Cruise Ship Ratings and Reviews and Now Ports!

Now you can add and read cruise ship reviews and ratings for every major ship and port. Do you have a favorite ship? Is there a cruise ship you think should be retired and scrapped for rail road track parts? Now you can leave all of this info in our cruise ship reviews section.

And, when you’re planning your next cruise, this section will come in extremely handy. Read all of the cruise ship reviews left by your ship mates. You’ll get the honest truth here straight from the seahorse’s mouth.

You can also enter in locations (restaurants, shops, etc.) that you recommend. If there’s a favorite watering hole or restaurant at any port, add it here. And use this as a great reference to find places to eat, drink, and shop while at port.

With this update we’ll be able to drastically improve the quality of our content with your help. The more content you submit, the better Ship Mate becomes for all! Thanks so much, all!

2015 UPDATE: You can now Reply to Cruise Ship Reviews and those left for ports as well. If you agree, disagree, need clarification, or whatever – you can now hit “comment” to reply to that review.

And, if you’d just like to let the ship mate user know that they helped, select “like.” That helps us to surface the most valuable reviews to show future ship mates.

Where to Find Cruise Reviews

There are many different sources for reviews. To be fully knowledgeable about a cruise, passengers should read reviews from different sources and seek out the most updated reviews possible so their information is current and accurate. Both glowingly positive and scathingly negative reviews should be considered suspect: look for additional sources to provide a more balanced perspective, and remember the best reviews of all will be those you can create yourself after experiencing another cruise vacation.

There are many resources for reviews.

Print resources for reviews include:

Travel guide books, including cruise-specific books and destination guides Magazines such as Cruise Travel or Porthole Cruise Promotional information from travel agents or directly from cruise lines Brochures from the travel and tourism departments of different destinations

Online resources for cruise reviews - in addition to the reviews here at LoveToKnow Cruises - include:

Types of Cruise Reviews

There are several types of reviews available, and passengers should investigate different reviews before reserving their cruise. Before taking reviews as truth, however, it is important to recognize that the review's author may have a specific agenda when crafting the review.

Cruise line representatives will naturally craft glowing reviews and profiles to entice passengers to choose their company. These reviews will highlight the newest and best features but may avoid mentioning unremarkable or commonplace features. Editor reviews may be sponsored by the cruise line or they may be independently arranged. In general, editorial reviews are not affiliated with the cruise line and readers can expect fairly unbiased reviews encompassing a wide range of features and amenities. Passenger reviews are written by fellow cruisers, but often may reflect either the positive or negative aspects of a cruise as the passenger wants to convey their experience. Furthermore, passenger cruise reviews are limited to the experiences of one person and what they found appealing, which may not coincide with what readers are interested in.

Cruise Lines

Cruise line reviews offer an overview of the philosophies and history of a particular cruise line. For example, a review of the Cunard line would undoubtedly highlight the company's legendary history and commitment to traditional ocean travel, while a review of the fun-loving Carnival line would highlight the family-friendly and energetic atmosphere of the line. Because of limited space, full cruise line reviews rarely venture into details of specific ships, but features that are common to the entire fleet will be mentioned. Features of a good cruise line review:

Comparisons of ship sizes Overviews of standard amenities on all ships Brief profiles of individual ships Itinerary lists for different cruise regions Brief history of cruise line Upcoming ships or changes (optional)

Specific Ships

Ship reviews should mention entertainment.

Single ship reviews are the most common type of cruise reviews. These detailed profiles delve into every aspect of one ship: from the space and furniture of the cabins to the variety of the dining options to the quality of the onboard entertainment. The ship's décor, spa programs, children's programs, public areas, crew expertise, and scheduled activities will all be covered in a thorough review, with particular emphasis on what makes this ship unique and desirable.

Features of a good cruise ship review:

Ship specifications including size, number of cabins, etc. Details on features and amenities, both general ones for the line and those specific to the ship Descriptions of different dining and entertainment options including extra charges if applicable Pictures of the ship if available List of ship-specific itinerary options

Destinations

Destination reviews focus not on the ship itself, but on the port of call it is scheduled to visit. Basic details about local language, currency, and customs provide background information, and descriptions of popular attractions and events help passengers choose what sites they would prefer to explore. Destination cruise reviews may also include descriptions of frequently available shore excursions offered by multiple cruise lines. Features of a good destination review:

Brief historical and cultural information Essential details about currency, language, climate, and other vital information Calendar of important holidays and celebrations Overview of popular sites and attractions, including visiting hours and prices Dining and entertainment information with contact details if available

Itineraries

An itinerary review covers multiple destinations that are commonly grouped together by different cruise lines. Multiple Alaskan ports of call may be reviewed together, for example, or several Hawaiian ports of call can be combined for passengers' convenience. These extensive reviews give passengers detailed information on several ports in one location so they can develop an overview of their entire cruise rather than just one part of it. Features of a good itinerary review:

Brief overviews of all included destinations Recommendations for best times to visit List of ships or cruise lines that frequent this itinerary

Why Read Reviews?

Many experienced travelers avoid reviews altogether, preferring instead to simply enjoy their vacation no matter what may occur. While that laid-back style may seem perfect for a cruise, it is important to remember that cruises are far different from land-based vacations. If you arrive at a hotel and find it smaller than expected with fewer amenities, you can usually adjust your plans and relocate to a different hotel. If one attraction doesn't live up to your expectations, you can choose somewhere else to go with minimal inconvenience.

On a cruise, however, passengers are bound by the ship and itinerary they choose long before their vacation. Studying reviews can help both novice and experienced cruisers learn about their options and what to expect once they are on board.

Cruise Reviews

Read and write cruise reviews and cruise ratings, learning the opinions of other cruisers!

We know that our customers want to learn as much as they can about the cruises they're considering. Because of this we've began to ask you, our customers (and potential customers), to submit your cruise reviews and cruise ratings of your past vacations. We want to know everything! How was the ship? What did you do on board? Was the food good? Whatever you want to tell us about the cruise, good or bad, please let us know. If your cruise review is well written and covers all aspects of the cruise we'll post it on our web site to help other cruisers out in their hunt for the best cruise vacation possible.

The cruise ship ratings and cruise reviews shown below are compiled from a number of criteria including passenger reviews,

and are the opinion of the editors.

Each ship is evaluated objectively. Some ships you may feel deserve a higher or lower rating depending upon your own experience. We find the best guide are past passengers themselves.

3. Travel & Leisure's "World Best " Cruise Lines

4. Conde'Nast Traveler Magazine featured their readers ratings of the 70 best ships.