Issues I Have With Princess Cruises

[@kellyrichardson3874]

I appreciate the general consistency of the Princess ships. I don't want to spend hours learning where everything is. I have found the cuisine to be excellent after about 12 cruises

[@theresasampson4263]

I have done Caribbean cruises before and thought the Princess would be better. The food was cold and our party of 7 never got the food at the same time. They would drop a cold salmon plate down and the next meal came 20 minutes later. I felt the servers had too many tables or something . We got moved to another dining room. Nothing had the flavor or hotness of food like royal Caribbean.

[@williamnelson4103]

Same here!!!! I love the design and layout of the latest Royal Class ships of Princess. Spare me the extra time to learn the ship. This is time I can use to enjoy my cruise……46 Cruises with Princess….the only way to go!!!!

[@dustyd48]

You can fine the restrooms because you know thelayout of the ship. I like the smaller ships. We also do different companies.

[@keithm1138]

If you think the food is excellent, I suggest you try Oceania. Now there is outstanding cuisine.

[@happytraveller2122]

@@keithm1138 different price point and demographic

[@philipgerry5228]

My wife and I have been on about 10 Princess cruises. We like the fact that they are all laid out similarly. We don’t need to spend 2 days trying to figure out the ship plan.

[@alexaelliott2598]

Even 2000 passengers is 1400 too many.. the large ships are cattle ships. If you like to be part of a large herd then you will love it.

[@Pablo-tw7tt]

Very interesting. I was just about to buy a Princess cruise the other day (Balcony cabin for 2) and at the last minute I read the small print. Discovered $30 a day gratuity would be added and an 18% service charge would be added to any bar bills. Disgusted to find these extras hidden in the small print so went elsewhere.

[@pdimick8646]

I went to Alaska several years ago on Island Princess. First time on Princess. (I'm a NCL girl primarily due to NYC port). My husband's first cruise. We LOVED it. It was a tour/cruise. But it was fabulous.

[@dianebowman2362]

Interesting what you said about the Rock Opera on the Sky, after the big build-up and then finally seeing it the next day at dinner the conversation was all about the fact that the songs were so random and with no storyline...I was not about to bring it up since I thought I must have been the only one that felt that way but turns out many noticed the same thing...

[@tinanowland6655]

I agree with you on almost every point, but I have not tried the afternoon tea. I'm going on my 5th Princess cruise next month because, we had several real service issues on our last Princess cruise, but they took care of us, which is allowing us to go with them again. In the end, like you said, it is about consistency, so I believe this last one was a fluke. Their food isn't fabulous, but better than I can make, the shows aren't great, but 90% of the time you will get excellent service on a beautiful ship that is taking you to great places. And yes, the medallion is a plus because you can order any food, drink, or even sun screen, from any place on the ship from your phone and have it delivered right to you.

[@lschow1]

Hi Gary, you had me worried there for a minute, I have booked a cruise on the Majestic Princess next year-Alaska. I get some of your concerns, but I think some of those concerns are due to the vast cruising experience you have. To the casual cruiser, these do not seem like a big deal.

[@sandraarnold7528]

Hi Gary just thought I’d let you know that I have just come back from an Alaska cruise on the Ruby - and I’m afraid it has killed my joy and love of cruising - and I loved cruising, I think the whole cruising way has changed so much over the years and not for the better. This was my first Princess cruise and I was under the impression that Princess was the tops, but I found it very lacklustre in the food dept amongst other things :(

[@tipsfortravellers]

So sorry to hear this. I am back on Princess this coming week (Alaska) and am apprehensive as seems very mixed reports and fear may be even fallen since I made this just few months ago

[@ronnanp]

Two of my friends just got back from a Majestic Princess cruise. ;) Love your videos!

[@janicehubbell7666]

I really miss the Pacific Princess. It was a great ship. The smallest in their fleet. I loved the intimacy of it and the service was even better than on other Princess ships. The Island and Coral Princesses are sister ships. However, Princess did an awkward refit on the Island Princess that added more cabins, but lost part of the outside promenade. You can no longer do a complete circuit of the ship on the outside of the deck. I’m not interested in their new larger ships. About the only ship I would consider now is the Coral Princess. We are testing the Windstar Legend on a Portugal & Spain cruise next year to see if we like it.

[@brucewright3087]

We did the Royal Princess out of San Pedro for a Ca. coastal and again for an Alaska trip North to South. The sameness was never an issue. It was a boon and totally awesome. Do it! The food in the Atrium was off the hook!!!

[@norbisanubus]

If your big into gambling you would know almost every casino in the US is smoking , the last safe haven. All cruise I've ever been on allow smoking in the casinos also. To prove your point however, I would always go smoke in the casino when I woke up and before dinner. The groups of smokers tend to hang by the bars or around the edges and the smoke quickly gets sucked out.

[@april0647]

Holland America is an Alaskan favorite cruise line. Smaller ships. About 1,500 passengers. Sail to all Alaskan Peninsula ports. Excursions range from bus rides to area attractions to visiting Alaskan villages, long walks, ocean kayaking, etc. Daily port stops unless crossing the Gulf of Alaska. We had great meals, including afternoon tea. Music walk features grand piano concerts, excellent chamber music from Lincoln Center, BB King, Rock Club, and others. National Park Rangers accompany cruise through more wilderness and glacier areas. Non-smoking area is part of casino. Staff has been very nice, including special handicap needs. I especially recommend Holland America's “dam” ships. Not every toy of a lifetime on ships, but perfect view of Alaska.

