cruise line satisfaction ratings

Cruise Lines Ranked From Worst to Best

Looking to make your next adventure a seafaring one? Or maybe you want an all-inclusive vacation that doesn’t require a ton of planning? We have the skinny on the world’s best and worst cruise line operators.

Generally speaking, if you’re booking a cruise, you’ll fall into one of three categories: mainstream, premium or luxury. Mainstream cruises come in all types, but they are generally the most affordable. Premium lines tend to be more laid-back and thus attract an older clientele. The food and cabins are far better on these boats, but you’ll pay more for the privilege — and the serenity. Lastly, luxury cruises will run over $400 a night, but you’ll see and feel the difference. The food will be some of the best you’ve ever had and the room may be larger than your own home.

With all this in mind, check out how each of the best-known cruise lines rank before booking your next voyage.

19. Costa Cruises

Rating: 3.2 Class: Mainstream Fleet: 18 ships Top departure points: Barcelona, Venice (Italy), Savona/Genoa (Italy), Pointe-A-Pitre (Guadeloupe), Singapore Top destinations: Asia, Africa, Middle East, Europe, transatlantic Starting price: $119/night

Note: The rating information was sourced from Cruiseline's pre-pandemic numbers; however, we've excluded any cruise lines that have since shuttered.

Bottom Line: Costa Cruises

It’s hard to forget the 2012 disaster involving a Costa Concordia that killed 32 people and left a capsized boat bobbing off the coast of Italy for over a year. Even without that accident, Costa doesn’t have the best reputation.

It mostly caters to Europeans looking to party hard at a good price. But families will find the kids' areas to their liking, including the children-sail-free promotions. Folks looking for peace and quiet best avoid these boats, and the tobacco averse among us be warned: Every bar has a designated smoking section.

Costa is known for its fun entertainment options and it was the first cruise line to offer spa cabins. 

What Customers Say About Costa Cruises

Overall rating: 3.3 Cruise: 7 Night Blue Is The Color (Rome roundtrip) Date: November 2017 Ship: Costa Pacifica Cabin type: Oceanview Traveled as: Large group

“[Whirlwind] tour of a lifetime. The ports and excursions were well worth the trip, though I would not sail this particular cruise line again. I recommend taking time after the excursion, which are usually only 4 hours or so, and touring the cities on your own to get away from the commercial aspects.” — amnayo

18. MSC Cruises

Rating: 3.3 Class: Mainstream Fleet: 19 Top departure points: Miami, Barcelona, Rio De Janeiro, Genoa (Italy), Civitavecchia (Italy) Top destinations: Transatlantic, Europe (northern, western and Mediterranean), Asia, Africa, Middle East, South America Starting price: $69/night

Bottom Line: MSC Cruises

No matter where you sail with MSC, which is based in Italy, it will have 50 to 85 percent European passengers. Regardless of nationality, folks who pick this operator are looking for a budget cruise for the whole family, as kids 3-11 are free and 12- to 17-year-olds board at reduced prices.

Passengers book "experiences," which are much different than U.S.-based cruise operators. These determine what type of cabin you occupy and any extra perks.

The ships are nice and the newest in the industry, but there is a lot more permitted smoking aboard the European cruises than those based in the U.S. Don’t expect amazing food or a party atmosphere. 

What Customers Say About MSC Cruises

Overall rating: 2.6 Cruise: 9 Night Mediterranean (Barcelona roundtrip) Date: October 2018 Ship: MSC Preziosa Cabin type: Balcony Traveled as: Couple

“We were surprised at the number of senior citizens. Unclear if it was the ship, the itinerary or the time of trip, but after 4 MSC cruises, this was the first where it felt like a retirement home." — evieward

17. Norwegian Cruise Line

Rating: 3.5 Class: Mainstream Fleet: 17 Top departure points: Miami, New York City, Seattle, Port Canaveral (Florida), Civitavecchia (Italy) Top destinations: Caribbean, Alaska (inside passage), Europe (Mediterranean) Starting price: $146/night

Bottom Line: Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian is best known for the quality and creativity of its food, and it was the first cruiser to offer flexible dining options. The upscale suites are more akin to a luxury hotel than a ship cabin, with a private sundeck and restaurant. And there’s plenty for the kids, like Nickelodeon-themed breakfasts and Cirque du Soleil-inspired entertainment.

Parents will enjoy the Broadway-caliber performances and comedy. Some ships also feature a water park and sports decks that include a bungee trampoline, spider web climbing frame, multiple corkscrew water slides and a ropes course.

Drawbacks include small cabins with tight bathrooms and extra charges for the best food options. 

What Customers Say About Norwegian Cruise Lines

Overall rating: 3.9 Cruise: 7 Night Southern Caribbean (San Juan roundtrip) Date: December 2019 Ship: Norwegian Epic Cabin type: Balcony Traveled as: Singles/friends

“I have cruised NCL many times, but it may be my last. I am still not happy they changed the itinerary after I booked the cruise, and the overall attention to guest satisfaction has gone way down. Unless you have to financially, DO NOT take advantage of the airfare option. They had me fly from Seattle to Fort Lauderdale to Atlanta and then to Puerto Rico. Many other guests I spoke with had a similar experience. Also, seriously look for other options/companies that offer shore excursions than NCL. They were my favorite.” — Wisest1

16. Carnival Cruise Lines

Rating: 3.7 Class: Mainstream Fleet: 23 ships Top departure points: Miami, Galveston (Texas), Port Canaveral (Florida), Fort Lauderdale, (Florida) New York City Top destinations: Caribbean, Panama Canal, Mexico Starting price: $124/night

Bottom Line: Carnival Cruise Lines

The jester of the mainstream cruise lines, Carnival has a reputation for its boisterous boats. These cruises are popular with party animals and singles — especially if those folks enjoy hairy chest contests, endless buckets of beer bottles (these cost extra, FYI), late-night comedy and food endorsed by Guy Fieri.

Children are, of course, welcome as well. To that end, Carnival hosts Dr. Seuss-themed brunches and story hours for the youngsters, or the kid in all of us.

There are few quiet spaces on Carnival boats, with music, loud and colorful decor, and regrettable adult decision-making ruling the roost. 

What Customers Say About Carnival Cruise Lines

Overall rating: 3.8 Cruise: 4 Night Western Caribbean (Miami roundtrip) Date: January 2020 Ship: Carnival Victory Cabin type: Suite Traveled as: Family (older children)

“We had fun on a four-day getaway for a reasonable cost. Ship was clean and food was delicious. I will take a newer Carnival if I go on a longer cruise. The ocean suites are worth the cost.” — bonnycorn

15. Princess Cruises

Rating: 3.8 Class: Mainstream Fleet: 21 Top departure points: Fort Lauderdale (Florida), Yokohama (Japan), Southampton (England), Sydney (Australia), Vancouver (Canada) Top destinations: Asia, Africa, Middle East, transatlantic, South Pacific, Europe (Mediterranean) Starting price: $89/night

Bottom Line: Princess Cruises

Princess offers quality at an affordable price. Families and couples are drawn to the shorter cruises while longer ones tend to attract retirees and empty-nesters. Educational classes are included, for adults and kids — and there’s even yoga for children. Couples can get married on board in a chapel.

Food is solid, and there are no restrictions on mealtimes. Unfortunately, childcare is lacking for kids 3 and under. And for an extra charge, folks can enter a lottery for behind-the-scenes ship tours.

This is not a cruise line for singles and hard partiers. 

What Customers Say About Princess Cruises

Overall rating: 4.6 Cruise: 17 Night Roman Passage (Rome to Fort Lauderdale) Date: December 2018 Ship: Pacific Princess Cabin type: Suite Traveled as: Couple

“This cruise was a wonderful experience for both my wife and me. We especially enjoy the ‘days at sea,’ and the transatlantic aspect included eight consecutive days at sea crossing the Atlantic Ocean. There is nothing like sitting on your balcony and seeing nothing but ocean waters all around you. It gives you a perspective on the world and the universe around you.” — draronson

14. Royal Caribbean

Rating: 3.9 Class: Mainstream Top departure points: Fort Lauderdale (Florida), Miami, Sydney (Australia), Cape Liberty (New Jersey), Shanghai (China) Top destinations: Asia, Africa, Middle East, Caribbean, South Pacific Starting price: $154/night

Bottom Line: Royal Caribbean

Families looking for a great experience at a good cost — essentially an alternative to Disney — want to book with Royal Caribbean . And outdoors, sporty folks will love the adrenaline-rush activities at sea. Think rock climbing, surfing simulations, ice skating, ziplining, skating and even boxing.

Entertainment options include Broadway-caliber performances as well as ice skating, dive shows and original productions. If you’re antisocial or looking for quiet relaxation, this is not your boat. 

What Customers Say About Royal Caribbean

Overall rating: 3.5 Cruise: 7 Night Western Caribbean (Miami roundtrip) Date: January 2020 Ship: Oasis of the Seas Cabin type: Balcony Traveled as : Couple

“Please serve sweetened ice tea. Sugar does not melt easily in cold tea. The main dining room needs an efficiency review because it's much too slow. Servers very often carry one little item, disappear for long periods and are inefficient! They are well-meaning and pleasant but need a manager with good organizational and efficiency skills to make it work smoothly.” — pacificanelia

13. Holland America Line

Rating: 3.9 Class: Mainstream Fleet: 15 Top departure points: Fort Lauderdale (Florida), Amsterdam (Netherlands), San Diego, Venice (Italy), Vancouver (Canada) Top destinations: Europe (northern and Mediterranean), transatlantic, Asia, Africa, Middle East, Panama Canal Starting price: $79/night

Bottom Line: Holland America Line

If you’re looking to spend the majority (or all) of your time on board, entertained day and night with a thumping party atmosphere, then steer far clear of Holland America. These cruises are for multigenerational families and folks who want to explore the various port stops for more than an hour.

Holland America curates special itineraries like an after-hours tour of St. Petersburg’s State Hermitage Museum. The lounge/bar areas are low-key and upscale, and the libraries are New York Times-themed. There are a blues club and solid restaurant options.

Deck dining leaves much to be desired, and the lack of robust entertainment options might weigh on younger kids and teenagers. 

What Customers Say About Holland America Line

Overall rating: 4.0 Cruise: 7 Night Alaskan Inside Passage (Vancouver roundtrip) Date: September 2019 Ship: Noordam Cabin type: Balcony Traveled as: Couple

“Except for our experience with you medical personnel and the embarkation process, it was a good cruise.” — bocathill

12. Silversea Cruises

Rating: 3.9 Class: Luxury Fleet: 13 Top departure points: Barcelona, Piraeus (Greece), Venice (Italy), Ushuaia, Tierra Del Fuego (Argentina), Fort Lauderdale (Florida) Top destinations: Asia, Africa, Middle East, Europe (northern, western, eastern and Mediterranean) Starting price: $2,970

Bottom Line: Silversea Cruises

Older couples who like a formal atmosphere and attentive service flock to these boats. It helps that fares include gratuities, wine, and top-shelf champagne and spirits. But there are also smaller indulgences like Bulgari toiletries and Pratesi linens that keep guests coming back.

The restaurants are exceptional, and multi-course dinners can be served in your cabin, which is more than likely a suite since most of the fleet only has this type of accommodation.

Laid-back folks might find the vibe too stuffy, and families want to avoid these journeys at all costs. Children have little to do among such refinement. 

