5 Big Differences I've Noticed Between American and British Cruise Lines

I've cruised with both American and British cruise lines and have noticed many big differences between the two. From the price you pay to the experience on board, you can expect the experience to be different.
In this video, we look at the biggest differences that I've noticed comparing American and British cruise lines. Which is better? Leave me a comment.
To learn more about the biggest and best British cruise lines, check out this post: emmacruises.com/british-cruis...
▶ SUBSCRIBE for weekly cruise tips, tours and news: bit.ly/34ltwZi
▶ STAY UP TO DATE: emmacruises.com/news
▶ JOIN US ON PATREON: bit.ly/3kmSZan
▶ BOOKING A CRUISE? (UK only): bit.ly/3mf9FRZ
***
Background World Map: enjoythewood.com/?rfsn=543354... (Affiliate link)
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Never ever ever ever cruise without travel insurance! Compare quotes here:
emmacruises.com/travel-insura...
▶ Recommended Cruise Lines: bit.ly/31zjoL0
▶ Recommended Blog/KZbin Resources: bit.ly/2HnSjn1
LEARN MORE:
www.emmacruises.com/about
Let’s Connect!
/ emmacruises
/ emmacruises
[e-mail]
Facebook Group: bit.ly/2Hr3c7s

[@adeleshaak4107]

I used to apologize to guests because my building is so old the bathrooms don't have sockets. Now I'll just tell them it is British Style.

[@gyes99]

It's much like the hot and cold tap on the remote end of the sink. You can't mix both. This is also british style and a lot safer:)

[@bethd.6670]

One of the problems with having sales tax be part of the price in general in the US is that it is not a Federal sales tax - it varies state to state, and sometimes county to county. When I lived in PA and worked in retail, we always had to adjust tax on returns for purchases one county over because the sales tax was different. So, when I order something online, the sales tax isn't calculated until I put in my address. It is super frustrating.

[@EmmaCruises]

So confusing! Thanks for watching 😀👏🏼

[@supergran62]

Same in Australia. We have switches on our sockets. This confuses me too in US and Europe. Also - I agree that cruise lines should pay a fair wage for the staff and charge the fair accordingly. I hate tipping. It’s so unnatural for an Aussie.

[@EmmaCruises]

Yeah! Thanks for watching 😀👏🏼

[@Plethorality]

@@EmmaCruises another Aussie here,, if they cant afford to pay their staff, they cant afford to run a business. If they dont want to pay staff properly, they dont deserve the staff. Slavery is not employment.

[@timhutchinson3264]

5:30 In the US we have sockets in the bathroom because we use GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter), which immediately (1/40 of a second) cuts the power when tripped. And by the way, I can speak from very personal experience that it works! 😉

[@saschamayer4050]

Only in newer homes. Really old houses don't have such fancy stuff. 😉

[@simpsonsim07]

Homes in the uk have an equivalent system but for the whole house.

[@neilbarnett3046]

In the UK, a bathroom can have a "shaver socket" fitted, which is transformer-isolated. They are sometimes 3 pins in a row, left pair is 110V and right pair is 220V.

[@stellaz2595]

@@simpsonsim07 Some U.S. homes have whole house GFCI as well.

[@nitab1971]

You've convinced this American who loves the UK that I need to book a British cruise. I've been planning a drive around in Scotland with my son and his wife since before Covid. No luck yet, obviously. I must have been a Brit in a previous life, 'cause I just love you all and your Great Britain!

[@23oakhill]

Well Nita, we love our American cousins too. Please do come and try the old country. Our history and traditions are almost always enjoyed by my American friends, and forget what you hear about the food, it’s is great.

[@nigelhamilton815]

That's a really nice thing to say ,thank you.

[@nitab1971]

@@23oakhill Alison, I've been several times, and it's like I'm home. I love England. I do think that Scotland is a bit of a secret...it's gorgeous!!!

[@23oakhill]

@@nitab1971 you are right, it is beautiful , and at the moment ,sunny!

[@tedsgirluk736]

We love our American friends too ❤️

[@boatlover1875]

Love your videos. Go easy on the US electric sockets. We have a huge amount of safety built in to our building codes particularly in newer construction. Circuits in kitchens, bathrooms and bedrooms are protected by sophisticated protection devices. You could be taking a bath and drop a running hair dryer into the tub with you. The breaker would cut power so fast you wouldn't be harmed in the least.

