A cruise can mean a week in the Caribbean with the ship as a big part of the vacation. It can mean sailing through Alaska with everyone watching for glaciers and wildlife. It can be a family trip with more things to do than anyone could possibly fit into a week, or a smaller ship where the destination gets most of the attention.
That's why I don't think choosing a cruise should start with whichever ship has the best commercial or whichever cruise line somebody else says is their favorite. The right cruise depends on who's going, where you want to go and what you actually want the vacation to feel like.
There isn't one best cruise line, ship or itinerary. There is a cruise that makes more sense for your trip.
Sometimes the ship is the vacation. Sometimes it's how you get from one place to another. And sometimes you want a little of both. Figuring that out first makes everything else a lot easier.
Two people can both say they want to take a cruise and be picturing completely different vacations. Here are a few of the ways I think about it.
Big pools, waterslides, shows, restaurants, bars, entertainment and enough going on that a sea day doesn't feel like a day with nothing to do.
The ship is important, but the itinerary is why you're going. Alaska, Europe, Iceland and other destination-heavy cruises often work this way.
Kids clubs, pools, activities and entertainment matter, but so do good food, comfortable spaces and the chance for the adults to enjoy the vacation too.
Maybe you don't need waterslides and twenty things happening at once. A quieter ship, good food, comfortable spaces and time to relax may sound a lot better.
Smaller ships, better service, upgraded dining, larger cabins or suites and more included in the fare can completely change the cruise experience.
The least expensive fare isn't always the least expensive trip. What's included, cabin choice, packages, airfare and getting to the port all matter.
Before worrying about the cruise line, it helps to know which version of a cruise sounds most like the vacation you want.
Cruises go a lot farther than the Caribbean. Where you want to go can completely change the ship, cruise line, length of the trip and even how much time you'll spend onboard.
Beaches, warm weather, private islands and plenty of choices ranging from short getaways to longer Southern Caribbean itineraries.
Glaciers, wildlife, mountains and port days where the destination is usually a much bigger part of the trip than the pool deck.
A way to visit several cities and countries without packing up and changing hotels every few days.
Dramatic scenery, smaller ports, longer daylight and itineraries that can include Iceland, Norway, Scotland, the British Isles and more.
Easy warm-weather cruising from several U.S. ports with beach days, excursions and shorter itinerary options.
A different way to see several islands without repeatedly flying between them and changing hotels.
Smaller ships, city-center ports and itineraries where the places along the river are usually the main reason for taking the trip.
Canada and New England, Panama Canal, South America, Australia and New Zealand, Asia, transatlantic sailings and longer cruises can open up a lot more possibilities.
Iceland is one of those cruise destinations where the itinerary really matters. Some sailings focus heavily on Iceland, while others combine it with Norway, Scotland, the British Isles or other parts of Northern Europe.
I put together a separate Iceland Cruise Guide that goes deeper into the routes, ports and different ways an Iceland cruise can work.
Explore My Iceland Cruise Guide →People sometimes ask me which cruise line is best. I don't think that's the most useful question, because even ships within the same cruise line can give you very different vacations.
A huge newer ship may have waterslides, shows, neighborhoods, dozens of places to eat and enough activities that the ship becomes a destination of its own.
A smaller ship may give you a quieter experience and reach ports that the biggest ships can't. On some itineraries, that's much more important than having the newest attractions onboard.
A family-focused cruise may put kids clubs, entertainment and activities near the top of the list. An adults-focused trip may care more about dining, nightlife, quieter spaces or service.
A river cruise is another experience entirely. The ship is smaller, the ports work differently and the destination usually drives the trip.
That's why I like to look at the ship and itinerary together. A great ship on the wrong route isn't automatically a great vacation, and a perfect itinerary on a ship that doesn't fit your group can create the same problem.
The cruise fare is only one piece of the trip. Some of these details can make a much bigger difference than people expect.
Inside, oceanview, balcony and suite are only the beginning. Location, deck, what is above and below you, how many people are sharing the room and how much time you'll actually spend there can all matter.
If you're flying to the cruise, arriving the day before is often worth considering. A delayed flight on a normal vacation is frustrating. A delayed flight on embarkation day can mean missing the ship.
Sometimes cruise-line airfare makes sense. Sometimes booking flights separately gives you better choices or makes the trip easier to manage. I can compare the options instead of assuming one way is always better.
Airport to hotel, hotel to cruise port and cruise port back to the airport can all be separate pieces. It's much easier when those details are figured out before travel day.
Dining, drinks, Wi-Fi, gratuities and entertainment vary by cruise line and fare. A lower cruise fare can look very different after the extras are added.
Packages vary by cruise line and sailing. Some can be useful; others may not make sense for the way you'll actually use the ship.
You don't need every port planned before booking the cruise, but the kinds of things you want to do ashore can help determine which itinerary makes more sense.
Cruises combine several moving pieces — cruise fare, flights, hotels, transfers and sometimes prepaid activities. Travel protection is worth considering as part of the overall trip.
The cheapest cruise fare and the best-value cruise vacation aren't always the same thing.
You don't need to spend weeks comparing every cruise line, ship, itinerary and cabin before talking to me. That's part of what I'm here for.
I look at who's going, your dates, where you want to cruise and what matters most to the group before narrowing down the ships and itineraries worth comparing.
Instead of sending you a giant list of sailings, I can compare the ones that actually fit and explain the differences between them.
I can compare cabin types and locations instead of treating every balcony, oceanview or inside cabin as if they're all the same.
If you need airfare, a hotel before or after the cruise, transfers or other pieces, I can look at how everything fits together instead of stopping at the cruise reservation.
As the trip gets closer, we can look at available packages, excursions and other cruise details without trying to make every decision on the day you book.
My job doesn't end when the reservation is made. If questions come up before the cruise — or something needs attention while you're traveling — you still have someone to contact.
You don't need to know the cruise line, ship or exact itinerary yet. Tell me who's going, when you're thinking about traveling and what sounds good to you. I'll help you start narrowing down the real options.
Start Planning My Cruise →