Can a Last Minute, CHEAP Cruise be any Good?!

[@ritzytravelguide]

If you enjoyed this video please let us know in the comments box! In the meantime you can watch our video on the newest Celebrity ship here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bX29YqCPndqJabc

[@johnhallam7352]

You guys are unbelievably entertaining. My wife and I love your videos and sense of humor. Great job guys!!!

[@ritzytravelguide]

Really kind of you to say, thank you John!!

[@cwdefouw]

What irritates me is that Celebrity “had” an upgrade system in place for these older “M” class ships. One or two even had it done. They were stem to stern “ Revolutionized”. However, their new president (who came from Royal Caribbean), has decided to cancel that program, while they continue to charge ever increasing premium prices for cruises on ships that are extremely dated and in less than fine condition.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Yes, it is extremely surpring they have elected to leave the Infinity, and a few others, by the wayside in terms of sympathetic and needed upgrading. One could also be controversial and point out that many of the ships they are neglecting are on the European and Asian circuit, not those in the lucrative North American region. But that's a hot potato subject for another day!

[@Tee55118]

"historic" is the tried and true descriptive word; "dated" is an absurd marketing insult invention.

[@abdvantage]

Hi Bill, excellent suff and yes please to old footage, from someone that still watches the Love Boat for that nostalgia!!!

[@ritzytravelguide]

Ha ha, and why not watch the Love Boat!! Thanks for letting me know and the old footage

[@leverwang]

@@ritzytravelguidecñtz

[@stevewilson6390]

Excellent coverage on this older Celebrity ship. Yes times are a changing, we've just returned to the UK from the Celebrity Solstice this weekend on our Bucket list cruise, Singapore to Sydney ( we picked this ship over the Edge ) from our previous experience on the Edge. Yes an older ship but spotlessy clean, good shows, and great guest speakers, and lets not forget the indulgent Cafe el bacio for coffee and cake. Thanks for this very enjoyable coverage.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi Steve, what an amazing bucket list cruise from Singapore, I'm sure you had a really memorable trip. We love the Cafe Al Baccio too, one of our favourite places are sea!

[@alanwhite1014]

I stumbled on your videos in preparation for my wife and I upcoming trip to Rome, followed by a cruise on Celebrity Ascent to Barcelona this summer. Your videos stand out for several reasons; good filming at a pace that you can get to see and enjoy what you are looking at; your commentary is both informative, but fun. This is not serious, depressing stuff, it is a cruise! We really enjoy your sense of humor and find your insights both unique and entertaining. Our first cruise was about 20 years ago aboard the Celebrity Zenith. We ate dinner at a large table in the Main dining room with 6 other fellow travelers that were assigned to the same table . The Zenith was old and small, but it was all new and amazing to us. One of the other couples told us this was their 30th cruise, and offered a piece of advice that I remember and follow to this day. “ A bad day on a cruise is usually better than a good day at work “. Looking forward to seeing more stories about the older cruise ships, or pretty much anything that you offer. Thanks…

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi Alan, what a lovely message to read, thank you so much. You're so right, it's not meant to be depressing stuff, hence we try to be as cheerful as possible! And I might very slightly modify you're sentiment: "A bad day on a cruise is nearly ALWAYS better than a good day at work!!'. What a fantastic mantra. Wishing you a great time in Rome, and Barcelona, and aboard the Ascent!

[@MorganFoote-o7f]

Definitely want to see archived footage! I’m 38, my first cruise was in 2002 and I miss the older times of cruising. My husband and I love the older, smaller ships

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi Morgan, will do!

[@MB-uy5kh]

My first cruise was in 1982 on Song of America. My first Celebrity cruise was on Horizon in 1990. I have lived through many changes in cruise industry. We leave for my 132nd cruise trip next month on Celebrity Millennium for a 12-night Japan cruise. After that, a family Thanksgiving Caribbean cruise on Harmony and then Oceania Regatta in April. My favorites are the smaller ships, like Regent, Azamara and Oceania.

[@davidczeizinger194]

I think a lot of us would love to see your older cruise ship videos, the couples that cruise together stay together ❤️

[@ritzytravelguide]

Lovely sentiment. Couples that cruise together do stay together. Thank you so much 😊

[@GJALBARR1]

Hey Bill another fun video! It would be great to see your old vintage cruises! A solo video like this one comparing the new cruise ships vs the older cruise ships! Fun to watch old cruise footage!

[@ritzytravelguide]

Thanks George!

Your "tongue-in-cheek" humor, and intelligent insights are off the charts. Keep up the great work! BTW, the long wait in queue for evening dining is attributable to short staffing issues. Empty tables exist because there is no one available to provide service -- an issue which may even extend back to the kitchen.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi there, thank you so much for your very kind words. Yes, I think you're absolutely right, it is due to short staffing. Which is an absolute shame, as the dining staff are so friendly and so willing!