What Customers Say About Silversea Cruises

Overall rating: 3.7 Cruise: 7 Night Alaska (Seward to Vancouver) Date: June 2018 Ship: Silver Shadow Cabin type: Balcony Traveled as: Couple

“Have sailed twice on Princess — you can get a penthouse suite on Princess and get just as good of service and twice as much room and regular unlimited food. Silver Shadow has great personal service, but at the penthouse level on other ships, you get the same for far less money. I would recommend Silver Shadow only to someone willing to pay a high price to be alone on a ship.” — traveldan

Rating: 4.0 Class: Premium Fleet: 3 Top departure points: Southampton (England), Sydney (Australia), New York City, Tokyo, Melbourne (Australia) Top destinations: Asia, Africa, Middle East, South Pacific, transatlantic, Europe (western, northern) Starting price: $299/night

Bottom Line: Cunard

Board a Cunard ship for its sophisticated atmosphere and top-notch activity slate, complete with quality lectures and classes and theater-screened movies. The Queen Mary 2 features a planetarium for those dark, starry nights at sea. British touches include traditional afternoon tea and plenty of fish and chips at the pub.

Passengers skew older, more in the retiree realm, but summer attracts families who want upscale at a good price. And if parents do travel with toddlers, they can have dinner out with Cunard’s night nursery service.

Some sections are closed off to lower-paying guests, and the nightlife is almost nonexistent.

What Customers Say About Cunard

Overall rating: 4.1 Cruise: 7 Night Transatlantic Eastbound (New York to Southampton) Date: September 2019 Ship: Queen Mary 2 Cabin type: Balcony Traveled as: Singles/friends

“The best, of course, was a beautiful open ocean to stare at for days. It is a great crossing for an older crowd. Some of the activities were a bit corny. The food quality was like a very good wedding. Don't be afraid to request or mix ingredients of the entrees.” — jjcohen31

10. Celebrity Cruises

Rating: 4.0 Class: Mainstream Fleet: 15 ships Top departure points: Fort Lauderdale (Florida), Sydney (Australia), Southampton (England), Barcelona, Civitavecchia (Italy) Top destinations: South Pacific, Asia, Africa, Middle East, transatlantic, Europe (Mediterranean), western Caribbean Starting price: $162/night

Bottom Line: Celebrity Cruises

Cruisers looking for style and substance without breaking the bank hop aboard Celebrity boats. Their floating cities feature actual patches of grass and world-renowned art collections, along with innovative dining options, educational classes and playful activities like water volleyball with ship personnel.

Nighttime entertainment might be a comedy burlesque show or a few top-shelf bourbons at any of the several swanky nightclubs. Or relax in the spa, take a steam or just call the concierge and have it all brought to your cabin. There are even babysitting options for families.

Drawbacks include tons of extra charges for things like the specialty restaurants and the stage shows that don’t measure up to the competition.

What Customers Say About Celebrity Cruises

Overall rating: 4.2 Cruise: 8 Night Norwegian Fjords (Dublin roundtrip) Date: May 2019 Ship: Celebrity Reflection Cabin type: Balcony Traveled as: Couple

“The trip was very enjoyable. The service was very good, the ports were good, the entertainment was good except for Clare Maiden, and the food was very good. However, compared with the food and entertainment we had on our cruise aboard the Celebrity Millennium in December, which was outstanding, this cruise was OK.” — inwechter26

9. Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Rating: 4.1 Class: Luxury Fleet: 5 Top departure points: Miami, Barcelona, Venice (Italy), Civitavecchia (Italy), Vancouver (Canada) Top destinations: Asia, Africa, Middle East, Europe (Mediterranean, northern), Caribbean, Alaska Starting price: $2,899/night

Bottom Line: Regent Seven Seas Cruises

For those willing to spend, a trip aboard Regent comes with everything included in the price. And by everything, that means roundtrip airfare, alcohol and gratuities, curated shore excursions at every stop and a pre-cruise night in a hotel. Couples and singles love these cruises, but families not so much.

Wi-Fi is only included in the upper tiers of cabin accommodations, but free throughout common spaces. And while the boats are spacious and never feel crowded, that can sometimes be a negative, as you might feel like the only person who showed up for the party that night. 

What Customers Say About Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Overall rating: 4.6 Cruise: 10 Night Flamenco Flourish (Monte Carlo to Barcelona) Date: May 2019 Ship: Seven Seas Voyager Cabin type: Suite Traveled as: Couple

“Everything on board the ship was EXQUISITE! Unfortunately, we felt so cheated by the poor tours that Regent had arranged. The tour guides were either disorganized or unable to communicate, and we just left feeling shortchanged. We've been on other cruises where the cruise ship company had arranged really enriching and wonderful excursions. Sadly, this is the only area Regent fell short. But the experience onboard did exceed all of our expectations.” — SunseekerChuck

8. Oceania Cruises

Rating: 4.1 Class: Premium Fleet: 6 Top departure points: Barcelona, Miami, Southampton (England), Civitavecchia (Italy), Venice (Italy) Top destinations: Europe (northern, western and Mediterranean), Asia, Africa, Middle East Starting price: $999/night

Bottom Line: Oceania Cruises

It’s hard to beat the dining options aboard Oceania ships, with a bistro from venerable French chef Jacques Pepin, a highly rated Pan-Asian restaurant and the all-inclusive packages. Before or after a meal, check out the star-studded art collection with names like Picasso, Miró and Hirst.

These journeys are aimed at couples looking for upscale travel and amazing food and wine experiences with a healthy dose of culture. It might not be the best family experience unless your children are extremely precocious and want Mommy and Daddy to have a memorable experience.

Try to book the newer Riviera or Marina, as some of the older ships lack the pizzazz and amenities of these two. 

What Customers Say About Oceania Cruises

Overall rating: 4.5 Cruise: 18 Night Sunny Islands and Andes (Santiago to Miami) Date: January 2020 Ship: Marina Cabin type: Suite Traveled as: Couple

“Our first cruise with Oceania. Exceptional food. We loved that so much was included — specialty dining (which was like eating in 5-star restaurants) didn't cost extra, bottled water was handed out at every port, espresso drinks and pastries were always available, laundry was included (and if you wanted to do it yourself, it was free). The hands-on cooking classes were fantastic. The lectures were interesting. Afternoon tea with a string quartet was a nice touch. They were serious about keeping us healthy with hand washing and plastic wrap around buffets. We went to ports where norovirus is endemic, and to their great credit, no one got sick. Great service, and always with a smile.” — elenaprior

7. Seabourn

Rating: 4.2 Class: Luxury Fleet: 9 Top departure points: Piraeus (Greece), Barcelona, Civitavecchia (Italy), Singapore, Miami Top destinations: Europe (Mediterranean, western, northern), Asia, Africa, Middle East Starting price: $2,499/night

Bottom Line: Seabourn

Seabourn takes guests to amazing ports, but they truly shine in the onboard experience.

Several of their ships have all-suite accommodations, and some of those are spa suites unmatched by any other ocean liner. Cruises usually come with a Marina Day in which the crew offers a variety of aquatic activities and a saltwater pool.

Folks looking for a formal cruise experience might be turned off by Seabourn’s casual luxury. But those looking for an upscale experience and port stops where few others go, this is your bag.

Just leave the kids behind, as these journeys are designed for adults.

What Customers Say About Seabourn

Overall rating: 4.6 Cruise: 7 Night Greek and Italian Jewels (Athens to Rome) Date: October 2018 Ship: Seabourn Odyssey Cabin type: Suite Traveled as: Couple

“We had an incredible time on the cruise! This is certainly the type of cruise for people who like a quieter, calmer ship. We really loved the destinations, tours and FOOD! The food on board was incredible! As well as the accommodations in the room and the service. The staff was so friendly, warm and responsive!” — JCraigfeld

6. Paul Gauguin Cruises

Rating: 4.2 Class: Premium Fleet: 2 Top departure points: Papeete (Tahiti), Lautoka (Fiji Islands) Top destinations: South Pacific Starting price: $3,145/night

Bottom Line: Paul Gauguin Cruises

Even if this cruise isn’t memorable for you, it will be for your accountant.

It would be hard not to enjoy all the bang for your buck, which includes all-inclusive fares that cover some wine and spirits and all onboard gratuities. They also offer roundtrip airfare from Los Angeles, a cabin with an ocean view and likely a balcony (70 percent have them), incredible food options in a Parisian-Polynesian fusion theme, and a swim and snorkel session at Paul Gaugin’s private French Polynesian island.

This tiny fleet isn’t great for singles or families, but couples seeking a yacht-like jaunt through the South Pacific will be well rewarded.

What Customers Say About Paul Gauguin Cruises

Overall rating: 5.0  Cruise: 7 Night Tahiti and The Society Islands (Papeete roundtrip)  Date: February 2017 Ship: Paul Gauguin Cabin type: Balcony Traveled as: Singles/friends

“The stateroom was very comfortable, the service was excellent and the excursions were awesome. We swam with rays and sharks in the Lagoonairium in Moorea. We didn't book this through the ship, but we learned about it on Tripadvisor. We saved a lot on the taxi (we used Teva Taxi) and were treated to a very good tour of the island on the way there and back. We rented a waverunner for 3 hours in Bora Bora. Fantastic!” — cruiseconverts

5. Azamara Club Cruises

Rating: 4.2 Class: Premium Fleet : 3 ships Top departure points: Piraeus (Greece), Barcelona, Venice (Italy), Southampton (England), Civitavecchia (Italy) Top destinations:  Caribbean, Central and South America, South Pacific, Africa, Europe (northern, western and Meditterranean) Starting price: $580/night

Bottom Line: Azamara Club Cruises

Azamara excels at its branded and abundant shore excursions in places like the Mediterranean and Caribbean. Although the decor is dated and stodgy, the pool and hot tub area is small and the cabin bathrooms are tight, you’ll be easily enticed off the ship by nighttime entertainment options in port.

Azamara offers up to 17-day travel for serious adventurers, hitting numerous stops in its 240 ports spread across 66 countries. House alcohol and gratuities are included with the high daily cost, and the spacious and lightly crowded ships make cruising ideal.

Best to leave the kids and older family members onshore for this ride.

What Customers Say About Azamara Club Cruises

Overall rating: 4.6 Cruise: 9 Night Cuba Intensive (Miami roundtrip) Date: February 2019 Ship: Azamara Journey Cabin type: Balcony Traveled as: Couple

“Excellent cruise to three Cuban ports: outstanding music/dance performances and opportunity to soak up the color and flavors of Cuba.” — artistjuge

4. Viking Ocean Cruises

Rating: 4.3 Class: Premium Fleet : 7 Top departure points: Bergen (Norway), Piraeus (Greece), Civitavecchia (Italy), Barcelona, Venice (Italy) Top destinations: Europe (northern, eastern and Mediterranean), Asia, Africa, Middle East, transatlantic Starting price: $1,999/night

Bottom Line: Viking Ocean Cruises

Viking is only a few years into its expansion from river cruises to the high seas, but it didn’t take long for people to notice the luxury aboard these ships and itineraries that put a premium on destinations — some lasting for as many as six months.

All cabins have their own private veranda, and the fare includes one complimentary shore excursion at each stop.

These trips are designed for couples and adults who want a refined experience that could last for several weeks to a few months, and for this reason, there is no programming aboard for children.  

What Customers Say About Viking Ocean Cruises

Overall rating: 5.0 Cruise: Catalonia to Constantinople - Barcelona to Athens Date: March 2016 Ship: Viking Star Cabin type: Balcony Traveled as: Couple

“Viking meticulously managed every aspect of a wonderful trip. All features of the ship and its operation were perfect. A wide option of onshore activities was offered at each port and guided by local professional and highly experienced guides. The Viking staff and crew were extremely friendly and thorough in carrying out their duties to the ship and its guests. We were extremely impressed with the constant effort to make our trip comfortable and enjoyable. Dining and menu options provided for every need and appetite from a wide-offering buffet setting to fine dining in a non-formal setting.” — JETEX

3. Windstar Cruises

Rating: 4.3 Class: Premium Fleet: 6 Top departure points: Athens (Greece), Lisbon (Portugal), Barcelona, San Juan (Puerto Rico) Top destinations: Europe (northern, Mediterranean), Caribbean, transatlantic Starting price: $999/night

Bottom Line: Windstar Cruises

True to its name, Windstar attempts to recreate the experience of sailing while aboard a massive cruise liner (it looks cool, though). Families with teenage children or well-behaved youngsters will find much to love on the decks of Windstar’s recently renovated fleet. Ships sport retractable marinas for water skiing, sailing, kayaking and snorkeling.

