Bucket List Cruise: 9 Caribbean Islands In 10 Days

[@andresrico3676]

I love your voice and pronunciation, so easy to understand for non-English speakers. Thank you.

[@geezerII]

Loved the tour of all the Islands and the subtle music behind your great voice. Keep up the wonderful work. :)

[@sonyah5081]

This vlog is fantastic. The ocean is beautiful. I’d love to sail on a Viking cruise one day.

[@stayweirdtv4983]

Glad you enjoyed my island St.lucia 🇱🇨🇱🇨🇱🇨

[@shadowstdog]

Ok.....Jim. My friend. Thank you! For this video, we have been looking at this cruise area I think this video sealed the deal for my wife and I.

[@grigisgoon6679]

What a video. What a vacation. That truly looks like a dream vacation. Unbelieveable, my eyes were glued for the whole video.

[@JimZim]

Thanks! That's nice of you to say. I really do think this was one of my best videos. It's actually the first time that I did a video just about all the shore excursions. They say that a Viking cruise is "destination focused"... as opposed to a cruise on Royal Caribbean's Oasis-class ships, where the focus of the cruise is the ship itself. I think the video does a good job of showing how fun a "destination focused" cruise can be!

[@RickyisHere]

Great video review, one of the best I have seen on youtube, its refreshing to see a cruise review video without the filmmaker sticking his/her face on every shot. I really enjoyed your video. 👍🏼

[@JimZim]

Yeah, at 61 years of age, my face is better suited for radio! So, I stick mainly to voice-overs on my videos.

[@tedjensen8841]

Wow, we re at St John's that same day with a different catamaran. Some of the best snorkeling I have experienced.

[@EmmaCruises]

This video was so relaxing!!! Man a miss Viking and the sun... And everything. 😭

[@JimZim]

Yeah, the sun is pretty great, isn't it? 10 days of it, and beaches with warm water... in JANUARY, to boot... that's hard to beat!

[@codent]

What a pro! Exactly what I was looking for. Great job, thanks!

[@roxanahaydeetrucco7738]

hi, Jim. We are a cruise enthusiastic family from Argentina and we have followed your advice on where to eat during our last two cruises: no more formal dinner for us!. We love your videos and my husband and I want to be just like you and your wife in a couple of years: he enjoys the sea (so does our daughter) while I read books under an umbrella.

[@JimZim]

Hello, Argentina! Trivia fact about the Zim family: for 15 years, our hobby was American Cocker Spaniel dogs. We bred over a hundred puppies over those 15 years. The reason I mention it is that one of our dogs was actually born in Argentina to a very successful breeder there, and we imported him in to the United States to join our breeding program. So, that's what immediately comes to mind when I think of Argentina. For a lot of other Americans, I suspect it might be Evita! Anyway, that's funny that you like to sit under an umbrella reading a book, just like my wife does! To each his own, and one of the great things about cruising is that all members of the family can find different things to do on a cruise and everyone can be happy.

[@roxanahaydeetrucco7738]

Jim Zimmerlin my husband was looking forward to your response. He will be so excited (he is already sleeping). You are right: no one has ever mentioned dogs when we say we are Argentinian. We are used to hearing tango, Messi or Maradona (soccer players) and of course most people sing “don’t cry for me, Argentina”... Thank you very much for taking the time to tell us about your family trivia. Best regards for you and your wife from Diego (husband), Giovanna (10-year-old daughter) and Roxana (that’s me, of course)

[@austinsvidz]

Excellent video! Really enjoyed watching and such beautiful beaches!

[@mitchmcquillan8744]

My wife and I are going on the West Indies Explorer in 2 weeks. We are so excited.

[@JimZim]

You are definitely going to love it! That was one of the best cruises we've ever been on... and we've been on over 50 cruises.

[@OwenGilmoreOG]

Thanks Jim for your high quality video of the actual cruise ports of call and the beautiful scenery, much better than most cruise vloggers who just tell you about it or give snapshots! Looking forward to more!

[@frankie3213]

Really enjoyed the personal commentary. Looks like a wonderful experience.

[@JimZim]

It truly was one of the best cruises I've ever been on. Since I like spending time at beaches in the Caribbean, it was fantastic to visit so many different islands during the course of the cruise.

[@frankie3213]

@@JimZim we are from Australia and looking at doing this cruise - coming from so far being able to visit so many places in the Caribbean is appealing to us too. Many thanks - I found your video the most informative (and enjoyable) about this cruise.

