Do These 12 Things to AVOID the Crowds on a Cruise!!

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If the idea of a crowds on a cruise ship doesn't sound exciting, this video is for you! This video is full of cruise tips & tricks to help you beat the crowds both on a cruise ship & in ports of call.
Can you really avoid the crowd on a cruise ship? Absolutely! Although, first time cruisers may get stuck & make some common rookie cruiser mistakes. Even if you've gone on a cruise vacation before, there are always a few new cruise tips to learn!
You'll learn specific cruise tips & hacks to avoid cruise ships crowds on a Carnival cruise, Royal Caribbean, Princess cruise, Norwegian Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises & more! If you're going on a cruise, this video is full of great cruise travel tips & advice.
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ABOUT ME
Hi! I'm Ilana! I live in Montreal, Canada with my husband Frank. We can often be found dreaming about and planning future cruises, ideally to hot and sunny destinations! I believe in having fun, being kind and that you are never too old, or too young, to live the life of your dreams!
Please note that I do not sell cruises on Life Well Cruised. This and all other videos are for entertainment purposes only. I share my own opinions, personal experiences and information with other cruise travellers, which I hope can be helpful. Please contact your travel agent or the cruise line directly for advice and any information specific to your booking.
Some of the footage courtesy of RCCL.
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28 июн 2024

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Комментарии : 207

@LifeWellCruised 7 месяцев назад

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@VoiceoverMomentum 7 месяцев назад

I love my cruise planner!

@LifeWellCruised 7 месяцев назад

So glad to hear! Thanks for your purchase

@roseg9887 5 месяцев назад

Thank you for your videos learning alot. About to give on my first cruise at the end of September hopefully not so crowded.

@mianta55 4 месяца назад

😊

@designdoctor247 7 месяцев назад

10:43 YES we play a game to see how many days we can take the stairs ONLY it helps us 😊 we enjpy the feeling of the exercise...because uh the food the food is plentiful...yes we feel the burn in our legs but at the top of each floor ...we pause and look at the art 😅😂😂 and catch or breath if we need to ...then march up another deck...praising God for the health to be able to walk stairs

@guccijules 7 месяцев назад

That is always my goal....then I end up in fancy 3-5 inch heels. The first rug burn from tripping UP the stairs does it for me. You can just call me 'Grace". Lol!

@designdoctor247 4 месяца назад

@@guccijules 🤣😂🤣😂😂 However, Gace is a 💞beautiful name ...try slipping off your heals n running up/down the stairs bearfoot...i feel the🤗 exuberance of childhood🥰 and then i get my husband to slip them back on before entering the dinning room...and i feel like Cinderella ...rem to 😊straighten your 👑

@helenalovelock1030 4 месяца назад

Yes I do that too

@mwpinnc1 3 месяца назад

And only gain 0.75 pounds a day!

@Rhyonized 7 месяцев назад

Another option I like to do out of personal preference even though it may not be possible for everyone is to book longer cruises such as 10-15 days. For me, 2 weeks is usually a sweet spot if I have the time and less obligations to worry about at home because there’s usually less people overall, way less kids, more time to explore and not feel rushed to experience everything from the ship or ports, and I love the ability to meet and make new friends throughout the trip.

@FraserAtSea 7 месяцев назад

I totally agree with this - I always find my longer cruises are waaaaay quieter!

@michaels3003 7 месяцев назад

It depends on the specific cruise. For example, a three week Mediterranean cruise includes one or two two-week cruises and three one-week cruises (people get on and off in a few ports). This will not be obvious to "newbie" cruisers.

@erikh9991 7 месяцев назад

Our 10 night Baltic Sea cruise was incredible! Everyone was in bed by 9pm and maybe 6 kids. We practically had the whole ship. It did get a little strange when we would go to the entertainment bars and there was only 10 people. My son was still able to hook-up too. Good Times!

@designdoctor247 7 месяцев назад

oh this is a GREAT tip ...yes i agree even "anything" past 7 nights seems to be more calm to me. it might just be that "i" am calmer.

@Exotic3000 7 месяцев назад

Thanks for mentioning the ‘2 week’ option. That’s what I will do if I cruise again! ❤

@cindycarey5277 7 месяцев назад

We always book a balcony. My favorite place to get away and read my book, have a cocktail, etc.