The overall experience skews casual in atmosphere and dress, but there isn’t much to keep younger and more active children entertained. Food is well prepared, but alcoholic beverages are not included with the daily fare and cabins don’t have Wi-Fi.

Older ships are also showing their age.

What Customers Say About Windstar Cruises

Overall rating: 3.5 Cruise: 14 Night Ocean Crossings (Saint Maarten to Lisbon) Date: April 2019 Ship: Wind Surf Cabin type: Oceanview Traveled as: Couple

“A little long with only one port of call. Would I repeat this trip? No. Can I recommend the cruise line? Yes. This is a quiet environment with no bingo tournaments and excessive drinking. Customers are older, above 55 and reasonable.” — gerhardrauh

2. Disney Cruise Line

Rating: 4.4 Class: Mainstream Fleet: 4 ships Top departure points: Port Canaveral (Florida), San Diego, Miami, Galveston (Texas), Dover (England) Top destinations: Caribbean, Mexico, Northern Europe Starting price: $672/night

Bottom Line: Disney Cruise Line

Disney is the ultimate cruise line for families. There is no reason to book this expensive option unless you’re bringing the kids, as it is entirely geared toward their enjoyment with some of the best stage shows in the business.

It’s also pricey for its class, but there’s a good reason for that. Entertainment options for kids abound, day and night, and Disney is the top cruise operator for amenities geared toward babies and toddlers, like drop-off childcare and diapers in the gift shop.

Adults have plenty to do themselves, like soak up the sun poolside or traipse around the private island. One thing adults cannot do aboard these ships is gamble, which Disney has forbidden in the name of a family-centric atmosphere.

What Customers Say About Disney Cruise Line

Overall rating: 4.6 Cruise: 5 Night Western Caribbean (Miami roundtrip) Date: April 2019 Ship: Disney Magic Cabin type: Inside Traveled as: Family (young children)

“The value is worth the money! Castaway Cay and the musical shows on board (Twice Charmed and Rapunzel Before Ever After) are must watch!” — DCL2019

1. Hurtigruten Cruises

Rating: 4.7 Class: Premium Fleet: 18 Top departure points: Bergen (Norway), Kirkenes (Norway), Reykjavik (Iceland), Hamburg (Germany), Halifax (Nova Scotia) Top destinations: Europe (western, northern), Asia, Africa, Middle East, Canada, New England, New York, South America Starting price: $944/night

Bottom Line: Hurtigruten Cruises

Remote and mysterious best describe the trips offered by this Norwegian fleet. Hurtigruten ships take guests throughout Northern Europe and as far as the North Pole for memorable and breathtaking views of the Norwegian coast and Northern Lights.

These are bucket-list, once-in-a-lifetime journeys, and they don’t come cheap. The high-end cruiser is known for its beautifully designed boats, like the Art Deco-style MS Finnmarken with massive spaces both public and private, a rooftop lounge, library, terrific spa amenities and excellent cuisine.

What Customers Say About Hurtigruten Cruises

Overall rating: 5.0 Cruise: 6 Night Coastal Expeditions (Bergen to Kirkenes) Date: October 2017 Ship: MS Finnmarken Cabin type: Balcony Traveled as: Couple

“This is one of the few vacations we have been on where we started planning our return before the original trip was completed.” — TrophyClub1

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Cruise Lines and Ship Reviews

All cruise lines and cruise ships, featured cruise lines.

Brand features casual approach to cruising, with a come-as-you-are atmosphere; multiple activities for families, including go-karts and ropes courses; Broadway-quality entertainment; suite-only enclave, called The Haven, offers perks and private spaces for suite passengers

Cruise line focuses on destinations, with emphasis on Alaska; ships visit almost 400 destinations; partnerships with Discovery and Animal Planet make for immersive experiences ashore and onboard

Wide variety of ships, from fairly small to mega-sized; vessels are loaded with activities for passengers of all ages, with sky-diving, bumper cars and surf simulators; engaging entertainment; wide range of cabins and suites to accommodate even large groups

All Cruise Lines

River cruise line that sails Europe's waterways, along with more exotic rivers, including the Mekong; offers traditional and more active cruise options; features onboard wellness hosts; ships include bicycles for passengers to use in port

River cruise line that sails the waterways of Europe as well as more exotic itineraries, like the Mekong River; all cabins feature beds that face the windows

High-end cruise line known for its destination immersion; features a fleet of three small ships that visit small ports; offers AzAmazing Evenings -- tours that provide passengers one-of-a-kind port experiences

Cruise line with large fleet offering cruises of varying lengths; excellent family programming; itineraries mostly to Caribbean; ships offer extensive activities for all ages

Brand exemplifies modern luxury, with chic design and sophisticated dining options; smaller but modern fleet visits destinations in Caribbean, Alaska, Europe and Australia, among others

Italy-based brand offering cruises on large ships, especially in the Mediterranean; focus on family cruising; international passenger base, which skews heavily Italian

A family-run French company that offers relatively affordable, value-priced cruises on rivers throughout the world; visits areas many other river cruise lines don't; has a fleet of barges for very small-ship cruising

High-end luxury cruise line, offering passengers a nearly all-inclusive experience; ships feature spacious, well-appointed cabins and premium dining options, including restaurant serving cuisine of chef Nobu Matsuhisa

Virtually all-inclusive river cruise line with luxury fleet featuring butlers for all cabins; part of larger luxury company with ocean and expedition vessels

Brand that sails cruise liners, including Queen Mary 2, which regularly offers crossings from New York to Southampton; White Star Service trained staff offer warm, sincere service

Cruise ships designed for families, with multiple tie-ins to the brands famous characters; ships sail mostly shorter itineraries of a week or less; ships feature Disney-branded production shows and magical restaurant experiences

Cruise line that focuses on culinary, thanks to its exceptional Culinary Council; standout features include the Music Walk, with live music, and BBC Earth shows; brand is one of the pioneers for Alaska cruising

Cruise line that visits the polar regions; renowned for its visits to Norway, where it also serves as transport for locals and goods; sails with an international passenger base

International cruise line that has Mediterranean flair onboard; features a large and fast-growing fleet; has ships based in the United States that cater mostly to Americans, but other ships are built for more international audience

Find the Best Cruise for You

U.S. News has ranked more than 150 cruise ships. Find the best cruise for your vacation.

Cruise Line Rankings

U.S. News has made it easier to find the cruise that's right for you with our Best Cruise Lines rankings, which identify the best cruise lines for a variety of traveler types in a range of regions.

Best Cruise Lines for the Money

• # 1 Virgin Voyages
• # 2 Celebrity Cruises
• # 3 Princess Cruises

Best Cruise Lines for Families

• # 1 Disney Cruise Line
• # 2 Royal Caribbean International
• # 3 Carnival Cruise Line

Best Cruise Lines for Couples

• # 1 Viking Ocean Cruises
• # 2 Seabourn Cruise Line
• # 3 Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Best Cruise Lines in the Caribbean

• # 3 Virgin Voyages

Best Cruise Lines in the Mediterranean

• # 3 Celebrity Cruises

Best Luxury Cruise Lines

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U.S. News Announces the 2022 Best Cruise Lines

U.S. News Announces Best Cruise Lines

Washington, D.C. – U.S. News & World Report, publisher of Best Hotels , Best Vacations and Best Travel Rewards Programs , today announced the 2022 Best Cruise Lines rankings , designed to provide up-to-date information on the leading cruise lines.

With much of the world reopening to international travel, U.S. News surveyed travelers to understand the effects of COVID-19 on cruiser sentiments. U.S. News unveiled the survey results at the Seatrade Global Conference in October which found that cruisers – both first-time and longtime – are booked at higher levels than before the pandemic. U.S. News survey data also revealed that of the frequent travelers who indicated that they would cruise again, 20% are already signed up for their next sailing.

"Though most avenues of travel have been impacted throughout the coronavirus pandemic, the cruise industry has seen the most challenges," said Nicola Wood, travel editor at U.S. News. "U.S. News is excited to once again highlight the leading cruise lines and provide in-depth information on ships, onboard activities and itineraries to travelers looking to research and book a cruise vacation."

Celebrity Cruises takes the No. 1 spot as the Best Cruise Line for the Money . Viking Ocean Cruises is the No. 1 Best Cruise Line for Couples and Best Luxury Cruise Line thanks to its adult-focused environment and luxurious and romantic amenities, such as fireplaces in each ship's common area and private verandas in every stateroom.

Disney Cruise Line, which offers ships tailored specifically to children and families, has remained the No. 1 Best Cruise Line for Families since U.S. News began ranking cruise lines. Additionally, for the eighth consecutive year, Disney is also the No. 1 Best Cruise Line in the Caribbean . Viking Ocean Cruises takes the spot of No. 1 Best Cruise Line in the Mediterranean for 2022.

The rankings help travelers select the best cruise by brand, region, traveler type and budget. This year's rankings are accompanied by an editorial rundown of the most popular river cruise lines for those looking for guidance on a different type of cruise that still offers itineraries with multiple destinations.

The methodology for the Best Cruise Lines rankings factors in expert evaluations of cruise ship quality, reputation among travelers, results from health assessments conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other factors, such as price class and itinerary offerings.

2022 U.S. News Best Cruise Lines Rankings

For the Money

• Celebrity Cruises
• Holland America Line
• Royal Caribbean International
• Viking Ocean Cruises
• Seabourn Cruise Line
• Regent Seven Seas Cruises

For Families

• Disney Cruise Line
• Carnival Cruise Line

For Couples

In the Mediterranean

In the Caribbean

To share your thoughts about the Best Cruise Lines rankings, visit Facebook , Twitter and Instagram using #BestCruises.

Media Contact: Sarah Javors, [email protected] , 202-955-2153

About U.S. News & World Report

U.S. News & World Report is the global leader in quality rankings that empower citizens, consumers, business leaders and policy officials to make better, more informed decisions about important issues affecting their lives. A multifaceted digital media company with Education, Health, Money, Travel, Cars, News and 360 Reviews platforms, U.S. News provides rankings, independent reporting, data journalism, consumer advice and U.S. News Live events. More than 40 million people visit USNews.com each month for research and guidance. Founded in 1933, U.S. News is headquartered in Washington, D.C.

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16 Best Cruise Lines, Ranked By Their Reviews

Ranking the best of the best Cruise Lines around the world!

Read update

The Best Cruise Lines, Ranked By Their Reviews

• Cruise lines adapted to the new normal with safety protocols and vaccine requirements, ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience for travelers.
• Top-ranked cruise lines offer luxurious amenities and unforgettable experiences, making each trip a journey of a lifetime.
• From family-friendly options to exclusive adult-only escapes, there's a cruise line suited for every type of traveler's preferences and needs.

The cruise industry is quite popular worldwide, and the competition among cruise line companies has been quite tough. Most tourists, composed of couples, groups, families, or even solo travelers, would opt for cruise trips rather than backpacking trips since vacationing on a ship with a variety of locations packed with different activities is more enjoyable than booking a long-week trip to just one city.

Despite being hit pretty badly by the Global Pandemic, it paved the way for the cruise lines to explore and renovate their cruises. Adopting the new normal onboard , there are a few things to remember before booking a trip : check the safety protocols that they are following on board, vaccine requirements, safety procedures, and guidelines for wearing protective equipment. These 16 cruise lines were ranked as the best based on reviews and provide the best amenities, luxury, and, most importantly, a trip of a lifetime.