[@cruiseforever1281]

Brilliant concept comparing older and newer ships. As always you created an excellent video. And yes, I’d like to see your old cruising footage. 🙏

[@ritzytravelguide]

Many thanks indeed !

[@benjaminsmith2287]

One area where Celebrity is downgraded is presentation. The "old" Celebrity had the pastries on a white linen folded tray and a special pastry chef presenting them. The food is not the same as Celebrity in their prime. It may still be good, but it isn't outstanding anymore.

[@jellyfishattack]

😂 Thank you for the laughter when you mentioned, "bakelite switches". I just subscribed.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Great to have you along!

[@lincolnroad3]

Wow I loved your old cruise footage. Amazing 👏👏👏

[@ritzytravelguide]

Thank you so much!

[@judyfitzharris8514]

What a fun video! Great that you could take the last minute deal! I’d love to see some of your old cruise footage. Thank you. 😎

[@ritzytravelguide]

Thank you Judy!

[@ScottsCruiseChronicles]

Wife and I went on the Royal Caribbean Vision of the Seas in February of this year. It was just her and I. Our only goal was to have a getaway and relax. Yes, the ship is older. Yes, the ship is smaller. But that's what made that trip AMAZING. No waterslides, no FlowRiders, no Bumper Cars, No Central Park, no boardwalk..... ie none of the bells and whistles of the newest ships in the fleet. We saw the same passengers regularly and were able to make new friends. The amount of staff was smaller as well, and they genuinely seemed to be a small family. They were friendly, helpful and a pleasure to deal with. We sail on casino comps, and Vision came up on our certificate from Symphony last month (June). We both got Junior Suites and will be sailing on Vision again Feb. 2025. And we cannot wait. There is something about the intimate "good ole days" of cruising. I have been on cruise ships since 1980, and I know what cruising used to be. And this was a throwback to that era in cruising. And it was glorious.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi, great to hear from you, thanks so much for your thoughts and comments. Totally agree with you that smaller ships give such an intimate experience. More like cruising used to be. We have just come off Azamara Pursuit, which is very much considered a smaller ship, at 680 passengers. So totally relate to your experience. We'll be putting out a full video on Azamara coming soon

[@FitNowDB]

My first time watching your videos and I just loved it. I’ve subscribed and can’t wait for future videos. Thank you for being you and don’t change a thing!

[@ritzytravelguide]

Many thanks Danny, very kind of you to say!

[@michellemcgough7476]

absolutely love the old footage, thank you for sharing it

[@ritzytravelguide]

Thanks Michelle 🙂

[@SK1MD]

Was looking to book this exact itinerary and needed an honest visual review of the ship, and this was exactly it! Thank you!

[@ritzytravelguide]

You're welcome!

[@TheCurlyclub]

Bill your wife is a delight. Beautiful inside and out. Another brilliant, amusing and informative video. Thanks 😊

[@ritzytravelguide]

I am indeed a very lucky Guy! Your comment will really make her day! Thank you so much 😊

[@tikk9622]

Just came across your videos. I love the older type smaller cruise ships much better than the newer ones. Thank you so much and yes would love to see your old footage videos. You have a new subscriber ☺

[@ritzytravelguide]

Lovely to have you with us 😊

[@Gotta_Keep_Moving_On]

Excellent video as it's good to see the choices available for all budgets. The quieter mid size ships do seem appealing. Would be great to see the old videos of previous cruises :)

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi, yes Mid size are our absolute favourite!

[@FraserAtSea]

Some of my best cruises have been on these older ships - they're taking such good care of them. I'm not fully sold on those glass portholes in the floor of the buffet - I think that would go straight for my stomach, haha!

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi Fraser! Those portholes are kind of quirky and fun!!

[@poppylarbalestier1716]

A really great video, thank you for making it!

[@ritzytravelguide]

Very welcome!

[@SportsBoss999]

A very fun, entertaining, informative and comprehensive video! Love your sense of humor - you had me laughing out loud several times. For someone like me that is not an experienced cruiser (on the contrary - I'm taking my very first cruise in Oct '24) - the insight you can give being a cruise expert is very much appreciated. Luckily, the 2 people I'm going on the cruise with were actual survivors of the U.S.S. Titanic! ....... Ok, I did exaggerate a bit on that one - they been on several cruises, and I'll lean on their knowledge and experience. Looking forward to my cruise on the Celebrity Eclipse. Thank you for a great video!

[@ritzytravelguide]

Wishing you an amazing time on the Eclipse. Do let us know afterwards how it went, and what you thought!

