Cruise guide

Which cruise line fits your crew?

Ten cruise lines, side by side: who each one suits, what it costs compared with the others, where it sails and what's included. Pick who's going to narrow the list.

Price tiers compare typical fares for the same length of trip, before taxes and extras. Fares change daily, so treat them as a rough guide, not a quote.

$ best value
$$ mid-range
$$$ premium
$$$$ top of the range

Who's going?

Showing all 10 cruise lines.

Disney Cruise Line

$$$$

Polished, theatrical and built around families, with characters, Broadway-style shows and the best kids' clubs at sea.

Best for: Families with kids of any age, Disney fans, a first cruise that has to go right
Kids and teens: Separate clubs for kids, tweens and teens, plus a nursery for babies (extra cost)
Dining: Rotational dining: a different themed restaurant each night, with the same servers following you
Included: Main dining, buffet, soft drinks and most room service. Alcohol and Wi-Fi extra; tips added
Where it sails: Bahamas and Caribbean, Alaska, Europe, Mexico, Hawaii, Australia, Singapore
Standout: Two private Bahamas destinations: Castaway Cay and Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point

Good to know: usually the highest fare of the big family lines, and popular sailings sell out early. No casino.

Patrick is a graduate of the College of Disney Knowledge.

Carnival

$$$$

Casual, lively and easy on the budget. The "Fun Ships" suit groups who want a party atmosphere and lots to do.

Best for: First cruisers, families on a budget, family reunions and friend groups
Kids and teens: Kids' clubs by age through 17, waterslides; the newest ships have a roller coaster
Dining: Main dining room plus free casual spots like Guy's Burger Joint; specialty restaurants extra
Included: Main dining, buffet and casual eateries. Drinks and Wi-Fi extra; tips added
Where it sails: Caribbean, Bahamas, Mexico, Alaska, Hawaii, Australia
Standout: The most U.S. home ports, including drive-to ports like Baltimore and Charleston. Celebration Key, its Bahamas destination

Good to know: lively and busy, with plenty of add-ons for sale. Older ships have smaller cabins.

Patrick is a Carnival Expert, Diamond Level Graduate.

Royal Caribbean

$$$$

Big ships with big activities: surf simulators, zip lines, ice skating, waterparks and Broadway shows.

Best for: Active families, teens, thrill-seekers, groups who want something new every hour
Kids and teens: Adventure Ocean clubs for ages 3 to 12, teen lounges, family suites on the largest ships
Dining: Main dining room and buffet, plus many specialty restaurants at extra cost
Included: Main dining, buffet, most activities and shows. Drinks and Wi-Fi extra; tips added
Where it sails: Caribbean, Bahamas, Alaska, Europe, Asia, Australia
Standout: Perfect Day at CocoCay, plus Royal Beach Club Paradise Island in Nassau

Good to know: the largest ships carry thousands of guests, so expect crowds at peak times. Some CocoCay areas cost extra.

Patrick is a Royal Caribbean University Master of Adventure.

Celebrity Cruises

$$$$

Modern and design-forward, with strong food and a grown-up feel, without luxury-line prices.

Best for: Couples, friends, food lovers, families with older kids
Kids and teens: A kids' program for ages 3 to 17, but far fewer kids on board than the family lines
Dining: Some of the best main dining at sea, plus specialty restaurants
Included: "All Included" fares bundle a drinks package and Wi-Fi. Ask what's in your fare
Where it sails: Caribbean, Europe, Alaska, Galápagos, Asia, Australia and New Zealand
Standout: Small ships in the Galápagos, and the Edge-class "Magic Carpet" platform

Good to know: quieter than the big family lines, with less for young kids to do.

Patrick is a Celebrity Learning Scholar.

Princess Cruises

$$$$

Relaxed and classic, with the deepest Alaska program of any line and smooth, app-based service.

Best for: Couples, grandparents traveling with family, a first trip to Alaska
Kids and teens: Kids' and teen clubs for ages 3 to 17; fewer kids than the family lines
Dining: Set or flexible dining times; order drinks and food to wherever you are with the Medallion wearable
Included: Main dining and buffet. "Princess Plus" and "Premier" packages add drinks, Wi-Fi and tips
Where it sails: Alaska, Caribbean, Europe, Panama Canal, Japan, Australia
Standout: Alaska cruisetours with Princess's own wilderness lodges near Denali

Good to know: calmer nightlife and fewer thrill rides than Royal Caribbean or Carnival.

Patrick holds Princess Academy Commodore, the top tier.

Norwegian Cruise Line

$$$$

"Freestyle" cruising: no set dining times, no formal nights, and lots of restaurants to choose from.

