Which Premium Cruise Line is Best & Worst Right Now

[@LifeWellCruised]

Planning a cruise? Get The Ultimate Cruise Planner. It's a 47 page cruise travel planner with packing checklists, shore excursion planning forms and much more! ($10 off for a limted time). Details here: lifewellcruised.com/ultimate-cruise-planner/

[@02sparklestars02]

I’ve used the planner several times. I print out the pages I use and it gives me a great guide for deciding what to pack. Also what documents I want to print out. Great planner.

[@LifeWellCruised]

@@02sparklestars02so glad it’s been helpful! Thanks for your purchase 😊

[@ShaneisRight]

I'm curious as to your use of the phrase "white lotus vibe" re: Celebrity. I know what white lotus means, and generally it has a negative connotation. Being I'm going on my first ever cruise next Spring or summer (and as a solo traveler), and that Celebrity and Holland America are two lines I've been seriously exploring, please explain. And thank you, I'm saving all of your videos to a "cruise" folder for reference.

[@LifeWellCruised]

@@ShaneisRight it’s actually a series called “white lotus” which takes place at gorgeous resorts. Don’t worry it’s not cruise terminology:)

[@ShaneisRight]

@@LifeWellCruised Hmmm. Ok, TY. ✌

[@heritageofhastur]

We generally cruise on Holland America. The Pinnacle ships have the Movies at night at the Center pool. On our Norway cruise this past September 2023, we both came down with Covid and were quarantined in our stateroom (thankfully we had a balcony). The crew and medical staff took great care of us. We were able to get Paxlovid via the medical center. We were assigned staff who had additional training in handling quarantined individuals. We were able to get our meals from any restaurant on the ship (not just the in room dining menu). The crew check on us every day and really made us feel cared for. Even brought us fresh fruit as we started to feel better. Holland America gave us Future Cruise Credit to use in the upcoming year equal to the number of days each of us were quarantined. We're using them in March to go to the Caribbean. So, getting sick on the ship wasn't great, we were well cared for.

[@WarrenMelnick]

You did not mention Aqua class on Celebrity. The included dining is far above the MDR and the room amenities are excellent, all for a lot less than you would pay for a Suite on the other lines which is where you would have that more upscale experience.

[@TheBeagle1956]

I’m done with Celebrity. We booked a cruise in a suite early this year for our 25th wedding anniversary in 2024. A few months ago they canceled it because they were moving the Beyond from the Mediterranean to the Caribbean. We booked another cruise on the Ascent. A month later they canceled our cruise because they had a large group booking, so we got bumped. We had a short time to book something else to get their “benefit” and settled for a shorter cruise to ports we weren’t overly excited about several months after our anniversary. We canceled and they charged us a significant cancellation fee even though we canceled a year in advance. I’m done with Celebrity.

[@mitchexplores]

Wow!!! Ok that is crazy!!!

[@paulmoscatt6529]

We loved Celebrity.... But they really have dialed up the prices especially for Aquaclass which is all we have done. Now I hear the food is gone downhill too? We have been going Princess more.

[@LoisHann]

We are doing our first Celebrity cruise in February. That is terrible that they cancelled yours :(

[@ReasonRaider]

⁠@@LoisHanndon’t be fear mongered by the 0.1% of people with just down right unlucky experiences. I have taken 5 celebrity cruises in the past 4 years 3 on the edge and 2 on the apex. NO issues AT ALL, perfect experience and the crew are just a treat to be around. The OP’s issue came into play because 90% of celebrities fleet is in the Caribbean, and often cruise lines will start their new ships in the Mediterranean because of the high demand when a new ship releases but most of the time move them to the Caribbean after because of the gargantuous profit margins in the winter and higher profit year round. If the op had looked more into that they might have had the chance to avoid it. But it’s astonishing that celebrity didn’t issue a deal or at least a warning before kicking them off. And the cancelation fee is a mystery but for me it’s no higher than 300$, which compared to the 2k minimum room price for celebrity these days is nothing. If it’s one of your first times cruising I will tell you, corporate for any cruise line is just bs and this could happen on any cruise line , just because the coporate scheme is so big and also because you are nothing to them, they can easily replace you if it’s a demanding time of year.

[@josephryan776]

It is really double standard that they could just cancel the passengers reservation without consent offering a minimum compensation, while passengers have to pay a huge amount of fees to cancel or even slight alter their bookings. Sorry, you have to deal with this.

[@ghjcmo]

Prior to this year, had someone asked me what was my favorite line, I would have said HAL hands down. I love their ships, the food, and the more traditional cruise experience (not an amusement park at sea). But late in 2022 I booked a cruise with them where they sold me an itinerary with a port stop in Nicaragua. This was a port stopped I really wanted to do. The problem is, unbeknownst to me, Nicaragua had a cruise ship ban in place and HAL KNEW this. So they sold me a cruise they KNEW they couldn't do. I know that itineraries can change for various reasons, but they KNEW BEFORE THEY SOLD ME THE CRUISE they couldn't go there. When you sell something you can't provide, that's call fraud. And they made no attempt to make it right. I will never sail with them again after 22+ years of sailing with them and I tell everyone I can about the experience. So that they don't get defrauded.

[@nick011894]

Their CS is terrible. I got injured on an excursion and they refused medical help for almost 48 hours (needed a tetanus shot). Also, getting overages removed is a nightmare.

[@guayames]

Celebrity for short cruises near home. Holland America for long cruises. For our 173rd cruise we are going on Oceania for first time for their New Year cruise, the Vista!

[@lisam7861]

173?! Holy shit.

[@AndreZA979]

We just got back from a four night cruise on the Princess Discovery, upgraded to the Princess Premiere package. We did two specialty dinging nights with Sabatini's and Crown Grill. The meals were excellent. Only did the formal dining room once, the menu was great and the food excellent. Next time, we will not use the Premier package, the Plus is the best value for us. The ship was clean and well maintained and the staff very friendly and attentive. The entertainment was everything we could have hoped for with many options each day. As for the demographics, it was a mature group of cruisers, many of them frequent cruisers and we enjoyed their company. There were a few families with loud and rude kids that was irritating, but such is life.

[@LifeWellCruised]

Thanks for sharing your experiences!

[@terrycook7589]

Di@@LifeWellCruised Was aboard Discovery Princess over the summer for an Alaskan Cruise. Ship was great except for the Piazza. The entire Piazza, without fail, REEKED of cigarettes smoke. I happened to run into the cruise director DuVaul who was AMAZING and absolutely hilarious, and he said its an issue with their ventilation from the casino but would require the ship to be dry docked to make the repair. Might be worth mentioning as it completely ruined our experience inside the ship, any entertainment that was taking place there, and any of the restaurants off of it.