[@Species-lj8wh]

The other reason is that the US plugs have half the voltage running through the standard wall sockets.

[@daveaglasgow]

​@@Species-lj8wh yes but they have double the amps. Higher amps is more dangerous than higher watts.

[@Jammeraz1955]

We usually book at least 6 months or a year prior to the cruise. Then we check the price each month for any price drops.

[@chrishorbatt3504]

In the US we have electric in the bathrooms because we use gfci outlets which trip if there's a problem with water

[@brianstuart1867]

Chris is right. To explain - a GFCI is a Ground Fault Circuit Interruptor which will cut the electricity off if water (such as might be found in a bathroom) comes into contact with the plug. It's like having a seat belt in a car to protect in case of an accident, vs the British version of telling you that since accidents can sometimes happen, cars are not allowed.

[@mariusvanc]

But UK plugs have fuses built into them, which is superior to circuit-level only fuses. The circuit fuse protects the circuit/wires in the wall, but does squat all for the cord you plug into the wall. You can easily exceed the power rating of the cord without exceeding the power rating of the circuit. Having a fuse (which costs pennies) in the plug matched to the rating the the cord, makes everything safer.

[@cherylq709]

@@chriswilliams6568 Because water and electricity don't mix. Prevention is better than cure; ask the EU about that. Also, if you live in a flat or apartment where there are no windows in the bathroom you need the light to see and the extraction fan does exactly that; it extracts moisture from the air to regulate the room and limit mould growth and dampness.

[@cherylq709]

@@chriswilliams6568 Unless people are in council (local government) housing where it's possible for the WC to be separate from the bathroom, it's otherwise not commonplace for it to be separate. The vast majority of housing in the UK doesn't have the WC separate from the rest of the bathroom. The term "cloakroom" for a downstairs WC (another rarely used acronym in modern Britain, unless you're a snob) is no more ridiculous than the American term "restrooms". Truly, does anyone really actually rest when doing their business?

[@chrishorbatt3504]

@@pulaski1 just wondering, a typicall outlet in the UK is 230v are both terminals powered and no neutral like 230v in US? What is amp on a typical wall outlet in UK? I like your reply about gfci and breaker being different, that was basically what i meant in my original comment.

[@adeleshaak4107]

Canada also has tax added above the advertised price of things. It has to do with being aware of how much tax we pay; if you just pay the sticker price you don't realize that the store is actually not getting all that money.

[@brettallenthomas]

loved the "video on phone" effect.. very cool

[@michelealkins616]

in the US if we buy a hat and the price drops before we cut the sales tags off of it we can take it back for a refund and buy another one at the new lower price or with a new coupon, etc. i do it all the time, as long as I haven’t worn/used the item yet.

[@EmmaCruises]

Why would you not cut the tag off? 😂👏🏼

[@michelealkins616]

@@EmmaCruises keep tag on until you wear it specifically so you can return it if the price drops! 😅

[@jendubay3782]

I assure you, Shepherd’s pie and roast beef are both very common foods in America- many of our fast food restaurants serve roast beef.

[@EmmaCruises]

Thanks for watching 😀👏🏼

[@danielmccray7013]

I think my wife and I would prefer UK cruising. We like it more quiet. Guess that’s why we sail mostly on RCL smaller ships. 😎

[@susancarriker6645]

Try Viking - we love it (all included and no kids or casinos)

[@dresser6135]

@@susancarriker6645 No kids...hallelujah...

[@cremebrulee4759]

@@dresser6135 yes!

[@LynetteEdsall]

I WISH US cruise lines would allow us to have a kettle or a coffee maker in the room. Getting lukewarm water from room service, or trying to look presentable enough to go to the buffet to collect a coffee, is no fun!

[@johnnagustafson9996]

I have taken my "travel size" electric kettle on every cruise that I have been on and never had a problem. I also take tea (PG Tips).

[@LynetteEdsall]

@@johnnagustafson9996 I tried that on my last Royal Caribbean cruise and they took it away....wah! The pile of appliances, power strips, fans etc. was huge. I got mine back-I hope everyone else did too!

[@johnnagustafson9996]

@@chriswilliams6568 I have watched a few ship/cabin tour videos posted on KZbin that show a kettle, cups, tea etc in the cabin for sailings out of Australia and England. So apparently the this rule is for sailings out of the USA.

