Thinking of booking a cruise? Here are the lines you should — and shouldn't — sail with.
Before you book a cruise, it's important to understand that not all cruise lines are equal.
Each cruise line has amenities, entertainment, and experiences tailored to specific cruisers.
Carnival is good for families, Virgin Voyages for solo adults, and Cunard for mature travelers.
I am a very, very avid cruiser. Last year alone, I spent 73 days on cruise ships.
I've sailed with most major lines, from kid-focused Disney Cruise Line to the sometimes-naughty Virgin Voyages. When people ask me which cruise ships I recommend, my answer isn't so straightforward.
Each cruise line is unique, offering amenities, entertainment, and experiences tailored to specific cruisers. What you book will depend on your needs, wants, budget, and what you'd rather avoid.
So, I've done some research about popular cruise lines and combined my personal experiences to help you decide which cruise line to book with.
After all, this is kind of the year of the cruise, with travelers predicted to set sail at some of the highest rates in years throughout 2024.
Here's what you need to know about some of the major cruise lines before you book your next trip.
Editor's Note: Price ranges were calculated at the time of publication based on available listings on each cruise site. Cruise pricing is per person, based on double occupancy and the cheapest stateroom/fare available. Prices were calculated before taxes, port charges, and other fees. Itineraries with added tours built-in were not included when calculating this information.
Carnival Cruise Line
Cost: $ | Prices range from $156/pp for a two-day getaway from Sydney to $3,273/pp for a 10-day Alaska cruise
Ideal for: Budget travelers, intergenerational groups, families, and partiers
Skip if: You're looking for a high-class, elegant experience or a quiet, laid-back vibe
Highlight: All Carnival cruises come with itineraries loaded with fun activities. Some ships have especially exciting features like the first roller coaster at sea, SkyRide zip-line-style aerial bikes, and themed parties.
Possible cons: This is not a cruise line for those who like to wear a tux or ball gown or have a quiet cruise experience.
Launched in 1972, Carnival Cruise Line is one of nine cruise lines owned by parent company Carnival Corporation & plc. It's the company's largest cruise line, with 27 ships. Its cruises typically range from two days to 29 days.
Carnival Cruise Line offers year-round cruises in Australia, The Bahamas, the Caribbean, and Mexico and seasonal cruises in Alaska, Bermuda, Canada, Europe, Hawaii, and New England.
Celebrity Cruises
Cost: $$ | Prices range from $233/pp for a three-night Key West & Bahamas cruise to $6,912/pp for a 7-night Galapagos cruise
Ideal for: Couples, families, and solo travelers
Skip if: You're looking for a slower-paced classic cruise
Highlight: All Celebrity Cruises come with amazing outdoor spaces like The Lawn Club with real grass on the top deck of Solstice Series ships and the Rooftop Terrace on Millennium Series ships. You also won't want to miss the Magic Carpet, which allows guests to hang out while suspended above the ocean on some ships.
Possible cons: This is not a cruise line for those who want to attend lectures about their ports of call.
Celebrity Cruises began sailing in 1997. There are 16 ships, which sail on itineraries ranging from three to 19 nights to nearly 300 ports of call in 70 countries.
Cunard
Cost: $$$ | Prices range from $249/pp for a two-night cruise from Southampton, England to Hamburg, Germany, to $19,158/pp for a 111-night World Voyage
Ideal for: Sophisticated travelers and mature cruisers
Skip if: You're looking for a high-energy cruise, hoping to travel with children, or craving adventurous activities
Highlight: All Cunard cruises come with white-glove service. You won't want to miss Cunard's famous 3:30 p.m. afternoon tea, gala evenings, and fine dining arranged by stateroom grade.
Possible cons: This is a very formal cruise with strict dress codes. You won't find water slides or pool parties here.
Founded in 1840, Cunard offers a classic cruise experience with cruises ranging from two to 116 nights.
Its four ships sail to Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America.
Disney Cruise Line
Cost: $$$ | Prices range from $422.40/pp for a two-night cruise from Sydney to Brisbane, Australia, to $5,592/pp for a 12-night Mediterranean with Greek Isles cruise
Ideal for: Disney adults, families, and intergenerational groups
Skip if: You don't want to vacation around a bunch of children and you crave peace and quiet
Highlight: All Disney Cruise Line cruises come with heaps of Disney magic in the way of special events and details. You won't want to miss character meet and greets, pirate-themed parties with fireworks, and passengers trading pins and leaving treats inside decorative pouches hung on stateroom doors.
Possible cons: There is a significant child population on most of these cruises and not much adults-only entertainment. Dinners in the main dining can get loud, and, just like at the theme parks, there can be many queues for activities and other offerings.
Disney Cruise Line first set sail in the 1990s and has five active ships, with the new Disney Treasure set to debut in December. The line has sailings all around the globe, and most range from two to 15 nights.