[@jillkendel6385]

Recent cruise on Princess was a study in contrasts for us. Plusses First: 1. Sapphire Princess was lovely and had all of the amenities you noted. 2.On-ship staff was super! Our cabin steward was really good and the staffs at the various restaurant were fun, proficient, and generally wonderful. 3. Premium restaurants were more than worth every penny... Meals at both Sabatini's and Sterling Steak House were among the best dining experiences we have ever had! 4. Dining room meals were definitely not as good as they were in pre-Covid days but were still great. The "old favorites" like the shrimp cocktail and the steaks have definitely slid downhill some, but on the other hand, we had the best fish & chips EVER in the dining room and there were other fun and very tasty non-traditional meals that were marvelous... And, of course, the service was superb. AND NOW, the not so good and just plain awful. 1. Embarkation was horrible. Given the demographics of the customers we saw on our cruise, I cannot understand why the embarkation at Vancouver required what seemed to be miles of walking back and forth along endless corridors to get to the various stations. This is not only stupid but is also painful for many of us. 2. Given the push in the advertising to "book early and avoid price increases" for the upgrade packages, it was seriously disappointing to be greeted at Alfredo's by the news that we would have to pony up another $110 apiece to get the benefits that were included in the package that we had originally paid for. This is deceptive, if not outright fraudulent business practice, in my opinion. 3. Our balcony was out of commission for effectively two days while they changed the furniture. That was two days of the best weather on the trip that we didn't have the use of an amenity that we had paid significantly extra fare for. 4. The "Dine My Way" software was effectively inoperable before embarkation and during the first two days of the cruise due to the number of people trying to use it and the overwhelmed staff trying to deal with the system. It was the third night of the cruise before we could have a sit-down dinner in one of the dining rooms. 5. We were charged $78 for a bottle of wine that we neither ordered nor received. The on-board Guest Services proved incapable of solving this before debarkation, so getting it resolved after the cruise wasted hours of my time and cause incredible levels of frustration, (and probably incredible levels of blood pressure also). The "Customer Service" ranges from totally incompetent to non-existent once Princess has your money. (The sequence of e-mails between us and the Princess "representative" about what was included in the "Plus" package was so ludicrous that it could make the basis of a stand-up comedy routine!) The upshot of all of this is that while the ships and the folks that work on them are generally great, the current state of Princess' business systems and management is such that I would never recommend them to anyone unless they get their act together.

[@LifeWellCruised]

Thanks for sharing your experiences

[@cristasnider187]

Sadly, we had similar 'not so great' experiences on our Princess cruise. Our room steward was amazing and dining room as well. But when my partner and I both ended up sick, the service really plummeted. We stopped using the app as it wasn't working well from the get-go, and one evening our dinner arrived over 1 hour later with only 1 filet minon on a plate and nothing else lol. We called a couple of times but never did get the rest of our dinner. Post cruise was a huge fight to get any money refunded, and we vowed never to cruise with this line again. We are going on our first Celebrity cruise this weekend, so we're super excited to try out this cruise line!

[@martinhyde9663]

I just wanted to mention that embarkation nightmares in Vancouver are not unique to Princess.. Vancouver is a mess regardless of which cruise line you are on.

[@genitagray6126]

Thank you for an honest review. I’m so sick of entitled, spoiled brats complaining about nothing. We recently went on our first cruise post Covid, & until this one, I had never complained about anything with 21 cruises. I’ve booked another cruise & I pray things improve.

[@edover50]

I too went through that 4 hour boarding process ( Alana that was the same day you went to Alaska on holland- you missed the lineup ) Princess can not deliver on its promises anymore The ensuite is over sold now- try getting a clean locker or place in the spa pool/hot tub) They are an absolute mess

[@chrisonYTtour]

Great review, we really are spoilt for choice… as a solo cruiser, I’m yet to book a solo cabin. The rare time they have been available, I’ve been able to book a regular stateroom for a better price… I’m not complaining, I just find it interesting and wonder what the future holds for the solo cabin concept

[@nancyneal5377]

My idea of a perfect cruise, is a ship that does not look like a shopping mall, or glass and chrome white walls and ceilings. I like a wrap around lower deck, decent food.I do not care about song and dance shows, but I love trivia, game shows, things that I can participate in. HAL ships are perfect, but Princess has more activities that I enjoy. Depending on where I go, determines which of the two I choose. I love both for different reasons.

[@debrathomson252]

We just came back from our first cruise on Cunard's Queen Elizabeth and enjoyed the atmosphere, quizs, food and entertainment, staff, etc. I am unsure what I would find different or better on Princess, HAL, or Celebrity. Amount of guests on Princess is a concern around access to dining and entertainment?

[@johncole7533]

I hope that Celebrity leadership changes. I think they’ve gone too far in eroding MDR food quality, which used to be their strength. They also nickel and dime too much these days - for instance, charging for room service. I love the Edge class ships, however, and enjoyed my last cruise on the Beyond.

[@benjaminsmith2287]

I agree. They need to change. I want to see the next class of ships. Edge deleted too much of what I like in the Solstice and previous classes and I think as a design, they're designed to nickel and dime..

[@portableassets2054]

We cruised over 100 nights this year including on Princess (21 nights on Enchanted), Holland (21 nights on Rotterdam), and Celebrity (2 different cruises). Our biggest take aways for these 3 lines; Princess ships seem cheap, entertainment is poor quality, and the food quality is really bad in many cases (preparation and taste are fine but they buy junk; especially the meat and fish)- Holland is elegant with very nice ships, entertainment is good but is generally for older folks (although Rolling Stones rocks), and the food was great- Celebrity has nice ships, food is very good, and the entertainment is much better than Princess or Holland. Service on all 3 lines was very good. My wife and I are 50 years old and like to have a lot of fun so that does affect our entertainment preferences.

[@sandraridgway1282]

My husband and I love Celebrity. The food and the entertainment are excellent. We did a Princess cruise recently and the dining room food was horrible. I returned my meal on two nights. On the 3 rd night we have to on the dining room and went to the buffet. I have never returned a meal on Celebrity or Royal Caribbean .

[@melvinjacobs2328]

In my opinion, the Edge Class of Celebrity is the best of all the ships. We've sailed on the beyond and are booked on the Ascent.

[@skeletor9121]

Celebrity is becoming more like their parent Royal Caribbean. If Celebrity doesn’t change back to the way they were, they will lose customers. It’s become obvious by all the changes they’ve made in cost cutting.

[@LifeWellCruised]

Interesting, we’ll see…

[@benjaminsmith2287]

Cost cutting and ship content. The content in the Edge ships bothers me as well. Royal Caribbean are offering more. Celebrity seems to model more on NCL in terms of style, but I understand what you mean. They're lowering their standard.

[@ccdoe2441]

Celebrity Edge-class ships are the best for me in terms of design, vibe, food, entertainment, and services.

[@Flies2FLL]

We did a trans-Atlantic on the Edge in 2022 and those boats are excellent! Though I must say, it was very much a "mature" group of passengers....

[@KissesFromCanada]

Thank you for the hard work your family puts in to great content! I’m handicapped and stuck at home, but I admire you greatly!

[@MML996]

I was on the Celebrity Silhouette about a month ago and the Cafe Al Baccio was pretty darn good still. It's true that some of the fancy looking pastries might have tasted like the fake stuff but all in all, the cookies and muffins and pound cake and chocolate and lemon tarts and the red velvet cake and donuts were all really good. Just saying. And, I bake so I'm pretty fussy. I didn't try the carrot cake because I make a really great one which would be hard to beat. Otherwise, being included, it's great.

[@_echobravo]

Interesting comparison. My interests surround the destinations, with an elevated food experience and comfortable place so sleep at the end of a long day, so Holland America has always made sense for me. Doing an Adriatic cruise with them next year… can’t wait! 😊

[@Hawkeye2001]

Agree. I choose itinerary first. As long as the food is good and the cabin clean and quiet, I'm happy.

