff will not be very important!

Life in the past was better. Now you need to be rich to enjoy peace. Other way you will be part of the crowd of commoners. I would prefer to have a quiet walk in forest than be among bunch of plebs

@@el-maiki Good point although he does err on the repetitive side both within videos and over the course of several videos on similar subjects. The YT algorithm ranks newer videos higher, so there is always pressure to bring out another video to stay ahead. The side effect for the viewer means there will be a certain amount of repetition.

@@el-maiki ikr? The shopping scenes were chaotic, and I don't think many men like being dragged to every little shop. Exhausting!

I do the same. Have been on a few cruises where I didn't even get off the ship at a port. Just a book and a lounge chair for the day. You can still do these things and not pay one iota of attention to the folks who are shopoholics. First thing I check out when booking a cruise is to check if the ship has a library.

I agree. My very first cruise was a Caribbean on NCL Epic, one of their biggest ships. I was overwhelmed. So my next was on the much smaller Pearl. I was bored to death! There was so little to do. Now I only cruise the biggest. I'll be doing a Transatlantic on Wonder in April.

@@larry4111 exactly, the small one may have better service, but unless you are too old to move around, then that is not my choice

I went on it in December and going back in April. Carnival did a good job on Mardi Gras. We're spoiled as we live about 45 minutes from Port Canaveral, so any good deals, we jump in :)

I have often wondered what happened to Windjammer Cruises! They used to be in all the travel magazines all the time.

@@susandhifaoui Sadly, they went out of business in late 2007/early 2008.

They had financial issues, the founder of the company ran it very well and was very hands-on. He was an astute businessman and clearly built the company into a profitable entity. After his demise his children tried to operate the company and they really ran it into the ground, Well I should say they ran the ships up on to a sandbar, let’s leave it at that. Poor business decisions.

But its closed now

Monster ships and smaller cruise ships all use the same docks as far as I know.

@@kevinmchale5660 There are ports that can't accommodate the larger ships.

For me, cruising is about the experience of the journey. If I was just interested in the destination I would fly there. Choosing between a large and small ship comes down to the experience you want to have.

Kevin and Alison. Thanks for watching and the feedback. I did this as an experiment and after doing it and edit I was not going to release it initially as thought there were too many issues (like wind sound as had not sued a good enough wind cover for the mike etc etc). But showed it to a few people and thought best to see what people thought and if it was a flop then knew! It actually takes as much / longer than the usual "talking head" as scripted it and did retackles when left things out..... ! But great to hear this feedback and learnt a lot so will try more of these. Look forward to hearing how your cruise goes. I have been asked a few times about group cruise, and some who have done them have put me off. But think I should (as with this new format test) look at doing one and seeing how that goes and what learn....

The quality of food and service on all of the major lines has gone way downhill. I quit cruising 7 years ago and switched to high end, all inclusive resorts. Much better value for money, great food and service on the whole.

@@dabsafe Yes, including gratuities, has generally meant that staff may not be working for their tips as they once did. Even then some of the gratuities are clawed back by the Cruise Companies. There are many things that have either been withdrawn from the basic fare or loads of added amounts that were once free. An officer told me that the name of the game now is to get people on board and then hit their wallets from start to finish! 😉👍

I don't go on cruises, but when I go to other countries, I book at either B&Bs or smaller hotels. It supports the locals, and there's less of a chance of running into a bunch of children. Plus, then you get a lot more attention, and the full experience of the culture. I don't drink alcohol because of my meds, so drinks included would be useless to me. A 50 yr old Irish American woman who can't drink, yay. I always rent a car and drive. The only place I parked and took a bus to was Dublin, and then just for the experience, took the DART to Dún Laoghaire. I never drive in Dublin or London. In Dublin, I always used to either walk, or hop on and off the Luas. Get a leap card, and you're good to go for transport in the City, and in surrounding areas - within limits. The rest is an easy drive. Avoid buying anything in the Temple Bar area, as that is all a tourist trap. Real Ireland is off of O'Connell Street. Just some tips if anyone plans to visit Dublin. The rest of Ireland is absolutely beautiful, too. Cork has a big indoor farmer's market in city centre. I am partial to a particular County, but won't say which, because A. I don't want to upset the ones I didn't name, and B. I don't want a bunch of visitors ruining it. My last remaining family there died off in 2012, so I haven't been back for a while. If you do the Ring of Kerry tour, there is a gentleman who is a shepherd who does a show with his dog. The show is absolutely worth your time to go and see. Do they have cruises to Ireland? I know there's an activity where people can swim with a dolphin, but I am afraid of the ocean, so I have never done it. Also, there are the Aran Islands.

At ports and with lines that use facial recognition for embark and debark (like Carnival out of PortMiami last week for me), the Customs process was a breeze. Remove mask, look at camera, it pings approval and you move on. Easy-peasy.

With smaller ships - such as those of Fred Olsen - you negate the time spent with Customs etc as there are much fewer passengers.

the staff knows my name on the bigger cruises too ! WHen I get to the casino they unroll this big red carpet for me.... ohhh wait the carpet is already red

Mine was too. Sun Viking 1975. Only 500 passengers. Service was the best. Today it's getting pretentious. Pay $48 for Steakhouse on Carnival and you don't get a Prime cut or even a Choice Cut. You get the same as a Walmart.

That's great but not everyone can afford Oceania or Regent. We're not all millionaires.

@@tazman572 on average, in addition to your cruise fare, how much do you spend on extras, like excursions, specialty restaurants, wine and drinks? I think you will find that when everything is included in the cruise fare, the cost isn’t that much more than cruising a non-luxury line. My post was 10 months ago, so I will take that as an insult to me, which is petty and unnecessary. I worked very hard for 55 years running a large company. I know how lucky I am to be able to afford luxury travel. No man ever gave me anything. My engagement ring; yes. But I worked sometimes 12 hours a day to be able to enjoy my retirement. I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Wow, thanks!

Thanks for watching. It was an experiment to try new formats and nearly didn’t release as things I thought didn’t work. But feedback and how it’s doing suggests it working more than thought it would! Lots learnt on how want to improve format but encouraging!!!

@@tipsfortravellers We thought it worked well! 😁

It’s also quite affordable. The cheapest cruise I’ve ever been on was out of Tampa on NCL and it was amazing.

Hi! No the day I recorded. Pity as i would love to be there today!! Hope you had a good day - and those good tips !!!

I have done 2 Windjammer Barefoot cruises and loved them so much. The Poly and the Legacy. It was such a unique experience. I wish they were still in business.

Or smuggle some liquor on board..

Not hard to smuggle liquor. You were allowed to bring wine on Hollander America. You could drink that in your room or pay a cork fee with your dinner in the restaurants.

That's mainly where the money comes from. They're not making much on us just getting on the ships. Def get packages or the specials if you drink or budget extra for it. When on a cruise, the feeling to get a drink def hits! haha

My first cruise to Costa Maya I decided to do the pyramids while everyone else went to the pools and free beach. It was fantastic. The next time I switched it and decided to do the beach instead. I don't regret it but I think once is enough. I had an awful experience in Roatan 3 months ago but Cozumel made up for it.

It sounds like you were in the Navy.

@@stevenhollingsworth3249 Six years three months, ET 1.

Glad you like them!

Ha ha! Wow! Especially on a Carnival cruise!

Joe Camarer , .... people use credit cards to buy and then they file for bankruptcy.

@@AronRoss72 Is carnival known as the dead in the water ships?

We have met people who said their home is filled with ‘beautiful artwork’ they bought on ships. A lot of paintings are prints that the artist adds two or three strokes to,and then sell as ‘original’

Fake buyers!