Editorial Standards

Two rules govern every story we publish. They are the foundation of the reader trust that makes the brief worth reading.

Rule 1 — Verified, sourced, gated

Every story is verified against multiple independent sources, attributed by name, and passes a quality gate before send. Confirmed news is labeled as confirmed; chatter and signals are labeled as signals. Story selection prioritizes accuracy and reader value over volume or speed.

Rule 2 — No cruise line advertising

To protect the integrity of our reporting, we accept no cruise line sponsoring or advertising. This includes parent groups, subsidiaries, affiliates, marketing arms, and the operator’s own employer. It extends to research products as well: cruise lines cannot commission Soundings, license research reports, or influence editorial in any form.