Best Cruise Lines
Based on In-Depth Reviews
- 200+Hours of research
- 20+Sources used
- 24Companies vetted
- 3Features reviewed
- 5Top
Picks
- Book early to lock in the best rates and avoid long waitlists.
- Bigger ships are usually more affordable than smaller ones.
- Support sustainability-minded cruise lines.
- Budget ahead to cut back on spending while onboard.
How We Found the Best Cruise Lines
Our Top Picks: Cruise Lines Reviews
As a disclaimer, we advise anyone who is considering going on a cruise to keep their best interests in mind when it comes to COVID-19. People on cruise ships spend a lot of time close together, often with travelers from many countries. Due to this high population density, outbreaks are not unheard of. In fact, as the outbreak on the Diamond Princess shows, cruises are a perfect breeding ground for highly contagious viruses like COVID-19. 17% of the people aboard the ship contracted the virus from the moment that the ten infected passengers were identified, to when the ship’s quarantine was lifted.
If you suffer from a preexisting condition or belong to a population that is particularly vulnerable to the virus, please think twice before boarding a cruise ship. Here are some additional resources if you are considering boarding a cruise ship during the ongoing pandemic:
- Here’s how to cancel or postpone a cruise due to coronavirus
- What to Expect When Cruise Ships Sail Again
- Sailing Into Sickness?
To stay informed about confirmed virus outbreaks on cruise ships during 2020, visit the CDC’s page for outbreak updates on international cruises.
Carnival review
Best Cruise Line for Value
Screenshot Carnival.com, September 2020
As the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve, Carnival Cruise Line has canceled all ship sailings through and including December 31, 2020. Here is the list of canceled cruises.
Thanks to its frequent sales and early-booking deals on what are already low prices by industry standards, Carnival stands out as an example of budget-friendly fun. As the most extensive cruise line in the world, based on both its number of annual passengers and ships in its fleet, travelers can look forward to a joyful experience with a variety of entertainment options for adults and children alike. Carnival's 23 ships depart from every coast in the U.S., from such cities as Miami, Los Angeles, Baltimore, Seattle, and New York City, with voyages ranging from two to seventeen days.
Carnival’s fares are the main draw of the cruise line, and from the moment its website opens, deals and special offers will fill your screen. It’s relatively easy to find fares advertised as low as $159 per guest for a three-day cruise from the Bahamas to Miami, as it is to find a six-day cruise to the Eastern Caribbean from Fort Lauderdale for as low as $305 per guest. Although some extras aren’t covered in the fare, most of the ship activities are.
Designed to attract two main groups of people: young travelers and families, the Carnival experience has something for just about any demographic. Waterslides, sports courts, casinos, comedy acts, and nightclubs are a few examples of what guests can expect to find on one of Carnival’s 23 cruise ships. For children, Carnival partnered with Dr. Seuss Enterprises for themed story hours and kid-friendly "Cat in the Hat" brunches.
The 1:3 ratio of crew members to passengers ensures that, despite the large crowds, travelers can usually get the help or direction they need right away.
Despite repeat offenses in the past, Carnival is actively trying to reduce its carbon footprint and limit its impact on the environment. It has been a pioneer in introducing Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) to the industry, for example, which is a much cleaner fuel than diesel. The Carnival Corporation began implementing this fuel by using it in port and later made history twice by commissioning the first hybrid LNG cruise ship in 2015 and the first fully LNG-powered ship in 2019. The company’s 2020 sustainability goals include: reducing the intensity of its CO2 emissions by 25% relative to its 2005 baseline, continuing to improve water use efficiency by 5%, and increasing the coverage of its Advanced Wastewater Treatment System by ten percentage points relative to its 2014 baseline.
Also, consider: Princess Cruises
Screenshot Princess.com, September 2020
Princess Cruises has temporarily paused their global ship operations. View details and list of affected cruises here.
