11 Cruise Lines That Feel Way More Expensive Than They Actually Are
As a travel agent, I get asked about cruise lines a LOT. Luckily, I’ve not only done my research, but I’ve helped so many cruisers book their trips, including my own family.
So when my clients ask, “which cruise line feels fancy, has great food, and amazing service without making me go bankrupt?” I know just want to tell them.
With cruise lines there’s a gap. On one end you’ve got the big mainstream lines that are fun but can feel like a floating water park. And on the other end you’ve got true luxury lines where a week costs more than some people’s cars.
Most of my clients (and likely you, too) want something in the middle.
In this post, I’m going to uncover that happy medium and help you book your next cruise.
1. Celebrity Cruises
If you put a hundred frequent cruisers in a room and asked this question, Celebrity would win every single time. And there’s really no competition. If you’ve ever cruised with Celebrity, you would likely agree.
Celebrity nails the feeling of luxury with clean and modern ships, great food, really good service, and a fantastic martini bar. And the price tag for cruises with Celebrity are reasonable.
Note: The Edge-class ships especially get rave reviews. If you can hop on one of those, I highly recommend it.
And one of the best parts about this cruise line is that they cater to everyone. People love that you can dress up if you want to or just wear a nice shirt and a pair of pants. Of course, you can’t wear shorts and flip flops at dinner, but there’s also no pressure to put on a tuxedo either.
The Cons: And while we think Celebrity is the best pick overall, there are a few cons that would be silly not to mention.
The newer ships nickel and dime you on extras, and the drinks packages aren’t cheap. The infinite veranda on Edge ships is also one of those things that you’ll either love or hate.
But for the feeling of luxury you can afford, this is the one people rave about the most.
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2. Princess
Princess as a whole makes a lot of people very happy.
Although all of their ships are nice, the newest ships (Sun, Star, Regal) are really beautiful, and the value is unmatched once you factor in their packages. You get the luxury feeling for noticeably less.
A lot of our clients end up booking Princess cruises over and over after trying the pricier lines.
The Cons: A few long-time Celebrity cruisers feel the standards have declined lately. But overall, most frequent cruisers would agree with us that the price-to-luxury ratio is hard to beat.
3. MSC
We have to be clear with this recommendation because it’s not that MSC is the most incredible line out there. It’s nice, but it isn’t the luxury under budget winner we’re highlighting in this list.
Instead, we’re specifically talking about the MSC Yacht Club. The Yacht Club is a private suite area with its own restaurant, lounge, pool, sundeck, and a butler, and it’s tucked inside the MSC ship.
So you’ll get proper luxury, but often for a lot less than you’d pay on a dedicated luxury line. People who go for the Yacht Club tend to get hooked and never go back to the regular ship.
The Cons: The tradeoff though, is that you’re paying for the bubble. When you step outside the Yacht Club, you’re still on a giant, busy, regular cruise ship. If you plan to mostly stay in the Yacht Club, the value is fantastic. But if you want the whole ship to feel that way, this isn’t it.
4. Holland America
Holland America typically flies under the radar for those who aren’t frequent cruisers. Ask your friends and family about this cruise line and they probably haven’t heard of it. But for those who give it a shot, it’ll surprise you.
On Holland America ships, you’ll find a quieter crowd; it’s classier, a little more dressy, and the service is EXCELLENT. They run mid-size ships with quality food, and the value you get for the money you’ll spend deserves the #4 spot on our list.
If you want peaceful over waterslides, this is the cruise line for you.
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5. Azamara
Let’s jump over the the smaller ships since we’ve covered big and medium-sized ships already.
Azamara cruise lines cater to about 700 passengers and they offer good service, delicious food and drinks, and longer stays in port so you get to discover a place instead of jumping off and back on again.
Surprisingly, Azamara doesn’t carry a high-luxury price. It costs more than mainstream of course, but for what you get, it’s some of the best value in cruising.
The Cons: We’ve heard from several frequent cruisers that have said Azamara ships are showing their age and need some updating. In my opinion, it’s worth checking recent reviews of your specific ship. That said, the Azamara crowd is a loyal one, which tells you something about the overall value.
6. Oceania
If you cruise to eat really good food and avoid crowds, Oceania is your cruise line and you shouldn’t look elsewhere.
Oceania has smaller ships, incredible service, and the kind of food that you’ll be laying in bed thinking about after you return from your trip (if you know, you know 😂).
