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Trip Bacon
What This Creator Said
Creator RecommendsShip Comparison🥈Expert Creator
Other · 95 nightsVeteran Cruiser

Source: Our analysis of the creator's lived experience, based on what they said in this video.

Creator's Key Takeaways

We've taken almost 60 cruises, and in 2025, we took nine cruises for 95 nights at sea.

The Oceania Vista, one of the newest ships, is just gorgeous. It's contemporary and very timeless design. Really beautiful.

We had an amazing time. The food was great. We loved the ports. We loved the service. And it was just an amazing experience.

We were pleasantly surprised with the ship despite being older. The cruise was during Golden Week, which was a Japan holiday, and it was a very festive experience.

Creator's Tips & Advice

Book it on board to get extra deals and stack perks with your travel advisor.
Try the herring trio for breakfast on Viking ships; it's surprisingly good.

Questions This Creator Answers

QWhich cruise ships were the best and worst in 2025?
QWhat are the key categories to consider when choosing a cruise?
QHow does ship size impact the cruising experience?

Topics Covered

Dining Buffet4½ Happy BaconEntertainment Shows4½ Happy BaconDining Main4 Happy BaconLoyalty Program4 Happy BaconWifi Connectivity3 Happy BaconItinerary Route4 Happy BaconDining Specialty4½ Happy BaconShip Condition4½ Happy Bacon

Port Highlights

Azores1½ Sad Bacon
Barcelona2½ Happy Bacon
CocoCay4½ Happy Bacon
Top: Perfect Day at CocoCay
How to read the Trip Bacon Score
Happy Bacon — creators loved this aspect
Sad Bacon — creators took issue with this
Meh — no strong opinion either way

Scale: 0–5 strips in half-step increments. 0 = “meh”, 5 = “bacon bliss”. Aggregated from creator-review sentiment, weighted by channel expertise.

About our Bacon Score methodology
YouTube Video Description

We spent 95 nights at sea in 2025, sailing multiple cruise lines so you don’t have to gamble your vacation money. In this honest ranking, we compare the BEST vs WORST cruise experiences of our year and share exactly which ships we would (and would not) sail again. If you’re planning a cruise for 2026 and wondering which line offers the best value, food, and comfort, this video is for you. We break down the "real" experience—beyond the brochures—covering the dining, cabin comfort, service, entertainment, and crowd levels on each ship. In this video ranking: The Disappointments: Which highly-rated ship let us down? The Surprises: The budget-friendly option that beat the luxury line. The Verdict: Our absolute #1 pick for 2025. Need help booking your next cruise? We can personally help you: https://www.digitalroamads.com/cruising Check out our complete reviews of several of the cruises mentioned in the video: Azamara Journey: https://youtu.be/wA9xwX_fcTU Oceania Vista: https://youtu.be/minXkwntSAc Celebrity Apex: https://youtu.be/SVHhOIkQFQc Diamond Princess: https://youtu.be/EokxvvcRmj4 Allure of the Seas: https://youtu.be/Nhpn-C3CHW8 Chapters Timeline: 0:00 - 95 Nights at Sea: Ranking Every Ship 0:27 - Oceania Vista Review (Panama Canal) 1:19 - Celebrity Apex Review (Transatlantic) 1:59 - Diamond Princess Review (Japan) 2:46 - Ovation of the Seas Review (Transpacific) 4:10 - Celebrity Beyond Review (Caribbean) 4:39 - Celebrity Reflection Review (Short Cruise) 5:37 - Azamara Journey Review (Europe) 6:27 - Allure of the Seas Review (Transatlantic) 7:34 - Viking Vela Review (Mediterranean) 8:01 - The Ranking: 2025 By the Numbers 8:18 - 🏆 The BEST Cruise Ship of 2025 (Winner) 9:29 - ⚠️ The WORST Cruise Experience of 2025 10:18 - Best vs Worst Food & Dining 13:03 - Best Cabin Design & Comfort 13:56 - Mega Ships vs Small Ships: The Truth 14:43 - Best Cruise Ship WiFi (Speed Test) 15:21 - Best Entertainment at Sea 16:04 - Biggest Surprises (Hidden Gems) 16:45 - Best Value Cruises & Tips for 2026 17:56 - Final Verdict: What We Booked Next ABOUT US: We’re Mark and Monica! We are midlife digital nomads sharing honest cruise vlogs, ship tours, and travel tips. We help travelers over 55 travel smarter, find better value, and avoid expensive mistakes. Subscribe to see the world with us! #cruisereview #bestcruiselines #cruisetips #cruisevlog #digitalroamads