Earlier this year, I wrote about the five best cruise lines for five vacations. But something people often ask me is what my favorite cruise lines are. I can confidently name my preferred cruises since I’ve gone on all mass-market and premium lines except Disney.
Now, not everyone will relate to this post. Many others will roll their eyes when I mention any ocean cruise. Here are some of the comments I get:
“They’re too big.”
“There’s too many people onboard.”
“Isn’t the food not very good?”
“I know I’ll get bored, especially on those sea days.”
“They’re so expensive!”
I don’t pretend to think that ocean cruising is for everyone – it’s not. Sometimes, it’s not even suitable for me. But I enjoy the unforced schedules, the spontaneous moments of relaxation, the itinerary ports, the mostly fabulous food at every venue, some of the entertainment…and cocktails whenever I want. So, a cruise vacation occasionally fits my travel mood.
Just in case you want to know what I have observed and appreciated in cruising as a travel professional, here are my five personal favorite cruise lines and my reasons why. Something upfront: each of these has nearly inclusive packages with different offerings, which is one of the reasons why I give them high marks.
Virgin Voyages
This adults-only line is perhaps my favorite among the five, mainly because they are so different from the others. At first, I thought they were trying too hard to stand out. But with this objective, they’ve won me over with their fun, uninhibited approach to cruising and having more inclusions as part of their basic fares and specialty dining as part of their regular food offerings. And they have those beautiful hammocks on their Sea Terrace cabins.
Perhaps the only drawback of Virgin is its entertainment. Some of it exceeds the cutting edge and becomes a little too head-scratching. That’s especially the case with their still-running “UntitledDanceShowPartyThing.” But this is evolving as time passes, and I’ve heard they will offer more productions. I hope they retain the fun.
Celebrity Cruises
With design-forward ships, fantastic cuisine and stunning public spaces, this cruise line is a close second on my list. I’ve only been on two Edge-class ships, their newest and most modern. Also, I’ve gone on two three-day journeys with Celebrity, but not any longer. But I’ve been thoroughly impressed with how they’ve created the cruise guest experience.
I appreciate how the Edge class ships (Edge, Apex, Beyond and Ascent) have standout features like the Magic Carpet, a moving platform that serves as a bar, tender station and restaurant, and the four themed main dining rooms. I also love the martini bar and two-level running track. Truthfully, I need to go on a more extended cruise with them or try a non–Edge class ship to see if they are still holding up. I have a feeling they would.
Princess Cruises
For some reason, the “Love Boat” cruise line is polarizing with travelers. Some people love it, others do not. But with the three cruises I’ve now sailed on, each has been enjoyable, with fantastic food, drinks, amenities, facilities and entertainment. And now, with Sun Princess, they’re moving into a significant player category, with more eco-friendly operations, expert and celebrity-developed or endorsed products and the addition of the Sanctuary, their luxury enclave.
I also like the Medallion, your all-in-one access and guest experience device. It does everything from automatically opening your stateroom door to ordering food and drink from anywhere on the ship. It might be a little invasive or Big Brother-ish, but I think it’s a cool feature.
Holland America Line
No other cruise line has a pre-disposed reputation for being only for older adults. But Holland is an excellent option for journeys to Alaska, precisely where I went with them two years ago. I also enjoyed two other things they’re known for – the Music Walk, which features live blues, rock, pop, classical and jazz in smaller, different venues, and their cuisine, especially the specialty restaurants Tamarind, Canaletto and Pinnacle Grill, plus the Grand Dutch Cafe.
Holland is “quieter” and more relaxed than other cruise lines. You won’t find flashy entertainment or sports bars (something I missed during that year’s NBA playoffs). But they do destination enrichment and related shore excursions very well. I learned information about Alaska I had never known before.
Norwegian Cruise Line
I include this mass market line here because I appreciate the dining, public spaces and amenities packages offered. Unlike Royal Caribbean and Carnival, two comparable companies, NCL has More at Sea, a nearly complete package. Guests enjoy premium beverages, specialty dining meals, wi-fi and shore excursion credit. The only thing it doesn’t have is prepaid gratuities.
NCL is also bringing out a new line of ships like Celebrity’s Edge class in design and luxury. The Prima class are quite different from others in the fleet, but in my opinion, their flow is chopped up, and it’s hard to get around sometimes. But this is a minor quibble. Norwegian offers more for the mass market cruiser, such as astonishing things like the go-cart Speedway.
