The Fun-Loving Value Seeker
Great for Families, young adults, groups of friends, first-time cruisers.
Carnival is an industry leader in offering affordable cruises geared towards families, young adults, groups of friends, first-time cruisers. Their tagline "Choose Fun" is reflected in bright visuals, upbeat music, and family-friendly attractions. This aligns with their family fun persona, youth focused features and activities to offer affordable family vacation experiences.
Carnival itineraries primarily focus on Caribbean and Mexico destinations with Alaska, Australia, and Europe sailings also available.
Carnival sails from 8 different US ports including Long Beach, Baltimore, New Orleans and Charleston in addition to the more common ports of Miami, Port Canaveral, Galveston and Tampa
The Thrill-Seeking Adventurer
Great for Families with teens, couples, groups, multi-gen travelers.
Royal Caribbean appeals to active, multi-generational families and adventure-loving travelers. They offer cutting-edge ships, private island thrills (Perfect Day at CocoCay), and Instagram-worthy onboard activities. In addition to being able to cruise with a waterpark onboard, many of their ships offer surf and skydiving simulators and zip lines in addition to high-tech entertainment and dining.
Royal Caribbean has itineraries in Europe, Caribbean, Alaska, Asia, and Australia. Royal also launched their first ever world cruise. The Ultimate World Cruise launched in December of 2023.
US home ports include Miami, Port Canaveral, Tampa, Baltimore, New Jersey, Galveston, Los Angeles, and Seattle for seasonal Alaska sailings.
The Freestyle Explorer
Great for solo travelers, foodies, urban professionals, LGBTQ+ travelers.
NCL-Norwegian is best known for its revolutionary "Freestyle Cruising" (trademarked) concept signifying no fixed dining times or seatings, and relaxed dress codes to appeal to the independent, modern travelers who want flexibility and variety. They also offer cabins and experiences designed for the solo traveler
The list of NCL's destinations includes all the world's most popular ship travel regions - Alaska and Hawaii, Europe (including UK itineraries), Bahamas-Caribbean and Bermuda, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. They also offer a unique Hawaiian Islands itinerary aboard Pride of America which is the largest US-flagged passenger ship homeported in Honolulu year-round.
Since 2023, Norwegian Pearl also serves NCLH's new brand Experiences At Sea (partnership between "Sixthman Festivals at Sea" and NCL’s CM&I division/Charters, Meetings & Incentives). Annually are scheduled several themed itineraries targeting corporate clients as well as incentive and affinity-focused customers from NCLH's fleet. Experiences At Sea cruises are usually themed on music (Rock, Country, Pop, Blues, Broadway celebrity performances, etc), also LGTBQIA+/Atlantis Events, Comedy Influencers, Sports, and others. The itineraries are in the Caribbean (roundtrips from Miami) and all visit NCLH's private islands - The Bahamas' Great Stirrup Cay, and Belize's Harvest Caye.
The Trendy Adults-Only Rebel
Great for Millennials, Gen Z, solo travelers, couples without kids.
Virgin Voyages is a small (only 4 ships) boutique cruise line that's making big waves in the industry winning awards for Best Overall Cruise Line, Best Dining, Best Cabins, Best Service and Best Value-For-Money while being a newcomer to the passenger cruise market.
Younger adults and non-traditional cruisers seeking an edgy, adults-only cruise experience will enjoy cruising "The Virgin Way" which is bold, cheeky, and unapologetically different. A break from cruise norms, Virgin's 'Lady' ships have no main dining rooms, no buffets, no add-on packages for drinks, wifi, specialty dining, entertainment, fitness classes, and no kids. Virgin is an adults only (18+) cruise line. Gratuities are also included in your cabin fare.
Alcoholic beverages are extra. However instead of traditional package offerings, Virgin has 'Bar-tabs' where individuals can pre-purchase drinks. Virgin may kick in extra $$ on bar tab purchases during some promotions and starter tabs are occasionally included in promotional offers.
The Romantic Relaxation Seeker
Great for couples, empty nesters, seasoned cruisers
Refined, mature travelers and couples looking for relaxation, enrichment, and destination immersion will find a fit onboard a Princess cruise. Princess is famous and commonly known as "the Love Boat cruise line" for the late 70's TV series where filming occurred on Princess-owned ships cruising to exotic destinations around the world. The Princess Medallion service offers some of the best onboard tech in the industry.
Destinations include Alaska, Europe-UK, the Caribbean, Bermuda, Panama Canal, Mexican Riviera, South America and Pacific Islands (Hawaii and Tahiti), Asia, Australia-New Zealand, Canada-New England.
Alaska is where Princess stands out with the largest presence in Alaska among all cruise lines. Enrichment programs and destination lectures while on board help passengers fully immerse into their Alaska experience.
Princess features Alaskan cruise tours (adding a land component before or after a sailing), including Denali Explorer, On Your Own, Connoisseur Deluxe Escorted, and Off the Beaten Path. The Direct-to-the-Wilderness rail service ensures a seamless transition between the ship in Whittier and the Denali area on the same day. Two Alaskan lodges (Mt McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge, and Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge) provide unique perspectives for experiencing North America's tallest mountain.
