Find the right cruise line for you

New to cruise, or curious about trying an alternative line? One of the best ways to choose
a brand is by hearing what like- minded travellers have to say about it – which is why the cruise reviews on worldofcruising.co.uk are so popular.

Here we meet all kinds of travellers to discover what they look for in a cruise, what experiences they’ve had so far and what’s on their future wish list – then match them to their perfect cruise. Which one are you?

THE SOLO TRAVELLER
Christine Cornwell travelled on a river cruise aboard Riviera Travel’s MS Douro Splendour. She says:

“My Riviera Travel cruise offered single cabins for no extra supplement, although I’d like to see more offers for single travellers in summer.

“I was pleasantly surprised by my lower deck cabin – I expected it to be cramped but it was very spacious. Yet the ship was small enough to give single travellers like me the opportunity to get to know other passengers.

“The worst time for solo travellers is mealtimes, so organised meals or opportunities to eat with or alongside other people are a positive. Riviera Travel offers informal dining, with tables set for four to six people, so you can get to know your fellow travellers.

“To anyone in doubt about travelling alone, I’d say travelling solo on a cruise is a great way to see lots of places and have various experiences without being left to wander around cities on your own – which can be a bit alarming, especially for women.”

Get on board
Riviera Travel’s seven-night Douro, Porto and Salamanca River Cruise for Solo Travellers aboard MS Douro Elegance, return from Porto via Castelo Rodrigo, Salamanca,
Peso da Regua and Lamego, departs on November 5, 2024, from £2,599 per person including flights.

THE HUSBAND & WIFE
Cruise with Amber blogger Steph & Italian Rivieras plus Monaco sails with her husband Neil. She says:

“We choose cruise lines that have adults-only areas on board, like Princess Cruises’ Retreat Pool and Sanctuary, or P&O’s Limelight Club and 710 Club. While Celebrity Cruises are family friendly, we find their ships have a more adults-only feel – we love all their speciality dining options and the ‘relaxed luxe’ feel.

“Before you book a cruise, think about the types of holidays you already enjoy taking together on land. That will help you choose the best cruise line and itinerary for you.

“It would be great if cruise lines could tailor more experiences for as Bruges and Amsterdam.
couples, such as spa treatments, dining venues and romance packages.”

Get on board
Scenic Cruises’ seven-night French & Italian Rivieras plus Monaco Grand Prix Option onboard Scenic Eclipse, from Nice to Monte Carlo via adults-only areas on board, like Portofino, Marina di Carrara, Livorno, Saint-Tropez, Villefranche-sur-Mer and Cannes, departs on May 20, 2025. From £5,545 including flights.

THE LGBTQ+ COUPLE
Luke Kenniford and Gavin Phillips have sailed with Avalon Waterways, Celebrity, Cunard, MSC, P&O, Princess, Royal Caribbean and Virgin. Luke says:

“In 2024 we are mostly going on short cruises to ports closer to home, such “It would be great if cruise lines could tailor more experiences for as Bruges and Amsterdam.

“As a gay couple we feel comfortable on cruises because cruise lines are support the LGBTQ+ community – Cunard and P&O Cruises sponsor Southampton Pride, for example.

“On all our holidays we’ve always been treated with respect from crew and passengers. Some cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean International, offer LGBTQ+ meet-ups, which are a chance to mingle with fellow guests. Travellers will also find brands that charter ships for specific groups of the community.”

Get on board
Variety Cruises’ seven-night Seychelles LGBTQ+ Boat Cruise aboard Pegasos, return from Mahe via St Anne, Anse Lazio, Aride, St Pierre, Baie St Anne, La Digue and Moyenne Island, departs on August 24, 2024, from £2,339 per person.

THE PARENT WITH TODDLERS
Mum to a four-year-old, Hannah Zora Strong flew from Newcastle to Tenerife to cruise on P&O’s Azura. She says:

“I chose P&O because my friends highly recommended it for families. Our ship had a kids’ pool, kids’ club and kids’ teatimes, which were perfect for my daughter.