[@lucyg4848]

Have you been on Queen Mary II? How are the beds and food, if so? Also, have you been on princess, royal carribean, P&O,and ableto comment? Thanks.

[@burningisis]

I used to really want to cruise on Celebrity because those new Edge class ships looked really nice. The problem that I have with those ships though is that infinite veranda. I really want a balcony that I can walk out on, and then go back into my cabin where its nicely air conditioned. Apparently if you open the infinite veranda, the air conditioning turns off and all of the air conditioning in your room goes right out the window. Not really a balcony to me, its more like just a window. Might be nice on some cooler weather sailings, just not really for me. Its a shame because the rest of those ships look really nice and the dining looks incredible. Holland America really seems to be stepping up with their more recent ships and really focusing on music. That sounds fun to me and I really want to try Holland America. Princess will be a love of mine because they seem to have the best of both worlds with having some really interesting itineraries, good food, good entertainment, and a nice mix of larger and smaller ships. Their recent push for people to get a package can be a deterrent if you're looking for just a base priced cruise without any extras like drinks packages and wifi. And I totally understand those upset at Princess for pushing people more towards the packages. For me though, I'm a package kinda gal. For me, the packages are worth it to give me a more all inclusive feel to the sailing.

[@benjaminsmith2287]

HAL has always focused on music. They've just added some more music venues to accommodate the tastes of shifting genres in their passenger base. Regarding Edge ships, the very important lack of traditional verandas are not the only problem. I really don't spend that much time personally in the staterooms but they are crucial to many cruisers. Also, Edge class has no library, no card room, no observation lounge, all public areas are louder and less private than they used to be, no elegant lounges for music and mingling. Tons of restaurants and a good amount of bars and there's even now a "private" lounge that you "rent" on the Ascent. That's nickle and dining. HAL has most of what the Edge has, minus Eden and a huge retreat area. So, it's up to the priority of the cruiser. I dislike the Edge class personally and would only do the Solstice and Millennium class.

[@LifeWellCruised]

Thanks for sharing! Just an FYI, if you close the infinite veranda doors (they are like a bifold style), your ac will stay on

[@jimelias8052]

Just off Celebrity Summit. The main dining food and service was rough. We discussed skipping and doing buffet only half way through cruise. Main dining on RCL and Celebrity used to feel special. Last few cruises food has declined. I am assuming they are pushing people to speciality I am betting cruises will move to buffet and specialty only in future. Plus swim suits in main dining? Just not a special experience for us anymore

[@LifeWellCruised]

Oh no! Sorry to hear

[@Cosentia]

We recently got back from a cruise with Celebrity Silhouette and the food was as good as I remembered it. A lot of blogs were complaining about the food and i was really worried that the quantity and menu variety would be lacking. Thankfully it was not the case. Only issue was getting a table (with reservations) the first couple of evenings - the hostess must of been new and often had us waiting for a table for 2 and we noticed that there were plenty of tables when we were seated. There was plenty of activities planned throughout the day but i’ve noticed a decline in activities where the crew was involved. All in all the cruise was great. This was our first cruise since the pandemic. Looking forward to book another cruise with Celebrity but a newer ship.

[@LifeWellCruised]

Glad to hear your experience

[@lucyg4848]

Hi. First time cruiser here. Question-If you are not able to get a reservation at a restaurant is there a free for all buffet style dining area that you can eat at, without booking? Surely you would not go hungry bcos plaslces are booked out?

[@Cosentia]

@@lucyg4848 yes, all cruise ships have a buffet on board. You will definitely have plenty of choices to eat throughout the day!

[@davidpomerleau8419]

Hi Ilana. Another great and informative comparison video. My wife and I have currently only been on NCL cruises, but have been considering other brands. Pre-Covid I was thinking of trying out Celebrity, but now Post-Covid I am looking more at Princess. Back in the early 2000's when I was working security at the Summit of the Americas in Trinidad, they floated in the Caribbean Princess ship for us to use as our accommodations, which was a heck of a lot cooler than staying in a hotel. Even though the ship never left the Port of Spain, it was still very awesome to be given my first exposure to being on a cruise ship. Thank you for all your work on putting out your wonderful videos. Cheers from just down the highway in Kingston, Ontario. David

[@JuneRaeder-MacKinnon]

If you haven't been on Celebrity since Thanksgiving..oh that's right you're Canadian...anyway, Celebrity went back to their old menus with much more options like they used to have. They went back to the standard menu offered everyday. I was on in Aug, great menu, but I prefer the old menu espeically since there might be something I don't enjoy in the MDR. Also, evenings in the buffer...Celebrity has increased their options. All ships have the afternoon tea in the buffet as well from 3 to 5. Not sure why anyone wants scones with jam, but they are there in the afternoon along with lots of donuts??? Not sure why they are out for tea and not breakfast when Americans usually eat donuts. Guess they are catering to the British. JMO

[@benjaminsmith2287]

Definitely there are people that want scones with jams. This sounds like a positive development.

[@SandiHartnett]

From November 2022 thru June 2023, we cruised on all three lines. Had a great experience on all of them. Some of the more recent changes had not been implemented at that time, and we booked way ahead, so we got a really good value. We are booked on the Sun Princess near the end of 2024 just to experience the new ship. Itinerary is usually a deciding factor in choosing the line, but when just wanting a new ship we do the Caribbean as we don't have to fly to the port of embarkation. Our assessment of the three lines, based on those 3 cruises was pretty much the same as yours.

[@KLMA720]

My adult daughter and I are taking our first Celebrity cruise in May - Edge. We have cruised RC many times, but I was ready to try something else. First Alaskan cruise too! Thanks for all your cruise information - very informative.

[@LifeWellCruised]

I think you’ll love it! Incredible ship design

[@harlanabraham7772]

Howdy Ilana. Subscribed and even hit the like button. Like their Millennium Class ships. Princess used to be good. Don't like paying for casual restaurants which used to be included. Went on Holland America once. Really nice. They don't cruise out of NYC anymore though. My wife didn't like glass shower doors. Holland America was really nice. When my wife wasn't well on the Vista they couldn't do enough for her. Holland America had good entertainment. My wife really enjoyed their shows. A suit is good enough for formal night. Holland America Buffett is the best. Pizza on Holland America wasn't good. Cafe Al Bacio was really good. My wife really liked that place. Went to Bermuda with three different cruise lines. Holland America was the best. Celebrity was pretty good too. Would like to go back to Holland America. Maybe on Celebrity to Bermuda.

[@LifeWellCruised]

Thanks for sharing your experiences! :)

[@edover50]

Three princess cruises this year and am done with them Premiere is not a service they can deliver VIP boarding doesn’t exist for Canadians ( I booked a year out and they say they will send medallion- nope) Premiere reserved seating is not monitored so you don’t stand a chance getting a seat unless you go an hour ahead Walked away from 4-5 drinks a day because it takes 30-70 minutes for delivery off the medallion. You’re better off self serve Wifi is supposed to be starlink and it was very poor. Premiere drinks are not available in all bars. Only had one bar that stocked JD Sinatra - but it’s advertised on all drink menus The line ups are horrendous - once your paying for mini suite + and premiere + excursions I’ve found better value and service on the ultra luxury ships instead When I contacted my cruise planner to mark my file “do not contact” I was told “you should of gone to Internet cafe about wifi” $300 in wrong charges means standing in a horrendous guest service line ( am elite) I’m not standing in endless lines on my vacation - ultra luxury ships just don’t have those problems

[@billvolovski2440]

Celebrity made some big menu changes this past year in it's main dining options. They took away some of our favorite dishes. The good news is that they listened to all of the complaints and feedback and added most of our favorite stuff back to the menu. You could tell from passenger's comments that they were test driving various ideas.