[@suemommie]

Who the heck wastes their time gambling on a cruise? I’m busy doing things! I’ve spent enough money lol! I don’t want to lose it gambling especially if people are smoking in there. Plenty of other things to do and see.

[@ginnienuckles3992]

the sameness is definately a plus for me i have been on 3 and i know where everything is and dont have to rely on my family helping me find things lol

[@Who-cu9eu]

What’s the best cruise you recommend in the UK if I am early 20’s to go solo and enjoy bars and clubs?

[@kevincarr335]

Thanks for the warnings.

[@pamelaschumacher5471]

I'd be so glad to go ony any cruise to anywhere! Soon! We snagged some magnetic hooks so we can place clothes etc. wherever. Maybe even decorate our door for easier identification. I learn so much from watching Gary's channel. He's such a nice gentleman, always keeps it classy....Ladies, he's already taken so don't put a sock on your door handle......Bwahahahahaha lolol

[@sirborisdumpling6161]

Sorry to say Gary but I find your video pretty underwhelming. We cruised on Regal and Sky Princess recently and found the ships and service to be excellent. Yes I can see that food may not suit some people, but that can be said if you sail on P@O, Cunard, Celebrity, Royal Caribbean, MSC or NCL for examples. Looking at samey, well Royal Class ships will undoubtedly be the same designs, just like Royal Caribbean's Oasis or Quantum, only a new ship class alters that. As for the Skywalk, we see it as huge positive that you cannot stare at passengers enjoying their balconies. Compare that to Iona at deck 8 where you can see directly into peoples staterooms and no privacy exists unless you close the curtains. As for smoking, when we were onboard there was no smoking in Churchills or the Casino, smokers had to go to deck 17 aft. Appreciate things change, but for us Princess and Royal Caribbean are the best out there.

[@mandtpicture8317]

I’ve heard that Princess has now banned smoking in casinos. Can you confirm this?

[@tipsfortravellers]

Only as part of the Covid protocols. So indicated they will allow it once those lifted

[@mandtpicture8317]

@@tipsfortravellers , that’s a shame. Thank you for telling me.

[@andoru]

I hope that poolside gambling never catches on with other lines. Those big gambling screens on what looks like the pool deck are just... obscene. Right now you can avoid visting the casino if you like. But this is utterly inappropriate. How is Princess just so blind here?

[@jacksonlytal3302]

Fess up..Gary; I have watched your videos...and eventually stopped, because of one thing...you've always been slightly critical of Princess, especially when you criticize them over a personal taste item. As you can see by the comments below, lots of folks disagree with you over the consistent layout of Princess ships, WHY; because that is a personal taste issue. Objectivity, Gary, is what you lack, and it shows. AND another thing, you have never mentioned, is how well Princess has treated their passengers during the Covid mess, like rapidly processing refunds, etc, which has been much much better than some of the cruise lines you obviously favor. Having cruised on many lines, it is obvious that people pick, and stay with a cruise line because its values, business model, and performance match their needs and expectations; obviously Princess doesn't match yours, and that's OK, but you don't need to make "issue's" out of a personal, subjective opinion.

[@tomcollens4621]

We prefer Princess. Cunard is nice, but stuffy. RC is good, too, & even better than Celebrity. Do not like the huge ships on any line.

[@mattcolver1]

I choose Princess cruises because they go to so many destinations. When I book a Princess cruise it's always about the destination and I don't care what ship it is. However it's nice that the ships have the same layout so I know exactly where everything is. We always get a cabin on Caribe mid-deck. Many times we stay in the same cabin as previous cruises just a different ship. I gamble very little, so the casino doesn't matter. The food on princess is always good. So often due to shore excursions we miss the show because we got in late and are eating during show time. I'll stick with Princess. They have fantastic shore excursion options.

[@LosAngeles941]

I’m the same way you are. I like the same layout because I know what to expect. It annoys me with other ships layouts. I also don’t want to spend the first 3-4 days trying to figure out where everything is.

[@playme129]

@David. I always get a map. If one is not in my welcome package, I go to the front desk and ask for it.

[@alasanasilvia5605]

I agree with you, I like their ships, specially when I don’t get lost because I am familiar with them. And we always try to get the same stateroom locations.

[@danwhite5339]

Haha. We're just the opposite. After a few excursions, all those Caribbean islands look the same. "This is the poor area and this is where the wealthy not from here have homes." The destination does not matter at all to us. We cruise just to gamble.

[@Karolinute1]

I am cruising to candinavia and the baltics. Not all cruiseships stop in the small republic of Lithuania. Princess will be stopping in Klaipeda Lithuania. In fact it goes to all three baltic countries. Klaipeda is the smaller port city and it was heavily bombed during wwii. But they are rebuilding it. The old castle will eventually be reconstructed as well as St. John's Lutheran church. I will be touring svyturys brewery and site seeing in the old town. Dvaras is a great restaurant I plan to eat there too! I am part Lithuanian an cannot wait to see the gem of a country! Aciu princess!

[@reececollison5101]

I have to say I think the same designs are a plus. Those designs are synonymous with princess and are a perfect recipe so I definitely say don’t fix what isn’t broken. They’re definitely going for familiarity and I think that’s a good thing.

[@Milesco]

I agree! 🙂

[@cookiebird308]

Me too 🙋

[@dennisgrzywna4156]

My wife and I are loyal Princess fans and have sailed twice since October. Once you learn the difference between the different classes of ships in the fleet, you can navigate through each with confidence. Yes things are not back to the pre-pandemic normal yet but you can see it coming back. By the way, my wife loves their afternoon tea. .

