If you are working out how to pick a cruise line, start with three questions: who is travelling, how much you want to spend in total (not just the fare), and what kind of holiday you want onboard. Answer those and the field shrinks from 20-plus brands to two or three. Big mainstream lines such as Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian and MSC suit families and first-timers who want lots to do. Premium lines such as Celebrity, Princess and Holland America suit couples who want better food and a calmer pace. Luxury, expedition and river lines suit people who want small ships, more included in the fare and destinations over waterslides.
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This guide goes through each of those choices in turn. It finishes with a quick-match table, a short decision checklist and an up-to-date look at the daily gratuities that most first-timers forget to budget for.
How to Pick a Cruise Line: Start With the Style of Cruise
Cruise lines fall into five broad styles, and knowing them is the quickest way to learn how to choose a cruise line that fits. Once you know which one fits you, comparing lines gets much easier, because lines within the same style tend to share the same price, pace and passenger mix.
| Style | Typical lines | Ship size | Feel onboard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mainstream | Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian (NCL), MSC, Disney | 2,000 to 7,000+ guests | Resort-style, lively, lots of activities and kids’ clubs |
| Premium | Celebrity, Princess, Holland America, Cunard | 1,000 to 4,000 guests | Better dining, calmer, more adults and couples |
| Luxury | Regent Seven Seas, Silversea, Seabourn, Explora Journeys, Oceania (upper premium) | Roughly 250 to 1,300 guests | Spacious suites, high service, most extras included |
| Expedition | Lindblad-National Geographic, Hurtigruten, HX, Ponant, Silversea and Seabourn expedition ships | Under 300 guests in many cases | Polar regions, Galapagos, wildlife, Zodiac landings, lectures |
| River | Viking, AmaWaterways, Avalon, Uniworld, Riverside | Usually under 200 guests | A new town most days, excursions included, quiet evenings |
Most people take their first cruise on a mainstream or premium line. That is not because those lines are “better”. They sail short, affordable itineraries from easy-to-reach ports, and they have enough going on onboard that you will not be bored on sea days. If you already know you would rather explore a different town every day than lounge by a pool, a river cruise can make a very good first cruise too. Our guide to choosing the best European river cruise covers that route.
Who Is Travelling? Families, Couples, Adults-Only and Solo
Families with children
Look for proper kids’ clubs split by age, family cabins that sleep four or five, and free activities like waterslides, splash zones and family shows. Royal Caribbean’s newest Icon-class ships, Disney, Carnival, NCL and MSC are the obvious choices. On MSC, children often sail free or at a reduced fare when sharing with adults on selected sailings, so it is worth checking. Disney usually costs the most per person but has the strongest character and children’s programming.
Couples and adults wanting a quieter trip
Premium lines such as Celebrity, Princess and Holland America attract more adults, have fewer flumes and loud pool parties, and put more effort into food, wine and evening entertainment. If you want children out of the picture altogether, look at adults-only lines and ships: Virgin Voyages (adults only), Viking’s ocean and river ships (18+), and from the UK, Marella Explorer 2 and P&O Cruises’ Arcadia, which both sail adults-only. If you are weighing two of the big premium names, our Holland America vs Celebrity comparison goes into detail.
Solo travellers
Most cruise fares are priced for two people sharing, so a single traveller often pays a “single supplement” of anywhere from a modest uplift to double the per-person fare. NCL has studio cabins built for one person with a shared lounge on many ships. Virgin Voyages and some Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and P&O ships also have solo cabins. Hosted solo meet-ups make it easy to find company. Read our practical tips for cruising solo before you book.
Big Ship or Small Ship? Why Size Matters
Ship size affects the whole experience more than most first-timers expect.
- Mega-ships (5,000+ guests): the most to do onboard, including multiple pools, Broadway-style shows, dozens of restaurants and theme-park-style attractions. The trade-offs are busier pool decks, queues at peak times and tender ports that can feel crowded.
- Mid-size ships (1,500 to 3,000 guests): a good balance of facilities and calm. Many premium ships sit here.
- Small ships (under 1,000 guests): quick embarkation, crew who learn your name, and access to smaller harbours that big ships cannot use. There are fewer activities, so they suit people who want the destinations to be the main event.
A useful tip that many guides skip: compare the passenger-space ratio (gross tonnage divided by guest numbers) rather than headline tonnage. A figure above about 40 usually feels roomy. Below about 30 can feel tight on sea days. Luxury ships often score 50 or more, which is a large part of what you are paying for.
Where Do You Want to Go?
Your destination can decide the line for you, because not every brand sails everywhere at every time of year.
- Caribbean and Bahamas: dominated by Royal Caribbean, Carnival, NCL, MSC, Celebrity, Princess, Virgin and Disney, many of which have their own private island or beach day.
- Alaska: Princess and Holland America have the longest history there and run land-and-sea tours. Royal Caribbean, NCL and Celebrity also sail it.
- Mediterranean and Northern Europe: MSC and Costa have a big presence. Premium and luxury lines are strong here too.
- Ex-UK, no-fly cruises: P&O Cruises, Cunard, Fred. Olsen, Ambassador and MSC sail from Southampton and other UK ports. Marella mostly fly-cruises from UK airports.
- Antarctica, Arctic and Galapagos: expedition lines only.