[@LifeWellCruised]

Thanks for sharing

[@monicagordh.9028]

We love your posts, especially ones like todays. You bring incite of the differences to each ship your on and all the tips and tricks before and after sailing, which we always enjoy. We haven't missed a single post of yours since we started watching cruise vlogs back in 2017. Very refreshing, thank you. Happy sailing in the new year.

[@LifeWellCruised]

Awe! Your comment really made me smile! Thanks for watching & I’m so glad you enjoyed the video :)

[@BarryWallis]

@BarryWallis 17 hours ago I'm a member of the Magic Castle in Hollywood (a private club for magicians and their friends) and I can't wait to cruise on the Sun Princess. The Magic Castle had a group cruise in October called the Magic Castle Conjurors' Cruise on the Discovery Princess. We brought our own magicians and had both public and private shows and lectures during the seven-day cruise up and down the Pacific coast (we even had our own excursion to a magic show in San Francisco). It was so much fun that most of us (there were 91 in our group) signed up for the next Conjurors' Cruise in November on the Sun Princess before we left the ship.

[@LifeWellCruised]

That’s awesome!!!

[@papasquat355]

We started at Carnival, but the herbal therapy crowd has made us decide to move on. The skunk-weed smell became too much. Just got off Royal Caribbean and go on Celebrity next year. Want to try Norwegian and maybe even a Viking river cruise.

[@LifeWellCruised]

lol

[@mindyv5680]

Same. Cruised with Carnival for years….and so tired of the constant weed smell and party atmosphere. We’ve switched to Princess.

[@michaelburkert4979]

Please address the issue of OUTRAGEOUS prices Holland America charges for their wines. My wife and I were introduced to a James Suckling recommended Riesling from Washington State. We were charged $49,00 for the bottle. When we got home, we found the wine at our local wineshop, for $8.99. Please comment.

[@LifeWellCruised]

I know it’s frustrating to see a significant mark up on wines on cruise ships & at restaurants on land

[@dannyturner1899]

We have cruised all the major lines and really overall they are pretty much a toss up. We can knick pic something on all of them. However, we tend to lean to Princess as our favorite especially because they tend to have a variety of of world wide itineraries and a better value for the money. We are not big drinkers so that aspect of cruising on any of the brands does not interest us. Doing the math, we just don’t see the value. We don’t think you can go wrong with any of these 3 lines but Princess just a little better for us.

[@allisonreid7040]

Celebrity end of May Greece. Will be third cruise with Celebrity. Have also cruised on HAL, Princess, Royal, NCL, MSC, Carnival, Costa, Paul Gauguin. Never had a bad cruise. MDR Celebrity not up to par.

[@lindab5789]

We have only cruised on Viking in the past, but now have 2 cruises booked on Holland America. Your video verifies what we thought about Holland America, i.e. great food, great service and itineraries focused on destinations and enrichment activities. That is what we prefer, and we think we will really enjoy our cruises with this line. Thank you for a great overview of these 3 cruise lines!

[@corinnemcleod1804]

I recently did an ocean cruise with Viking, they were awesome, but the entertainment was lacking. it didn't ruin my cruise because we were very busy at port every day but it's definitely something they need to work on. I have been looking at Holland America and I think I will try them for my next cruise.

[@lindab5789]

My husband and I are not really into the entertainment aspects of cruising and so Viking's lack of it doesnt really bother us so much. That said, you are right. They could definitely improve or at least update the entertainment. We do love the line, but like everything else, they have gotten quite expensive. That is the main reason we decided to try Holland America.@@corinnemcleod1804

[@iteachmy3]

We just got back from a 9 night cruise in the Caribbean on the Celebrity Equinox. We chose to go just before schools let out and wanted a ship "without waterslides". We're in our early 50s and although we had fun, and we needed time to just relax, sleep, and enjoy our balcony after a few difficult years, we were definitely 2 of the youngest on the ship. I saw a total of maybe 8 to 10 kids/teens on the whole ship. For our needs, this was perfect, but I was shocked just how many walkers, wheelchairs, canes, and scooters we saw on board. On our previous 5 or 6 cruises, there were a few, compared to maybe 30 wheelchairs, 50 people with walkers and/or canes, etc. The serenity area was quiet, but the crowd there could barely walk. The ship was gorgeous, the food was maybe a 7 out of 10 (far better than say, Carnival or cheaper cruises), modern design and colors, lots of music, but many of the activities appealed to music/pop culture of the 1960s and 1970s. Very little going on for music from the 90s forward. There was an 80s night but we were the only 2 dressed for it, maybe 2 dozen actively participated in the trivia and dancing that 80s night. For a relaxation vacation, it was perfect for us. If you have kids or in your 20s and 30s, this may be a bit "boring".

[@benjaminsmith2287]

It was 9 nights. Longer cruises on Princess and HAL also have a higher percentage of 60s and up passengers. We all get old or die and there's no reason when people get that age they can't enjoy cruises and activities geared toward music they grew up with. The cruise directors probably assess the crowd and may favor more for that crowd. As far as ages go, it depends on tastes. When I was in my 20s I enjoyed jazz clubs way more than discos as well as some of my friends. We were by no means the majority but there are people in their 20s to 40s that are fine for a Celebrity, Princess or HAL type of cruise and they'll be in their 30-s to 40s in a decade. That's why you need lines to be different and cater to all age groups and various tastes overall.

[@Ginasgusa]

Same as in HA. Just returned from a Caribbean cruise and yup, lots of folks with mobility issues. I was just happy to see that. When my time comes when I have difficulty moving around, I can still enjoy a cruise vacation. Some young cruisers may be frustrated but a reminder that aging is mandatory. We all get there eventually. While in the dining room, I observed a young wait staff helping a very elderly gentleman in the most genuine way as if he was his grandfather. It came from his heart and you can tell he wasn’t doing it as if it was his job. I hope they are paid well because they clearly deserved it. Our cruise includes the gratuity but I still tip for my room and drinks. Remember to tip in cash if possible. Credit card tips are also subjected to fees so they get less tips if it is not in cash.

[@bethspence3924]

I was on the Equinox last July for my first real cruise (did a short one many years ago) and I loved it. We reserved with the same waiter each night because he was so great and our cabin attendant was so helpful. There were very few young children on the cruise which is what I prefer. Celebrity isn’t really designed for young families which is why I prefer it. We are cruising with Celebrity on the Ascent this November. Looking forward to it!

[@stanleybrian7746]

I have travelled on Holland America twice this year - Konigsdam and Rotterdam. I really enjoyed the laid back style, good food, the shops, good itinerary and excellent staff. I also travelled once on MSC which was nice. My problem is that I am a solo traveller and have to pay double if I want a balcony/verandah. Really wish it were not so, I'd cruise more often. Next cruise is to Japan in 2025 from Toronto. Any suggestions?

[@JohnnyScaffin]

Thanks for the info. Very helpful. Never been on a cruise before, but looking into it. The solo option was the one thing I really liked to hear. I didn't know that existed.

