The Cruise Lines Everyone Is Raving About RIGHT NOW (And Why!)

[@CruiseDude1]

I follow a number of KZbin Channels of various topics, and Gary Bembridge is extraordinary. I love your even-handed reviews, and empathizing with people that have different tastes that you don't share.

[@denizalgazi]

Gary is at the top when it comes to cruise content. Most others are full of disinformation and clickbait and they don't care as long as they get the clicks and can use their popularity to get perks onboard.

[@ericafors6039]

Gary is one of the very top KZbinrs in cruise space. He always has excellent content!

[@denizalgazi]

@@ericafors6039 💯👍 Almost all the other popular vloggers are rubbish. Don't know why he continues mentioning them.

[@Paul-GrnHil]

Gary, you are correct to point out that your experience is tied to your personal preferences and expectations. I took my first Viking cruise and signed up for 2 more including a World Cruise. You get what you pay for, the food is excellent and you can always find a quiet space to relax on sea days and enjoy a coffee or cappuccino and snack. I look at cruising to be about traveling in a 4 or 5 star hotel with great food to great destinations. My wife and I love Viking. If we take a multi generation cruise it may be on Disney or some other mega ship line but with our expectations tied to the delight of the kids, not ourselves. BTW. With Viking since all of the cabins (except suites) are the same size and have balconies, you can enjoy all of the same ship amenities at a lower cost by selecting a cheaper grade of cabin. The only disadvantage is you are later in the queue to reserve excursions and priority dining. This has proven to be a minor inconvenience for the savings.

[@CCB249]

Plus, the more cruises you take on Viking the larger the discount you get for your next cruise with Viking, when you book while you are on your cruise. You don't have to pay when you book then, you usually have months to pay for your booking. I really like the education aspect of the Viking line. For me and my husband there is no point in visiting a place if we aren't learning something about that place. We love educational tours.We also want to do a world cruise-when husband retires.

[@LauraJdogmom]

Have a wonderful time on your world cruise. I envy you! That is on my bucket list. It probably won't be with Viking, even though in many ways they would suit me well. For all their virtues, unfortunately they are not solo-traveler friendly, so I need other options. Have you done any of their river cruises?

[@kathrynryches6660]

The more reviews, comments, and videos I watch the more I am convinced the Viking will be my choice. I have no desire to be on a floating city of thousands with kids, casinos etc. Thanks Gary!

[@thereissomecoolstuff]

Very few children on Holland America as well. Smaller passenger capacity and excellent food and service.

[@tigger3370]

They almost had to drag me off when our Viking cruise ended! But seriously, I did not want to leave and go back to the real world. The crew and other passengers were just so friendly and nice. I enjoyed the laid back atmosphere and lack of screaming kids. We were close to being the youngest people on board (54) but, even so, most of the older folks were so active and fun. I would go back in a second if I could.

[@James-ej7yd]

I have traveled Viking multiple times over the past several years. While they are premium priced, I can't stand the nickel diming of most of the other cruise lines. In the end, if you add up what you are getting on Viking, my opinion is you are getting what you are paying for. I think if you are not open to the prices of Viking, Holland America is a great option. We have done with with grandchildren and they absolutely loved it and the food was excellent along with the service. We do NOT like the mega ships with thousands of passengers. Can't stand the crowds.

[@AronRoss72]

We like the smaller amplified Royal ships over the mega ships mainly because of the lack of connection to the ocean. I am dying to try Holland America. So far have been on Royal, Princess, Carnival with a future Virgin and Celebrity on the way.

[@Marshal_Dunnik]

Agreed. Just tell the me the price, and I'll pay it, then just let me get on with my vacation in peace thanks muchly.

[@markreynolds9135]

The thousands of passengers probably can’t stand you either. 😂

[@edbarnard7157]

Wow , how nasty can you be. Let me know what ship you are on, I will be sure not to go@@markreynolds9135

[@kimberlysparks6933]

I absolutely love Holland America. I have cruised 8 times with them!@@AronRoss72

[@oliverstemp9132]

Ships within a ships are just the return of First Class and Second Class.

[@susancook1448]

Very perceptive! I agree

[@djdudemanhey]

Don’t forget Stowage Class…..thems my people

[@4tdaz]

THIS. My first NCL was Prima. Very very very terrible crowd, seating and space management and I truly felt it was because of the size of the Haven. Here's the thing, if you have the money to spend for Haven, why deal with the crowds on these ships? Just pay for a giant room on Royal where spaces and layout is MUCH better, plus you get an even bigger room for Haven prices

[@stevewilson6390]

And?

[@pickard72]

This is a gross oversimplification. I admit I missed being able to go to the outside bow area, but there is plenty of room on the rest of the ship, no overcrowding in the MDR, overcrowding in the Buffet seems to be a timing issue, all passengers see the same performances. Cunard is the only line I have found to have a true Class system.

[@salesencore]

Great review Gary. Reinforces the adage “beauty is in the eye of the beholder”. Really have to know your own likes and dislikes and match them to the cruise line and profile. Well done.

[@loeschzone6876]

I booked my first cruise a couple of weeks ago ( Gary - this was due to watching your video. Before that I never wanted to go on a cruise 🤷🏼‍♀️😉) I compared all my options on a ridiculous spreadsheet and after calculating.. Virgin was the best bet and the cheapest. If I added on the WiFi, sodas and juice, special restaurants and tips to any other line it was between $700-$1000 more than Virgin ( all of that is included in the fare) . I am also a teacher so adults only was a HUGE draw. I am so excited 🎉

[@robertsammons1]

Virgin are honestly amazing, just go in with an open mind and enjoy it !

[@halpen]

How exciting!!! I also took my first cruise largely due to Gary's information. Took my hubby on Holland and we both loved it. I hope you have a great experience!

[@traveler320ak7]

Have fun!!

[@peedee2221]

Viking for us. No kids, no casino, small numbers, excellent food, included specialist restaurants, included wifi, included trips, happy crew. What's not to like.