[@johnnagustafson9996]

@@LynetteEdsall I am prepared to have it confiscated. I know it is a risk. Idea....you could take a tea pot, your own full size or small room service size, up to the buffet restaurant and fill it with hot water. But then of course I would be in my PJs if I did that every morning....lol

[@kvom01]

@@johnnagustafson9996 That's a nono on cruises I've booked. I guess you can hide it from cabin staff.

[@leahoverman392]

We would prefer the price to be the price here too.

[@vetgmacatmomfl2055]

Yes. yes we would 😁

[@braidedsilver]

Yes, definitely! It’s misleading and it takes all the extra work of almost checking out for me to figure out the actual price we have to budget for before we buy.

[@janebullock2447]

Having cruised a few times with P and O and once with Carnival, both have been amazing. Two minor points - the sinage on Carnival was so much better and the American children were ultra polite.when we went on the Carnival cruise we had to fit in with my daughter's work so went in American school holiday time. Thus there were a lot of American children on board.

[@EllisFeaster]

I live in Florida, the land of cruises… or at least it used to be. I had been bouncing around the idea of doing a P&O, but I wasn’t sure about it. After hearing you talk about it, I think I will do it… when we are able too! Love your videos!

[@SunnyTravels]

I LOVE the video clip of the tea when you were STILL TALKING on the phone! 😂🤣😆😄 - ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT!

[@TAEng-ug8kb]

I REALLY like the idea of having the complete cost listed up front, even with the gratuities (I've always considered the auto-gratuities to be part of the crew compensation package and not really "discretionary"); I wish the US booking sites would adopt the one-price model. And when Cunard started having kettles in the cabin that was such a nice change! I wish Princess would follow suit, or at least have it as an option that you can request from your steward. I've watched enough Big Clive videos to develop an appreciation for UK electrics (fused plugs FTW!), but I still don't understand the switches on each outlet. If you're going to poke things into the outlet that you shouldn't, you're probably going to fiddle with the switch also. The safety shutters are great, though.

[@pleasedontwatchthese9593]

I find the switch one the socket useful. I use it for things that don't have off buttons like clocks, Christmas lights, internet modems. But also some thing even take power when their off. Like phone chargers. It's better than unplugged stuff all the time

[@themole1944]

Thanks Emma brilliant as usual we can trust you with keeping us up to date,keep up the good work.

[@EmmaCruises]

Thanks John! 😀👏🏼

[@enjoyinglifeoneportatatime251]

Absolutely great info! Who would have known the differences between bookings & cruising being from different countries. Quiet, that's exactly why we cruise with Holland America Lines. Thanks for the vlog Emma! Enjoying Life One Port at a Time! ❤️

[@EmmaCruises]

Ooo yes! I’d like to try Holland America sometime 😀❤️

[@vibra1mycin]

Hello Emma, I absolutely enjoy watching your videos in particular listening to your British accent and speaking voice. Thank you.

[@mm-yt8sf]

it seems unsurprising (and sad) that in our (american) lust for low low prices that our whole model does everything it can to produce the lowest number and shift it to various fees. i've heard a reason for tax not included is because for all the different regional tax codes, a national labelling would be difficult and i suppose once national brands offload tax from price, even small business would feel the need to compete with those prices. tipping too..it seems to have started out as a nice idea of "extra" but then became a cost shifting for businesses to pay below minimum wage and once people hear tips are that important to a worker, it reinforces the system. i'm not sure how we'll ever get out of it. i much prefer a simpler expectation of prices like your british model...which is strange because i've only ever experienced this model :-D

[@EmmaCruises]

Yeah I’m not sure either 😂❤️

[@christianoliver3572]

AW come on! Toad in the hole?? Yorkshire pudding? You've got to love the food over there!! Christmas pudding?? How about a pasty?

[@EmmaCruises]

Mmmmm 🤤🤤🤤🤤

[@ThomasR119]

The only thing on this list that I have tried is a pasty, but a toad in the hole sounds fantastic!

[@teresafinch7790]

@@ThomasR119 it is

[@hobsonp67]

And don’t forget the black pudding at breakfast, or kidney., talking of kidney & pudding….steak & kidney pud mmmmm

[@cottydry]

Emma, your videos just keep getting better and better and better!!!