[@robertmaheu7583]

wow might do this cruise, love the idea of a ship staying over night at an island, so far this vid beats RC cruise vids. You make it look so relaxing

[@kytacomaguy]

Excellent video Jim !!! The quality of the video is fantastic ! Very informative Thanks

[@surfindaddio]

Thanks Jim. Great video and review of the Viking cruise and excursions. We love the Caribbean too. Looking forward to the next video project... once you get through the monster edit. Tim.

[@markthompson3060]

Hi Jim, I really enjoy your videos. Both myself and my wife are ‘cruisers’ and we are based in the UK. We find your videos very informative and useful when we are planning our next cruise. Mark & Jill

[@JimZim]

Thanks, Mark! That's nice of you to say. Right now, I still have a "real job" that takes up 40 hours of my time each week. Just think of all the cool videos I'll be able to make when I finally retire!

[@colleenh2939]

loved it! Viking looks like it's stepped up its game.

[@laurawilson9163]

How can I love this 1000 times, Jim? What a fantastic video you created here. Historically informative, beautiful to watch, inclusive of really useful information, fantastic editing skills and a perfect use of music. Geez. You’re really talented.

[@JimZim]

Thank you, Laura! The answer to your question is... You could share it with your friends on social media.

[@IIIllllIIIIlllll]

I can’t imagine staying for an extended period at Maho Beach. It’s fun to watch a couple planes but there are so many better beaches all over the island.

[@JimZim]

We had ten days of great beaches. It was fun to spend a few hours at Maho and watch the planes land. Plus, I totally loved the barbecue lunch we had at the Sunset Bar & Grill. It was my second time to Maho Beach... won't be my last! It's a unique destination.

[@thomasgreen1816]

Outstanding video Sir. We cannot wait to try Viking cruises.

[@65rainz]

Fantastic. So far the only video without selfie I've ever seen. I realy enjoyed it.

[@BrianMegilligan]

Great video! Looking forward to seeing the next one on the ship itself.

[@mikemcguire4194]

Excellent Jim. We are headed out on cruise #8 on the Getaway. First time on NCL. Then RC Freedom again in August. We prefer cruising out of San Juan..love the city...and the Southern islands. I'm considering going upgrading to The Haven...your review of Viking is fantastic..once the kids are out of college...one day..😀

[@JimZim]

Ah yes, once our kids were off on their own, that's when we started being able to devote all of our discretionary income to cruising. Once that happens to you, you'll start having lots more amazing adventures!

[@Kamelhaj]

I love your videos because you tell it the way it is, both the good and the bad. Also, you have such a great talking voice!

[@zlatkokovach7862]

Jim: Thank you for the excellent review.

[@Ruyiy]

Jim. In San Juan, you can actually do the walking tour by yourself. There is a detailed guide with photos of locations online. Also, you can get the yearly pass or lifetime pass if you are senior, then the entry to the forts will be cover for you and three other people in your group. You chose the best beaches I think

[@JimZim]

Yes, that would be great if you are in San Juan with some other Cruise line. If you're on a Viking Cruise, you might as well take their tour... since they pay for your entry to the fort!

[@Mikeknz78]

Great video. Enjoyable watch . Was at maho beach last year and it was loads of fun. Shame the very big jets are not back yet due to the airport damage but will have to go back one day when they are

[@carolyngardner4999]

Since I have family who live in most of those islands, My shore excursion would let me experiencel the real island not does plan excursion . These family member are though marriage. And love to show off their island. Great video overall.

[@koolbreeze4906]

Hey Jim, my wife and I really enjoy all of your cruise videos. Keep'em comin. Thank you🤝

[@JimZim]

You can be sure I will do that!

[@beyondlimits697]

Very cooooool, thank you for your excellent lowdown of the ship and trips. I too am an avid water baby, though I love reading, plenty of time on the ship LoL! I have never been on a cruise but want to do a Caribbean cruise covering as much as possible. Thank you for the awesome vid, am interested to check out your other travels now too. 💯🛳🗺😍😎

[@zlatkokovach7862]

Jim: Thank you for yet another great video. I have followed your reportages with interest. We seem to like and appreciate the same things in life. Cheers,

[@InderjitVasudevanMoorthy]

What a beautiful vlog, Jim! 👏

[@louie0187]

Great video Jim, nice to see so many ports. Note to self, next cruise has to make a stop in St Lucia, so beautiful

[@taz4870]

Great video Jim!