[@deborahworpell9516]

The price :)

[@peedee2221]

@deborah, If you price up all the nickel and dime extras on Norwegian against the included on Viking, you will find that Viking come in only slightly more expensive for a much nicer experience.

[@Sashazur]

Sounds like you get that you pay for!

[@pickard72]

What's not to like? The prices of Viking ocean cruise - it's not a premium line, it's a luxury line.

[@happytraveller2122]

We’ve done two Viking. Honestly dislike the music in the lounge - level 1. It needs to be mixed up with some soft contemporary music - not just classical. Menu in Manfredi’s never changed in a month Entertainment in the theatre was 99% musical theatre numbers. Very old fashioned to me. Loved the living room atmosphere, cafe and the books. Loved the cabins, laundromat, included excursions, drinks, wifi. The spa area was phenomenal.. as a vegetarian.. mostly the meals were underwhelming.. but still enjoyed it. Staff. Amazing.

[@robertsammons1]

So glad to finally see Virgin getting the respect it deserves, after two bad launches for scarlet and valiant, the delayed ships and what not. The on board product is stellar and my go to cruise line now

[@rosemarie9956]

I like how Gary explains it - I have enjoyed my last 3 cruises ( Disney, older RC, and MSC) for very different reasons. Now we know we tend to put destinations and port calls first on our list with the ability to plan some self excursions. Going with HAL next month and another RC cruise in 2024 so will see how that goes but I generally adopt a positive mindset and don’t get fussed about the minor things.

[@zetzeeful]

That's thr spirit

[@calumshaw]

Our sole cruise on a non Princess ship since 2017 was Celebrity Reflections Aqua Class in 2018. Without doubt the worst food experience we've ever had. Celebrity is the one cruise line we automatically exclude from our future cruise searches.

[@vw4822]

I'm sad to hear this as we have a Greek Isles cruise with Celebrity in June. Coincidentally, the one cruise we have taken was in 2017 with Princess. We enjoyed the cruise but the food was terrible and we weren't interested in the evening entertainment provided. My daughters and I did try to attend one of the classes/craft sessions but it was only offered once and filled up quickly and left many people unable to participate. I thought Celebrity would be an upgrade from Princess.

[@deansemmer1791]

I am sorry you had a bad experience on Celebrity Aqua Class. I have found, with one exception, this is the best way to cruise. The food is usually extraordinary in the Blu dining room. I was on a Holland America ship this last December-January where the food was absolutely horrendous. They had nothing special for Christmas or New Year's Eve. Sorry about your Celebrity experience.

[@Studentspeaksout]

I’m sorry you had a bad experience, my Celebrity cruises on the Edge ships in Aqua Class have been glorious!

[@calumshaw]

@@Studentspeaksout now done 25 cruises, mostly Princess. But the last cruise was Princess Grill Queen Victoria, 22 days Western Med. Best cruise, best food, best service ever! Shame Cunard are opting out of Australia next year as we would have switched

[@elainewilt3883]

I’m in my 70’s and don’t want to spend my time on a cruise catering to just adults. I love family cruises. I can have my quiet time at home. Give me excitement, things for all ages to enjoy together, and seeing my grands having the times of their lives. Those memories are the best.

[@Robinicat]

A few years ago my husband and I took an Oceania Baltic cruise and enjoyed it so much. First of all the food was out of this world! The ship was quiet, not flashy or rowdy and not crowded at all which we really appreciated. Everything was well organized; no long lineups. No being accosted by theme characters for photos or spa people to book their services...as on Princess. At the time the ship spent 3 nights in the port of St Petersburg, Russia...which is no longer. We were therefore able to visit many palaces, churches, a dance show and museums over the 3 days. We are in the midst of planning an Oceania British cruise for August. I don't know that any other cruise line can measure up to the Oceania experience.

[@SandraHof]

I just finished a 7 day Greek Isle cruise on Celebrity’s Infinity ship. We thought it was supposed to be a slightly more elevated experience above Royal Caribbean, which a couple of us had been on a few times before. But we didn’t feel it was a more elevated experience. For us the strong point of Celebrity is their employees. There seemed to be a high ratio of employees to passengers. They were super friendly and efficient. The main dining room food was good. Just not overly exciting. Amazingly, one member of their security staff, who checked us off and on the ship at each port, actually remembered my first name before even getting my Sea Pass! Our drink attendant at night in the main dining room remembered our cocktail order from the previous night and asked if we wanted the same. Impressive memories!

[@mapamouse]

Remembering your drink preference is standard on Disney Cruise Line, not a surprise.

[@SandraHof]

@@mapamouse I hadn’t been on a cruise since around 2005 or 2006. So I forgot a lot about cruising and it was a first cruise for two of the 4 of us. Therefore, for my friends and me it was a pleasant surprise.

[@Komainu959]

We sailed to Alaska on Millie which we just fell in love with it. I've never been on RC but have sailed NCL and thought Celeb was definitely a cut above. From the design of the open spaces and cabin to the crew which were just amazing. Gonna be heading to HAL on Zaandam next year and hoping we like that smaller ship as well.

[@liby767]

I also went on the celebrity infinity Greek isle cruise this past August and it was amazing! All the staff were so friendly to my mum and I! It was a great first cruise experience!

[@ljacobs357]

When we sailed Viking a few years ago, they wanted payment up front, and it can be difficult to get a refund. We found there was often a long wait line for dinner. Their free excursions are usually a basic coach tour. Beautiful ships and fairly good food.

[@consolw]

We have just come home from a Viking cruise around Norway and we were completely blown away by the service on board the Viking Mars. I particularly enjoyed the fact that there is always a quiet nook somewhere where you can hide away with a coffee or wine and a good book. I like that there were no kids, we are in our seventies and appreciate the quieter atmosphere. I have dietary issues and the crew went to a lot of effort to find /make special meals for me so that I never felt like I was missing out on anything, and the crew seemed to be aware of my needs wherever I was on the ship. Crew were the best I’ve ever experienced, always remembering our names and doing their best to please. Really sorry if you didn’t have an enjoyable time, as they are not the cheapest cruises, but for us it was worth every cent. There was an excursion we missed out on and getting a refund was no problem. We’ve done several cruises with various cruise lines and Viking is far and away the best of the lot , we are looking into doing another soon. Oh and I meant to say there was never a wait for dinner, but we had spoken to the young lass at the front desk and she suggested dining early to avoid crowding, which we did and so never had a problem. Cannot recommend Viking highly enough!

