Which is the Best Cruise Line ?

How to define the ‘best’ cruise line is one of our most challenging questions – but the answer is to find out what would make it the best for you which may be completely different to what we would view as the best for us.

Here is a real example taken from a conversation on one of our recent cruises. It was, in our opinion, a stunning cruise around Australia sailing through The Great Barrier Reef and on to Asia on board Celebrity Cruises. One day we were chatting with a couple of sisters, probably both in their 30’s, who were travelling together and who were not particularly enjoying the cruise, certainly in comparison to previous cruises that they had taken with Carnival Cruise Line.

Now in hotel terms Celebrity are 5* and Carnival 3* but Carnivals focus is on being a fun budget friendly ‘party at sea’ experience – very different to the more luxury feel attributed to Celebrity. The sisters were missing that party at sea atmosphere, which to be honest would not have been our cup of tea. But it just goes to show that there is a cruise best or at least better suited to everyone.

So rather than try to influence anyone with our view of the best cruise line here is a few headline facts about each of the main lines that serve the UK market which will hopefully help you to decide which is the best for you.

Carnival Cruise Line – generally viewed as 3* with a budget friendly, fun party at sea atmosphere. The vibe on board is energetic and casual with plenty going on, staterooms are simply decorated and food tends to consist of fairly standard buffet style and casual eating spots. Carnival generally attracts a younger clientele and is also viewed as being a good option for families with on board waterparks and kids clubs to suit ages from 2 – 17. It can get quite loud and rowdy on sea days in particular.

Costa Cruise Line – Owned by Carnival Corporation and also generally viewed as a 3* cruise line. Costa is an Italian brand and the vibe on board is typically Mediterranean – which is where most of its itineraries are focussed. The food is also typically Italian with lots of pasta /pizza and regional Italian dishes. It is a very family friendly cruise line with kids clubs and waterparks on the newer ships and offers some of the best deals at sea for kids sharing a cabin with adults. Announcements are made in several different languages (which can get annoying) and we find public spaces (dining rooms/ bars etc) very loud and noisy – just the Italians way of expressing themselves !

MSC Cruises – Independently owned and another Italian brand. MSC borders between 3 and 4 star with their older ships being more 3* and newer ships 4*. The standard cabins would tend to equate more towards 3* hotel accommodation whatever the age of ship. The Yacht Club is MSC’s premium offering and is most definately worthy of a 5* standard. Food is generally Mediterranean in style and of a high standard. MSC is very family friendly with kids clubs to suit all ages and the newer ships have some of the best waterparks at sea.

Norwegian Cruise Line – another line that borders between 3* and 4* depending on the age of the specific ship. The newer (and bigger ships) have a very contemporary feel and NCL are well known for its Freestyle Cruising – no set dining times or dress codes. NCL offer some of the best ‘free at sea’ deals’ – these are optional extras which include drinks, speciality dining (the steakhouses are great) and wifi packages and whilst there is a cost this is usually very attractive compared to other cruise lines. The cruise line is highly family friendly with kids clubs to suit all ages and the newer ships have some of the best activities at sea for teens. Please note Norwegian Spirit does not offer kids clubs or teen activities.

Royal Caribbean Cruise Line – Our first ever cruise was on Independence of the Seas so the cruise line holds some nostalgia for us but our most recent cruises were not amongst our favourites. Royal sets itself a 4* standard based upon the quality of its accommodation and food offerings. In recent years Royal has focussed on launching bigger ships with innovative features on board such as ice skating rinks, flowriders. It also prides itself on its on board entertainment though we would perhaps disagree based on recent cruises. It is a very family friendly cruise line featuring drop off clubs from babies and tots to teens.

P&O Cruises – A very mainstream 4* cruise line catering heavily to UK tastes and therefore with a very British vibe on board and predominantly British clientele. P&O earns its 4* rating based on its consistent quality of accommodation, food and entertainment options – in our view drinks tend to be more reasonably priced on P&O. The cruise line is very family friendly with dedicated age group kids clubs but perhaps without the same range of adrenalin rush options for teens that you would find on Royal Caribbean. Two of the ships – Arcadia and Aurora are adult only (18+) so do not offer any kids facilities.

