My wife and I have cruised about 30 times on five brands, covering the usual world destinations. As we've grown older, the walking distances around the ships have grown to a point that we now select the "older" (smaller) vessels. So, we'd cast our votes for seeing the lines introduce new, but shorter, cruise ships.
@leslieoconnell2051Ай бұрын
Agree totally
@Plum_birdАй бұрын
They also charge too much for the larger/ newer ship. Some say it’s because the ships now have more activities on board but they make you pay extra to use them anyway. So, at this point your paying more money to be on a newer ship to walk more, pay extra for activities, pay extra for exclusive dinning, more for interior cabins, and less service.
@may86bearАй бұрын
Amen 🙏 🛳️
@RobertaHanscomАй бұрын
Points to recent video re use of scooters.
@lifewithgrandmabevАй бұрын
Agree. We’re at that age too now. Smaller ships hopefully with minimal children are what we sail on.
@denisekraus2951Ай бұрын
My vote is for new smaller ships.
@paconrail1238Ай бұрын
A new Freedom class would be nice
@jeannevogel2510Ай бұрын
Yes indeed. The smaller the better. The big ones are just floating cities.
@nickpacaccio8540Ай бұрын
They can have the Amusement Parks at sea!!!
@nickpacaccio8540Ай бұрын
Correction...RC is NOT top notch...last March Adventure of the Seas, balcony room 6328, entered, found box spring only...NO mattress...called guest services...4 people came...after their conference, their fix...added 4 more additional bed SHEETS...how'd ya like sleeping on a box spring for 7 nights... Top notch....you're kidding...NEVER AGAIN!!!
@gigi9301Ай бұрын
They make more money on the bigger ships; they can pack more people in there. Also, it can be more affordable to more people to be able to cruise. I would rather go on one nice kinda fancy cruise every few years, than go on a cheap one every six months My last one was a viking river cruise in Europe it was fantastic. I think there were only about 150-200 cruisers. I went on a different cruise about 12 years ago and I can't even remember if it was carnival or norwegian or the name of it; didn't hold a candle to the Viking river cruise.
@danecromwell987Ай бұрын
A new smaller ship would be a great idea
@lukes5533Ай бұрын
No ship is ever worth $1300 a day . What a joke.
@hollypotter6989Ай бұрын
New smaller ship please. No waterpark needed. @2500 passengers max. Maybe once a month adult only cruise.
@patticulverАй бұрын
I totally agree!
@georgedavies1912Ай бұрын
Mid size ships are big enough for me. Don’t need the go karts or water slides.
@carolvanstavern845Ай бұрын
We have started going a day before and staying a day after. Less stress because we have time built in and have less stress.
@susanhlavaty9500Ай бұрын
We always fly in the day before and fly the day after.
@CruisetravelersАй бұрын
A lot of people including me are wanting new smaller ships. My favorite ship on any cruise line is Royal Caribbean’s Enchantment of the Seas!
@qwerty12350532Ай бұрын
Allianz annual policy - we never leave home without it! We book flights departing late in the day of arrival. It saved us once.
@billybenson3834Ай бұрын
Thumbs up! It's not that expensive!
@birbluv9595Ай бұрын
It dropped me flat in Mexico. I had to get a lawyer to write them a threatening letter to get them to repatriate me.
@randa200771Ай бұрын
Don, you should know by now that size doesn't matter, its how you use it, and by all accounts, smaller is better. 😂
@ronw1864Ай бұрын
Whew! $1300/day? Not my idea of utopia!
@NeedtoSpeakАй бұрын
A fair price for all inclusive travel.
@raycohen7329Ай бұрын
I agree.
@mayrasaltarАй бұрын
First sailings were $600 a day for the Utopia , but entertainment might not be ready so it is a waste of $ even at that price.
@IvehadenuffАй бұрын
I choose an expense cruise to be on a small ship I can walk around without discomfort.
@Louis-x9qАй бұрын
I also like the smaller ship idea. So much nicer than the mega ones out there now
@susanhlavaty9500Ай бұрын
Love Royal Caribbean smaller ships. Hope they start making new smaller ships. Serenade and Grandeur are our favorite .