Princess Cruises features very economical fares similar to its parent company Carnival. The main difference between both companies is their atmosphere and the audience for each cruise line. Princess Cruises targets more adult travelers and brings in more international guests. Consider this alternative if you are traveling without kids and prefer a more traditional cruise experience to Carnival’s casual and laid back crowds.
Disney review
Best Cruise Line for Families
Screenshot Disneycruise.disney.go.com, September 2020
Disney Cruise Lines Coronavirus (COVID-19) Travel Alert (September 15, 2020): Disney Cruise Lines Extends Suspension of All Departures Through at Least December 6, 2020. Sailings are cancelled on board the Disney Fantasy through December 6; the Disney Dream and Disney Wonder through December 11; and the Disney Magic through December 12.
Parents will find that the Disney line of cruise ships are a hard-to-beat experience for families, especially if the adults enjoy the Disney movies and characters as much as their kids do. All four of the line’s ships—the Disney Magic, Disney Wonder, Disney Dream, and Disney Fantasy—have received acclaim for their immersive, kid-friendly atmosphere, dining venues, amenities, and spacious staterooms. Disney cruise ships depart from a variety of ports in North America and Europe, sailing in the United States, Mexico, Canada, Europe, and the Caribbean, with voyages that last between three and fifteen days.
For travelers in a group of four—2 adults, 2 children—the price for a 4 to 6 night stay at one of Disney's cruises start between $2,195 and $4,523. Compared to the rates from other cruise lines, whose fares are similar but include a lot less overall, these are surprisingly affordable. Included in the standard Disney fare are Broadway-type shows, movie screenings, all food except for adult-exclusive dining, a variety of snacks, and clubs hosted by specially trained Disney counselors.
Disney cruise guests can find plenty of family-oriented facilities, including themed pools, youth clubs, and onboard spas. They’ll also be able to eat in the cruise line's Disney-themed main dining rooms and enjoy a variety of Disney-inspired entertainment, such as live shows, movies, and character meet and greets. Each ship also features secluded adult-only pools, restaurants, and lounges.
Although Disney's ships vary in size, each vessel carries approximately one crew member for every three passengers, and crew and cast members come from all over the world. This helps ensure that guests receive prompt, high-quality service while onboard.
Out of all the large cruise ship companies, Disney has consistently gotten the best marks when it comes to sustainable cruising. This is due to a combination of conservation and wildlife projects, advanced waste management and water purification systems, and efforts to enhance fuel-efficiency, as well as make the move to cleaner energy sources. Most importantly, Disney is transparent about its practices; it was the only cruise line that responded to Friend of the Earth’s inquiries about its environmental practices.
UnCruise Adventures review
Best Green Cruise Line
Screenshot Uncruise.com, September 2020
UnCruise COVID-19 Travel Updates: The no-sail order for cruises put in place by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention only applies to ships with more than 250 passengers and crew. Uncruise is exempt from this order, and their U.S-based, U.S.-flagged, U.S.-crewed vessels have put initiatives in place to advocate for the betterment of small boat travel and its guests. You can read more updates on onboard protocols for COVID-19, here.
UnCruise can best be described as an adventure cruise line. Its routes generally stop short of points of interest that lie off the beaten path and can only be reached by inflatable boats, hiking, or kayaking. This is the first of two elements that make UnCruise the “greenest” cruise line, the other being its near devotion to sustainability. UnCruise’s destinations include Alaska, Hawaii, several ports in Latin America, and the Pacific Northwest.
Although not the most affordable fare—starting around $2695 per person—that price tag comes with a plethora of benefits, namely, that it pays for practically everything in your trip. That includes otherwise expensive activities like snorkeling, kayaking, and skiffing; every excursion on the way to your destination; spirits, wine, and beer; non-alcoholic beverages; ensuite facilities; and fitness equipment. You are essentially paying for the entirety of the vacation, transportation to the port notwithstanding. There’s no need for UnCruise to up-sell any particular activities: because everything is part of the experience, you get to decide how much you want to do.
