Based on the biggest review datasets available in 2026, the worst cruise lines according to reviews are Norwegian Cruise Line, Costa Cruises, MSC Cruises, P&O Cruises and Carnival. Norwegian is the only line near the bottom of every major source, while the others score poorly on some platforms and well on others, usually because of crowding, extra fees, inconsistent food and service, or ageing ships.
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Below is our own ranking of the 10 lowest-rated cruise lines, built from Cruise Critic member ratings, the Consumer Reports 2026 survey and the latest Which? cruise survey, with an honest look at why each line scores low and who it still suits. “Worst” here means lowest-rated by passengers, not unsafe or dishonest.
How we ranked the worst cruise lines
No single review score tells the whole story, so we combined three independent sources:
- Cruise Critic member ratings (out of 5): the largest pool of cruise reviews, from tens of thousands of passengers, mostly from North America. Checked in October 2026.
- Consumer Reports (US): a January 2026 survey of 18,850 members rating 19 ocean cruise lines on value, food, service, excursions and entertainment. It published rankings rather than scores.
- Which? (UK): the most recent cruise survey we could find, published March 2025 from fieldwork in October 2024, with 2,865 respondents and a customer score for 26 ocean lines.
We used Trustpilot only as a supporting signal. Its scores swing wildly depending on whether a company invites reviews: MSC Cruises’ UK profile, which invites customers, scores 3.9 from more than 19,000 reviews, while its US profile, which does not, scores 1.7 from just over 100. That is a perfect example of why one site’s number should never be treated as the final word.
Lines ranked higher on this list were rated low by more than one source. Small specialist lines with too few reviews to compare fairly were left out.
The 10 worst cruise lines according to reviews (2026)
| Cruise line | Rating data | Common complaints | Who it still suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Norwegian Cruise Line | Cruise Critic 3.6; last of 19 in Consumer Reports 2026; Which? 66% (last) | Extra charges, value for money, food changes, show queues | Freestyle diners, Alaska and Europe fans who like big-ship choice |
| 2. Costa Cruises | Cruise Critic 3.0 (lowest major line); Which? 81% | Food, service consistency, crowded buffets | Europeans and Med lovers wanting a lively Italian vibe |
| 3. MSC Cruises | Cruise Critic 3.3; low in Consumer Reports 2026; Which? 75% | Crowding, buffet quality, disorganised service | Families (kids sail free on many fares), new-ship fans, Yacht Club guests |
| 4. P&O Cruises | Cruise Critic 3.4; Which? 72% (second from bottom) | Passenger space, entertainment, “cost cutting” | UK cruisers wanting no-fly holidays from Southampton |
| 5. Carnival Cruise Line | Cruise Critic 3.8; low in Consumer Reports 2026; Which? 76%; Trustpilot 1.5 | Older ships, crowds, fees, customer service | Budget short breaks, first-timers, families |
| 6. Holland America Line | Cruise Critic 3.9; Which? 74% | Facilities and entertainment on older ships | Quieter, older travellers; Alaska and long voyages |
| 7. Ambassador Cruise Line | Which? 74% | Facilities on older, smaller ships | UK adults wanting small, traditional, no-fly cruising |
| 8. Cunard | Cruise Critic 3.7; Which? 76% | Waits for food, value for money | Transatlantic fans and lovers of dressy tradition |
| 9. Regent Seven Seas | Cruise Critic 3.7; Which? 81% | Cabin or technical issues, complaint handling | Luxury travellers wanting excursions and drinks included |
| 10. Princess Cruises | Cruise Critic 3.8; Which? 75% | Price versus value, food, crowding on big ships | Couples and mature cruisers who like MedallionClass ease |
Cruise Critic figures for P&O, Cunard and Regent are as reported by FinanceBuzz (October 2026) and Holland America as reported by Islands.com (April 2026); the rest were read directly from Cruise Critic in October 2026. Scores move over time, so check the latest before booking.
1. Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian is the clearest consensus pick for the worst-rated cruise line right now. It finished last of 19 lines in the Consumer Reports 2026 survey, last of 26 in the latest Which? survey (66%), and sits at 3.6 on Cruise Critic from more than 43,000 reviews. The recurring themes are value for money and charges: reviewers point to paid extras, Wi-Fi and drinks costs, and changes to dining and entertainment, such as a move away from reserved show seating. On the plus side, NCL’s freestyle dining and newer ships still win plenty of five-star reviews.
2. Costa Cruises
Costa has the lowest Cruise Critic rating of any major line at 3.0, with reviews split almost evenly between “excellent” and “terrible”. English-speaking reviewers often find the experience too unfamiliar: multilingual announcements, a busy European crowd and a buffet-heavy style. Yet Costa scored a respectable 81% in Which?, so British cruisers who know what to expect seem much happier than North American reviewers.