@Next_Cruise_Please 7 месяцев назад

That's exactly what I strive for: Do the opposite of what everyone else does. I get exercise walking around the ship and usually find areas ignored by others. I have dinner after 8:00 and attend the late shows. The casino is less crowded during the first shows.

@pinklucky61 7 месяцев назад

My suggestion to avoid the crowds, pay attention to the activity schedule. It will pretty much tell you where the crowds will be.

@dgilman2 2 месяца назад

I’m a contrarian cruiser. That means an introvert with bouts of extroversion. Go against the crowd. We love to swim and use the hot tubs at night. It’s like you have a private space and your own personal bartenders. We eat at the earliest possible diner times, early shows, and then hit the pools. So beautiful under the stars.

@mbutterfly4180 7 месяцев назад

My experience is the thermal package is super crowded! I avoid crowds by hanging out on the decks above Lido. Also, I have found on embarkation day, arriving late is the way to go. Your room is ready, everyone has already eaten, and you can have just enough time to unpack, get settled, watch the sunset and have dinner.

@jamess5154 7 месяцев назад

We do what we call contra cruising. Living in FL on warm cruises we avoid the sun so when the Lido is sunny and busy on sea days we tend to either sit on promenade or an empty lounge. Then we do the pool at 5pm when many are getting ready to eat. The aft bars also get quiet during dinner times--especially after sunset yet the views are still great. We also avoid the big shows and loud music so we look for things like piano bars or string duos which are less crowded and the music is usually better.

@absolutehonor141 7 месяцев назад

when it comes to booking excursions with local organizers, I think it's important to add that you should be back on time, a lot can happen and if you're late, the ship isn't waiting!

@vickyburton2434 7 месяцев назад

I love to stay on the ship when everyone is off the ship! Last cruise I stayed aboard and just relaxed.

@designdoctor247 7 месяцев назад

5:15 i agree "totally" and....if u just want the FEEL and LUX of the dinning room ...i learned i can not HOLD in my tummy breakfast lunch n dinner in the dinning room. so i eat LUNCH in the dinning room on sea days n snack at the buffet for dinner before a show...that way i do not feel rushed to get to the show in time and the entire day is sooo much calmer❤ i always eat breakfast in the dinning room the last day before getting off the ship ...to end the cruise w a LUX feel....i probably w not eat on a white tablecloth again until my next cruise...i also usually get to see my fav wait staff and say goodbye w a nice card pre made w a tip in it 😊 if i do not see them i just pass it to the head wait staff last... IMO many people who cruise do not want to wake up early...i LOVE an early morning walk and go to breakfast in the dinning room as soon as it opens... usually no crowds...the service is always slower than, well in IMO "any place" ..off the ship so i bring a book and read it while sipping my hot tea ...i ask for a table for one ...out of the way...in the back... on the first day and explain i have an "anxiety" issue (i pass a written dr note to them) ....they always rem and from then on they seat me in a nice calm place alone. oooh Big tip if u have anxiety like i do wow the dinning rooms have TON of background noise....dishes clanging, music, people talking, AC noise and often children crying...ear canceling plugs HELP SO MUCH... 😊

@kenyattaclay7666 7 месяцев назад

Another good tip to at least not have to deal with as big of a crowd especially if you don't like fighting for tables & lines at the buffet is to go to the MDR for breakfast. I have found that the food in the buffet and the MDR are almost exactly the same but you don't have to deal with looking for a table then one person having to sit at the table to make sure nobody takes it. You also don't have to stand and wait at the omelet station or deal with someone cutting in front of you in line. The only time I go to the buffet anymore is if my excursion time just doesn't allow me the time to get breakfast at the MDR.

@Krysdavar 8 дней назад

What is the MDR? Main Dining Room?

@susandiannesmith191 5 месяцев назад

Use witch hazel mix aloe vera a 1/3 to two 2/3 of witch hazel. This is the best ever for any sunburn. Witch hazel takes the heat off of the burn. No more hurting The aloe helps the witch hazel to be thick and not running. Or if just witch hazel pour on cotton towels and apply on sunburns. I promise to mix with aloe with witch hazel. Much better ❤

@Travelling.Over.60 7 месяцев назад

I missed out on a shore excursion in Papeete and then walked on to the pier found a tour and it ended up being the best tour I did the whole holiday. The guide ended up being a fully university trained guide with amazing local knowledge.