UnCruise focuses on providing guests with exploration and discovery, a goal that is made infinitely easier given the size of its ships. The company’s largest ship fits just 86 passengers, which makes their cruises much more familiar and intimate. Additionally, none of their ships has a guest-to-crew ratio lower than 3:1, and most of them boast a 2:1 or 2.5:1 ratio.
By connecting guests to their natural surroundings, UnCruise creates an experience that goes beyond just vacationing and pushes into education. Through narrative interpretation, interacting with locals, and a variety of other onboard activities that encourage relaxation, passengers are given a chance to interact with nature in a way that larger, more distanced cruises would not allow.
UnCruise’s approach to the concept of cruising makes it a standout in the area of sustainability. The company employs a variety of strategies that lessen its impact not only on the environment at large but also on its destinations. On the local side, it supports local businesses and individuals by sourcing materials or food items from them and by hiring them for tasks such as off-boat operational activities and cultural tours or presentations.
More broadly, UnCruise outfits all its ships with advanced sewage-treatment systems, maximize fuel efficiency during every trip, is the first cruise line to partner with the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch, and adheres to the seven principles of Leave No Trace established by the Center for Outdoor Ethics.
VACAYA review
Best Cruise Line for LGBTQIA+
Screenshot Myvacaya.com, September 2020
At this point, all upcoming VACAYA vacations are on schedule. To learn more, visit VACAYA’S Travel Updates page.
Unlike other cruise lines on our list who own their ships, VACAYA is a full charter service. It takes over entire ships and then creates a fully customized itinerary of 24/7 entertainment and social activities that they hope are a perfect fit for the LGBTQIA+ community. Currently, the company is advertising three cruises: a round trip of the Caribbean embarking from Puerto Rico, a trip around Iceland starting from Reykjavík, and a round trip river cruise embarking from New Orleans.
Because VACAYA charters ships rather than running their own, the company’s fares will inevitably affect the company whose ship they’re renting. This means cruises might be drastically different in price. For example, its Caribbean cruise has fares starting from $897 per person, whereas its Reykjavík cruise fares begin at $5,797 per person. The price of your VACAYA cruise covers all of the onboard entertainment and parties—no matter the cost.
VACAYA was founded by tourism and travel industry executives with many years of experience working at the popular, gay-focused Atlantis and RSVP cruise lines and wanted cruises with a different vision and offering. Part of that vision is an inclusive, judgment-free environment that isn’t limited to gay males of a specific size, shape, or color. Instead, the company’s goal is to create a sort of queer wonderland, where the entire spectrum of the community is respected and made to feel at home.
VACAYA also offers an experience catered towards single travelers through its Solo Traveling with Ease Program (STEP). The program pairs two solo travelers together, so they share a room, keeping costs to a minimum. Travelers who want to cruise solo but don’t mind sharing a room have to pick the type of stateroom they’re interested in. Then they’ll be placed in a pool with other travelers interested in that type of room.
As for entertainment, guests can expect a host of personalities to make an appearance, from drag queens to Broadway stars, movie stars, and pop music icons. Events, which are usually themed, often take place outdoors, and guests are encouraged to dress up. Many activities onboard also help connect guests, which gives them a chance to meet new people—and maybe make a few friends in the process.
The level of sustainability that VACAYA has control over is more limited than that of other cruise lines since the company does not own the ships it uses. Therefore, it cannot upgrade their water purification or waste treatment systems. However, one of the companies it charters ships from, Ponant, has a strong record of sustainable cruising practices. Another company whose ships it uses, Celebrity Cruises, has also performed relatively well when it comes to sustainability.
Also, consider: Out Adventures (smaller, more intimate cruises)
Screenshot Outadventures.com, September 2020
Out Adventures has suspended all tours departing before January 1, 2021. At present, all tours departing after January 2, 2021 are running as planned. Read more about their current state of Out Adventures, here.
