21 Steps to Finding the Right Cruise Line

Finding the Right Cruise Line
Booking a first cruise can feel overwhelming, mostly because there are so many excellent cruise lines and ships to choose from. And even then, you have to figure out your travel dates and where you want to cruise to, as well as how much you can afford to spend for your long-awaited trip.

If you’re trying to keep costs at a minimum, you’ll wind up choosing from major cruise lines like MSC Cruises, Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise line and Holland America. If you’re after more of a luxury experience, however, you can look into options like Princess Cruises, Silversea, Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Viking, among other options.

Once you’re ready to make your decision, this guide goes over the 21 steps you can take to find the right cruise line and cruise ship for your needs. By answering the following questions and thinking over what you really want in your cruise vacation, you can wind up enjoying the dream trip of a lifetime.

Hone In On Your Travel Style
Before you can find the right cruise line, you really need to hone in on the type of trip you want to take. For example, you might choose a different cruise line for a romantic trip than you would if you were traveling with kids or elderly parents in tow, as well as other family members.

Also think over the types of activities you plan to partake in during your cruise, whether you’re just hoping to relax or you want to stay active with excursions, meet–n-greets and various events on your ship. Knowing these details ahead of time can help you find the right cruise line and the right cruise ship for your dream vacation.

Decide Where You Want to Cruise
Next up, you’ll want to decide where you want to cruise to since this decision will likely leave you deciding between major cruise lines that operate in that region of the world. For example, large cruise lines like MSC Cruises, Royal Caribbean and Carnival tend to dominate the Caribbean market, yet you’ll wind up choosing between options like Princess Cruises and Holland America if you’re planning a cruise vacation to Alaska.

By deciding where you want to cruise, you’re one step closer to finding the right cruise line for your needs.

See What You Can Afford
Planning a cruise almost always means deciding what you can afford. After all, you’ll find budget cruise lines that offer enticing deals all the way up to luxury cruise lines that offer nicer rooms, upscale dining options and lower passenger accounts at much higher price points.

Whether you’re planning a cruise or any other type of vacation, knowing how much you can afford to pay can help you narrow down all the best options for your travel dates.

Check Your Calendar
When you plan to cruise will also play a role in what you should book, especially if you are planning to travel on a specific set of dates. If you only have a week off of work and you’re curious which cruises you can select from, for example, you can use a website like VacationstoGo.com to see all cruises offered through major brands that can fit with your schedule.

The ideal cruise length you’re after can also help you narrow down options. If you want to book a Caribbean cruise that lasts three to six nights in November of 2022, for example, a quick search on VacationstoGo.com shows that the majority of cruises are offered through Carnival, Celebrity, MSC Cruises and Royal Caribbean.

Look for “Theme” or Specialty Cruises
If you want to take a cruise that’s a little out of the ordinary, there are plenty of theme cruises and specialized cruises to choose from. As an example, several major cruise lines frequently offer LGBTQ+ cruises that can be a lot of fun, and there are themed cruises for bikers, cat lovers and even Star Trek fans.

There are many music-themed cruises as well, including vacations at sea that feature special musical guests. An example is the upcoming Sail Across the Sun cruise featuring Yacht Rock Revue, which takes place in February of 2023 and sails from Miami, Florida to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic.

Look at Budget Cruise Lines
If your budget is fairly tight, you might be surprised at all the value you can get from some of the lower cost cruise lines. For example, Carnival Cruise Line frequently offers shorter sailings of up to four nights starting at around $100 per person, plus taxes and port fees. While lower-cost cruises from Carnival may not include any extras like drink packages or wifi, they do include your lodging for the duration of your cruise, as well as three meals a day plus snacks.

Discount cruise line MSC Cruises is also popular among families due to their reasonable prices, and many of their cruises come with basic drink packages, onboard credits and free internet included.

Compare Luxury Options
If you want to cruise in luxury, a range of popular cruise lines can cater perfectly to your needs. Popular options in the luxury cruise industry include Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Silversea, Oceania Cruises and Viking, among others.

Luxury cruise lines tend to offer everything from better food to more included perks, such as free drink packages and excursions. Lines at a higher price point also tend to have fewer children on board, which can be a major plus for some adult travelers.

Consider Ship Size
Do you want to spend your vacation on a mega-ship with all the bells and whistles? Or, does a smaller ship with a lower passenger account appeal to your tastes? Most major cruise lines have a mix of larger and somewhat smaller ships, but there are definitely lines that focus on offering a more intimate experience.

As an example, the Silverseas cruise ship fleet includes vessels that house anywhere from 200 and 1,050 passengers and crew, whereas Royal Caribbean’s largest ship — the Allure of the Seas — holds up to 5,484 passengers and up to 2,200 crew members on its own.

Consider Cruises with VIP Sections
Maybe you want the larger cruise ship experience with much smaller crowds and a personalized experience. In that case, you can consider cruise lines that offer a VIP “ship within a ship” that lets you access big ship features with more exclusivity and privacy.

Examples that fall into this category include The Haven from Norwegian Cruise Line, Celebrity Suite Class, Aqua Class and Concierge Class and MSC Cruises Yacht Club. Each of these cruise line VIP sections offers a better staff-to-passenger ratio plus upgraded amenities like butler service, members-only restaurants and private sundecks and pools.

Let the Cruise Deals Be Your Guide
In some cases, looking over the latest cruise deals is the best way to settle on a cruise line. By shopping for deals, you can quickly see which lines are offering special sales or added perks that can help you pay less for your trip overall.

Some of the best places to find cruise deals include VacationstoGo.com, Expedia.com and Priceline.com. Many Costco shoppers also rave about the excellent cruise deals found on Costco Travel, which often include free room upgrades and Costco Shop Cards.