[@michelealkins616]

i love your videos, Emma! so interesting and such a fresh perspective! thank you! i love your “British-isms”! they give me something to talk about w/my teen boys! they know a lot of them but we have fun trying to stump each other! I’ve rather impressed them since I started watching your channel! and it’s hard for a parent to impress an American teen! 😆

[@EmmaCruises]

Hahaha!!! I love that so much!! Educating the world a little bit at a time 🤣❤️

[@JamesonThomas24]

This is the video I’ve always wanted, but never knew to ask for

[@EmmaCruises]

I love this comment, thanks so much! 😀👏🏼

[@christianoliver3572]

Cunard will always have my heart! My first crossing was on the QE2!!

[@EmmaCruises]

Yess! Sounds good! 😁🥳

[@christianoliver3572]

@@EmmaCruises She's a wonderful ship!! I've also had the pleasure to enjoy 6 crossings on the Queen Mary!! And with the exception of one November day it's always THE BEST!! So when seas get rough y'all bring the Ping Pong tables inside!! It was the most polite thing I've ever seen --

[@christianoliver3572]

I don't know why that sticks in my mind but it does - We were told not be on her deck because of rough seas. So as Texan as we said NOPE! And we...... Learned some manners!! But hey that's how I learned to play darts!!

[@abduramax]

Very great information, I had no idea there were all these differences .

[@EmmaCruises]

Yay thanks Kevan! :D

[@jtcoffee6225]

My husband and I prefer a quieter cruise. Plus I would love having a kettle in my room for tea.

[@EmmaCruises]

Yes! It’s brilliant 😀👏🏼

[@dchenkin02]

The premium and small ship US lines are definitely quieter than Carnival, Royal Carribean, and Norwegian. I have heard Holland America is good at catering to an older demographic, Oceania is also good for those look for ships of less than 1500 passengers without children.

[@jtcoffee6225]

@@dchenkin02 I don't consider myself older. I just like quiet. Holland America is also more expensive.

[@happytraveller2122]

I’ve been able to get my cruises prices dropped after I’ve booked one. And that’s why I love using an agent. I like doing the research - looking for the right cruise, checking prices, looking for good available cabins etc but then I hand it all to my wonderful agent and she does the booking. And this has come in very handy when I see the price drop, because she handles it for me. And More so with this dreadful Covid situation , she has been the one that has rebooked cancelled cruises for me, and in fact slid seven cruises across to new dates. She has had to do this three times now for me, and I’m so glad that she’s doing it and not me sitting on the phone for hours trying to organise it. I will always use an agent.

[@webstermitchell2335]

DEFINITELY want to do a P&O Cruise around the British Isles now (I'm from the US), I think you HAVE to do the full British immersion😁, going to do it, VERY INFORMATIVE video, thank you!

[@jacquelyns9709]

Carnival ships I have been on have served Afternoon Tea one day of the cruise. The biggest problem has been getting them to refill the tea cup.

[@christianoliver3572]

Good on you for including the ' wind in the hair' experience!! Hey isn't that what we ALL look like up on deck??

[@EmmaCruises]

Haha!! I would hope so! 🤣👏🏼

[@Star-Boarder]

Insightful, thank you.

[@EmmaCruises]

Thanks for watching 😀👏🏼

[@robertewalt7789]

We cruised with Queen Mary 2, owned by Cunard, which is part of Carnival. A little more formal than Princess, but still good. Excellent high tea of course.

[@EmmaCruises]

Yesss, absolutely. Love it 😀❤️

[@KP-gn5is]

Emma your videos are getting better and better all the time! Here in Australia a lot of your British-isms are the same as ours. It would be awesome to see which country uses one of the mentioned “isms” or what they say instead or if they have an “ism” for it at all. 🤣 Here in the land of Oz, we are a a bit of a mix between the US & UK. We have power plugs in the bathroom 😁. We have “all inclusive” pricing here. But our taxes are mostly federal, across the board, all the same. Unfortunately the US tax system is far more complex & it varies from federal, state and even county (I think🤔) etc. We don’t typically do gratuities here either. Our minimum wage is $20.33 per hour, although it miiiiiggghhhtt be possible to pay someone less if you provide things like room & board etc. (or if your on a traineeship/ apprenticeship) It’s also a requirement that a breakdown of the cost is provided, so we should know how much is accommodation, taxes etc.. (unless they are considered NDAs).