If you’re craving something less crowded and more adventurous, a smaller cruise like the ones from Out Adventures may be a better option. The company was founded in 2008 and has been a provider of gay cruises, tours, and adventure trips for over a decade now. Moreover, they’ve begun offering trips for lesbians with tours designed specifically for and hosted by women. Out Adventures has cruises in 4 locations: Antarctica, Croatia, Egypt, and the Galapagos. The company’s largest excursion only carries 40 passengers.
Viking review
Best Cruise Line for River Travel
Screenshot Vikingcruises.com, September 2020
Viking River Cruises has extended its temporary suspension of operations across all scheduled departures through December 31, 2020. They are also offering a Plan Your Voyage Risk-Free limited-time offer. Read more about their offers and travel updates here.
For a laid-back but destination-heavy trip down one of the world’s rivers, look no further than Viking River Cruises. Although Viking also does expedition and ocean cruises, it is best known for its river cruises and the design of its award-winning longships. Viking's current fleet features 49 of these longships, which can accommodate 190 passengers. The company has expanded its cruises to rivers on almost every continent and has been voted the best company for River Cruises several times by various publications.
Compared to the price of luxury river cruises, which have become very popular as of late, Viking is comparatively economical. Its base fares are more affordable, but what truly sets it apart is what’s included with its standard fare. All of Viking's ships include wine, soft drinks, and beer at lunch and dinner. Additionally, internet service—usually a luxury on all but the most generous cruise lines—is included for all passengers on all of the company’s ships. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, all Viking guests are treated to one excursion in each port of call. This is part of Viking’s primary focus on the destination.
The Viking River experience is as much about the on-shore activities as it is about those onboard. To this end, they try to enhance the experience of its passengers by treating them to local cuisine and drink. For example, the dishes served on the company’s river ships while cruising along the Elbe might be of Czech or German origin. The wines and beer may also be sourced regionally.
Because rivers are easier to pollute, given their volume against that of an ocean, river cruises have a lot of responsibility to keep them free of trash and waste. On that front, Viking is doing its homework. According to the company, its longships are integrated with sustainable upgrades, such as solar panels and hybrid engines, and other equipment that minimizes exhaust pollution to meet strict environmental regulations. Its longships also feature a hydro-dynamically optimized and streamlined hull and bow that reduces vibrations for a smoother sail, maximizing fuel efficiency.
Further Insight into Our Methodology
Ah, cruise lines. Love them or hate them, cruise lines are a popular vacation alternative for travelers of all ages, incomes, and backgrounds. They are convenient and accessible, requiring little planning of anything other than your budget. As the market has diversified, now there are cruises of every size visiting destinations worldwide and catering to just about every demographic. Booking a cruise is no longer as easy as defaulting to the biggest, most magnificent ship docked at the nearest port.
When researching cruise lines, our goal was to understand the industry as a whole first, and then how the companies operated individually. We started by searching for news and reports about recent developments in the industry, especially as concerns COVID-19. We read about cruise ships, how they work, and how they impact the environment. We also compiled preliminary data about fares and the other costs of going on a cruise. Once that was done, we made a list of the companies that best aligned with our designated criteria and values.
Something to note was the resources used to evaluate sustainability. Various sites, including SustainingTourism, the Passenger Vessel Association, ShipTechnology, and the World Tourism Association Library, helped us identify what “sustainable” cruising should look like. They also helped us weed out controversial “green” practices, like the use of scrubbers and their associated “sludge.” We then visited company websites to search for evidence of their environmental footprint, while using other sources, such as Friends of the Earth, to verify said information.
We split our criteria into three groups:
Cost
The cost of going on a cruise may vary widely depending on how much you are willing to spend. Nowhere is this more evident than comparing the fare for cruise ships of different sizes or looking at the fare of both a regular cruise line and a luxury brand. Therefore, we had to draw a line regarding the price of the room and board for a cruise. We focused almost exclusively on the standard fares for the most economical rooms when comparing prices between companies for each review category. Although we did consider the perks and bonuses that more expensive fares include, such as beverage packages, complimentary gifts, and of course, larger rooms, these were not as essential as their standard fare for our review purposes.
