When we think of cruise holidays, the assumption has always been that they are holidays catered for families or retirees. Although this is a popular cruising demographic, there are now plenty more options and types of cruises to suit every traveller. If you’re interested in taking a cruise in 2025 but not sure which company is right for you, I’ve broken it down for you below.
Royal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean has 29 different ships, making it the largest cruise company on this list. Having sailed on two of their ships at age 15 and 28, I can say that their cruises are family oriented but there are activities to cater for everyone. For the adventurous, they have signature activities such as a Zip Line, FlowRider surf simulator, Ultimate Abyss and RipCord. For adults they have daily quiz shows, adult themed game nights and karaoke. Of course on most cruises you will also find a 18+ casino and nightclub. Their newest cruise ship is Utopia of the Seas, which first sailed this year.
 |
| Photo Credit |
Dining at RC has your usual all day buffet ‘WindJammer’ available, as well as speciality dining options that you can pay extra for. If you like to drink, then there are several drink packages available, the ‘Soda Package’ , ‘Refreshment Package’ and the ‘Deluxe Beverage Package’. At the moment the deluxe drinks package would cost you $567 for a 6 night cruise, but this changes depending on your itinerary and length of stay.
Royal Caribbean have itineraries all around the world, and they even have an Ultimate World Cruise which sails for 274 nights across 60+ countries.
Should I cruise with Royal Caribbean?
If you’re looking for a trusted cruise company, and are travelling with your family or partner and want a variety of adventurous and fun activities for everyone, choose Royal Caribbean.
Virgin Voyages
Virgin is relatively new to the cruise scene but it has quickly gained popularity for being the ‘cruise for millennials’. They currently have 3 cruise ships; Valiant Lady, Scarlet Lady & Resilient Lady.
There are two things that set a Virgin cruise apart from the others, firstly they are adults-only cruises and secondly, there are no buffets onboard but instead you get access to 20+ restaurants and eateries included in your fee. So if you’re a foodie like me, this is definitely the cruise you want to book! On every ship you’ll find a Korean BBQ restaurant, an italian, mexican and steakhouse.
Unlike most other cruise lines, there is no drinks package available as they try to keep their prices fair onboard. Looking at their menu a standard cocktail or spirit mixer is $11. You can prepay a bar tab and usually there are offers online where they’ll give you extra money towards it. The rooms are also very modern and the balcony rooms also come equipped with your own hammock.
 |
| Photo Credit |
Itineraries usually focus around the Caribbean and Europe, and last between 4 - 11 night voyages.
The price point for a Virgin Voyages cruise is higher than that of Royal Caribbean or Carnival, but considering that all dining, Wi-Fi and gratuities are included, I think it’s worth it.
Should I cruise with Virgin Voyages?
If you’re travelling with your partner or with a group of friends and enjoy good food and looking for a more ‘sophisticated’ cruising experience, choose Virgin Voyages.
Carnival
Carnival is known for being the ‘party cruise’ to most Americans, and is a frequent choice for spring breakers. It falls just behind Royal Caribbean with 27 cruise ships, but you’ll also find that they are the most budget-friendly on this list.
 |
| Photo Credit |
They are quite a laid back cruise company and have a heavy focus on entertainment and having fun. Most of their ships will have water slides, comedy shows, dance clubs and themed bars. Their rooms are quite basic and if you’ve previously been on a Virgin Voyages cruise, you’ll probably find the rooms a bit underwhelming.
Even though they have a few European itineraries, their main focus is around the Caribbean, Mexico and the Bahamas.
If you’ve come on Carnival to party, their Cheers! Drinks package ranges from $59.95 - $89.95 per day (before taxes and gratuities) and includes cocktails, beer, wine by the glass and frozen drinks. Remember that Carnival is an American cruise line, so you must be 21+ to drink alcohol onboard.
Should I cruise with Carnival?
If you’re on a budget and want a more ‘party vibe’ cruise and an affordable ‘all you can drink’ package through the Caribbean, choose Carnival.
Norwegian
NCL is known for its ‘’Freestyle Cruising” concept as unlike traditional cruise lines that have set dining times and dress codes, they allow guests to dine whenever they like, without the need for formal dress codes or set seating times.
 |
| Photo Credit |
Their cruise ships are divided into different ‘classes’ including Breakaway Plus Class, Breakaway Class, Pride of America and Sun-Class and Jewel Class. If you’re looking for a more action-packed cruise with options such as water parks, go-kart tracks and Broadway-style shows, you’ll want to pick one of the Breakaway Plus ships (Norwegian Escape, Norwegian Joy or Norwegian Bliss) The Pride of America offers unique year-round cruises around the Hawaiian islands.
If you’re a solo traveller, Norwegian has Studio Cabins, which are designed for one person but come with a private lounge and social area for solo cruisers to meet others.
There are several main dining rooms and buffet options where you can eat for no extra charge. The buffet (often called The Garden Café) offers a variety of international options, and the main dining rooms offer standard cruise fare with a bit of variety and daily-changing menus. Drink packages on NWL are pricier than that of Carnival, costing between $99 - $139 per day (before taxes and gratuities).
Should I cruise with Norwegian?
If you’re a solo traveller or simply want a laid back cruising experience where you don’t have to stick to dining times or formal attire, choose Norwegian.
I hope this article has helped you make a more informed decision for booking your next cruise!
Post a Comment