@FraserAtSea 7 месяцев назад

After spending months on cruise ships this year, one of the biggest tips I can offer for avoiding crowds is to try and book longer cruises (if you can afford the time out). For example, some 14 night cruises I've been on this year have been operating at around the 50% full rate, whereas most of the 7-night cruises have been operating at 90%-100% full, with some ships being a nightmare...!!

@skeletor9121 7 месяцев назад

I agree. I have recently been booking 10-12 day cruises. Much more relaxing and not as crowded.

@garyelliott2475 7 месяцев назад

We’re on a 15 day Transatlantic leaving on November 10 out of Southampton to Ft. Lauderdale. The ship is virtually fully booked! There are maybe 3 inside cabins available to book as of today.

@FraserAtSea 7 месяцев назад

@@garyelliott2475 oh wow - I’m currently on a 14 night transatlantic on Valiant Lady and we’re 1,200 passengers short of capacity!

@jackiebyers3424 7 месяцев назад

@@garyelliott2475What cruise line / ship is that? Wow.

@gatorguy7711 7 месяцев назад

Another excellent video! A few things we do to avoid crowds: 1. When going down to dinner, we go down about 45 minutes early (when the elevators are not crowded) and enjoy a drink at the bar or a coffee in the cafe and enjoy the pre-dinner entertainment. 2. Go to the buffet or main dinning room, as soon as they open, for breakfast or lunch. Normally, the crowds arrive shortly after they open. 3. Book shore excursions with the cruise line in ports that have to use a tender. Ship excursions will give you priority tendering. 4. Book cabins on deck 6 and 7, which makes using the stairs (at least walking down) a more efficient option (avoiding the crowded elevators)to gain access to dinning and entertainment on decks 3, 4, and 5. If you use the self-carry luggage option for debarkation, use the forward elevators to carry your luggage to the designated meeting location. The forward elevators are less crowded as most passengers use the aft elevators to go up to the buffet for breakfast.

@crazy4dariver 7 месяцев назад

St Martin. I do not recommend what i did, but it worked. "$100.00 Usd show me the best here." He not only did it he took me to locals only places, beaches, food. John pronounced Jean is a friend to this day.

@jenniferyoung6818 2 месяца назад

I am definitely looking for ways to avoid the big crowds on our cruise next month.

@gerardacronin334 7 месяцев назад

Repositioning cruises are much less likely to have large families on board!

@user-fc9dd6ej9w 7 месяцев назад

With my wife's mobility issues, avoiding elevators is just not possible. There is always a time or 2 that we find ourselves at the back of a large line. In that case I simply push the button for the elevator going in the opposite direction. It's usually only a deck or so and if we're alone on it, I push for the next deck. I can then immediately push for the deck that I want and be already on the elevator when it gets back to where we originally stuck. This works especially well on embarkation and after a show.

@willcooper6980 7 месяцев назад

When I cruise solo, I have to do the very early or very late strategy to all three meals in both the MDR and buffet. Another point Ilana. I need to make my target arrival time at 12noon. This is to ensure a good parking spot at the terminal, and minimal time waiting for the rooms to be available.

@CandiPinki 7 месяцев назад

We did private tours in Asia but booked two regular cruise tours. The private tours were far superior since we could stop when we needed to, spend more time if we wanted, skip things we didn't want to do, and eat when we were hungry. It was only like $30 each more than the cruise tour! Though the Ha Long Bay tour we did through the cruise ship was well run and left from the side of the ship. For the private tours, I booked with Tours by locals, Get your guide and Viatour. If you're worried about getting back to the ship in time, tell the guide and remember their ratings depend on happy customers!

@JacobHolt106 7 месяцев назад

Lots of good tips here. A few more I would suggest: 1. For breakfast and lunch in the main dining room get there when the dining room opens. I have found you usually get seated right away and can be done eating before it gets busy. 2. On port days with a late arrival time (11:00 am or later), the best time to use the gym is roughly an hour before arrival. 3. On sea days, the gym is less crowded in the morning 4. Avoid eating at the buffet 5. When you are cleared on port days, people (understandably) rush to exit. Wait 30 minutes and you get off quickly

@LifeWellCruised 7 месяцев назад

Super tips!

