Cruise Ship Reviews and Your Cruise Preview
What reviews add to a virtual tour, and how to read them well.
Get Free Cruise QuotesReviews Fill the Gaps a Preview Leaves
A virtual tour shows you the ship; a review tells you what it was like to sail on it. Put the two together and your cruise preview is complete: you know how the ship looks and how it works when it is full of people.
| Source | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Professional reviews by journalists who sailed | Overall impressions, comparisons with other ships | Short media sailings may not be typical |
| Guest reviews | Food, service, crowding, queues, cabins | Very happy and very unhappy guests write most |
| Video walk-throughs by cruisers | Seeing real cabins and spaces in use | Sponsored or outdated content |
| Published surveys and awards | How a line is regarded overall | Methods vary widely; check who voted |
| Your travel advisor | Matching a ship to your style | Ask what they have seen first-hand |
How to Read Cruise Reviews Before Booking
- Filter by the exact ship and the last year or two.
- Look for reviewers like you: families, couples, solo travellers or first-timers.
- Separate ship problems (dirty cabins, poor service) from bad luck (weather, a missed port).
- Note repeated praise for named venues; it tells you where to spend your time and money.
- Use reviews to choose a cabin location: comments about noise usually name decks.
Putting It All Together
Here is the order our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise suggest: first choose two or three lines that suit your style (Cruise Compares helps); then take the virtual tours of the ships sailing your dates; then read recent reviews of those ships; finally look at the deck plan to pick a cabin. That way, each step narrows the choice rather than adding confusion.
If a ship is brand new, swap the reviews for its sister ships’ reviews, and allow for a few early changes.
Cruise Preview is part of the Smart Traveler network, led by Mister Cruise. He has sold travel since 1972 and worked full-time in the industry since 1977. He has sold or originated more than $500 million in cruises and has trained more than 500 travel agents.
When you ask for a quote, our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise handle it personally — not a call center — and book everything for you. Meet Mister Cruise →
Reviews of New and Refitted Ships
A ship’s first months are a special case. Early reviews often come from journalists and travel advisors on preview sailings, and from enthusiastic first guests; they are useful for layout and atmosphere but say less about how the ship settles into a routine. Ships that have just come out of a major refurbishment are the opposite problem: older reviews may describe cabins, restaurants or pools that no longer exist. In both cases, check the date of every review against the ship’s history, and give more weight to what several recent guests agree on.
Finally, remember that you are reading about other people’s holidays. A reviewer who wanted a lively party ship may complain about the quiet one you are hoping for — so read for facts that match your own priorities.
Reviews & Previews FAQ
Should I trust one bad review?
Read it for facts, not mood. If several recent reviews of the same ship mention the same issue, take it seriously; one unhappy sailing is less meaningful.
How recent should a review be?
Ideally from the last year or two, and after the ship’s latest refurbishment. Older reviews describe a different ship.
Are awards a good preview?
Awards tell you how a line or ship is regarded overall. Cruise Awards explains how the main programs pick winners.
Narrowed It Down?
Send our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise your shortlist, and we will compare prices and cabins for you.
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