Best for: People who hate schedules, friend groups, families who want flexibility, Hawaii
Kids and teens: Kids' club for ages 3 to 12 and a teen club; some ships have go-karts and laser tag
Dining: Eat when you want, where you want; many specialty restaurants at extra cost
Included: Main dining and buffet. Bundled fares can add drinks, Wi-Fi and specialty dining; tips added
Where it sails: Caribbean, Bahamas, Alaska, Europe, Hawaii, Asia
Standout: The only ship sailing Hawaii's islands year-round from Honolulu; Great Stirrup Cay; The Haven suites

Good to know: the base fare is lean, so compare fares with the bundle included.

Patrick holds the NCL University Master's Degree, the top tier.

MSC Cruises

$$$$

European style with an international crowd, big modern ships and some of the best fares at sea.

Best for: Value-minded families, Europe and Mediterranean trips, travelers who like a global mix
Kids and teens: Kids' clubs by age; kids often sail free with promotions
Dining: Main dining with European touches; dinner runs later than on U.S. lines
Included: Main dining and buffet. Drinks and Wi-Fi extra; tips added
Where it sails: Mediterranean and Northern Europe, Caribbean and Bahamas, Alaska (new in 2026), South America, Middle East
Standout: Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, and the MSC Yacht Club ship-within-a-ship with its own pool, restaurant and butlers

Good to know: announcements in several languages and a European pace surprise some first-timers.

Patrick has completed MSC Masters.

Virgin Voyages

$$$$

Adults only, boutique and social: no buffet, no kids, lots of nightlife and 20-plus places to eat.

Best for: Couples, friend trips, celebrations, adults who wouldn't usually cruise
Kids and teens: None. Everyone on board is 18 or older
Dining: No main dining room; every restaurant is included, no extra charge
Included: All restaurants, Wi-Fi, tips, basic drinks and group fitness. Alcohol extra
Where it sails: Caribbean from Miami and San Juan, Mediterranean, Australia
Standout: The Beach Club at Bimini, and a fare that includes more than most

Good to know: fewer U.S. departure ports, and the party atmosphere isn't for everyone.

Patrick holds Virgin Voyages Seacademy Gold, the top tier.

Viking

$$$$

Quiet, culture-focused cruising with Scandinavian design, talks on board and no casinos.

Best for: Curious travelers, usually 50-plus, who care about history and culture
Kids and teens: None. Guests must be 18 or older
Dining: Relaxed dining; specialty restaurants included on ocean ships
Included: A shore excursion in every port, Wi-Fi, and beer and wine with lunch and dinner
Where it sails: European rivers, Egypt's Nile, the Mekong and Mississippi, oceans worldwide including Alaska, Antarctica and the Arctic
Standout: River cruising through the heart of European cities, and expedition ships

Good to know: the highest fare here, though much is included. Not for families with kids.

Patrick is a Viking Certified Expert in rivers, oceans and expeditions.

Holland America Line

$$$$

Traditional and refined, with live music, mid-size ships and a long history in Alaska.

Best for: Classic cruisers, usually 55-plus, grandparents with family, longer voyages
Kids and teens: Kids' and teen clubs, but few kids on most sailings
Dining: Main dining room with set or flexible times; specialty restaurants extra
Included: Main dining and buffet. The "Have It All" package adds drinks, Wi-Fi, specialty dining and excursions
Where it sails: Alaska, Caribbean, Europe, Panama Canal, long Grand Voyages and world cruises
Standout: Alaska cruisetours into Denali and the Yukon

Good to know: quiet evenings and an older crowd. Few activities for kids.

Patrick is a Holland America Line Academy Graduate, Platinum Level, the top tier, and a specialist in Alaska & the Yukon, Canada & New England, the Caribbean, Mexico and the Mediterranean.

Side by side

Scroll sideways to see every line.

