{"id":215280,"date":"2026-01-07T16:00:53","date_gmt":"2026-01-07T16:00:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/07\/a-beginners-guide-to-picking-a-cruise-line-the-points-guy-2\/"},"modified":"2026-01-07T16:00:53","modified_gmt":"2026-01-07T16:00:53","slug":"a-beginners-guide-to-picking-a-cruise-line-the-points-guy-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/07\/a-beginners-guide-to-picking-a-cruise-line-the-points-guy-2\/","title":{"rendered":"A beginners guide to picking a cruise line – The Points Guy"},"content":{"rendered":"


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So, you think you want to take a cruise?<\/p>\n

First, let me say that you\u2019ll likely love it. I\u2019ve been cruising for nearly 30 years, on just about every line out there, and I can tell you it\u2019s a wonderful way to travel.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not for everyone, of course. Plenty of people have tried it once or twice and aren\u2019t fans. The world is also filled with \u201cnever cruisers\u201d \u2014 people who, for various reasons, wouldn\u2019t even think of getting on a ship for a vacation.<\/p>\n

But as survey after survey has shown, most people who try a cruise for the first time give it high marks, and many end up cruising again. The odds are high you\u2019ll give it high marks, too.<\/p>\n

Still, before you can get to the point where you\u2019re raving about your life exploring the world by sea, you have a big decision ahead of you: Which line should you book?<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not an easy decision. There are dozens of cruise lines, and no two are alike. Some only operate big ships. Some operate small ships. Some sail only in North America. Others sail all over the world. Some offer ships designed for family fun<\/a>. Others don\u2019t even allow children on board<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Related: Is cruising right for you? Start by asking yourself these 7 questions<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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<\/div>
Royal Caribbean operates some of the biggest cruise ships. ROYAL CARIBBEAN<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Additionally, you\u2019ll find cruise lines all over the map regarding price points. As with land-based resorts and hotels, there are cruise lines for people on the tightest of budgets and cruise lines that cater to people for whom money is no object<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In short, there is a cruise line out there for just about everyone. But depending on your preferences, not every line will do. The trick is to find the perfect cruise line for you.<\/p>\n

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In this story, I\u2019ll help you break down the options.<\/p>\n

An overview of cruise lines<\/h2>\n
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\"Carnival<\/div>
Carnival Celebration. ERICA SILVERSTEIN\/THE POINTS GUY<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As noted above, dozens of cruise lines operate ships around the world. At last count, I had sailed with 42 different cruise companies, and I still hadn\u2019t hit every major brand \u2014 despite the fact that my full-time job, for years, has been to test cruise ships.<\/p>\n

One thing to understand is that the lists of cruise lines<\/a> you\u2019ll find here at TPG and at other travel sites include companies offering an incredible range of experiences.<\/p>\n

When you think of a cruise ship, you may think of the giant floating megaresorts operated by the likes of Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line that you see in TV advertisements. These are the kind of ships that carry thousands of passengers and have all sorts of gee-whiz amusements on their top decks.<\/p>\n

But the world of cruising also includes companies that operate far smaller, more intimate vessels that carry a few dozen to a few hundred people. These ships have a completely different vibe. They\u2019re more like small boutique hotels that happen to float from place to place.<\/p>\n

Related: How to book a cruise using points and miles<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Additionally, you\u2019ll find adventure-focused \u201cexpedition\u201d cruise companies that offer yet another completely different kind of cruising \u2014 one that involves heading to off-the-beaten-path places like Antarctica<\/a> on small, hardy vessels designed for exploring. Some cruise companies specialize in ships that travel on rivers, while others operate sailing ships.<\/p>\n

If you hear somebody say they\u2019d never take a cruise because the ships are \u201ctoo big\u201d or \u201ctoo crowded,\u201d you\u2019ve met someone who has no idea what\u2019s out there.<\/p>\n

You can cruise on a big, boisterous ship that carries 6,000 people or a tiny, yacht-like vessel that carries 60 people \u2014 and everything in between.<\/p>\n

Related: Which cruise brand is best for you? A guide to the most popular lines<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

The cruise industry likes to break down its offerings into a bunch of oddly named categories, such as \u201ccontemporary\u201d lines and \u201cpremium\u201d lines. But to me, that\u2019s all marketing speak. Just ignore it when you see it. After three decades covering the industry, I like to break things down into the six categories you\u2019ll find below and (in a few cases) several subset categories, each of which appeals to a different type of vacationer.<\/p>\n

