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I Waited 8 Years To Try My First Luxury Cruise

Emma Cruises
Emma Cruises
🏅Authority
👁️ 617K views📅 4 months ago⏱️ 29:12

Key Moments

Editorial Summary

The creator details their transition from budget mainstream cruise lines to a luxury experience aboard the Viking Star. After waiting eight years to afford a Viking cruise, the creator booked a seven night Mediterranean itinerary during the 2025 New Year period. The video explores various aspects of luxury travel, including the differences in ship size, service standards, and onboard amenities. The creator highlights specific touches such as included drinks, specialty dining, and the absence of casinos or aggressive sales tactics. Throughout the journey, the creator evaluates the value of the experience, noting that the inclusive nature of the fare covered flights, transfers, gratuities, and spa access. While encountering minor issues like a broken cabin toilet, the creator concludes that the cruise provided an unexpectedly high level of relaxation and quality. The experience ultimately changed the creator's perception of cruising, proving that the luxury amenities justified the higher price point compared to their previous travel habits.

Written by TripBacon from this video's transcript.

How This Review Compares

This review's score for Viking Cruise Lines
Bacon Bliss
All-time creator consensus for Viking Cruise Lines
A Nibble

This review is more positive than the all-time creator consensus.

What This Creator Said
Creator RecommendsFull Ship Review🏅Authority Creator
👶 Best for Family (Young Kids)Mediterranean · Winter · 7 nightsFrom RomeVeteran Cruiser

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

Creator's Key Takeaways

I've just disembarked a luxury five-star cruise which has changed the way I think about cruising forever.

I usually cruise with the budget or mainstream cruise lines, normally in the cheapest inside or ocean view cabins to keep the cost as low as possible.

It was an unanswered question for me. I just couldn't let it go, though.

The quality of the food was really, really good. It was hot, fresh, and there was loads of variety.

Creator's Tips & Advice

Be flexible with dates and destinations to find the best price on a luxury cruise.
Book the cheapest cabin if you just want to be on board, as it still offers great value.
Take advantage of included excursions and specialty restaurants to maximize the experience.

🆕New to Cruising? This Creator Addresses:

Strict dress codesFound them far more relaxed than on mainstream cruise lines; just wear a shirt with a collar or a dress.
Feeling out of place with other guestsOther guests were friendly and relaxed; didn't feel out of place at all.
Boredom on a luxury cruiseFound it relaxing and enjoyed entertaining myself; didn't find it boring.

Questions This Creator Answers

QWhat is it like to cruise on a luxury line after years of budget cruising?
QIs a Viking cruise worth the higher price compared to mainstream lines?
QWhat are the differences in service, amenities, and atmosphere on a small luxury ship?

Topics Covered

Pool Deck4½ Happy BaconShip Condition4 Happy BaconEntertainment Shows3½ Happy BaconEntertainment Activities3½ Happy BaconValue Pricing4½ Happy BaconService Crew4 Happy BaconDining Specialty4 Happy BaconDining Buffet4½ Happy Bacon

Port Highlights

France4 Happy Bacon
Top: walking tour
La Spezia4 Happy Bacon
Pisa4 Happy Bacon
Top: Pisa excursion
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

Video content sourced from the creator's original upload. Watch on YouTube