Are you wondering what the best cruise line is?
There are a ton of different factors that go into the decision, and the best cruise line for you might be different than the best cruise line for your parents or coworkers!
U.S. News & World Report released their 10th edition of the Best Cruise Lines rankings that highlights 17 different cruise lines across six different categories, including best cruise line for families, best cruise lines in the Caribbean, and best cruise lines for the money.
"This year has seen an enormous resurgence in the popularity of cruises," said Nicola
Wood, senior travel editor at U.S. News.
"After the unprecedented cruising shutdown during the peak of the pandemic, people are eager to sail the world's oceans and tour multiple destinations in a single trip. The Best Cruise Lines rankings provide a variety of cruise recommendations, making it easy for cruisers to choose the best options for them.”
Read more: What are the different cruise lines known for
Best cruise lines for the money
1. Virgin Voyages
2. Celebrity Cruises
3. Princess Cruises
4. Royal Caribbean International
5. Holland America Line
6. MSC Cruises
7. Carnival Cruise Line
8. Norwegian Cruise Line
9. Cunard Line
10. Costa Cruises
Wanna get the best bang for your buck? Virgin Voyages ranked first in this category for the second year in a row, followed by Celebrity Cruises and Princess Cruises.
When you book any sailing with Virgin Voyages, you can expect the average base fare per night to include the cost of extra benefits, such as free gratuities and complimentary Wi-Fi. Plus, all 20+ eateries onboard are included, meaning that there's no need to spend extra on specialty dining experiences.
Best cruise lines for families
1. Disney Cruise Line
2. Royal Caribbean International
3. Carnival Cruise Line
4. Norwegian Cruise Line
5. MSC Cruises
Cruises are popular family vacations because they offer a little something for everyone! Of course, there are some lines that are more family-friendly than others.
For the 10th year in a row, Disney Cruise Line was named the best cruise line for families. These ships feature all the Disney magic you can expect to find at the park, such as meet-and-greets, themed dinners, and fireworks, while transporting you to different ports of call, including their private island named Castaway Cay.
Royal Caribbean came in second, followed by Carnival Cruise Line. Both of these lines offer tons of activities and dining options that cater to guests of all ages. On Carnival, for instance, you will find BOLT, the ultimate roller coaster at sea, as well as water parks, ropes courses, and more. Royal Caribbean ships have FlowRider surf simulators, bumper cars, sky diving simulators, and more.
Best cruise lines for couples
1. Viking Ocean Cruises
2. Seabourn Cruise Line
3. Regent Seven Seas Cruises
4. Azamara
5. Celebrity Cruises
6. Virgin Voyages
7. Oceania Cruises
8. Silversea Cruises
9. Cunard Line
10. Holland America Line
11. Princess Cruises
If you're looking for the ultimate couples trip, the U.S. News & World Report recommends three luxury lines. Not only are these more inclusive than mainstream cruise lines, but they offer more high-end experiences.
You won't find any water slides or major thrills onboard. Instead, your trip will be defined by more unique ports of call, upscale dining, and more attentive crew members.
The best cruise lines for couples in 2024 is Viking Ocean Cruises, followed by Seabourn Cruise Line and Regent Seven Seas Cruises.
Best cruise lines in the Caribbean
1. Disney Cruise Line
2. Celebrity Cruises
3. Virgin Voyages
4. Royal Caribbean International
5. Holland America Line
6. Carnival Cruise Line
7. Princess Cruises
8. Norwegian Cruise Line
9. MSC Cruises
The Caribbean is one of the most popular destinations for cruises because ships can sail there year-round.
While your experience will vary based on the time of year you choose to sail, there is never a bad time to dig your toes into the sandy beaches of St. Maarten or visit ancient Mayan ruins in Mexico!
This is the second category that Disney Cruise Line ranks number one in. Celebrity Cruises and Virgin Voyages were named second and third, respectively.
Best cruise lines in the Mediterranean
1. Viking Ocean Cruises
2. Seabourn Cruises
3. Celebrity Cruises
4. Oceania Cruises
5. Royal Caribbean International
6. Azamara
7. MSC Cruises
8. Costa Cruises
9. Norwegian Cruise Line
Perhaps you want a cruise that focuses more on ports with rich historical and cultural significance. If so, you are probably considering a Mediterranean cruise.
Taking a European cruise is the best way to visit multiple countries in a single trip without having to worry about repacking and lugging your suitcases through airports and train stations. You might fall asleep in France and wake up in Italy!
U.S. News & World Report ranked Viking Ocean Cruises as the best cruise line in the Mediterranean, followed by the luxury line Seabourn Cruises. The only mainstream cruise line to rank in the top three was Celebrity Cruises, which also happens to be on their list of best cruise lines for the money.
Best luxury cruise lines
1. Viking Ocean Cruises
2. Seabourn Cruises
3. Regent Seven Seas Cruises
4. Oceania Cruises
5. Silversea Cruises
6. Azamara
Want to splurge on the ultimate cruise experience? U.S. News & World Report recommends Viking Ocean Cruises, Seabourn Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, respectively.
Luxury cruise lines are often targeted towards adults, as they do not have any major thrills onboard. Additionally, the itineraries tend to be more unique, as the ships are smaller and can dock virtually anywhere! Can you imagine if Royal Caribbean's Wonder or Symphony of the Seas were to try and sail through the Aegean Sea or Norwegian Fjords?
Oftentimes, the standard accommodations are more suite-like, offering little to no interior cabins. You will not have to worry about booking as many cruise add-ons, either, such as drink and Wi-Fi packages or specialty dining. Some even include a shore excursion in each port of call.
How does U.S. News & World Report come up with their cruise ship rankings?
Each cruise ship is ranked based on their overall rating, which is a numerical score that can include several decimal points. However, to make it simpler to read and understand, each ship is given a graphical star rating that's rounded to the nearest half-star, meaning that two ships could show the exact same star rating but have different numerical ratings.
The overall rating is comprised of three different elements: expert rating (30% weight), traveler rating (50% weight), and health rating (20% weight).
Note that while cruise ship rankings are updated throughout the year, cruise lines are only ranked annually.
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she had the privilege of traveling frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas her freshman year of high school. She wanted to pursue a career that highlighted her passion for travel and strengths as a writer.
