Back in 2005, I launched Scott’s Cruises with a single review of a cruise I’d taken—a no-holds-barred recounting of my experience aboard a ship, from the highs to the lows. What started as a one-off post has since grown into a passion project where I’ve spent nearly two decades sharing cruise reviews, tips, and industry news in my own unique, unfiltered way.
I don’t consider myself an “influencer”—a term that’s become ubiquitous in today’s digital landscape. Instead, I’m a writer, a blogger, a wordsmith—whatever you want to call it—someone who writes about real experiences on cruises and offers advice based on what I’ve actually seen and felt, whether it’s glowing praise, scathing criticism, or just a shrug of indifference.
I’m not here to sell you on anything. I’m not paid by cruise lines, agencies, or travel companies to push their products. My goal has always been to give you the unvarnished truth about cruising, based solely on my own encounters.
So why am I writing this article today? Because I want to pull back the curtain on a little secret in (not just) the travel industry: influencers. These aren’t people sharing honest opinions—they’re carefully curated voices designed to influence you into buying something, whether it’s a new soda or a week-long cruise on a shiny new ship. And here’s the catch: they’re incentivized to tell you only the good, glossing over the bad and the ugly to keep the paychecks—or freebies—coming.
A Peek Behind the Influencer Curtain
Let me give you a real-world example. This week, I received an email from a cruise line—I won’t name names—inviting me aboard as a “travel influencer” for a three-day cruise, completely free of charge. The offer included a complimentary stateroom, dinner at one of their specialty restaurants, and even gratuities covered by the cruise line. If I wanted extras like an additional specialty dining experience or a beverage package, I’d just need to cover those myself. On the surface, it sounds like a dream gig, right? Who wouldn’t want a free cruise?
But then came the fine print—a list of conditions that made it clear this wasn’t about sharing an authentic experience. The cruise line would provide me with a list of “curated experiences onboard” that I’d be required to promote in my reviews, blog posts, and social media. They’d even supply example posts and suggested photo opportunities to “inspire” my work. I’d have a dedicated onboard contact to assist me with anything I needed—or to ensure the information I gathered aligned with their brand and guidelines. And here’s the real kicker: I’d have to agree not to disparage the cruise line or create content that could negatively impact a potential guest’s decision to sail with them. If I had a complaint or issue, I’d be required to work with my onboard contact to “resolve” it so the experience could be spun into something positive in my published work.
This wasn’t an invitation to write honestly—it was a contract to become a mouthpiece. Needless to say, I declined. That’s not how I operate, and it’s not how I’ve run Scott’s Cruises for the past 20 years.
How I Cruise and Why It Matters
When I cruise, I pay full fare like any other passenger, or it’s either at a discounted or free rate tied to my casino play—not because of my website or any “influencer” status. I don’t accept free cruises with strings attached, especially not under conditions like “you must only write what we want, and it must be positive.” That’s not what this site is about. In fact, I’ve been brutally honest about cruises I’ve taken, even those comped through casino offers, because those perks have nothing to do with my work here or my role in the online cruising community. What I do at Scott’s Cruises isn’t a business—it’s a hobby, and I’m committed to keeping my reviews 100% honest, uninfluenced by what a cruise line might offer me now or in the future.
Sometimes, I’ll be on a cruise and get flagged as an “influencer” in the ship’s system—like on a recent trip where I noticed my onboard profile had that label. When that happens, I pay close attention to whether the service or treatment I receive differs from what other passengers get, and I make note of it. If a cruise line offers me perks or a free trip because of my website, it’s always with the understanding that my writing might include complaints or criticisms—they can take it or leave it. And if I do receive any special treatment onboard due to this website, I disclose it in my reviews, along with exactly what was offered. Heck, I even make it clear when a cruise is comped through a casino offer, which—let me be clear—is entirely unrelated to influencer deals.
Influencers: Pitchmen, Not Critics
Here’s the point I’m driving at: as consumers, we need to be savvy about influencers. Their job—whether they’re paid in cash, free trips, or shiny perks—is to convince you to buy into a brand, whether that brand is stellar or subpar. Influencers aren’t objective. They’re pitchmen, often selling their souls to promote a mediocre product or experience just for the payout. I’ve seen it time and again: glowing reviews of cruises that conveniently leave out the overcrowded pools, the substandard food, or the nickel-and-diming that can sour a trip. Why? Because their free stateroom or paycheck depends on keeping things rosy.
That’s not me. My commitment to you, my readers, is simple: I’ll keep delivering unfiltered cruise reviews that call out the good, the bad, and the ugly I experience onboard. I’ll always be upfront about any perks or freebies a cruise line throws my way—whether it’s a comped meal or a discounted fare—and how they factor into my reviews or articles. Above all, my promise is honesty, something you can’t reliably get from an “influencer” whose loyalty lies with the highest bidder.
The Bottom Line
Influencers are everywhere, flooding your feeds with picture-perfect moments and glowing recommendations, but too often, those endorsements come with a hidden agenda. At Scott’s Cruises, I’m not here to influence you into booking anything—I’m here to share what I see, feel, and think, no strings attached. Whether a cruise is a dream vacation or a floating disappointment, you’ll hear it straight from me. Because at the end of the day, you deserve the truth—not a sales pitch.