[@daisydix3238]

We sailed on the Majestic to Alaska this past September. Yes, while even Majestic has most of the 'regular' Princess layout, it is somewhat unique in that it was built for the Asian market so it does have unique features - on Deck 17 the Hollywood Conservatory was a wonderful area to sit around and watch the outside scenery and wildlife (dolphins, orcas if you're lucky), and the adjacent Hollywood Pool Club was convenient for taking a dip and do a few laps as it is enclosed so you're not exposed to the cold weather. And if you have the Princess Plus package you can order drinks and some food items brought to you while relaxing in one of the 'privacy' rooms! Also don't forget to try the Noodle Bar on Deck 16 for something different - comforting lunch of hot wonton soup or the daily special during a cold/wet Alaska day (hopefully you won't have many of those)! If your itinerary takes you to Glacier Bay enjoy the view from your balcony with your Medallion-ordered hot drink :) Margerie Glacier was awesome, treating us to several calvings! Plus it's interesting to watch the NPS rangers get off the ship into their pilot boat upon exiting Glacier Bay. Think you will enjoy Alaska on the Majestic, after you overlook the shortcomings you mentioned 😏

[@mikkiduf]

I was just on NCL Encore in Alaska ( in September) , the casino had a completely closed off area for smokers , enclosed with clear walls. Our cruise had Kinky Boots, The Choir of Man, and a fantastic Beatles review band. The food everywhere including the buffet was the best I’ve ever had on a cruise.

[@snapchick]

One of the great things about Princess is the familiarity. The ships are beautiful, the service is fantastic and we never have to worry about anything, just enjoy the amazing destinations.

[@froodogga7053]

princess ships are not beautiful...the interior is all brown and dark everywhere you go...

[@markreynolds9135]

Gary, you should start a campaign to eliminate smoking in casinos on Princess ships. At the very least, Princess should establish a few non-smoking days inside of casinos during each cruise.

[@stevemccormick6908]

People will still complain no matter what they do

[@soniacattley1186]

The Australian and nz based ships for all lines are all smoke free due to legislation.

[@scottwoods504]

I've been on several Princess cruises where they had smoke free nights in the casino.

[@markreynolds9135]

@@scottwoods504 That is good to hear and hopefully it becomes the norm for all their cruises.

[@kays749]

@@scottwoods504 Usually formal night.

[@ginacota9724]

Gary we’ve cruised five times to Alaska. Twice on princess (which I agree does it the best) Royal Caribbean, Holland America, and this year with Norwegian on the Encore. We were very pleasantly surprised that Norwegian did an amazing job in several areas. The food in all venues was really fantastic. The shows as you mentioned were great. The overall decor and aesthetic of the ship was very impressive. There was no smoking in the casino with the exception of a small closed off area with special ventilation so we did not smell smoke at all. Probably the best thing about the ship pertaining to Alaska cruises specifically is the outdoor promenade area which made glacier Bay day really special. Most of the specialty restaurants have outdoor seating with heat lamps in the ceiling and very comfortable places to sit while enjoying glacier Bay. Staff came around with complimentary seafood chowder and hot chocolate as well as drinks carts with hot alcohol beverages options. Park rangers also board their ships to give presentations which is a wonderful experience. Although not as fully Alaska immersive as princess, Norwegian Encore is a great option to consider for your next Alaska cruise

[@tipsfortravellers]

Sounds like a great trip!! Thanks for the heads up!!

[@TheOriginalMarimoChan]

Thank you!!! I will try the Encore based on your comment - do love complimentary seafood chowder, hot chocolate and hot alcohol beverages, haha!

[@Canginator]

I used to work in the princess cruises headquarters in California and totally agree with the concerns. Holland America Line actually shares the office with us and many of the office staff end up working for both cruise lines. That being said, me and my past coworkers have had many opportunities to cruise with both lines and many of us find that HAL is more of what we like in a cruise. If princess isn't your thing, give HAL a try. It's still very traditional, and has a few small improvements to princess.

[@1992zg]

Totally agree, HAL is fantastic. Keep looking for an excuse to try Princess or Celebrity but can’t quite pull myself away

[@markn2352]

Interested that you "used to work for Princess cruises" Would be interested in your experiences. Looks like you job was land based! I am having an interest in working on a cruise ship in a couple of years. I have been doing HVAC for over 30 years. I find interest in ship board system, and the traveling the world would be GREAT! I was on a cruise on Holland America MS Westerdam in 2017 and LOVED it! I wish KZbin had a PM system, Paramount if interested in sharing working experiences ??

[@sanbee4038]

I agree. HAL is a great option for those that like Princess but prefer smaller ships. The only thing I didn't like was that their shore excursions were very expensive. We also really enjoyed the Ruby Princess even though it is on the larger side.

[@chriswilliams6568]

I found the cuisine of a lesser quality to Princess. Plus for Alaska a much older crowd. I have stood at Canada Place in Vancouver and seen 50 wheelchairs disembarking from HAL.

[@careym3901]

I prefer HAL over Princess although I will take a Princess cruise if the price is better or the itinerary. Just got off 4/7 day cruises with HAL & they have really upped their game as far as food & entertainment. Love HAL & have 6 more cruises booked with then in the coming 18 months.

