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Very glad that you found it helpful! Thanks for watching and for subscribing!

It is a very good ship with a lot to offer. I enjoy the Pinnacle Class a bit more just due to the dual level pool areas and the dedicated music walk venues but other than that, they are pretty much the same. Pinnacle might have a slightly better theater and more dedicated spaces. One big difference is that Pinnacle Class does NOT have a wide outside promenade like the Signature Class has. Thanks for sharing!

Great information! Thanks for sharing and for watching!

That is fantastic that you enjoyed Razzle Dazzle! We don't eat breaded items (carbs) or things fried in highly processed, manufactured seed oils (canola and processed vegetable oils) so that is why we don't eat there. Plant based items are normally highly processed with manufactured ingredients. The Creme Brulé contains single processed sugars. Not for everyone but we just choose to eat natural single ingredient foods, no sugars and not manufactured. There are so many options on Virgin that fit into these categories. Keep enjoying your adventures! Thanks so much for sharing and for watching!

That is really disappointing to hear. The last time I was at both, we didn't go downtown. We did water based excursions in St M and a tour of some of the mountain top views in St T. Very unfortunate that the tourist trap vendors have taken over. Thanks for sharing and for watching!

Oh wow, that is something to think about. I am sure in the later fall, this would be very true. We are sailing at the end of August but I am sure when you get into late Sept or into October this will be the case. Thanks for sharing and of course for watching!

That is wonderful to hear! This ship was our first experience on Holland America and have since sailed Eurodam in the Panama Canal and recently on the Rotterdam. I really enjoyed the Rotterdam and find it a slightly better design than the Signature Class. With HAL recently announcing new shows in the Main Stage theater, I think that this will correct some of the holes in the entertainment on HAL that I have struggled with. Thanks so much for sharing and for watching!

I do have a Eurodam and Rotterdam review and ship score on the channel so check those out. In general, Holland America Line has excellent service levels and the crew is always friendly and very attentive. The main dining room food is normally very good but you will have hit or miss nights. If this ever happens order something else that looks better and they will replace it immediately. The Lido Market buffet is normally very fresh but I find the selection somewhat limited. I normally go to the eggs benedict station every morning for freshly made eggs or the salad and deli sections for lunch. Dive in burgers are very good and on the Pinnacle Class ships, the NY Pizza and Deli has great pizza and amazing deli sandwiches made to order - both hot and cold. If I were looking at HAL for a cruise, after choosing the itinerary, I would see if the newer larger Pinnacle Class like the Rotterdam or Konningsdam. They offer more venues and options than the smaller ships like Nieuw Amsterdam and Eurodam. Thanks so much for sharing and for subscribing!

I actually prefer the larger Pinnacle Class ships with the separate Billboard and the Rolling Stone Rock Room. It is very smart for them to alternate sets and then have the two level BB Kings is great. We first experienced Lincoln Center Stage on our first sailing on the Nieuw Amsterdam. Like you, we never missed a performance and was just blown away. I also enjoyed them on the main stage during the BBC Earth presentations. I was completely caught off guard that during the recent retrofit, HAL left this room empty and did not attempt to change it into something. HAL states that Lincoln Center will be on select ships as a main stage performance but I have yet to hear of a sailing where that is the case. Thanks for sharing and for watching as always!

Thanks for sharing!

Thank you for the correction.

I completely get it! I have family that had lived outside of Boston for years, and most have moved to NH or along the coast. I have visited them many times and know that region very well. We love Boston and spent a week in Manchester by the Sea a few summers ago. I grew up visiting my cousins in Sudbury and actually worked for a company in Rochester, NH for several years exploring Portsmouth (traffic circle HoJo) and my Aunt and Uncle's compound on Lake Winnipesauke in Wolfeboro. With all that said, I AGREE with you 100%. You will not see New England the way that you know it or even the way I know it on a cruise. It is a great opportunity to sample the areas and plan to go back. I am doing that with Nova Scotia, PEI and Quebec City. Of course anytime I can spend 11 days on a Celebrity Solstice Class ship is something that I am not going to pass up. GREAT ADVISE and thank you for sharing and for watching!

I agree with you to an extent, but we traveled by car twenty years before taking a cruise, then another 15 or twenty years doing both. While we sometimes do a driving trip, we mostly cruise. Guess it's that time in our lives for that and we enjoy the pampering as we work so hard at home..