@mesenteriaАй бұрын
I can hardly wait until they launch that 30K passenger bruiser. Should be a great adventure at breakfast. [ sarcasm off]
@Niallisababe1Ай бұрын
I'm sure that Tony will give us a really good rundown of what its like to be on the Utopia
@lissajeri1492Ай бұрын
2500-2700 passengers is SMALLER? Well, yes, technically...but for many of us it's, well, HUGER than the size we want.
@xkr510Ай бұрын
Seabourn if you have not tried. Amazing.
@lissajeri1492Ай бұрын
@@xkr510 A little to luxurious for me...but have been successful with Ponant. Enjoy their expeditionary cruises.
@LauraPerry63Ай бұрын
New smaller ships is a vote for me. Yay for MSC.
@mariesimons2272Ай бұрын
It’s time to have a medical clinic or small hospital on these large cruiseships holding more than 2000 people. To me it is neglect to not have medical emergency on board.
@billybenson3834Ай бұрын
Cruise ships have good triage, I don't think they need to have a full surgical staff, if they did people would still bitch that they don't have specialists.
@kathyvoss2201Ай бұрын
The cost would be phenominal to fully equip a surgical suite. I don't want to bear that additional cost. Plus in case of most medical emergencies, specialists are needed. As one who practices urgent care medicine; it is impractical what you expect.
@cherylwhetung3170Ай бұрын
I just used the medical facility on a ship of about 4000. Excellent facility and treatment
@wendys6438Ай бұрын
You've either never sailed or you've never looked in to the medical center on any ship you've been on. They DO have pretty decent medical facilities on ALL of the major cruise ships. It's staffed with at least one MD/DO and a few nurses. They have pretty much the exact same things as a decent walk-in clinic or stand-alone ER in fee US. This means they can take care of just about everything a hospital ER can, but they lack advance imaging (MRI, CT, etc) and surgical suites (no anesthesiologist nor blood products). The fact of the matter is, most people who go on cruises are older and often in worse health than they think because they don't go to an annual physical (even if they do, most doctors in the US tend to do the bare minimum and not investigate concerns and do proactive care). Anyway, once these people get on the ship, they finally relax and all the adrenaline and cortisol that was keeping them alive suddenly goes away and they drop. Have a will, trust, and living will on file, pre-pay for all of your final expenses or take out a substantial life insurance policy that will cover it, and go live whatever life you have left! The way I see it, if I die on a cruise, at least I died enjoying my life instead of living with regret for the chances I didn't take. I recently went to Australia, I hate flying, but almost 24 hours on a plane later, I was happy I pushed myself to get on the plane and go! In the course of the trip I ended up with a handful of injuries, but I made it home alive anyway.
@joeseatac331Ай бұрын
‘Voyager’ sounds inviting, but I still need to practice not gaining cruise weight before I attempt a long journey. 😊
@sabrinamerrick1271Ай бұрын
Two words: Travel Insurance
@edchester3150Ай бұрын
Fly in a day early and stay a day or two at the end especially for European cruises and US coast to coast travel as the flight times are bad anyway. Also other than the broadway shows I prefer a moderate sized ship.
That new class ship would be cool. A smaller ship in Alaska would be cool. Maybe do different ports. MSC is really doing great things. They are making a great name for themselves.
@charlesturner1377Ай бұрын
Wow sometimes it doesn’t work out and you have to deal with it.
@deborahhines6794Ай бұрын
I tend to like smaller ships. I love Carnival and have sailed 4x on Mardi Gras, and once on Celebration.... love the additional restaurants, non-smoking casino, Shaq's Big Chicken, but other than that. I prefer the Horizon or Vista. Haven't sailed RC in years. We will try them after these ridiculous prices go down.
@dolorescarr6511Ай бұрын
I have 2 cruises booked on Utopia of the Seas and paid nowhere close to a price of $1300. a day. My first cruise is in Sept and have a Ocean balcony cabin for 3 nights and the total price for 2 people was $1373 with $250. OBC. Our second cruise is a 4 night in Oct and total price was $1646. with $175. OBC. This also is for 2 people and Ocean balcony cabin.