The biggies<\/h2>\n

Seven big lines account for the majority of cruises taken by North Americans. They are, in order of size (when measured by passenger capacity):<\/p>\n

If you are cruising for the first time, you will likely travel with one of the above brands \u2014 if only because they dominate the market for cruises among North Americans and, indeed, the world. As you can read in our ultimate guide to Royal Caribbean<\/a>, this single brand alone accounts for nearly 20% of all cruises taken worldwide. Add in the next three biggest players \u2014 Carnival, MSC Cruises and Norwegian \u2014 and you\u2019re up to over 50% of the cruise business.<\/p>\n

Related: The ultimate guide to Norwegian Cruise Line ships and itineraries<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

The cruise industry likes to label these seven lines as either \u201ccontemporary\u201d (the first four on the list) or \u201cpremium\u201d (the next three on the list). The idea is that the latter three brands offer a \u201cpremium\u201d product to the first four. But such nomenclature is a throwback to the early days of cruising, and I don’t believe is has much relevance anymore.<\/p>\n

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\"MSC<\/div>
MSC Cruises has been building some of the world\u2019s biggest, most amenity-filled ships. MSC CRUISES<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

All of these brands have changed over the years, and the old distinctions no longer apply. For instance, you can get a \u201cpremium\u201d experience in The Haven, an exclusive area on Norwegian ships that will top anything you\u2019ll experience on many so-called premium ships. The experience on a Royal Caribbean ship can be just as elegant \u2014 or more so \u2014 as the experience on a Princess ship.<\/p>\n

Related: The ultimate guide to Princess Cruises ships and itineraries<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

What all these brands have in common is that they operate relatively large, mass-market vessels with starting prices that are relatively affordable. Just keep in mind that the term \u201clarge\u201d is relative. There is a wide variation among these brands in the size of their ships. The biggest Holland America ships, for instance, are less than half the size of the biggest Royal Caribbean ships and hold far fewer passengers.<\/p>\n

Indeed, Holland America vessels are \u201clarge\u201d compared with many of the luxury, expedition and river ships that I will talk about later in this story; however, the brand often is labeled a \u201cmidsize\u201d ship operator in the industry to differentiate it from the lines operating the biggest ships.<\/p>\n

Related: The ultimate guide to Holland America cruise ships and itineraries<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

You\u2019ll also find that the size of the ships within the fleets of each of these brands can vary significantly. For instance, Royal Caribbean\u2019s biggest ships are three times the size of its smallest ships.<\/p>\n

The key thing to know about the seven \u201cbiggies,\u201d as I call them, is that the type of experience they offer varies greatly. If you\u2019re booking a cruise for the first time, know that the seven lines are not necessarily interchangeable \u2014 even in cases where they offer similar pricing on similar itineraries. You may love one of these brands but not like another, depending on your tastes and preferences.<\/p>\n

I break them down into three broad categories, each appealing to a different type of vacationer.<\/p>\n

The floating megaresort lines<\/h3>\n

Are you a fan of big, bustling megaresorts with every amusement known to humans? You\u2019ll probably want to gravitate toward Royal Caribbean, Norwegian and MSC Cruises. These three brands are what I call the \u201cfloating megaresort lines\u201d \u2014 lines that offer unusually giant ships that are the sea equivalent of land-based megaresorts like Atlantis Paradise Island Bahamas.<\/p>\n

Related: The ultimate guide to MSC cruises ships and itineraries<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

We\u2019re talking ships with a seemingly endless array of deck-top fun zones, from water parks and surfing pools<\/a> to go-kart tracks<\/a> to laser tag courses. Plus, there are oodles of restaurants<\/a>, bars, entertainment venues, spas, casinos and more. These ships can hold as many as 5,000 or even 6,000 people, not including the crew.<\/p>\n

Two of these giant vessels, Royal Caribbean\u2019s new Star of the Seas and Icon of the Seas<\/a>, have room for a whopping 7,600 passengers with every berth filled. And, yes, they do sail with almost every berth filled<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Related: <\/strong>The 10 wildest attractions you\u2019ll find on a cruise ship<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

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Royal Caribbean ships such as Harmony of the Seas are chock-full of amusements, from surfing and pools to giant slides and zip lines. ROYAL CARIBBEAN<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

