Are Mega Cruise Ships Good for Cruising? with Matt Hochberg

[@heatherlforrester]

I love when you do these interviews, Tony. You’re a very good interviewer - a good listener, knowledgeable, engaging, and it feels like your interviewees are very comfortable with the conversations.

[@halpen]

Aww, Captain Hudson is on Matt's shelf. 😊 Love the support between content creators in the cruise area.

[@cathimatrone628]

I know I'm going against the popular opinion. I'm a long time cruiser and seriously do not mind a once a day room cleaning. Sometimes we just want to come back to our cabin and relax. With once a day service; it makes a whole lot easier to plan around their schedule. I'm capable of turning down my own bed and taking 5 minutes and making a walking path thru my cabin. lol

[@brettparnell8254]

Same here

[@eminiarvii]

Ditto

[@aliasmarg8ta127]

I'd like them to pick up trash and leave me fresh towels once a day otherwise, I'd like to be left alone in my cabin

[@lj2xocai]

Amen

[@blessednettie69]

💯

[@JoshRachael]

Our two favorite Cruise News and Information channels together. Thanks for the pod Matt and Tony

[@suegordon6805]

hubby and I have only cruised with Viking. The ships are smaller, it’s all inclusive, it’s adults only and they have wonderful enrichment lectures about the places you’ll visit. The entertainment is low key, no whoop de do shows just mellow music and some show tunes. No gambling. The cruises are more expensive but we feel it’s worth it.

[@Stephanie-we5ep]

This is the last year my son will be considered a child... I can't wait to leave the glitzy, ginormous, hectic ships behind. I mean, I understand the attraction ---- sorta ----- but anymore I just feel old and tired on those ships.

[@suegordon6805]

Our first cruise was almost 30 some years ago on a huge Greek ship, the Epirotiki, to Greece, Egypt and Crete. We didn’t care for it as it was huge, had gambling, art sales and to get to land was grueling. Too many people pushing and shoving to get in line to board the boats to shore. It frankly it soured us on cruising for decades. Our travel agent finally convinced us to try a Viking expedition ship to Antarctica 3 years ago. The ship was small and even had a 6 person submarine which was an awesome experience. Cruising the Drake Passage was incredible with 25 ft waves. Thousands of penguins, humpback whales, orcas. Our last cruise was to Australia, New Zealand and Tasmania. It wasn’t as exciting as Antarctica but we had a good time. I’d like to cruise to Alaska next.

[@robertpullis]

I don’t mind once daily housekeeping because that beats the heck out of once every few days at most hotels. My main gripes of post-Covid cruising are paying high prices for WiFi and seeing a decrease in MDR and buffet food quality. Maybe it’s just on Royal Caribbean, but I remember eating in the MDR and being super impressed versus today where it’s better than college cafeteria chow, but just barely. Eating on Rhapsody of the Seas in 2006 was far better than on Harmony last December. Specialty dining is still impressive on Royal Caribbean, but after paying an arm for WiFi and a leg for five nights of specialty dining, I’m wondering if it’s not time to just try Viking or Silver Sea. Maybe our tastes and priorities have shifted to the point where I just want to pay one flat price and get most everything (except alcohol) included and have everything be of the highest possible quality. I’m tired of needing to pay a lot extra just for WiFi and top quality food. Cruising used to be far more all-inclusive than it is today.

[@RebeccaMcCullars]

Oh my gosh…I love these interviews you are doing!!

[@markcrowell2727]

My wife and I prefer the smaller ships - the larger ships are way too crowded, and doing some of the additional activities is difficult due to the number of passengers.

[@rickrich7325]

We much prefer the 2000 person cruise ships & better if it’s not full! And no roller coasters making all that noise!!!

[@JennAndAmy]

We did a group cruise with Matt and friends several years ago on Symphony’s inaugural sailing. Glad to see how far he’s come over the years. That said, I still can’t believe you first started cruising in 2018. You are a wealth of information and I would have thought you had been cruising for a decade or two. So kudos to you! 😊

[@chrisharwood5448]

An amazing podcast! 2 great people talking cruising!!!

