Which Cruise Lines Are Best for Which Elements?

There are 7 big cruise lines that are the major industry players, and which (if you're into the cruise world) you've probably heard of. These are Carnival Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruises, Costa Cruises, Holland America Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, and Royal Caribbean International. So, which is best?

I have to admit that I haven't been on all of them (yet!), so I'll refer to the Berlitz 2009 Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships to answer this question. Each line has its own specialty, so which is "best" will depend on what you're looking for.

Carnival Cruise Line

Carnival is known for "all-round fun, activities, and casinos for the lively youth market" though the guide book points out that many of their passengers are over 45.


Celebrity Cruises

These guys are said to have the best food and the most elegant ships and spas. All that considered, the guidebook considers them under-priced.

Costa Cruises

Costa Cruises features a European style with multi-national passengers and a lively ambiance, so if you're looking to escape your countrymen, this may be the place to see folks from different cultures.

Holland America Line

These guys are popular with seniors and retirees, thanks to their "smiling service staff, lots of flowers, traditions of the past, good cooking demonstrations, and alternative grill rooms."

Norwegian Cruise Line

NCL is known for affordability and is often recommended to first-time cruisers. They have a good choice of dining experiences and solid entertainment.

Princess Cruises

The book says Princess has "consistent product delivery" (I'm not sure how much of an accolade that is!) and informs us that the decor tends to be bland and the passengers older.

Royal Caribbean International

These guys specialize in the Caribbean (no surprise there) and offer a good experience for first-time cruises and families. They have a good variety of entertainment and children's programs that will keep the young-uns busy.

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) Lowdown

Are all cruise lines created the same? Do they all offer the same sort of vacation?

Well, no.

While there are similarities, especially among the big resort ship lines, there are a lot of differences too and this section of the blog will look at the various cruise lines and see who does what well and what might make one line appeal to you more than another.

Let's start out with a big gun...

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL)

This Miami-based 14-ship line is known for its freestyle cruising. The ships have a casual, laid-back atmosphere, and the line is gay-friendly.

The manifesto is diverse, and you'll find families, honeymooners, and couples. The guests tend to be younger than on other mainstream lines, but you'll find folks of all ages on board.

No formal-wear required!

With this casual cruise line it shouldn't come as any surprise that a lot of the traditional rules are thrown out the door. Formal-wear isn't required for dining, and if you want to relax 24/7 nobody is going to stop you. Kick back and hit the bowling alley or just lounge in a deck chair with a good book.

Despite the casual atmosphere, service is good overall though. You can also find family-friendly interconnected suites (as much as you love your kids, you probably don't want them all crammed into your cabin) or if you want to spend a little more, "villa" accommodations with private gardens, sun decks, living and dining rooms, and butler service.

NCL is an affordable cruise line and you'll find prices starting around $429 for Caribbean cruises.