Princess Cruises – Perhaps sitting more towards the top end of 4* Princess is a high end premium cruise line. Princess is an American cruise line and is part of Carnival Corporation. They offer excellent service, fine dining, and spacious ships. They sit right between casual, budget lines and top-tier luxury ships. Princess is an excellent choice if you want upscale amenities like The Sanctuary (a private, adults-only relaxation area) and multi-course meals, without paying the high price of ultra-luxury lines. The line offers supervised youth centres, family-friendly pools, and Movies Under the Stars. However, Princess has fewer thrill rides and active water parks.

Marella Cruises ( formerly Thomson Cruises) offer  the equivelant of a packaged holiday at sea with flights, transfers and any pre or post cruise accommodation included. All-Inclusive comes as standard with tips, meals, and drinks are included in the fare. Staff are renowned for being extremely friendly and attentive. They operate five older, welcoming vessels (like Marella Explorer and Marella Voyager) that provide a more traditional and sociable cruise feel rather than massive, theme-park style mega-ships. Marella Cruises are highly family friendly offering free kids’ clubs, dedicated teen zones, family-sized cabins.

Fred Olsen is a more traditional British cruise line Fred Olsen is praised for its high standards of traditional service, excellent food, and intimate, smaller ships that offer a classic British cruising atmosphere. Fred Olsen caters primarily to a more mature audience and does not offer the extensive, dedicated kids’ clubs and water parks found on typical family cruise lines. 

Cunard – the most British of cruise lines Cunard offers a genuine premium experience worthy of a 5* rating. Cunard is famous for its formal dress codes, white-glove “White Star Service,” and classic ocean liners like the Queen Mary 2. Standard rooms and dining are elegant but feel more like a high-end 4-star hotel. Guests in Princess or Queens Grills get access to exclusive, top-tier restaurants, private lounges, and butler service. Cunard is much quieter than other cruise lines above when it comes to being kid friendly. Instead of water parks, Cunard offers classic fun like swimming pools, deck games, and afternoon tea.

Disney Cruise Line – Is it more Disney or more Cruise ? Disney offers 5-star-level service. The staff-to-guest ratio is high and they pay close attention to detail. The ships are highly themed as you would expect. They cater to families with kids, but they also have excellent adults-only areas. Prices are high, which puts them on par with luxury lines. However, they are still “mainstream” because of the large passenger numbers. Disney is frequently voted the best cruise line for kids – we wonder why !?

Celebrity Cruises – for what it is worth our favourite cruise line – Celebrity is owned by Royal Caribbean but offers a more premium level with upscale dining, stylish decor, and great service. It is much more relaxing than mainstream lines like Royal Caribbean or Carnival. Meals are excellent, but you can also pay extra for specialty restaurants and entertainment still has a big focus on live music. Whilst Celebrity does offer family facilities it tends to me more low key than the amusement park style thrills offered by some lines.

Holland America Line – Is a premium cruise line which has mid-sized to large ships (e.g., the 2,666-passenger Koningsdam) and offers a classic cruising style with a high crew-to-guest ratio. Holland America Line offers refined dining, high-end live music, and fewer high-energy waterparks, appealing mainly to an older, relaxed demographic. Holland America Line is more for families who want quiet, destination-focused trips rather than theme-park thrills.

Silversea – It is known for its small, intimate ships and personalized service. Their ships hold anywhere from 100 to 728 guests. This means no crowds and easy docking in smaller ports.
Here is what you get for a real 5-star experience. Every room is a suite, and almost all of them have a private veranda. You get a butler to unpack your bags, shine your shoes, and bring you snacks. Your drinks, gratuities, and even some shore excursions are included in the price. The luxury, all-suite ships cater primarily to adults. They have no dedicated kids’ clubs, water slides, or youth staff.