[@Mleencihols]

Interesting vlog. My favorite cruise lines are Viking, Virgin, Regent, and Holland. I do like Viking for its curated thinking-man experience, i.e. no casinos, no art auctions, no photography, and no children. Wonderful food (the best) and smaller ships are a big plus. Virgin is a totally different experience which includes great food and more of a lively scene contained within a unique cruise vision designed by Branson. I did get my first tattoo aboard my last voyage. Regent and Holland are tied. I was actually disappointed with Regent but the all-inclusive package, including business class travel, is a real plus. I did not find the food as worth the cost of the cruise. And Holland is a great combination of old-world cruising combined with excellent food and service and decent pricing. I do prefer smaller ship venues so I cannot comment on NCL or RC.

[@jeanwatson189]

Thanks for your comment. I am drawn to similar lines for similar reasons, and I had wondered if Regent could be worth the astronomical cost. I'm quite pleased to see somebody saying they didn't think so!

[@susan3831]

@@jeanwatson189 there were few hitches right after COVID ended, but the food is back to being fantastic. Chartreuse, Pacific Rim and Prime Seven all shine in their own ways. The Compass Rose and serried Mari are a standard well above most cruise lines. I don’t cruise any other line.

[@reececollison5101]

The snobbishness of the suite experience being much better on celebrity is really frustrating. Even basic cabins are not cheap, and you shouldn’t have to pay extortionate prices to get a decent experience and better food!

[@jazzyrick]

Go build a massive ship and sell the rooms nice and cheap if it's so easy. If the prices are "extortionate" then sail on another line. There are certainly plenty out there, but even with some of the moderately nicer lines like Celebrity, Princess, or Virgin, there are deals to be had if you are patient and maybe have the ability to sail on short notice. I do understand that that's not possible for many, but there can be a difference of MANY thousands of dollars for similar cruises on the same ship even just a few weeks apart depending on the time of year and such.

[@CydeWeys]

Re: 11:05, non-Retreat guests can still look out the front of the ship from a good vantage point by going to the gym. I mostly found myself going to the gym for this reason.

[@lesonline2268]

I’m amazed at your thoughts here. We actually met on one of the first Scarlet sailings. Virgin has joined Carnival as the only lines I’d never sail on again. I found the ship very tacky and many places really cheap. I actually wasn’t that impressed with the food.

[@robertmeyers7907]

Just completed our firstViking Ocean cruise, so impressed that we booked three more cruises in 2025 even tough we have “Elite” status with Princess. We feel we have found a new favorite cruise line.

[@xkr510]

We leave soon for a week on Seabourn Ovation. It’ll be interesting to compare this ship to our last, which was the smaller Odyssey. Once exposed to this line, that was it. What ports will we be in, I don’t care. Once I set foot on Seabourn, I doubt I’d change. Superb ships and exceptional staff.

[@almostthere100]

We LOVE Seabourn! We've sailed all their classes of ships (including the former 3 little sisters sold to Windstar) and prefer the Encore and Ovation over the slighter smaller Odyssey class. I think you'll agree once you've sailed them... sushi restaurant, Seabourn Square is better layout, bigger gym, double pool bars... Next, try the Venture/Pursuit! Absolutely spoiled! Bon Voyage!!

[@JuneRaeder-MacKinnon]

I was just on my first Edge class Celebrity ship. I thought there was enough space to view the front of the ship. I like that the Retreat guests have their own floor, so it doesn't interfere with people like me who prefer to spend less and cruise more often. On the Soltise class they have taken some of our space, but there is still plentry of room And the big plus is because there aren't any waterslides, go-carts etc there are far few kids to take up space. The ship has room to move around. I would love to try Viking or Virgin, but I don't want to spend that much money and I am loyal to Celebrity

[@skeletor9121]

Agree 100%.

[@spydude38]

Have always enjoyed sailing with Viking. Whether on a river cruise or on the ocean. Our next river cruise will be our third. Our first ocean cruise on Viking had some hiccups coming out of COVID last year but overall was great and we'll be taking our second ocean cruise next year. They are exactly what we enjoy about small ship cruising. Its the service all around that sets them apart.

[@kvom01]

Most of the complaints I have seen recently on KZbin about Royal Caribbean relate to the changes to the main dining room menus.

[@quicksilver2510]

I've been on two Celebrity cruises. Both were on the sister ships of Solstice and Eclipse. They were two of my favourite ships and cruises. Although they weren't adult only, there were so few children on board, it may as well been.

[@1pamby1]

Agreed, I've been twice on Celebrity's Millennium. Another big difference in overal experience is the crew leaders. But both times the staff throughout the ship was fantastic!

[@MarkHearn-zy6co]

Great Video! My wife and I just returned from our first cruise ever. We cruised on the Celebrity Reflection for a 9 night Mediterranean cruise. We stayed in a Retreat sky suite. While we loved all the beautiful places we visited and the awesome shore excursions, we were not impressed at all by Celebrity's Retreat. We had room service breakfast almost every day for early shore excursions and every single day, the food was cold. I wonder if they prepared it the night before and refrigerated it. The only special places for Retreat guest were Michael's and Luminae, neither of which were impressive. The four flies swarming around my face in Luminae is what I remember most. Outside of Retreat, service was hit or miss, mostly miss. We will be sailing on a Viking cruise next summer around the British Isles. We're really hoping it is better than Celebrity!