@TheJm129Ай бұрын
Must be a bummer not to be with your bestie Tony next week.
@careym3901Ай бұрын
Westerdam has the best itinerary in Asia/Japan imo. Trading places with her sister ship Noordam in 2025 for one year.
@billybenson3834Ай бұрын
Travel insurance, don't trust the cruise insurance
@terrifromm5085Ай бұрын
Is it me because I really do not even care about Uropia of the seas and Icon of the seas? Too big, too expensive, and I’m just not interested. 🤷♀️
@tammieadams73Ай бұрын
I don’t care for Icon AT ALL! What adult wants to be on a ship where half of it caters to littles???? Not me! They can keep that one. I actually prefer the old Oasis of the Seas. Their solarium is actually OPEN so you can enjoy the sun! Why in the world they started covering the solarium up is beyond me.
@Trooper68Ай бұрын
Amen, entirely too big and too expensive. Scuttle them in place, and call it an amusement park.
@Trooper68Ай бұрын
@@tammieadams73 Amen Brother!
@johnoikle5794Ай бұрын
Smaller ship great
@TWSmith42Ай бұрын
Get trip insurance. Fin.
@susanrnbcАй бұрын
Going on a small ship (170 passengers) cruise in the inland passage of Alaska next year. Very pricey, but we are done with the big ships and would never sail on those mega ships (we’ve mostly sailed on the “smaller” ships of Holland America in the past and enjoyed all of them).
@soniaceruti703Ай бұрын
Big ships are fun with my family but just me and husband- I prefer smaller ships.
@cynthiagreenhill5283Ай бұрын
booked 4 day on utopia for December 9. Booked a year ago. We got balcony cabin for 1696 plus taxes for total of 1905. Glad I booked so early
@peppergirl231ableАй бұрын
Selling for $1771 Inc tax now for 2025
@jerrymurphy9984Ай бұрын
I would love to see them build smaller ships. I cruise a lot out of Baltimore. Need I say more. We need newer small ships plus they would be great for so many other destinations. Sadly, I can not afford a world cruise but would live to go on one. Thanks Don! I enjoy tier show.
@captainbubbysislandtours4887Ай бұрын
New smaller ships for us too!
@francessinobio4522Ай бұрын
These mega ships are insane. Give me a small ship where you can get to anything you want, get on and off easily, and eat a meal when you want.
@janicewestcott9844Ай бұрын
If I didn’t have my dog I would definitely go on a world cruise.
@raycohen7329Ай бұрын
Queen Mary 2 have kennels on board.
@motel1029Ай бұрын
I won't pay those prices for the new ships. I didn't sail an Oasis class until the restart after covid!!
@FloridaGiGiАй бұрын
A brand new smaller ship would indeed be very popular with a lot of cruisers. I am not interested on being on a ship that is as big as the town I live in lol
@TapbrosincАй бұрын
Don what insurance do you use?I always sail Carnival and use their Insurance.
@homerjay8109Ай бұрын
Welllllllll.....you'd be happy to be the "second richest" travel agent in Canada.....
@jlawrence0181Ай бұрын
Three months ago, I priced an inside cabin on a seven day cruise on Icon of the Seas. It was 35% higher than a balcony cabin on a seven day cruise on yacht cruise on Windstar Cruises. And the port itinerary is much better on Windstar.
@user-pb4dj7sg8sАй бұрын
New smaller ships. We have a lot of big ones. Thanks
@artsmith9300Ай бұрын
Don I love you and your videos. My best and earliest cruises were on the SONG OF AMERICA, MERIDIAN. Continue to be well. Art/NJ
@donaldedmondson4918Ай бұрын
It happens, sad but delays will happen. No fun for awhile ⚓️
@kenfowler6201Ай бұрын
We would love to go on RCCL smaller ships.
@MidgeBorsilliАй бұрын
The prices for the new Royal ships are ridiculous!
