Cruise lines, honestly compared

The line you pick shapes your trip more than the destination does. Here's who each one is really for, or compare lines side by side.

Contemporary lines

Big, lively ships with lots included and the widest choice of short and week-long sailings. Best value per night for most families and first-timers.

• Royal Caribbean International

  Giant resort ships where the ship itself is the destination.

  Best for: Families with kids and teens who need a lot to do; Multigenerational groups that want options for every age

• Carnival Cruise Line

  Casual, affordable Fun Ships sailing from more US ports than almost anyone.

  Best for: Budget-conscious travelers and first-time cruisers; Families who want included casual food and splash areas

• Norwegian Cruise Line

  Freestyle cruising: no fixed dinner times, no formal dress rules, lots of restaurants.

  Best for: Travelers who hate fixed dinner times; Solo cruisers (studio cabins with a private lounge)

• MSC Cruises

  European-style big ships with a private-island Bahamas habit and a luxury enclave on board.

  Best for: Families looking for strong value on a new, big ship; Travelers who want a private-island Bahamas day at Ocean Cay

Premium lines

Calmer ships, better food and more port-focused itineraries for a modest step up in price.

• Celebrity Cruises

  Modern premium cruising with design-led ships and a serious food focus.

  Best for: Couples and friends who want a premium experience at a reasonable price; Food and wine lovers on a mainstream itinerary

• Princess Cruises

  Classic, comfortable cruising with tech-smart service and an Alaska specialty.

  Best for: Alaska cruises and cruisetours; Couples and retirees who want a calm, classic cruise

• Holland America Line

  Mid-size ships, classic service and long, port-rich voyages, with deep roots in Alaska.

  Best for: Alaska cruises and Yukon or Denali cruisetours; Couples and retirees who like a calm, classic style

• Disney Cruise Line

  Family cruising built around Disney storytelling, characters and top-tier kids' clubs.

  Best for: Families with young kids and Disney fans; Multigenerational trips

• Viking

  Small, adults-only ocean ships with Scandinavian calm and a culture-first, mostly inclusive fare.

  Best for: Adults who want a destination-focused cruise; Travelers who dislike nickel-and-diming

• Oceania Cruises

  Food-first, mid-size ships on port-rich itineraries, with specialty dining included.

  Best for: Food lovers who want specialty restaurants included; Couples and mature travelers

• Cunard Line

  British ocean-liner tradition, ballroom evenings and the last scheduled transatlantic service.

  Best for: Transatlantic crossings between New York and Southampton; Travelers who enjoy dressing up and classic ship traditions

• Azamara

  Small ships, long port days and drinks and tips included, for travelers who cruise to see places.

  Best for: Travelers who want longer port stays and overnights; Couples and solo travelers who prefer small ships

Luxury lines

Small ships, all-suite or near all-suite, with drinks, tips and often excursions included in the fare.

• Regent Seven Seas Cruises

  All-suite luxury where shore excursions, drinks and tips are built into the fare.

  Best for: Luxury travelers who want nearly everything included; Guests who plan to take many shore excursions

• Silversea Cruises

  Ultra-luxury small ships with butlers in every suite and expedition voyages to the ends of the earth.

  Best for: Luxury travelers who want small ships and personal service; Expedition travelers heading to Antarctica, the Arctic or the Galápagos

Adults only lines

No kids onboard, ever.

• Virgin Voyages

  Adults-only, design-forward cruising with every restaurant included.

  Best for: Adults who want a kid-free cruise; Food lovers who want all restaurants included