[@AT-fp3sg]

Great video! We were thinking of doing a cruise over there in October because we were going to go to see the Atlanta Falcons play in London this year. Unfortunately, we can't go but this hopefully will still happen at some point!

[@EmmaCruises]

Oooo!! Yess! Fingers crossed for you 😁🙏

[@ElizabethKilbride]

I totally agree with you Emma about including the gratutities in the overall price, makes much better sense. If a Guest wants to give a server more tips funds, that's up to them, but it's so much easier to know how much a vacation will cost if everything is included in the overall price tag. Smart Brits and European's for including tips in final ipfront costs.

[@TheRiverPirate13]

So interesting Emma! Here in my quaint little village of St Augustine we have a British pub/restaurant called "King's Head" run by a lovely British lady from London. She serves authentic dishes from the British Isles. Now you have me thinking to check the menu for Toad in the Hole. Lol!

[@EmmaCruises]

Ooo sounds awesome! Tell her to add it 😂🥰

[@charlieboy418]

I remember years ago when cruising out of Canada with P&O, Arcadia being the ship, Princess was being advertised as ' Part of the growing world of P&O '. Made three cruises with P&O and then more with Princess. I enjoyed both experiences but I think will now stick with Princess.

[@taureanblue]

In Canada, toad in the hole is a piece of bread with a hole in the middle where you put the egg. You fry the whole thing up in a pan. The British version sounds tastier!

[@happytraveller2122]

In Australia too

[@tallflguy]

I haven’t been on a British cruise line but it seems that I would love it. Afternoon tea (no milk), calm environment, sign me up!

[@EmmaCruises]

Haha!! Yes!! I’m the same, black tea 😀❤️

[@simbacat5173]

I didn’t know that about plug sockets haha I googled it. We have the on and off switch too in Australia just like the UK didn’t know the US didn’t! But we have plug sockets in our bathrooms.. I learnt something new!

[@maoren95]

Great video.

[@hobsonp67]

Thanks Emma, I’m on a uk sea action in September and I just checked the price and it had gone down. Picked up the phone and i was gobsmacked (britishism for a future video). The US based company charged me £100 to cancel & rebook. However I had been given a £150 gift future cruise credit when I paid for the cruise. To my surprise the used this for the new booking and I am due a refund of about 20% of the original fare. I would have been happy with a freebie in the steakhouse, but I am now totally delighted with the line. Don’t want to mention the name but they have a massive sea witch on the front of the ship😂

[@SmallLab129]

"US cruises have a lot of flashing lights, very lively". I think that explains the US pretty well in general =) Also plugs always have power. Helps thin out the herd. When you're young and stick a fork in the socket, you learn quickly that's bad. Yes, yes I did that.

[@robertewalt7789]

We bought plastic plugs to put in sockets to protect our US bred son when he was a baby.

[@scottn7cy]

The wife and I have a Cunard trans-Atlantic crossing on our bucket list. We are saving for it now!

[@EmmaCruises]

Sounds good! 😁🥳

[@kimberlarsen8422]

UAS! USA! 🇺🇸 Yes we tend to be a bit roudy over here in the states. So I'm not surprised at all to hear that our cruises are equally as such. Haha! However thanks entirely to you I have added a cruise with Cunard to my cruise bucket list. I think it sounds just lovely. Thank you Emma.

[@joshuamurray4997]

But speaking as a travel agent in Canada. Please take your agent with you, we would love that!!! Have a safe sailing Emma.

[@kd0r]

What's the best way to get from the US to Britain? Why taking an ocean liner of course. There's only one ocean liner, Queen Mary 2. It's a great way to get to your British or European cruise. Or whatever it might be that you're doing on the east side of the pond. David

[@bruciethecuz9031]

We absolutely love afternoon tea aboard Princess ships. My wife being a tea drinker extraordinaire and me even caving in to have some, we love the little treats and finger sandwiches they serve during tea. Yum ! 😋👍👍👍

[@EmmaCruises]

Yum!!! 😀❤️

[@wendykoek6757]

P&O UK 🇬🇧 have beautiful looking ships seen a few videos of them all the best for Anthem Of The Seas too.I love Toad In The Hole with sausages and my Mum used to do it with fore-quarter chops, also Mum used to make Yorkshire Pudding too for a roast dinner another favourite too I miss it too.