[@fgauer1]

Gary, I absolutely LOVE your videos! Your work is fantastic! Thank you so much! My wife and I are booked on a May 2022 Princess (Discovery) to Alaska and we are absolutely stoked!!! It will be our first Princess cruise! I have to say for me personally, your concerns on this video somewhat fall into the 'first world problem', sort of category. Please don’t take offense, because again your work is fantastic and there is no negativity implied. You alone have to be the judge of what you ultimately spend your money on. But for me, the sheer astonishment of being able to board a vessel like this and go to Alaska with all of the amenities involved with such an endeavor. Just imagine the logistics of this even being possible. It simply takes my breath away and I personally will see to it that I never lose sight of that. Now with that being said, you’re somewhat of a ‘cruiser’s cruiser’, so your criteria will be different than mine. I sincerely wish you well and thank you again for all of your work. You’re really awesome!

[@singrdave]

We'll be on Discovery Princess on May 4th, will we see you there? Lol

[@stephaniem839]

I love Princess and their afternoon tea is one of our favorite things. You’ll love your cruise! Have a safe and fabulous time!!!

[@KelleysQuiltsandCruises]

I’ll be on the Discovery Princess next September for a Pacific Coastal cruise.

[@sherimacgregor-robertson8259]

Princess rocks Alaska!

[@margyangelini4652]

Excited to be aboard the discovery princess on May 15th

[@keith6400]

Gary, virtually all cruise lines have gone onto larger ships. The only smaller ships tend to be expensive boutique or older ships as they are not building new small cruise ships. In relation to smoking in Princess Casino in October/November on Regal Princess it was banned as the casino was under covid rules and this was one of them apparently. The skywalk was criticised for the balconies being overlooked and that is why they filled the inboard area in to prevent this type of intrusive observation.

[@janeneal674]

We love Fred. Olsen. They've just bought 2 ships from Holland America- completely re furbished and re-named Bollette and Borealis. I think the maximum is 1200 passengers. Saying that, we had 2 Princess cruises this autumn and enjoyed them, but then they were only half full because of Covid regulations.

[@colleenla40]

Medallion is amazing. It is interactive, it helps them to provide better service and it brings cruising to the next level. I’m definitely a fan.

[@havenstatguys]

Hi Gary - Love your channel and have watched many of your episodes. We also have booked Princess to Alaska this July and this will be our 10th cruise but first with Princess. I understand and usually agree with most of your comments (positive and negative) but I think you sometime lose sight of the typical cruiser as opposed to your experience. Similar type shows can seems repetitive if you cruise 8-10 times a year but if you cruise once a year or once every few years the whole cruise package is the attraction. Having a lovely dinner and walking the deck and catching the 8 PM show for 40 minutes and then going to a piano bar for an hour is such a pleasure on a 7 day cruise. It's the type of activity I look forward to and makes a cruise a cruise. I don't think the cruise lines are much interested in a UNIQUE experience for cruisers who cruise many times a year. Keep up the good work and I hope to meet you on a cruise someday!

[@dennisforan4544]

I feel the same. I have only cruised with Princess once in 2017 and 2019. I saw the similarities but thought the ships were fantastic. I often wonder from cruise critics if they get bored with cruising all the time.

[@billjanetcsu]

We like the look of Princess ships. Smoking in casinos is horrible.

[@ShadowSiren88]

I love afternoon tea! Have you done a video on who does the best? I'd love to see it!

[@jenesepatanella917]

Go Holland to Alaska, since they were the first. HAL still has wonderful food, afternoon Tea and small ships! I know you like Holland so why compermise

[@jenesepatanella917]

New modern, very cool stage shows. Variety everynight.

[@chriswilliams6568]

Maybe because if he is doing a one way and staying in lodges in Alaska then Princess is best due to the fact that they own the beautiful lodges.

[@gardenofe12]

I went on HAL to Alaska right before the pandemic 😷 and you’re right !! HAL was a great cruise to head to Alaska !! I enjoyed that cruise so much !! It was awesome but I have also been on Princess as well at least 3 times and also enjoy that ship as well !! I have NOTHING bad to say about both cruises 🚢 other to say they were great and we had great experiences on BOTH cruises !! I want to go on Royal Caribbean next time just to try out their ships 🛳!! Never been on Royal !!

[@dwill123]

I took my first cruise in 1991 (Norwegian Cruise Line). Things were pretty basic. Over the years I realized that’s what I was looking for in a cruise. The others can keep the bells and whistles, keep the rock climbing walls, keep the go carts, the Broadway shows, etc. I’m on a cruise to get away from all of that. All I need is a well-run operation, a clean room, above average food, entertainment that I don’t fall asleep on and a place to go sit and watch the waves go buy. Get that last bit right and I wouldn’t care if afternoon tea was severed out of a vending machine.

[@kristielynn3234]

We went to Alaska on Norwegian and it was amazing. We went to all of the most enviable ports. It was perfect. I believe their is more benefit in choosing a cruise line and sticking with it. We are platinum plus now which gives us many benefits and s es money. By the time we retire we will be in the top level of Admiral.where you get a free cruise every year and many more lovely benefits.

[@benyounce8390]

I have elite status on Princess. Still my last 7 cruises have been with Holland America. Their ship sizes and impeccable service with spectacular food have won me over.

[@andreatuckman1084]

The real Alaska cruise line that’s been around the longest is Holland.