UPDATE: 2024/03/13 19:32 EST BY REENA JAIN

This list has been updated with the latest information about each cruise line and recommended cruises. Also, the list is sorted in ascending order depending on cruise line reviews on cruisecritic.com, a TripAdvisor company, with the highest-rated one mentioned at the bottom. The list has a wide range of cruise lines, ranging from adult-only, family, all-inclusive, luxury, and many more, with cruise line rankings to provide a cruise suitable for every type of traveler.

8 Best Budget Cruise Lines For 2024

16 fred olsen cruises, cruise critic rating: 3.7/5.

With over 150 years of Norwegian seamanship heritage , family-owned Fred Olsen Cruise Lines ' UK-based fleet of smaller ships has a great reputation for dependability and comfort. The atmosphere on board is warm, easygoing, and shamelessly British as Fred. As Olsen Cruise Lines expands, the company takes pride in keeping the constancy that its clients enjoy and expect, both onboard and ashore, in the self-described "British country home" atmosphere. Fred Olsen’s most highlighted reviews (3.7/5) are on its crews, as they were mostly described as efficient, friendly, accommodating, and smiling.

9 Best Cruise Destinations For Families

15 regent seven seas.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises is one of the most luxurious cruise lines. With rooms and interiors designed with the most elegant and grandest designs. Their staff has been acknowledged as very courteous and helpful, and the port experience is very well managed. The cruise’s most modest ships can cater to about 500 to 750 passengers. Despite the luxurious costs of the cruise, people still find it well promising with its fantastic crew and trained staff, ranking it as #3 in the Best Luxury Cruise Lines and getting a rating of 3.7/5.

14 Carnival Cruise Line

Cruise critic rating: 3.8/5.

Carnival Cruise Lines ' ships are large vessels, with the new ones (Carnival Celebration and Carnival Jubilee) accommodating over 5000 passengers. They have basketball courts, water parks, and rope courses to entertain and amuse children of all ages. Adults can enjoy the spa, the casino, and the adult-only retreat. With so many facilities and experiences available for travelers of all ages, this cruise line received a rating of 3.8/5 and has been ranked third in Best Cruise Lines for Families . Carnival cruises offer travelers numerous destinations to choose from, including Mexico, Hawaii, Alaska, Australia, Europe, the Caribbean, and more, but Half Moon Cay is an exclusive stopover.

13 Silversea

The Sea And Land Taste (S.A.L.T.) programs are one of the main highlights of Silversea Cruises — it is considered the unique feature that no other company can top. Guests’ eating experience is designed to provide authentic cuisines that will provide an overview and “feeling” about their chosen destinations through food. The S.A.L.T. Lab program has provided its guests with the ability to participate in tastings and courses. The cruise line has been ranked as the Number 5 Best Luxury cruise and got a rating of 3.8/5.

9 Best Cruise Destinations For Every Type Of Traveler

Cunard Cruise Line ships are quite popular for their four ships named Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth, Queen Victoria, and Queen Anne — which are praised for their magnificent cabins and services, which include expensive dining places and opulent ballrooms. The Cunard Cruise Line is one of the few luxury cruise lines that provide quiet eating places for chosen passengers, which means that people in ordinary staterooms dine in a different restaurant than guests in suites. Cunard Line was ranked #9 in Best Cruise Lines for Money and Best Cruise Lines for Couples and got a 3.8/5 rating.

11 Oceania Cruises

Discover new perspectives on the world and journey to the remote reaches of the earth with Oceania Cruises , which is #4 in Best Luxury Cruise Lines and has a good rating of 3.8/5. Guests can visit innovative insider excursions that take every traveler’s heart deep into the destination's culinary and cultural heritage. Oceania Cruises are quite popular with the senior population and wealthy retirees who have been seeking a relaxed adventure with a hint of slight thrill. Oceania is ranked Number 4 in the Best Cruise Lines for Couples and also for the Best Luxury Cruise Lines in the Mediterranean.

Do It Right: How To Pack For An Alaskan Cruise In July

10 princess cruises.

Princess' 15-ship fleet sails over the world, including popular sailings to Alaska, Mexico, Europe, Hawaii, and the Caribbean, among other places. Princess Cruises' claim to fame may be its starring role in the 1977 smash TV series "The Love Boat," but the cruise company has continued to make waves with engaging onboard activities and diverse itineraries since its Hollywood debut. Ranked as #3 in Best Cruise Lines for the Money by U.S. News, it also has a good rating of 3.8/5 according to Cruise Critic.

9 Royal Caribbean International

Cruise critic rating: 3.9/5.

As diverse as its list of destinations and a fleet of 32 ships (with three new in the fleet), Royal Caribbean International provides different onboard amenities and a range of sailings that appeal to cruisers of all ages. While some of the cruise ships in the fleet have ice rinks and rock climbing walls, others have bumper cars, water slides, and zip lines. Each vessel also offers entertaining and educational activities for children and teenagers, as well as a range of evening performances, bars, and nightspots for adults. Royal Caribbean got an excellent rating of 3.9/5 and is listed as the #2 Best Cruise Line for Families in the cruise line rankings because of its world-class amenities, abundance of activities, and dining options on board.

Cruise Critic Rating: 4.0/5

People who book a trip with the French cruise line Ponant will feel as if they're traveling on their own private yachts. Luxurious Hermes bath products, Veuve Clicquot Champagne, and Laduree macaroons are some of the unique offerings provided to guests on board Ponant. Additionally, each ship from Ponant features either a Turkish sauna or bath and an onboard spa with massage cabins. While most cruise ships are ranked based on the amenities provided , Ponant's luxuries and rating of 4.0/5 make it one of the best cruise lines in the world. Those who wish to sail to Antarctica and other remote destinations can do so by booking a cruise with a luxurious small Ponant ship. Moreover, the company partners with Disney and Smithsonian on some sailings.

7 Celebrity Cruises

Cruise Critic Rating: 4.1/5

Celebrity Cruises receives excellent accolades from both passengers and experts for its upmarket decor and inventive food. Celebrity's fleet travels from cities like Honolulu, Miami, and Seattle in the United States. Celebrity Cruises attracts a varied range of passengers. While the majority of onboard activities cater to couples in their mid-30s to mid-50s, the line also caters to families with a variety of programs for children and teens. Furthermore, some cruises to the Bahamas and Caribbean cruises cost less than $250 per person, ranking it as #2 in Best Cruise Lines for the Money .

Those looking for a cruise line that sails to all seven continents will find that with Seabourn . The company has small ships that make passengers feel as if they're sailing in their private club. The suites aboard Seabourn ships feature a walk-in closet, an ocean view, and a proper dining area. Additionally, each ship from Seabourn can accommodate up to 600 passengers, with each guest having plenty of space to enjoy the stunning landscapes. Premium liquors and an attendant for every suite are included in Seabourn cruise prices. The cruise line has a rating of 4.1/5 and is ranked as the #2 Best Luxury Cruise Line by U.S. News.

5 Hurtigruten

On a Hurtigruten ocean cruise, the destination says it all. Popular for its Arctic and Antarctic cruises, Hurtigruten Expeditions (now HX) has expanded its itineraries. Now it offers various itinerary programs, with expedition ships that can sail across 34 different ports across the Norwegian coastline. Although the ships aren't the most luxurious, they're small enough to get to minor ports and communities that larger ships can't. As part of their travel policies and guidelines, Hurtigruten has been reviewed as one of the cruise lines that is prompt in repaying passengers for canceled cruises and giving alternatives, such as a refund.

10 Cruise Lines For Seniors Who Love To Travel By Sea

4 virgin voyages.

Virgin Voyages, a trendy, adults-only cruise line, is ranked as the #1 in Best Cruise Lines for the Money and unquestionably stands out from the competition. As per recent cruisers' reviews, the cruise line is surely what it promises; many travelers even claim that a Virgin Voyages cruise vacation was the best experience they have ever had. The cruise line sails to a range of locations around the world and has three ships in its fleet: the Scarlet Lady, Resilient Lady, and Valiant Lady (Brilliant Lady is in the order). The ships of this cruise line stand out because of their luxurious setting, sophisticated dining options, complimentary Wi-Fi, ultra-chic staterooms, and a range of adventure, entertainment, and wellness activities. Virgin Voyages is among the industry’s best cruise lines for adults only and the minimum age to have fun onboard the ship is a minimum of 18 years.

Cruise Critic Rating: 4.2/5

Passengers can spend days on a relaxing beach or explore the panoramic postcard-perfect views of the palm-lined landscapes. Guests not only enjoy the activities on board but visitors also get to learn about the chosen country’s culture, history, and traditions. Azamara has been considered the fourth-best cruise line for couples — with its fantastic and very pleasing crew members, very delightful food menu, and fun activities on board. This small-ship cruise line is considered everyone’s favorite and got an excellent rating of 4.2/5.

2 Disney Cruise Line

Another one that deserves to be on this list of top cruise lines is Disney Cruise Line . It is also ranked #1 in Best Cruise Lines for Families for its family-friendly ambiance, amusing amenities, and well-appointed staterooms. The cruise line's ships—Disney Wonder, Disney Magic, Disney Fantasy, Disney Dream, and the brand-new Disney Wish and Disney Treasure—received great reviews from travelers and critics alike, giving the cruise line a rating of 4.2/5. Although Disney seems to entice families traveling with kids, it offers all the conveniences for adults searching for pleasure in complete privacy, such as private adult-only pools, bars, and restaurants. All Disney ships have excellent amenities, like themed pools, kid's clubs, shops, Disney-themed dining rooms, and a wide range of Disney-inspired entertainment.

1 Viking Oceans Cruises

Cruise Critic Rating: 4.6/5

This Swiss-based cruise company caters to small-sized parties — their ships can accommodate only about 1,000 guests . Most of their itineraries or programs are designed for adults who want to escape their reality and just relax without being surrounded by kids. Viking Cruises is one of the companies that are quite prompt at refunding tickets — canceled trips are well-addressed by the management. The ship's reduced capacity is one of its perks and hacks , as it can offer its customers personalized treatment. Moreover, smaller businesses can also visit less busy harbors. It has been ranked #1 in Best Cruise Lines for Couples and is an excellent choice for those looking for a romantic retreat at sea.

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Norwegian Cruise Line Review

Tuesday, April 23rd

2024 Cruise Line Reviews

• Norwegian Cruise Line
• Best for large-ship sailing, especially in Alaska
• 18 ships in the fleet
• Ships accommodate anywhere from 1,900 to 4,000+ passengers
• Private island in the Bahamas, Great Stirrup Cay
• Exciting amenities on board, like go-kart tracks and climbing walls
• No required or recommended gratuities
• Freestyle cruising plus "Free at Sea" promos can make your cruise flexible and affordable

Norwegian Cruise Line, commonly referred to as NCL, is a popular cruise line that was founded in 1966 by Knut Kloster and Ted Arison, who also co-founded Carnival Cruise Line. Norwegian Cruise Line is headquartered in Miami, Florida, and is currently part of the Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., which also includes Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises.

Solid option for a Caribbean cruise during spring break

Norwegian had several available itineraries in our apples-to-apples comparison, looking for a trip in March within the Caribbean and booking about a year in advance. Prices were about average, starting at $599 per person for a 5-day sailing out of Miami to Great Stirrup Cay (NCL's private island) and Cozumel, and going up to $1,319 for a 7-day sailing from Puerto Rico to Barbados, Antigua, and St. Lucia. Interestingly, a 12-day cruise out of Punta Cana and visiting Barbados, Curacao and Aruba was less expensive, with a starting fare of $1,079 per person. At the time of our review, NCL had a promotion in place offering free airfare for the second guest on the booking, which could be a pretty significant savings depending on your departure port.