[@alanharborne7283]

I do lots of holiday videos - you have made a really good job of this one, it's a very tight edit, that takes a bit of discipline in the editing suite. The holiday looks fab!

[@steveb6163]

Beautiful Cruise Jim thank you for sharing.

[@Em_Dee_Aitch]

AMAZING!!! We need one out of NYC!!!

[@leeterrywilson1219]

Great video. I think we’ll do the same excursions. 😊

[@brianna05emmy]

Love this video! ❤️

[@earlmerkman6551]

I live next to St.Kitts on another island called St.Eustatius

[@wdh47211]

This was great. Thanks for posting.

[@rekhaluthra5268]

What an excellent video! Well done 👍🏽

[@MrKnnthc93]

6:27 Great shot Jim

[@JimZim]

Thanks! Yeah, that was the Canon 80D camera, not the GoPro.

[@cwdefouw]

We also found Dominica a good day to stay on board. Not a whole lot to do there.

[@Keppy601]

Thank you for making tough sacrifices to make our videos, Jim.

[@JimZim]

Yeah, I vacation well so you don't have to!

[@susandiekmann]

Jim, that was so enjoyable to watch! One not-so-great excursion out of that trip isn't so bad. You sure are living life, and I appreciate you taking us along! I look forward to the Viking/other cruise line comparison video.

[@JimZim]

And that one bus tour, which was a dud, was only about two and a half hours... so it was not a huge amount of time wasted. I think the bus tours like those are good for the more senior passengers, who want to do SOMETHING ashore, but not something involving much sun or exercise.

[@angelsfan2009]

Great job on the video Jim! I really enjoyed it. Looking forward to the Viking video you are working on!

[@poutygorilla2698]

This was so pleasant. Thank you!

[@898688tim]

That looks like a tough task Jim but someone has to do it! Really looking forward to learning more about the brand and the ship looks really amazing. Notable by their absence were large groups of people during your sailaways. Obviously a very different experience.

[@jimtuttle7864]

Did you happen to venture out to San Juan without a guide during your trip? We are arriving around 5pm local time on day 1 on the Dec. 30th cruise this year and the walking tour is sold out. We love your video and wish you would cruise on Viking again. You are a truly amazing vlogger!

[@JimZim]

Yes, I like to walk around and explore San Juan without a guide. It's a really interesting place!

[@corinnemcleod1804]

Other than the waking tour and bus ride on at Kitts were any of those beach excursions included in the free excursions?

[@christineelkins6255]

Loved this video and seeing many excellent Caribbean islands!! I always enjoy your videos Jim, thank you for sharing!!

[@ryanmunn6193]

Jim you are awesome. I continue to love your videos and looks like you had the best time! keep it up!

[@derrickhouston2202]

hey jim i know this is off topic but do u plan on crusing on icon of the sea

[@americangirlNJ]

Thank you for posting these Jim! I have never cruised and never will because I am too afraid of getting seasick ( I’ve gotten seasickness with Dramamine in reg boats). Imagining my self on these cruises as I watch ♥️

[@americangirlNJ]

Just wanted to add that some of these views made me tear up... have never seen anything so beautiful ( I live in nj and have a view of the N.Y. skyline. This doesn’t compare)

[@JimZim]

Speaking of tearing up... The first time I went to Maho Beach, I actually got emotionally overwhelmed and had a few tears. I had seen lots and lots of videos on KZbin of the planes landing there, right above people's heads, at Maho Beach. But when I actually went there myself for the first time, it was SO MUCH BETTER in person than what I had seen on the videos... it just overcame me for a moment. Such a weird thing to shed tears over! But I had dreamed of going there for a long time, and then one day, I was finally there. It overwhelmed me for a minute!

[@Kamelhaj]

I, too, get seasick a lot, but am able to go on cruises by taking Meclizine.

[@waldenhouse]

Brilliant Jim! We’re heading to the Caribbean very soon but this time (we went last year too), we’re heading further South to Cuba! By the way I noticed the lovely lady at 14:28 on the left of the picture!! 😂 (.Y.) !!

[@toccoa]

TY! Speaking of cameras and holders, what do you use? Hero? SLR camera? Do you use a chest/head mount or handheld or? Regardless, it is quite beautiful.

