margaritaville: we thought all the alcohol in the passengers would kill any germs they ate

I'm glad the CDC cought those safely and food violations before someone got sick. I hope they offer those people on that Alaska cruise some compensation for missing those parts. For some that is a bucket list once in a lifetime Cruise.

Missing Glacier Bay is a game changer for me. I would do everything I can to cancel this cruise.

Doesn’t get talked about enough, but with all these ships coming on line there can’t be enough experienced crew. They may be able to find enough bodies, but there’s no substitute for experience.

@sandrajackson599

17 күн бұрын

Sure, but in order to get the experience, we all have to start somewhere!

@donnaschuepbach3830

17 күн бұрын

And the HR still do their due diligence in checking criminal backgrounds.

I feel sorry for those passengers that are missing so many ports in Alaska. Such a disappointment.

We went July 4th and it was so gross on The Margaritaville here in Florida after I watched Tony and thought well that’s not so bad….OMG it was so nasty and I have never seen so many pissed off people trying to get OFF a ship in all my life!!!! They told me I couldn’t go into the breakfast buffet to find my husband since it was at capacity?!?!

It is hard work on cruises.

I hope the Margaritaville ship gets their stuff together and can pass the next inspection.

@sailorman8590

17 күн бұрын

They need to get rid of the 2 old ships and buy 2 new ships. Staff the office and crew with experienced cruise line employees!

Not surprised about the Margaritavile....heard that's a floating dump & problems with sewage....get what you pay for on this ship !!

Thanks for reporting Don… So good royal Caribbean is going to hire more crew… That's excellent news for sure!!!🚢👍🚢

Sad for those on a ship with propulsion issues

YEAH!!....SPACE X launch of another batch of STARLINK satellites last week!!

Carnival throws staff away. I know, as discarded staff following injury.

Some of the older ships are having propulsion problems and cruise lines should be taking better care.

While the "Margaritaville at Sea" failed its CDC inspection, a number of ships got scores in the upper 80's, indicating they came close to failing. Some of these nearly failing cruise ships are with the major cruise lines.

Wow I went to Alaska last yr on the Sapphire Princess and it was amazing however missing all those stops makes one wonder why they are sailing at all???

Glad we didn't pick the Sapphire Princess! Hate to hear about people's cruises being changed that much. We are on the Grand Princess at the end of June. Hope it's running well!

@karenjensen2345

17 күн бұрын

We are on it for Antartica in 2026, we will cancel if they don't address these issues.

@susanhlavaty9500

17 күн бұрын

We were on her maiden voyage to Alaska in 2004

We were informed on Monday that our Enchanted cruise in September is not going to Bar Harbour. Princess seems to still be collecting that port fee from us, though.

Hi Don, you are looking better these days. I was worried because you were looking pretty sickly when you were in Disney a couple of weeks ago. Maybe it was just the lighting in your room. Anyway the color in your face seems to have returned. Remember, if you ever have an overnight layover at Pearson, we are only 15 minutes away.

I have the Ring doorbell cameras inside and outside. I use the Internet package to monitor my home when I’m not there.

We just finished a cruise from Tokyo to Dubai on Oceania's Riviera. It has Starlink. Because India, Indonesia, and many other Southeast Asian countries do not have an agreement with Starlink, Starlink is turned off for about 3 hours before arriving in port until about 3 hours after leaving port, hours before ar and the ship reverts to the older system for that time.

Thanks for all the information and updates, Don.

Bar Harbor's problem is the city council. The merchants are fuming over this restricting of ships, and the council refuses to even consider them. Hopefully they will vote them all out and get in a council that is tourism friendly because the one they have now is not. Now is a good time for other ports to step up! Newport, RI would be a fantastic stop. But they need to build out their infrastructure.

