EVERYTHING GOES WRONG ON THIS CRUISE

EVERYTHING GOES WRONG ON THIS CRUISE.
A Royal caribbean Ship has had the worst luck on a 5 day cruise. First it was a day late leaving port and had to cancel a stop. Then it had a medical emergency. now the ship is 8 or 9 hours late returning to port causing all kinds of missed flights. MSC cruise ship named best ship in Asia. Utopia of the seas arrives in Orlando to begin sailing next week. Will Royal caribbean ever do another Ultimate World Cruise.
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Don's Family Vacations PMB #471​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ 900 Greenbank road Unit 11E Nepean Ontario K2J 4P6 THE UPS STORE
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SUN PRINCESS December 7th 2024 [e-mail]
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Just Don
/ @justdonvlogs

[@denisekraus2951]

My vote is for new smaller ships.

[@paconrail1238]

A new Freedom class would be nice

[@jeannevogel2510]

Yes indeed. The smaller the better. The big ones are just floating cities.

[@nickpacaccio8540]

They can have the Amusement Parks at sea!!!

[@nickpacaccio8540]

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!!!

[@gigi9301]

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.

[@bobhidley9037]

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.

[@leslieoconnell2051]

Agree totally

[@Plum_bird]

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.

[@may86bear]

Amen 🙏 🛳️

[@RobertaHanscom]

Points to recent video re use of scooters.

[@lifewithgrandmabev]

Agree. We’re at that age too now. Smaller ships hopefully with minimal children are what we sail on.

[@danecromwell987]

A new smaller ship would be a great idea

[@hollypotter6989]

New smaller ship please. No waterpark needed. @2500 passengers max. Maybe once a month adult only cruise.

[@patticulver]

I totally agree!

[@lukes5533]

No ship is ever worth $1300 a day . What a joke.

[@georgedavies1912]

Mid size ships are big enough for me. Don’t need the go karts or water slides.

[@carolvanstavern845]

We have started going a day before and staying a day after. Less stress because we have time built in and have less stress.

[@susanhlavaty9500]

We always fly in the day before and fly the day after.

[@Cruisetravelers]

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!

[@qwerty12350532]

Allianz annual policy - we never leave home without it! We book flights departing late in the day of arrival. It saved us once.

[@billybenson3834]

Thumbs up! It's not that expensive!

[@birbluv9595]

It dropped me flat in Mexico. I had to get a lawyer to write them a threatening letter to get them to repatriate me.

[@randa200771]

Don, you should know by now that size doesn't matter, its how you use it, and by all accounts, smaller is better. 😂

[@ronw1864]

Whew! $1300/day? Not my idea of utopia!

[@NeedtoSpeak]

A fair price for all inclusive travel.

[@raycohen7329]

I agree.

[@mayrasaltar]

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.

[@susanhlavaty9500]

Love Royal Caribbean smaller ships. Hope they start making new smaller ships. Serenade and Grandeur are our favorite .

[@Louis-x9q]

I also like the smaller ship idea. So much nicer than the mega ones out there now

[@Ivehadenuff]

I choose an expense cruise to be on a small ship I can walk around without discomfort.

[@LauraPerry63]

New smaller ships is a vote for me. Yay for MSC.

[@lissajeri1492]

2500-2700 passengers is SMALLER? Well, yes, technically...but for many of us it's, well, HUGER than the size we want.

[@xkr510]

Seabourn if you have not tried. Amazing.

[@lissajeri1492]

​@@xkr510 A little to luxurious for me...but have been successful with Ponant. Enjoy their expeditionary cruises.

[@mesenteria]

I can hardly wait until they launch that 30K passenger bruiser. Should be a great adventure at breakfast. [ sarcasm off]

[@Niallisababe1]

I'm sure that Tony will give us a really good rundown of what its like to be on the Utopia

[@mariesimons2272]

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.

[@billybenson3834]

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.

[@kathyvoss2201]

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.

[@cherylwhetung3170]

I just used the medical facility on a ship of about 4000. Excellent facility and treatment

[@wendys6438]

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.

[@sabrinamerrick1271]

Two words: Travel Insurance

[@deborahhines6794]

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.

[@joeseatac331]

‘Voyager’ sounds inviting, but I still need to practice not gaining cruise weight before I attempt a long journey. 😊

[@edchester3150]

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.

[@og1689]

EMERGENCIES HAPPEN! STOP WHINING, WHINING, WHINING!

[@joewines3883]

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.

[@dolorescarr6511]

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.

[@charlesturner1377]

Wow sometimes it doesn’t work out and you have to deal with it.

[@TheJm129]

Must be a bummer not to be with your bestie Tony next week.

[@jerrymurphy9984]

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.

[@johnoikle5794]

Smaller ship great

[@careym3901]

Westerdam has the best itinerary in Asia/Japan imo. Trading places with her sister ship Noordam in 2025 for one year.

[@billybenson3834]

Travel insurance, don't trust the cruise insurance

[@terrifromm5085]

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. 🤷‍♀️

[@tammieadams73]

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.

[@Trooper68]

Amen, entirely too big and too expensive. Scuttle them in place, and call it an amusement park.

[@Trooper68]

​@@tammieadams73 Amen Brother!

[@soniaceruti703]

Big ships are fun with my family but just me and husband- I prefer smaller ships.

[@francessinobio4522]

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.

[@TWSmith42]

Get trip insurance. Fin.

[@captainbubbysislandtours4887]

New smaller ships for us too!

[@user-pb4dj7sg8s]

New smaller ships. We have a lot of big ones. Thanks

[@cynthiagreenhill5283]

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

[@peppergirl231able]

Selling for $1771 Inc tax now for 2025

[@janicewestcott9844]

If I didn’t have my dog I would definitely go on a world cruise.