Great choice for Alaskan cruises

For what it's worth, we've also heard really good things about NCL for anyone looking to sail to Alaska: among the big ships, travel agents and travelers alike say that the experience is top notch when you use Norwegian.

How about a themed cruise?

In addition to its regular cruise itineraries, Norwegian Cruise Line offers several themed cruises throughout the year. For example, the "Sail Across the Sun" cruise is a music-themed cruise that features live performances by popular bands and musicians, while the "Wine, Dine, and Music Cruise" offers guests the opportunity to sample world-class wines and gourmet cuisine while enjoying live music performances. Themed cruises on NCL aren't just for the more, ahem , seasoned travelers either: check out EDSea "as the magical world of EDC meets paradise" with immersive art, performers, themed stages, non-stop music and more - but at least when we checked, EDSea sells out quickly so you'll have to book well in advance (or join the waitlist).

Exciting onboard activities

One of the standout ships in Norwegian Cruise Line's fleet is the Norwegian Joy, which was launched in 2017 as part of the Breakaway Plus class (along with the Escape, Encore, and Bliss). The ship features a number of unique amenities, including a two-level go-kart track, an open-air laser tag arena, and a virtual reality arcade. NCL's most exciting amenities are found in the ThrillPlex activity zones, available on both Breakaway Plus and Breakaway class ships. Just be aware that some experiences come with an extra cost: $15 per session for go-karts (or pay a one-time fee for unlimited use, typically $199 for a 7-day sailing), $9.95 per session of laser tag, and so on.

High-caliber shows

Another feature that sets Norwegian Cruise Line apart from other cruise lines is its onboard entertainment. The cruise line offers a variety of shows, ranging from Broadway-style productions to comedy acts and live music. One of the most popular shows on Norwegian Cruise Line is "Burn the Floor" , which is a dance show that features world-class dancers performing to a range of music genres, including ballroom, Latin, and contemporary.

No gratuity required or recommended - but not refused, either

Unlike the majority of big-ship cruise lines, Norwegian doesn't require tipping or even recommend an amount for it, beyond the 20% automatically added for spa and salon services plus beverage purchases. But, they do point out that they encourage their staff to "go the extra mile" and that their employees are allowed to accept cash gratuities for outstanding service. So, it's up to you, but know that your stateroom attendant, the counselors in the kids' club, and your dining room servers would probably not turn down a tip.

Be sure to understand Freestyle vs. Free at Sea

Not having to pay gratuities is part of what Norwegian likes to call "Freestyle Cruising" . That also includes having no assigned dining times: you're free to choose where and when you want to eat, dress it up or stay casual, it's up to you. But, don't confuse "freestyle cruising" with NCL's "Free at Sea" promotions. Depending on when you book, you might be offered the latter as a perk, with five options you can choose for customizing your cruise experience:

• Free Unlimited Open Bar: This option offers guests the opportunity to enjoy unlimited alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages throughout their cruise.
• Free Specialty Dining: This option provides passengers with free access to Norwegian's specialty restaurants, where they can enjoy a variety of cuisines and dining experiences. (Two meals, valued at approximately $180 per traveler)
• Shore Excursion Credit: This option provides guests with credit towards booking shore excursions, allowing them to explore the ports of call and participate in various activities (typically a $50 credit per guest).
• Free Wi-Fi: This option provides passengers with free access to the ship's Wi-Fi, allowing them to stay connected and share their experiences on social media. (Usually about 150 total minutes across a 7-day sailing)
• Extra Guests Sail Free: This option provides families and groups with a great opportunity to save on their cruise vacation, with the third and fourth guests in the stateroom sailing for free.

Free at Sea Plus upgrade might be available

But wait, there's more! You may also have the option of upgrading to "Free at Sea Plus" , which would give you extra specialty dining, extra credit towards excursions, unlimited Wi-Fi, and a premium beverage package. As you'd expect, the cost for that upgrade will depend on what promotions are in place, your itinerary, and the length of your cruise, but it's safe to anticipate paying anywhere from $99 to $899 per person (the lower amount being for a three-day cruise and the higher amount being for sailings longer than seven nights).

Not the most sterling safety record

But, we give Norwegian somewhat of a downgrade for its safety record. The cruise line has had several incidents in recent years, including a fire on one of its ships in 2019 and a mechanical issue on another ship in 2018. The company has faced criticism for its handling of these incidents. While no cruise line is completely immune from problems, there are several that have never experienced a major incident and that invest heavily in safety training and technology. We wouldn't say Norwegian is unsafe, per se, but it's one area where some of its rivals outpace its track record.

Online experience leaves room for improvement

We also weren't overly impressed with the online booking experience and the NCL website overall. When we went to get more information on the Freestyle vs. Free at Sea vs. Free at Sea Plus differences, every result link we got when we searched gave us a 404 Not Found error. And, when we went to reach out for help via live chat, it took a long time to connect with an agent - and even when we did, the chat was super-slow and we waited over 10 minutes to get an answer to our one question.

Great option for most destinations served by larger ships

Still, there's a lot to love about Norwegian, especially with all of the "free" aspects of their sailings (even if it can be a chore to work out what exactly they mean by it). This cruise line absolutely offers fun for guests of all ages and adventure levels, and if there's a destination you've been dying to visit, chances are good that NCL can take you there. Don't hesitate to put Norwegian Cruise Line on your list of options if large-ship cruising - with all of the associated amenities - is what you're after.

More Cruise Line Reviews

• Royal Caribbean

• Disney Cruise Line

• Celebrity Cruises

• Virgin Voyages

• Viking Cruises

• Regent Seven Seas

• Princess Cruises

• Holland America

• MSC Cruises

• Carnival Cruises

The 15 Best Cruise Lines

Which cruise line is the best.

Cruising is a popular way of traveling for many people, offering a unique experience that combines the convenience of a floating hotel with the excitement of visiting multiple destinations in one trip. In an average year, over fifteen million people say "all aboard" and set sail on an amazing vacation.

There are many different cruise lines to choose from, and each one offers a different type of experience. Some are geared towards families, while others are more focused on luxury or adventure. What would you like to see and do while you're onboard? Is a casino a must-have or a rather-avoid? Would a Broadway-caliber show tip the scales for you? Do you need a wide range of activities to keep the kiddos happy while the adults live it up or relax? The onboard activities and amenities can really make or break your vacation, so be sure you know what you're getting.

Cruise Line FAQ

Which cruise line is the best, what is included in the cost of a cruise, what is the minimum age to cruise, what are the dining options on a cruise ship, are cruise ships crowded, do i have to dress up, are activities included at destination ports, can i bring my own alcohol onboard.

Continued from above...

Another factor that can influence which cruise line you choose is the itinerary. Cruise ships travel all over the world, but some cruise lines may not have destinations available where you're hoping to go. You should also consider the size of the ship: larger ships offer more amenities, but smaller ships can access ports that bigger ships can't.

Speaking of amenities, make sure you understand what you'll get as part of your fare and which extras will come with an additional cost. For example, most cruises offer drink packages for alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, but a few have drink stations where you can get complimentary lemonade, coffee and tea. Other amenities that might be important to you are Wi-Fi, spa services, babysitting, fitness classes, and upgraded dining experiences. You can usually get a decent discount if you sign up for an amenities package before you sail, so keep an eye out for promotions in the months leading up to your sailing.

When you take a cruise, it's almost always expected that you'll tip the crew members who have attended to your needs while onboard: your cabin steward ( who probably leaves your towels folded into fun shapes every night ), your servers at your nightly meals, and the head waiter. Cruise lines have a recommended gratuity to cover all three of those staff members, usually $15-$20 per traveler, per day; the total gratuity amount may be charged automatically to your account, or you may be given envelopes to make cash payments.

While it usually isn't mandatory to pay those gratuities - you can ask to have them removed if they're applied automatically, especially if you've received poor service - it's typically considered in poor taste not to tip at the suggested levels (because crew members' salaries, much like servers at your local restaurant, are based on the expectation of tips paid by guests). And, if you receive service that goes above and beyond, adding to the recommended gratuity is always appreciated. Be aware that tips for bartenders, poolside servers, and professional services provided in the spa or elsewhere are not included in the daily suggested gratuity and may be charged automatically at the time of service.

Now that you have a good overview of the cruising experience, which cruise line should you choose? Beyond the points we already covered, here are a few additional criteria that might make it easier to pick:

• Embarkation port. You could get a great deal on a cruise, but what will it cost you to get to the port? That could involve airfare, an overnight stay or two in a nearby hotel (so that you're less likely to be affected by travel delays), and transportation from the airport or hotel to the port. This is especially true if you're taking a cruise that departs from an international destination.
• Perks for repeat cruisers. Like frequent flyer programs on airlines, most cruise lines offer benefits the more you sail. If you find yourself absolutely loving cruise vacations, it can be advantageous to put all of your eggs in one basket, so to speak. Rewards programs can include casino benefits, complimentary meals at the upgraded dining experiences, exclusive sail-away parties with free cocktails and tchotchkes, early-access booking on future cruises, and much more.
• Reputation. It's a really smart idea to see what other travelers have said about their overall experience with a cruise line before booking your trip. The ads on TV may make that private island look amazing, but someone who's been there might point out that you'll pay extra to get on that waterslide. Or, previous cruisers could tell you that despite having several formal nights on the schedule, a particular cruise line has no problem with people showing up to dinner in flip-flops and swimsuit coverups. Find out if the cruise line you're considering lines up in reality with what they advertise.

Here at Top Consumer Reviews, cruising is one of our favorite ways to travel and experience new things. And with so many different cruise lines to choose from, it can be overwhelming to know where to start. But, don't worry: take a look at our in-depth analysis of today's most popular options, find the one that's the best match for your vacation ideas and your travel party, and book that trip you've been dreaming of. Bon voyage!

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Best Cruise Lines Based on In-Depth Reviews

• 200+ Hours of research
• 20+ Sources used
• 24 Companies vetted
• 3 Features reviewed
• 5 Top Picks

• Book early to lock in the best rates and avoid long waitlists.
• Bigger ships are usually more affordable than smaller ones.
• Support sustainability-minded cruise lines.
• Budget ahead to cut back on spending while onboard.
• How We Found the Best Cruise Lines
• Our Top Picks: Cruise Lines Reviews

As a disclaimer, we advise anyone who is considering going on a cruise to keep their best interests in mind when it comes to COVID-19. People on cruise ships spend a lot of time close together, often with travelers from many countries. Due to this high population density, outbreaks are not unheard of. In fact, as the outbreak on the Diamond Princess shows, cruises are a perfect breeding ground for highly contagious viruses like COVID-19. 17% of the people aboard the ship contracted the virus from the moment that the ten infected passengers were identified, to when the ship’s quarantine was lifted.

If you suffer from a preexisting condition or belong to a population that is particularly vulnerable to the virus, please think twice before boarding a cruise ship. Here are some additional resources if you are considering boarding a cruise ship during the ongoing pandemic:

• Here’s how to cancel or postpone a cruise due to coronavirus
• What to Expect When Cruise Ships Sail Again
• Sailing Into Sickness?

To stay informed about confirmed virus outbreaks on cruise ships during 2020, visit the CDC’s page for outbreak updates on international cruises .

• Carnival review

Best Cruise Line for Value

Screenshot Carnival.com, September 2020

As the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve, Carnival Cruise Line has canceled all ship sailings through and including December 31, 2020. Here is the list of canceled cruises .

Thanks to its frequent sales and early-booking deals on what are already low prices by industry standards, Carnival stands out as an example of budget-friendly fun. As the most extensive cruise line in the world, based on both its number of annual passengers and ships in its fleet, travelers can look forward to a joyful experience with a variety of entertainment options for adults and children alike. Carnival's 23 ships depart from every coast in the U.S., from such cities as Miami, Los Angeles, Baltimore, Seattle, and New York City, with voyages ranging from two to seventeen days. 