Royal has always had really nice, pleasant hard working crew so hopefully they can continue that. Worry is hiring quality & in large numbers I hope they don’t loose those qualities in the future. We recently returned from a RC cruise & did notice a difference especially in the buffet staff. They were not as friendly or happy & less of them, but after watching I think a big part of the problem was the supervisors. They seemed to treat their staff not very well, constant growling at them & never giving them praise. They also seemed to have favorites & the favorites were not required to do the work as the other staff. This could become a very bid problem. We certainly hope not.

Good afternoon, Don. My wife and I just got home yesterday from an Alaskan Cruise on the NCL Encore, and let's say that was our final NCL cruise that I will take and wilk continue to book Carnival and Princess and maybe try Virgin.

Thanks for the update Don

I got off Sapphire Princess on May 7 from a 32 Days cruise Hawaii and South Pacific in L.A. The ship was fine. I feel for everyone on board and actually got to know a few passengers that were staying on the ship to do the Alaska cruise. They will be reimbursed for sure. But it must be such a disappointment.😢

@aliceb4070

16 күн бұрын

I was on the same South Pacific cruise. It was great. I am sorry, though, that the Alaska cruise is being impacted.

Royal needs more help fast! Service has gone down fast! They also need experienced chefs! We went all specialty restaurants and they didn’t know how to cook steaks. So sad

That is good news that Carnival is getting Star Link.

Looks like Gordon Ramsay might be a good option to call on to fix the Margaritaville. At least for the cooking and food areas anyway!!

Don the Disney Wish was to come to Kusadasi Turkey 6 June. They just announced that due to problems in Turkey they will go to Greek Islands. There is no problem in Turkey. USA state department has no warnings. WHat real reasons they cancel

Great for better internet, and great for more staff being hired .

As usual a great update

We never get WiFi. Love being checked out for that time.

I hope the new Margaritaville Islander at Sea is cleaner when it starts from Tampa this summer.

Thanks for the update

Don, you should consider doing one of those cruises on the Great Lakes that visit Mackinac Island (referring to susanrnbc's comment). I've been to Mackinac Island three times but would go there every year, if I could. And yes, I'm over three years old, lol!

We went to Alaska cruise last week with NCL Encore ,it’s gonna be our last with NCL for a lot of negatives reasons ..

@janetlodia1756

8 күн бұрын

Same here .we went to that Alaskan cruise last week with NCL Encore .a lot of stress getting arriving early at the port leaving 12:30pm .arriving late 2:30pm with not enough logistics ..transportation ..not enough buses since our port was so far from Ketchikan .at Ward Cove .arriving so late at Victoria B.C. For only 4 hrs ..its not enjoyable anymore .its too stressful .worried we might be left behind by the ship ..we will go back to Princess ,RC ,Carnival

Just got off of the Carnival Conquest about three weeks ago, and it was probably the best internet I’ve had on a carnival ship And I was wondering why that the case lol

So far our cruise on Holland in two weeks still includes Bar Harbor but fingers are crossed.

Another excuse for RCCL to increase their prices and gratuities.

@Angiehere-1

17 күн бұрын

RCCL is the nickel and dime cruise line.

@1486230

16 күн бұрын

@@Angiehere-1they’re overpriced but they definitely don’t nickel and dime. Vast majority of activities are included.

@Angiehere-1

16 күн бұрын

@@1486230 Well, I have been on 9 cruises that were RCCL, out of 46 cruises. I say they are nickel and dime.

@Angiehere-1

16 күн бұрын

@@1486230 Yes, they do. I’ve been on 9 of their cruises

Love cruising no matter what

Have to say, not surprised at Margaritaville at Sea's failure. I'm glad about Starlink. I know many folks who need to stay "plugged in"... I feel like I'm a very rare breed now though. My phone gets shut off just before sail away and put in the safe. I turn it back on when I get up on disembarkation day, and then listen to it go nuts for a half an hour... lol...

We were on the sapphire Princess last week from LA- Vancouver. We were on a very tight schedule as we had an 11:40a.m. flight the same morning due to our son’s work schedule. Luckily our son had all our travel arrangements changed and we took a 6 a.m. flight Sunday morning. After over 13 hours of travel, we made it home. We refer to this trip as the never ending cruise….. thank goodness we had travel insurance

Go on American Cruise lines for the East Coast itineraries. We went on the Snake River Cruise and it was great.