	Disney	Carnival	Royal Caribbean	Celebrity	Princess	Norwegian	MSC	Virgin	Viking	Holland America
Price tier	$$$$	$	$$	$$$	$$	$$	$	$$$	$$$$	$$
Feel	Family magic	Fun and casual	Action-packed	Modern upscale	Relaxed classic	Flexible, freestyle	European, international	Adults-only social	Quiet, cultural	Traditional, refined
Typical guests	Families, all ages	Families, groups, first-timers	Active families, teens	Couples, 30s to 60s	Couples, 50+, families with grandparents	Mixed ages, friend groups	Families, international	Adults 18+, 30s to 50s	Adults, mostly 50+	Mostly 55+
Kids' clubs	Best at sea	Strong	Strong	Modest	Modest	Good	Good	No kids	No kids	Modest
Ship size	Mid to large	Mid to large	Large to the largest at sea	Mid to large	Large	Large	Large	Mid-size	Small (rivers very small)	Mid-size
Dining style	Rotating restaurants	Set or flexible	Set or flexible	Set or flexible	Set or flexible	No set times	Set times, later	All restaurants included	Open seating	Set or flexible
Tips	Added	Added	Added	Ask about your fare	Added, or in a package	Added	Added	Included	Ask about your fare	Added, or in a package
Wi-Fi	Extra	Extra	Extra	In "All Included" fares	In packages	In bundles	Extra	Included	Included	In "Have It All"
Drinks	Soft drinks included	Extra	Extra	In "All Included" fares	In packages	In bundles	Extra	Basics included	Beer and wine with meals	In "Have It All"
Casino	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Signature places	Bahamas, Alaska, Europe	Caribbean, Mexico	Caribbean, Bahamas	Europe, Galápagos	Alaska	Hawaii, Caribbean	Mediterranean	Caribbean, Mediterranean	European rivers	Alaska, long voyages
Alaska	Yes, family focus	Yes, value	Yes	Yes	Yes, the biggest program	Yes	Yes, new in 2026	No	Yes, some voyages	Yes, a long-time specialist
Private island or beach club	Castaway Cay, Lookout Cay	Celebration Key	CocoCay, Royal Beach Club	None of its own	Princess Cays	Great Stirrup Cay	Ocean Cay	The Beach Club at Bimini	None	Half Moon Cay

Don't see the right fit?

These ten are the lines my clients ask about most, not the whole list. I can book dozens of others, including:

Luxury lines with suites, butlers and nearly everything included, such as Regent Seven Seas, Silversea, Seabourn and Oceania.
River cruises beyond Viking, such as AmaWaterways, Avalon and Uniworld.
Small ships and expeditions for wildlife and remote places, such as Lindblad Expeditions, Windstar and UnCruise in Alaska.
Ocean crossings, like Cunard's Queen Mary 2 between New York and England.

Tell me what you're looking for and I'll find the line that fits.

Spotlight

Alaska: which line?

Almost every line sails to Alaska, so the choice comes down to how much of Alaska you want to see and who's coming.

Cruise only or cruise plus land? A cruisetour adds a few nights inland, usually Denali. Princess and Holland America run the most complete cruisetours, with their own lodges and rail cars.
Round trip or one way? Round trips from Seattle or Vancouver stick to the Inside Passage. One-way trips across the Gulf of Alaska reach more glaciers and connect to a land tour.
Glacier Bay? The National Park Service limits how many ships enter each day. Princess and Holland America have the most visits; Norwegian and Viking have some. Most other lines visit Hubbard Glacier or a fjord such as Endicott Arm instead.
When to go: the season runs May to September. Book 12 to 18 months out for the best cabins, and a balcony is worth it here.

Patrick Cassidy on a cruise ship deck in Alaska, with a glacier-fed fjord and snowy mountains behind him. — I've sailed Alaska myself, on Disney Cruise Line.

Line	Alaska style	Cruise plus land tour	Glacier Bay	Best for
Princess	The largest Alaska program, round trip and one way	Yes, own lodges near Denali	Many sailings	First trip to Alaska, couples, grandparents
Holland America	A long-time Alaska specialist, mid-size ships	Yes, Denali and the Yukon	Many sailings	Classic cruisers, 55-plus, longer land tours
Disney Cruise Line	Characters in parkas, family activities on board	No, shore excursions only	No	Families with young kids
Royal Caribbean	Big-ship activities, round trip and one way	Some packages	No	Active families and teens
Norwegian	Freestyle, round trip and one way	Some packages	Some sailings	Flexible travelers, friend groups
Celebrity	Modern and upscale, round trip and one way	Some packages	No	Couples, food lovers
Carnival	Value Alaska from Seattle	Limited	No	Alaska on a budget
MSC	New to Alaska in 2026, from Seattle	Limited	No	Value-minded families
Viking	Small ships, an excursion in every port	Pre- and post-trip extensions	Some voyages	Adults focused on nature and culture
Virgin Voyages	Doesn't sail to Alaska

Itineraries change each season. I check which glaciers, ports and land options your exact sailing includes before you book.

Still not sure?

Tell me who's going, when, and what a great trip looks like for your crew. I'll narrow it to two or three sailings and explain the trade-offs, including what each fare really includes. There's no planning fee for vacations.

Start planning with Patrick (opens in a new tab)

Checked October 2026. Ships, itineraries, inclusions and fares change often; I confirm every detail before you book. Patrick Cassidy Travel, independent travel advisor of Fora Travel.