Carnival’s fares are the main draw of the cruise line, and from the moment its website opens, deals and special offers will fill your screen. It’s relatively easy to find fares advertised as low as $159 per guest for a three-day cruise from the Bahamas to Miami, as it is to find a six-day cruise to the Eastern Caribbean from Fort Lauderdale for as low as $305 per guest. Although some extras aren’t covered in the fare, most of the ship activities are.

Designed to attract two main groups of people: young travelers and families, the Carnival experience has something for just about any demographic. Waterslides, sports courts, casinos, comedy acts, and nightclubs are a few examples of what guests can expect to find on one of Carnival’s 23 cruise ships. For children, Carnival partnered with Dr. Seuss Enterprises for themed story hours and kid-friendly "Cat in the Hat" brunches.

The 1:3 ratio of crew members to passengers ensures that, despite the large crowds, travelers can usually get the help or direction they need right away.

Despite repeat offenses in the past, Carnival is actively trying to reduce its carbon footprint and limit its impact on the environment. It has been a pioneer in introducing Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) to the industry, for example, which is a much cleaner fuel than diesel. The Carnival Corporation began implementing this fuel by using it in port and later made history twice by commissioning the first hybrid LNG cruise ship in 2015 and the first fully LNG-powered ship in 2019. The company’s 2020 sustainability goals include: reducing the intensity of its CO2 emissions by 25% relative to its 2005 baseline, continuing to improve water use efficiency by 5%, and increasing the coverage of its Advanced Wastewater Treatment System by ten percentage points relative to its 2014 baseline.

Also, consider: Princess Cruises

Screenshot Princess.com, September 2020

Princess Cruises has temporarily paused their global ship operations. View details and list of affected cruises here . 

Princess Cruises features very economical fares similar to its parent company Carnival. The main difference between both companies is their atmosphere and the audience for each cruise line. Princess Cruises targets more adult travelers and brings in more international guests. Consider this alternative if you are traveling without kids and prefer a more traditional cruise experience to Carnival’s casual and laid back crowds.

• Disney review

Best Cruise Line for Families

Screenshot Disneycruise.disney.go.com, September 2020

Disney Cruise Lines Coronavirus (COVID-19) Travel Alert (September 15, 2020): Disney Cruise Lines Extends Suspension of All Departures Through at Least December 6, 2020. Sailings are cancelled on board the Disney Fantasy through December 6; the Disney Dream and Disney Wonder through December 11; and the Disney Magic through December 12.

Parents will find that the Disney line of cruise ships are a hard-to-beat experience for families, especially if the adults enjoy the Disney movies and characters as much as their kids do. All four of the line’s ships—the Disney Magic, Disney Wonder, Disney Dream, and Disney Fantasy—have received acclaim for their immersive, kid-friendly atmosphere, dining venues, amenities, and spacious staterooms. Disney cruise ships depart from a variety of ports in North America and Europe, sailing in the United States, Mexico, Canada, Europe, and the Caribbean, with voyages that last between three and fifteen days.

For travelers in a group of four—2 adults, 2 children—the price for a 4 to 6 night stay at one of Disney's cruises start between $2,195 and $4,523. Compared to the rates from other cruise lines, whose fares are similar but include a lot less overall, these are surprisingly affordable. Included in the standard Disney fare are Broadway-type shows, movie screenings, all food except for adult-exclusive dining, a variety of snacks, and clubs hosted by specially trained Disney counselors.

Disney cruise guests can find plenty of family-oriented facilities, including themed pools, youth clubs, and onboard spas. They’ll also be able to eat in the cruise line's Disney-themed main dining rooms and enjoy a variety of Disney-inspired entertainment, such as live shows, movies, and character meet and greets. Each ship also features secluded adult-only pools, restaurants, and lounges. 

Although Disney's ships vary in size, each vessel carries approximately one crew member for every three passengers, and crew and cast members come from all over the world. This helps ensure that guests receive prompt, high-quality service while onboard.

Out of all the large cruise ship companies, Disney has consistently gotten the best marks when it comes to sustainable cruising. This is due to a combination of conservation and wildlife projects, advanced waste management and water purification systems, and efforts to enhance fuel-efficiency, as well as make the move to cleaner energy sources. Most importantly, Disney is transparent about its practices; it was the only cruise line that responded to Friend of the Earth’s inquiries about its environmental practices.

• UnCruise Adventures review

Best Green Cruise Line

Screenshot Uncruise.com, September 2020

UnCruise COVID-19 Travel Updates: The no-sail order for cruises put in place by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention only applies to ships with more than 250 passengers and crew. Uncruise is exempt from this order, and their U.S-based, U.S.-flagged, U.S.-crewed vessels have put initiatives in place to advocate for the betterment of small boat travel and its guests. You can read more updates on onboard protocols for COVID-19, here .

UnCruise can best be described as an adventure cruise line. Its routes generally stop short of points of interest that lie off the beaten path and can only be reached by inflatable boats, hiking, or kayaking. This is the first of two elements that make UnCruise the “greenest” cruise line, the other being its near devotion to sustainability. UnCruise’s destinations include Alaska, Hawaii, several ports in Latin America, and the Pacific Northwest.

Although not the most affordable fare—starting around $2695 per person—that price tag comes with a plethora of benefits, namely, that it pays for practically everything in your trip. That includes otherwise expensive activities like snorkeling, kayaking, and skiffing; every excursion on the way to your destination; spirits, wine, and beer; non-alcoholic beverages; ensuite facilities; and fitness equipment. You are essentially paying for the entirety of the vacation, transportation to the port notwithstanding. There’s no need for UnCruise to up-sell any particular activities: because everything is part of the experience, you get to decide how much you want to do.

UnCruise focuses on providing guests with exploration and discovery, a goal that is made infinitely easier given the size of its ships. The company’s largest ship fits just 86 passengers, which makes their cruises much more familiar and intimate. Additionally, none of their ships has a guest-to-crew ratio lower than 3:1, and most of them boast a 2:1 or 2.5:1 ratio.

By connecting guests to their natural surroundings, UnCruise creates an experience that goes beyond just vacationing and pushes into education. Through narrative interpretation, interacting with locals, and a variety of other onboard activities that encourage relaxation, passengers are given a chance to interact with nature in a way that larger, more distanced cruises would not allow.

UnCruise’s approach to the concept of cruising makes it a standout in the area of sustainability. The company employs a variety of strategies that lessen its impact not only on the environment at large but also on its destinations. On the local side, it supports local businesses and individuals by sourcing materials or food items from them and by hiring them for tasks such as off-boat operational activities and cultural tours or presentations.

More broadly, UnCruise outfits all its ships with advanced sewage-treatment systems, maximize fuel efficiency during every trip, is the first cruise line to partner with the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch, and adheres to the seven principles of Leave No Trace established by the Center for Outdoor Ethics.

• VACAYA review

Best Cruise Line for LGBTQIA+

Screenshot Myvacaya.com, September 2020

At this point, all upcoming VACAYA vacations are on schedule. To learn more, visit VACAYA’S Travel Updates page. 

Unlike other cruise lines on our list who own their ships, VACAYA is a full charter service. It takes over entire ships and then creates a fully customized itinerary of 24/7 entertainment and social activities that they hope are a perfect fit for the LGBTQIA+ community. Currently, the company is advertising three cruises: a round trip of the Caribbean embarking from Puerto Rico, a trip around Iceland starting from Reykjavík, and a round trip river cruise embarking from New Orleans.

Because VACAYA charters ships rather than running their own, the company’s fares will inevitably affect the company whose ship they’re renting. This means cruises might be drastically different in price. For example, its Caribbean cruise has fares starting from $897 per person, whereas its Reykjavík cruise fares begin at $5,797 per person. The price of your VACAYA cruise covers all of the onboard entertainment and parties— no matter the cost.

VACAYA was founded by tourism and travel industry executives with many years of experience working at the popular, gay-focused Atlantis and RSVP cruise lines and wanted cruises with a different vision and offering. Part of that vision is an inclusive, judgment-free environment that isn’t limited to gay males of a specific size, shape, or color. Instead, the company’s goal is to create a sort of queer wonderland, where the entire spectrum of the community is respected and made to feel at home. 

VACAYA also offers an experience catered towards single travelers through its Solo Traveling with Ease Program (STEP). The program pairs two solo travelers together, so they share a room, keeping costs to a minimum. Travelers who want to cruise solo but don’t mind sharing a room have to pick the type of stateroom they’re interested in. Then they’ll be placed in a pool with other travelers interested in that type of room.

As for entertainment, guests can expect a host of personalities to make an appearance, from drag queens to Broadway stars, movie stars, and pop music icons. Events, which are usually themed, often take place outdoors, and guests are encouraged to dress up. Many activities onboard also help connect guests, which gives them a chance to meet new people—and maybe make a few friends in the process.

The level of sustainability that VACAYA has control over is more limited than that of other cruise lines since the company does not own the ships it uses. Therefore, it cannot upgrade their water purification or waste treatment systems. However, one of the companies it charters ships from, Ponant, has a strong record of sustainable cruising practices. Another company whose ships it uses, Celebrity Cruises, has also performed relatively well when it comes to sustainability.

 Also, consider: Out Adventures (smaller, more intimate cruises)

Screenshot Outadventures.com, September 2020

Out Adventures has suspended all tours departing before January 1, 2021. At present, all tours departing after January 2, 2021 are running as planned. Read more about their current state of Out Adventures, here . 

If you’re craving something less crowded and more adventurous, a smaller cruise like the ones from Out Adventures may be a better option. The company was founded in 2008 and has been a provider of gay cruises, tours, and adventure trips for over a decade now. Moreover, they’ve begun offering trips for lesbians with tours designed specifically for and hosted by women. Out Adventures has cruises in 4 locations: Antarctica, Croatia, Egypt, and the Galapagos. The company’s largest excursion only carries 40 passengers.

• Viking review

Best Cruise Line for River Travel

Screenshot Vikingcruises.com, September 2020

Viking River Cruises has extended its temporary suspension of operations across all scheduled departures through December 31, 2020. They are also offering a Plan Your Voyage Risk-Free limited-time offer. Read more about their offers and travel updates here . 

For a laid-back but destination-heavy trip down one of the world’s rivers, look no further than Viking River Cruises. Although Viking also does expedition and ocean cruises, it is best known for its river cruises and the design of its award-winning longships. Viking's current fleet features 49 of these longships, which can accommodate 190 passengers. The company has expanded its cruises to rivers on almost every continent and has been voted the best company for River Cruises several times by various publications.

Compared to the price of luxury river cruises, which have become very popular as of late, Viking is comparatively economical. Its base fares are more affordable, but what truly sets it apart is what’s included with its standard fare. All of Viking's ships include wine, soft drinks, and beer at lunch and dinner. Additionally, internet service—usually a luxury on all but the most generous cruise lines—is included for all passengers on all of the company’s ships. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, all Viking guests are treated to one excursion in each port of call. This is part of Viking’s primary focus on the destination.

The Viking River experience is as much about the on-shore activities as it is about those onboard. To this end, they try to enhance the experience of its passengers by treating them to local cuisine and drink. For example, the dishes served on the company’s river ships while cruising along the Elbe might be of Czech or German origin. The wines and beer may also be sourced regionally.

Because rivers are easier to pollute, given their volume against that of an ocean, river cruises have a lot of responsibility to keep them free of trash and waste. On that front, Viking is doing its homework. According to the company, its longships are integrated with sustainable upgrades, such as solar panels and hybrid engines, and other equipment that minimizes exhaust pollution to meet strict environmental regulations. Its longships also feature a hydro-dynamically optimized and streamlined hull and bow that reduces vibrations for a smoother sail, maximizing fuel efficiency.