@matersworkshop6123 7 месяцев назад

On embarkation day I choose to get a late boarding onto the ship. The crowds are less waiting in line to go through check in. The lines for getting food are smaller since everyone that got on early already has gotten their food.

@BLUEQUEEFTOSSER 13 дней назад

I go early for the same reasons, however I love being on ships. So I try to get on as soon as possible to get in vacation mindset

@_echobravo 7 месяцев назад

It usually takes a combination of strategies to get it done. Premium line + shoulder season + a longer itinerary tends to keep the occupancy at 100% or less (aka no kids sharing rooms).

@joewoodard2801 7 месяцев назад

Our solution with elevators is to grab any elevator no matter which direction it's going to be in the capsule for the floor you are targeting, it will go up and down.

@Henriette368 7 месяцев назад

Another good option for shore excursions is to book through Get your Guide

@prisoncop1860 7 месяцев назад

On the newer Carnival Ships there is a lanai. Since the party crowds tend to hang out by the main pool, you can find peace, quiet and excellent drink service there. Sunshine and a lot less noise makes it the perfect spot!!

@drewski-qu3co 7 месяцев назад

Whenever possible choose assigned time and table in main dinning before cruising rather than anytime dining. You will never have to wait to get to your table.

@writern5389 7 месяцев назад

It’s harder and harder to find cruises that aren’t sold out.

@carmencastillo9101 4 месяца назад

Just went on our 1st cruise! Your videos helped tremendously! ❤ I had no idea what yo expected since Jubilee is the largest ship and all the video and photos I've seen - seem like massively large crowds. It wasn't at all like that. I didn't feel overwhelmed nor did I feel like it was packed. Plenty of moving space and hide aways.

@LifeWellCruised 4 месяца назад

I’m so glad to hear your feedback & that you had a great cruise!

@debracartier2947 7 месяцев назад

I’ve always used Viator on vacation they are really top notch! Although, I’m too afraid to book them when I’m on a cruise. I like to book my excursions through the cruise line. I’m afraid of being left behind if something goes wrong on the excursion!

@ginnyhinton1370 7 месяцев назад

We used Viator several times on a Mediterranean cruise last year. Had a great experience, so we also booked them for our Caribbean cruise in January 2024. Many of the tour operators promise to get you back to the ship on time. I think they will all do it, but some make a point of it.

@guccijules 7 месяцев назад

That's great info! I was hoping to find an alternative. The cs excursions are all booked up..@@ginnyhinton1370

@calicokitten6121 5 месяцев назад

Thanks for this info. I have a tentative viator excursion. They seem legit. Anyone else have experience with them? (In new zealand)

@user-io6jn5pk9x 7 месяцев назад

We have friends who routinely book 3rd party excursions no problem. We avoid dinner congestion by booking reserve class cabins (formerly club class).

@pagrant 7 месяцев назад

When we were on a cruise, days at sea we headed to the indoor pool, much quieter , and one day whilst in Asia 2020 it rained most the day ,

@stedmays2768 7 месяцев назад

Wish you'd do a segment on finding quiet places on cruise ships --- to read with no music, to have conversation with no music, to just enjoy silence while feeling the breeze, etc. Or have u already done this type of youtube?

@BLUEQUEEFTOSSER 13 дней назад

Its normally the opposite side of the smoking section there are hardly ever people there.

@stedmays2768 12 дней назад

@@BLUEQUEEFTOSSER I'm always looking for the places with no music (even though I enjoy some of the music and entertainment offerings), so on my next cruise I'll be on the lookout for your suggestion. Thanks for your thought.

@dancingfishfish 7 месяцев назад

I have never booked with a cruise line.. always on my own with locals.. My alaska whale watching was a small boat with 4 people!! so amazing!

@jbob1548 7 месяцев назад

With what group please?

@RebelPickle 7 месяцев назад

Thanks for the great information! I enjoy exploring the ship immediately after boarding to find all the little out-of-the-way nooks and crannies. “Doing the opposite” is probably the #1 best advice for avoiding crowds. I plan to do that on my next cruise by staying on the ship while in port in Nassau. I can’t wait! 😊

@LifeWellCruised 7 месяцев назад

You’re so right! When you explore the ship asap you find out all the secrets 👏

@martyklestadt6766 7 месяцев назад

Yup. I always print out a copy of the deck plan a couple of weeks before my cruise and carry it with me the whole time I'm on board. I also do my own little tour of the ship the first day as well. This shaves a few days off of the time it takes to get used to where everything is.