@electrictroy2010

16 күн бұрын

Very expensive. No $1000 cruises through ACL like you find on other lines .

Need more safety

I am glad that the internet will be better on Carnival ships

I prefer not to be "connected" all the time on my cruise, however, for a day here and there there is no question Starlink is an amazing technology. Also, really sorry to hear about the Sapphire Princess and their current problems. I certainly feel badly for anyone that is missing those great ports in Alaska. We just got off the Sapphire on May 7th after 32 days in the South Pacific and fortunately we didn't encounter any propulsion issues. I hope they get things fixed asap.

My friend and wife are on Sapphire Princess now

Hi Don hope you are doing well 😊

Letting people know Bridge going to Galveston is damaged

Phrase of the season. Propulsion issues. Excited to hear about star link.

They need the agencies to train em better first

Thanks Don we appreciate all of your updates.

That's a lot of missed ports and shortened port time in a cruise that doesn't have that many destinations to begin with. :/

Love your T Shirt something I would wear. YAY for starlink. That's a scrapped cruise. Hope that ship gets fixed right and fast.

UPDATE: Sapphire Princess just released a message to its passengers of the cruise starting Saturday in Whittier stating that the issues should be resolved and the cruise is on as scheduled.

It’s not just the pandemic. It’s the amount of ships sailing @ one time & still adding more to their fleets thats adding to the overcrowding & overwhelming the ports. There much larger @ full capacity plus. Something had to give. I foresee more ports complaining as well as passengers in the future. Already cruising is heading in a downward direction w/ lack of well trained staff, food quality, more cancellations, maintenance issues, etc.

Jamaicans are a big percentage of the staff at The Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island in Michigan. They do a wonderful job. (If you have never been there, it is a wonderful experience in a beautifully maintained huge vintage hotel. And the island itself is a treasure-no motorized vehicles allowed. Transportation by bicycle or horse drawn wagons and carriages.

I'm glad to see that looking so well today.

thanks Don for a great video!

More issues with propulsion doesn’t make for a good time

Oh, I’m booked on the Love Boat cruise!!

_*****@Don, thanks for sharing some of the information. I called Princess and always get someone in the Phillipines! The direct communication and understanding and having to repeat myself again and again about the same matter but getting no response. Communication to issues is what people in North America are asking for is extremely poor from people in South Asia! I asked about the update on the "Love Boat" and the agents in Asia have no information! Nobody to speak to in North America about what you are referring to? Can you give more details on what has changed with the itinerary? I may never take a Princess cruise again ad the service is very poor.

I’ll be on the Sapphire next week (maybe???). I can’t tell from the story whether sources are saying that the cruise ship is still having problems or is the itinerary being altered due to availability in the ports. I’m beginning my journey towards Anchorage tonight and sure hope this doesn’t turn into a wasted trip. Thank you for the heads up so I know to keep a close eye on updates.

I was on the Sapphire Princess to YVR.

Hope everyone has proper insurance

Always great reporting!! Thanks Don!!

Thanks for all the updates!

Margaritaville is running it's ship like it's bars. You can't get away with bad Hygiene on Cruise ships like you would on Land!

We were on the Enchanted Princess Caribbean cruise in March and the Starlink internet totally sucked! Princess has throttled the speed of Starlink but they won't admit it. My background is Internet Technology so I know what I'm talking about here!!!

Oh Great.. i will join Sapphire Princess on June 8. Hopefully will dolve the problem by then..

Is it wrong that now I want to challenge the Sapphire Princess to a race up the inside passage?

I guess with the pandemic shut down, the ships' mechanics were not kept up. So many having mechanical issues!

We’re on the Celebrity Millennium in Japan. During our first night last night we had no water, tv, and wifi. It took several hours for the water to come back on. They lied and said that they were cleaning the water tanks. Really? No water for over 4 hours?

