Cruise Reviews on YouTube
Cabin tours and vlogs show what a ship really looks like. Here is how to use them well.
Get Free Cruise QuotesCruise Reviews on YouTube: Seeing Before You Sail
Cruise reviews on YouTube fill a gap that written reviews cannot. A two-minute cabin tour shows the size of the bathroom, the view from the balcony and how close the bed is to the wall far better than a paragraph can. Full-length vlogs show what a sea day actually feels like on a particular ship.
| Type of video | Most useful for |
|---|---|
| Cabin tour | Size, layout, storage, bathroom, balcony and view for one cabin category |
| Full ship tour | Venues, decks, pools and how the ship flows from one area to another |
| Day-by-day vlog | Crowds, queues, food, shows and the mood on board across a whole sailing |
| Embarkation day video | What the terminal, check-in and first afternoon on board are like |
| Comparison video | How one creator saw two ships or two lines, best taken as one opinion |
Sponsored Trips and Disclosure
Many popular cruise creators are independent travellers who pay their own way. Others are invited by cruise lines, or travel on trips paid for by a sponsor. Neither makes a video useless, but it changes how you should weigh the opinion.
The FTC’s guidance for social media influencers says creators should disclose any financial, employment, personal or family relationship with a brand, and anything of value they received for a mention, and that for videos the disclosure belongs in the video itself, not just in the description. A free cruise is the obvious example. The FTC’s 2024 rule on reviews also bans testimonials from company insiders that hide their connection.
If a video glows about everything and never mentions how the trip was paid for, read the description and watch for a spoken disclosure near the start.
Getting the Most From Cruise Videos
- Search the ship name plus the cabin category you want, such as an interior or balcony cabin tour.
- Check the upload date and whether the ship has been refitted since.
- Watch at least two creators on the same ship; one person’s taste is not a verdict.
- Read the comments: other passengers often correct or add to what a video shows.
- Use the video to picture the ship, then use written reviews to judge service and food across many sailings.
Ready to compare cabins you have seen on YouTube? Cruise Upgrades explains how upgrades work if you fall for a cabin one category up, and First Time Cruise explains how booking works if this will be your first cruise.
YouTube Cruise Reviews: FAQ
Are YouTube cruise reviews paid for?
Some are. Creators may sail free or be paid by a line, an agency or another sponsor. The FTC expects influencers to disclose that kind of connection clearly, so watch for a statement at the start of the video and in the description.
What are YouTube cruise videos best for?
Seeing the ship: cabin size, the layout of the pool deck, how busy the buffet looks at noon. For judging service over a whole week, written reviews from many guests are more reliable.
Seen the Cabin You Want?
Tell our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise the ship and cabin type from the video, and we will check availability and price for your dates.
Price That Cabin