These are brands designed to appeal to a wide demographic, including families with children of all ages. They offer cabins for $100 per night, cabins for $1,000 a night and everything in between. The best way to describe them is that they are like the big Las Vegas resorts<\/a>, except they float.<\/p>\n

As noted above, the ships these brands operate vary in size. Generally, the newer vessels in their fleets are the biggest, most megaresort-like vessels.<\/p>\n

The anti-floating megaresort lines<\/h3>\n

If a ship topped with the cruising equivalent of an amusement park doesn\u2019t sound like your idea of fun, your best bet among the biggies is either Princess, Holland America or Celebrity. These are what I call the \u201canti-floating megaresort lines.\u201d<\/p>\n

Each of these brands operates medium to big ships that are not<\/em> loaded up with water parks, rock climbing walls, surfing simulators and all the other things that are hallmarks of the floating megaresort lines. These are more traditional cruise ships for people who don\u2019t want a floating theme park or Las Vegas resort experience.<\/p>\n

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\"Princess<\/div>
Instead of lots of amusements, the top decks of Princess Cruises ships offer a more traditional array of pool and lounge areas. PRINCESS CRUISES<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Instead of bustling attractions, the top decks of the ships these lines operate offer lots of quiet and relaxing pool and lounge areas where you can enjoy the experience of being at sea without a lot of hustle and bustle. Inside, the experience often revolves around dining, classic entertainment and a classy bar and music scene.<\/p>\n

Related: The ultimate guide to Celebrity Cruises ships and itineraries<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Compared with the floating megaresort lines, these brands draw more couples and fewer families. They also skew older. For example, at Princess, the average age of passengers is 57, and you see a lot of couples in their 50s, 60s and 70s on board. At Holland America, the average age of passengers is closer to 70.<\/p>\n

The budget option<\/h3>\n
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\"A<\/div>
Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Jubilee. CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

And then there\u2019s Carnival. The \u201cfun ship\u201d line is also the budget line among the biggies \u2014 a brand all about great value.<\/p>\n

If you caluclate the cost of a cruise for a family of four, you\u2019ll often find that a sailing on a Carnival ship sometimes costs half the amount of a cruise on a Royal Caribbean ship, assuming similar cabins and itineraries. The differential is even greater when you compare the cost of a family vacation on a Carnival ship with the cost of a trip on a Disney Cruise Line ship, assuming similar cabins and itineraries.<\/p>\n

In addition to being incredibly inexpensive, Carnival ships are casual, unpretentious, fun-focused and, yes, a bit loud and wild. This is, after all, the brand that long held a hairy chest contest<\/a> around the pool deck on every voyage to a standing-room-only, hooting and hollering crowd.<\/p>\n

Related: The 15 best cruise ships for people who never want to grow up<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Like the \u201cfloating megaresort lines\u201d above, Carnival is also known for amusements atop its ships, including water park areas, pedal-powered \u201csky rides\u201d and \u2014 on its newest ships Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration<\/a> and Carnival Jubilee<\/a> \u2014 the first roller coasters at sea<\/a>.<\/p>\n

But, in general, Carnival doesn\u2019t operate vessels quite as big and venue-packed as the big ships of Royal Caribbean, Norwegian and MSC Cruises. In recent years (until the arrival of Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration and Carnival Jubilee), it didn\u2019t have a single vessel among the top 30 biggest cruise ships in the world.<\/p>\n

Carnival also doesn\u2019t target as wide a demographic as the floating megaresort lines \u2014 at least when it comes to income levels. Its ships lack the range of expensive suites aimed at upscale travelers that you\u2019d find on, say, a Royal Caribbean vessel. Among the biggies, it\u2019s really in a class of its own.<\/p>\n

Related: The ultimate guide to Carnival Cruise Line ships and itineraries<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Other biggies<\/h3>\n
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The cruise ship Mein Schiff 3 from TUI Cruises and the MS Koningsdam (L) from Holland America Line. CHRISTIAN CHARISIUS\/GETTY IMAGES<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I didn’t include a few of the more relatively large, mass-market lines in the world in the list of biggies, as they primarily cater to non-American vacationers.<\/p>\n

These lines include Germany\u2019s Aida Cruises and TUI Cruises, both aimed at German-speaking travelers with onboard programs conducted in German. Aida, in particular, is a significantly large line \u2014 larger than Celebrity or Holland America when measured by passenger capacity. But unless you live in Germany, Austria or Switzerland, you\u2019ve probably never heard of it and would be unlikely to ever sail on it.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s also Italy-based Costa Cruises, which draws about 80% of its customers from Europe but does market to Americans, and U.K.-based P&O Cruises. The latter draws about 98% of its customers from the U.K.<\/p>\n