Find Deals on Last-Minute Cruises
You can find deals on unsold cruise cabins for departures within 90 days on VacationstoGo.com — the world’s largest cruise agency. In fact, this website’s 90-day ticker lists a range of cruise deals for up to 82% off.

Many cruise lines also list their last-minute deals directly on their websites. For example, Princess Cruises has a cruise deals page that lists all their best deals and promotions, including discounted pricing on last-minute cruises to Alaska, the Caribbean and Mexico.

Look for Cruises with Free Perks
While a cruise with a good fare can definitely be considered, don’t forget to factor in the value of cruising “extras” like onboard credits, drink packages, free excursions and wifi packages. These added benefits can easily help you save hundreds of dollars on your cruise vacation, and potentially even thousands.

As an example, Norwegian Cruise Line frequently offers a “Free at Sea” deal that includes free or discounted airfare, drink packages, excursions, specialty dining and wifi. Even if you pay a higher base fare for one of their cruises, these added extras can help you get a better deal in the end.

Ocean Cruises vs. River Cruises
While the major cruise lines offer ocean cruises all over the world, you’ll be much more limited if you want to take a river cruise. For example, river cruises in Europe are offered through companies like Viking, AmaWaterways and Uniworld. Meanwhile, only three different companies offer river cruises throughout the United States — American Cruise Lines, American Queen Voyages and Viking River Cruises.

You should also know that river cruises are geared more to adults, and they are offered on smaller ships that come with fewer amenities. That said, river cruises are popular among travelers who want to kick back, relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery from their ship.

Are You Leaving Kids at Home?
If you’re planning to cruise kid-free, you should pick your cruise line accordingly. After all, it’s unlikely you will want to take a Disney cruise if you’re cruising with a group of adult friends or planning a couples trip.

You can even look into adults-only cruises if you prefer a more mature vibe and fewer kids splashing in the pool. For example, Virgin Voyages is an adults-only cruise line that only allows passengers ages 18 and older with no exceptions.

Look for “Kids Cruise Free” Promotions
Some cruise lines let kids cruise for free. For example, Holland America is currently offering a promotion that lets third and fourth guests sail free on select sailings, and the same is true for Norwegian Cruise Line. MSC Cruises also lets kids ages 17 and under cruise free on many of their sailings, including almost all of their Caribbean cruises.

With any of these promotions, kids that cruise free are required to share the same cabin as their parents or other adults on the trip. Also note that, even for “free” guests, port fees and taxes apply.

Explore Cruise Loyalty Programs
Cruise loyalty programs can also help you decide between cruise lines, particularly if you already belong to a few. As an example, the MSC Cruises Voyagers Club lets existing members save a minimum of 5% off all cruises they book, and potentially more savings on eligible cruises booked at least six to nine months in advance.

Other notable cruise loyalty programs include the Crown and Anchor Society from Royal Caribbean and the VIFP (Very Important Fun Person) Club from Carnival.

Compare Cruise Ship Amenities
Before you can choose a cruise ship for your upcoming vacation, you’ll want to think over which major amenities you want access to. For example, some ships have giant water parks with water slides, skydiving simulators, zip lines and 4D movie theaters, whereas others stick with the basic amenities like swimming pools and hot tubs.

If you’re looking for a cruise ship with as many upgraded features as possible, consider one of Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class ships. For example, the gigantic Wonder of the Seas comes complete with its own waterpark, an ice-skating rink, a zip line, an aquatic theater, two rock climbing walls and more.

Look at Cruise Line Private Islands
Most of the major cruise lines have their own private island in the Caribbean, which can make your trip both convenient and fun. Not only are private island visits included in your cruise fare, but food and drinks (including your prepaid drink package) are also meant to be used on these islands, too.

Examples of cruise ship private islands to check out include MSC Cruises Ocean Cay, Holland America’s Half Moon Cay, Disney Cruise Line’s Castaway Cay and Norwegian Cruise Line’s Great Stirrup Cay.

Check Out Stateroom Options
Also keep the type of stateroom in mind when you’re looking for the right cruise. This step is important regardless of how many people you have in your crew, but it’s especially crucial if you’re planning to share a cruise cabin with kids. After all, some cruise lines and specific ships have better stateroom options for families, including options for adjoining rooms or cruise cabin “suites” that have separate bunk areas for kids.

You’ll typically pay more any time you get a larger stateroom, and especially one with more than one bedroom or separate space for sleeping, but splurging can be worth it in the right circumstances.

Explore Dining Options
Also decide how, when and how much you want to dine, as well as the type of cuisine you want to enjoy on your trip. You’ll find that most cruises that depart from North America offer an assortment of traditional American foods to choose from, yet cruise lines vary from there in terms of the items they specialize in and the range of ethnic dishes they offer.

You’ll also want to look at the specialty restaurants on each ship if you’re hoping to get a break from the buffet and regular dining room. Many cruise ships really excel in this category by offering their own brand of steakhouses, seafood restaurants, hibachi experiences at sea and more.

Work with a Travel Agent
Still can’t decide on a cruise line? Your best bet is probably working with a travel agent who can help you find a cruise that suits your budget and your tastes. Experienced travel agents can help you select the right cruise for you based on the questions you answer, from the type of trip you want to take to your favorite foods and the kind of entertainment you enjoy the most.

Travel agents can also help you get a better deal on cruises, either through bulk cruise cabin pricing or special offers that include onboard credits, free balcony cabin upgrades, and other perks. The best part? Working with a travel agent to find the right cruise is 100% free.