Ha - we're booked on the 6000+ MSC Virtuosa for a week at the end of Feb, Northern Europe from Southampton. I'll let you know whether it's for us or not :) We're not experienced cruisers, and no, MSC wouldn't be our first choice if we had loads of money. We're viewing it as a (relatively) cheap & cheerful option, which obviously we won't repeat if we don't enjoy it. But we're hoping we'll enjoy the entertainment, and the food, and the fact we've been able to afford a decent size cabin (sorry 'stateroom') at the bow where we can keep a lookout for icebergs.

Hey, I was on the same cruise!

Heading out on the MSC Grandiosa in 2 weeks. Not a fan of big ships but the itinerary with Malta on it is what drew us in. Any large pitfalls you found?

@@jonbowles7480 I'm sure that it will be more quiet now than when we were on. The ports of call were OK. Malta was beautiful. I hope that embarkation was OK. We had to queue around the block. I hope that you enjoy it.

i had been on 2 cruises on the sinfonia with abt less than 2000 passengers and it felt completely different and more personalised. my family left the holiday being friends with and having so many of the crew on socials

We will try R.C but waiting to hear if things get back to normal. Watched a few bloggers who said that the food in the MDR wasn’t up to par. They said they’re avid RC cruiser. We noticed on the Carnival Mardi Gras the food in the MDR wasn’t up to par as well. But I kind of expected it after Covid shut down . Just hope they don’t take too long ✌🏻

@@sunsetrescue7112 I just got off a RCI Alaska Cruise. Food all around was great! Yeah some stuff wasn’t the best but to unlearn what’s good and what’s not so good

@@RRLV434 I’ve discovered during my worldwide travels, mostly in RCI, is that what one person loves, another will hate.

Odyssey out of Rome? I loved that cruise. Sailed 9/11

We like RC (admittedly the only line I've ever been on, but he's been on a few) because it's a nice mix of fun, formal, and relaxed. And usually not swarming with too many kids.

When did you do the Viking cruise?

@@rogerbaker5090 Last summer, July 2022.

Comes with a price tag some can’t afford

@@robheb1355 Shop the sales, sign up for Viking alerts and book at last minute. My wife and I did a 14 day cruise to Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Germany and Poland, with all meals and drinks included, plus one shore excursion per port, WITH included air fare from Canada to Sweden and return from Norway all for under CAD$7,000 a person.

@@admiralbeez8143 lol bruh you paid 5000 per person its no wonder all that is included, im sure you would have spent much less just paying as you go

Too many kids on RCI for me

Too many kids on RCI for me. (Royal Caribbean International).

Wow that sounds great just got off NCL Bliss that held 4000+ people and it was just too crowded!!

We sailed RC Symphony of the seas post covid. It was weird as the ship felt empty. We took an upgrade to a crown loft suite and truly felt like royalty for the week! Anything since, has unfortunately felt quite crowded!

I absolutely love Royal Caribbean.

Who did you book you trip through? Or did you book directly? Thanks.

@@junehitchcock170 We booked directly. Their phone number is on their website.

That sounds like an amazing cruise. I have never been on a cruise and it is on my bucket list. This sounds like an amazing adventure.

@@kathrynjordan8782 We've been on several of their trips all on the NE coast of Canada and Western Greenland. We visited Iceland with them and next year are doing Scotland - Faroe Islands - Iceland with them.

@@RichardGaskellSings Thanks! Are these good for singles as well? I would love to visit Scotland.

Well said. My partner of 38 years and I started out on Carnival, back when they only had 2 ships and one was named Mardi Gras. We graduated to Holland America because we always want a suite. We live and learn for sure

Our favorite cruise line is Celebrity for that same reason. We went on RCCL Allure of The Seas and came back determined not to cruise again on such huge ships.

Just did our first Celebrity in Alaska back in September. We have always sailed Royal and Princess but Celebrity was far and away the best experience we have ever had. The food was amazing, the service was impeccable. Everyone was friendly. Definitely going to do more with Celebrity.

@@slimtny that’s EXACTLY how we felt and feel. If not for grandkids I think we would sail Exclusively with Celebrity 🥰

We just took a cruise on Holland America because my friends Auntie insisted upon it. She would only cruise on that line. Horrible time. We mainly cruise Celebrity. What a let down that line was for us. She loved it but we we will never cruise with them again. To each their own. 😉

OMG-I had my worst cruise EVER on Norwegian!