[@toccoa]

You mentioned GoPro but what model? A lot of the action-sports sort of mounts seem a bit ostentatious for non-action tourist me to be walking around in.

[@JimZim]

GoPro Hero 7 Black... sometimes mounted on a simple selfie stick, sometimes on a gimbal. For the time lapses, sometimes I secure it with a clamp, or other times mount it on a tripod.

[@toccoa]

@@JimZim TY! It works very well!

[@jam4310]

Love your videos! At the beginning of your video there is a shot for a few seconds of a beach with white sand and very blue water...which beach was that?! Thanks! It’s right at about 54-55 seconds.

[@JimZim]

That was Jolly Beach in Antigua. Go to the 19:37 point of the video to find out more about it.

[@jeraldinebove6628]

We are planning a cruise on the Viking Sky in February 2021, to the Southern Caribbean. Any suggestions? By the way, love your informative videos.

[@JimZim]

I think you'll love it! I wish I had a Viking cruise booked. I definitely see myself cruising with Viking again, but I don't have a deposit down on one quite yet. If only they would send me catalogs and literature more often! (That was a joke... once you're on their mailing list, they send you stuff via the US mail all the time!) One suggestion I have is that you take a look at my web site review for the cruise you saw the video about. Sometimes there are additional juicy details in my web site reviews that I don't put in to the videos due to time constraints. www.jimzim.net/VikingSea.html The one specific thing about the ship that comes to mind that I'm sure I didn't put in to any of my Viking videos is that you can actually get a steak grilled up for you in the buffet. I didn't discover this until the very end of one of my Viking cruises... I wish I had realized it earlier. I enjoyed having a steak dinner in the casual setting of the buffet.

[@jeraldinebove6628]

@@JimZim why not join us on the February cruise, would love to have you as our personal guide with you're knowledge and sense of humor. Not to mention your enjoyment of a good grilled steak.

[@JimZim]

That's nice of you to suggest. However, I do have a cruise booked for February, which is one of two I have booked in 2021. My retirement budget is going to be a little tighter than my pre-retirement budget, so I think two cruises is probably going to be my limit in 2021.

[@mayesty23]

Best port San Juan PR🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷

[@samchin3812]

jim i love your vids good job hope to meet you some day

[@avrilholloway5716]

Awesome

[@jarredstill2285]

Just did 8 ports in 14 days on ncl escape

[@garychestnut6380]

Thanks Jim for sharing I really enjoyed your video.

[@grantsoest1212]

I think the people who disliked were so excited to like it that they missed and hit dislike. orrrr They're jealous because of all the nice places you got to go to

[@sjnavaid]

Try to go on the carnival horizon class ships

[@JimZim]

I think you mean the Vista class. Of my next three cruises, two will be on the Vista class. Also, I did already sail on the Carnival Vista itself, and made a couple of videos about it. For example, take a look at kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y3ykaWyCq9N1qck

[@sjnavaid]

Jim Zimmerlin ah yes I am wrong. I meant the vista class but the only ship I remembered was horizon. Thanks for the clarification

[@sluggosloan]

Great video!

[@ZER-vn1pi]

Please do the worst cruise ships you've been on jim,please.

[@Mikeknz78]

Go watch the video on the MSC Seaside and you will probably have the number 1.. or at least on the list

[@jackcampbell4465]

Jim, how do feel the premium Viking charges compare to the dollar value of the inclusives offered with Viking?

[@JimZim]

It seems like it's priced right to me. Viking's Caribbean cruises are priced just a little bit lower (per day) than the lowest priced cabins in The Haven on NCL. I still feel the same way that I did two years ago, when I did my first Viking Ocean cruise... that the overall experience on Viking is very similar in a lot of ways to cruising in The Haven on NCL. Each one has their own advantages, so it's a matter of what's most important to you. On Viking, you'll visit a LOT more islands... 9 in a 10 day cruise. On NCL, it would typically be 3 in a 7 day cruise. And on Viking, the ENTIRE ship is uncrowded. On NCL, The Haven is uncrowded. On Viking, no matter what kind of cabin you book, you have access to the Thermal Suite in the spa. On NCL, only the folks in spa suites have access to the thermal suite, without paying an extra fee. On the other hand, the entertainment and the number of dining options is better on NCL. And you would have a butler on NCL. So, you have to weigh things like that to decide between Viking, or The Haven on NCL. Anything the other major cruise lines offer would be a step down. But then again, anything on the other major cruise lines would be less expensive! So, you just have to figure out what the most important factors are for you. For me, give me The Haven, or a Viking Ocean Cruise, or to save a little money the Havana area on Carnival's Vista class.