[@SitStaySail]

I’ve sailed on all three and agree they are all excellent. My two upcoming cruises are on Princess, I find the Princess Plus package to fit my needs. I am doing Alaska on Coral Princess and Panama Canal on Island to go through the historic locks.

[@danielodonoghue3529]

I haven't tried Princess, but have had experience of Celebrity and HAL. I think they are very similar overall, but in my experience they each have strengths and weaknesses (in my experience....): Celebrity has more diversity of entertainment. With HAL you basically have the Music Walk (which is great but after 14 nights it wears a little thin) and some pretty tired stage shows (show-tunes centric). Celebrity has more "incidental" musicians with a greater diversity but erring towards cafe-pop, and slightly more modern stage productions. Celebrity tends to allow you to party later than HAL - where most people seemed to be in bed by 11pm and it was almost impossible to get food or drink after that time. Buffet on Hal is better quality than Celebrity albeit not as well laid out, nor as diverse. Main dining room can be hit and miss with HAL - over-salting food (especially vegetables) was fairly commonplace on my NZ cruise. I find the burgers are actually better on Celebrity - and the pizzas too. Specialty dining is more expensive on Celebrity and I think less value for money than HAL. Free room service is a lovely perk with HAL. Accomodations vary according to ship age, but in general I think Celebrity has a more modern and spacious aesthetic, but HAL has a classy "old-school" vibe. I wish ALL lines would get rid of shower curtains immediately, and a shower over the bath is just SO outdated (and potentially dangerous for some) and needs to be axed quickly . Demographics probably vary a lot by cruise length, itinerary and time of year...but I would say HAL has an average age more towards 70s and Celebrity more towards 60s. I think HAL is slightly better value and offers some more interesting and diverse itineraries overall. Celebrity really seems to struggle to provide cruises more than a fortnight - it is easy to find 28 day plus cruises with HAL. Overall I think if you are older and prefer a classic, laid-back vibe with longer, more unusual itineraries then HAL will suit you well. If you are slightly younger or prefer a bit more energy in your day (and especially at night) then Celebrity may suit you better. I am happy to cruise with either and will be doing so in 2024.

[@user-pp6ok1xo7y]

The last Holland America cruise we took overall was good. The activities were a little bit lacking. Going to try Celebrity for the first time in May and Princess for the first time in November. We also have a cruise on the Norwegian Prima at the end of February.

[@cindyonyoutube]

Thanks for your very informative videos. We're seniors who have never cruised & I'm realizing we have a LOT to learn before booking our 1st cruise. Your channel is providing me with so much good info!

[@gypsylife7822]

As fellow seniors we would recommend Oceania. Look into that line

[@cindyonyoutube]

@@gypsylife7822 thanks

[@benjaminsmith2287]

@@gypsylife7822 Yes. You know, AFAIC, there are no small ships from HAL or Celebrity or Princess. They're all big. It's big, bigger, very big, and gigantic with most of the mass market cruise lines. Oceania is a smallish, mid-sized ship. Viking is another option. However, cruising is personal. What do you like to do on a cruise or what do you think you'd like to do. What's most important to you? Itinerary? Cabin accommodations? Food? Music and if so what type? Dancing? Indoor or outdoor areas? Spas? Service style? There's a lot to consider.

[@marcospark2803]

My recommendation is to learn yes, but to BOOK very soon. You can watch, read, etc in advance but there is nothing as living it by yourself, and as you are a senior, take advantage that you are still healthy and go NOW.

[@schnee35]

My girlfriend and I will be on the Caribbean Princess 21 Jan. We got the premier packages since it's her first ever cruise and my first as an adult without my family. We are really looking forward to making the most of the entertainment on board and enjoying the ship!

[@lesmasonson4011]

My wife and I just returned from a 7-day Celebrity Apex cruise to the Eastern Caribbean. The ship is beautiful, the staff is superb, but the food in the four dining rooms is average at best, we had to go to the buffet for dinner twice because the choices at the four restaurants were not inspiring or even enticing. We have been on 17 cruises, with Celebrity four times, and the food was not as good as in the past. The portions were also small including the vegetables. The French Onion soup was excellent as well as the apple pie and ice cream. The main course was a 5 out of 10 on average. Other passengers we spoke with had the same opinion of the four dining rooms. So that is a problem that Celebrity needs to pay attention to at their high cruising prices. We did have an excellent breakfast in the Cosmopolitan dining room every day that was excellent. The buffet was good, but not outstanding as there were many choices that were not what we like. One major disappointment on Chic nights and other nights, was the policy of allowing men in shorts and tee shorts into the dining room. That was outrageous and should not be allowed if that is there policy, as far as I know. We will not be going on the Edge class again, due to the its shortcomings.

[@benjaminsmith2287]

Yeah, Celebrity is slipping. But most of your issues sound like soft product issues unrelated to the class of ship you were on.

[@stevemalcew2181]

We are on the Ascent currently and loving it! It’s our first cruise and definitely will consider celebrity again. We booked a year ago and saved some $ by doing so. We love your content and used it as our guide to select celebrity ty

[@LifeWellCruised]

Awesome!! So glad you’re loving your cruise

[@rexdillinger]

Really enjoyed your presentation on the 3 brands and thought you were pretty spot on. We just got off the Rotterdam which was our first HAL cruise. We enjoyed this cruise, the food, the service, our aft Vista balcony stateroom and would sail HAL again. However, it seemed there wasn’t that much activity around the ship and even couldn’t understand why there wasn’t a movie or sporting event on the pool big screen except for 2-3 times during our 9 day cruise. I also felt the variety on the buffet was lacking (food was excellent) but after 9 days we were ready to move on. While we have cruised Celebrity about 45 days , we have not sailed them for about 8 years. I have always enjoyed their ships and we will be taking a 10 and a 7 night cruise with then in April to try them again. The reason we haven’t sail with them for a while is just as you mentioned in your video, VALUE. Princess has had the best value by far and thus has gotten our business. We are using casino deals to try Celebrity again, but even their beverage packages seem way over priced compared to Princess or even HAL. We drink very little alcohol, but lots of Diet Coke. The soda package on Celebrity is almost twice that of Princess. I feel like they are trying to fleece me. We have crushed Princess 145 days and have two 7 day trips on the Regal the first of January and two 10 day trips on the new Sun in February. We feel Princess has more to offer in terms of variety of entertainment, variety of food choices, and a better value for the money. Right now it is hard to NOT sail them. Again, I thought your analysis was spot on and enjoyed comparing all 3 brands side by side.

[@grannyoffive1313]

Excellent video....thank you... I enjoy hearing your input to what you prefer as well… thank you🚢

[@LifeWellCruised]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching

[@gatorguy7711]

Interesting content! There is no doubt that all cruise lines had cut service and food quality after the covid shut down to try to recover some of their loses. We have noted that on previous Celebrity cruise the food quality and service had reduced post covid. Our friends that cruise Princess had the same conclusion on their Alaska Princess cruise in September. However, on a cruise this month on Celebrity Reflection to the ABC islands, we did note that the entree options and service in the main dinning had improved significantly and were near the pre-covid levels. Additionally, we noted that the number of entree options in the buffet for dinner had increased significantly as all the food islands were again being used for dinner. We also noted that a number of the more expensive entree options had also returned to the main dinning and buffet menus. We will be on the Celebrity Apex in early February and are looking forward to the cruise. Take care....

