Cruise lines, compared honestly
Fifteen lines carry most North American cruise passengers, and they are more different than their brochures admit. Every review below is scored on the same six criteria by reviewers who sailed the line, with fares from our weekly sampling rather than rate cards.
| Line | Price band | Our score | Nightly from | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Caribbean | Mainstream | 4.4 / 5 | $105 | First-time cruisers who want to be certain there is something to do |
| Carnival | Budget | 4.0 / 5 | $82 | Budget-focused travellers who want the lowest all-in cost |
| Norwegian Cruise Line | Mainstream | 4.1 / 5 | $112 | Solo travellers, who get purpose-built cabins with no single supplement |
| MSC Cruises | Budget | 4.0 / 5 | $82 | Value-focused travellers who care more about the ship than the service style |
| Princess Cruises | Premium | 4.3 / 5 | $132 | Alaska cruisers, particularly anyone who wants to see Denali |
| Celebrity Cruises | Premium | 4.5 / 5 | $148 | Couples who want good food, good design and a quiet ship |
| Disney Cruise Line | Premium | 4.5 / 5 | $245 | Families with children aged two to twelve |
| Virgin Voyages | Premium | 4.3 / 5 | $172 | Adults who want a guaranteed child-free ship |
| Holland America Line | Premium | 4.2 / 5 | $118 | Travellers aged 55 and up who want a calm, traditional ship |
| Cunard | Premium | 4.3 / 5 | $138 | Travellers who want a transatlantic crossing rather than a cruise |
| Costa Cruises | Budget | 3.8 / 5 | $88 | European travellers within easy reach of a Mediterranean home port |
| Seabourn | Ultra-luxury | 4.7 / 5 | $690 | Experienced cruisers moving up from premium lines |
| Silversea | Ultra-luxury | 4.7 / 5 | $620 | Travellers who want butler service without buying a top-tier suite |
| Oceania Cruises | Luxury | 4.6 / 5 | $245 | Travellers for whom food is the primary reason to take a holiday |
| Regent Seven Seas | Ultra-luxury | 4.7 / 5 | $690 | Travellers on port-heavy itineraries who would take an excursion in every port |
Budget lines
Carnival
4.0/5Carnival Cruise Line is a contemporary cruise line focused on short, low-fare sailings from a wide network of US home ports.
Best for: budget-focused travellers who want the lowest all-in cost
Read the full review
MSC Cruises
4.0/5MSC Cruises is a European contemporary cruise line owned by the MSC shipping group, competing in the North American market primarily on price and ship newness.
Best for: value-focused travellers who care more about the ship than the service style
Read the full review
Costa Cruises
3.8/5Costa Cruises is an Italian contemporary cruise line operating primarily in the Mediterranean, northern Europe and South America for a mainly European passenger base.
Best for: european travellers within easy reach of a mediterranean home port
Read the full review
Mainstream lines
Royal Caribbean
4.4/5Royal Caribbean is a contemporary cruise line operating the world's largest cruise ships, best known for onboard activity density rather than destination immersion.
Best for: first-time cruisers who want to be certain there is something to do
Read the full review
Norwegian Cruise Line
4.1/5Norwegian Cruise Line is a contemporary cruise line built around flexible dining and scheduling, marketed as Freestyle Cruising.
Best for: solo travellers, who get purpose-built cabins with no single supplement
Read the full review
Premium lines
Princess Cruises
4.3/5Princess Cruises is a premium-leaning contemporary line known for Alaska itineraries, land-and-sea cruisetours and a quieter onboard atmosphere than the large contemporary brands.
Best for: alaska cruisers, particularly anyone who wants to see denali
Read the full review
Celebrity Cruises
4.5/5Celebrity Cruises is a premium cruise line within the Royal Caribbean Group, known for contemporary design, above-average dining and an adult-leaning passenger profile.
Best for: couples who want good food, good design and a quiet ship
Read the full review
Disney Cruise Line
4.5/5Disney Cruise Line is a family-focused premium cruise line operated by The Walt Disney Company, built around character experiences, rotational dining and unusually strong child-to-adult separation.
Best for: families with children aged two to twelve
Read the full review
Virgin Voyages
4.3/5Virgin Voyages is an adults-only cruise line launched by the Virgin Group in 2021, differentiated by included gratuities, no buffet, no upcharge restaurants and a design-led onboard aesthetic.
Best for: adults who want a guaranteed child-free ship
Read the full review
Holland America Line
4.2/5Holland America Line is a premium cruise line founded in 1873, known for classic mid-size ships, destination-focused itineraries and a strong Alaska programme.
Best for: travellers aged 55 and up who want a calm, traditional ship
Read the full review
Cunard
4.3/5Cunard is a British premium cruise line founded in 1840, operating the world's only scheduled transatlantic ocean liner and known for formal evenings and a class-based restaurant system.
Best for: travellers who want a transatlantic crossing rather than a cruise
Read the full review
Luxury lines
Ultra-luxury lines
Seabourn
4.7/5Seabourn is an ultra-luxury cruise line operating small all-suite ships with an inclusive fare covering drinks, dining and gratuities, plus two purpose-built expedition vessels.
Best for: experienced cruisers moving up from premium lines
Read the full review
Silversea
4.7/5Silversea is an ultra-luxury cruise line within the Royal Caribbean Group, operating all-suite ships with butler service and the widest expedition fleet in the luxury segment.
Best for: travellers who want butler service without buying a top-tier suite
Read the full review
Regent Seven Seas
4.7/5Regent Seven Seas Cruises is an ultra-luxury cruise line whose fares include return airfare, all shore excursions, all drinks, dining, gratuities and WiFi, marketed as the most inclusive fare in the industry.
Best for: travellers on port-heavy itineraries who would take an excursion in every port
Read the full review
Choosing between them
Which cruise line has the best overall rating?
In our scoring, Seabourn and Regent Seven Seas lead at 4.7 of 5, with Silversea alongside and Oceania at 4.6, all in the luxury tier. Among mainstream lines, Celebrity leads at 4.5, Disney at 4.5 for families specifically, and Royal Caribbean at 4.4. Scores average six criteria our reviewers assess after sailing each line.
What is the cheapest cruise line?
MSC, with Caribbean lead-in fares of $65 to $92 per person per night, followed by Carnival at $70 to $105 and Costa in Europe at 70 to 95 euros. MSC sustains those fares on some of the newest ships afloat, which is the segment's genuine anomaly.
Which cruise line is best for families?
Disney executes family cruising best and costs roughly double Royal Caribbean, which offers the most facilities per dollar for ages six to sixteen. MSC is the budget family choice with children under 12 often sailing at reduced or zero fares. The right answer depends on the ages travelling and the budget.