[@jackcampbell4465]

@@JimZim Thank you Jim. I respect your experience. My wife and I married fairly late in life. The few trips we will be able to take are very valuable.

[@caitlingallagher2970]

@@jackcampbell4465 Please feel free to reach out to me. I am Jim's travel agent and would love to help you and your wife plan the most memorable vacations. [e-mail]

[@brixhildat]

Great video Jim! It did seems to me like I was really there in those beautiful islands. What time of year was your trip? And how come there was no one using the aft pool of the ship?

[@JimZim]

This trip just concluded a week ago. A couple of reasons that you don't see many people using the aft pool... 1. Most of the videos you saw of that pool were taken at sunset, around 5:30 PM. People were not in pool mode at that hour, they were getting ready for dinner. 2. The aft pool has no shallow end. It is too deep to stand up in and breathe. So, you have to swim, or tread water, or cling on to the side. Most people find that uncomfortable, and don't stay in long. If the pool had been made a little less deep, so you could stand up in it with your head above water, I bet it would get used more. The ship's two other pools are more popular... they aren't as deep, and you can stand up in them with your head above water.

[@brixhildat]

@@JimZim Thank you, that makes sense. Hopefully the cruise line can fix that issue in the future. The itinerary sounds amazing though.

[@margueritechester4541]

How far was it from the cruise ship 🚢 to the beach in st Maarten How long did it take

[@JimZim]

There is a beach very near the cruise ship terminal in St Maarten. (Not Maho, which is at the other end of the island.) The easy way to get to the nearby beach is to walk off your cruise ship and follow the sign to the ferry boats. Purchase a round trip ferry ticket, so you can get back! The ferry takes you accross the bay to the nearby beach. It's about a 10 minute ferry ride.

[@rcoverdose6946]

Nice video

[@michaelmto]

Loved the video and comments but not getting any comments on Dominica was very disappointing.

[@gyulaszalai3568]

Do you will go on the Symphony of the Seas?

[@JimZim]

I don't think so. I've been on the Oasis-class ships several times already. I feel like I've been there and done that. Plus, I like a good buffet and my experience on the Oasis-class has been that the buffets were the worst of all the cruise ships I've been on. I really love the entertainment on Royal Caribbean, and their high-speed Internet is the best at sea... but I'm not willing to put up with a bad buffet one more time. So, I think I'm done with the Oasis class. Oddly, the other ships in their fleet have had excellent buffets! I'm much more likely to sail on Anthem Of The Seas again, than on any of the Oasis-class ships. But with all that said, I do think that the Oasis-class ships are amazing in their own right, and do suggest that people who love cruising should cruise on one of those ships at least once, since they are so unique.

[@77jelani41]

I live in Dominica 🇩🇲

[@JimZim]

Did I pronounce it right? I hope I did!

[@EntertainmentWorldz]

nice

[@bullfranthrow]

Why didn't you show Dominica? It's one of the most beautiful islands

[@mikester396]

I LOVE YOU JIM

[@JonJenkinsDesign]

Good video!! Have cruised the Caribbean many times. Getting tired of all the poverty and crime there. Also you are attacked by everyone trying to sell you something. Very sad. It’s much better to tour in affluent countries where you are treated like a person rather than a meal ticket. Cruise companies are making their own islands to get around all these problems.

[@JimZim]

Yeah, there is a lot to be said for the private destinations that a lot of the cruise lines have made in the Caribbean.

[@aimeerogers4542]

Did you have a favorite island?

[@JimZim]

I like St John a lot... I usually try to take an excursion over to it whenever we're in St Thomas. I like St Maarten a lot, too... it's one of those islands where you don't need to go on an expensive ship-sponsored shore excursion, because it's easy to get to a good beach with either a short ferry ride, or a taxi. But really, I like visiting multiple islands on a long Caribbean cruise! 10 days was great... 14 would have been better! 7 would be too few.

[@IamInPainToo]

What an amazing video Jim! I enjoyed it very much. We’re headed to Puerto Rico in April for a Celebrity cruise.