[@DEPUTYGETSOME]

22:00 what Matt said is so important. If we don’t buy at their listed price, they will lower the price. Stop buying icon if you don’t like icon prices and they’ll change. But as long as there are people valuing their social media pictures more than the credit card debt they are willing to go in for a vacation the prices won’t change.

[@mrlogboy]

Issue to fight is fomo and so have to make sure asap for some

[@PTMcMullen]

Icon is a ship like no other. It opens up cruising to families and meets demand with no existing competition. Demand far exceeds supply. Prices won't come down until Star of the Seas launches, the 3rd Icon class ship launches and perhaps another cruise line responds with a similar "water park at sea" offering.

[@Trav_W]

I agree 🎯

[@LifeWellCruised]

Great conversation! Enjoyed listening (not live) :)

[@prettygeorgialady1249]

Hey Tony, could you consider interviewing JJ Cruise to see how they decided to purchase a residence on a cruise ship. Im intrigued and want to hear more as I will be retired in

[@704musicent]

These podcast are 100% better than the daily news.

[@carolynwaters4259]

I was on the Inaugural Icon Cruise and I did like it more than I expected, but I agree with Matt about the smoking and non smoking part of the casino. The floor fans helped but you could still and feel the smoke in the non smoking side. I did like that most kids were in Surfside. I spent a lot of time in the adult Hideaway area, but did not like the tiny pool there. Overall Celebrity Edge Class real balconies are still my fave.

[@Belloney10]

What a great collaboration! ❤

[@TheTravelScouts]

Great conversation gentlemen. Enjoyed listening. Love the podcast episodes!

[@dianawiggins3791]

Great interview. The two of you are my favorites. 🎉

[@FraserAtSea]

This interview was fantastic - really great perspectives!

[@mercyrodriguez5780]

Agree with Matt, it was never crowded anywhere!

[@deannad3566]

The most notable change I’ve seen is a huge bump in cost to solo travelers. I used to pay double plus about 10% for a cabin and now I see charges of close to 230% to 240% which is why I’ve paused on booking cruises. This is across lines, not just RCL

[@kathyhorstman7909]

As a solo traveler, my eyes are bugging out at this. Cunard still make us pay "only" a 75% upcharge, but your comments make me worry it could get a whole lot worse.

[@eleanor4482]

Matt has an interesting perspective. My preference is Celebrity or Princess as they offer more all-included options. Princess needs to step up the cleaning as too many people are coming home with COVID. I wish Royal would have these offerings too.

[@dawnsharif-coon9660]

Love these interviews, so informative from two experts! Keep these coming please!

[@amyheckathorn4604]

Really enjoyed this Tony!😊 In my opinion, Travel is anything that takes you to see & experience something other than your normal. Being from PA and seeing the Carribean & Alaska was awesome!! Would Europe be awesome? Sure, but there are many great opportunities much closer and less expensive to experience. And as far as cultural experiences go... Seattle, NYC & San Francisco are a huge departure from Amish country nearby me. ❤ it all.

[@SHYsArt]

I am enjoying the podcast, I like the differences of opinions, as well as the similar experiences you both have had. Keep up the channel; do it for Luda!

[@BTimmer]

I like the interview style, but I strongly prefer 1/2 hour lengths. I almost didn't listen to this one because of the length. For us, cruising is not so much about the ship, but the destinations. Our cruise life has taken us literally all over the world.

[@Starchild2939]

Love these podcasts episodes and interviews.

[@amirasavoy1264]

Thanks Tony & Matt great show ….👍🏾👍🏾

[@eminiarvii]

So happy you have your podcast on youtube…i find them very interesting as well as entertaining… and seeing different perspectives..🙂🚢Thank you

[@boatshaughie2841]

Love watching both of you, I'm a gambler and go on Royal for next to nothing, but very concerned how much everything has gone up. parking increase 10 a day in 2023, drink packages, specialty food etc. I still believe Royal is the best bang for the buck

[@TyreeTravels]

My two favorite cruistubers.

[@TondaJohnson-w1u]

My first cruise was 10 days in the Caribbean on a Sitmar ship before they were bought by Princess. 1988.

[@amyc-tex]

Great show Tony! Always enjoy seeing Matt too. He was the first cruise vlogger I followed.