Note that when I talk about berths in this story, I am referring to the number of beds on a ship based on double occupancy per cabin \u2014 or what used to be known as \u201clower berths\u201d in the industry. The totals do not include extra sleeping spots created with pull-down bunks and pullout sofa beds that can inflate the \u201ctotal berths\u201d number some cruise lines list for their ships.<\/p>\n

Luxury cruise lines<\/h2>\n

If your idea of a vacation is being pampered at every turn (and you have lots of money to burn), you\u2019ll want to start your search for a cruise line among the luxury cruise operators.<\/p>\n

More than half a dozen major luxury players market to North Americans, including:<\/p>\n

Compared to mass-market cruise ships, luxury cruise ships typically offer bigger cabins (often every cabin is a suite), more elegant dining and high levels of service. It\u2019s not uncommon for luxury ships to have nearly as many crew members as passengers.<\/p>\n

Related: Inside the most expensive luxury cruise ship ever, Regent\u2019s Seven Seas Splendor<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Luxury ships also typically offer more onboard space per passenger than mass-market ships. The \u201cspace ratio\u201d of interior space to passengers can be twice as high. This means you\u2019ll have a lot of room to spread out and never experience crowds. At the same time, luxury ships are generally smaller than mass-market ships \u2014 often by a lot. That brings a much more intimate experience.<\/p>\n

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\"Seabourn<\/div>
Luxury line Seabourn operates intimate, upscale vessels. MICHEL VERDURE\/SEABOURN<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Within the luxury space, you\u2019ll find significant differences in the size and style of the ships. Five of Regent\u2019s six ships, for instance, are relatively large and famously elegant (think: soaring spaces, lots of marble and crystal chandeliers). They carry 700 to 750 passengers. The line also has one significantly smaller vessel that carries 490 passengers.<\/p>\n

Four of Seabourn\u2019s six vessels, with room for 450 to 600 passengers, are noticeably smaller than Regent\u2019s larger vessels. The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection \u2014 a new line that debuted in 2022<\/a> \u2014 launched with a vessel that carries just 298 passengers.<\/p>\n

With each step down in size, you can expect fewer onboard venues, such as restaurants and lounges. But you also may find the experience more intimate. Smaller ships can sometimes access off-the-beaten-path ports that bigger ships can\u2019t.<\/p>\n

What all the luxury lines have in common is that they are pricey. You can easily pay several times as much for a luxury cruise as a mass-market cruise. Indeed, it\u2019s not rare to see cabins on luxury cruises listed for $1,000 or more per person, per day.<\/p>\n

Related: The $11,000-a-night cruise ship suite that\u2019s bigger than a house<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

However, comparing such high pricing to the pricing of mass-market cruises can be misleading. That\u2019s because luxury lines typically include almost every extra charge you could imagine \u2014 drinks of all types, gratuities, Wi-Fi and even flights to the ship \u2014 in their base fares.<\/p>\n

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Luxury ships such as Regent Seven Seas Cruises\u2019 Seven Seas Splendor offer spacious, elegant suites that rival anything found at a luxury hotel on land. REGENT SEVEN SEAS CRUISES<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Note that one of the luxury lines mentioned above, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, is a German line that operates many of its cruises in German only. But in recent years, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises has occasionally marketed to English speakers with specific sailings operated on a bilingual basis. While relatively unknown in North America, it operates several of the most elegant, spacious and service-focused cruise vessels anywhere in the world.<\/p>\n

Also of note: Several new small luxury cruise lines are on the way. Luxury hotel company Four Seasons is building a fleet of small luxury cruise vessels<\/a> that will begin debuting in 2026. Luxury purveyor Aman Resorts also plans to enter the cruise business<\/a> in the coming years, as does the Orient Express brand<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Upscale-but-not-quite-luxury lines<\/h2>\n

Several additional cruise lines offer an upscale, elegant experience that isn\u2019t quite as white-glove as what you\u2019ll find on the luxury lines above but is still wonderful. These include:<\/p>\n