Holland America Line
Cost: $$ | Prices range from $94/pp for a one-day Pacific Northwest cruise to a $27,399/pp for a 132-day Grand Voyage
Ideal for: Music lovers and sophisticated world travelers who appreciate European hospitality and smaller ships
Skip if: You're young, traveling with children, or want to party
Highlight: All Holland America Line cruises come with a dose of Dutch hospitality and elegance. During my cruise with the line, I enjoyed the Dutch cuisine and Music Walk, which features live performances at B.B. King's Blues Club, Rolling Stone Rock Room, and Billboard Onboard.
Possible cons: The line takes its formal nights really seriously and attracts an older crowd.
Holland America Line has had ships sailing the globe for over 140 years. Its 11 ships cruise to more than 425 ports of call on seven continents, and cruises range from one to 118 days.
MSC Cruises
Cost: $ | Prices range from $80/pp for a three-night Mediterranean cruise to $46,149/pp for a 116-night World Cruise
Ideal for: Budget travelers, families, intergenerational groups, big groups
Skip if: You're looking for lots of food options or top-tier entertainment
Highlight: All MSC Cruises offer great value — and good pizza
Possible cons: The cruise fare does not include many dining options, and the evening entertainment skews old-school and a bit more basic than some other cruise lines that do Broadway-worthy shows.
MSC Cruises has 22 ships, with one more projected to join its fleet by 2025. The line has sailings all around the globe, and most range from two to 118 nights.
Norwegian Cruise Line
Cost: $$ | Prices range from $79/pp for a one-day Australia cruise to $4,379/pp for a 10-day European cruise
Ideal for: Couples, families, and solo cruisers
Skip if: You're looking for structure, ballroom dancing, and fancy dinners
Highlight: All Norwegian Cruise Line cruises offer freestyle dining. You won't want to miss its Broadway-level shows and generous drink package, which is often offered complimentary.
Possible cons: This is not a cruise line for those who like formal dress codes, and some dislike the à la carte pricing.
Norwegian Cruise Line has been sailing the world for over 57 years. Its 19 ships visit 400-plus ports on seven continents, and cruises typically last one to 25 days.
Princess Cruises
Cost: $$ | Prices range from $127/pp for a two-day Australia Seacation to $24,098/pp for a 98-day World Cruise
Ideal for: Mature solo travelers, couples, and retirees
Skip if: You're looking for lots of activities and party vibes. Princess Cruises tend to attract an older crowd, and the shows and activities reflect this. There aren't many events offered each day. On the three cruises I sailed with Princess, the entertainment was primarily musicals, piano players, and singers backed by an orchestra. There were only a handful of children on each cruise.
Highlight: All Princess Cruises offer Discovery and Animal Planet-exclusive shore excursions — and many have an excellent onboard lecture series.
Possible cons: This is not a cruise line for those who like to party, love water slides, or have teenagers.
Founded in 1965, Princess Cruises has 16 ships that sail to 330 destinations worldwide on itineraries from three to 111 days
Royal Caribbean
Cost: $$ | Prices range from $196/pp for a two-night Hong Kong cruise to $8,266/pp for a 13-night Arctic Circle cruise
Ideal for: Couples, families, and intergenerational travelers
Skip if: You're looking for a high-class, elegant experience or a quiet, laid-back vibe
Highlight: All Royal Caribbean cruises come with fun activities and a broad range of entertainment options. Some have the Ultimate Abyss, the tallest slide at sea, or the glass capsule North Star, the tallest viewing deck on a cruise ship. You won't want to miss the Oasis Class ships' seven distinctly themed neighborhoods and Royal Promenade, a mall-like thoroughfare with shops, restaurants, and lounges that runs the length of the ship.
Possible cons: Many of its ships are mega-ships, so this isn't the line for you if you want a more intimate trip.
Founded in 1968, Royal Caribbean sails to about 240 destinations on six continents. Cruises range from two to 22 nights.
Royal Caribbean has many of the world's largest cruise ships in its fleet of more than 20 vessels.
Virgin Voyages
Cost: $$ | Prices range from $415/pp for a four-night roundtrip cruise from England to Amsterdam to a $3,072/pp for a 13-night Canada, Carolina, and Miami cruise
Ideal for: Child-free travelers, health enthusiasts, the glamorous, and those who don't like strict rules
Skip if: You want a classic cruise, need structure, or can't handle playfulness (and, sometimes, naughtiness)
Highlight: All Virgin Voyages are child-free, and everyone gets unlimited WiFi, access to group fitness classes, and gratuities included in their fare. You won't want to miss its famous Scarlet Night, 20 eateries (every venue is considered specialty dining), and eclectic shows like "Untitled DanceShowPartyThing."
Possible cons: There aren't traditional song-and-dance shows, assigned dining times, and nightly portrait photography
Virgin Voyages has been sailing its "Lady Ships" inspired by superyachts since 2021. Three nearly identical ships are currently in service, and a fourth one is set to set sail later this year.
Virgin Voyages sails to about 100 destinations in Australia, Europe, the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, and the United Kingdom on cruises ranging from three to 16 nights.
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