[@jenniferschneider9199]

I love Holland! I agree with your assesments!

[@mitchmorrow1548]

I just got off of the Celebrity Constellation last Friday and as a graduate of the he Culinary Institute of America, I was totally impressed with the food. I was on two other Celebrity cruises, one in November 2022 and one in May of 2023 and was disappointed in portion size, presentation and overall flavor of some of the meals . To me, they really have come back to their former hogh standards. All of the classics are still there as well as many new dishes . One complaint is on Lobster night, you get one small Lobster Tail and a second one is $16.99 plus gratuity. You can get a Lobster Tail with any other entree at no charge.

[@mitchexplores]

Is it more challenging to you, in your opinion, as a chef on a ship or does it matter?

[@capnmark4]

In 2020, (booked in 2019) we chose to try Celebrity. At the time, we could get a much larger cabin on HAL than X for the same price. However, that was when X was pushing "all inclusive" so the price was very close once you added a wine package to the HAL price. We did think (at least at the time) that the service on Celebrity was much better than HAL. IMO, X is driving people away, either toward HAL (or even RCCL) for a less expensive option or to Viking or the one of the small ship lines (Regent, SilverSea, etc.) to get a similar experience that people had before. With that said, we have 2 X cruises planned...Ascent in 2024 and Xcel in 2026 🙂. We also have a Viking cruise scheduled for 2025 but that is primarily due to itinerary.

[@TerryDinsmore]

Our first two cruises ever (at age 70 & 75) were on HAL in 2023, and I discovered I LOVE cruising! We found both the Lido Buffet and the Dining Room to have excellent choices and very good quality. We are booked on our third cruise for HAL coming up in April 2024. We enjoyed the quieter spaces on the ship during the day and the entertainment on the World Stage in the evening. We have found greatly reduced fares each time, making it possible to keep on cruising! We have appreciated all your great informative videos over the past year.

[@sylviajung8703]

My 70 year old mom and I will go on Celebrity Equinox to ABC island in Feb 2024, and your videos are so informative and helpful to prepare our special mom and daughter cruise. Thank you

[@amymedina1966]

I would never go on another chartered carnival paridise cruise again. From the beginning they charged me for the chef's table there was no chef's table. They charge me taxes twice then when I exited the ship they charged me tax's again. I was supposed to have the room by myself I ended up having 2 other people in my room which I had to climb over one and climb over the other depending on how they arrange the room. I told them if they are gonna keep those people in my room then they owe me money back so they move me to my own room. I spent a day and a half trying to get in line to speak to someone in customer service. The line was so long that it went all the way down the hallway. The worst thing is customer service is right next to the DJ so every time someone wanted to talk to somebody in customer service they add to yellow over the music which is ridiculous. Don't ever go on the ADC dance cruise. People walk around saying they're all family but nobody acts like they know you or except you. As for the elevator yes it's going to be packed you will be using the stairs most of the time. Because I have not received my refund I decided to fight it through my credit card and now they're sending me lawyer papers intend to collect collect what 3 times worth of taxes. I ended up losing a day and a half of my 5 day cruise just trying to Straighten everything out. This has nothing to do with carnival directly it's just the CHARTERED CRUISE.

[@mcshiggitypilot5901]

after 16 cruises on Norwegian cruise line, next week we are going on the celebrity Equinox. Expecting a very different Vibes.

[@michellestevens2454]

Room service and being served by staff in the buffet, make Holland America the winner for me!

[@DeanBowden-s4w]

My wife and I did the Southern Caribbean and Panama Canal (partial passage) on HAL Rotterday in early December. Our favorite cruise yet, by far. We have not purchased the "have it all" package ever before, but we did pre-book on HAL a 17 night San Diego roundtrip to Hawaii and a 27 night Amazon River cruise with the have it all package so we will know more then.

[@eagleswatch6905]

Holland America

[@jackredmond6023]

I agree with your assessment as far as value. We would really like to try both Holland America and Celebrity! However they don’t seem to offer the same value as Princess. Celebrity is far more expensive for a similar stateroom and itinerary. Holland America counts water bottles in the max count for their beverage package which is not honored on their private island. For these reasons, as well as many others, we continue to choose Princess. Enjoyed your review very much.

[@kevinoxley7488]

We were disappointed with the main dining on both the Enchanted Princess and Celebrity Beyond. Haven’t sailed on Holland & America yet but for us Virgin wins hands down for main dining. Such good fillet steaks at no extra cost.

[@benjaminsmith2287]

Virgin may have the best food of the 3. I don't know for sure but that's what I'm reading. No specialty restaurant nonsense either. It's all included.

[@LifeWellCruised]

@@benjaminsmith2287I do agree virgin has excellent included food!

[@kevinoxley7488]

@@benjaminsmith2287 Correct, the food on Virgin is amazing, however, we found the entertainment and music on board not to our liking. Celebrity Beyond is the best all round ship we have sailed on to date, whereas, Princess try to nickel and dime you all the time - That was our experience anyway.

[@benjaminsmith2287]

@@kevinoxley7488 Celebrity does as well and has lots of cutbacks. I think some of the specialty restaurants on Celebrity shouldn't be specialty ones. And things like a private karaoke room to rent (Ascent) and paying for room service or an extra lobster tail is a form of nickel and dime AFAIC. And the spa areas on all ships are full of up-sells. I hope Celebrity brings their food up to at least their best levels which is quite good. But consistently on every ship. My favorite Celebrity ship isn't sailing with them anymore, the Galaxy. And I'll stick with Solstice class for their intimacy, martini bar style and lounges. Lawn club is interesting as well. Why someone likes a particular ship is personal or individual.

[@kevinoxley7488]

@@benjaminsmith2287 Agreed, so much focus on upselling by most cruise lines - You can’t even sneeze onboard without them trying to charge you ha ha. I thought the cost of Celebrity’s specialty dining was outrageous at $85 per person, per meal. It is no wonder there is no incentive to improve the food in the main dining. I wonder if it is just a matter of time, once Virgin are very established, when they will start charging for restaurants that are currently included and their Karaoke rooms too - I hope not as they have been very generous to date.

[@abcdkrrrrr]

As always your videos are so informative! I did have to giggle, at the 10:55 mark I thought my son was stomping around upstairs (as he does) but then I realized it was on your video, lol. Not a complaint or criticism, just lol that we both have “stompers” in our house. 😂

[@LifeWellCruised]

Haha

[@butner66]

On the Celebrity Equinox. My 5th Celebrity cruise. Portion sizes way down. Food consistently served cold. Service times are very long. Something is going on. Retreat hosts deny all of it is happening.

[@vzkmqz]

I agree with most of your analysis especially relating to the MDR's of Celebrity & HAL. I am a long-time cruiser with Celebrity and recently did 10 days on Celebrity followed immediately by 7 days on HAL. Celebrity's MDR has really fallen off; especially in presentation (think hotel banquet). HAL dinners felt "gourmet"; the presentation was exceptional as was the taste. I was looking forward to experiencing the Music Walk on HAL, but didn't love the format. There was no live music in the lounges until typically 7:30p.m. every evening. On Celebrity there is always a duo or soloist playing starting as early as 4:00 p.m. and continuing throughout the evening. I always love the big production shows on Celebrity. HAL actually had their pool band scheduled as headliners in the theater on 2 evenings of our cruise. 49 cruises and haven't made it on Princess yet. But for now, the Celebrity vibe fits me best.