For the most part, these lines operate ships nearly as small and intimate as the luxury lines\u2019 ships. Oceania vessels carry around 700 to 1,250 passengers, for instance, while Viking ships carry 930 to 998 passengers. (We\u2019re talking about the line\u2019s ocean ships; Viking also operates river ships, which we\u2019ll discuss below.) Windstar vessels are even smaller, with room for 148 to 342 passengers. SeaDream\u2019s two yacht-like vessels hold just 112 passengers apiece.<\/p>\n

Like luxury lines, these lines have a high staff-to-passenger ratio \u2014 but often not quite as high as the ratio on luxury lines. They also generally offer more space per passenger than mass-market lines and bigger cabins \u2014 but, again, not quite as big as what the luxury lines offer.<\/p>\n

They\u2019re also generally less expensive than the luxury lines, but they don\u2019t always include as much in their base fares. You\u2019ll likely pay extra for gratuities and some drinks on ships in this cohort, for instance.<\/p>\n

Compared with the mass-market biggies, the entry-level pricing of this group is still significantly more expensive. Often, an entry-level cabin on a ship operated by these lines is on par with a suite on one of the mass-market lines.<\/p>\n

Note that quantifying which lines are \u201cluxury\u201d and which are \u201cupscale but not quite luxury\u201d is a tough business. Fast-growing Viking, notably, is careful not to call itself a luxury line. However, it offers an experience on its ocean ships that some would call luxury, with spectacular onboard service, high-end eateries and many inclusions in its base fares, such as a shore excursion in every port. To me, it straddles the line between the two categories.<\/p>\n

Viking also has a new ocean ship fleet. Every one of its ocean ships was built in the last 10 years, which is relatively unusual among this group of lines.<\/p>\n

Three of the lines listed in this segment \u2014 Azamara, Windstar and SeaDream \u2014 have fleets entirely or almost entirely made up of vessels that are at least a couple of decades old. (Windstar is alone in having just unveiled an all-new vessel<\/a>.) Often, they are ships that were originally built as luxury vessels and were state-of-the-art in their time but no longer have as many amenities as newer luxury ships.<\/p>\n

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\"Red<\/div>
Oceania Cruises ships feature an array of elegant restaurants, including the Asian eatery Red Ginger. OCEANIA CRUISES<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Many cabins on Windstar and SeaDream notably vessels lack balconies \u2014 a feature that was rare on cruise ships a few decades ago but is now standard. All four Azamara ships and the four oldest Oceania ships have relatively small cabins compared with cabins on today\u2019s luxury ships.<\/p>\n

Upscale line trivia<\/strong>: The four Azamara ships and the four oldest Oceania ships are sister vessels. They all once belonged to long-defunct Renaissance Cruises. You\u2019ll sometimes hear cruising aficionados refer to them by their Renaissance-related class name, the R Class.<\/p>\n

Expedition lines<\/h2>\n
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\"kayaking<\/div>
Kayaking at Magdalenefjorden while sailing on Silversea\u2019s Silver Cloud. DENIS ELTERMAN\/SILVERSEA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

One of the fastest-growing segments of cruising in recent years has been \u201cexpedition cruising,\u201d a type of cruising that involves traveling to remote, hard-to-reach places such as Antarctica on small, hardy vessels that carry their own landing craft to get you ashore.<\/p>\n

This type of cruising is so different from what the big mass-market lines offer that it might as well be considered an entirely different form of travel.<\/p>\n

Expedition cruising is all about getting you to off-the-beaten-path places that often have little or no land-based infrastructure. You are traveling to these places via seagoing vessel because that\u2019s the only way to reach them.<\/p>\n

Related: Expedition cruises: The ultimate guide to cruising to remote, hard-to-reach places<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

On an expedition cruise, the focus is often on remote wilderness areas and the wildlife that inhabits them. Expedition leaders with deep knowledge of the destination will accompany you on your journey. Scientific experts such as biologists, geologists, ornithologists and a historian may also be on board to lead landings and give informative talks.<\/p>\n

Big expedition cruise destinations include Antarctica and remote parts of the Arctic<\/a>, such as the icy islands of Svalbard, Franz Josef Land and Canada\u2019s Northwest Passage. The wildlife-filled Galapagos Islands, many of which are uninhabited, is another classic expedition cruise market (with a vessel ecosystem all its own, thanks to unusual local regulations).<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll also find expedition cruise vessels operating in remote parts of South America, Asia and the South Pacific, as well as some more mainstream destinations like Alaska.<\/p>\n

The remote and rugged Kimberley region of Australia also is booming as an expedition cruise destination<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Notable players in the expedition cruising space include:<\/p>\n