[@ald8612]

No sorry, Princess Line has the longest history sailing to Alaska. There even is a monument (plaque) to this fact in Denali National Park. Also, Princess has made the largest investment in Alaska via, resorts, travel businesses, employment, transportation services for business as well as passengers. If you've ever been, you will plainly see this. I've been five times with three different lines, one of which was Holland.

[@bradclifford295]

And all of their original cruisers still go. Literally, we went on a Holland america cruise 15 years ago and we were by far the youngest people on the ship and my mother in law had to wait in the longest special security line for people with knee replacements. It cracked me up cause that line was longer than the regular security line. But, still an amazing cruise. Just know that it is definitely more for couples and the 50+ demographic.

[@talexanderphoto]

Gary - my wife and I did the Alaska Cruise on the Island Princess back in 2014 and loved it. Our goal was not to enjoy the ship amenities as much as seeing the wildness of the landscape and the glaciers before they are gone. The Inland Passage offers a continuous display of nature at its best, and for us sitting on the promenade deck and letting it roll past was like a 7 day movie. We didn’t care about the casino or shows, and most of our meals were from a wonderful buffet - great food and fast so we could get back on deck, which we pretty much had to ourselves due to the cooler temps. The size of the Island Princess was great - easy to get onto shore excursions and we never felt crowded. I think we would hate the bigger ship. But you will love this cruise; for us it was the trip of a lifetime.

[@sherimacgregor-robertson8259]

Gary, I don't think its fair to compare the Princess and Viking's afternoon tea service. Princess vs. Celebrity, ok. But Viking is in the small, Expensive class. You darn well better get 5 stars with them. I will settle for a nice 4 star Princess afternoon tea service a be able to cruise more often. Love your vlogs...keep them coming!!!

[@paulbrungardt9823]

I agree 100% with Gary about smokers. I suggest all smokers swim along the ship until they give up smoking.

[@fishurm0344]

This is comedically well done!

[@rudyquiambao3514]

Go first

[@paulbrungardt9823]

@@rudyquiambao3514 I don't smoke.

[@barbara88-]

I find it hard to believe that cruise lines are still allowing smoking in the casino with the health of people a huge concern, or at least it should be.. The smell never stays in the casino first of all and secondly, I see that the casino is next to the atrium and the smoke must filter out into the atrium area and travel. How disgusting. They should have an enclosed room for smokers to do that if that is what they want and everyone else should not have to deal with that on their vacation.

[@paulbrungardt9823]

@@rudyquiambao3514 I don't smoke...if I did smoke, I would give it up real fast...

[@lorileake1983]

Such great points & considerations you present for us to think about when booking any cruise. Fantastic job!

[@cruisecrazy7066]

I LIKE the similarity of the ships. I step aboard and feel like I am coming home, as everything is familiar. I know where everything is.

[@deborahgreen8408]

I was on Caribbean Princess and I cannot figure out why it is considered to be like Celebrity. The food was not good especially the hamburgers they brag about and pizza. Even after renovation it was mildewy. I will try again only if it is a new ship. Royal Caribbean’s is even better. Celebrity is a step above Princess. Now that you said the ships are the same I am afraid to try them unless they get a major change

[@Smokeyham]

I’ve been a long-time fan of Princess, enjoying the décor and ambiance on board. However, we did a cruise to Alaska on Holland America Line (HAL) and really enjoyed that. We were on board the Nieuw Amsterdam that had a capacity of 2,100 passengers and that seemed like a really nice size. They did a nice job with afternoon tea and also got us into Glacier Bay. We especially liked the quality of their enrichment talks led by a very good cruise director. If you enjoy the general ambiance of Princess then HAL is definitely worth a look. I agree…. The smoking and large size of the ships are very off-putting.

[@barbarashuster9029]

Have February Majestic Princess and September HAL coming up. First time on both lines.

[@bernadettematlo4086]

@@barbarashuster9029 cd’s

[@willgaukler8979]

... I think it is only fair to let the smokers in the casino's ... too bad their are not open air casino's ...yet ...

[@reneejohnson7778]

I think the sameness is a plus for me and my husband. We take half our cruise getting acclimated to the actual ship. As you said, we can begin the fun as soon as we board and know our ship with no worries.

[@suzyinstitches273]

The smoke would bother me too. Not so sure I'd like the massive sized ships either. Musical review shows may or may not appeal. If I'm going to spend so much money on a vacation, I definitely want to enjoy the majority of the experience. I love the medallion idea.

[@angelametcalfe953]

After much homework I chose HAL for our Alaskan cruise and we were very happy with it. It was only our second cruise after a 3 night Australian P&O taster cruise.

[@drdata1967]

So oddly enough there was a period of time in my late 20’s & early 30’s ( I’m 54 now) where I took about 10 Princess sailings in a row over 3-4 years and oddly the thing that was predominately the issue that made me stop was…… heartburn. Seriously, I realized after about 4 cruises that I spent 85% of each cruise suffering from unrelenting heartburn, heartburn I didn’t get on other cruise lines. I can’t even figure out what it was but I know for a fact their banana daiquiri mix gave me heartburn before sail away on my last ship, I remember looking at my then wife & saying “ I have heartburn & we haven’t even left port”. So I stopped drinking the daiquiri’s but the heartburn remained . I could never bail it down, I stopped eating the pasta they give you with every meal, I played around with a ton of things & a ton of meds, but it happened on every Princess sailing & didn’t happen on any other line, so I started sailing Holland America for my upscale cruising, I’ve got over 180 days on HAL. I still get emails from them & I just have such agita from the agita that I just stopped going on their cruises.