• Further Insight into Our Methodology

Ah, cruise lines. Love them or hate them, cruise lines are a popular vacation alternative for travelers of all ages, incomes, and backgrounds. They are convenient and accessible, requiring little planning of anything other than your budget. As the market has diversified, now there are cruises of every size visiting destinations worldwide and catering to just about every demographic. Booking a cruise is no longer as easy as defaulting to the biggest, most magnificent ship docked at the nearest port. 

When researching cruise lines, our goal was to understand the industry as a whole first, and then how the companies operated individually. We started by searching for news and reports about recent developments in the industry, especially as concerns COVID-19. We read about cruise ships, how they work, and how they impact the environment. We also compiled preliminary data about fares and the other costs of going on a cruise. Once that was done, we made a list of the companies that best aligned with our designated criteria and values.

Something to note was the resources used to evaluate sustainability. Various sites, including SustainingTourism , the Passenger Vessel Association , ShipTechnology , and the World Tourism Association Library , helped us identify what “sustainable” cruising should look like. They also helped us weed out controversial “green” practices, like the use of scrubbers and their associated “sludge.” We then visited company websites to search for evidence of their environmental footprint, while using other sources, such as Friends of the Earth , to verify said information.

We split our criteria into three groups:

The cost of going on a cruise may vary widely depending on how much you are willing to spend. Nowhere is this more evident than comparing the fare for cruise ships of different sizes or looking at the fare of both a regular cruise line and a luxury brand. Therefore, we had to draw a line regarding the price of the room and board for a cruise. We focused almost exclusively on the standard fares for the most economical rooms when comparing prices between companies for each review category. Although we did consider the perks and bonuses that more expensive fares include, such as beverage packages, complimentary gifts, and of course, larger rooms, these were not as essential as their standard fare for our review purposes.

Another thing we looked at was gratuity fees, also called service charges. These are usually prepaid when you purchase your fare or are added to passengers' shipboard accounts as tips of anywhere from $14 to $20 per person, per day. This is supposed to replace tipping to reward crew members individually, but some might feel better tipping with cash. We favored companies that allow guests to manage how these gratuities work efficiently.

Lastly, we considered the cost of transportation to the port of departure. Cruises embark from specific destinations, some of which are more expensive to fly or drive than others. For example, if you're based in the United States, and you book a Scandinavian cruise, you will more than likely be departing from a European port. This means you’ll have to factor in the cost of flying there and staying at least a day before embarking—as recommended by many cruise experts. Some cruise lines also offer programs that organize your transportation for you, simplifying the process but driving your total expenses up.

• Customer Experience

Customer experience is paramount when talking about cruise lines—it’s the whole point of going on a cruise. Travelers want an experience they’ll cherish and remember for years to come, not one they’ll rue booking because of an awful experience at the guest services desk. 

The first thing we considered for customer experience was the response that previous passengers had during their trip. We looked for verifiable online reviews as well as rankings based on consumer metrics from credible sources. These two elements formed the bulk of the criteria we used to evaluate overall customer satisfaction.

A more specific element of customer experience that we favored was personalization. A 2018 Deloitte report on the cruise line industry stated that cruises need to adapt to the increasing number of cruise passengers with higher expectations for a more personalized experience. The report also shows that the industry has plenty of space to improve on in several areas, namely consumer empowerment. When looking at cruise lines, we favored those who use digital solutions, such as apps, to provide tools to facilitate customization—of itineraries, for example.

Speaking of information, we also preferred cruise lines that showed a commitment to multilingualism. Cruise lines should have all their online and offline resources available in a variety of languages so that travelers feel comfortable referring to them without needing to resort to English or having another passenger interpret for them. Having multilingual staff members also got cruise lines a better rating with us.

• Sustainability

Sustainability is a big deal for the cruise line industry, namely because cruise ships are significant pollutants. One report from TransportEnvironment.org showed that “the luxury cruise brands owned by Carnival Corporation & PLC emitted in 2017 in European seas alone ten times more disease-causing sulfur oxide than all of Europe’s 260+ million passenger vehicles.” Another report, from the Congressional Research Service , outlines the several types of waste that cruise ships discharge and emit, including various types of liquid, solid, and gaseous waste.

Given the worsening climate crisis , going on a cruise may seem foolhardy at best and outright complicit at worst. While traveling via car or plane also releases dangerous pollutants into the atmosphere, it pales in comparison to the environmental impact of cruises. But cruise lines aren’t oblivious to this fact. Many—from industry giants like Carnival to small, to footprint-light companies like Uncruise—are actively seeking to lessen their impact on the environment.

Sustainability ended up being a much more important element of evaluating cruise lines than we had initially anticipated. To that end, we tried to shine the spotlight on companies that 1) keep their sewage and wastewater treatment systems up to date, 2) adopt cleaner, low-sulfur fuel, such as liquefied natural gas, and 3) comply with water quality standards. Many large cruise lines did not show substantial progress in these areas, as determined by sources such as the Friends of the Earth 2019 Cruise Ship Report Card . Ultimately, this means that for those who are seriously worried about their carbon footprint, medium-to-small cruises are the way to go.

• Helpful information about Cruise Lines

Cruising may be the best option if you are looking for a vacation that has everything in one place, with a minimum level of stress. Planning your travels inland is fun and exciting, but it can also be exhausting, especially when traveling with a big group, say, with friends or family. Booking a cruise, on the other hand, boils down to merely figuring out the type of cruise ship you want to board, how comfortable you want to be on it, and the destinations you want to visit.

A common misconception about cruises is that they offer fewer entertainment options than a land vacation. While this can certainly be true of smaller cruises, which may be mostly rooms and living quarters, this is far from a truism about the industry as a whole. Cruises have come a long way: in addition to their destination(s), many ships feature numerous, assorted activities, from Broadway shows and casinos to comedy acts, cooking classes, and movie showings. Although some activities may come at an added price, everything remains in close proximity, making transportation a non-issue.

Types of Cruise Ships

Cruise ships come in all shapes and sizes but can be roughly divided into three groups: small, mid-size, and large. Some types of ships are too large for certain activities, such as river cruising, which means the kind of ship you want to stay in may dictate the cruise experience you will ultimately have.

Small cruises have the advantage of maneuverability, making it possible to stray off the beaten path and visit more exotic ports that big ships can’t reach. The number of passengers may vary from under a hundred to well into the mid-thousands. They might have a handful of restaurants and some small-scale entertainment, but most of the excitement will be happening at the real destination: offboard.

Large cruises are on the opposite side of the spectrum to small cruises. As much (if not more), resources are spent on developing what travelers can do on the cruise and off. They usually host numerous stores and dining options and feature music halls, theatres, pools, zip lines, or even kart circuits. They have every amenity you could think of, which helps when you’re moving thousands of passengers around and plan plenty of offboard activities at popular ports. Overall, they are akin to giant, floating resorts more than anything else.

Mid-sized cruises try to combine the benefits of both large and small ships to provide the best of both worlds. They aren’t as crowded as large ships, hosting around one to two thousand passengers, but not as private as small ships. There are plenty of amenities on board and may host more nature-focused activities than on larger ships. Mid-sized cruises also offer a variety of dining options, though they are naturally more limited.

In addition to the cruise types mentioned above, there are also river cruises, indicative not just of their size but, more importantly, of their setting of choice. Finally, so-called “mega cruises” are the equivalent of taking a large ship and making it even bigger and filling it to the brim with venues, restaurants, stores, and areas for other activities. They usually feature bombastic events and can hold as many as five thousand passengers.

• What to Watch Out for With Cruise Lines

The Wi-Fi isn’t great—and it’s expensive

First off, it bears mentioning that the satellite internet on cruise ships will never be as robust or reliable as your broadband at home. Satellite internet service is fundamentally different from how cable or fiber works. A signal has to travel from the ship to a satellite and then back down to Earth. This is inherently slower, and can crawl to a virtual standstill—or outright not work—due to data congestion or problems with the ship’s line of sight to the satellite. Don’t expect to be doing bandwidth-heavy activities with any degree of success while onboard.

Despite how lackluster internet service is on cruise ships, it’s also strikingly expensive. The price of internet packages on some popular cruise lines will cost you around $14 to $20 per day. To make matters worse, you may have to purchase Wi-Fi plans per device, raising the price of Wi-Fi for groups and families exponentially if they want to cover multiple devices.

Luckily, the internet on cruise ships does seem to be getting better, with a few lines managing speeds of up to 5 Mbps. And it’s becoming more affordable, too. The old pay-by-the-minute system is being replaced by more comprehensive, per-day plans and packages. Some lines, such as Viking Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Silversea, even include unlimited internet time with their base fare. Cruises have also begun to introduce specialized packages, such as Carnival’s Social Wi-Fi plan, which offers access to specific websites and apps for a reduced rate of $5 per day—a much lower rate than regular cruise Wi-Fi plans.

Beverages packages often are not worth it

Often advertised as an easy way of saving money, beverage packages cover various refreshments and drinks, such as bottled water, sodas, and alcoholic beverages. The thing is, they’re pretty expensive. For example, a Royal Caribbean drinks package can cost as much as $89 per day, and one Norwegian drinks package is over $120 a day.

Beverage packages can save you money, but only if you were going to spend a lot of it on drinks in the first place. In other words, they only make sense if you routinely spend more than what those packages covered in drinks on a per-day basis. Packages become even less desirable in cruises where certain drinks are already included, such as soda on the Disney Lines, specialty coffees on Sea Cloud Cruises, and beer and wine with lunch and dinner on Viking Cruises.

Do the math before getting on your cruise. Carefully think about the type of drinks and how many of them you’d typically order while on vacation. Also, consider that some lines include drinks packages as a perk during limited-time booking promotions, making such a package turn from an expensive luxury to an affordable benefit.

Travel Insurance and COVID-19

The novel COVID-19 has forced many people to rethink their vacation plans, or even cancel them outright. Whether or not travel insurance covers COVID-19 depends on each company’s policy. Many companies are now rushing to cover it to satisfy consumer demand, but as of September 2020, coverage is still limited. So far, the few policies that have been written with COVID-19 include at least one of the following:

• emergency medical and medical evacuation coverage if a traveler contracts the virus while on a cruise.
• trip cancellation coverage if a traveler contracts coronavirus, or is quarantined, and unable to travel as planned.

If you have already purchased travel insurance and your provider has not updated their policy to include situations that could result from exposure to COVID-19, your best bet might be upgrading to a Cancel for Any Reason policy. This is an optional upgrade that can reimburse 75% of the traveler's trip cost. It is also the only option that allows travelers to cancel their trip for any reason not covered by a standard policy, such as travel bans or fear of traveling due to coronavirus.

• FAQs about Cruise Lines

Can I do laundry onboard?

Most large or mid-sized ships offer wash and press services on board for a fee. In ships with laundry service, there should be a laundry bag inside your room that you can leave for your room steward to pick up. The bag should be back with your clothes the next day, or on the same day if you pay extra. Some cruise lines offer laundry packages that must be booked and paid for in advance. Some cruise lines also feature self-service laundries.

If you don’t want to pay for your laundry, you can always bring detergent onboard and hand wash it yourself. In-cabin showers should have retractable clotheslines so you can hang your clothes to dry. Certain upper-tier suites may also include laundry with their fare.

What’s the dress code?

Dress codes can be confusing since they vary from one cruise line to another. Historically speaking, guests had it way easier at the dawn of the cruise line era. Evening wear, for example, was straightforward: the men wore white tie, and the ladies wore evening gowns. As dress code enforcement became progressively laxer, guests began wearing a wider variety of clothes to activities on a regular basis. Your best guess as to what clothes to bring will be whatever your cruise ship’s individual dress code dictates is appropriate.

Will I get seasick onboard if I suffer from motion sickness?

