Ultimate Cruise Line Guide
Are you dreaming of setting sail on a luxurious cruise, exploring exotic destinations, and immersing yourself in a world of relaxation and adventure? If so, then you've come to the right place.
This comprehensive guide will provide you with all the information you need to choose the perfect cruise line and plan your dream voyage.
Journey Through the Pages
Match Your Vacation to Your Vibe
Match Your Vacation to Your Vibe
No matter who you're travelling with or what your travel style is, there's a cruise out there for you. From family-friendly ships packed with water slides and kids' clubs to luxurious, all-inclusive journeys designed for relaxation and romance, this section will help you find the perfect cruise experience to match your needs and interests.
for families with young children
- Royal Caribbean: Known for its large, activity-packed ships with thrilling attractions like water slides, rock climbing walls, and surf simulators, as well as Broadway-style shows.
- Disney Cruise Line: A premium option with a focus on immersive, themed experiences, including character encounters, Broadway-style shows, and a unique rotational dining system.
- Carnival Cruise Line: A budget-friendly, casual, and lively "Fun Ship" line that offers a party atmosphere, extensive water parks, and a variety of comedy shows and casual dining options.
for families with teenagers
- Royal Caribbean: Again, the sheer number of activities makes this a good choice. They often have teen clubs and dedicated spaces. You can also enjoy Broadway-calibre shows like Mamma Mia! and We Will Rock You on select Royal Caribbean cruises.
- Norwegian Cruise Line: Offers flexible dining options and a more relaxed atmosphere, which can appeal to teens. You can also enjoy Broadway-calibre shows like Choir of Man and Jersey Boys on select NCL cruises.
- MSC: Offering thrilling water parks, high-tech simulators, and engaging entertainment options, MSC Cruises keeps teens entertained throughout their voyage.
for couples & romance
- Princess Cruises: Known for its romantic, elegant, and refined atmosphere, Princess Cruises offers a traditional cruise experience with a variety of dining options, from casual to fine dining, and entertainment, including Broadway-style shows. Its "Love Boat" heritage is reflected in its focus on romance with packages for weddings, honeymoons, and vow renewals, as well as features like "Ultimate Balcony Dining."
- Celebrity Cruises: This line provides a modern and sophisticated experience, emphasising exceptional dining crafted by Michelin-starred chefs and a vast wine collection. It is also known for its enrichment programs, which include onboard lectures, art classes, and wine-tasting workshops.
- Virgin Voyages: An adults-only cruise line, Virgin Voyages offers a "Rebellious Luxe" atmosphere with a focus on wellness, unique dining experiences, and immersive entertainment. The line replaces traditional buffets and main dining rooms with over 20 included speciality eateries, and their entertainment includes innovative shows and themed parties. All gratuities, basic drinks, and Wi-Fi are included in the fare.
for luxury travellers
- Regent Seven Seas Cruises: Offers a fully all-inclusive luxury experience with every fare covering unlimited shore excursions, gourmet dining, premium drinks, gratuities, and Wi-Fi.
- Oceania Cruises: Focuses on "The Finest Cuisine at Sea" and destination immersion, with fares including all specialty dining, but other amenities like drinks and shore excursions are often a choice of perk.
- Silversea Cruises: Provides an intimate, all-inclusive luxury experience on small ships, featuring butler service for every suite, gourmet dining, and complimentary beverages and gratuities.
for adventurers
- Lindblad Expeditions: Focuses on educational, immersive expeditions with National Geographic experts, offering all-inclusive fares that cover activities, gourmet meals, and basic Wi-Fi.
- Hurtigruten: Specialises in expeditions to remote areas and the Norwegian coast, emphasising sustainability and an informal, educational onboard experience led by an expert Expedition Team.
- Poseidon Expeditions: Concentrates on thrilling, authentic polar adventures with a focus on expertise in ice navigation and using ice-strengthened vessels. The experience is more functional and focused on the destination than on luxury amenities.
for budget-minded travellers
- Carnival Cruise Line: A budget-friendly "Fun Ship" that offers a wide range of activities and a lively, casual atmosphere, making it ideal for families and groups.
- Marella Cruises: A value-focused, all-inclusive British cruise line with a relaxed atmosphere that includes flights, luggage, and tips in its fare.
- MSC: A modern, family-friendly European cruise line that provides competitive fares and a tiered "Experiences" system, from standard to luxury, on a fleet with diverse entertainment and dining options.
for those riding solo
- Norwegian Cruise Line: Known for pioneering solo-specific accommodations, Norwegian offers "studio" cabins designed and priced for one person. Many of these cabins also come with access to a dedicated "Studio Lounge," a private area for solo travelers to mingle and socialise.
- Virgin Voyages: This adults-only cruise line is highly recommended for solo travelers who want a vibrant, social atmosphere. They have a large number of solo cabins and their onboard app, "Sailor Social," is designed to help solo travelers connect with each other. They also host specific meet-ups and events for solo cruisers.
- Celebrity Cruises: A more upscale option, Celebrity Cruises has added single staterooms to many of its newer ships. They host special social events and mixers for solo travelers, and their onboard atmosphere is conducive to meeting new people. They also have single cabins with balconies, a rare feature for solo travellers.
- Holland America Line: Known for its welcoming environment, Holland America has a "Single Partners Program" on many voyages, which organises events and dining arrangements for solo guests to meet one another. They also offer a limited number of ocean-view solo cabins on some of their ships.
for mature travellers
- Viking Cruises: As an adults-only cruise line (18+), Viking is known for its serene, no-casino, no-children, and no-nickel-and-diming philosophy. The focus is on cultural enrichment with included shore excursions in every port, onboard lectures by experts, and destination-specific entertainment. The atmosphere is quiet, and the ships are elegant and modern.