Budget: What Is Included and What Costs Extra
The cheapest fare is not always the cheapest holiday. On most mainstream and premium lines, the fare covers your cabin, main dining rooms, buffet, basic drinks such as water, tea, coffee and some juices, entertainment and kids’ clubs. Expect to pay extra for:
- Daily gratuities (see the table below), charged per person, per day, including children on most lines
- Alcohol, soda and speciality coffee, or a drinks package. Packages commonly cost upwards of $60 to $100+ per person per day, plus service charges
- Wi-fi, now faster on many ships thanks to Starlink but usually still a paid add-on
- Speciality restaurants, shore excursions, spa treatments and port parking
Some lines bundle these in. Celebrity sells “All Included” fares with drinks, wi-fi and tips. NCL runs bundled-perk promotions (currently called Free at Sea for new bookings) that can add a drinks package, speciality dining and wi-fi, although taxes and service charges on those perks normally still apply. Virgin Voyages includes all restaurants, basic wi-fi and soft drinks, but not tips. Marella’s UK fares include drinks and tips. Luxury lines such as Regent, Silversea and Seabourn include almost everything.
Daily gratuities by cruise line in 2026
These are the standard automatic gratuity (or “service charge”) rates per person, per day, as reported at the time of writing in late 2026. Several lines raised them during 2026, so check your line’s website before you sail.
| Cruise line | Standard cabins | Suites |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Caribbean | $18.50 | About $21 |
| Carnival | $17 (from April 2026) | $19 |
| Norwegian (NCL) | $20 | $25 (The Haven) |
| Celebrity | $18 | $19 to $23 |
| Princess | $18 (from March 2026) | $19 to $20 |
| MSC (US Caribbean and Alaska sailings) | $17 (from May 2026; varies by region) | $23 (Yacht Club) |
For a family of four on a seven-night Royal Caribbean cruise, that is roughly $518 in gratuities alone, so add it to the fare when you compare prices. UK readers get a better deal here. P&O Cruises stopped adding an automatic service charge in 2019, Fred. Olsen includes tips in the fare, Marella’s fares include them, and MSC does not add automatic gratuities for UK and Ireland guests. For timing your booking well, see our guide to cruise deals for 2027 and when to book.
Best Cruise Line for First Timers: Quick-Match Table
Use this as a starting shortlist, then compare two or three lines side by side for your dates.
| If you want… | Consider |
|---|---|
| Maximum onboard thrills for kids and teens | Royal Caribbean (Icon and Oasis class), Carnival, NCL |
| The lowest fares and short 3 to 5 night tasters | Carnival, MSC, Royal Caribbean short Bahamas sailings |
| Characters and family magic | Disney Cruise Line |
| A relaxed, food-focused trip for couples | Celebrity, Princess, Holland America |
| Adults-only with a modern vibe | Virgin Voyages; Marella Explorer 2 (UK) |
| Flexible “eat when you like” dining and solo cabins | Norwegian (NCL) |
| Alaska with land tours | Princess, Holland America |
| Everything included, small ships | Regent Seven Seas, Silversea, Seabourn, Explora Journeys |
| Culture and history ashore, few sea days | Viking (ocean or river), AmaWaterways |
| No-fly holidays from Southampton | P&O Cruises, Cunard, MSC, Fred. Olsen |
| A UK all-inclusive fly-cruise | Marella Cruises |
For UK readers deciding between the two biggest home-market brands, our Marella vs P&O Cruises guide compares ships, drinks and prices.
Which Cruise Line Is Best for Me? A Quick Decision Checklist
If you are still unsure how to pick a cruise line, run through these seven questions in order. Most people have a clear favourite by the end.
- Who is going? Ages of children, any mobility needs, whether you want an adults-only ship.
- What is your all-in budget? Fare plus gratuities, drinks, wi-fi, excursions, flights and hotel the night before.
- Where and when? Check which lines actually sail your region in your travel window.
- Busy or calm? Pick ship size to match. Mega-ship for variety, small ship for space and service.
- How do you like to eat? Set-time dining, flexible dining, or lots of included speciality restaurants.
- Which cabin? A balcony can transform a scenic route, but an inside cabin frees budget for extras. See our guide to balcony vs inside cabins.
- Try before you commit. A 3 to 5 night sailing is a low-risk way to test a line before booking a longer trip.
Once you have picked a line, our guide on how to find cheap cruises shows how to keep the fare and extras down.
If you’re wondering how formal your ship will be, see where each line sits in our ranking of the poshest cruise lines.
FAQs
What is the best cruise line for first timers?
There is no single best line, but Royal Caribbean, Carnival and NCL suit most first-time families and groups thanks to short itineraries and lots of activities. Celebrity and Princess suit couples who want a calmer, more food-focused first cruise.
What’s included in a cruise fare?
On most mainstream lines the fare covers your cabin, main restaurants and buffet, basic drinks like water and tea, entertainment and kids’ clubs. Gratuities, alcohol, soda, wi-fi, speciality dining and excursions are usually extra. Luxury lines include far more.
How much are cruise gratuities per day in 2026?
Most big US lines charge about $17 to $20 per person per day for standard cabins in 2026, and more for suites. P&O Cruises, Fred. Olsen and Marella do not add them for UK guests, and luxury lines generally include tips.
Is it cheaper to book a cruise directly through the cruise line?
Not always. Cruise lines and travel agents usually sell at the same base fare, but agents may add onboard credit or other perks. It pays to compare both and to watch for sales periods such as wave season.
How do I choose between a big ship and a small ship?
Choose a big ship if you want variety, entertainment and activities for all ages. Choose a small ship if you value space, personal service and smaller ports, and you are happy with fewer onboard attractions.