[@MadeNCda]

I was giggling when you were fussing w the drawer 😅 But I must say, an older quieter ship, w excellent food, clean, smaller capacity and quieter ports sounds perfect to me. Enjoyed the footage from 2003 and would enjoy seeing more. ✌🏻

[@ritzytravelguide]

Thanks Kate!

[@miabre2004]

I'm definitely liking and subscribing! You guys are entertaining and your video footage is great! I'll be sailing Celebrity Infinity next May, thank you for the information!

[@ritzytravelguide]

Thank you! A wishing you a great cruise next May!

[@nonnasstitchingloungewithr7281]

We were on the Constellation twice, also the Silhouette and Reflection...we are going on the Ascent in about a month, so it will be interesting to see the difference. Thank you for your review. I would love to see some of your old footage. My first cruise was in 1986, so it would be very nostalgic! Thanks rosie

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi Rosie, great to hear from you. Have a fantastic time on the Ascent. We have a video on that, on our channel, if you haven't already watched it

[@jackietanner2121]

Very informative. Ive loved this review. Very funny too " for those that don't have any teeth" . Im still laughing😂. I shall look out for all your videos now. X

[@ritzytravelguide]

Thank you so much Jackie, lovely to have you with us 🙂

[@bonniebishop4998]

I love your videos. They are informative and concise where they need to be. I have watched a few others that are almost painful because they give elaborate descriptions of something that doesn't need it by other creators.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Many thanks indeed Bonnie, lovely to hear from you!

[@lesliesnowdon1360]

Loved your video. My husbands very first and only cruise was on the Constellation in December last year. We both loved it so much we booked one for a week later on Norwegian which was absolutely dreadful. We are deciding what Celebrity ship to try this year and your excellent and entertaining video was extremely helpful. Thank you for a most enjoyable evening on a dreary Winnipeg night. Definitely looking forward to watching more of Ritzy channel soon!

[@Veronica.John10-10]

PLEASE put your archived footage on KZbin!!! The world needs it :)

[@ritzytravelguide]

Haha 😂

[@charzforesto8141]

I agree- archive cruise videos would be fantastic Thank you

[@ritzytravelguide]

@charzforesto8141 Will do, thanks for letting me know!

[@wendyfox6208]

@@ritzytravelguidecan’t wait to see them

[@stephenluis8690]

Yes would love to see the old Summit videos

[@april4244]

Before having our daughter we were on 5 straight cruises with Celebrity back in the early 2000s. We loved the Millenium class ships. We just started cruising again last summer, again with Celebrity. Our first cruise back was on the Celebrity Summit. The ship has seen better days. However, the nostalgia was definitely there! We are actually going on our first Edge Class ship in June. We are so excited. It will be interesting to compare and contrast both experiences. Thank you for another great review! Please keep them coming!

[@seanmonts2159]

First time viewing one of your videos. You are a rather cheeky! 😂😂😂.

[@ritzytravelguide]

We do our best!!

[@MR101722]

Awesome video! And a big YES to seeing the old footage 😁

[@ritzytravelguide]

Thanks for letting me know!

[@gregorysims3697]

Sailed the Infinity in 2004 and the Equinox in 2010 and 2014. I loved them then. But after seeing your video on the Ascent, that is the one I would like to try. Not surprising. I wouldn't want my 2004 Avalon back in place of my 2023 Tesla, even though I loved the Avalon when I had it.

[@ritzytravelguide]

That's a great analogy!!

[@Cmbuie123]

Love your sense of humour!!!

[@elaineeike5363]

In the 1990s I sailed on the Celebrity ship Discovery. Beautiful ship! Wonderful spacious room! Wonderful food! You didn't exhaust yourself walking from one end of the ship to the other end. I miss these ships!

[@ritzytravelguide]

Definitely one of the benefits of smaller ships!

[@kathywhitfield8515]

Love your commentary and presentational style.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi Kathy, very kind of you! Thank you

[@cherylmccarthy1461]

Hello Bill, I enjoyed watching the video .If you don't mind, too share the price ,and did you have to buy a drink package .thank you .

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi Cheryl, we didn't buy the drinks package, as it was port intensive, and were ashore almost every single day. So we paid as we went for the drinks The cost of the cruise was about $620 per person, for Ocean View, for the 10 night sailing. Typically in the Mediterranean it costs double to triple that with Celebrity. Because, we booked last minute, and in low season, we were able to get the good price.

[@gavinluckyfq3609]

Great video guys 👍🇬🇧 and my wife said she really wants your wife's adidas tracksuit and gym gear 😄😎👍

[@ritzytravelguide]

Ha, ha, yes it's very bright gym gear! She has a collection of them, really glow in the dark!!