@barryhaley7430Ай бұрын
I never used to worry about the ships arriving late just flights. I always fly the day before embarkation but never worried about staying over on disembarking as long as possible I could get an afternoon or later flight.
@Twitter_PostsАй бұрын
My friend was on this cruise lol luckily no flights needed for them
@jameshoffman2163Ай бұрын
Traveling sometimes involves some risk.. Insurance is a must !
@joannke7727Ай бұрын
I like to always wait for the new ships due to the higher prices on their Firestone year of criusinbg
@russellbenton2987Ай бұрын
Excellent news Royal Caribbean are looking at a smaller ship again . Although getting this in perspective 2500-2700 passengers would have been big 20 years ago !!! . It’s not the Legend or Splendour of the Seas
@pamelarobertson2043Ай бұрын
I love smaller ships. I would love to do that if I can afford it.
@eminiarviiАй бұрын
Well when i started cruising the big ship was 39000 gross tons😂😂
@siobhanmaguire372Ай бұрын
seems I have to constantly subscribe to your channel Don. Something amiss with the logarithm ?
@belxsar1504Ай бұрын
I would definitely consider a world cruise if by the time my retirement rolls around, hopefully I've planned my financial situation well enough to afford it, and I've maintained my health so I'm healthy enough to be on the road for that long. 😀
@feelosophy1921Ай бұрын
A world cruise on a smaller ship, no thank you. There would need to be stops almost every day to keep me entertained.
@TheRecon1aАй бұрын
$1300 a day??😮 uh I'd pass.
@NeedtoSpeakАй бұрын
This is about the true cost per day on a good cruise-line, like Viking.
@steve1laАй бұрын
I found the Voyager of the Seas to be too small and cramped especially the casino hopefully if they do a new class they will not try to cram too much in
@pattappurpleАй бұрын
I love smaller ships. The best one was the Pacific Princess.
@sabrinamerrick1271Ай бұрын
They need to bring back one and two night CTNs.
@briandopking35Ай бұрын
World’s 2nd largest ship - yuk. No more of these shopping malls on water please. Bring the size down of these ships.
@TasteofRetirementАй бұрын
We were on the MSC Bellissima wailing from Taiwan. It's totally another cruise culture which I probably won't be sailing again. It was very busy and active but I guess it's a better cruise out of all the ships that is sailing in Asia.
@lindahuggins4518Ай бұрын
I would love to do a world cruise, but I need to win the lottery to be able to retire and do it.
@janetwright9110Ай бұрын
I don’t like the big huge ships, I have a problem with walking very far.
@charlie44266Ай бұрын
Larger is not better. Say it everything you hear " newer, bigger, better" sales hype. Not everybody wants a gokart track or a wat er slide on the roof. As ships get bigger, the out side area for balconies or windows does not as quickly as the interior volume. End result is more interior rooms bit but not as big an increase in rooms with a view. Rule of thumb 2x bigger ship means 8x more interior rooms but only 4x more exterior views. Big ships are not better ships.
@sherylvaillancourt446Ай бұрын
I might consider it based on price.
@falconinflight6235Ай бұрын
As always, excellent insight...... Thank you
@judymay253629 күн бұрын
It sounds like at $1,300 a day, will price so many people out of going on this ship. Will go on the smaller ships. It worries me, that the smaller ships are older and when will they get rid of them for all mega ships.
@twaunniebusse7262Ай бұрын
Thank you for your updates
@kristenkroes9649Ай бұрын
We like the smaller ships for the ease of getting around.
@travelingwithmikeandpam9074Ай бұрын
My 1st cruise was on their smaller ships, it was great!
@debibrizendine8523Ай бұрын
@@travelingwithmikeandpam9074 we still pick smaller ship's has nothing to do with our age 😄
@travelingwithmikeandpam9074Ай бұрын
@@debibrizendine8523 I agree.
