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Optimal Cruising

Optimal Cruising

πŸ₯ˆExpert Creator
427 Cruise Videos on Trip Bacon450 Total Videos on YouTube21K subscribers

Optimal Cruising description on YouTube:

We are the cruise insider protection channel. Get all of the insider information you need to avoid mistakes, save money, and be the best prepared on your next cruise. We will take you inside cruising with our actual footage from the cruises we've been on. See the truth about different cruise lines and cruise ships. Know before you go and have your best vacation yet. Social Media Facebook @optimalcruising https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575731649658 Instagram @optimal_cruising https://www.instagram.com/optimal_cruising #cruisetips #cruise #cruisemistakes #cruiseship #cruisedeals

Catalogue CoverageDeep coverage
Deep coverage Β· Optimal Cruising

We’ve analysed 427 of 450 videos so far.

Published
427
analysed and live on Trip Bacon
On YouTube
450
total catalogue
Catalogue coverage95%

Comprehensive read on Optimal Cruising's catalogue. The signal below is well-grounded.

Annual Activity
Optimal Cruising’s output Β· year over year

How cruise-focused are they, and how much of it have we analysed?

YearDiscoveredCruise Coverage(cruise-related Γ· discovered)Trip Bacon Coverage(analysed Γ· cruise-related)
  1. 2026
    95
  2. 2025
    208
  3. 2024
    124
Heat scale
0% β†’ 100%β€œDiscovered” = videos we’ve found for this channel, not necessarily on the site yet.
Live Reviews

What Creators Are Saying About Optimal Cruising

Topic-by-topic creator consensus

Every topic scored on the Trip Bacon Score β€” 0 to 5. More bacon, more love.

Strongest Praise
Suites
7 mentions
Biggest Critique
Casino
33 mentions

Dining

Main Dining
Solid Strip63 video mentions
Top
Specialty Dining
A Nibble41 video mentions
Buffet
A Nibble43 video mentions
Room Service
A Nibble26 video mentions

Cabins

Interior Cabins
Barely Crispy79 video mentions
Balcony Cabins
No strong opinion68 video mentions
Suites
Solid Strip7 video mentions
Top

Entertainment

Shows
Barely Crispy14 video mentions
Nightlife
Barely Crispy11 video mentions
Casino
No strong opinion33 video mentions
Low
Activities
Solid Strip23 video mentions
Top

Deck & Recreation

Pool Deck
Barely Crispy88 video mentions
Water Park
A Nibble16 video mentions
Kids & Family
A Nibble56 video mentions
Spa & Fitness
A Nibble25 video mentions

Ship & Crew

Ship Condition
A Nibble60 video mentions
Embarkation
Barely Crispy112 video mentions
Crew & Service
Barely Crispy168 video mentions

Value & Logistics

Booking
A Nibble233 video mentions
Value
Barely Crispy438 video mentions
Excursions
No strong opinion95 video mentions
Low
Wi-Fi
No strong opinion40 video mentions
Low
Loyalty Program
Barely Crispy34 video mentions
How to read the Trip Bacon Score
Happy Bacon β€” creators loved this aspect
Sad Bacon β€” creators took issue with this
Meh β€” no strong opinion either way

Scale: 0–5 strips in half-step increments. 0 = β€œmeh”, 5 = β€œbacon bliss”. Aggregated from creator-review sentiment, weighted by channel expertise.

About our Bacon Score methodology

Who’s this ship for?

How the ship rates with different travel parties.

Solo Travelers
55%
Solid choice
Couples
77%
Great fit
Best Match
Families (Young Kids)
85%
Loved

Consensus Seals

Auto-awarded when creators consistently praise specific aspects of this ship.

Family Tested
Loved by families with kids

What Creators Are Saying

Selected quotes from our creator panel.

The Good

β€œAnd on a brand new ship, you can get a one-week cruise for $619 a person. That is almost unbelievable.”

πŸ₯ˆExpertOptimal Cruising

β€œYou can't find this price for a 1-week cruise on the World Europa when it gets to the Mediterranean.”