[@JaniceStewart863]

Another excellent podcast. You are an excellent interviewer.

[@cruisepodcast]

Thanks for listening

[@AronRoss72]

Loving these Tony! Keep them coming! Been following Matt for 2 years now.

[@GaryScoles]

Why are All prices keep going up on all cruises

[@fshepinc]

No noticeable cutbacks? You've got to be kidding! The food on Royal Caribbean has declined to the point where on my last cruise with them (October) I ended up at the buffet three times a day. When I first started cruising with them, they were the line that every other one was compared to for food and service. Today the service is okay, but not stand-out like it used to be. And the food is about the level of Home Town Buffet at closing time. I understand that the pandemic forced a lot of changes, but rather than bring back what used to be, all the lines seem to be doubling down on the opportunity to cheapen the product (but not the price). Their business model seems to be "first-time cruisers won't know any better." But those of us who do know better are doing fewer cruises, and on higher-end lines that still offer what cruising used to be. I believe I'm backed up in this by the way ships are returning to classes of food and service. You have to buy up to the "suites-only" level to get a glimpse of what it used to be.

[@nmd1682]

Fully agree

[@diamondpearlgem7589]

Royal is doing a lot of upcharging. I will not cruise ICON too much for me.

[@SueStein-t6l]

Absolutely agree!! Just took my 10th with my cousin her 1st on HOTS. Ate in the MDR 1 time horrible. Windjammer and 3 night dining package saved us. Also, the ship was horrible. Looked used and abused

[@suegordon6805]

@@SueStein-t6l Try Viking. It’s all inclusive with exceptions of the spa and the Chefs Table. Food is excellent even the specialty restaurants are included except the 15 person seating Chefs table. Even the sushi and sashimi are all inclusive and very delish.

[@ErikaEmody]

Great chat you guys. Yea these podcasts are great.

[@nicolecorsillo]

I’m loving these podcasts Tony! Great interview!!

[@ninerjen1]

Thanks, Tony. I enjoy the podcasts. Always learn something from them. ❤👍

[@genep7344]

That was a great interview. I enjoy watching both of your channels!

[@texasgirl8446]

Hey Tony and Matt good show thanks I enjoyed it

[@stephladouceur]

Love those podcasts Tony, keep them coming!

[@l.b.wallace2273]

Sometimes you fall in love with a particular ship! Freedom of the Seas is one that we dearly loved. We have sailed on her sister ship Independence of the Seas and they are not the same. It's service, passenger engagement, etc. ❤

[@barbo1621]

Yes. We love Celebrity Beyond.

[@brandonwhite175]

A great conversation by two of my favorites!

[@mercyrodriguez5780]

I love your pods!!!

[@MaxrunnMutt]

Matt!!!! That is also my Number one gripe for shows… is if there is not plot I am bored in 5 mins

[@Solo_Traveling]

Two of my favorite cruisetubers! Yay!!

[@kathryncashner3294]

It depends on what you want from a cruise. At age 70, I'm not going down water slides, playing on race tracks or climbing walls, etc., and I find the amount of walking around mega ships to be too much. Therefore I choose to not pay for all these extras that I won't use.

[@suegordon6805]

Viking is a line you should try. The ships are smaller and it’s adults only. It’s also all inclusive with no nickle and diming you. Excursions are included as well. The only extras are the spa and the Chefs Table which is a small 15 person “restaurant” where the chef and the guests help prepare the meal. The cabins are lovely and modern.

[@lindakeppler8050]

Great shows

[@fadedlogic1]

Really enjoying this podcast!

[@travisrevel3826]

Awesome interview Tony and Matt!! Thank you!!

[@katiekendrick8866]

Wow this was a great video! Two of my favorite people together on one video! Thanks for the great information! 😊

[@jacquielodge8070]

great interview

[@mistywilliams8679]

Great video. Watching this and in a little while you both go live. !

[@texasgirl8446]

I always watch Matt and his videos

[@dianned1560]

Loving your podcasts and the different guests! 👍🏼👏🏼

[@GayesyJ]

Super interesting podcast! Thanks so much! ☺️ We’ve just come back from having an absolute blast on our second RC cruise. We have another one booked for later this year and we can’t wait. Don’t know why we waited so long between our first and our second!! 😂

[@larryrobinson1256]

Great interview with Matt - good information. Our first cruise was on Vision of the Seas [a small ship] to Alaska and we were hooked.