Exciting news about Internet

Hi, Don. I was booked on the “Love Boat” cruise (with Allison), but I canceled after they canceled Newport. I will wait a year and go on Oceania.

Hey Don good information on all the news today, Well the changes to cruising is more like a day to day process and the ports changes seem to be a everyday thing

Was wondering how long before mville was going yo fail the cdc inspection

Hi Don is your doctors appointment coming up?

RC🎉

I don't know if I have ever heard of a cruise ship failing before(there must have been some)

We've sailed on HAL and Princess with Starlink. On balance, the connections have been good. However, the WIFI network onboard may have challenges. Also, the upload speeds are quite low.

Hi Don

Just returned from Royal Princess northern Pacific crossing from Yokohama to Whittier....internet was perfect Missing Bar Harbor ia no big deal....not much of a port

Not sure why but I keep having to resubscribe to your channels! I watch you daily and love the videos, I just do not comment on any videos, I am one that likes to be not seen or heard, as well as my writing sucks. Any idea how to fix this?

What date is the love boat cruise? Did you say Aug 31st?

Why do so many of the propulsion issues happen on the Alaska cruises? Is the colder water having an effect?

Well cruises like everywhere and on land. So many jobs and no one wants to work. Sad but true and working on a cruise ship is much much harder.

@cindylou9293

16 күн бұрын

Sorry but there is a smaller available workforce, lots of research on this from reputable sources. Retirements post Covid and large numbers of workforce aged deaths during and since Covid as well as new small businesses and entrepreneurs have led to a diminished workforce. People want to work, companies don’t want to touch the higher profits to pay for the skills they need! It’s much more complex than the “people don’t want to work” trope being used

I hope the cruise lines are doing background checks on these new hires!

Why don't they look to the US or Canada?

The Sapphire Princess passengers have been offered a 75% refund of their fare and a 75% Future Cruise Credit of their fare.

Forget Jamaicans!

Too bad that Margaritaville let standards slip, but we all sorta thought that based on their size and budget costs of cruising.

@Nrustica

17 күн бұрын

Talk about low hanging fruit, CDC should fail any cruise line that herds their customers like cattle during embark and disembark. Margaritaville probably doesn't have the budget to bribe them

Hire Americans, for sure.

With all these mega sized ships being constructed and the current frenzy to own the biggest and 'best', im thinking is this starting to backfire now ? There seems to be an increasing number of passengers not wanting to travel on them and now the ports are saying stay away. Have the marketing men not seen this coming ?

@gloriapalmer6629

17 күн бұрын

Agree totally. The mega-ships are large floating playgrounds for kiddies and adults who never grew up. I don’t want to be in a port with any of them. 5000 people swarm off and overwhelm just about any port. If these companies are looking to ruin cruising they’re doing a great job.

@thestooges333

17 күн бұрын

I was at Bar Harbor last year I drove there. It was fine until a cruise ship came in. You couldn’t walk the streets wall to wall people, no wonder the people who live there are P!ssed. They could do fine without them.

I use to love the Jamaican staff. I was sorry when RCL stopped hiring them.

The best thing about cruising is not having internet.

Sapphire is an older ship. Wonder how much the recent pandemic affected the ships? Some probably got more maintenance than others? We're on the Majestic Alaska cruise on 19 May so we'll see how that goes? My wife has wanted to go on an Alaska cruise for a while. Great the cruise lines are hiring more people. I have noted most people on the ships are good regardless of where they are from. Got to admit, I like the Filipino's who work on the ship since my wife is from there. We often joke about that because of her we get special treatment from the Filipino mafia onboard. That is not really true of course but we get a laugh from it.

Why are Americans out of the question for working on cruise ships?

@donnavincent2004

15 күн бұрын

Americans work as entertainment and engineers etc. But as service staff it would not be enough money due to the cost of living and the other opportunities available in the US. The stewards work 7 days a week for 4-6 months at a time. In the Philippines, Malaysia, India etc., the amount of hours and money and working environment is a great opportunity for them compared to what is available to them in their home country.