[@Driver2616]

Just watched your Celebrity Infinity video assessment again because next April we’ll be boarding her for a ten day Greek Isles, Cyprus & Turkey cruise. Now we haven’t been on an Edge Class ship but we’ve cruised on three Solstice Class ships. And we’ve also been on the Millenium Class ships, the Constellation (twice) and the Summit. We’ve also cruise on the big RC Anthem of the Seas, on the relatively recently launched Enchanted Princess and on the much older and smaller Diamond Princess. We keep coming back to the smaller older Celebrity ships because we find them more intimate and comfortable without too many people hustling and bustling and crowding around. And the food is perfect!

[@ritzytravelguide]

What a coincidence! My wife and I have just been sitting down with a coffee, discussing exactly this trip! We're at a Mezze cafe as I type, and it brought all the memories back. The Infinity itinerary is such a delight. All the port stops are an absolute pleasure. Have you been to Ephesus? If not, take a look at that dedicated video, on our channel, because Ephesus is a stunner! Concerning the ship, it's such a shame that it's one of the few in their fleet that Celebrity are yet to 'revolutionise.' If they do it will make such a difference as it's a great size ship with lovely facilities. It's just needing a little bit of tender loving care

[@liverpoolk648]

Hello again Liverpool Kev here again....Thank you so much for an excellent video...Nostalgic for me...I worked on Infinity twice...once in a passenger cabin and another time in crew accommodation....(noisy)...my agent was sworn at for complaining haha...Fond memories though...I would not like to be on a massive ship...even if more polished...my first cruise (non working) was P&O Oceania...a really nice experience...I volunteered to do stand up comedy in the main theatre which got me work at a later date...ooh er...Happy memories...Thank you again...Liverpool Kev

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi Kev, great to hear from you. What a coincidence you worked on Infinity! You'll know it like the back of your hand! Fond and nostalgic memories indeed!

[@joanevans3872]

great video, we jusy travelled on the celebrity Reflection on a Med cruise in may 2023, found it amazing, and yes I would hate the 5000-7000 guests on newer ships.. decor was little outdated, but spotlessly clean and excelently maintained ... I loved it !!

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi Joan, lovely to hear from you. Coincidentally we are pricing up a potential cruise on the Reflection for next year!

[@dianac7113]

Enjoyed your videos! Yes, I like to see your old footages.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Thank you Diana!

[@Springer_maniac]

Well done great video, brought back some great memories, if you can get a deal on one of these, totally worth it!👍

[@ritzytravelguide]

Many thanks!

[@pasha21k]

I LOVE your commentaries, hilarious!

[@ritzytravelguide]

Thank you!

[@bingbong46]

You were really making me cross when I first started watching this video but soon realised you were being fair with a tongue in cheek review . Obviously you got a last minute cruise and I am sure you got your monies worth out of the trip . We loved the Infinity and did South America and Antarctica last year , we liked the old feel of the decor and plenty of space to be able to sit and contemplate . We love the solarium in bad weather and didn’t have the noise you suffered on your trip . We had the very best Captain we have ever had on any ship and you could feel his hand on the tiller from the top officers down . The Capt and crew were always visible and chatted to passengers a lot , we also had a great cruise director in Alejandro . The food was plentiful and delicious and they would always bring specials if there were things you didn’t like . All in all we loved the ship and could completely overlook the wonky hinge on the wardrobe door 😂 . We were on the Millenium earlier this year which we also enjoyed , we have no desire to go on the bigger all singing all dancing children’s play centre ships . Shall look forward to watching the video you have just been talking about along with your other ones .

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi there, yes the cruise was outstanding value for money. $800 per person, including the flight out there! Really fantastic. Food, service, and professionalism on Celebrity is always so reliable and good quality. We are big Celebrity fans.

[@bingbong46]

@@ritzytravelguide thank you for your very quick reply , I am just watching the Azamara ones . We are elite plus on Celebrity but also love Azamara , perfect size for us . Happy Travel to you both and more great videos

[@ritzytravelguide]

@bingbong46 Thank you!

[@JohnG-x9d]

I prefer the older, less glitzy, ships so long as the service and food are good.

[@ritzytravelguide]

The service was absolutely excellent, and the food in the Main Dining Room very good.

[@TerenceCittern-cp8lz]

We'd like to see your older cruise footage - would be very interesting!

[@ritzytravelguide]

Thanks Terence!

[@yusufjohnson9357]

Very interesting video guys, I was interested because I will be on a millennium class celebrity ship, The Constellation, at the end of the year for New Year's.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Wishing you a great cruise on the Constellation! Please let us know after, how it went!