Yikes doing a cruise with Norwegian in march

I don't know if you have already commented on Viking. Doing a German river cruise next summer. Any opinion?

You cant blame the cruise line.

@@cherylschneider6903 correct. But remember your passengers sometimes reflects the port it sails from. That is something to remember when sailing from New York City

Look into the longboat River Cruises. I've done two from Amsterdam to Brussels and from Amsterdam to Budapest. Only 200 people including staff.

We talked to a travel agent prior to our first cruise. She took the time to learn about our likes/dislikes and what we wanted out of a cruise line. Ultimately, she recommended Royal Caribbean. This has worked well for us though we are starting to look at other lines as we have gotten a bit older. One thing to consider is that each class of ship may bring in a different clientele. Would recommend talking to a travel agent at the outset. Once you know the inns and outs of the classes of ship and lines, then it’s easy enough to go out on your own.

Viking are our favourites too. We have a cruise booked for next year, Rome to Venice. We know it will be fabulous.

Oceania is my favorite, not that I've tried that many. Getting ready to go on the Vista in February 2024.

I’ll definitely check this cruise line out! I love history as well.

What ship did you sail on?

We have been on Holland America and Princess as well, for the seven day Alaska cruise out of Seattle. The Alaska cruise is by far the best one in that it feels like everything is more upscale; entertainment, food, service, etc. But then per day cost makes it one of the more expensive itineraries, too.

@@littleleers I just looked at Costcos Alaska cruises for 2023 last night. One way from Vancouver BC..All on the starboard (right) side are taken where the views are. A few on the port (left)…will have to keep looking. I’d go Alaska Marine Highway If I had some privacy and comfort. Just don’t think I can handle that rustic anymore.

Congratulations you like HAL,I'm Indonesian,I worked as a dining room steward a long time ago,now 64,If I have a chance I want to take my wife,my son and daughter in law for cruise on HAL as nostalgia🙏

@@littleleers which one would you recommend, I heard glacier bay important

I appreciate that. Thanks :-)

Totally agree. Gary's videos are always well presented and informative.

I watch a few Cruise vloggers or whatever you call them and Gary by far is the most in depth,informative one by far . Not saying I don’t enjoy others but some tend to just focus on what’s in the headlines.Gary’s subject matters have actually saved us from some costly mistakes. Thanks, Gary ❤️✌🏻

I don't even cruise and STILL love watching good videos. I'm learning a lot should I ever find myself about to go on one.

You should absolutely go on one. The videos and info are great. But you can't imagine how wonderful a great cruise is. But again like Gary always points out, its just as important to find the right ship and itinerary. This community would love to have you.

8

Jean we are on the Rotterdam for Christmas this year, I am so excited and looking forward to that cruise more than anything else, I hope you have a fantastic cruise as well.

@@carolynadams1249 We are on Rotterdam in January! Can’t wait! Have fun on your Christmas cruise! 😊

Glad u enjoyed. I been on others then carnival & on HAL 3& this dec 12be the 4th. I was in carnival March 2022 happy birthday east coast party. I gonon Oceania 2nd cruise Jan 4th2023 .

STAY AWAY FROM CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE!!!! there is a big massive and multiple reasons to why, Carnival is so much cheaper. lol. get what you pay for people.

My 1st cruise was on the Rotterdam in 2013. Caribbean. I loved it. We’re cruising on the Oosterdam in June to the Mediterranean.

I went on my 1st cruise last month on the Panorama. Had a fantastic time and am ready to cruise again.

LOVE that Havana space!!! So relaxing!

That sounds amazing. I didn't know that even existed.

@@teresaforsyth6185 Yes - and they are focused on fresh local food, picking up from local sources each day.

@@teresaforsyth6185 they are not like a real cruise ship. They started out as transportation ship along the Norwegian coast. Now they have cabins and a couple of suites but that’s it. No entertainment as such like on real cruises, you’ve got the views and that’s included 😅there’s another line though that is just starting out, Havila, brand new electric ships and more amenities. Worth a look 😊

I agree. And I cruise on the Nautica Oceania because they remember you and your likes, etc. I love to cruise and waiting to go on a worldwide one. Although I'm afraid I'll miss my gkids.