@guccijules 7 месяцев назад

This works great if you find yourself in a scavenger hunt too! 😉@@LifeWellCruised

@mksyogameditation7148 4 месяца назад

That's literally our plan ❤

@EasternUNO 7 месяцев назад

hi llana, thank you very much for all of the tips you provide us for free. I bought your cruise planner just to appreciate your tips regarding cruises. We will be taking 12 days southern Caribbean cruise with Celebrity Beyond in February for the first time (we have never ever cruised before) so let's hope there won't be many people :)

@harborspringsgirl 5 месяцев назад

Great advice!!! I love a specialty restaurant the first night- always discounted too. You are spot on!!

@bradp8355 7 месяцев назад

On embarkation day we have lunch before going to the port, then board late and go straight to our cabin. Best way to avoid embarkation crowds

@lynnmccurdythehdmmrc2561 7 месяцев назад

Why we love smaller ships. Like HAL and Oceania.

@Mariazellerbahn 7 месяцев назад

1) Cruise on smaller ships. 2) Look for pre-maiden voyages (shakedown cruises). 3) Look for repositioning cruises. 4) Look for last minute cruises that they can't fill.

@martyklestadt6766 7 месяцев назад

I took a private, local tour in Puerto Limon, Costa Rica, and it turned out to be a great decision. We got to see the highlights of the town, plus we also got to take a little boat in a canal that went right through the rainforest! I saw some amazing wildlife there!

@carolgravius9312 7 месяцев назад

You always get right to it with the greatest tips. Love your channel.❤

@BeefromSC 7 месяцев назад

Thanks for the reminders! 🛳🛳

@ak9868 7 месяцев назад

Yes for some alone time and soothing the soul, I booked the spa thermal package on my last cruise on the Carnival Breeze (1st one) and it was heaven! I was out of the crowd, chilling with the steam saunas (there were 3 different ones) and the therassapy pool was magnificent! The thermal chairs were my real quiet place and a chance to catch my breath after all the activities and ports of call. I was so thankful you spoke of the spas in an earlier video and I looked into it and booked it. It was so worth the price to be able to treat myself and get pampered a little bit. I went at least once each day on board and 1 day I went twice. I highly recommend the thermal spa. And the serenity area (adults only) was also wonderful and not crowded.

@francesgill8621 7 месяцев назад

I love the thermal spa. Great way to avoid the crowds and relax.

@kellyrome 7 месяцев назад

Once again!! GREAT information! Thank you!! 🧜🏻‍♀️🇨🇦

@crazy4dariver 7 месяцев назад

Love you dear. Your professional opinion is what i want to hear.

@Krysdavar 8 дней назад

Great info!

@stephancox9105 7 месяцев назад

On Carnival ships, the best time to get lunch on Embarkation Day from places like Guy's Burger, Shaq's Big Chicken, and Blue Iguana Cantina while avoiding lines is around 1:30pm. The rooms will be ready, and most people will be settling in.

@stevefinn9137 7 месяцев назад

I love your videos 😊

@iteachmy3 7 месяцев назад

We booked a local tour recommended by the info center/chamber of commerce in Cozumel and for about $20pp we got a bus ride to Uvas beach, a meal and beverage there, sitting area with wifi, and beach chairs. I will say you needed water shoes because it was a rocky entry into the ocean, but once in or once out, it was a great deal.

@lita7465 7 месяцев назад

We went to Uvas on a previous cruise and now we go there always in Cozumel. Its about a 5 minute taxi ride from the port, we go early without a reservation to grab a table in the outdoor dining. This gets us there ahead of the groups. We stay for lunch then head back.

@user-xn2qm7hc6f 7 месяцев назад

We take longer cruises (14-21 day), usually in off season, either the week after Thanksgiving (our anniversary) or middle to last week in May (Mother’s Day, husband’s birthday), when it is less crowded. We always book a balcony, mini suite or suite, so there is always somewhere quiet to get away from the busyness of the ship. We have been on all size ships, including Coral Princess, Carnival Destiny (now Carnival Sunshine), Disney Fantasy, RC Radiance of the Sea as well as RC Allure, Oasis and Harmony of the Seas and never really experienced over crowding, even in the buffet. I will say, with the bigger ships, there is so much to do and so many shows, that the crowds are well dispersed. In 18 more days we will be on our first cruise since the pandemic, sailing on the Crown Princess 16 day Transpacific Hawaii cruise, round trip from San Francisco, so we will see how different it is than our previous cruises. Also, we have always booked our shore excursions through the ship and have never had a bad one yet or any problems.