[@josephpiskac2781]

I am elderly and absolutely prefer the older more comfortable ships. You do understate the vast savings you experienced.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi there, fully agree that older ships are very popular with some cruisers. It makes for a wonderfully diverse cruise market. Concerning the savings, it was also partially due to the fact we sailed out of season, and at last minute. Hence my comment it's great to be able to make these savings, even for newer ships too.

[@jamiepeterson1981]

I'm younger but I agree! Give me these older ships that actually feel like ships rather than massive crowded theme parks any day!

[@wanderer3088]

Could the delay in the main dining room be because of the number of staff available and not the number of open tables?

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi, yes I think that is the case. Running on too few staff.

[@tigersfan8459]

We were on celebrity summit a few months ago. It got refurbished not too long ago. Our cabin was completely modernized! Crazy how some ships of same category and age go untouched!

[@ritzytravelguide]

Absolutely correct, Summit has been nicely updated. Infinity was on the list to get a makeover and has now been left by the wayside. It's such a shame as smaller ships remain extremely popular, but Celebrity is going to strain brand and customer loyalty if they continue to drag their heels on updating.

[@tonchua6353]

Kudos👏👏👍👍. Very informative.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Thank you!

[@Lisanah3]

I would definitely enjoy seeing your old cruising footage in future episodes Bill. I’m also looking forward to your port video on Ephesus. I went there years ago but would love to return. This was an interesting episode. I think apart from the dated cabins, what struck me was the dreary, rather dark lighting especially in the main restaurant. These days, the new ships seem to have brighter lighting which helps to give a much more modern feel.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi Lisa, lovely to hear from you. Ephesus was a delight, as were the other port stops, such as Thessaloniki, Rhodes and Knossos. It's a gorgeous part of the Mediterranean. Hopefully getting those videos out over coming weeks.

[@karensheppard1471]

We went on a Greece cruise to islands and Turkey. Turkey was CLOSED due to the census! No one allowed out of their domicile except for us cruise passengers! Streets empty except for police with their guns. We were able to tour because we did not count as residents, though hotel guests were. We were able to see Ephesus and a rug shop (I think the owner was the mayor's brother). LOL . Very weird, like a Sci fi movie....no one there. Sadly, I could not visit the market (closed too)

[@ritzytravelguide]

@karensheppard1471 Wow, that must have felt weird!

[@alanperry314]

The prime rib recommendation for those with no teeth and the duck having hanged in the engine room for two weeks :) My favorite comments!!

[@ritzytravelguide]

Thanks Alan! I did have a few other comments, but didn't put them in the edit, for fear of people complaing that I was being a bit flippant!

[@alanperry314]

I thought that they were funny and of course, tongue-in-cheek 😂 I agree that the midsize ships may be the sweet spot.

[@erinryan5358]

Hi Bill! I would love to see your old footage from past cruises! Was the weather good in Greece in March? Looking forward to seeing the upcoming videos about the ports there! This was a very interesting video! Thank you.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi Erin! The weather was really quite pleasant, about 18c/64F. Nice touring temperature and easy crowds. We would thoroughly recommend Greece in Spring or autumn 😊

[@awakeningalchemy5744]

Thank you for your priceless tips .... of 'what to eat at dinner if you haven't got any teeth.' lol 😄 And yes, please put some of your old footage on YT, would love to see it. I' like the vibe of the older ships as well. Thank you again, for a wonderfully entertaining vlog.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Thanks so much for your kind comments!

[@nicolaso9561]

thanks you! you just safe us from s nightmare in MSC vituosa. can we have a suggestion of a small-medium ship which is quiet (in August) ?

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi, can you give a bit more information. Such the geographical area you want, is it for kid, or older people ?

[@lincolnroad3]

Nice vlog. Was on this cruise. Loved it. Mainly for the itinerary. Main reason heavily discounted cruise fare due to it being a re routed cruise. . It was originally meant to sail Israel and Egypt but forced to re route due to Middle East conflict!

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi there, yes we loved the itinerary, really fascinating port stops!

[@LesleyCobley]

Love to see old footage. What an excellent idea Bill. I like the look of older ships.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi Lesley, me too, it's fascinating to see how cruise ships have evolved and used to look!

[@billybrent1]

Thoroughly enjoyed your video review of Infinity, many thanks for providing such interesting & informative content. We are off on Queen Anne in June of this year, really looking forward to that. Would you mind sharing the cost of your cruise please? Also who do you book your cruises with? Many thanks & keep the videos coming! Regards Billy

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi Billy, have a great time on the Queen Anne in June, very exciting! That particular cruise on Infinity, we paid approximately $625 per person. It was a last minute itinerary change as the crisis in the Middle East meant Celebrity had to alter their intended Israel and Suez visits. We mostly book direct with the cruiselines themselves. Nothing against agents, who often have good deals too. Just the way it works out. We're on the mailing list for them all, and trawl through endless emails all week! We find the best deals are often way, way in advance, or last minute.