@@barbaraz.5396 I hear they charge for hot beverages on board - is that right? Great pity they don’t do solo prices b

Celebrity has been ou favourite so far but we're going to the Canary Islands/Madeira/Morocco/Spain for 14 nights on Norwegian Sun in March.As a French/English speaker myself I would love a more French presence but the French lines such as Ponant are much more expensive. We were disappointed last year in Rome, the Greek islands and Istanbul which were overrun despite it being only late May. Also it was around 35c. every day - unseasonably hot.

Now that’s a dream cruise! And what’s more, the ship is designed to protect you from everything!

I am going on a cruise next week…..and I noticed that differential/upselling promotions increased, well beyond the shore excursions and including simple things like coffee! This special area pricing is upsetting and obviously their business model of charging more for other rooms is just feeding into pockets of owners that don’t want to bear their risks…..just set up various pricing levels and see what the passengers will pay. It also goes back to the Titanic days of affordability from luxury to stowage. I just hope my room is not in stowage! And 2 weeks out from the cruise, the management (no named management) sent a letter saying that all dinner reservations are cancelled due to capacity issues. I’m not sure what that meant and it’s both confusing and makes me wonder about service levels. Fortunately, I booked this cruise for the sailing location and views.

Good to know. It’s nice to hear the comparison. I just got off the Carnival Horizon from an 8 day cruise and I loved most of it.

If you’ve only cruised Carnival and Princess, you don’t have much to compare them to.

@@cherifurr3935 well la-ti-da. Good grief, snob much? There are people on here who say they sail only X cruise line but then proceed to bash other cruise lines. This person had a great cruise and you are bashing them because apparently they haven't sailed every cruise line like you have. Sheesh.

We just recently began sailing carnival and have very much enjoyed. Because of the cost savings, I can usually book a larger cabin. I personally cruise for the ports and the time on the water (and a great balcony for reading). Food not as great as other lines, but its fine - always can find something we like! I like that there's a bit more to do when I do venture out of the cabin!

Where are they supposed to cut cost if not the food? Staff wages? The amount of food waste on cruises is actually shocking so I think cutting food choices is an excellent idea. I bet nobody will starve if there are 3 pizza choices instead of 5!

PCL is owned by HAL, both of which are subsidiaries of Carnival Corporation. So the types of food/ingredients available onboard likely aren't going to be that different between the two. HOWEVER, that being said, food quality also varies ship to ship depending on the head chef onboard at the time. I worked on multiple cruise lines for about a decade, and often saw big differences within the same contract when one chef left a ship and another came on. Totally dependent on the staff that happens to be on the individual ship at the time you're cruising.

(also, the newer Princess ships have Alfredo's Pizzeria and have pizza at Sabbatini's during the day, and offer a much larger variety of pizza options than the pizza on the Lido deck)

I agree. And I like small ships for older people, of which I am over 55. I enjoy culture and food. Not the big ships like Carnivals that's for families and kids. Nothing wrong with it but it's too busy and loud for me .

Awesome! You sound like me when I took my first cruise and chose Royal. They were absolutely phenomenal, from the food, entertainment, to the service. I've been hooked ever since. I do try other cruise lines but Royal/Celebrity are my favorites. # loyaltoroyal Glad you enjoyed your birthday!

@@ladiuneeq9789 Thanks!

I suppose when I am in my 80s or 90s I might be ready for a more sedate cruise.

@@elouise5593 lol

I’ve cruised on Holland America more times than I can count Just sailed across the Atlantic on their new Rotterdam They keep cutting all the things that made them special and everything revolves around their app I don’t want to be messing with a phone on holiday and there wasn’t a USB outlet anywhere including your cabin I could write a book on how bad they’ve become

I agree Cory. I ok with my many past carnival including 4dy March 2022 yet not same as HAL special topics etc. I sail 11dec HAL

@@elouise5593 then Holland will be perfect it’s for the 80-90 year olds who are barely breathing. I hope you never get too old to have fun and stay away from the geriatric cruises

America First!

You'll also want to avoid New Orleans. It’s not well organized and often makes people late for flights.

It was bad the first time we sailed out of Galveston but not so bad last year!

I love Oceania!

Glad you enjoyed it! thanks !

I agree with you we be diamond in October

I just got off an 8 day cruise on the Horizon today.

@@patriciautley3824 my kids and husband just turned platinum. We enjoyed the laundry services. Lol

STAY AWAY FROM CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE!!!! there is a big massive and multiple reasons to why, Carnival is so much cheaper. lol. get what you pay for people.