[@robertheidler5315]

I’ve cruised three times. The tirst was Holland America, which was good. The second was Royal Caribbean, on Oasis. Terribly overcrowded. It felt like going to a shopping mall the day after Thanksgiving! My last cruise was Princess out of Galveston. It was the worst! Nothing they had promised was what they said. Our cabin was terrible with many issues. We were literally counting the days till the cruise would end. I think next year we will try for a nice condo at the beach!

[@karenfairbairn3185]

Still loved Holland America, especially their newer ships. Love the music options. Would try Viking if they allowed more casual clothing.

[@Laurenlee87721]

So glad to see Disney on the list! In 43 days we are going to embark on Wonder and spend 4 nights onboard. This is the first time Disney cruises operate in Australia and we have really high hopes for it!

[@evwiz]

How was it? We have been on the Wonder many times.

[@Laurenlee87721]

@@evwiz TBH it wasn’t as exciting as I expected. Mainly because the beverages were so expensive. For example, the Moka experience was 19 USD, all the other specialty coffee was 7.75 USD, and a pink Cadillac was 25 USD. I’m not too sure about how Americans would find these prices, they were over the top to me, especially we have top notch coffee and high quality cocktails in Melbourne. Also I had a feel that Disney actually inflated all those prices after arriving in Australia, but the prices I found online could be outdated.

[@evwiz]

@@Laurenlee87721 Interesting. I guess we don't drink alcoholic beverages on board. We just stick to what I consider 'all-inclusive,' which means we also stick to all the main dining options and do not pay for the adult-only restaurants. Yes, those prices are way over the top .. unless you're in Las Vegas or NYC. :-) Cheers!

[@2000konnie]

I'm an inside cabin cruiser, and I think Celebrity is fantastic. The smaller, oldest ships definitely have devoted fans. It depends on what people are looking for. My favorite class is the Solstice class. I've heard some people saying they look tired, but I don't know what they're talking about. The crew on the M- and S- class ships are A-Team as much as on the Edge ships. Very professional. I don't begrudge the ships have dedicated areas to the high-paying customers. Definitely Celebrity isn't for children. I mean, they are allowed to be on Celebrity, but I bare notice the few that are onboard. I don't sail during holidays, so there are probably more. As far as Virgin, it's good to see that they are getting good reviews. Sailing on Virgin isn't a bucket list goal, but I wouldn't turn it down if offered.

[@smb123211]

We enjoy smaller, sedate cruises. Vacation is a time away from the grandkids, the constant noise and detractions. We want interesting excursions, fantastic food, enrichment and an "adult" atmosphere. Disney (with the grandkids) was a disaster - super expensive, constant screaming and crowds, pools reeked of urine, mediocre food but the grandkids loved it. Our last Viking had problems - the staff knew nothing about the stops ("Where can I get a taxi?"). Longtime cruisers remarked on how the food quality had really declined - as if they simply gliding on past laurels. Also, only 2 of our 10 excursions were good. They hired the cheapest possible - language problems (and we speak two languages), unprofessional (on their phone all the time), nondescriptive ("There's a bank,..and a church" ) The two that were good had local guides proud to show off their city.

[@gatewayz75]

Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas was a wonderful ship with something for every type of passenger it’s true but the cabins aren’t well insulated as the carpet is bonded to metal floors with no underlay but it was an awesome large cabin despite being a standard balcony. A friend recently went on Disney it was extremely expensive for a 2 night sample cruise with single porthole cabin occupancy and there was a line for an hour just to enter the Disney merchandise shop, lines everywhere. Thanks for your wonderful videos

[@batshevanivylerner8582]

We were on Rhapsody of the Seas in 2022 and again this past summer 2023. In 2022, they still seemed to be getting back up to speed following covid. But in 2023 (our cruise was july 28 to aug 2), the cruise was spectacular!!!! The food, service, entertainment were all back to what they had been pre-pandemic. And the ship was absolutely immaculate. You could see crew everywhere constantly cleaning and maintaining every inch of the ship. It was hard to believe that it's a 26 year old ship!! All 9 of us had a great time on board, from the 5 year old right up to the 68 year old. It may be a small ship, but the cruise experience is wonderful!!! And you know you're on a ship unlike the big ships where much of the time, you could be in a mall.

[@hansybunnys7748]

We also enjoyed rhapsody last year

[@jinliu5928]

Hi Gary, ever since I found out your channel and watched your first cruise video. I was really looking forward to booking one. And I finally booked a celebrity cruise today for next year with decent price! Thank you for sharing all the information with us.

[@anne-marievr5710]

On Symphony of the Seas we loved all the free casual dining spread around the ship and the fact that you could get free coffee all around the ship. The variety of shows are amazing. We never felt crowded and somehow they do a great job on embarkation day. We loved Disney cruise line also. Top cruise line for catering to a severe allergy. The adult areas were amazing and our cabin was so comfortable. I don;t like the class system on Celebrity

[@kencarruthers6714]

Hi Gary: for me, another 'spot-on' review, thanks! Most of all, what struck a chord with me is you,r comments about Celebrity. I fall into the category of a traditional cruiser and have been dismayed by their newest ships like ‘Edge’ where I found it impossible to find a quiet, relaxing spot in the evening to enjoy a drink whether late or early. By contrast, cruising on ‘Silhouette’ was a joy. So, I fully agree, it’s not always the cruise line but the ship that is the key to getting what suits you best. Same goes for P&O, where their adult only ships (Arcadia and Aurora) are very different to their newest much larger ships. I do feel as a more traditional cruiser that choices are becoming more squeezed. Cheers! Ken

[@ElbyStarfire]

Holland America remains my favorite.

[@victoriaheindel1143]

Same.

[@PineGeri]

Not for us..did HA to Hawaii and we were wholly bored. We are 60-70 so the correct age for it but older people were dying right and left. Body bags came off the ship when we docked in San Diego

[@helenalovelock1030]

They look so dull and boring

[@helenalovelock1030]

@@PineGeri Gods waiting room.

[@EfficientRVer]

@@PineGeri My ex wife recently circumnavigated Africa on HA out of FL, almost 45 years after our honeymoon on HA. She did mention that they must have filled every fridge and freezer with body bags over the course of the 6 weeks or whatever. Dying on a cruise probably isn't the worst way to go, even if you don't get the full value of your drinks package if you expire early in the cruise.