[@GUITARTIME2024]

The coffee I bet. Acidity?

[@Ken-iy9mb]

Boy you got this spot on. This has been our kitchen table conversation for a few months. We are long time Princess cruise folks but are ready to move on .

[@j.m.7056]

Give Holland America a try. I do not think you will be disappointed!

[@froodogga7053]

100% agree...princess has lost its way compared to other lines...

[@chitownmike5075]

Gary, great video. I do think you need to cover the value Princess brings for what they offer vs. other premium cruise lines.

[@debra333]

Hi, Gary. I enjoy your videos and have a request (sorry if you've done this) ... could you do a video on cruises for people who are subject to seasickness? Which cruises are best, what needs or things can be done ahead of time, what you've learned to do while on the cruise, what other travelers have shared with you, etc. Thank you.

[@arthurschalick2362]

I agree with you on the point of smoking in the casino. With the casino in the middle of the ship we needed to plan alternative routes when traversing the ship.

[@abp1400]

Your channel always has the best reviews. They are well thought out and detailed.

[@sjhanksaz]

Are they really experts in Alaska? All cruise ships go to the same stops in Alaska. I don't know how they do anything really different than the other lines when it comes to that area.

[@williammiller5449]

On the plus side: Princess ships have self-serve laundromats which are not found on most of the competition.

[@michaelhunsinger8351]

That's a good nugget of info, I'm surprised he didn't cover that.

[@melvinjacobs2328]

If you want real shows, you are limited to Royal Caribbean or NCL.

[@PennsyRailroad]

Gary - if you want to complain about “big” ships, look at those 6000+ behemoths that other lines are deploying. 3000+ passenger ships are tiny in comparison. As you said destination-Alaska, it’s the Destination, not really the transport, and if you know where “it” is it’s faster to the destination. Oh yeah, the world isn’t a Tea-mandate drinker.

[@PortsladeBySea]

Can the ships that have 6000+ passengers, plus 1750 crew, be evacuated safely and quickly in an emergency in rough seas, during winter and far out at sea? 🤔

[@markeaston7353]

I really don't understand why smoking is still permitted in casinos. Surely the cruise lines have a duty of care to the non smoking passengers, let alone the poor crew members who have to spend long periods of time in such a contaminated environment.

[@kvom01]

The poached egg test is a good one. A similar test for the egg added to ramen in Japanese shops is a good indicator of quality, as these eggs need a soft but not runny yolk. Smoking is an issue, but I likely wouldn't be bothered as I won't normally use the casino. I'm currently thinking of cancelling my May QM2 crossing because they've cancelled any bridge games for fear that covid can be transmitted on playing cards. For a cruise that's all sea days, I was looking forward to a couple of hours between lunch and tea.

[@cherylkoski7184]

It's absurd to ban card playing because the virus is AIRBORNE.

[@debraticehurst2583]

I feel how an egg is cooked really is a personal preference. There is really no right or wrong...just how each person likes them.

[@ronpillar9963]

Gary I agree 100% about smoking in the casino. It’s so unnecessary and to your point many smokers sit at a slot machine just to smoke and don’t actually play. HAL has removed smoking from the casino on many of their ships and it’s welcome relief. We were on the New Amsterdam in 2019 with a smoke-free casino and then Regal Princess in early 2020 and very disappointed with the smoke. C’mon Princess get rid of smoking onboard or only allowable up on deck in prescribed locations.

[@loricameron4230]

Hi Gary, our cruise line of choice was Princess but with the location of the casinos and the smell of smoke everywhere we no longer will sail on Princess. We now sail with Celebrity as it is less noticeable. I don’t understand why Princess allows smoking in their casinos considering the percentage of smokers is much less than non smokers. Also, Alaska is always jammed full of tourists during cruise season so it is much nicer to be on a smaller ship as you can have a respite from the crowds once back on board.

[@mindyschocolate]

Agreed. Smoking is gross and makes me feel nauseous. Plus, I don’t want to leave smelling like an ashtray like they do.

[@smudgersmithmale4085]

Taking cruising advice from a gay man is not the advice most straight blokes are looking for, (afternoon teas ) please

[@shetaz905]

Even though I have never been on a cruise, I still faithfully watch your channel! Since I'm from the US, afternoon tea is not on my radar. However, smoking is not something I am willing to tolerate. I really value your information, and someday I am going to book a cruise!

[@planner722]

My family usually only go on economy type cruises (5 people). However my wife and I went on three different cruises when we first married, about 22 years ago. They were so much nicer, especially the food. We then didn’t cruise for nearly 16 years because of the kids. When we returned to cruising the food especially was so disappointing. From watching your videos it sounds like we need to look at a more premium cruise, spend a little more, and leave the kids at home in order to recapture that old time cruise experience.

[@willgaukler8979]

once you go Princess ... you'll never look back ... ...their Hi Tea on the REGAL was great really ... unless you know from better ... it is fine ... the Medallion deal was a bother at the time. ... but understood ... Jan/20 ... it soon became the touches way to go tho... even before Covid ... you always saw crew cleaning something ...and real flowers ...with daily caregiver ... cannot wait till airports and connecting services return to normal ... as far as the ship goes ... this ain't their first rodeo ... there ready when the ports are ...

[@johnhughes3585]

Look at Viking. Smaller ships, great food and no kids allowed.