@calicokitten6121 5 месяцев назад

MAy i ask how this cruise was? We are doing the opposite in april

@user-xn2qm7hc6f 5 месяцев назад

The cruise was amazing. Our room was excellent, the staff was very friendly, helpful and professional and the ship was in great condition. Leaving out of SF was very cold (remember it was Nov.) and a little rough sailing out of the bay, which continued for three days. Then it started to get warmer as we got closer to Hawaii. While in Hawaii, it was hot and muggy, but beautiful. No rain at all. The excursions we book through the cruise line were amazing and very memorable. Also, while sailing in the Hawaiian waters around the islands, the casino is closed because Hawaii does not allow gambling. So no casino from the time we were Hilo until we were 50 miles out from Kona four days later. We had the Crab Shack pop up event three nights on our ship, which was spectacular. If that is something you want to do, you need to ask someone right away how to book it because it fills up fast. The cost is $29.99/pp, but it is worth every penny. The food is hit or miss, but thankfully there is Slice as well as Salty Dog and Coffee and Cones on deck 15. You will not go hungry on the cruise. There are a lot of activities on the ship, including lei making (for a cost) and ukulele classes, so never a dull moment. We did not go to any shows (not like the ones on RC, so not our cup of tea), but people in our FaceBook group had good things to say about them. Heading home from Hawaii was warm the first two days, then it started to get colder as we headed towards the states. We did have two medical emergencies, one heading to Hawaii, so we had to speed up and docked at Hilo 12 hours early, but couldn’t get off the ship until the next day. The other one happened two days after leaving Kona and they ended up having a Coast Guard helicopter come to take the passenger off and transport to San Diego. For this emergency, the Captain even requested blood donations and many people did donate. Even though we had these emergencies and hoped the people were alright, it was reassuring to know how it would be handled if something were to happen to us. Make sure to bring masks, sanitizer and Lysol wipes. We had about 30 people in our FaceBook group that got sick, either with COVID or Nora-virus. Luckily we came home healthy. Better to be safe than sorry. All in all, it was a fantastic cruise and I am sure you will enjoy it. Our next cruise is to Alaska (our second time) on the Royal Princess May 31, 2025.

@calicokitten6121 5 месяцев назад

Thank you so much!!! This is very helpful! Sorry to hear about the food quality but as you say we wont go hungry!

@user-xn2qm7hc6f 5 месяцев назад

@@calicokitten6121 Some of it were the choices they had on the menu where we didn’t care for them, so we just ordered the standard choice of Salmon or Fettuccini Alfredo; some of it was the way they cooked it, like the lobster in the Crown Grill was chargrilled, not steamed and the spinach was creamed, which I did not care for the taste of either of them. That being said, the food was more hit than miss and we did not go hungry.

@susanscott8023 7 месяцев назад

We have booked excursions through Viator and through Air BnB and have been very pleased. One AirBnB tour was in Dubrovnik, where we met the local guide at a fountain outside the old city for a walking tour. It was just the two of us, and it was fantastic!

@kathyslocombe1182 7 месяцев назад

Alana, you always have such inciteful information. I particularly liked your 'embarkation' information. I've 'read' some embarkation congestion in San Diego, which is our next embarkation port. However, we're taking the attitude that rushing to embark is not what we're going to do. We're on a 35-day cruise in February on HAL so we'd rather board relaxed because being on a long cruise we'll have enough days to enjoy the ship, the Koningsdam. Great video as always!

@amandaregis313 6 месяцев назад

Thanks for the great tips. We were already thinking of reserving in a specialty restaurant our first night, as it'll be our anniversary (39 years). And going midship for elevators would be a good idea for us too, as we booked midship.

@bbmiller412 7 месяцев назад

I'm so glad I found your channel. I'm going on my first cruise ever in 18 days with Princess Cruises on the Sky Princess. It will be my first time out of the U.S. I'm equally excited and nervous at this completely new experience. I've got the cruise planner to help out, which is especially great for a first-time cruiser. I'll be taking quite a few notes from your videos. Thank you!