Another thing we looked at was gratuity fees, also called service charges. These are usually prepaid when you purchase your fare or are added to passengers' shipboard accounts as tips of anywhere from $14 to $20 per person, per day. This is supposed to replace tipping to reward crew members individually, but some might feel better tipping with cash. We favored companies that allow guests to manage how these gratuities work efficiently.
Lastly, we considered the cost of transportation to the port of departure. Cruises embark from specific destinations, some of which are more expensive to fly or drive than others. For example, if you're based in the United States, and you book a Scandinavian cruise, you will more than likely be departing from a European port. This means you’ll have to factor in the cost of flying there and staying at least a day before embarking—as recommended by many cruise experts. Some cruise lines also offer programs that organize your transportation for you, simplifying the process but driving your total expenses up.
Customer Experience
Customer experience is paramount when talking about cruise lines—it’s the whole point of going on a cruise. Travelers want an experience they’ll cherish and remember for years to come, not one they’ll rue booking because of an awful experience at the guest services desk.
The first thing we considered for customer experience was the response that previous passengers had during their trip. We looked for verifiable online reviews as well as rankings based on consumer metrics from credible sources. These two elements formed the bulk of the criteria we used to evaluate overall customer satisfaction.
A more specific element of customer experience that we favored was personalization. A 2018 Deloitte report on the cruise line industry stated that cruises need to adapt to the increasing number of cruise passengers with higher expectations for a more personalized experience. The report also shows that the industry has plenty of space to improve on in several areas, namely consumer empowerment. When looking at cruise lines, we favored those who use digital solutions, such as apps, to provide tools to facilitate customization—of itineraries, for example.
Speaking of information, we also preferred cruise lines that showed a commitment to multilingualism. Cruise lines should have all their online and offline resources available in a variety of languages so that travelers feel comfortable referring to them without needing to resort to English or having another passenger interpret for them. Having multilingual staff members also got cruise lines a better rating with us.
Sustainability
Sustainability is a big deal for the cruise line industry, namely because cruise ships are significant pollutants. One report from TransportEnvironment.org showed that “the luxury cruise brands owned by Carnival Corporation & PLC emitted in 2017 in European seas alone ten times more disease-causing sulfur oxide than all of Europe’s 260+ million passenger vehicles.” Another report, from the Congressional Research Service, outlines the several types of waste that cruise ships discharge and emit, including various types of liquid, solid, and gaseous waste.
Given the worsening climate crisis, going on a cruise may seem foolhardy at best and outright complicit at worst. While traveling via car or plane also releases dangerous pollutants into the atmosphere, it pales in comparison to the environmental impact of cruises. But cruise lines aren’t oblivious to this fact. Many—from industry giants like Carnival to small, to footprint-light companies like Uncruise—are actively seeking to lessen their impact on the environment.
Sustainability ended up being a much more important element of evaluating cruise lines than we had initially anticipated. To that end, we tried to shine the spotlight on companies that 1) keep their sewage and wastewater treatment systems up to date, 2) adopt cleaner, low-sulfur fuel, such as liquefied natural gas, and 3) comply with water quality standards. Many large cruise lines did not show substantial progress in these areas, as determined by sources such as the Friends of the Earth 2019 Cruise Ship Report Card. Ultimately, this means that for those who are seriously worried about their carbon footprint, medium-to-small cruises are the way to go.
Helpful information about Cruise Lines
Cruising may be the best option if you are looking for a vacation that has everything in one place, with a minimum level of stress. Planning your travels inland is fun and exciting, but it can also be exhausting, especially when traveling with a big group, say, with friends or family. Booking a cruise, on the other hand, boils down to merely figuring out the type of cruise ship you want to board, how comfortable you want to be on it, and the destinations you want to visit.