[@crash3x]

There is no reason any ship should still have interior smoking...Celebrity does quite fine and the casino is always full. Most places in North America indoor smoking is not allowed.....European countries still allow smoking almost everywhere. Its not fair to the majority of passengers and crew for that matter to have to expose themselves to carcinogens because of the few. I am former smoker..I would always remove myself and go outside and stand far away from others....it was my habit , no one else should have to endure it because I was a smoker.

[@Captn-Stan]

Princess my first choice for Alaska! Love the Lodges and always do the land and sea cruise tours. Worst experience for afternoon tea was on Holland America. Here the sever called my wife greedy because she wanted to sample different cakes and scones.

[@tammy_oh_nevermind]

Thanks for this; you have some good points. I did Alaska on the Majestic in August and loved it. Atrium very much like the Royal Princess but the rest of the ship was quite different, especially on upper decks. Shops/restaurants different for sure. Doing B2B Alaska in Majestic next year and also B2B on Discovery Princess so I'm looking forward to comparing those 2. I do feel that class of ship is too large for Alaska, though we had no issues. Leaving from Vancouver they must go around Vancouver Island instead of the Canadian inside passage. I want to try HAL so I can have that experience.

[@roundandroundmyworld]

Princess still passes inland of Vancouver Island with the Grand-Class ships.

[@andyrob3259]

Agree: shows on any ship are boring formulaic things. They remind me of organised troupes that would go to your school and put on a show; and the same show at 300 other schools. No real passion and B grade at best. As for ships being the same I feel the same way - again boring. No character. No discovery. I think of ships in the past with their idiosyncratic bits that made each unique and fun.

[@alantaylor3910]

What I really like about Princess is that they are competent. If the ship has some major issue the crew will be trained to handle it.

[@AuntK68]

Princess is much more about the itinerary/destination rather than being all about the on-board experience, which is exactly what you want on a trip to Alaska. Their smaller ships like Island and Coral do the Alaskan Inside Passage so you don't have to take the larger ships if you don't want to (we took the Island Princess to Alaska in 2016 and had a great time, and she's been completely refurbished since then). The "flashier" lines with more on-board activities crammed into every minute are great if you never want to get off of the ship during your cruise, but when ports and excursions are the main reason you are cruising then Princess is really hard to beat. I'm glad you're keeping your booking, Gary, and I hope you have a wonderful time!

[@johnp139]

Not for the Caribbean!

[@franciscaburnley1327]

Hi Gary. While I love your videos, I am worried that you may be going along with the negative thumbnails that seem to get more action by KZbin. Please continue being authentic.

[@TheJm129]

I was recently on a Carnival cruise and even though there were specific non smoking and smoking area, the entire casino smelled of smoke. I can live without a casino and thus live with more of my money staying in my pocket. I haven't been exposed to a high quality afternoon tea so for me Princess is fine- I can get plenty of calories in other venues. As you indicated, the plusses and minuses depend on what is important to the vacationer.

[@stevejacques8949]

Gary- why do you say NCL is not a specialist in Alaska? They have many cruises to Alaska and I’ve been on several- all excellent!!

[@TVHouseHistorian]

I love what you had to say about afternoon tea. I feel like they just recycle all the baked goods and sandwiches you see at the other dining venues, so there's nothing real creative and genuine about the experience. As for the food scene overall, my first time cruising with Princess was terrible in terms of food quality. I felt that the food choices were way out of the chefs' purview. Most of the upscale dishes offered were overcooked and tasteless. For me, the litmus test for the culinary experience is always how well they do the lobster tails. The lobster tails on my Princess cruise were so awful that no one was happy. They were like shoe leather, and super salty. Princess is considered a "premium" cruise line, and as such, I expected the food to be as good or a notch better than other lines. It was not good at all. They weren't even doing the "Chocolate Journey's" program, which was a huge letdown. Even the pizza at Alfredo's was very very blah, and yet it's touted as some of the best pizza on sea! Not in my opinion! RC's "Sorrento's" is far and beyond Alfredo's in the pizza category. As for the shows, they were very ho-hum at best. They need to do some creative reconfiguring to put some spice into the shows. Also, I will say that the talent onboard was not good quality at all. Would this keep me from sailing with Princess again? Not at all... Yes! I so agree that most of Princess's ships are pretty much identical, but for some reason that's what I love about them if I'm sailing to Alaska. When I was researching Alaska cruises, I immediately went to Princess (didn't know that Alaska was their specialty), and all in all, Princess did not disappoint. I feel like, when I'm on an Alaska cruise, I'm not as interested in exploring the layout of the ship as I am about the ship being programmed to suit my needs for the week. The Piazza being the central hub of the ship made it wonderful for me because everything was central, easy to find, and that made it relaxing. For some reason, this design makes the ship feel smaller and more intimate. Absolutely I agree that the crew on board are exceptional. And the Medallion program was a complete game-changer for me. EVERYTHING can be done with the Medallion itself or the app. The app is so incredibly multi-functional that you cannot go wrong. I should also include the fact that the drink package which included unlimited soft drinks as well as 15 alcoholic drinks per day made the sailing a fabulous value since it was included in the fare. My fare also included internet. Aside from the below-par food, the sailing experience with Princess was everything I had hoped it would be. The weather was cold, dark, and wet, but the ship was warm, inviting, and friendly. I would absolutely sail with Princess again (but they've got to get the food situation fixed!!!).

[@blatherskite9601]

Those ships look like the care home I'm about to consign my Mother to (dementia). So much found for you, so much the same, so much extrovert "entertainment"... probably the same charges, too. And so unbelievably dull. Waiting for God.

