Cruises
Find the Right Cruise
Choose a cruise line by style, pick the right cabin, and know where and when to sail.
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The Rankings
The Best Cruise Lines, Ranked by What They Do Best
Our editors’ picks in each category, and why each one earns its place.
Swipe for every category →Best for Families
- 1Disney Cruise LineCharacter experiences, Broadway-style shows and kids’ clubs for every age.
- 2Royal CaribbeanWater slides, surf simulators and climbing walls on the biggest ships at sea.
- 3CarnivalLively, fun-forward ships at an accessible price.
Best Luxury
- 1Regent Seven SeasThe most inclusive fare at sea: shore excursions, drinks, specialty dining and gratuities included.
- 2SeabournSmall all-suite ships with drinks included and a water-sports marina.
- 3SilverseaAll-suite ships with butler service in every suite and a deep destination focus.
Best for Food
- 1Oceania CruisesCuisine is the point, with specialty restaurants included in the fare.
- 2Explora JourneysA resort-style dining program across many restaurants, with no set dining times.
- 3Celebrity CruisesStrong specialty dining on modern, design-forward ships.
Best for Adults
- 1VikingOcean voyages for guests 18 and over, with no casinos and a cultural focus.
- 2Virgin VoyagesAdults-only and contemporary, with no buffets and a social atmosphere.
- 3Oceania CruisesA mature, food-focused crowd and no children’s programs.
Best River Cruising
- 1AmaWaterwaysActive excursions with bikes on board, and a wine-lover’s focus.
- 2VikingThe easy first river cruise, with an excursion included in every port.
- 3UniworldBoutique ships with lavish, one-of-a-kind interiors.
Best Expeditions
- 1Lindblad ExpeditionsNaturalist-led voyages in partnership with National Geographic.
- 2PonantPolar and remote voyages with French style on board.
- 3Quark ExpeditionsDedicated polar specialists for Antarctica and the Arctic.
Best for Alaska
- 1Princess CruisesDecades in Alaska, with its own wilderness lodges and land tours.
- 2Holland America LineA long Alaska heritage and cruisetours into Denali.
- 3Celebrity CruisesModern ships designed around the view.
Best Value
- 1MSC CruisesLow fares, especially in Europe and the Mediterranean.
- 2CarnivalSome of the most affordable fares at sea.
- 3Norwegian Cruise LineFlexible dining and frequent promotions.
Rankings reflect our editors’ view of each cruise line’s long-standing strengths. Fares, inclusions and itineraries change; check details when you book.
Every Cruise Line
The Major Cruise Lines at a Glance
What each cruise line is best for, and its style of cruising.
NameStyleBest for
Royal CaribbeanMainstreamFamilies and big-ship thrills
CarnivalMainstreamFun at an accessible price
Norwegian Cruise LineMainstreamFlexible, no-set-time dining
MSC CruisesMainstreamValue in Europe and the Mediterranean
Disney Cruise LineFamilyYoung children
Virgin VoyagesAdults-onlyA contemporary, adults-only sail
Celebrity CruisesPremiumModern design and dining
Princess CruisesPremiumAlaska
Holland America LinePremiumClassic cruising and longer voyages
CunardPremiumTransatlantic crossings
Oceania CruisesUpper premiumFood
Viking (ocean)Upper premiumCulture-focused voyages for adults
Explora JourneysLuxuryResort-style luxury and dining
Regent Seven SeasLuxuryThe most inclusive fare
SeabournLuxurySmall-ship luxury
SilverseaLuxuryDestination depth and expeditions
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht CollectionLuxuryYacht-style voyages
WindstarSmall shipSailing ships and small ports
Viking (river)RiverFirst-time river cruisers
AmaWaterwaysRiverActive travelers and wine lovers
UniworldRiverBoutique luxury on the rivers
Avalon WaterwaysRiverPanoramic suites with wall-wide windows
Lindblad ExpeditionsExpeditionNaturalist-led voyages
PonantExpeditionPolar voyages with French style
Quark ExpeditionsExpeditionPolar specialists
Cabins
Choosing a Cabin
Four types of stateroom, and where on the ship to book one.
Inside
Best value
No window, the lowest fare and very dark for sleeping. Ideal if you plan to be ashore or on deck most of the day.
Oceanview
Natural light
A window or porthole that does not open, often with a little more space than an inside cabin.