@ruthkringle1353Ай бұрын
I would still rather be on a cruise ship than home
@PatsyMellenАй бұрын
People need to boycott the expensive cruises. I’m happy with the smaller ships 🚢
@jeffreyclinard2002Ай бұрын
Once of the ice skaters on Utopia of the Seas is a youtuber who covered the training in California and the trip to France to board. I'm booked on Utopia of the Seas for next year, though as part of a group cruise. I've never sailed on a megaship before (or the last 14 or 15 Royal Caribbean ships, despite my Diamond Plus loyalty levels. Most of my cruises are exotic, not those Caribbean runs). I'm not certain what the future is for Royal Caribbean with ship classes. Their focus on megaships over the last 14 years or so is going to leave them with a fleet of huge ships. Can those ships be profitably filled on the more exotic runs? I mean, over the past several years I've been on a half-filled Voyager class vessel in the Baltics, and Radiance class ships to the British Isles and to Panama (though not through the canal). It's a real question as to what happens when those smaller ships age out. Maybe a new class of smaller ships dedicated to more exotic locations is their answer.
@sherrydiener8688Ай бұрын
Hi Don, Great video
@ronmoya6964Ай бұрын
We have over 700 days crying on RCCL and have no interest in the Utopia, based on price and size. We don’t care to mingle/ fight for a seat or a place in line.
@randijaffe-7665Ай бұрын
So sad for the family of the deceased.
@IvehadenuffАй бұрын
World cruises cost way too much for my budget. 😅 7:50
@nicolemiller4688Ай бұрын
$1300 per day plus flights out of Ontario is just too much. Mid size ships are best for myself..
@lindalandis32Ай бұрын
Absolutely If I had the money!!! However I Don't
@brendank66Ай бұрын
I say send an icon class ship for the world cruises
@susanjoy3513Ай бұрын
smaller ship might be fun
@kimkircher4025Ай бұрын
If I didn’t have aging parents I would consider a world cruise in a heartbeat
@susancook1448Ай бұрын
Will they allow me to take my seven kitties (one feral)? But I can’t because I would miss my human kids too much.
@ChristineShelleyАй бұрын
I wish I had the funds and flexibility to go on a world cruise.
@debibrizendine8523Ай бұрын
They do realize it's hurricane season. Don't think the person passed away to cause a problem. People need to relax.
@Niallisababe1Ай бұрын
No kidding. I'm sure that poor man didn't pre-plan a heart attack and he ended up dying. Some people need to have some compassion for others
@marianneward8980Ай бұрын
Weather always can cause problems with travel. Whether it's hurricanes, snowstorms, thunderstorms or even severe heat. It's usually the air flights though that are routinely affected so people tend to freak out when cruise ships are affected as it doesn't happen as often.
@johnstoutley7421Ай бұрын
Good idea by Royal Caribbean to think about building smaller ships again. I've never been a fan of the mega ships for many reasons, but as for travelling on a world cruise, that's not possible for us affordability wise. Nice idea, though, for those who can afford it. $1300 a day is way over priced for "Utopia" but people will pay it if they want to be the first on board one of the largest ships in the world. Terrible news about those affected by Hurricane Beryl and the ensuing problems out of Galveston. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of the deceased. Thanks again for your continual good reporting, Don.
@jacquelinestewart5550Ай бұрын
Yes! That would be awesome
@ninerjen1Ай бұрын
Insurance is so important and these stories should help remind others about that. Ship happens!!! As far as new BIG ships. It probably is time to get some more smaller ones out there. Maybe prices would be less too. Idk, but the hugs ships and not always a fav. I could never do a world cruise. Too long to be with loved ones for me.
@Dangic23Ай бұрын
I just got back from the Diamond Princess, 10-day around Japan. Definitely not worthy of being of being listed in any top list.
@jeffreylevin9616Ай бұрын
A new smaller ship would be awesome. And 2500 passengers is not small. It would be something we aren't seeing at all...
@maryfettig3378Ай бұрын
Oh another monster sized ship!
@emiliawalker4346Ай бұрын
Yahoo I would love smaller class ship!
@beckymungo1333Ай бұрын
I hope the ship gave them something.
@Jeannine29Ай бұрын
I vote for smaller ships too
@kevinp1904Ай бұрын
Keep up the good work!
@lowvizlifeАй бұрын
I think it only went wrong for the person who died.