A common misconception about cruises is that they offer fewer entertainment options than a land vacation. While this can certainly be true of smaller cruises, which may be mostly rooms and living quarters, this is far from a truism about the industry as a whole. Cruises have come a long way: in addition to their destination(s), many ships feature numerous, assorted activities, from Broadway shows and casinos to comedy acts, cooking classes, and movie showings. Although some activities may come at an added price, everything remains in close proximity, making transportation a non-issue.
Types of Cruise Ships
Cruise ships come in all shapes and sizes but can be roughly divided into three groups: small, mid-size, and large. Some types of ships are too large for certain activities, such as river cruising, which means the kind of ship you want to stay in may dictate the cruise experience you will ultimately have.
Small cruises have the advantage of maneuverability, making it possible to stray off the beaten path and visit more exotic ports that big ships can’t reach. The number of passengers may vary from under a hundred to well into the mid-thousands. They might have a handful of restaurants and some small-scale entertainment, but most of the excitement will be happening at the real destination: offboard.
Large cruises are on the opposite side of the spectrum to small cruises. As much (if not more), resources are spent on developing what travelers can do on the cruise and off. They usually host numerous stores and dining options and feature music halls, theatres, pools, zip lines, or even kart circuits. They have every amenity you could think of, which helps when you’re moving thousands of passengers around and plan plenty of offboard activities at popular ports. Overall, they are akin to giant, floating resorts more than anything else.
Mid-sized cruises try to combine the benefits of both large and small ships to provide the best of both worlds. They aren’t as crowded as large ships, hosting around one to two thousand passengers, but not as private as small ships. There are plenty of amenities on board and may host more nature-focused activities than on larger ships. Mid-sized cruises also offer a variety of dining options, though they are naturally more limited.
In addition to the cruise types mentioned above, there are also river cruises, indicative not just of their size but, more importantly, of their setting of choice. Finally, so-called “mega cruises” are the equivalent of taking a large ship and making it even bigger and filling it to the brim with venues, restaurants, stores, and areas for other activities. They usually feature bombastic events and can hold as many as five thousand passengers.
What to Watch Out for With Cruise Lines
The Wi-Fi isn’t great—and it’s expensive
First off, it bears mentioning that the satellite internet on cruise ships will never be as robust or reliable as your broadband at home. Satellite internet service is fundamentally different from how cable or fiber works. A signal has to travel from the ship to a satellite and then back down to Earth. This is inherently slower, and can crawl to a virtual standstill—or outright not work—due to data congestion or problems with the ship’s line of sight to the satellite. Don’t expect to be doing bandwidth-heavy activities with any degree of success while onboard.
Despite how lackluster internet service is on cruise ships, it’s also strikingly expensive. The price of internet packages on some popular cruise lines will cost you around $14 to $20 per day. To make matters worse, you may have to purchase Wi-Fi plans per device, raising the price of Wi-Fi for groups and families exponentially if they want to cover multiple devices.
Luckily, the internet on cruise ships does seem to be getting better, with a few lines managing speeds of up to 5 Mbps. And it’s becoming more affordable, too. The old pay-by-the-minute system is being replaced by more comprehensive, per-day plans and packages. Some lines, such as Viking Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Silversea, even include unlimited internet time with their base fare. Cruises have also begun to introduce specialized packages, such as Carnival’s Social Wi-Fi plan, which offers access to specific websites and apps for a reduced rate of $5 per day—a much lower rate than regular cruise Wi-Fi plans.
Beverages packages often are not worth it
Often advertised as an easy way of saving money, beverage packages cover various refreshments and drinks, such as bottled water, sodas, and alcoholic beverages. The thing is, they’re pretty expensive. For example, a Royal Caribbean drinks package can cost as much as $89 per day, and one Norwegian drinks package is over $120 a day.