[@suegordon6805]

Still love Viking cruises. All inclusive, no kids, outstanding food, no shows just enrichment talks about the areas visited. We took our first cruise about 40 years ago on the Epirotiki. Too many people, gambling, awful shows, difficult debarking and embarking at scheduled stops. We vowed to never go on another cruise. When our travel agent called us about 3 years ago about a deal on Viking to go Antarctica she explained how different Viking was than any other cruise ship line. We went and now we’ll only cruise on Viking. Next we’re taking a cruise to Australia, New Zealand and Tasmania in February. We’re so excited.

[@frogchop]

I hadn't been on a cruise in about 20 years. Before I started dating my current GF, she went on about one every other year (Disney, NCL, RCL, Carnival). We both went on our first Virgin cruise last summer, went on another this winter and we're booking another for June. We're hooked. Frankly, if I'm no a cruise, I don't want to think about the additional money I'm spending for a meal or a soda. With that said, not having booze packages means you don't have the absolutely drunk people taking advantage of the pre-paid booze packages on Carnival. Prices for alcohol are reasonable and priced about what I'd expect in a bar on land. Not having to tip because it's already included was wonderful and the conversations I had with the crew, they all seemed to be happy making a living wage rather than depending on tips to have money to take home.

[@momof1576]

My daughter and I love the Disney Line. I have two cruises booked with MSC coming up (that’s what fit into my schedule when I was booking) but I’m going in with low expectations. I grew up with Disney though. I went every two years from 1974 right up until I was finished my articling year and about to write my Bar exams. When I adopted my daughter in 2013 I booked a trip for the following year. My daughter has been to Disney at least once a year for the past 10 years. I’m surprised you weren’t absolutely miserable on the Disney Cruise. I can’t imagine going on a Disney Ship as an adult with no kids.

[@pickard72]

I have heard the best way to enjoy a MSC cruise is to pay extra for The Yacht Club, as the common areas can become overcrowded.

[@maxvanbalgooy]

The rankings mix very different types of cruises. I love Viking and couldn’t imagine traveling with Disney, Celebrity, or Royal Caribbean. Receiving a high review doesn’t mean its good for everyone-Gary does a good job of distinguishing among them.

[@unvoicedapollo3318]

There's even distinctons between the three where customers from RC, Celebrity, & Disney couldn't imagine going on the others.

[@LauraJdogmom]

I think the common thread is that each of these lines does their "thing" very well. Their "things" happen to be different from one another.

[@evwiz]

Spot on Gary. I love your videos. I can't imagine cruising on anything but Disney, but we're big Disney Nerds. We've cruised on Disney with no kids, kids and friends. We always have so much fun as there's always something fun for everyone. Broadway musical shows (Disney themed of course) are great. Adult-only sections, kids-only sections, safe ports of call, and very, very clean. If you want quiet, you can find it. If you want fast-paced night clubs, adults-only dining, character sightings, port education, trivia, or scanger hunt adventure on a rainy day, you can find it. Even as our kids were 18-20, they made new friends and were never bored. As we get older, I can see us continuing with Disney on other continents but I imagine we'll try something different like a Viking river cruise as they are way less expensive than an Adventure by Disney river cruise. Keep up the great work and videos! Thank you for all you do to share your knowledge!

[@skeletor9121]

I must admit that the best entertainment I ever seen was on Oasis of the Seas on Royal Caribbean. However, I’m older than dirt now so I prefer a more quiet cruise so I’ve gone to Celebrity which so far has been a great choice.

[@Bellairvideo]

We were looking for this video all week since it was advertised on your ‘worst ships’ presentation. Many thanks indeed. Each one is so well covered👏👏👏👍🇦🇺

[@jeanebenobyrne6528]

Went on Virgin as a first time cruiser last Christmas. Enjoyed cruising and will go again but not on Virgin. Main issue was comfort. Cabins had only one chair, so partner had to sit on the bed. And around the ship, furniture was stylish but not comfortable. I like to sit and read or talk and enjoy the view, but could find a good comfy spot to hang out.

[@nanfrostsfashionfocusstyle6250]

My girlfriend LOVES Disney cruising. Her one child is grown but she keeps going. So, there you have it. You love it or you don't. Looking forward to trying Seabourn in less than 20 days!

[@PentaRaus]

There is a customer base for everyone, even for McDonalds.

[@MusicWizard85]

As a couple we only travel on the following 3 cruise lines: Virgin, Norweigan or Royal Caribbean. Between those three we have every type of ship, destination, and activity we could want from cheap to expensive, active & fun or quiet and relaxing. I've never looked in to Viking but after watching this I might.

[@wilson3575]

Thank you for your fair and honest review 👍👍👍👍👍👍👏

[@brunkerj]

I've been on Edge and Apex in the Retreat and found them to be exemplary. Next up, however, is Silhouette in a suite. Some folks love the Solstice class, and I'm hoping to be among them.

[@skeletor9121]

I’m current booked on the Silhouette for February and looking forward to it. Have a great cruise.

[@davidknox5929]

Shd include Marella here. 2000pax.No gratuities,free drinks,Gr8 shows,ports,excellent staff.Cabins cleaned 2x daily.Been on 5.Fab!

[@claytonwchurchill9308]

Gary, always well done hard work put into well presented and thought out content…THANK YOU! Which one/or some of your videos titles list your personal favorites? I liked your description of being an “independent minded traveller”. That’s us for sure…Great food, sincere friendly great service at every turn, outer cozy small balcony rooms, not a party ship, not a theme ship and a relaxing morning and afternoon coffee/teatime reading times are our goals. :) Every time we start shopping, we end up on deciding on Holland America, simply because it’s dependably classy (but not arrogant), reliable, great private type dining experiences (always when the higher dining upgrade is purchased) and a more mature no party atmosphere. We also love going ashore and finding our own “mixing with the locals”, dining and cafes etc. I would love to see your top 5 cruise lines and maybe your most memorable destinations, as your travel likes and dislikes are very similar to ours. Thank you!