[@patriciarobinson5400]

Love seeing Hudson😍

[@celiamartin2907]

I love Cunard, my favorite line. After hearing you, I want to try a P&O cruise. I love British food. And afternoon Tea

[@EmmaCruises]

Yess! 😀❤️

[@mercyrodriguez5780]

We are waiting on Celebrity in November and Princess Cruises in February and they are both now all inclusive, tips, WiFi and drinking packages all included.

[@EmmaCruises]

Sounds good! 😁🥳

[@malcolm4672]

Hi Emma, being a Kiwi I don't agree with tipping/gratuities what ever they want to call them. As you said the price is the price. I do notice in the UK they try to put a 10% service charge on at restaurants they do say this is optional, so I don't pay it. Great content on your channel by the way.

[@EmmaCruises]

Thank you! 😁❤️

[@GayCapeMan]

Love see your face on the phone at 5:47 great editing and cool effect

[@EmmaCruises]

Haha!! I thought I was being clever there 🤣❤️

[@GayCapeMan]

@@EmmaCruises you were and it was amazing

[@mehrdadmahmoudi3681]

The afternoon tea will be highlight for sure.

[@EmmaCruises]

Absolutely 😀❤️

[@nmccw3245]

Back in the Love Boat days, Princess was owned by P&O.

[@davedove67]

Because they are such a significant cost, I wish they would just include the gratuities in the price as well. In fact, I generally pre-pay them if afforded that option. If, as you say, P&O are comparable to Princess, I'm ready to go. When the Strictly Come Dancing cruises start again, i want to take one of them.

[@EmmaCruises]

Yeah!! I think so. Agreed me too 😀❤️

[@TitoTimTravels]

I agree. When I moved to the Philippines I quickly got used to seeing the real price. If something is marked 100 pesos - you pay 100 pesos. In the US if something is marked 1 dollar, you can pay $1.10, $1.20... depends on what state or city you are in. Each level of government adds their own tax, but it is not part of the advertised price. Very annoying.

[@kiwiboycorza]

I'm from Australia but I'd have to say European or American plugs are the best. Especially if your appliance has an input where the cord goes in 1 direction either left or right. You can just flip it.

[@hunterseuren4887]

5:26 australia has very similar 3 point plugs with switches

[@dean._.0.0]

Booking carnival from the US gratuities are often allowed to pay before the cruise. so that might be helpful to add. in my experiences.

[@Jammeraz1955]

We booked a 14 day Princess Baltic Cruise for July 2022 from England.

[@uptown3636]

As an Anglophile (and anglophone, for that matter) American, this video makes my heart ache because of which side of the pond I call home. Two asides: 1) I couldn’t agree more about how important it is to pay gratuities for the sake of the countless unseen crew members. They work so hard, and they deserve our gratitude and support. 2) Emma, full-time KZbin-combined with your post-pandemic return to the seas-seems to suit you well. Your channel keeps leveling up, and I’m glad to be along for the ride. Keep up the good work!

[@EmmaCruises]

Haha, thanks so much! Appreciate that 😀❤️

[@SunnyTravels]

Don't worry! I'm looking your vid! Pricing in the US is all tricky marketing.

[@Codvideoprojects]

I've seen American recipies for Toad in the Hole, but it's a fried egg in a piece of bread, also known as Egg in a Nest.

[@julianbrelsford]

As an American, I definitely like the UK/Europe way of communicating about prices -- since taxes/fees are mandatory and tipping is expected, just advertise the price that includes all of those things. When I compare cruises, or compare a cruise to another activity, I want to know the actual price I will pay and not the price i will pay before tax & tip

[@mannyistheman2221]

Emma, you make me want to go on a cruise 😊

[@Alex-ur8kd]

Well, thank you for informative video! I've been three times on Marella cruises, and the only Ukrainian passenger, while appr 1/3 of the crew were Ukrainians, so had a few perks;))

[@StandardGoose]

In the US they have a puffed up sweet pancake called a Dutch Baby. A Yorkshire pudding is that but savoury.