Beverage packages can save you money, but only if you were going to spend a lot of it on drinks in the first place. In other words, they only make sense if you routinely spend more than what those packages covered in drinks on a per-day basis. Packages become even less desirable in cruises where certain drinks are already included, such as soda on the Disney Lines, specialty coffees on Sea Cloud Cruises, and beer and wine with lunch and dinner on Viking Cruises.
Do the math before getting on your cruise. Carefully think about the type of drinks and how many of them you’d typically order while on vacation. Also, consider that some lines include drinks packages as a perk during limited-time booking promotions, making such a package turn from an expensive luxury to an affordable benefit.
Travel Insurance and COVID-19
The novel COVID-19 has forced many people to rethink their vacation plans, or even cancel them outright. Whether or not travel insurance covers COVID-19 depends on each company’s policy. Many companies are now rushing to cover it to satisfy consumer demand, but as of September 2020, coverage is still limited. So far, the few policies that have been written with COVID-19 include at least one of the following:
- emergency medical and medical evacuation coverage if a traveler contracts the virus while on a cruise.
- trip cancellation coverage if a traveler contracts coronavirus, or is quarantined, and unable to travel as planned.
If you have already purchased travel insurance and your provider has not updated their policy to include situations that could result from exposure to COVID-19, your best bet might be upgrading to a Cancel for Any Reason policy. This is an optional upgrade that can reimburse 75% of the traveler's trip cost. It is also the only option that allows travelers to cancel their trip for any reason not covered by a standard policy, such as travel bans or fear of traveling due to coronavirus.
FAQs about Cruise Lines
Can I do laundry onboard?
Most large or mid-sized ships offer wash and press services on board for a fee. In ships with laundry service, there should be a laundry bag inside your room that you can leave for your room steward to pick up. The bag should be back with your clothes the next day, or on the same day if you pay extra. Some cruise lines offer laundry packages that must be booked and paid for in advance. Some cruise lines also feature self-service laundries.
If you don’t want to pay for your laundry, you can always bring detergent onboard and hand wash it yourself. In-cabin showers should have retractable clotheslines so you can hang your clothes to dry. Certain upper-tier suites may also include laundry with their fare.
What’s the dress code?
Dress codes can be confusing since they vary from one cruise line to another. Historically speaking, guests had it way easier at the dawn of the cruise line era. Evening wear, for example, was straightforward: the men wore white tie, and the ladies wore evening gowns. As dress code enforcement became progressively laxer, guests began wearing a wider variety of clothes to activities on a regular basis. Your best guess as to what clothes to bring will be whatever your cruise ship’s individual dress code dictates is appropriate.
Will I get seasick onboard if I suffer from motion sickness?
Because cruise ships are so big—even smaller ones are considered large ships, by most standards—movements are slower and much less pronounced. Modern cruise ships may also have sets of stabilizers, which are like giant fins that project out from the hull of the ship and cut into the water. This prevents some of the rolling motions that regularly trigger people’s motion sickness. Unless a person’s motion sickness is severe, seasickness should rarely be an issue on cruise ships.
Should I book a cruise early or late?
Whether you should book a cruise early, when their fares first go up, or late, soon before they embark, will depend on your priorities for the trip. As a rule of thumb, it is recommended to book your spot on a cruise early to lock in a good rate from the outset. This is especially important if you are booking a popular cruise and want a specific type of cabin or event itinerary. On the other hand, if you don't mind being flexible about your cruise ship and itinerary, waiting until a few days before the departure date may net you the lowest possible price.
Do I need to pay for drinkable water?
Most cruise ship water is desalinated seawater. Travelers can access tap water from one of the multiple water stations scattered throughout cruise ships. These can be freely used, but keep in mind that some ships do not allow guests to refill water bottles at these stations as per their health regulations. Bottled water—and sparkling water—is usually not included in your standard fare. You will need to buy it individually or pay for a beverage package that includes it.