[@janetgundrum9599]

I am a fan of Princess cruises, but I appreciate your point of view. I too find the staff of Princess to be better than most, especially in Alaska. We did the 16-day Land/Cruise package starting in Fairbanks. We enjoyed the land portion more than the cruise portion of this trip. Every day offered something new with the excursions included in our package deal. We also had meals included. We had our own tour guide and bus driver, and stayed with the same group throughout this portion of the trip. It was worth every penny. What a fabulous trip! Among our 3 favorites (we've taken about 40 cruises). I hope you have a safe and wonderful trip,

[@jenniferchaplin5360]

Thing is Gary, NOBODY cruises as much as you, so won't get bored by the repetitive nature of the shows.

[@singrdave]

Just left Regal Princess (you liked my tweet), 886 pax on 3560-capacity ship. Basically had the whole ship to ourselves! Zero lines for meals, excursions, entertainment. Five days: Ft Lauderdale to Amber Cove DR and Princess Cays Bahamas (reschedule from T&C due to restrictions). Overall food was very good but nothing fantastic. FYI booked with cruise credit from March 2020. Have an Alaska trip on Discovery Princess next May.

[@kennybridgman4322]

But here in America we could careless about afternoon tea!!!! What’s the big deal w tea and sandwiches?? I love a good cold ice tea I’m from the south we all do but could careless about something special just for tea!!! That’s crazy

[@robertfoerster566]

I found this with the S-Class on Celebrity. Aside from the decor, everything was where it was, for the most part, on the other S-Class vessels. But yes, I do think that's a good thing. I've now moved onto the Edge Class, and it's a whole other kettle of fish! Hehe. Thank you again for these beautiful and informative videos!

[@PetroicaRodinogaster264]

Re: the people smoking in the casino and not actively gambling...I beg to differ...they are gambling the most...with their life and yours!

[@bennettdickmann1602]

Gary, Each time I digest one of your reports, I am even more impressed than the prior viewing. My wife and I enjoy hearing your accounts - the accounts of an expert. You clearly know your subject. Even better, you are an objective researcher. You have no misplaced loyalties. Your reports are very well produced. You have a unique ability to identify a problem, dissect it and share it in a very professional manner. Nonetheless, despite the fair critiques, you still serve as the the best ambassador for the cruise industry. Thank you for your excellent work.

[@ivansbaby69]

I was thinking of booking but after listening to your excitement on cruising it doesn't sound very fun maybe you should try something different yourself

[@matao87]

I'm a loyal princess cruiser and my biggest gripe goes right along with your comment about the size of the ships. I feel like the new Royal class is too crowded. They have the same public spaces as the grand class with almost a thousand more passengers. They increased cabin capacity without really adding any public facilities or space.

[@paullewis2413]

Comparing Princess with Viking is probably like comparing a Porsche with a Ford. They would have to pay me to go on one of these monsters, in fact I’d probably decline the offer anyway 😂

[@GG-fb5if]

We have done 1 on Celebrity and 1 on HAL!!!! We're booked on Princess for May 2022. So far......HAL is absolutely my favorite!!!! Celebrity seemed more stuffy. The staff on HAL was awesome! It was like they truly enjoyed their jobs!!! 😊

[@kathryngoodson4464]

Which cruise lines have smoke free casinos? I can barely stand the smoke walking thru… thats true most casinos statewide though some do have somewhat large smoke free areas

[@bigbenhuisman]

We never walk through the casino because smoking is allowed, we always go down to level 5 to get to the atrium. I think that formal nights are smoke free in the casino though.

[@paulbrungardt9823]

Gary--I appreciate your fondness for tea; however, a word of caution about mentioning tea around Americans---December 16, 1773 Americans took a British incident in Boston Harbor, rather harshly.

[@mistycruiser436]

HAL has been cruising Alaska longer than other cruise lines and gets better pier locations. They also have a great afternoon tea served on tiered trays. The food is much better than that on Princess. The big plus with HAL is the fabulous Music Walk!

[@butterflygirl2285]

IMO - I did not care for the food when we went on our Alaska cruise. Was not impressed at all.

[@Right-is-Right357]

There can be 99 Cruise companies or more! But for me it will always be Holland America! 😊 You can call me conservative old geezer...so be it! 😊

[@uptown3636]

Interesting take on Princess. I share many of your concerns, and I have found Holland America to be a better choice for my Alaska cruises. Smaller ships, better food, and the Lincoln Center Stage is a real treat.

[@gwenmarshall587]

I went on NCL Pearl in August 2018. It was Pearl's last season in Alaska. I told some of the tour guides that the Pearl would not be coming back the next year and they were both surprised and sad because she had been there so long. It seemed to me that the Pearl was able to use a lot of little tricks to maximize her itinerary and I was very impressed with that Captain's ability but he too has retired. NCL Spirit will be going to Alaska and one of her two captains did work on the Pearl when it was an every year thing. I don't think anything larger than a Panama Max is a good ship for Alaska because it is limited in where it can go. Based on what I saw I disagree with your assumption and statement that NCL is not a good ship in Alaska but it may not be a good ship for you based on your preferences. I will be going on the Sun to Alaska this spring assuming Japan reopens for cruising. Personally I see the cruise ships more as transportation and housing than as the destination itself.

[@anitas5817]

I loved the Pearl. Disappointed to hear she does not sail to Alaska anymore because I was planning to look into that.