[@billybrent1]

@@ritzytravelguide Thank you for your prompt rely. Blimey! That was a great deal wasn't it? Thoroughly enjoyed your Ascent video as well, I must get organised & book an Edge Class Cruise soon.

[@ritzytravelguide]

@billybrent1 Yes, give the Edge Class ships a try, let us know what you think afterwards!

[@vielumiereg9794]

Lol, with my Naval experience, I can confirm that despite that those rooms were heavily outdated compared to the newer ships... They're 5 star luxuries compared to what we get on our ships lol

[@ritzytravelguide]

That's true!

[@souixe1129]

Thanks for the video. Would love to see some of the vintage footage !

[@ritzytravelguide]

Thanks so much!

[@hendrikdevries9725]

I'm thinking of a solo cruise athens based in February, good deal, on the Infinity. Loved your notes and hints.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Thanks Hendrik, good luck with that

[@veronicap.8177]

😊😊😊 I love it!!!! thanks for this vlog.... I have seen Celebrity last min cruise here in Miami and it was more $$$ than SeashorecMSC Butcit was good to see this video

[@ritzytravelguide]

So glad you enjoyed it!

[@swjumbo747]

Very enjoyable and entertaining video Bill. Thank you. We were worried your wife would spill on her lovely white top during dinner. Furthermore, you’ve answered a lot of questions. Looks like the normal Celebrity package with excellent food. Value for money? Absolutely! Please keep up the good work and keep these videos coming.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Good point about my wife's white top! The duck came the nearest to spoiling proceedings, in the dripping stakes!

[@brianrobson5208]

Really enjoy your channel. Looking back series would be great to see.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Thank you Brian!

[@daveduffy2823]

I have to say Celebrity comes through with the food, service and live entertainment. My wife and I sailed on the Edge and Eclipse. We sail on the Summit this November. I get the escargot every day. I love it. This ship will get a face lift like her sister ships, so other than the IKEA furniture in the room, all looks good.

[@ritzytravelguide]

I hope so too! The Celebrity Millennium had a fantastic refresh just before the pandemic, which made such a difference, to all areas of the ship. Let's hope the Infinity gets the same, as it is still a great ship, and just needs a little helping hand

[@Abbysum1]

We just found your channel and enjoy it very much! We are older and like the peace of an older charming ship. We just returned from Alaska on the Sapphire Princess. It too is older but not crowded and very relaxed! Thank you so much for your informative and fun travel videos. Cheers!

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hello there, great to hear from you. We well remember sailing on the Sapphire Princess, a few years ago. As you say, a lovely ship!

[@chris25johnston]

Great video Bill. We too have been on an Edge class ship and were wondering what the older Celebrity ships would be like. Thanks! (You should definitely mine your collection of old cruise videos!)

[@ritzytravelguide]

Many thanks Chris, I shall go mining!

[@shaungregory1789]

Hi Chris we have been on the Beyond and our last cruise on the Infinity. We loved them both and we would book both again. We liked the small friendly service on the Infinity, with a personal touch, and the very relaxed atmosphere. Only downsize we though was the lack of choice for pay restaurants and the outside area was a little dated compared to Edge class. Happy cruising 🎉

[@deborahwilliams7072]

Would love the videos of your older cruises… especially if you ever sailed on the SS Norway

[@1stAmerican]

Your newest subscriber here. What a lovely couple you are. I must add that the camera work is of high quality. Well done.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hello newest Subscriber, great to hear from you! Thank you for your lovely comments

[@stevehurt1055]

Very entertaining, thank you. Your intelligent review is enlightening.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Very kind of you to say, thank you

[@fshepinc]

I was just on the Celebrity Summit, on a cruise that was 100% full. And that's where the older, smaller ships really shine. They were simply designed better. No waiting. No lines. You could always get a table or a seat in a show. The new mega ships offer many things, but at the expense of space and spontaneity. If you don't book things in advance and/or show up very early you can't get in. Who needs that kind of stress on a vacation? Give me the older, smaller ships any day!

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi there. Many thanks for your comments. Totally agree with you about space on older smaller ships, the passenger capacity ratio is really good. We just got off Azama Pursuit, which has just 700 passengers, and we never had any waiting, or crowding issues.

[@rlf5736]

Been in Millennium class ships 5 times since 2006 as recently as Nov 2023. I like the way they are as long as they are clean and not worn looking. Been on the new big NCL and RCL ships and do not like anything about them. Too many people fighting for everything on board. We like Azamara.