“On our cruise there were four staff members at the kids’ club for seven children so there was plenty of one-on- one time, as well as games, films, soft play, crafts and entertainment.

"We went near Christmas, so there were also Christmas theatre shows, a letter to Santa activity and fun daytime pantomimes.

“Before you book a cruise, check that the ship you want is perfect for little legs. I didn’t need to take a pram for my four-year-old, and the staff were great, providing booster cushions for her during meals.”

Get on board
Princess Cruises’ seven-night Mediterranean with France & Italy cruise aboard Sun Princess, from Barcelona to Rome via Gibraltar, Marseille, Genoa and Florence/ Pisa, departs on August 3, 2024, from £1,049 per person.

THE PARENT WITH TEENAGERS
Claire Curzon has cruised with her teenagers on TUI and P&O, sailing to the Mediterranean and the Caribbean. She says:

“Our first cruise was with P&O. We love them as they’re so family oriented. They offer superb age-appropriate kids’ clubs, which our 12 and 14-year- olds love. From a silent disco to sports, the entertainment was great for them.

“We were hesitant initially to book a cruise, as we thought our teens would be bored, but we absolutely love it now. Although we also enjoy traditional holidays and exploring by ourselves, on cruises everything can be pre-planned. That’s why we’ve booked again for May 2025, cruising with P&O to Norway.”

Get on board
Holland America Line’s seven-night Alaska Inside Passage cruise aboard Zaandam, return from Vancouver via Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay and Ketchikan, departs on September 18, 2024, from £984 per person.

THE MULTIGENERATIONAL TRAVELLER
Becky Ward has cruised with her parents, her partner and their four- year-old on Ambassador Cruise Line, Fred Olsen Cruise Lines, MSC Cruises, P&O, Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean International. She says:

“We’ve sailed around the British Isles and the Norwegian fjords and to northern Europe and the Canaries.

“My mum has mobility issues and prefers to stay on the ship, so we choose one that’s not too big and has a cosy indoor café. My dad likes to explore ports but has a heart condition and can’t go too far, so we look for itineraries where ports have reliable public transport, like Genoa, or a good taxi service, like Nice.

“We always sail from the UK because there are no luggage limits on cruise ships, and driving down to the port is much easier than taking a flight with luggage and medical equipment.

“For a multigenerational cruising family like ourselves, Royal Caribbean International is always a winner because there’s a kids’ waterpark, sky diving and surf simulators for teenagers and adults.”

Get on board
Celestyal’s four-night Iconic Aegean Summer cruise aboard Celestyal Discovery, return from Athens via Mykonos, Kusadasi, Patmos, Heraklion and Santorini, departs on August 5, 2024, from £649 per person.

THE TRAVELLER WITH ADDITIONAL NEEDS
Wheelchair user Georgina Grogan has enjoyed two cruises aboard P&O’s Iona, to northern Europe and the Norwegian fjords. She says:

“I didn’t realise how modern the accessibility would be on P&O’s Iona. With automated cabin doors and toilets around the ship, I felt like I could get anywhere on my own with ease.

“When I boarded the ship for my northern Europe cruise the boarding bridges were flat, but they were a little too steep for me on about two thirds of our stops so I didn’t get off, which was really disappointing. But for my Norwegian fjords cruise I made sure to check how low down, flat and accessible the bridges were.

“I’d recommend following disabled content creators – people like Chronically Jenni and Holiday with the Heathers – because they show the most important aspects of accessibility, like getting on and off the ship and getting into places.

“A section online with more information on whether a cruise line offers assistance accessing a port or has an accessible shuttle would be great. A dedicated accessibility desk on board in the information area would be good too.”

Get on board
Marella Cruises’ seven-night Mediterranean Secrets cruise aboard Marella Voyager, return from Mallorca via Piombino, Savona, Ajaccio, Toulon and Barcelona, departs on September 21, 2024, from £1,304 per person including flights.