[@raycohen7329]

Queen Mary 2 have kennels on board.

[@susanrnbc]

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).

[@donaldedmondson4918]

It happens, sad but delays will happen. No fun for awhile ⚓️

[@homerjay8109]

Welllllllll.....you'd be happy to be the "second richest" travel agent in Canada.....

[@jameshoffman2163]

Traveling sometimes involves some risk.. Insurance is a must !

[@jlawrence0181]

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.

[@motel1029]

I won't pay those prices for the new ships. I didn't sail an Oasis class until the restart after covid!!

[@MidgeBorsilli]

The prices for the new Royal ships are ridiculous!

[@russellbenton2987]

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

[@pattappurple]

I love smaller ships. The best one was the Pacific Princess.

[@FloridaGiGi]

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

[@sherrydiener8688]

Hi Don, Great video

[@belxsar1504]

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. 😀

[@Twitter_Posts]

My friend was on this cruise lol luckily no flights needed for them

[@feelosophy1921]

A world cruise on a smaller ship, no thank you. There would need to be stops almost every day to keep me entertained.

[@artsmith9300]

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

[@ronmoya6964]

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.

[@kenfowler6201]

We would love to go on RCCL smaller ships.

[@Tapbrosinc]

Don what insurance do you use?I always sail Carnival and use their Insurance.

[@pamelarobertson2043]

I love smaller ships. I would love to do that if I can afford it.

[@briandopking35]

World’s 2nd largest ship - yuk. No more of these shopping malls on water please. Bring the size down of these ships.

[@falconinflight6235]

As always, excellent insight...... Thank you

[@twaunniebusse7262]

Thank you for your updates

[@barryhaley7430]

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.

[@joannke7727]

I like to always wait for the new ships due to the higher prices on their Firestone year of criusinbg

[@TasteofRetirement]

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.

[@janetwright9110]

I don’t like the big huge ships, I have a problem with walking very far.

[@PatsyMellen]

People need to boycott the expensive cruises. I’m happy with the smaller ships 🚢

[@travelingwithmikeandpam9074]

My 1st cruise was on their smaller ships, it was great!

[@debibrizendine8523]

@@travelingwithmikeandpam9074 we still pick smaller ship's has nothing to do with our age 😄

[@travelingwithmikeandpam9074]

@@debibrizendine8523 I agree.

[@eminiarvii]

Well when i started cruising the big ship was 39000 gross tons😂😂

[@kristenkroes9649]

We like the smaller ships for the ease of getting around.

[@TheRecon1a]

$1300 a day??😮 uh I'd pass.

[@NeedtoSpeak]

This is about the true cost per day on a good cruise-line, like Viking.

[@siobhanmaguire372]

seems I have to constantly subscribe to your channel Don. Something amiss with the logarithm ?

[@nicolemiller4688]

$1300 per day plus flights out of Ontario is just too much. Mid size ships are best for myself..

[@sherylvaillancourt446]

I might consider it based on price.

[@ruthkringle1353]

I would still rather be on a cruise ship than home

[@steve1la]

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

[@judymay2536]

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.

[@charlie44266]

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.

[@lindalandis32]

Absolutely If I had the money!!! However I Don't

[@sabrinamerrick1271]

They need to bring back one and two night CTNs.

[@Jeannine29]

I vote for smaller ships too

[@randijaffe-7665]

So sad for the family of the deceased.

[@jacquelinestewart5550]

Yes! That would be awesome

[@johnstoutley7421]

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.

[@kevinp1904]

Keep up the good work!

[@robertb7864]

A representative for MSC has said in an interview that they are planning on becoming the number one cruise line in America. I can see the potential for them to do it. RC is going to price themselves out of the industry, $1300 per night!!!!! NO WAY will I spend that much money. I will not be going on these Mega ships either.

[@Stephanie-vx4zi]

You're dead right! I used to cruise with NCL & Royal, but I can't justify their prices. I've moved to MSC. I do Yacht Club interior or Áurea suite for what NCL & Royal want with no perks or drinks included😮

[@brendank66]

I say send an icon class ship for the world cruises

[@lindahuggins4518]

I would love to do a world cruise, but I need to win the lottery to be able to retire and do it.

[@karenross4706]

Hey Don. I’ve cruised a bit, not as much as most of your followers have I’m sure. I don’t like the idea of these huge ships. 🚢. Kind of too much…over kill. Have a great evening.

[@susanjoy3513]

smaller ship might be fun

[@KenScott-fw6uh]

Yes I would.

[@ninerjen1]

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.

[@Ivehadenuff]

World cruises cost way too much for my budget. 😅 7:50

[@maryfettig3378]

Oh another monster sized ship!

[@cynthiareifsnider5794]

Too bad 👎 the customers had so many delays and disappointment. I am not anxious to board the largest or second largest ship sailing on the oceans of the world.

[@emiliawalker4346]

Yahoo I would love smaller class ship!

[@debibrizendine8523]

They do realize it's hurricane season. Don't think the person passed away to cause a problem. People need to relax.

[@Niallisababe1]

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

[@marianneward8980]

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.

[@Dangic23]

I just got back from the Diamond Princess, 10-day around Japan. Definitely not worthy of being of being listed in any top list.

[@margarethauwert]

With ships having occupany rates of 97% and then prices going up I'm not sure how the average person is affording the cruise. I for one will not be able to go until there is a change in that. I agree stop the whining of people having heart attacks or other illnesses and just be thankful it was not you/your family member!

[@mikesevilla9627]

Smaller ships!