What Cruise line is for me?

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. 

Mark Twain

The following post includes my personal experience with the “name brand” cruise lines. Here, I try to bring the positives and the negatives of each line. We also show what cruise lines match with what demographic so you can make the right decision.

1. Carnival Cruise Lines:

I like carnival, I think their newer and bigger ships steer away from the “party crowd” found on the 8 “fantasy class” ships built in the 80s and early 90s. However, from what I can actually remember, I did have a pretty fun bachelor party on one of those 8. 

The Newer “Dream” and “Vista” class ships are great. A ton of food choices, an excellent pay-for steakhouse and fun shipboard activities. Although you won’t find the best meals on carnival, it’s certainly not a bad line at all. 

I can not wait to try carnival “Mardi-Gras” when she debuts next year. 

• Typical Cruiser: budget conscious family’s, baby boomers

• Typical Cruiser: 3-4 night: Party crowd

• Average age 3-4 Night: 25

• Average age 7+ Night: 45

• Pros: budget friendly, family friendly, lots of activities 

• Cons: overall food is mediocre except for steakhouse 

2. Royal Caribbean Cruises:

Again, stay away from the older ships here, in my opinion they are not even seaworthy. “Empress OTS”  is an absolute janitors closet and “Majesty OTS” is no better. 

I had a good time on the medium ships like “enchantment OTS” and the refurbed “Mariner OTS” looks like a blast. I’ve spent most time on the newer “Oasis class” and while I do like the large ship concept and delicious specialty restaurants, a variety of nightlife is hard to find. 

I think it’s a great ship for someone who is an entry lever cruiser or is afraid of getting seasick because the ship rarely moves. Also I like the food in the MDR but never have liked the buffett on royal. 

• Typical cruiser: First timer, “Loyal to Royalists” who cruise only royal

• Average Age: 50

• Pros: great loyalty program, great MDR Food, great specialty restaurants, the new and improved coco cay

• Cons: limited nightlife options, sub par buffet, old ships are outdated

3. Norwegian Cruise Line:

My favorite line of the so called “big 3”. Excellent food, entertainment and nightlife. I can’t say enough good things because I like the idea of the freestyle cruising concept plus I like that I get perks like free drinks or free specialty dining when booking. 

I can agree with the feedback that they nickel and dime passengers pretty bad but the future of cruising is either to be nickel and dimed or to pay a larger, all inclusive fare.

• Typical Cruiser: young adult, family, singles 

• Average Age 3-4 night: 35

• Average Age 7+ night: 43

• Pros: best buffet of mainstream cruises, the haven, nightlife, ability to choose perks as part of your cruise fare such as free drinks

• Cons: nickel and dimming for everything, hit and miss specialty restaurants

4. MSC Cruises:

I hope to try MSC again one day, however my single visit to Divina’s exclusive yacht club left much to be desired. The food was horrid (yes, that bad) the overall ship felt lacking of what I was used too. Hopefully this changes. I’m looking forward to trying them again when their new private island opens “MSC’s Ocean Cay Reserve” (Pictured Above)

• Typical Cruiser: European, International, Family 

• Average age: 50

• Pros: yacht club, value

• Cons: food and entertainment 

5. Celebrity Cruises:

In my opinion, food quality has declined in the last 10 years on this brand while the prices are still trickling upwards. The older “millennium” class ships offer a nice space to passenger ratio while the newer “solstice” class ships have more amenities and venues. The Pay for restaurants are great especially Murano, which is not to be missed.

Despite the negative publicity, the new ”Edge” class ships continue to draw my attention so I would like to try one in the near future. 

• Typical Cruiser: Senior, affluent

• Average age: 60

• Pros: Murano (specialty restaurant) overall service onboard 

• Cons: entertainment and activities are lacking

6. Princess Cruise line:

I believe princess is similar in a way to celebrity but princess seems to be a little more laid back and I tend to see more families on this line. Some say it’s dining choices are limited but I find their steakhouse to be excellent, not the same can be said about their Italian restaurant.

I enjoy the “royal” class ships because of modern amenities but their are plenty of loyalists that enjoy the older ships. 

My absolute favorite thing on princess is the “movies under the stars”. They go all out with  thick padding on deck chairs and complimentary popcorn. It also doesn’t hurt that the (complimentary) pizza station and bar is only steps away.

• Typical Cruiser: Senior, Multi Generational.

• Average age: 60

• Pros: movies under the stars, steakhouse, kids program 

• Cons: lack of activities

7. Disney Cruise Line:

My personal all time favorite line. The best specialty restaurants, the best production shows, family activities and the best kids program at sea. 

Disney, as expected, delivers on its high expectations at sea. Although these cruises carry a hefty price tag, many families feel it is worth splurging the extra coin.

Screaming kids you say? 

While there is no casino, there is a whole section of the ship dedicated to adults including bars, pools, nightclubs and lounges. Mix this together with a stop at their very own private island (pictured above) with an adults only beach and voila, paradise found. 

• Typical Cruiser: Family’s, Multi Generational 

• Average age: 45 (if you exclude the little ones)

• Pros: entertainment, dining, activities, service, private island, kid programs 

• Cons: price point, no casino

8. Virgin Voyages:

While this cruise line has yet to sail, it draws curiosity from many. An adults only (18+) all inclusive (except booze) party boat sailing 4 and 5 night cruises from Miami starting early next year.  

I’m still a sceptic but the way I see it is it’s going to be an amazing success or a catastrophic failure. There is no middle ground here. 

• Typical Cruiser: young, LGBT, affluent, hipster

• Average age: 35 (Guess)

• Pros: adults only (pro to some) all inclusive, no Buffett only cooked to order meals 

• Cons: pricey, different, we will see

Well I’ve summed up my experiences on the cruise lines I’ve been on and traveled most. Of course you won’t find any Holland America or SilverSea in my reviews because well... I’m not quite old enough yet. I really did not touch too much on entertainment because I typically do not attend many shows (except for Disney) sorry if I’m biased but a 3 hour show of “cats: the musical” does not draw my attention enough to attend. 

In the next few months I will try MSC again (on the seaside) and see how their product delivers after 6 years of American reviews. I heard last year that food was still dismal and most of the plays on board were opera sung in Italian, not a good start but I’m trying to stay positive about it.