πŸ₯ˆExpertOptimal Cruising

β€œNow, I'm looking here at the Norwegian Jade, which does a continuous 7-night cruise up and down Alaska's coast. Most of the remaining dates of this season are priced in the $300 range, about $339 per person for a 7-night, mind you, Alaska cruise.”

πŸ₯ˆExpertOptimal Cruising

β€œThis is an unheard of price on Princess in the middle of summer departing on August 8th.”

πŸ₯ˆExpertOptimal Cruising

β€œThis deal is just too good to be true.”

πŸ₯ˆExpertOptimal Cruising
The Watch-outs

β€œThe biggest rip-off on a cruise ship is not the drink package or the Wi-Fi. It's the things they give you for free because those free giveaways are designed to open your wallet before you even realize you're spending.”

πŸ₯ˆExpertOptimal Cruising

β€œThe cruise lines all-inclusive promise is a lie.”

πŸ₯ˆExpertOptimal Cruising

β€œThere's nothing worse than hearing that bass beat on late into the night when you're trying to sleep.”

πŸ₯ˆExpertOptimal Cruising

β€œYou will hear the annoying sound of scraping deck chairs late into the evening and very early in the morning.”

πŸ₯ˆExpertOptimal Cruising

β€œCarnival is making a lot of changes and cuts that seem to be taking the fun out of cruising.”

πŸ₯ˆExpertOptimal Cruising

Pro Tips From Creators

The most-shared advice for Optimal Cruising.

  1. Check your onboard account daily to catch billing errors early.

  2. Ask crew members for local Wi-Fi hotspots at ports of call to save money.

  3. Aim to return to the ship at least one hour before the all-aboard time.

  4. Go directly to the specific department (e.g., restaurant manager) rather than relying solely on Guest Services for everything.

  5. Consider the cost of one-way international flights when booking repositioning cruises.

  6. Watch out for 'boredom spending' during long stretches of sea days.

  7. First-time cruisers should avoid repositioning cruises with many sea days to better test their sea legs.

  8. Look for repositioning cruises that start and end in North America to save on airfare costs.

Videos (427)

Older Cruise Ships vs Mega Ships (Why You’re Probably Wrong)8:57Tips

Older Cruise Ships vs Mega Ships (Why You’re Probably Wrong)

πŸ₯ˆ Β· 2K views Β· 7 months ago
Positive
Royal Caribbean Group logo
Royal Caribbean Group
Royal Caribbean Group logo
Radiance of the Seas
Royal Caribbean Group logo
Star of the Seas
5 Things You Can Do Without a Balcony Cabin0:55Tips

5 Things You Can Do Without a Balcony Cabin

πŸ₯ˆ Β· 2K views Β· 7 months ago
Highly Positive
Interior vs Balconyβ€” Which Cruise Cabin is Best for YOU?14:38Tips

Interior vs Balconyβ€” Which Cruise Cabin is Best for YOU?

πŸ₯ˆ Β· 2K views Β· 7 months ago
Highly Positive
5 Cruise Ship Casino Secrets0:51Tips

5 Cruise Ship Casino Secrets

πŸ₯ˆ Β· 8K views Β· 7 months ago
Mixed
10 Things Cruisers LOVE or HATE About MSC Ocean Cay15:24Review

10 Things Cruisers LOVE or HATE About MSC Ocean Cay

πŸ₯ˆ Β· 9K views Β· 7 months ago
Positive
MSC Cruises USA logo
MSC Cruises USA
My 3 Favorite Things To Do From Cozumel Cruise Port1:10Tips

My 3 Favorite Things To Do From Cozumel Cruise Port

πŸ₯ˆ Β· 8K views Β· 7 months ago
Highly Positive
9 Major Cruise Line Changes They Hope You Don't Notice in 202614:28Tips

9 Major Cruise Line Changes They Hope You Don't Notice in 2026

πŸ₯ˆ Β· 4K views Β· 7 months ago
Positive
Virgin Voyages logo
Virgin Voyages
Royal Caribbean Group logo
Royal Caribbean Group
Celebrity Cruises logo
Celebrity Cruises
Cruising Florence? 5 Things You'll Regret Missing2:06Tips