The Stylish Global Traveler
Great for International travelers, cultural explorers, budget luxury seekers
MSC offers luxury experiences at affordable prices and high-end design to appeal to international and value-savvy travelers who want a European flair with cosmopolitan style
Traditionally the majority of MSC's fleet operated in Europe (Mediterranean and Baltic). They are aggressively expanding into other markets in the Caribbean, Canada New England, East Asia, South America, South Africa. Their MSC Yacht club offers a "ship within a ship" luxury experience for guests booking suites and above categories.
Because of the international passenger base, all shipboard announcements are generally read in Italian, Spanish, French, German and English. Onboard mealtimes are fixed, with assigned seatmates. Optional dining includes Lido buffet restaurant, sushi, and Italian eateries.
MSC liners offer standout evening show entertainment - from classical concerts and jazz to contemporary dance music and circus-type acrobatics. Voyages are typically priced at value-oriented levels, but the liners offer an unprecedented range of modern vacation travel amenities and services that cost extra, such as fees for port shuttle buses, a la carte restaurant menus, etc.
The Modern Luxury Aficionado
Great for upscale travelers, couples, food & wine lovers, LGBTQ+ community
Celebrity is a medium-priced luxury cruise offering whose products and services are associated with top-hotel amenities, premium services, sophistication, style, elegance, technology innovations. Celebrity cruise liners offer modern ships with spa and wellness focus, impeccable service, and Michelin-quality dining, appealing to affluent professionals, couples, and culturally savvy travelers who want upscale experiences without stuffiness. For those seeking an even more exclusive experience, Celebrity Cruises Retreat has relaxation and dining spaces, available only to their suite guests.
Celebrity offers "Family Cruises" during holidays (particularly on voyages from the USA to the Caribbean and Bermuda) and "Seniors Cruises" (on European and South American itineraries). The letter "X" on ships' funnels stands for the name "Chandris" (in Greek "Xandris").
Destinations include Alaska, Canada, Hawaii, Bermuda, Bahamas, Caribbean (all, but mostly Southern), Mexico (Caribbean/Yucatan, Pacific/Mexican Riviera), Panama Canal, South America (including Galapagos Islands), Australia-New Zealand, Asia (Taiwan-China-Japan, Thailand-Vietnam), Northern Europe (from the UK), Eastern and Western Mediterranean.
The Classic Cultural Enthusiast
Great for older adults, world travelers, enrichment-focused cruisers
Holland America appeals to sophisticated travelers who value tradition, fine arts, and immersive cultural experiences . Also ranking in "best for couples", "best for adults" and "best and cheapest for Alaska" categories, their ships visit 300+ seaports in 100+ countries, with 500+ traditional and Transoceanic itineraries scheduled annually. Voyages' lengths range from 2-day to 110+ days for world cruises (and Pole to Pole itineraries), but the majority are 7-day roundtrips, and many are between 10-21 days (including the ability to tie select itineraries together).
Holland America has been cruising to Alaska longer than any other cruise line and recently acquired the Westmark hotel chain in the Alaska-Yukon region positioning them as a prominent brand in the Alaskan cruise tour market, offering the most diverse and budget-friendly "land and sea" Alaska travel packages.
The Imaginative Family Planner
Great for families with young children, Disney fans, multigenerational groups.
Parents, grandparents, and Disney superfans looking for magic at sea will find rich Disney nostalgia, storytelling, and exclusive Disney character experiences. onboard some of the most family-friendly cruise ships. The company is the world's leader in family cruising. "Disney World land and sea" packages are industry's best kids cruise deals for the Caribbean, operated with signature land resorts and large and modern liners.
Disney Cruise Line is a unique enterprise designed to provide the industry's best family ship travel vacation experiences. Disney offers regular departures from Florida to Eastern Caribbean (mostly to the Bahamas) from its own cruise terminal at Port Canaveral - just a few minutes away from Disney's capital city Orlando and world's best Disneyland Park. Among the special voyages are the Alaskan itineraries (leaving from Seattle and Vancouver Canada) during the Disney summer and the Panama Canal transition cruises on repositioning between Alaska and Caribbean.
Each ship features a Walt Disney Theater (resembling Broadway house) and Buena Vista Cinema (for Disney movies). Studio Sea (TV sound stage and forum for G-rated live shows) is available on Magic and Wonder. Similar venue (named "D Lounge") is on Fantasy and Dream. "Disney Digital 3-D" (on Magic and Wonder) is a cinema experience with lasers, streamers, fog and lighting effects.
The main swimming pool areas on all Disney boats are geared toward families. There is a pool for kids (with 200-ft Mickey waterslide) and small sprinkler tub for toddlers. Adult-only pools are also fleetwide feature, though on the larger ships they encompass several decks.
The Cultured Connoisseur
Great for retired professionals, lifelong learners, river and ocean cruisers
Affluent travelers with a passion for history, culture, and slow travel love Viking. The number one river cruise line, Viking offers smaller ships with just 190 guests onboard their European river 'long boats'. Viking is an adults only experience with all included pricing that includes wifi, shore excursions and some alcoholic beverages (beer & wine). Their Mississippi river cruise boat is larger with just over 380 passenger capacity.
All their ships have elegant Scandinavian interiors, curated libraries, panoramic windows and high end appointments. History lectures, cooking demonstrations and cultural performances are all tailored to the ports of call on each cruise. Viking also offers ocean and expedition cruises with ships specifically designed for each purpose.