Cruise Blogs and Video Channels
See the ship, the cabin and the terminal before you go.
Get Free Cruise QuotesCruise blogs and video channels let you see a ship before you board it. The best explain how things work; the rest are mostly excitement. Here is how to use them.
Kinds of Cruise Blogs
| Type | Examples | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Independent line-focused blogs | Royal Caribbean Blog (an independent site, not the cruise line) and similar fan sites for other lines | Deep detail on one line’s ships, policies and changes |
| Cruise news blogs | Cruise.Blog, Cruise Hive, Cruise Radio | Quick news, ship updates and tips |
| Video channels | YouTube cruise ship tours | Ship walk-throughs, cabin tours, embarkation days |
| Our network | Cruise Preview (virtual tours and previews), Mister Cruise (advice) | Previewing a ship and getting honest advice |
Getting the Most From Cruise Blogs and Video
Treat blogs and videos as a way to see and understand, not as the final word. A video can show you exactly how big a balcony is or how far the theater is from your cabin; it cannot tell you whether this week’s fare is good. Blogs that cover one line closely are excellent at explaining loyalty programs, packages and app features; news blogs are good at flagging changes you should then check on the line’s site.
Look at the date first. Ships change in refits, and policies on drinks, dining and gratuities change more often than that. A two-year-old video may show a venue that no longer exists.
For news that affects people already booked, see our sister site iCruise News; for the trade view of the industry, Cruise Industry Daily.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are cruise blogs and YouTube channels sponsored?
Some posts and videos are made on hosted or paid sailings. Reputable creators say so. Look for a disclosure and weigh the review accordingly.
What should I watch before a cruise?
A full ship tour of your ship, a cabin tour of your cabin category, and an embarkation-day video from your departure port. Pick ones filmed after the ship’s most recent refit.
A Quick Test for Any Cruise Blog
- Is it dated? Every post should show when it was written or last updated.
- Does it link to sources? Good cruise blogs link to the line’s own announcement when they report a change.
- Does it disclose? Hosted sailings, affiliate links and sponsorships should be stated plainly.
- Is it specific? “The buffet is great” tells you little; “the buffet opens at 6:30 and is quietest after 9” is useful.
- Does it correct itself? Blogs that update posts when policies change are worth bookmarking.
Video has its own tells. Ship tours filmed on a preview or inaugural sailing show the ship at its emptiest and shiniest; a tour filmed on a full summer sailing tells you more about real crowds. Cabin videos are most useful when the creator gives the cabin number, so you can find it on the deck plan.
Podcasts are another format worth a try for long drives or commutes. Several cruise news sites run them, and they are good for background on how lines, loyalty programs and itineraries work, though less useful for ship-by-ship detail.
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