[@eclipseflooringdaz1656]

Great video Emma. Just got off Iona today and looking at a cruise for 2023. We thought this ship was to big and to many people and only 4300 on her. It was amazing though. We have done 5 P&O cruises now and like oceana best. But want to try a different cruise line. What do you think would be a good one to try. From Southampton or Liverpool.

[@brucetelfeyan]

I just adore the British-isms! A real treat for me, personally.

[@EmmaCruises]

Thanks Bruce! 😀❤️

[@tmlforsyth]

In the US, you can call Costco Travel and you might get me :)

[@Sailor_alan]

Having worked on British cruise ships the gratuities don't filter into all departments and some of the most hardworking staff onboard that people don't see or interact with get zero percentage of the tips. And unfortunately they are some of the worst paid people onboard that work some of the longest hours.

[@HaleewithaFlair]

It is so different!

[@EmmaCruises]

Hah! Yes!! So many people from the UK (and probably the US) don’t realise how much choice there is 😀❤️ Thanks for watching!!

[@Supersquishyawesomeness]

Toad in the hole is something completely different in the United States.

[@alanarmstrong3775]

My wife and I cruise on Viking and Oceania. Both have afternoon tea. 1200 passengers is enough. Viking does not allow passengers under 21 and the youngest we have seen on Oceania is about 18. Both lines goal is to take you to interesting places with experts to tell you about where you are going.

[@EmmaCruises]

Sounds amazing. Thanks for watching 😀👏🏼

[@mkrampits]

in the US we use GFIC outlets for baths.

[@EmmaCruises]

Yep, Thanks for watching 😀👏🏼

[@davidwong9230]

Good point about toad in the hole, a particular thing here in the UK, which may sound odd elsewhere. It doesn’t mean that Kermit’s cousin fell down a pothole in the road 🐸

[@stellaz2595]

Since taxes are different from state to state and even city to city, it makes sense to keep taxes separate from the cruise price. In fact, it is essential.

[@DonLekei]

We go the the desk and cancel one of our gratuities, then pay the staff who actually serve us direct tips. Then Royal charges an obscene minimum gratuity of 18% on all drinks and specialty dining on top of the amount you are still paying for the MDR. That way the people behind the scene still get theirs and the people who go above and beyond get more. While your web page shows the department percentage we learned that the department percentage is split so that management gets most of the pool and the people who actually go above and beyond get far less. So the manager who tells the stateroom attendant to limit the number of rolls of toilet paper you get receives most of the tip plus perhaps a productivity bonus, but the stateroom attendant who brings you a couple of extra rolls anyway gets less (an actual example from one of our tablemates on a previous cruise).

[@EmmaCruises]

Fair enough, Thanks for watching 😀👏🏼

[@Omegatonboom]

Lol Emma! I'm watching your old stuff now!

[@EmmaCruises]

😂😂😂

[@celiamartin2907]

Never heard of Marella, I’m going to look them up.

[@EmmaCruises]

Good idea! Might I suggest EmmaCruises.com as a place to start? 😂❤️

[@MmMaxsoccer-yl4dv]

Hi Emma I found the symphony of the sea was to big for me the corridors were so long and I Found it too big for me ; I found the smaller one were nicer

[@runawaytechgal1467]

I'm buying the map you have in the background but in a natural color!

[@cherylwarwick7497]

I bought the natural color, too, with the Antarctica continent. I just love it! Was so admiring of Emma's, I just had to have it!

[@runawaytechgal1467]

@@cherylwarwick7497 i love it! I found mine on Pinterest months ago! Hahaha

[@EmmaCruises]

Yay!! My map is from here: enjoythewood.com/?rfsn=5433540.ccb51c 😄😍 (This is my affiliate link, it doesn’t cost you any more to buy through this link but I get a little commission so if you do decide to buy it and could use the above link, I’d really appreciate it!)

[@EmmaCruises]

Was it worth the Antarctica upgrade?! I couldn’t bring myself to pay for Antarctica 🤣❤️

[@cherylwarwick7497]

@@EmmaCruises Lol! I think so...always wanted to go there! Maybe an adventure cruise someday!🐧🐧🐧

[@TitoTimTravels]

Toad in the hole with peas? I am starting to suspect you might be British. (as a Texan I know baked beans & toast is for breakfast!) ha ha 😎 I have not cruised on Viking but it looks like my cup of tea. I do not need, or want, the water slides or zip lines. Their top deck was covered pools, not slides, and looked lovely!