3. MSC Cruises
MSC scores 3.3 on Cruise Critic from more than 11,000 reviews and was among the lower-ranked lines in Consumer Reports. Complaints focus on very busy ships, the buffet, queues and service that can feel disorganised at peak times. The flip side is a young fleet, low prices and some of the best family value at sea, plus the well-reviewed Yacht Club. Ship choice matters a lot here, so see our list of the worst cruise ships according to real reviews before you pick one.
4. P&O Cruises
Britain’s biggest cruise line came second from bottom in Which? with 72%, with only two stars for passenger space, excursions and entertainment, and respondents saying standards had slipped due to cost cutting. Its Cruise Critic score of around 3.4 tells a similar story. It still wins on convenience: no-fly cruises from Southampton, British tastes and family-friendly big ships like Iona and Arvia.
5. Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival is a mixed case. Its Cruise Critic score of 3.8 from almost 27,000 reviews is mid-table, but it ranked low in Consumer Reports, scored 76% in Which?, and has a Trustpilot score of just 1.5 from around 450 reviews. Typical complaints are older ships, crowding, extra charges and customer service when something goes wrong. For a cheap, cheerful three- or four-night Caribbean break, many guests are perfectly happy.
6. Holland America Line
Holland America is well liked by its loyal fans, but scored 74% in Which?, with only two stars for facilities and entertainment. Some ships are older and quieter than rivals, which younger cruisers see as dull and others see as the whole point.
7. Ambassador Cruise Line
Ambassador is a small UK line using older, mid-sized ships from British ports. It scored 74% in Which?, with two stars for facilities, which is not surprising for ships without big-resort features. Reviewers who want a calm, traditional cruise without flying often rate it highly, so think of this as a mismatch for some passengers rather than a bad product.
8. Cunard
Cunard sits at 3.7 on Cruise Critic and 76% in Which?. The most frequent gripes are waits for food and whether the price matches the experience, though its transatlantic crossings remain unique.
9. Regent Seven Seas
Regent is a surprise entry. Its Cruise Critic score of about 3.7 is low for a luxury line, and reviews mention cabin or technical problems and frustration with complaint handling. That is partly about expectations: at Regent prices, small failures generate harsh reviews. It scored 81% with Which? respondents.
10. Princess Cruises
Princess scores 3.8 on Cruise Critic and 75% in Which?. Complaints tend to centre on value for money, food and crowding on the largest ships, while many guests praise the crew and MedallionClass technology.
Why some cruise lines score low
- Crowding: mega-ships with 5,000 to 6,000 guests can mean queues at buffets, lifts and shows.
- Extra fees: drinks, Wi-Fi, speciality dining, gratuities and excursions make the real price much higher than the advertised fare.
- Older ships: worn cabins, plumbing issues and fewer facilities drag down scores.
- Service under strain: stretched staff and slow complaint handling turn small problems into one-star reviews.
- Expectation gaps: a budget line judged against a premium standard, or a European line judged by American norms, will always score lower.
The limits of review data
Review scores are useful but imperfect. Unhappy passengers are more likely to post, so open review sites skew negative, while lines that invite every guest to review (as MSC does on its UK Trustpilot page) look much better. Cruise Critic leans towards experienced North American cruisers; Which? reflects British members. Big lines get far more reviews than small ones, and individual ships within one line can vary hugely. That is why we only placed a line high on this list when several sources agreed.
Just missing out were Royal Caribbean, which ranked low in Consumer Reports but scores 3.9 on Cruise Critic and 78% in Which?, and Fred. Olsen, which scored 3.7 on Cruise Critic but a solid 80% in Which?.
What to book instead
If you want the lines passengers rate most highly, Which? respondents put Saga, Silversea, Noble Caledonia, Hurtigruten, Seabourn and Viking at the top, while Consumer Reports named Lindblad Expeditions, Windstar and Viking among its best. For individual ships, see our guide to the best rated cruise ships in the world. And if a low-rated line suits your budget, a good deal can still make it great value: browse our cruise deals for 2027.
If you are still deciding which line suits you, our step-by-step guide on how to choose a cruise can help.
If something goes wrong on board, our guide to common cruise complaints and how to raise them explains which issues guest services can fix and how to escalate after the cruise.
FAQs
What is the worst cruise line according to reviews?
Norwegian Cruise Line is the most consistent choice in 2026. It ranked last in the Consumer Reports survey of 19 lines and last in the latest Which? survey, mainly over value for money and extra charges.
Is Carnival the worst cruise line?
No. Carnival ranks low in some surveys and on Trustpilot, but its Cruise Critic rating of 3.8 is mid-table and higher than Norwegian, MSC, Costa and P&O. It remains good value for short budget cruises.
What are the 3 worst cruise lines?
Combining Cruise Critic, Consumer Reports and Which?, the three lowest-rated are Norwegian Cruise Line, Costa Cruises and MSC Cruises, with P&O Cruises close behind for UK passengers.
Which cruise line has the lowest Cruise Critic rating?
Among major lines, Costa Cruises has the lowest Cruise Critic member rating at 3.0 out of 5, followed by MSC Cruises at 3.3 and P&O Cruises at about 3.4.