[@ritzytravelguide]

@@rlf5736 We like Azamara too! Have you had a chance to watch our latest 2 videos on Azamara? Just released

[@rlf5736]

Yes. Nice video and agree with assessment. Service and food is great.

[@benjaminsmith2287]

This was designed to be a large, not small, ship. 91,000 tons in 2002 was a large ship. The Grand Princess was a bit larger at 101,000 tons and the Voyager of the Seas was considered gigantic at 138,000 tons or so. Mega ship definition has changed drastically in 20 plus years.

[@sonjakrohn4303]

A thumbs up for a compilation of older cruises!

[@ritzytravelguide]

Thanks Sonja!

[@heatherphelps3799]

You had me in stitches….laughing at every turn! Great video. BTW, I refuse to cruise on old ships anymore!

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi Heather, thanks so much!

[@RogerWilco1]

Haha, that TV looks old to you, but in 1999 they were still putting CRTs (Tube TVs with the curved glass front) on ships. Flat panels then were still very rare and expensive! So that area has been refit at least.

[@ritzytravelguide]

That's true!

[@berenicemorieras4583]

I am incredibly grateful for giving us a more “European” point of view of cruises review. It is difficult for me as a European myself to relate to US reviewer and your channel gives me the best review to pick our future cruises. Also I love your humour ! Thank you

[@ritzytravelguide]

Thank you very much for your kind comments, Berenice!

[@jomama5186]

You two are great. Love your videos ❤ 🙏

[@ritzytravelguide]

Thank you!

[@clydekimsey7503]

I just discovered your channel and have seen 3 already. I have never been on a cruise, but like videos on them. I enjoy your personality and humor. Is your lovely wife Vietnamese?

[@samruda23]

I think it's a very good and well thought out assessment. I was just on a 4-day Celebrity Silhouette which was not a last minute booking. But it was priced on par with Cunard Britannia Class as far as cost per day. An older ship for sure but it was quite nice all things considered. I had always sailed Cunard so Celebrity was a wake up call so to speak. Perhaps not as elegant as Cunard but the food quality was light years better as was the gym. The room was ok. It was difficult to figure out exactly what you get in Aqua Class as opposed to the next level down. Celebrity is rather opaque in their explanations and rather than tell you in a clear concise manner, they make you look it up. As best we can tell, we had better soap and shampoo and that's it! Service was terrific. We too found the open dining process convoluted and opted for the buffet. But we liked the buffet and it was nice that for brekkie and lunch you could eat outdoors. We also found that the cabin cabinetry and draws were broken and cheap. In this respect, the Cunard cabins are definitely nicer. But we found the bed to be comfortable. All in all, we liked Celebrity and will give them another look. If Queen Anne is not a game changer for Cunard, then it's time to shift brands. Food and gym are what we like and Celebrity, even on an older ship, made Cunard look old and dumpy in my humble opinion.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi Sam, lovely to hear from you, and many thanks indeed for your detailed and well considered thoughts. I heartily agree with your conclusions. Interesting comparisons you make between Cunard and Celebrity. Yes, the food on Celebrity in the Main Dining Room can often be better than Britannia. But I think the older Cunard ships overall are in better condition that Celebrity oldercships. Queen Anne will be a very key test for Cunard. It will be a fascinating launch, and litmus test of how Cunard moves forward, and can hold onto its client base.

[@MatthewKleczewski]

Love it! Pleae put the retro cruise videos up

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi, will try to introduce them in coming videos

[@trevebacon3834]

Hi Bill, yes please do show us your older videos - love to see how things have changed. My first cruise being on Uganda in 1977! Best wishes, Trev

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi Trev, that cruise on the Uganda would have been fascinating!

[@trevebacon3834]

Indeed, the elephant tusks in the gentlemen's smoking room remain my abiding memory (even though as a 12 year old I was a tad young to truly embrace the delights of hand-crafted tobacco products!). Haifa was cancelled due to war in Israel!But the acropolis in Athens was a sight to behold, as I'm sure you noted too!

[@ritzytravelguide]

@trevebacon3834 Yes, the Acropolis is indeed awe inspiring. During our trip we loved Knossos too, as well as Ephesus, Thessaloniki and Rhodes. The Ancient Wonders cruise circuit is a great one.

[@seannielsen6587]

Just found your channel and subscribed. Really enjoyed this video. You talked about how you sailed on the Summit many years ago. We just sailed on her last Oct and we loved her. She has been all updated and is a wonderful cruise ship. You and your lovely wife should book a cruise on her again to see the wonderful updates to her. We would also love to see your older videos about cruising. We are in our 50's now and we love to go cruising. I have a short video showing the room updates to the Summit on my channel if you would like to take a look. Wishing you both all the best.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi Sean lovely to hear from you, and thank you so much for your kind words. It's great to hear the Summit has been refreshed, we have beautiful memories from our time aboard her, sailing round Alaska. I'm now heading off to your channel to see your video!

