Honest cruise coverage, written by editors who actually sail.
My Cruise Checklist is an independent editorial publication covering the major mainstream and premium-mainstream cruise lines. The site publishes ship reviews and planning guides for travelers who want a real signal in the noise — not affiliate-driven rankings or marketing copy.
How reviews are written
Every review on this site is written after an editor has personally sailed the ship being reviewed, in a cabin paid for at the same publicly available rates anyone else would pay. The editorial team does not accept hosted reviews, sponsored upgrades, or media-rate cabins. Any future exception will be disclosed at the top of the review.
Reviews use a 5-point scale across seven dimensions: dining, cabins, entertainment, service, itinerary, value, and an overall score that is a weighted average of the others. Scores are not graded on a curve — a 4.0 is a recommendation, a 4.5 is enthusiastic, and a 3.5 is “fine for the right person.”
Independence
My Cruise Checklist does not take affiliate commissions on cruise bookings, sell sponsored reviews, or run display ads from the cruise lines it covers. The site is supported by readers and by a small set of relevant, non-cruise-industry sponsors disclosed in the footer.
When the editorial team recommends a travel agent, hotel, or service, the recommendation is made without compensation and with a clear note about why it is the right pick.
The editorial team
My Cruise Checklist is run by a small editorial team based in the United States. The team has cumulative cruise experience across every major mainstream and premium-mainstream line, including ships and itineraries the team would not book again — context that informs the reviews and planning guides published here.
Contact
For tips, corrections, or to suggest a ship to review next, email contact@mycruisechecklist.com. Every message is read.