How fantastic for you! That would be a great cruise for you. I used to travel to Anchorage for business and just love it there. I was able to get outside of the downtown and really experience the people. Such a great area! You might want to consider one of the one-way cruises from Vancouver. They are more port intensive and end up either in Seward or Whittier allowing you to travel up to Anchorage for a few more days. Also there are so many cruise tours for that itinerary that have additional land based options after your cruise to Denali and Fairbanks. Most lines have these options but Holland America, Princess and Celebrity have the biggest variety. I'd be happy to assist in your planning and booking if you are considering using a travel advisor. Thanks so much for sharing and for watching!

I am so glad that you enjoyed it and found it helpful! If you need any additional details, please feel free to reach out! Thanks for watching!

If you are speaking to the premium segment, then it is Holland America Line. They have a much older demographic than Celebrity and Princess but Virgin Voyages has NO Children - it is 18+ but has a younger demographic that likes to party a bit more than the HAL demographic. It all depends on what you are looking for. Thanks for sharing and for watching!

@@seemoreseascruises3791 Thank you 💗

Thank you so much for the correction. There were a few on this one that I could have corrected. Thanks for watching and for sharing!

I am right there with you! My preference would be Eastern but a good price to Cozumel and Grand Cayman is something that I would never rule out. Thanks for sharing and for watching!

The walls are somewhat thin but not that bad. If there is an argument beside you then you will hear it. If there is a baby next door, you will hear it. It is no difference than a hotel room. What I do to mitigate this is to make sure that I look at the deck plan and make sure that I am not picking my stateroom beside a cabin with sleeper sofas or pullman beds sleeping 3 to 4 total in the cabin next door. This way it minimizes the chances of cross over noise. You also do not want to choose a stateroom with a connecting door since this can increase the noise. I have been on almost 40 cruises and only once or twice have I actually had an issue with neighbors. Many of the mega ships will have tons of restaurants, shops and bars on their main promenade internal to the ship but these are often times very well designed and also provide many quiet personal spaces to view the passing ocean where you do not feel crowded or confined. At 53, with your concerns, I would look to Celebrity, Holland America and Princess for possibilities. Virgin Voyages might also be a good option for you too! Thanks for sharing and for watching!

Oceania is wonderful! They have some amazing itineraries for Canada and New England on very small intimate ships with exceptional service and cuisine. I just booked a couple on a one way between Montreal and Fort Lauderdale. It was also a fantastic value with airfare included. Thanks for sharing and for watching!

We actually sailed Eurodam through the half transit panama canal and I have very strong feelings about selecting a cabin on the port side. Since the Eurodam fits in the old locks, you will be able to see both sides from your balcony if you are on the port side. I also recommend that you pick deck 6 over deck 8 since the pool decks and buffet is above you on deck 9. Never select a stateroom under a pool deck or public area. Eurodam Panama Canal part 1 = czcams.com/video/xarSLb0OUj4/video.html Panama Canal part 2 = czcams.com/video/jKJSQ7LfRSE/video.html There is actually yet another of the half transit that you will want to see since it shows you the views from the port side of the ship = czcams.com/video/jOsdAp059gg/video.html

You are going to find most of the Oceanview cabins on the lower decks except for some that might be on a higher deck facing completely forward. Depending on motion sickness issues, a lower midship would probably be better for inside since you can not see the horizon. If you are on a higher deck and either forward or aft, you might feel the motion more and unable to stabilize since you can not see the ocean or the horizon. Keep that in mind. It is a great question! Thanks so much for sharing and for watching!

In that video, I reviewed the Premium Segment. Viking and Oceania are one step up in the Luxury segment. The luxury segment normally has much smaller ships, more sophisticated cuisine and a more inclusive product. NCL is a step below Princess and categorized as a Mass Market line with bigger ships and appealing to more families. I have had great experiences on NCL and other Mass Market lines however the vibe is normally much different. After your comment, I can only assume that you are noticing that.

@@seemoreseascruises3791 Definitely!

Awesome information! Thank you so much for sharing your experiences and for watching!

Agreed. The prices that they are asking are also ridiculous. Thanks for watching!

On most of these cruises that travel north into Nova Scotia and then down to Quebec City, you will see land most of the way. It is a great idea to get an Oceanview or a Balcony stateroom on the port side - left hand side face forward. The last few days traveling back south you will be somewhat further out. The reverse is also true when starting in Quebec City and sailing south. Make sure you check your itinerary so that you can determine the best location. Also traveling down the St. Lawrence River gives you spectacular views on each side of the ship. Thanks for asking and for watching!