@LifeWellCruised 7 месяцев назад

That’s so exciting!! I’m sure you’re going to be just fine - great ship btw 👏

@travelwithdebandnick 7 месяцев назад

Great ideas ❤

@jetstreek17 7 месяцев назад

Great video. we will look for the quiet areas. We just booked our next cruise to Alaska, very exciting, thanks for the inspiration and information.

@martyklestadt6766 7 месяцев назад

These are excellent tips, Ilana; thanks! Many of them I knew about beforehand, but there were plenty of good ideas here that I didn't know about! My next cruise is in about five weeks (Dec. 16) on the Holland America ship Konigsdam, which you showed the outside of briefly in this video!

@fredbowers493 7 месяцев назад

We're reserved a cabana for the week in the Vibe beach club on NCL. They sell a few passes. No pool but a couple hot tubs and private cabana with great views

@alicegoodfellow3566 Месяц назад

I know onboard libraries are rarely used anymore but I’d love to see a quiet area for reading and other quiet activities. It could have a bar nearby and preferably be located near windows. Comfortable chairs are on my wishlist too.

@noesjewelry5348 7 месяцев назад

We just got off the Carnival Celebration. It was totally booked, 6,700 Passengers! We really never "felt" there were that many Passengers. The ship offers so many areas of food and entertainment, everyone was spread out!

@harlanabraham7772 7 месяцев назад

Howdy Ilana, Personally, don't like crowds. Am subscribed to channel and even hit the like button. Big difference between cruise lines too. Prefer to sail in the off season. Fall is a good time, that's when our anniversary is. Prefer to eat early. Don't like RCCL, NCL, or MSC.. Only booked shore excursions with the cruise line. Do prefer to take the stairs. Have to take elevator at the lower level on certain ports. Promenade decks are good. Usually like to go to a lounge that doesn't have very many people. I try to stay away from most people.

@susantownsend8397 7 месяцев назад

We often do specialty dining on embarkation night. Never crowded on those nights.

@gonefishing8347 7 месяцев назад

Cruise number 9 in 10 days. I'll try some of these out.

@skeletor9121 7 месяцев назад

Many years ago I booked several excursions through a private party and they were all very good. The only thing I worried about was getting back to the ship prior to departure. Now I tend to book all shore excursions through the cruise line.

@crazy4dariver 7 месяцев назад

Gotta say, never get crazy over lemmings. I have seen only two onboard shows in 20 cruises. That entertainment is not me. Every lemming heads straight down the isle, I go left or right and get there first

@johnthomas5026 7 месяцев назад

Hi Llana, Looking forward to meeting you on the Rotterdam! John and Melody

@lynnleipold2617 7 месяцев назад

Thanks!

@LifeWellCruised 7 месяцев назад

Thanks so much! I appreciate it :)

@trainattendant5810 7 месяцев назад

I enjoy longer itineraries on smaller ships. Upper premium lines. I can't recommend Viking Ocean enough. Floating Zen palace at sea, yet never boring. There's always a buzz of activity just around the corner if that's what one wants. The atmosphere onboard is dignified, yet never stuffy.

@tywork 7 месяцев назад

I most often take third-party excursions. So far, I have been quite satisfied

@kathie1499 5 месяцев назад

Our first cruise is on Carnival Jubilee July 2025. We got a Havana Room with balcony with lounge chair hammock, an exclusive adult only area. There is a pool lounging. IK we will enjoy the seclusion when we want to get away. Enjoy all of your tips for travel. I have already starting getting my stuff together/ your suggestions. Just hope the meds work for motion sickness. ❤❤❤❤❤

@designdoctor247 7 месяцев назад

6:22 AMEN

@lindadunham286 7 месяцев назад

Book adult only areas. We booked the Vibe for our entire trip in April from Miami through the Panama Canal and ending in LA.

@ABC-jb2rg 7 месяцев назад

Excellent video with great tips! Ilana, are the Free at sea perks for NCL related to alcohol served at dinner/ specialty restaurants?

@lawofficesofjeffreym.jacob9466 7 месяцев назад

Carnival Panorama is canceling the next 2 cruises. I was in the 12/2/23 one!

