CruiseReview

Just got back from a Norwegian Cruise Line trip on the NCL Bliss out of Los Angeles to Mexico, and the last part of the cruise was pretty unpleasant. After leaving Cabo and heading back toward LA, the ship apparently switched to a different fuel. Soon after, oily residue started...

Haven’t sailed Royal in 5 years. Did Oasis for our honeymoon 13 years ago and loved it. This time… totally different vibe. Booked 5pm dining and somehow got switched to My Time. Guest services gave me 5:30 reservations each night just filling random tables. Not the end of the...

We just did Valiant Lady Feb 14. Valentine’s Day and my wife’s birthday. Honestly one of the best cruises we’ve taken. Crew was great, vibe was fun, food solid. But we had two pretty wild moments. First was before we even boarded. I had a sharp pain near my kidney and thought...

I’ve done both, and neither is “wrong,” it just depends on how you cruise. Ocean view is great for the natural light. That alone can make the room feel bigger and more pleasant, especially in the mornings. If you like waking up and seeing the ocean or using the room to relax...

I sailed on the last Vietnam and Thailand cruise on Solstice before it went into dry dock, and honestly Celebrity made a mistake not canceling this one too. The ship was clearly overdue for refurbishment. Missing picture on my cabin wall, beat up furniture, lumpy rug you could...

Just got back from a winter Mediterranean cruise on MSC Orchestra (older ship, built 2007) and honestly… we had a great time. Balcony cabin, good price, no WiFi, no drink package. Super simple. We were choosing between MSC and Costa based on itinerary, timing, and budget. After...

Right from the start, our shower door doesn’t seal at the bottom so the bathroom floods every time. Called guest services day one. They fixed the drain but said there’s nothing they can do about the door. So we’re basically mopping the floor daily. Dining has been frustrating....

This sounds exhausting, honestly. You’re not dealing with someone who just has a few nitpicks, you’re dealing with someone who fundamentally dislikes cruising but keeps agreeing to it anyway. At some point it’s probably worth taking the emotion out of it and naming the pattern...

That nickel and dime vibe would drive me crazy, especially on a cruise that’s already expensive. Charging for Starbucks when you have a beverage package, measuring wifi in minutes, and making water bottle filling feel like an upsell is wild in 2025. The food part is the biggest...

This was our third MSC cruise and we came in expecting great things after two solid trips on Meraviglia. Booked an Aurea infinite ocean view and loved the layout, but the room itself was a mess from the moment we walked in. Toilet hadn’t been cleaned, no toilet paper, random...

I did Scarlett Lady for 5 nights with a girls group after avoiding cruises for 20 years. Last one I did was Carnival and I hated everything about it, so I went in pretty skeptical. Ended up having a really good time. Rooms were clean and comfy, hammock on the balcony was my...

Just got off an 8-night Virgin Voyages cruise (Brilliant Lady from Miami). There were some cool parts adults only, great room service, awesome desserts, and Richard Branson himself was on board for a few nights. Embarkation was easy, staff were friendly, and the Wi-Fi was solid....