I have heard from several long time Celebrity Cruises guests and most do agree that the quality and selection in the Oceanview Cafe has decreased over the last few years. I was just on the Reflection and the buffet was pretty good however there were some misses. I found the breakfast actually to be the best with the eggs Benedict station being very good and the carvery and breakfast meats to be nice. Lunch was also pretty good with a wide variety. I only ate in the MDR for dinner on one night. That is something very different for me but I was sailing solo so I wanted to try the buffet for dinner. It was average for dinner but still with a decent variety. I found many of the meat selections to be very over cooked. Crew on all cruise lines work very long hours and are not paid well. The cruise lines are flagged (registered) in foreign countries which have minimal labor laws. The cruise ships are governed by the country and laws from which they are registered. Gratuities are always welcomed. The stateroom attendants on Celebrity have not been doing towel animals for a few years now due to the premium vibe they are going for. You might have an attendant who will still do this from time to time though. It is always my experience that the sooner you book and the further out will almost always work in your favor. The lowest prices are available when demand is the lowest. If demand is high and the inventory of staterooms is low, your rates will be higher. As promotions change and unpublished group rates are created, a good travel advisor can rebook you under those current promotions if a lower price is published.

Thank you Michael! You both will love the Coco Beach Club! Make sure you order that lobster and filet for lunch!

I really have not seen this much on any cruise but I don't think that you'll find much of an opportunity at the Island. The trees are not that close together and they are not mature. The grounds crew will probably have issue with it but feel free to try. Other private island with much more mature palm trees provide hammocks and are readily available. Good luck!

Thanks for watching!

Thank you so much for this information! This is so helpful. I can't wait to visit in late August! Thanks again for sharing and for watching!

Have only been there once, but loved it there. Took the hop-on, hop-off bus twice. Each time, I stopped at the Reversing Falls. So beautiful. I did see the zip line.

Thank you so much! Thanks for watching!

Shoot, we are the next cruise after you! That would have been fun! I love meeting those watching on cruises! I hope that you have spectacular cruise. I love this itinerary!

@@seemoreseascruises3791 If you ever discuss Boston as a port, let me know (unless you live there, of course). We lived there (ancient history) and have been cruising out of there since 2000, when Falcon Terminal was just a big, open one-level room. With a total of 25 chairs. We were going on a 3,000-passenger ship (Carnival Destiny) that was limping in 10 hours late and we got on the ship for 2 days, but never left the port. 3,000 people waiting in a terminal with only 25 chairs. Anyway, it's a long story. We've now done 15+ cruises out of Boston on 5 different cruise lines and each time, there's changes in both embarkation and disembarkation, etc. And, of course, changes in Boston, especially with Covid--where we lived while in college and my husband drove a taxi. Unfortunately for you, I could go on and on with stories about Boston and about cruising! I will stop!

@IrvingFrank, We are also on that cruise. Do you know about the Royal Caribbean match/share program with Celebrity and Silversea? If not, your TA should be able to handle that for you. I have only been on one Celebrity cruise, but many on RCCL and am Platinum. So I get equivalent status on this Celebrity cruise, meaning more amenities....Are you on Cruise Critic for this cruise? It's not a lively group, but you never know when some interesting info will pop up...Let me know if you care to chat. Susan Motschman, on my husband's account right now.

Most of the buffet style venues like Chill Grill and Skipper's Grill won't have items like conch fritters or fresh conch or local cuisine. Captain Jacks will have wings and some other items for a small added charge. The closest thing to what you are describing would be the ceviche that is served at the Coco Beach Club but at a very expensive entry fee. Most all venues are going to be burgers, chicken sandwiches, tacos and many types of salads. There might be some kind of shrimp ceviche available since I understand that some of the upgraded cabanas are able to order more upgraded food items. As I think about all of my cruises, I only remember once where conch fritters were served and that was in the MDR off of the lunch menu. I'm a big fan of conch and make sure that I get it when I stop in Key West on a cruise. Thanks so much for watching and for subscribing!

Thank you so much 😀

If you have the Wi-Fi package you can normally text each other. You can also use several messaging apps with the Wi-Fi package. Otherwise, most cruise lines have a messaging function in their own app. This is not as robust as I would like but when it works, this can be a solution. You do not need to have the Wi-Fi package to use the cruise line app while onboard. They provide that function as part of your cruise fare.

I think there is a big difference from those with a chronic cough and those that are sick and make no attempt to protect those around them. I had a gentleman behind me in the theater with a chronic cough and he was so nice to point out that it was not anything to worry about. He advised everyone around him if they gave him a concerned look.