@debbieguthrie2307 4 месяца назад

A friend shared a story about a Barbados cruise she was on recently and the pool area was occupied with nude people. Not an ordinary thing I'm sure. I would be a horrified.

@user-up9iq7ic8z 7 месяцев назад

The Wife & I talk about this and agree 1 st and Last Day seem Jamed ....

@pdallen5801 7 месяцев назад

I’ve never felt the fullness of the cruise, maybe it’s because I’m a night owl/late riser? I don’t get started until about 10-11 am, so I guess that I’m one of the last to get breakfast, then participate in a few activities, eat again about 2, do other activities maybe go to a nearly empty pool, solarium, then my dinner reservations are 6:30-7. I go to the late shows, hang out at a bar or the casino until closing, walk around a nearly silent ship, then crash until 10 am or so the next morning. I didn’t realize that my lazy vacation style keeps me away from the crowds, I’ve always wondered why I never seem to be in large crowds…

@LifeWellCruised 7 месяцев назад

You have a good schedule to avoid the crowds 👏

@guccijules 7 месяцев назад

SAME!! I don't do it necessarily to avoid crowds. I'm just a night owl. I always end up closing down the casino.

@dennisgarwood975 7 месяцев назад

I know this isn’t probably the video I should ask this, but since there are so few outlets in cabins do the TV’s have usb ports so that you can charge devices without having to take up an outlet? I throughly enjoy your videos and am looking forward to my first ever cruise this summer 2024 at 63 years old

@markgibson1962 7 месяцев назад

We will be trying out the Vibe beach club on NCL on our next cruise. Hope it is worth the price.

@kathyhiggins2847 7 месяцев назад

On our recent cruise to the Mediterranean on Enchanted Princess, we scheduled several non cruise line excursions. We used Italy Tours in Marseilles, Florence/ Pisa and Naples ( semi private small groups, 4-16 people per tour). We used Walks of Italy for small group tours in Rome, for the Colosseum and the Vatican with St. Peter’s Basilica. For Ephesus we used Ekol tours for a private tour of the site. All were excellent with no issues returning to the ship in time for departure. The HOHO buses in Barcelona and Athens were also great, not so good on Crete, so so in Genoa! Happy cruising Ilana😘

@Cha-y412 4 месяца назад

Loyal NCL cruisers - Go Haven .

@erikh9991 7 месяцев назад

I save my cans and water bottles so I can upgrade to concierge class. It gets you on the ship faster. The check in line is faster.

@jimerin3533 5 месяцев назад

Suggestion I didn’t hear: night clubs during the day are typically quiet and if you bring your own drink it’s comfy usually with a great view. Sorry if I missed it. BTW awe did a Discovery Princess cruise in December and I find it over crowded for its size and features. I’ll avoid it in the future.

@beckywilliams1388 7 месяцев назад

Llana , what cruise line is the most peaceful with less of a party environment?

@tanikokishimoto1604 7 месяцев назад

As someone who can't stand in place for any length of time (bad ankles), I will have to avoid lines.

@DarLa0341 7 месяцев назад

Book a room with an ocean view balcony. Great escape

@9IslandGina 7 месяцев назад

I really appreciate the elevators these days. If you ever cruised in the 80s and 90s there were only 2-4 elevators for the entire ship. We got a lot of exercise!

@edschulhof6303 7 месяцев назад

Entertaining video. I would find the smallest ship, going to less crowded ports. I want to feel like I'm on a ship, not the Mall of America goes to sea. LOL Maybe a 550' ship with fewer than 400 people.

@LifeWellCruised 7 месяцев назад

Very nice! I haven’t tried a small ship yet

@Surfcityham 7 месяцев назад

Go on a smaller ship like Viking (900 people) or Oceania (800 or 1200 people). Viking has no casino and no children. Oceania seldom has children.

@sarahmcivor1500 7 месяцев назад

We live in Australia and even out of school holidays the ships book out our carnival ship got booked out 3-2 mths before sailing date and this is a 9 nighter, I booked it as it was a little longer and not in schools but it seams in Australia right now this is happening!!

@ant97136 7 месяцев назад

Hello Ilana

@shanagaskill3473 7 месяцев назад

Re shore excursions . We booked an excursion independently. Unfortunately our ship got delayed getting into port and we missed the excursion. No refunds. The excursions that were booked through the cruise ship waited for the passengers.