Because cruise ships are so big—even smaller ones are considered large ships, by most standards—movements are slower and much less pronounced. Modern cruise ships may also have sets of stabilizers, which are like giant fins that project out from the hull of the ship and cut into the water. This prevents some of the rolling motions that regularly trigger people’s motion sickness. Unless a person’s motion sickness is severe, seasickness should rarely be an issue on cruise ships.

Should I book a cruise early or late?

Whether you should book a cruise early, when their fares first go up, or late, soon before they embark, will depend on your priorities for the trip. As a rule of thumb, it is recommended to book your spot on a cruise early to lock in a good rate from the outset. This is especially important if you are booking a popular cruise and want a specific type of cabin or event itinerary. On the other hand, if you don't mind being flexible about your cruise ship and itinerary, waiting until a few days before the departure date may net you the lowest possible price.

Do I need to pay for drinkable water?

Most cruise ship water is desalinated seawater. Travelers can access tap water from one of the multiple water stations scattered throughout cruise ships. These can be freely used, but keep in mind that some ships do not allow guests to refill water bottles at these stations as per their health regulations. Bottled water—and sparkling water—is usually not included in your standard fare. You will need to buy it individually or pay for a beverage package that includes it.

Top Cruise Lines by Customer Satisfaction

Despite highly publicized problems, cruising remains a popular way to vacation.

July 1, 2013— -- Despite this year's highly publicized problems on the high seas, cruising remains a popular way to vacation. And most cruisers -- four out of five -- report overall satisfaction with their cruise vacation, according to the JD Powers 2013 Cruise Line Satisfaction Report.

Disney Cruise Line ranks highest in customer satisfaction with a score of 871 (on a 1,000-point scale), significantly higher than the report average of 824, and performs particularly well in the entertainment and food factors, according to the report. Royal Caribbean International ranks second with a score of 838, and performs particularly well in service. Holland America Line ranks third at 835, also with high marks in service.

Disney is the parent company of ABC News and the Disney Cruise Line.

PHOTOS: 2012's Best Cruise Ships

Only two cruise lines did not meet the report average: Norwegian Cruise Line and Carnival Cruise Line.

See why the new Norwegian Breakaway is a 'game changer' for cruise industry.

Price is the driving factor behind why most people (53 percent) choose to book a cruise with a particular brand while 39 percent choose based on past experience with a brand. The average price paid for one person is $1,628 and $2,330 for a group of two to four.

And while the majority of cruisers -- 80 percent -- report satisfaction with their cruise experience, nearly one in five customers experience a problem while on their cruise, according to the report.

"To raise the bar, the industry must focus on meeting the needs of the nearly 20 percent of passengers who experience a problem with their cruise line experience," said Ramez Faza, senior account manager of the global travel and hospitality practice at J.D. Power. "Cruise lines need to understand the causes of customer dissatisfaction and determine what will motivate them to come back."

Cruise lines ranked by satisfaction (average score is 824):

Disney Cruise Line, 871

Royal Caribbean International, 838

Holland America Line, 835

Celebrity Cruises, 828

Princess Cruises, 826

Norwegian Cruise Line, 818

Carnival Cruise Line, 810

The scourge of customer satisfaction surveys

On a scale of 1 to 5, how likely are you to share this story with a friend?

All I can really say about the appointment at my kid's allergist is that it occurred. We waited weeks to get in, got some tests, received a diagnosis and a treatment plan, had a weird insurance thing that wasted our time. American healthcare took place.

Then I got a survey. 

The email contained the usual set of questions . How would I rate the service I received? How likely was I to recommend them to a friend? But I've gotta say, getting asked how satisfied I was with the care provided by a pediatric allergist was baffling to me. My child received necessary medical treatment at a speed commensurate with its urgency. It was fine. What aspect of it could I possibly evaluate? I don't need to express an opinion about the chairs in the waiting room.

The whole thing vexed me enough that I started to really notice customer satisfaction surveys — and, as I'm sure you've seen, they are everywhere . It seems like every interaction I have with a money-involving organization also comes with a polite request for my feedback. A restaurant. A hotel. A shop. The insurance company that wasted my time. Every time I buy something or interact with someone: another survey. While I was pitching this story to my editor, his email dinged. A survey! How'd we do? How long was your wait time? How satisfied were you with the knowledge and professionalism of the salesperson who served you?

Most of the time I'm not asked to evaluate the quality of a product or service. I'm asked to evaluate the experience , the meta-consumption that drives our hyperactive service economy. A tsunami of surveys has turned us all into optimization analysts for multibillion-dollar companies. Bad enough I'm providing free labor to help a transnational corporation improve its share price or "evaluate" a low-paid, overworked, nonunion employee. It's more than annoying. I'm starting to suspect it's unethical.

This isn't just my imagination. We're all getting more requests for feedback. Global spending on market research has doubled since 2016, to more than $80 billion a year. More than half of that money is doled out in the United States, and a fifth of it — $16 billion! — is devoted to customer surveys.

Consider the experience of Qualtrics, one of the largest survey-data companies. In the past year, the firm has analyzed 1.6 billion survey responses. That's a 4% increase over the prior year — and responses for the first quarter of 2024 were 10% above what Qualtrics projected. Its analysis of "non-structured data," which is to say customer-service phone calls and online chatter, hit 2 billion conversations last year. This year the company projects an increase of 62%.

Why are there suddenly so many surveys? Because people have so many options today that they're not bothering to complain when something sucks. They just move on to a different, equally accessible website. A company pisses them off or disappoints them, and poof! They're gone.

"When a customer has a poor experience, 10% fewer of them are telling the company about it than they did in 2021," says Brad Anderson, the president of product and engineering at Qualtrics. "What's happening is they're just switching." So companies are using surveys in a bid to hang on to those unloyal customers. After all, it's way more expensive to acquire a new customer than keep an old one.

The tricky part is marketing research has shown that the objective quality of a product, its nominal goodness, matters less than whether it meets customer expectations. "Quality," as one research paper put it, "is what the customer says it is." Customer satisfaction correlates with profitability, with share price , with success .

Now, to get all philosophical for a moment, what even is satisfaction , anyway? People tried for decades to figure that out. Then, in 2004, a Bain consultant named Fred Reichheld came up with an answer. He called it the Net Promoter Score. 

Before I tell you what that is, let me ask you a question: On a scale of 1 to 10, how likely would you be to recommend this article to someone else?

That's it. That's what the Net Promoter Score does. If you'd recommend something to someone else, it has by definition satisfied you. Mystery solved.

The NPS came along at the same time as the widening use of the internet and social media, which made it very easy to ask about. Phone calls, snail mail — that stuff is time-consuming and expensive. But surveys sent via email and text are fast and cheap. 

"People don't choose based on objective quality anymore," says one marketing expert.

In American marketing, NPS became an unstoppable craze. Other metrics followed: the Customer Satisfaction Score, the Customer Effort Score, measurements of the entire Customer Experience. A survey, or monitoring calls to customer service, could reveal loyalty, intent to buy again, the specific parts of the "customer journey" that were most pleasant. "People don't choose based on objective quality anymore," says Nick Lee, a marketing professor at the Warwick Business School. "Value is added by way more than what we would call objective product features."

At the peak of the so-called sharing economy, customer surveys were all-powerful. They went both ways: Suddenly, Uber drivers and Uber riders both had star ratings to care about. Customer surveys were going to fix asymmetrical marketplace information. But of course, the whole thing was frothier than a five-star milkshake. By the late 2010s it was becoming clear that all those reviews and ratings were getting less useful over time. They were subject, it turned out, to " reputation inflation ." Eventually everything gets four stars out of five.

The glut of customer surveys has created an additional problem for marketers. Email surveys are like the robocalls of old: You hit delete without even looking at them. "People receive so many survey requests that they're more likely to refuse to participate in any survey," says James Wagner, a researcher at the University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research. It's called oversurveying, and it makes people less likely to respond . Which means that, for statistical validity, companies have to send out more surveys. Which lowers the response rate even further, which means that companies have to send out yet more surveys, in a never-ending doom loop. On a scale of 1 to 5, customer satisfaction with customer-satisfaction surveys is headed to zero.

In reality, nobody's even sure these surveys are measuring the right thing . "Companies regularly collect customer-satisfaction measures, Net Promoter Scores, things like that," says Christine Moorman, a business-administration professor at Duke University who heads up a semiannual survey of hundreds of chief marketing officers. "But then the question is what do they do with it, and to what strategic ends? Most of them are doing it out of habit, not because they're thinking about the larger strategic questions they have."

Big survey companies don't just dump a giant Excel spreadsheet on their clients and send them an invoice. They offer sophisticated analyses of the data they collect. But unless those numbers are tied to possible changes the client might make, what's the point? "It's a huge arms race," says Lee, the Warwick marketing prof. "If you can give me more data rather than less data, I want more data. But the business model as to whether that data is valuable, it's sometimes questionable. Because people don't know what to do with the data, and they let the agency tell them what it says." Just because a company gets a bunch of survey results doesn't mean it knows what to do with them.

Customer surveys aren't just bad for companies. After reading the copious research on how surveys are actually used, I've come to the conclusion that they're even worse for us, the oversurveyed customers.

Any time a scientist wants to do research involving humans, it's a whole thing. That always comes with risks, from exposing people to an untested drug to simply wasting their time. To get approved by an Institutional Review Board, the potential results have to be worth the risks, to provide some benefit to humanity. That's called "equipoise." And if a proposed experiment on living things doesn't have it, you ain't supposed to do the experiment. 

Perhaps customer surveys should be evaluated for "equipoise." What if they're only being used to discipline or fire employees?

Perhaps customer surveys should be evaluated for equipoise. If the companies actually use the data to improve a product or experience, that's good for us subjects. But what if it's used only to improve the company's share value or profitability? Or to discipline or fire employees? That only helps the company. And that doesn't even take into account whether I, the surveyed one, gave my consent for data I provided to be used in that way — a key to ethical research. 

"Maybe we should have to pre-tell people what we're going to do with the data before we get it," Lee says. "That would be a way to stop companies from doing it indiscriminately." But he knows that's a nonstarter. "We'd be adding bureaucracy into the system. Never a popular thing to do with companies."

Worse, for vast swaths of services, you and I are the last people anyone should be soliciting opinions from. Things like doctor visits, legal services, or school classes are "pretty hard for the user to evaluate," Lee says. "We ask for customer feedback on these things all the time, but it's hard for a customer to give you immediate feedback, because a customer doesn't know what quality is yet." The college class you hated because it was hard, and at 8 a.m., might turn out to be your favorite academic memory and the foundation for your professional skill set 15 years later. Whether a visit to the mechanic was pleasant doesn't tell you how well they fixed your car. You have to drive around with your new drive shaft awhile to know whether you got shafted. 

Lee has unpublished data, which hasn't been peer-reviewed, comparing hospital performance in Britain's National Health Service with surveys of both patients and employees. "It's not surprising that the best hospitals have the best patient feedback and best worker feedback," he says. But what is surprising is that worker feedback, not customer responses, correlates most closely with quality. Users, it turns out, aren't very good at telling what's what.

You know what is good at sorting through tons of data? Artificial intelligence. As email surveys get lower and lower response rates, consumer marketing companies have begun to tout their acumen at applying AI to the unstructured verbiage of online reviews, social-media posts, and call-center transcripts. Maybe these new tools, based on large language models, will be able to coax better responses from oversurveyed consumers. "It's the ability to be able to detect when there's a low-quality answer and come back and ask the customer for more data," Anderson says. "When we ask the second question, 40% of the time the customer engages and provides more data. The number of syllables in the second response increases by 9x." 

Now, if I get a callback from a customer-survey robot, there's a good chance most of those additional syllables will be profane. How will I rate my experience getting interviewed by an AI? It might get more actionable data out of me than that email from my kid's allergist did. But I'm pretty sure I won't recommend it to a friend.

Adam Rogers is a senior correspondent at Business Insider.

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