[@EmmaCruises]

Ha ha!! It’s so lovely. Thanks for watching 😀👏🏼

[@lyndacoles]

Lol, us Brits are SO confusing. So, yes, you can have baked beans AND toast with your breakfast fry-up (with eggs, sausages, bacon, fried tomatoes and baked beans, with toast on the side), but I’m afraid that baked beans ON top of toast is strictly for lunch or dinner 🤣😂🤣. We are so weird. My American husband commiserates with your confusion, and I can only apologise 🤣

[@5amisntlate]

side note on plugs: I once watched a video of a young American lady who was staying in the UK for a few months. She noticed the weird plugs we have in the bathroom - for non-British people are at a lower voltage for safety and are designed for you to plug in electric razors or electric toothbrush chargers, and are two prong plugs (which aren't the same shape as American plugs). This young lady saw these plugs and went "huh, these are obviously for my American hairdryer, it will clearly be perfectly safe for my American hairdrying" she was shocked that her hairdrying shorted. WHY WOULD YOU PLUG SOMETHING INTO A WEIRD LOOKING PLUG YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND.

[@caitthenerd7470]

Especially one labelled "shavers only"

[@andyrob3259]

In fact those prices differences: like Australia it’s illegal to show stripped down prices. In the U.K. and Australia you legally must show the all up taxed prices. Period.

[@dean._.0.0]

taxes vary depending on which state and city you live in the US. it’s not that they are trying to ‘hide’ the full price. it’s just that the cost can vary widely based on where you book. it’s odd but not shady.

[@hotwheeltv1520]

Another informative video.... may i ask what website you were using at 1:22 into the video please? Keep up the great content.

[@EmmaCruises]

Hey hey! That’s just the Royal Caribbean website, UK version 😀❤️

[@hotwheeltv1520]

@@EmmaCruises hey thanks Emma... really appreciate it! 👍🛳🚢

[@rikulappi9664]

I have to recommend this channel to my Father. I mean, what better you can to give to a person who has everything than dreams and advice? (He has been to US and European quality cruises)

[@EmmaCruises]

Hahah! Thanks so much 😂❤️

[@kvom01]

That beef wellington looked overdone. I currently have a RC transatlantic booked for next year with a QM2 return. It will be interesting to compare.

[@EmmaCruises]

Sounds good! 😁🥳

[@lvsluggo007]

It isn't a "gratuity" if you're forced to pay it.

[@paulw.woodring7304]

I think more and more Americans are getting fed up with "add on" charges here generally, and would prefer your one-price for everything model. Tipping is especially unfair to staff, and it has become so obvious during the pandemic, when employees were still expected to come to work, even if there were few or no customers some days and they were not getting much at all because 75%+ of their wages came from tips they were not getting. Also, it's really hard to figure the final price of something in the U. S. because sales taxes vary not just by state, but often by county and municipality, depending on whether or not that state allows localities to add their own sales taxes on top of the state sales tax.

[@EmmaCruises]

Yeah, hopefully things will change ❤️

[@EmmaCruises]

Thanks for watching 😀👏🏼

[@themarmaliser9986]

About the outlet (plug socket), in the US, the outlets in the bathroom are GFCI's, they'll prevent even the slightest shock and strip to the off position if a short circuit (such as electrocution) was to occur. Some of our outlets are controlled by light switches, though It would be nice to have them all controllable without having to go to the circuit breaker panel.

[@ericericson3535]

My Mom, from Scotland, used to have a great "Sunday Roast" with Yorkshire Pudding, the closest here in the States is called a "popover" Go figure.

[@EmmaCruises]

Yeah! 😂❤️

[@JJCruise]

We can’t wait to cruise a British cruise! 🚢 Maybe we can cruise together! 🤗

[@EmmaCruises]

Omg YES. I’d love that so much. 😀❤️

[@tmsala59]

Thanks Emma! You Are So Correct In All! Apples And Oranges! Stay Safe! 💖🥂

[@EmmaCruises]

Thanks Thomas! To you too! 😁❤️

[@tmsala59]

@@EmmaCruises 😉💖🥂

[@luxuryvacationexperts]

Also we can’t book you. Most Cruise Lines only allow American Agents to book North American countries like Mexico and Canada.