Cruising Florence? 5 Things You'll Regret Missing

πŸ₯ˆ Β· 2K views Β· 7 months ago
Highly Positive
11 Adult Cruise Tips Others Don't Share13:20Tips

11 Adult Cruise Tips Others Don't Share

πŸ₯ˆ Β· 1K views Β· 7 months ago
Highly Positive
Older Cruise Ships vs New Mega-Ships (You're Probably Wrong)1:05Compare

Older Cruise Ships vs New Mega-Ships (You're Probably Wrong)

πŸ₯ˆ Β· 10K views Β· 7 months ago
Highly Positive
Royal Caribbean Group logo
Royal Caribbean Group
Royal Caribbean Group logo
Oasis of the Seas
Stop! Don't Book a Cruise in 2026 Until You Watch This14:39Tips

Stop! Don't Book a Cruise in 2026 Until You Watch This

πŸ₯ˆ Β· 13K views Β· 7 months ago
Very Critical
Royal Caribbean Group logo
Royal Caribbean Group
5 Cruise Ship Bartender Secrets1:05Tips

5 Cruise Ship Bartender Secrets

πŸ₯ˆ Β· 5K views Β· 7 months ago
Highly Positive
5 Reasons to Book an Interior Cabin and One Reason Not To9:14Tips

5 Reasons to Book an Interior Cabin and One Reason Not To

πŸ₯ˆ Β· 3K views Β· 7 months ago
Highly Positive
MSC Cruises USA logo
MSC Cruises USA
MSC Cruises USA logo
MSC World America
Best First Time Cruise Tips0:53Tips

Best First Time Cruise Tips

πŸ₯ˆ Β· 7K views Β· 7 months ago
Highly Positive
The 7 Cruise Hacks Everyone Should Use Before Booking15:44Tips

The 7 Cruise Hacks Everyone Should Use Before Booking

πŸ₯ˆ Β· 884 views Β· 7 months ago
Highly Positive
MSC Cruises USA logo
MSC Cruises USA
5 Cruise Ship Activities For Adults Only1:04Tips

5 Cruise Ship Activities For Adults Only

πŸ₯ˆ Β· 6K views Β· 7 months ago
Positive
7 Cruise Cabin Essentials I Actually Use Every Time11:13Tips

7 Cruise Cabin Essentials I Actually Use Every Time

πŸ₯ˆ Β· 2K views Β· 8 months ago
Highly Positive
5 Obscure Must Pack Cruise Items1:16Tips

5 Obscure Must Pack Cruise Items

πŸ₯ˆ Β· 2K views Β· 8 months ago
Highly Positive
5 Reasons Cruise Lines are Denying Boarding to More Passengers10:32Tips

5 Reasons Cruise Lines are Denying Boarding to More Passengers

πŸ₯ˆ Β· 103K views Β· 8 months ago
Positive
Princess Cruises logo
Princess Cruises
5 Questions for Cruise Ship Bartenders1:23Tips

5 Questions for Cruise Ship Bartenders

πŸ₯ˆ Β· 4K views Β· 8 months ago
Highly Positive
10 Things Nobody Tells You About Repositioning Cruises17:48Tips

10 Things Nobody Tells You About Repositioning Cruises

πŸ₯ˆ Β· 286K views Β· 8 months ago
Highly Positive
5 Truths About Cruise Swingers1:20Tips

5 Truths About Cruise Swingers

πŸ₯ˆ Β· 591 views Β· 8 months ago
Mixed
5 Tricks to Getting the Best Cyber Monday Cruise Deals8:24Tips

5 Tricks to Getting the Best Cyber Monday Cruise Deals

πŸ₯ˆ Β· 1K views Β· 8 months ago
Highly Positive
MSC Cruises USA logo
MSC Cruises USA
Royal Caribbean Group logo
Royal Caribbean Group
Carnival Cruise Line logo
Carnival Cruise Line
+1 more
5 Ways To Avoid Cruise Ship Chaos1:03Tips

5 Ways To Avoid Cruise Ship Chaos

πŸ₯ˆ Β· 5K views Β· 8 months ago
Positive