[@melissaleeper171]

I love the older footage! Please share more!

[@ritzytravelguide]

Thanks for letting me know Melissa!

[@benjaminsmith2287]

Thanks! Always love getting your perspective on ships. Next, try a Solstice class ship that has been moderately revolutionized. They may be the happy medium. I agree with you on the Sky Lounge being a plus. There's just nothing like that on Edge. There's Eden, but that's different. Also, yes, nice theater. I think the one area you could have expanded is the difference between the Summit back 20 years ago and now. The specialty restaurants didn't exist 20 years ago, there was only 1 and it had the Normandie statue on it. I've always found the Millennium ships a bit dull lacking some of the buzz of the Solstice and Century class ships. I don't think it's the age, it's something about the design. As for the pool, I expect old machinery to sound old from time to time. I have a 22 year old Volvo and some things sound old for sure. But I love that it still feels solid and goes down the road confidently. I see a lot of refurbished and changed areas on this ship and some original stuff. But I think overall it looks good. If you want a more refreshed Millennium ship, pick the Solstice or Millennium. I think my main disagreement with you is on the dining room. I love it. I don't know, maybe it can be spruced up but I think it is magnificent in its look and feel. I don't like what they've done to the Summit and Millennium's dining rooms. But others may. Overall, I enjoyed this review immensely and love you wife's colorful attire.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi Benjamin, great to hear from you. Yes, we very much want to revisit the solstice class, as we were last on them about 8 years ago. As we speak we're checking on the Celebrity Reflection, and trying to get ourselves booked on a great itinerary with that! I shall pass on your kind compliments to my wife about her attire!

[@benjaminsmith2287]

@@ritzytravelguide Great, thanks!

[@TerenceCittern-cp8lz]

We'd be very interested in watching the back catalogue of older cruises from years ago - that would be fascinating! Thanks as always for the great videos!

[@ritzytravelguide]

Many thanks Terence!

[@kimberlygilmore23]

I Love watching you and your wife on trips. This one of the Room was Funny to me and I hope you didn't pay a lot . 😊

[@ritzytravelguide]

Thank you so much Kimberly 😊. We did get a good deal with the cruise, and always love to travel, quirky ships or otherwise!

[@dr.karlkuenzel3457]

Hi Bill, Thank you for the comparison. You did an excellent job of showing what happens to a once-great ship after years of service. While one can have an enjoyable and less expensive cruise on an older ship, they must bear in mind, as you aptly pointed out, that the ship is old, maybe outdated, and will not offer the same quality as a newer ship. During its last refurb, the drawers on the night stands should have been thoroughly checked to make sure they were in good working order, and not just a drawer to hold something.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Many thanks!

[@kyahchaney3021]

Definitely create a “back in the day” video! 😮

[@ritzytravelguide]

Will do, thanks for letting me know

[@victoriamarie4570]

I would love to see some of your archived footage as well🙂

[@ritzytravelguide]

Thank you, I'll be sprinkling in some archive footage into future editions!

[@SuzieHart]

We have watched a couple of your videos this one we liked very much. Would like to see a cruise for October 😊

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi Suzie, thanks very much!

[@shaungregory1789]

Yes they can, we loved the Aquaclass cabin on deck 11 and friendly staff and cruise buddies were great. We had a fabulous time.

[@robp4682]

Well done - another excellent video

[@ritzytravelguide]

Thank you so much

[@floridaactor]

We will be sailing on the Constellation in April on a 16 night transatlantic journey that begins in Tampa and ends in Rome. Thank you for giving us a "heads up" on what we might expect. We're both old seniors, so I guess 1999 stuff ain't so bad! But, I must admit smaller ships are my favorite. On Royal Caribbean, I've grown to love Serenade of the Seas.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Wishing you a fantastic time on the Serenade!

[@jofoster2144]

Great video we would love to see your older footage of your trips.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Thank you very much Jo, so kind of you to say!

[@robertfoerster566]

I had heard that the summit was refitted and the rooms updated, but maybe with Infiinty being almost close to being let go...they didn't. I do remember that class way back when!

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi there, yes the Summit was updated and now looks great. It's a shame the Infinity has been overlooked.

[@johna5428]

Hi will be on the celebrity millennium in June for a 12 night Japan, cruise

[@ritzytravelguide]

Have a great time, Japan should be a fabulous visit!

[@karensulak7067]

Thank you for this travelogue on a cruise ship

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi Karen, you're welcome!