[@donnahoffman8973]

In 3 days we will be on Discovery for our first cruise. I love your content and value your opinion, have learned so much. I do have a question, How much luggage do you and your husband typically carry? I know some people like to do carry on only, we are not that organized. I am using The Ultimate Cruise Planner, so helpful; but I feel like I have a lot of stuff. My husband and I are new to cruising and he is definitely an over packer, lol. He is so excited he doesn't know what he wants to wear. Thank you for your help and is 3 suit cases too many?

[@suzetteperrin8223]

Wow so much great information. Much appreciated ❤ ! In the past Princess has been my Favorite in almost all areas.

[@Dan-ASICPlug]

Much of the feedback i've heard about the Celebrity butler change hasn't been a detrimental decline. While some passengers expressed they likes having their one dedicated person, many understand the realism that relying on one person, to be there dedicated to you the whole time is a bit unrealistic at times, and having a team of support reachable has been accepted.

[@leighmeyer5982]

My husband and I took our first cruise ever on Celebrity Reflection in early December. It was a wonderful experience for us, and we are definitely going to cruise again. I bought and used your Cruise Planner and it was a life saver! Our top favorite things on Celebrity were the Solarium pool/spa and the delicious food in the main dining room. Very much enjoyed the shows in the main theater, nightly dancing in the grand foyer and events in the Sky Lounge later at night. Service was excellent. That being said, I do feel like it is worth it to us to try both Princess and HAL because of the value per dollar. When I add on beverage packages (we did the zero proof), Wi-Fi, gratuities a la cart, I feel like I'm paying a premium to have the basics. However, we loved the Solarium so much that this or similar amenity is now a must have for us. Do you have to pay for adult pool and loungers on Princess? Do they typically retract the roof on HAL's adult pool space unless weather is bad? I really love the enclosed feeling and cooler temps in Solarium. That may be the deciding factor for us.

[@LifeWellCruised]

Thanks for sharing your experience & thanks for your purchase. The covered pool area on HAL seems to only be closed when weather is rainy or cold (Alaska was great). I don’t believe Princess has had a covered solarium pool

[@vickiwilson-smith4783]

We sailed on Enchanted Princess in late August of 2023. From the moment we stepped aboard we were treated like royalty. The Mediterranean ports were absolutely so fun. We loved Crete and Mykonos the most. The food was delicious and I thought the presentation perfect. We will be booking again this year and plan on trying the Caribbean this time. Love your videos and thanks for all the wonderful packing advice. Sincerely, Vicki Wilson-Smith

[@samanthagowanlock5877]

Thank you, this really helped me narrow down for a surprise cruise I am taking my mom on. We both have different tastes lol, I am 35 and she is 57. I like fun, casual and a lively atmosphere with really good food and wine. I consider myself a foodie, whereas my mother isn't. I'd rather not dress up in gala wear..... She prefers more plain food, meat, potatoes, wraps, sandwiches, burgers, etc (rules out some of the dining options on Celebrity even though I love their menu offerings) She prefers quiet and not so much noise from people drinking and partying (she rarely drinks alcohol). She was a fan of the tv show "The Love Boat" and likes a mixture of elegance, relaxing, and fun with other adults (trivia, games).. She doesn't want a cruise with a lot of kids so I have ruled out Royal Caribbean, NCL, MSC, and Carnival. I think the Sun Princess is the winner :)

[@shawngoulding5085]

I've cruised pretty much exclusively Carnival since I started cruising in 2018 with the exception of a Viking river cruise in 2019. This fall, I'm cruising on the Celebrity Constellation out of Tampa for 9 days in the Caribbean. I've been watching cruise videos on the Constellation and Celebrity pretty much non-stop since I booked. I realize that I have been missing out with Carnival.

[@robertcold4669]

As you stated, there is a cruise line for everyone. Disney is a really good line. Looking forward to our next cruise on Virgin. Absolutely no way I would go on Carnival again. It is the most nickel and dime line I know … and the product offered is “meh”.

[@angelinajalbert3420]

We just came back from an Alaskan cruise in September on Celebrity Eclipse. This was our first cruise since the shut down. Before covid we sailed on Princess, Royal, Norwegian and Disney. We are not ones to complain and abide by the rule, "any day on a cruise ship, is a good day!' But we sure did notice a difference in food quality and presentation. We also noticed a difference in activities, quality and lack there of. We couldn't decide if this was a post pandemic thing or just the Celebrity line, seeing as it was our first time sailing with Celebrity. We are planning a Canada New England cruise in the fall on Holland, so we shall see. Thanks for this comparison Ilana! from Northern Ontario

[@sharolynwells]

hi, Ilana. My sister, nephew, and I want to cruise. None of us drink alcohol. Which cruise lines are good for drink packages for non-alcohol drinks?

[@LifeWellCruised]

All cruise lines include some drinks. Each of these has non alcoholic beverage packages - would not be a deciding factor imo

[@sharolynwells]

Thanks, Ilana.

[@jg-xx8oh]

Done 12 cruises will not go back to celebrity Apex the gouging with room service 12.95 the overall ship design very tight rooms with that balcony and the music and entertainment in the main area was terrible new wave ! Mostly the cost and really no vibe or good feeling! Will go back to Princess or RCL instead.

[@texasdustfart]

I know how this works, so here is a comment.

[@551slobo]

Love Princess. My next Princess cruise is in 3 days!!! Can’t wait. Totally would recommend, great value

[@JBM425]

Please update this thread when you return. I enjoy reading first-hand reports.

[@vap57]

I agree, Dive In on Holland America has the best burgers at sea! I was on Celebrity Beyond in November 2023. I found the MDR and Specialty Restaurants food was excellent. In fact in the Fine Cut Steakhouse, I had the best steak in years. However, I did find the service has suffered compared to my November 2022 cruise on Celebrity Summit. I let Celebrity know my feelings in my after cruise survey.

[@jeffreyobryan6406]

A note about solo sailings: Celebrity Cruises is now not applying savings to solo guests for many of their newer 2025-2026 sailings! User beware! Upon further searching I discovered that they are charging three times the going rate for Alaska sailings and Caribbean in 2025! So an advertised sailing of $798 per person inside for Alaska in May 2025 on Edge is $2400 plus port fees and taxes. Their second person 75% or 50% is no longer applicable to solo guests. Just read the fine print! Very disappointed in Celebrity outing its solo guests like this and fleecing them more than what a couple would pay! Very wrong! On some of the 2025-26 Ascent sailings, the solo charge amounted to 3.25 times that of the per person rate! Celebrity will lose loyal customers with this tactic!

[@LifeWellCruised]

Thanks for sharing

[@druegillis1744]

Getting ready to do a Repositioning Cruise on the Rotterdam for a “ride” back to the states after a land tour in Ireland. Yes, it is slightly more expensive than flying but soooo much more relaxing. We are retired and can enjoy the downtime of a slow boat back across the pond. Hollander America ships provide the right decompression we need after a tour in Europe. For anyone who is considering this type of cruise, make sure you want time to read, play cards, hang out by the pool and enjoy eating at your leisure. Entertainment is available each night but they can sometimes be repetitive. Other than that, this is a great stress free way to journey.