[@Dwina5892]

I've been on a few of the Cruise Ships. Princess: Costa: Royal Caribean; Carnival: MSC & Queen Mary. However about 5 years ago I went on a Fred Olsen Cruise ship are smaller servive more personal and food was excellent. Due to size the service is excellent. Ill likely continue to travel with them

[@Dwealdric]

Just got off a cruise on Celebrity Silhouette, and did a cruise on Apex last year. You completely nailed our opinions when it comes to the line. Apex was so good we thought we'd never cruise a different line. Silhouette has us completely re-thinking our opinions on Celebrity as a whole.

[@philipedwards4570]

Totally agree 👍

[@brucerosner3547]

Nice to have an expert confirm out cruise preferences. We also liked the big RCL ships for the activities. We have cruised Celebrity and Princess many times but our last two Princess crises were disappointing. We booked for Spring next year an Australia-New Zealand RCL cruise followed shortly by a Celebrity Edge Trans-Pacific crossing. I keep toying with the idea of Holland American but we have a high status on RCL and Celebrity which keeps drawing us back (as it is designed to do). From what I can tell Virgin crown is too young for us and Viking has a too much country club atmosphere.

[@tuvia4082]

Great info Gary (as always), thanks.

[@juliel4096]

Thank you for your review and especially of your preferences not dictating what others think of their opinion. We have only cruised on Regent and although there are things we really like about it, I wish there was just a little more. We don’t have grandkids yet, but anticipate having to do a Disney cruise in the future. Hopefully they have a 5 star option 😊

[@cmccloskey56]

No mention of Holland America, my default line. I will be one one of the oldest Royal Caribbean ships in December, and back on HAL next August. I'm a little nervous about RCL Vision of the Seas due to its age... but it was convenient, so there you go.

[@geograph-ology4343]

We took our first Viking Ocean cruise to Iceland. The service was what we came to expect with Viking, but we found that many of the excursions were all sold out within 9 minutes of excursions opening up. We were still able to get the Golden Circle tour in Reykjavik and the walking excursions at the other ports but were unable to see some of the more natural beauties. This seemed to be a common complaint on board. I think it may be limited to the Iceland venue as many of the stops are to towns numbering in the hundreds and there might be 900 customers or more if another ship is in port.

[@Ariadne147]

I just watched some videos on Celebrity cruises by Emma Cruises and Ben and David and decided to book a couple of cruises on Celebrity for late 2024 and early 2025. I’m really excited about that. It seems like an elevated experience and the food looked like it was just a few levels above Royal and maybe even Virgin who I’ve been cruising with this year.

[@enjoyslearningandtravel7957]

Sorry, I wrote it so many different comments but I usually put them when I think of them or forget about it. I am a subscriber and a Patreon and I’m glad that I found your channel over several year ago

[@dannyg5424]

Have no doubt Virgin set out to have a younger crowd in their 20s and 30s but they just absolutely blew that market out of the water with costs of the tickets. Glad the older crowds are getting in there and enjoying themselves and the ships.

[@Marshal_Dunnik]

Virgin got off to a rough start but it seems they've found their groove.

[@nohandle62]

HAL was the best of the three I took, but then I paid through the nose for it. Carnival was a hellhole. Only consented to that because it was a wedding cruise. Princess was okay. Very good tea, although HAL's tea was superior. Very nice cakes and sammies.

[@nmr440]

I agree, Gary…Viking is my #1 choice and go on a Viking Ocean or River 1x per year. It is truly excellent and elegant. But when traveling with my godkids, Disney Cruise is the choice. They treat the kids like princes and princesses. It’s incredible how special they make the kids feel. So for me - Viking and Disney are tops 👍🏼

[@RFountainJr]

Your point about picking the right cruise for you is spot on. Viking is very much targeted to a certain demographic (me) and they do everything well. The only thing that I’d raise as a watch item is the paid excursions (some of the included ones are perfectly fine). They offer some wonderful experiences but be prepared to add another chunk of money onto your overall price if you take advantage of many of them. Viking customers are loyal for a reason - they offer a top shelf experience but you do pay for it. River cruises are much less expensive than ocean but of course have their unique differences.

[@femalejaysfan]

I recently had the complete opposite experience on Celebrity. In the past few months, I sailed just a few months apart in premium level suites in the retreat on both Celebrity Apex (edge class) and Celebrity Summit (millennium class). I had a far better experience on Summit than on the newer Apex. I found the retreat to be incredibly crowded on Apex, with far too many suite cabins resulting in many people crammed into smaller spaces. It was almost impossible to get any help from the retreat concierge, and I had to wait ages for service in Luminae, and at the bar on the retreat sundeck. In contrast, the retreat experience on the smaller older Celebrity Summit was incredible. Far fewer suites meant much more personalized and fast service, particularly in luminae and from the retreat concierge.

[@sosaix3545]

My family and I took a Disney cruise last year and while the ship is immaculate and the immersion into the Disney feel is absolutely spot-on, the value just isn't there. We're headed back to Royal Caribbean and will be on Wonder of the Seas in two weeks, spending half of what we did on Disney for a balcony cabin for four.

[@robertsammons1]

The prices they charge for drinks, even charging for soft drinks at bars yet people will still tell you its “soft drinks included” its not!

[@Marshal_Dunnik]

To have Mickey Mouse™ aboard ship doesn't come cheap.

[@smb123211]

For what it offered, Disney was terrible - packed with screaming kids, pools smelled heavily of pee, food was mediocre, price way too expensive. My granddaughter liked it though so....

[@angelawilson4190]

Disney? My worst nightmare!!!!!! 😱😱

[@LauraJdogmom]

I offered to take my daughter and granddaughter on a cruise this past summer. As the trip was a reward for the granddaughter for getting good grades and practicing her piano, we let her pick. Disney was offered as an option, along with Norwegian and Royal Caribbean. She took one look at the water park on RC and picked that one. I am so glad she did. Saved us a ton of money, and we all had a ball. We had a Central Park balcony cabin on Harmony of the Seas. It smelled lovely and we had jazz every night. I would probably never pick Disney--I don't think I could stand a whole week of Mouse immersion.