Welcome to the channel! I'm happy to have you here! I do also provide full travel agent services through my independent agency. Here is the contact information if you are ever interested in discussing, choosing & booking a cruise. BOOK YOUR CRUISE WITH ME! See More Seas Travel, LLC email = contact@seemoresea.com See More Seas Travel, LLC phone = 888-202-0736 This contact information should be in each of the online video descriptions.

Glad it was helpful! Thanks so much for sharing and for watching! I have several clients on the HAL Volendam Montreal to Ft. Lauderdale in October!

@@seemoreseascruises3791 We'll be on the Emerald Princess... so we'll wave to the ship if we see it! 😁

Am so envious of your next cruise! Please don't tell me that one of your ports is in Bermuda. Have done 4 cruises to Bermuda since 2022. Missed it during Covid, but that sounds too selfish.🤐

@@LesMotschman-ti9ft Not getting to Bermuda... Just east coast and ending in Ft. Lauderdale. I actually haven't been to Bermuda yet. Guess I need to add that to the ol' bucket list!

I really do not have much experience with the Canada Cruise Tours. I have clients that have been interested in the Alaska cruise and land combinations which have a lot of online reviews. Your tour sounds like a good one. I hope it consists of a stay at the great hotel on the Canada side. Thanks so much for watching!

I am so happy that you found this helpful. One thing to note is that there are about 4-5 steps to climb into the cabana. I have done them twice and they are very nice. Make sure to check your itinerary and find out when you leave Half Moon Cay that day. The 1:30 all aboard was the earliest of any other time we were there. Normally it is around 3:00 - 4:00. If you head out earlier in the morning, spending the majority of the day at the beach is more than enough. If not, then a clamshell might be a great alternative. Have a great cruise and thanks for watching!

That is an interesting question. If you are just interested in kid friendly beach days, there are a few ports on each that can work. The Western itineraries normally include Cozumel which has a few beaches that are a cab ride away and have different levels of price. Grand Cayman has a couple of decent beaches as well. The rest of the Western ports are normally focused on diving and snorkeling or more Mayan cultural activities. Key West has crappy beaches. Most Eastern Caribbean ports will have many more beaches for kids on all of the private islands in the Bahamas as well as Turks and Cacaos has a great port area with free beach and a Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville pool area. The Virgin Islands also have beautiful beaches that are either availalble as a ship excursion or by taking a cab to one for the day. Just do a bit of research to make sure your beach decision has bathroom and food options. I'd also think about brining along your own bag with snorkeling gear to save money and make sure you have a good fit for the kids. I would go with an Eastern Caribbean itinerary for beach days with kids. I hope that helps.

Thanks for your answer. So the cruise I'm looking for is the wonder of the seas and the eastern itinerary. It's this that is good for kids Philipsburg, St. Maarten Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas Perfect Day at CocoCay, Bahamas Orlando (Port Canaveral), Florida

I also like to dine alone when traveling solo. Normally the desk at the MDR will accommodate you. I had to wait until most were seated to change my assignment but the rest of the cruise they sat me at the same table by myself.

Thanks for watching! You should not have a problem after asking the desk at the MDR for the change and the new table assignment.

I really appreciate that. I do have a few MSC Ship reviews on the channel. Unfortunately, I am not a fan of the food in the MDR or buffet, but the ships are very well designed, entertainment is really good and the specialty dining is superb. If you have it in your budget, I highly suggest the specialty dining package or even the Yacht Club for a truly upgraded experience. Thanks for watching and for subscribing!

So glad that you liked the video! I was solo on this cruise and the tram is good but not great. You will have to wait at the staitons for a bit and there is one dedicated to the Yacht Club guests but they are pretty steady. You can get around very easily with the trams. The lighthouse bar will be a walk since I do not think that the tram stops there. Getting to the far side of the island is best by tram. Have a great cruise and thank you for watching!

Though most retailers and port areas will accept US Dollars, I would recommend that you use a credit card that does not have any type of international transaction fee associated with purchases. If you do want to have some local currency to tip cab drivers or tour operators, you can get a small amount from your BANK prior to leaving. Do not wait until the airport since the exchange rates will be horrible. Tour operators not associated with the cruise should be able to be paid prior to the cruise using your credit card. Tour guides will gladly accept any type of tip. They can deal with the exchange rate. It is not necessary but if you want a small amount, get if from your bank before you leave.