[@robwhitley7902]

You will love the MSC cruise for the Mediterranean. We have done that trip For December for the past two years. We actually embarked in Barcelona and spend an extra day there. There is so much to do and see in that city.

[@Jj_86]

Love this ❤

[@sharonh2172]

Great conversation!

[@EmmaCruises]

Hey cutie piesssss! 🌎🎉

[@cruisepodcast]

Top of the morning, governor! :)

[@jeffreywagner5234]

Great interview!!! Going on our 1st Royal Ship this summer to Norway. (Jewel of the Seas) 🚢🚢🚢

[@DelusionalPicking]

Loved the Jewel but it's been 7 or 8 years since we went. It's a very cozy ship, it always seemed to have enough room and the lines were never too long. I've yet to travel on larger RC Ships. I think because the largest ship I've been on is the Carnival Breeze and it was nice, big with long lines for Pizza and rowdy cruisers. but RC we really enjoyed the size of the Jewel of the Seas and being able to see water everywhere

[@jacquelindaugherty3905]

Lots of good info

[@TameraEdwards]

Holy smokes that guy talks so fast I can’t keep up. Still enjoyed the interview. Cruising is great! I’ve done 11 and hope to do more!

[@rifkymasri1065]

Well, I have been 16 times on Anthem and I'm sailing again on a b2b on March 3. I like We Will Rock You Also, I loved Mama Mia. On Quantum

[@Stephanie-we5ep]

How was it? We'll be sailing on her in June, and I'm curious

[@douglasbray3563]

Good Afternoon Tony

[@cruisepodcast]

Doug!

[@BrianAlt]

Ah! My buddy Matt H!

[@andrewsmith1168]

They have escalators on quantum class ships when you board the ship sometimes after a port stop.

[@thesmartmoneyguy8486]

Would love to listen to a podcast with Emma!!

[@cruisepodcast]

Here ya go - kzbin.info/www/bejne/bp-7aX-ueLKViNU

[@thesmartmoneyguy8486]

Tony! Thanks so much for this podcast. You have truly found your calling in everything you do!! The way you interview and how the podcast flows is a gift!!!

[@edbloom4897]

Sadly, I missed this live.......Speaking of Private islands....Please do a deeper dive into the new Bahamian Cruise tax. Some folks think this 10% of whole cruise and some say this is only for the value of the services received while "feet Dry" on land. And some have it in between with the tax applied to services offered while docked at a Private Island even if one does not get off the ship. The "Feet Dry" option would mean 10% tax on the fee charged for a Cabana, the water park tickets, the value of any and all food and beverages, the value of pool use fee, towel service, umbrella, water toys, lounge chair......I am concerned with all three interpretations. Taxing the whole cruise just because it stops for one day out of 3,4,5,6,7,....it not good. Other governments will then follow. Taxing for services actually used is at least understandable - at least I have control of what I do. Taxing for the perceived value of services used or not is almost as scary as taxing the whole cruise.

[@theresamm21]

What cruise line you should choose also depends where you are traveling to. If you go to Alaska then you definitely do not need slides and racing cars etc on the cruise ship bc it’s all about nature etc. or if you take a cruise where you will have lots of shore excursions like the Mediterranean or South America. If you go to the Caribbean, definitely you should choose Royal or Carnival in my opinion bc there is a party vibe and you want to feel the sun and the splash and the beaches. And one should also take into consideration aspects as entertainment and food options/quality. If you value entertainment you choose Royal or Carnival. If you value good food you choose Celebrity or Princess or Holland America. If you like a more adult crowd you choose Virgin or Holland or Princess. My least favorite are MSC and NCL. Kinda mediocre in all aspects. Even the newest ships

[@patriciareynolds1800]

Agree on pricing. Stockholders have the right to expect them to maximize profits. If demand drops, so will pricing.

[@PTMcMullen]

Economics: Also, if SUPPLY increases (Star of the Seas and subsequent Icon class ships and if other cruise lines respond with similar family-focused ships), so will pricing.