Balcony
Your own view
A private veranda for sunrise coffee and sail-aways, and the most popular choice on scenic itineraries.
Suite
Space and perks
Separate living areas and larger balconies, often with priority boarding, butler service and exclusive lounges.
01
Go midship
Cabins near the middle of the ship feel the least motion.
02
Go low for calm
Lower decks move less in rough seas; higher decks have better views.
03
Check what’s nearby
Avoid cabins under the pool deck or beside elevators if you are a light sleeper.
04
Book early
The best-located balconies and suites sell first on popular sailings.
Where to Cruise
Regions and When to Sail
Each region has its season. Then explore the ports in our editors’ guides.
Caribbean
Year-round
Beaches and island hopping; hurricane season runs June through November.
Mediterranean
Spring through fall
Ancient ports, coastal towns and the food of Italy, Greece, Croatia and Spain.
Alaska
May to September
Glaciers, wildlife and the Inside Passage, best seen from a balcony.
Northern Europe
May to September
The Norwegian fjords, the Baltic and the British Isles in the long summer light.
European Rivers
Spring through December
The Danube and Rhine, from spring blossoms to the Christmas markets.
Antarctica
November to March
The expedition voyage of a lifetime, during the southern summer.
Mediterranean
Dubrovnik
A favorite Adriatic port, with the walled old town steps from the pier.
Read the guide → ItalyVenice
Grand Canal arrivals and the palazzo hotels worth a night before you sail.
Read the guide → SicilyTaormina
The cliffside town above the port of Messina, and its beachfront hotels.
Read the guide → CaribbeanMiami Beach
Where many Caribbean sailings begin, with a weekend to spend before boarding.
Read the guide → Canada & New EnglandHalifax
A classic fall-foliage port of call on the North Atlantic coast.
Read the guide → St. LawrenceQuébec City
Old Québec’s walls and French cooking, a highlight of Canada sailings.
Read the guide →Ready to Sail?
Compare cruises by line, ship and destination on Expedia.
Questions
Cruises: Your Questions
What is the best cruise line for families?
Our editors rank Disney Cruise Line first for families, for its character experiences, shows and kids’ clubs for every age, followed by Royal Caribbean for its water slides and thrill attractions, and Carnival for fun at an accessible price.
What is the best luxury cruise line?
Our editors rank Regent Seven Seas first, for the most inclusive fare at sea, including shore excursions, drinks, specialty dining and gratuities, followed by Seabourn and Silversea for their small all-suite ships.
What is the difference between an ocean cruise and a river cruise?
River ships are much smaller, dock in the center of towns and cities, and often include shore excursions in the fare. Ocean ships carry more guests, offer more onboard dining and entertainment, and spend days at sea between ports.
Which cabin is best if I get seasick?
Choose a cabin on a lower deck near the middle of the ship, where you feel the least motion. A window or balcony helps too, since fresh air and a view of the horizon ease seasickness.
Is a balcony cabin worth it?
On scenic itineraries such as Alaska, the Norwegian fjords and the Mediterranean, many travelers find it is. On a port-heavy trip where you are ashore most days, an inside or oceanview cabin can be the better value.
What is included in a cruise fare?
Your cabin, most meals and onboard entertainment are included. On mainstream lines, drinks, specialty restaurants, Wi-Fi, gratuities and shore excursions usually cost extra. Luxury lines include more, and some include almost everything.
When is the best time to take a cruise?
The Caribbean sails year-round, with hurricane season running June through November. Alaska sails from May to September, the Mediterranean from spring through fall, Northern Europe and the fjords from May to September, and Antarctica from November to March.
Do I need a passport for a cruise?
International itineraries require one. On closed-loop cruises that begin and end at the same U.S. port, U.S. citizens may be able to sail with a birth certificate and government-issued photo ID, but a passport is strongly recommended in case you need to fly home from a foreign port.
How do I choose a cruise line?
Start with the style of trip. Mainstream lines suit families and big-ship amenities, premium lines offer more refined dining and service, luxury lines have small ships and inclusive fares, river lines focus on cities and culture, and expedition lines go to remote places like Antarctica and the Arctic.
What is an expedition cruise?
A small-ship voyage to remote destinations such as Antarctica, the Arctic and the Galápagos, with naturalist guides, lectures and landings by small boat.
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