[@billcook4768]

The market seems to be moving away from the middle or “premium” market. With emphasis on the budget and luxury lines. So I find it interesting that your top five includes one budget, one luxury, and three premium lines.

[@ACMEHomeSocal]

I've thought it the opposite where the budget lines are moving upmarket. NCL and Celebrity are pushing upmarket with their new ships. Everyone also keeps expanding their ship within a ship experience too. I think though the reason the premium market rates so highly is it's the best value while still delivering high quality. Luxury people expect a lot and are very critical if its not met. Budget is just budget so its never going to review that highly.

[@g.belanger8302]

I actually prefer the non-Edge class Celebrity ships. I completely agree with frustration that the front half of the Edge class ships is not accessible to everyone. A real bummer. Not happy with cruise lines doing ship-within-a-ship. Do we really need gated communities in cruising??? Also, was not impressed with infinite veranda.

[@mrlund686]

A front view on Edge class ships is available to everyone by going into the exercise room and getting a workout! Almost 180° of view.

[@skeletor9121]

Agree with your assessment regarding the Edge class ships on Celebrity. I’m not a fan of the infinite balcony.

[@g.belanger8302]

@@mrlund686 Clearly (but subtly) you’ve called me out for not exercising while cruising! Shame on you. No, actually scratch that last bit. Shame on me, 😂

[@kestag2110]

We’ve booked Virgin for Jan 24 as my son just turned 18yo and is finishing high school this year. Prior to this, we travelled Royal Caribbean, as they have an excellent teenagers club. I didn’t enjoy our last RCI cruise, found the ship very busy. Husband and I have also booked Viking for Europe as a bucket list cruise, we are in Australia. We are all looking forward to the adult only cruise experiences. I’m definitely looking forward to my first visit to the UK and Northern Europe cruise.

[@FraserAtSea]

I’m really not surprised to see Virgin in this line up - I was so impressed with my recent 4-night cruise out of Miami. I totally agree with your point on Celebrity also - I find it really difficult to talk about their cruise product, as it differs SO MUCH between the older and newer ships!

[@jervettaburns9374]

Going on my third Virgin Voyage in February. I do miss some of the more traditional aspects of other lines, but the bang for your buck can’t be beat.

[@enjoyslearningandtravel7957]

Which are the traditional aspects that virgin doesn’t have? I’m curious

[@jervettaburns9374]

@@enjoyslearningandtravel7957 Hey there- really it's the shows (I am showing my age..lol). I do like the sit down auditorium "broadway" like productions. Virgin's productions are great- just a bit different in regards to content and delivery. If you are interested, I hope you explore more to get an idea. I really appreciate how many folks post content so you can see what you are getting into:)😊

[@ryttu3k]

Going on my first Royal Caribbean cruise in two and a half weeks, sounds like it's going to be great! It is going to be one of the smaller/older ships, but honestly, I don't have an issue with that. I've also cruised twice on Celebrity, although that was back in 2014-15 and was on the Solstice. It was fantastic at the time, at least! I'd love to try Edge, although unfortunately I think it might be a little out of my budget. For the others, I have no interest in Disney, and Virgin might be out of my budget too. As for Viking, DEFINITELY too expensive for me! RC might be the right one, from the looks of it.

[@styrpak1]

I prefer Celebrity Soltice class to Edge. I'm about to sail on Apex. I hope it's better than the last Edge class cruise I took. I almost cancelled, but I like the itinerary.

[@kathywest7205]

I took my first Viking ocean cruise(Venice to Athens) this year. Absolutely loved it! Have 2 more booked. I think the small ships will always be for me. Having said that I also liked Celebrity Millennium & Silhouette and would try Celebrity again if I liked the itinerary.

[@tipsfortravellers]

Great to hear. I did that on Viking Sky last year, it is such a great itinerary!

[@simonstones1918]

Expensive tho? 🤔

[@shanson786]

​@@simonstones1918Just take it out of your family's inheritance. You only live once.

[@simonstones1918]

@@shanson786 I have no family! The moneys all mine 😅

[@susantownsend8397]

We cruise Disney without kids. We do like Disney-themed shows so that’s a plus but the main reasons have to do with service, inclusions, and cabin size/layouts. The top attraction though is that adult-only areas are strictly enforced. We don’t miss casinos or late night parties. But this is us. We don’t judge people who don’t like what we like.

[@CruisingEngineer]

Great reviews, Gary. We (two adults and no kids) are Disney Platinum and enjoy everything about the cruise line. The service is among the best, with entertainment and food right up there. Since we mainly travel when kids are in school, there has never been a problem with overcrowding, noise, or waiting in line, which is not the case for the Parks (WDW). We'll experience HAL this April and look forward to what they offer.

[@tipsfortravellers]

Thanks! Keep me posted on what you end up thinking about HAL!!!

[@CruisingEngineer]

@@tipsfortravellers I'll be telling you daily (Eurodam April 6)

[@deborahwedickcooper2751]

I loved the Solstice and Millennium ships. I also adored the Mercury.

[@mrpeel3239]

Can't wait to see an episode where Gary held hostage on a kids-only cruise!

[@bluevanimaging9998]

Went on Viking last July on round Iceland cruise. Thought their excursions were very well selected (but need to get in straight away when they become available to book), and we did get a very good feel for the place. Terrific food and beautiful ship. I felt it was good value but did book when booking opened post lockdowns when they were trying to get back in business after Covid. Apparently we were first to book! Only snag for us was needing to fly at least one way to cruise with Viking, we'd prefer to sail to and from a UK port. You can take more baggage that way!

[@steveandshawnstrother8128]

Great review! Very helpful. Thank you.