- Holland America Line: With a long history of traditional cruising, Holland America offers a classic, mid-sized ship experience. The line is popular for its excellent service, diverse itineraries (including long "Grand Voyages"), and a wide array of onboard activities like cooking demonstrations, live classical music, and ballroom dance classes.
- Cunard Line: This line is celebrated for its timeless elegance and a sense of occasion. Cunard offers a very traditional cruise experience with structured days, afternoon tea, formal nights, and ballroom dancing. Their ships have well-equipped medical centres and a robust program of guest lecturers and celebrity speakers, which is appealing to those who appreciate a more classic and refined journey.
- Saga Cruises: Exclusively for guests aged 50 and over, Saga offers all-inclusive, no-fly cruises from the UK. The experience is designed to be a hassle-free and social environment, with a high number of solo cabins and a focus on wellness and well-being.
for all the party people
- Carnival Cruise Line: Known for its lively atmosphere, Carnival offers a fun-filled, party-like environment. With vibrant entertainment, lively bars, and a young and energetic crowd, the line is a popular choice for those seeking a festive cruise experience.
- Marella Cruises: Marella Cruises offers a variety of entertainment options, including West End-style shows, live music, themed parties, and quizzes. Their ships often feature dedicated nightclubs like "The Electric Rooms," with LED dance floors. Marella is known for being relaxed and all-inclusive, and some specialty "Electric Sunsets" cruises are specifically designed for party-goers with big-name DJs and a festival-like atmosphere.
- Virgin Voyages: Virgin Voyages offers a vibrant, adults-only atmosphere with a focus on high-energy nightlife. They have curated nightlife, immersive entertainment, and a focus on social connection, making it ideal for party-goers seeking a chic and energetic cruise experience. Virgin has unique offerings like a tattoo parlor, karaoke booths, and an outdoor boxing gym. Their parties, such as the famous Scarlet Night, are known for being immersive and untraditional.
no kids allowed
- Virgin Voyages: This is an adult-by-design cruise line where all guests must be 18 or older. They are known for a high-energy, modern atmosphere with a focus on wellness, unique entertainment (including a tattoo parlour and drag queen brunches), and a wide variety of included dining options from Michelin-starred chefs.
- Viking Cruises: Viking's ocean, river, and expedition cruises are all exclusively for guests 18 and over. They are often described as being for the "thinking person" due to their focus on destination-rich itineraries, included shore excursions, and onboard lectures. The atmosphere is sophisticated and quiet.
- Ambassador Cruise Line: This British cruise line focuses on adult-only voyages. Their ships are designed for a relaxed and peaceful experience, with West-End calibre shows and a focus on indulgent dining. They do offer a few "multi-generational" cruises a year for families, so it's important to check the specific itinerary.
- Saga Cruises: Exclusively for guests over the age of 50, Saga Cruises offers a small-ship, all-balcony experience that feels more like a floating boutique hotel. Their cruises are all-inclusive and cater to a mature audience.
All-Inclusive Cruising
- Regent Seven Seas Cruises: Often cited as the most all-inclusive luxury line, it includes airfare, shore excursions in every port, speciality dining, beverages, and Wi-Fi.
- Viking Cruises: Known for its "thinking person's cruise," Viking includes a complimentary shore excursion in every port, all meals in the main restaurants, beer and wine with lunch and dinner, and Wi-Fi. It is an adults-only line.
- Silversea Cruises: Includes butler service for all guests, gratuities, beverages, and at least one shore excursion in every port.
- Marella Cruises: Offers all-inclusive cruises that generally cover flights, transfers, meals, a standard drinks package, gratuities, and onboard entertainment.
- Virgin Voyages: An adults-only line, it has a unique "Always Included Luxury" model that bundles all food from its 20+ eateries, gratuities, basic drinks, and Wi-Fi into the base fare.
for travellers with accessibility or additional needs
- Royal Caribbean: Often cited as a leader in accessibility, Royal Caribbean has a dedicated Access Department and offers a wide range of features. Their newer ships, like the Oasis-class vessels, have a high number of accessible staterooms with features like wider doors, roll-in showers, and a 5-foot turning radius. They also cater to guests with cognitive, intellectual, and developmental disabilities with autism-friendly programs and staff training. Their private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay, is also designed to be fully accessible.
- Celebrity Cruises: A part of the Royal Caribbean Group, Celebrity is known for its focus on both sensory accessibility and mobility. They have Braille signage, accessible lifts, and staterooms with features for those with visual, hearing, and mobility disabilities. They also provide services like sign language interpreters on select cruises and cater to guests with developmental disabilities.
- Princess Cruises: Princess has a long history of prioritising accessibility, with a dedicated "Princess Access" program. Their ships have barrier-free designs, including wide corridors and accessible bathrooms. They offer priority embarkation and have an accessibility team that assists with shore excursions.
- Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL): They are committed to inclusivity with ADA-compliant cabins and accessible dining areas. They also have a history of working with "special needs passengers" and have trained staff.
for young adults
- Virgin Voyages: This is an adults-only cruise line with a modern, high-energy atmosphere that focuses on parties and entertainment. They also have a mobile app to help passengers connect with each other.
- Norwegian Cruise Line: Known for their "Freestyle Cruising" concept, which offers flexible dining and a wide range of activities. They also offer special "studio" cabins designed for solo travellers.
- Royal Caribbean International: This line is popular with active young adults due to its adventure-focused amenities like surf simulators, rock climbing walls, and zip lines. They also have a lot of nightlife and entertainment options.
- Carnival Cruise Line: Often referred to as "Fun Ships," Carnival is known for its festive and social atmosphere and is generally an affordable option.