[@queetbeet312]

Hey hey hey LocaFam❤

[@cruisepodcast]

QB!

[@martyndeb]

Hey hey hey squad!

[@cruisepodcast]

Hello!

[@mercyrodriguez5780]

Good afternoon my friend!

[@cruisepodcast]

Hey Mercy!

[@MOTLEYBRUE]

A+

[@vidaudink3044]

We tried Royal Caribbean last year. The entertainment and shows were absolutely amazing IF you could get a reservation. We tried to make reservations as soon as it opened up for us online 90% of shows and activities were fully booked! To us, it wasn't worth the RC markup in price. We'll stick with Carnival! ❤

[@lindakeppler8050]

Epic on ncl has escalator

[@lindaobrien3397]

You should have parodeejay on one of your podcasts

[@lindakeppler8050]

Going on liberty

[@wondrafuladventures]

I like RC and have done several (Quantum was my favorite) but their pricing right now is so out of this world I am going to stick to NCL and if I want to spend more Celebrity.

[@wallymontero]

# notification Squad

[@cruisepodcast]

Wally!

[@wallymontero]

@@cruisepodcast Good Day Tony

[@JoST41]

It’s so weird seeing Matt’s face. I’m just used to hearing his voice.

[@ordysparrow7574]

Cruise lines should charge $1 for everything on their private islands so the Bahamian Gougement doesn’t make bank off of people who avoid the Bahamas.

[@Nrustica]

These mega ships may turn into bargain ships in a couple of years when and if most people stop wanting to go on them. It's novelty at this point which is both repulsive and attractive.

[@billysr10]

I agree with you. The Icon of the Sea reminds me of the Mall of America meets Disney Land. A kind of deck of an Aircraft Carrier with Disney Land rides.

[@PTMcMullen]

It isn't a novelty for families with children. No other ship approaches the appeal to families. It also has 7 pool areas (and a water park) compared to only 4 on Wonder. It spreads out crowds rather than letting guests fight for chairs at a single main pool area. The only competition will be subsequent Icon class ships.

[@DB-zp9un]

I want to see some good trip reports from a full booking on the icon.. Most of the ones I've seen where not the fully booked I guess.. Watching a couple of them EEEC or EECC can never remember lol.. I was amazed how un crowded it looked.. But they said it wasn't a full sailing.. If a full sailing still looks kinda like that.. I'm not as opposed to it as I thought I would be.. Being so massive, it seemed like the crowds were REALLY able to spread out..

[@AxelQC]

On our last RC cruise in October, the cost cutting was palpable. The state room attendant was hard to find because he had twice as many rooms. The waitstaff in all the venues were overworked because there were fewer of them. Not only was this in the WJ and the MDR, but even in the specialty dining. The food quality was lower even in the specialty dining. I even had a couple of dinners that were just inedible. I complained to RC on my survey, and they never bothered to contact me. We are going to sail our 2 booked cruises with them, and then try other lines. They can try to save money, but I can try other lines.

[@TravelwithEbby]

The pandemic and Corporate greed is what’s driving these prices. As long as people pay they will keep pricing things high. I love royal but I hope they don’t price the average person out of their mega ships.

[@leenoble796]

I am a smoker and do not think that smoking should be in an in an enclosed area

[@barbo1621]

Love no smoking overall.

[@michaelhartloff3833]

Wassup

[@leenoble796]

I went to a KFC in China not the same but an experience

[@mea3665]

Not steping foot on a Mega Ship No Thank you Not planning on a private Island Cruise either

[@campaignteam]

1

[@cruisepodcast]

Boom! #squadleader

[@davidmcnabb3300]

The guy goes on one NCL Cruise, he picks the oldest ship in the fleet and decides it's not for him 😂

[@fshepinc]

A cruise line is only as good as the worst ship in its fleet. It's flying their flag, and it represents them.

[@christinajones9708]

I don’t like Royal Caribbean. Probably will never cruise with them again. There are way too many small children and babies (including newborns) crying and throwing temper tantrums. That is not a vacation for me! The entertainment is top notch though, I agree!

[@mea3665]

I won't be on a Mega Ship