@@nexpro6118 we are diamond with carnival tried 2 RC shipx and was not impressed with food or service and couldn't book 3 of the shows they were booked up by people who went more than once and a lot more money for 3 people and the room was smaller

Celebrity is our favorite! Entertainment, food, and extras on board makes it a better line in my opinion.

The Glory is a nice ship.

we took our kids on Carnival-no issues with it being "boozy". I think it depends on the number of days. 7-day cruises are more expensive and the younger wild crowd can't afford them.

Done 10 Transpacific cruises. Never had a problem with rough seas, hope this helps ☺️

@@karencossar1827 yes! Thank you. 😊

I prefer smaller ships but I have always had excellent service with Costa. Food is always exquisite and I find the cruises are always good value for money.

My favorite to cruise lines are royal Caribbean and celebrity. I don’t cruise on anybody, but those two.

There are 2 companies. Carnival Cruise line and Carnival Corp who is the parent company. Cruise lines that they own, eg Princess, HAL, Cunard, P&O etc are all run separately.

Absolutely agree re: Carnival---nothing wrong with that line--actually they port within driving distance and the fares are great....but, never as a solo again.

Cruised with Cunard many times, we love it. Done celebrity once, never again. Benidorm on sea. Good for the masses, not for the more refined. Each to their own.

My favorite cruise line is Disney and I don't have kids. Stay in the area for adults and you have no oroblems

Just make sure your Costa Captain doesn't abandon ship before you in the event of a grounding !!

@@colingregson8653 not a nice joke!

@@TERUBOTSU I thought it was funny)))

There are only certain places Large ships can go due to their size

Right there with you! Tried RC Oasis and loved it. So much to do, great entertainment, adult solarium. Went on smaller Princess Emerald and there was NOTHING to do on the ship at night. Same thing each night, karaoke, piano players at the bar and Trivia. Everyone was asleep by 11:00.

@@davidbrowne3761 they can tender.

I feel this too that people are venting more and being less balanced too

I agree

I like MSC virtuosa. Great stuff

Most of the more severe illnesses happen to people because an upsetting event occurs in their lives taking them by surprise, unexpectedly, impacting first in the brain, then in the corresponding organ which that part of the brain controls. The end of WWI had absolutely everything to do with the Flu and lung TB outbreak that occurred killing millions. In nature, the biological conflict linked with a territorial fear (just what it means-a fear in your territory, your home, your community, etc.) is a widening of the bronchia (tissue loss). Your body attempts to widen your bronchia in order to allow more air into your lungs to give you more strength and energy to fight to keep your territory safe. Stay with me.......The biological conflict linked with a death fright impacts the lungs. The lungs attempt to grow larger in order to allow more air in because breath equals life, as we all know. No breath equals death. While you are in the fear or death fright conflict, you notice no symptoms of “disease”, except you have cold hands, cold feet, you can’t sleep, you awaken at 3 AM every night, you have little appetite. During the war, millions of people were in fear of the bombing of their homes and cities where the war was most active. Fearing for their lives, their loved ones in the war, their ability to survive. The food in the stores was sparse due to shortages. This lasted for 4 long years! The longer the conflict, the worse the healing phase. Within 2 weeks of the German Chancellor announcing the end of WWI, these millions of people ALL went into the healing phase all at the same time. It is during the healing phase that you experience symptoms of illness! What is the healing phase of the bronchia widening? Severe bronchitis, pneumonia. The body attempts to refill this lost tissue and you experience inflammation, fever, coughing, body aches, fatigue, etc. What is the healing phase of the extra lung tissue that grew? Decomposing of the tissue by TB bacteria and fungi. The symptoms of this healing phase are: severe coughing up of blood and tissue, fever, inflammation, severe mucous, body aches, fatigue. During this decomposing of the extra tissue (tumor), the body expels a lot of protein, and without replenishment, severe protein loss can result in death. Antibiotics did not exist yet. If TB bacteria does not exist in a person or they have been vaccinated against TB (big mistake), then the tumor will simply encapsulate and become dormant and not harm you. Who died during the Spanish Flu? Mainly the poor who could not afford to buy meat and proper nourishment, and the people who were directly impacted by the bombings and destruction of their homes. Millions of people suffered fear and death frights during the fighting of WWI, and millions of people all went into healing at the end of it. Not everyone was affected because not everyone suffered the same way. It’s not a “flu”, it’s not something you “catch”. It’s biological, meaningful, and unavoidable. One hundred years later, a Fear Campaign begins, using the media to spread it.....