[@Unazaki]

Gotta say I’m very surprised to hear that Royal Caribbean is able to cater to both mass market and luxury cruisers. I didn’t ever think that was possible.

[@jeandalton7108]

We were beside a Disney ship one time, as we were departing the port. The blaring tunes made me quite glad that we were not on that ship!

[@dantheman8279]

I would not ever consider a cruise ship that has a large area closed off for passengers paying more, this cast system mentality is a big turn off to me.

[@EfficientRVer]

I can see why you cross oceans on ships rather than airliners, then. You'd feel terrible every time the flight attendant told you to turn right when boarding.

[@nigelcartwright5986]

Totally agree. There's a snob value I either like or agree with

[@trainattendant5810]

Card carrying Viking cheerleader here with seven cruises & an eighth coming up. Love this line, so far my hands down favorite in over 30 years of cruising. That being said, there were definite cracks in my perceived perfection aboard my Neptune trans-Atlantic last December. Service & some food hit & miss. Made me question if Viking's high fares are worth it. The next cruise will determine my future loyalty. I've got my eye on a Silver Ray, Silversea trans-Atlantic for 2025.

[@broccanmacronain457]

Most likely our next cruise (after this year's cruise on NCL-Hawaii) we will probably go on Viking. I am getting S&T of having to pay an invoice of several thousand dollars which I have to add to the original invoice to get a total cost for the cruise on NCL, Princess or MSC which we have used before.

[@iOB]

I love the edge-class ships and the infinite balcony. So much more private than a traditional balcony. Plus that’s added space in my cabin. The resort deck and other parts of the ship offer so much outside space that it’s hard to not feel connected to the sea. I’ll take an infinite veranda over a traditional balcony any day.

[@AGG0927]

Agree 100%! Especially for a cooler weather cruise like Norway

[@lukedolinski8125]

Thanks for always giving us great content! I was able to pick the perfect cruise because of these videos.

[@PassingBy1118]

I cruise almost exclusively with Holland America, for its quality, value and excellent itinerary, or with Disney, for that inexplicable magical experience. Both are great lines and offer something different and unique, in Disney's case.

[@jcsmith7898]

Gary, I love your reviews! Thank you! Could you please review ships that ships or lines that have the best vegan whole plant foods that have minimal or no oil and sugar? Another theme I'd like you to do is adult only cruises.

[@LunaRose316]

Yes please I would love this type of review 🙏

[@lornas_corner]

Virgin, Royal Caribbean and Disney do not appeal to us for all the reasons you gave - just not right for us at all. We might try Viking for a special occasion because of the cost - but the adult only really appeals!! I totally agree with your comments about Celebrity - I haven’t booked with them because it seems to be so hit and miss. Honestly the line we go back to time and again when we’re ‘stuck’ is Marella - great value, consistent across the years, excellent service from staff across the fleet, adult only options available. Yes, their ships are smaller and older, lacking slides and pizzazz, but that is exactly what we like 🤷🏻‍♀️.

[@Sashazur]

To me, the lack of water slides and such also is a plus! I don’t want to be stuck on a floating fun park.

[@EricaNernie]

If it has a water slide, I don't want to be there. I'm over 50, single, female. Oh, and I hate queues.

[@eols2190]

Due to it's small size (number of available ships), I can understand why Oceania is not included on this list, but I feel it should be noted because it does really provide some amazing cuisine.

[@pickard72]

And correspondingly high prices - definitely a luxury line.

[@rebeccaw9656]

Gary, I’ve seen this video and your lowest rated ships as well, but I would also be interested in boutique/expedition lines, if you’d like to add to your list.

[@MaxPulse1]

i watched both videos, and was surprised that Holland America was neither. We have been on P&O, Princess and Royal C. but would love to try H.A. next. Appreciate your thoughts.

[@pickard72]

We sailed 3 cruises on Holland America, and they were indeed a premium cruise line; one was an Alaska cruise which has been our favorite cruise so far.

[@butalina]

I just got off the Sept 21st sailing on the Reflection in the Med...Though the service was outstanding, Crew and officers were all fantastic, the food was a lot to be desired including Murano and the Lawn Club Grill...The Ocean View Buffet has spiraled down hill along with Blu... Portions were very small and the quality not so good...I have been with Celebrity since 1990 and this probably was my last cruise with them until they somehow rebound.

[@kentfrederick8929]

I last sailed on Royal Caribbean in 2018 on a Freedom-class ship. The food was a bit underwhelming, particularly in the buffet, and the service was OK, but not great. We're booked on a Celebrity cruise, and our ship was swapped out recently for for Beyond. Fortunately, we're in a Sunset Veranda, so we have a more traditional cabin.

[@pdeblois1880]

We recently got off a BToB Celebrity Ascent. Ship was very overcrowded. Too much walking. Pinch points in the ship where there were just too many people for the space. Only 2 elevator banks for too many people resulting in overcrowding in the elevators. What really bugged me was the Retreat guests who basically have run of the ship and can bump you when they show up for dinner despite the fact you can’t go to “their” area of the ship or their dinning room. Hardly ever saw anyway in the retreat areas. They spent most of their time in our area taking up deck chairs that we never got to use. In2 weeks never got in the pool. Found the hot tubs dirty along with the plunge pool……which had a scum ring they never cleaned.

[@mhm8922]

I’ve loved Disney since I was a kid, but I can’t imagine going on a regular Disney cruise because there would be so many small children. However, for years I’ve wanted to go on one of the annual TCM Classic Cruises. But they sell out so quickly every time. I’d also like to try Viking (since I really enjoyed one of their river cruises), as well as one of the new Celebrity ships.

[@lizadivine3785]

I am hearing that Disney is very woke so I just can’t waste my money to support that.

[@bobcochran2890]

We’ve booked more than a dozen Viking cruises. They are perfect for us. Quiet, no kids or casinos. Great food with all dining options included and 24 hour room service included. Free WiFi. Great spa for no charge. Large staterooms all with veranda, and the finest service we’ve experienced. Not at all interested anymore in cruises that do not offer these things as standard.