[@donnakrueger3889]

I’m heading out Jan 2nd on Celebrity Silhouette to the Eastern Caribbean. I’m guessing it’ll be a much different trip from Carnival in August. Hopefully still as much if not, a more enjoyable trip.

[@LifeWellCruised]

I’m sure you’ll love it!! Enjoy

[@donnakrueger3889]

@@LifeWellCruised thank you!

[@larryfinkel4102]

Taking a Trans Atlantic cruise on the Regal Princess in October of 2024 from Southampton to Galveston 21 days with stops in Spain Portugal Antigua St. Thomas and Grand Cayman. Our cabin is a Reserve Collection mini suite

[@georgehny]

We are home today, normally on a cruise ship past decade. We have nothing booked for 2024, normally would have two or three cruises booked by now. Reasoning simple, cruising has been changing to the point that is no longer even close to what it once was. It was, service, including room service. Almost inclusive pricing for ALL on board. Excursions and alcohol only real extra's! Cruising becomes more motel 6 every minute to us.

[@bellacat9796]

Just got off Celebrity Reflection, and want to report that charges were inconsistent within their app for the same drinks, and didn't match their printed prices. On top of that, drinks were charged at an even higher prices on your account. These disconnects require your constant vigilance and was very inconvenient to get corrected as it happened every day. Ken

[@LifeWellCruised]

Thanks for sharing

[@rzaw30]

We found in 2022 on Discovery Princess, the food was lacking flavor and presentation. The deserts were excellent, and I have to qualify this by saying I did have a Salmon dish I liked even though I do not care for Salmon. We felt that the buffet was pretty good, even though crowded.

[@KLOB614]

Long time Royal cruiser here…making the switch and trying out Celebrity for the first time. Not loving the giant mega ships anymore. Hoping for more of an upscale experience and less kids on Celebrity.

[@vikkinovak5114]

I just returned (Dec. 22, 2023) from the Celebrity Beyond, Southern Caribbean. I hated the "infinite veranda". When we opened the window, the AC in the room turns OFF. The weather was 85 degrees and 81% humidity. Our room became unbearable so we left the window up all the time. The next problem was that we purchased the basic beverage package (drinks up to $10). When we arrived onboard we found there were almost no drinks for $10! We were forced to upgrade our beverage package. My friends "had" a room next to mine. The agent for Celebrity talked my friends into upgrading their room to a real balcony (which they paid more money for). The new room was located at the very back of the ship, right above the restaurant "Eden". They heard the ships propellers all day and night and all the noise from the restaurant Eden. I also found the menus in the 4 Main Dining Rooms never really changed. Since I don't eat seafood my food choices were very limited.

[@ThompsonsTakeOn]

We did a Koningsdam Alaska cruise earlier this year. We head back out on Koningsdam to Mexico in the next couple weeks. We have cruises booked with both Princess and Celebrity but have not yet traveled with them. We are very impressed with Holland. We do enjoy the low-key vibe, felt the food was excellent, staff was terrific. I do feel Princess and Holland are comparable in price. Although we booked a '25 Celebrity Ascent cruise that I felt was a good price, when I've looked at them for other cruises over the last few months, the prices seem 2-3k higher than the other lines. Being in California, we love that Princess does go out of San Francisco - so that is an extra perk for us with them.

[@javdestiny]

​We love HAL and people told us we would enjoy Celebrity. They were wrong. The service didn't compare to HAL. The food wasn't as good as HAL. Our cabin was frankly a dump. The refrigerator didn't work, the wall squeaked loudly in any chop, the hangers were broken and we were told there were no more to be had. Though the entertainment seemed popular, the band was terrible. I didn't realize how great HALs bands were until I suffered through the band on the Summit. They cancelled a port and didn't refund the port fees. Their shore excursion prices were outrageous!!! Again I was spoiled by HALs best price guarantee. Which I have actually tested by trying to purchase the same experience for less and couldn't. No Celebrity doesn't compare to HAL. We will stick with HAL from now on.

[@nick011894]

I've only done Princess and Holland. Princess - older ship, easier layout, better drink package, better customer service, better production shows but no live music Holland - newer/nicer ship, confusing layout, poor drink package, slightly better food (but comparable), horrible customer service, live music but poor production shows Wouldn't return to Holland again. Heading on Princess again in a few days.

[@MrsZahn-od3uf]

I really enjoyed this video! Thank you.

[@LifeWellCruised]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@roberts2714]

We have been on 3 HAL cruises and 3 Princess cruises, based upon the itineraries. I wish the parent company Carnival would recognise customer loyalty across their brands lines instead of individual lines. It would be an easy way to keep customers buying from one of their lines instead of the competition.

[@cathyspicer6375]

We love HAL but I am interested in trying Princess and possibly Celebrity in the future

[@robertk4552]

We have only cruised Carnival and Disney and was looking for something new for our 25th anniversary trip. We chose a 14 day Alaska Royal Princess itinerary with Premium Package for June 2024. Only one to offer included gratuities and room service as well as other perks in a packaged deal.

[@katherineyakowenko3644]

Hello, love the content on all of your videos…..taking RC to Alaska on August 30th…..can you please do a segment on handicap accessibility on cruises…who does the best job? Tips to know ahead of time for mobility challenged? We are renting mobility scooters on our cruise….and we have a handicapped room. Is purchasing the “key” on RC worth it?

[@gailbenes]

Love your channel We just got back from 11 day cruise from celebrity beyond to southern Caribbean which was fantastic absolutely beautiful ship From getting on to the ship which took less then 15 minutes and getting off the ship also took 15 minutes They are so organized The food was excellent The cruise director Shawna was fantastic she did an excellent job on the entertainment. My husband and I did not want to leave The staff was fantastic If I to rate the celebrity beyond a 100. We booked a future cruise to Alaska on the celebrity summit

[@jadepastor3181]

Dec 2023 cruise with Beyond. Service was awesome first two days. (12 day cruise) could not find a waiter after that. Last two days, awesome service again. Long lines at all bars waiting for drinks. Long waits for food in restaurants. The housekeeping was fantastic entire trip. Pool was hard to find chairs. Floating nursing home with wheelchairs, walkers, canes

[@janeyuk8167]

Hello, I’m hoping someone can supply an answer, as I cannot find it on Princess website. I am booked on a 14night cruise- circle Caribbean I have chosen the Princess Premier package- my Question is- as I am on a 14night cruise do I get 2 speciality dining included per week? TIA Great context, informative videos Thank you

[@JuneRaeder-MacKinnon]

As far as entertainment on Celebrity, everything you stated about Princess is available on Celebrity. Maybe you haven't taken enough Celebrity cruises. There is always something to do including movies under the stars as well as movies in the theater. It all depends on the itinerary. More sea days lots of activities all day and night. Haven't cruised on either Holland or Princess and I don't plan on cruising on either anytime soon..just happy with Celebrity.

[@LifeWellCruised]

Thanks for sharing your experience

[@worldpeace3221]

Just came back from 7 days HAL European, overall not impressed at all, very slow, old ship, good is so so. Will not go with HAL again. I have done NCL, CCL and Princess. I like princess and NCL better.

[@rebeccagangi4228]

We will never cruise Carnival again. Got off the Glory a week ago & it was what we now have labeled “The Walmart Cruise”! The buffet was less than par. The basically lack of dress code & the raunchy dancing on the lido deck was just too much! Not for kids!!