Cruise Polls: What Every Cruise Survey Really Says
Real, cited survey results — never invented polls — and plain guides to the choices cruisers argue about.
Get Free Cruise QuotesThe Cruise Survey, From Both Sides
A cruise survey works in two directions. After you sail, the cruise line asks what you thought. Before you book, independent researchers ask thousands of cruisers the same kind of questions and publish what they hear. Cruise Polls brings both sides together, so you can read the results with a clear head and fill in your own survey in a way that actually helps.
We keep one rule on this site: no made-up numbers. There are no “reader polls” here, no invented percentages and no secret rankings. When we quote a result, we name the study, the year and the source, and we link to it. Where the published research runs out, we switch to plainly labelled decision guides — the “this or that” questions cruisers ask us every week — written the way our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise would talk them through.
What This Site Covers
Cruise survey questions
What the post-cruise questionnaire usually asks about, how the scoring scale is read, and how to answer fairly.
The Carnival cruise survey
Why not every Carnival guest receives one, what replaced the paper comment card, and other ways to be heard.
Published ratings
Consumer Reports’ 2026 cruise ratings, the older J.D. Power study and CLIA’s traveller research, each cited.
Balcony vs inside cabin
A this-or-that guide to the most common cabin question, with no fake vote attached.
Caribbean vs Alaska
Two very different first choices compared on season, pace, clothing, ports and what each costs you in planning.
What the Big Published Studies Say, in Brief
| Study | Who was asked | Headline finding |
|---|---|---|
| Consumer Reports, January 2026 | 18,850 CR members about their latest ocean cruise in the previous 36 months; 19 lines rated | Three lines earned CR’s Recommended status; small-ship and expedition lines did best |
| CLIA State of the Cruise Industry, April 2026 | CLIA’s traveller and advisor research | 90% of past cruisers said they intend to cruise again; 63% of recent cruisers booked through a travel advisor |
| J.D. Power, 2013 (historical) | 3,003 cruisers who had sailed in the previous 12 months | Service was the biggest driver of satisfaction; Disney Cruise Line scored highest |
Each of these is explained, with its limits, on our published ratings page. Sources: Consumer Reports, Travel Market Report on CLIA 2026, Marine Log on J.D. Power 2013.
How to Use What Cruisers Say
Survey results are averages. An average tells you what most people in the sample felt, not what you will feel. A family with teenagers, a couple on a fortieth anniversary and a solo traveller on a budget can sail the same ship and come home with three honest, completely different scores.
So use the published research to build a shortlist, then narrow it down with the things only you know: your dates, your budget, how much you like sea days, whether you want a quiet ship or a lively one. Awards based on reader votes add another view — Cruise Awards explains how each program is decided — and Cruise Compares shows how to put two lines side by side.
- Check who was asked: members of a consumer group, a line’s own past guests, or travel advisors.
- Check when: ships, menus and policies change, so a ten-year-old result is history, not advice.
- Check what was scored: food and service are not the same thing as value for money.
- Check how many lines were compared: a small line can top a list on a smaller sample of guests.
Why We Built a Site About Cruise Surveys
Cruisers trust other cruisers. That is a good instinct, but it is easy to be misled by a single angry review, a sponsored “top ten” or a poll with no method behind it. We would rather show you real studies, explain what they can and cannot tell you, and then help you choose the cruise that fits you. When you are ready, our advisors will price the options you are weighing — and if you want to hear about sales first, the Mister Cruise cruise-offers newsletter and Wave Season carry current promotions.
This site is part of the Smart Traveler network, led by Mister Cruise. He has sold travel since 1972 and worked full-time in the industry since 1977. He has sold or originated more than $500 million in cruises and has trained more than 500 travel agents.
When you ask for a quote, our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise handle it personally — not a call center — and book everything for you. Meet Mister Cruise →
Cruise Polls FAQ
Does Cruise Polls run its own cruise survey?
No. We do not collect votes or publish results of our own. When this site gives a number, it comes from a named, published study, and we tell you who ran it and when.
Which cruise survey is the most useful?
For choosing a line, a large independent survey of people who paid for their own cruise — such as the one Consumer Reports published in January 2026 — is more useful than a single review. For choosing a ship and cabin, recent guest reviews of that exact ship matter more.
Do my post-cruise survey answers make a difference?
Cruise lines say they read them, and crew members named in positive comments can benefit. Specific, fair answers help far more than a page of perfect scores or a page of zeros.
Can you help me decide between two cruises?
Yes. Tell us the two options in the free quote form and our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise will lay out the differences.
More Cruise Sites From Our Network
More from our network: the Official Cruise Directory lists our cruise sites, the Official Travel Directory covers all travel, Best of the USA covers the best of America, and Be a Travel Agent is for anyone who would like to sell travel.
Weighing Up Two Cruises?
Tell our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise what you are deciding between, and we will compare the real prices and inclusions for you.
Compare My Options