To be clear, Oceania is not a bargain cruise line. It’s definitely a premium line, but there are always good deals to be found (especially if you use a travel agent – wink wink!). You can even find sailings for around two thousand dollars a person, which for this experience is quite the steal.
So jump on an Oceania ship, relax, and eat like royalty.. without truly breaking the bank.
7. Viking
Viking earns a spot on this list because people really value the no kids thing.
Most cruisers know that Viking is adults-only, which is a luxury on its own. For us, we enjoy bringing our daughter along on our travels, so we haven’t cruised with Viking yet. But we’ve had plenty of clients that have!
Add in elegance, a gorgeous design, fewer passengers, and a bunch of extras included (wifi, a shore excursion in every port, specialty dining – if you cruise, you know this adds up quickly on other lines), and you’ve got a premium without the crazy price.
Viking focuses more on cultural and destinations rather than party-and-casino, so if that’s your speed, you’ll love it. But, if you want big nightlife, you’ll need to look elsewhere.
8. Cunard
Cunard is the old-school ocean liner with formal nights, a ballroom, afternoon tea in the Queens Room, robes and slippers, a bottle of bubbly waiting in your room, etc.
The Queen Mary 2 feels like stepping aboard the Titanic era, and people who love it really love it.
And when you book a Cunard trip wisely, meaning you’re looking for deals and being flexible, it can come in surprisingly reasonable.
The Cons: It is formal, which is either amazing for you or a deal-breaker depending on your style. And some Cunard loyalists also feel that recent cost-cutting actions have dulled the offer a bit. But for luxury per dollar, it’s still worth it in our opinion.
Pro-Tip: If you’re looking to travel to Europe from North America and you hate the idea of sitting in economy class for 8+ hours, consider taking the Queen Mary 2 across the Atlantic. Even if you do it just one-way, it’s still more fun than a stuffy airplane, and it costs less than business class! Mike and I are looking to do this in the fall with our daughter to lighten the experience.
9. The Haven on Norwegian
As we mentioned in the MSC recommendation above, there are many cruise ships that offer private suite areas, and Norwegian is one of them.
The Haven is what they call it on NCL and it offers its own pool, restaurant, sundeck, butler, and concierge. You’ll still be on the otherwise lively NCL ship, but you’ll be hidden away in your own corner.
The Cons: Of course, outside the Haven, NCL goes hard on add-ons, so price everything out (drinks, wifi, specialty dining) before you decide to go for it.
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10. Windstar
Windstar is the opposite of the megaships. It carries a few hundred people max, and a lot of people say it’s like being on your own private yacht.
We’ve also heard from our clients that Windstar has lovely service, and it can go into smaller ports that the big ships can’t reach. This is a huge perk that a lot of people don’t think about until they reach a port with 3 other ships and tens of thousands of people.
Those who cruise with Windstar often call it affordable luxury, and that’s a fantastic description.
If the thought of sharing a ship with 4,000 strangers makes you uncomfortable, Windstar might be the best solution for you and your family.
11. Explora Journeys
Explora Journeys is MSC’s new luxury brand. It’s sleek and modern, and while we haven’t tried it yet, there are so many people raving about it that it’s next on our list.
The be transparent, this is luxury-tier, but it’s not as expensive as you might think. It’s priced much more modestly than the older luxury lines, and the repositioning/introductory deals have been very reasonable.
It’s definitely a “treat-yourself” option, but it won’t make you go bankrupt either.
An Important Note on Luxury Cruise LInes
Some of the best options are truly the luxury lines including Regent Seven Seas, Silversea, and Seabourn. But I left them off this list because, yes, they are expensive.
But it’s important to dig deeper because a lot of people look at the first quote for any cruise line and leave it at that. But the truth is, a lot of cruise lines have pricey add-ones (think Spirit Airlines – RIP – but for cruises).
Most of the luxury cruise lines include everything. For example, Regent includes flights, excursions, drinks, and sometimes even a hotel night.
So while the upfront number is off-putting, once you total up what you’d normally pay separately, it’s less crazy than it appears.
The same thing applies to Silversea and Seabourn. You get a butler, big suites, all-inclusive, tiny ships, etc. It’s all included.
Not to mention, every single one of these lines runs deals, repositioning sailings and last-minute fares that can be shockingly low-priced, so watch those offers like a hawk.
Honorable mentions
A few more that are worth noting include:
- Royal Caribbean: RCL has a big fan base and their ships are just as big. We’re talkin’ the enormous Oasis and Icon-class ships that seem a bit too big to even be real. But the suite and Star Class options do deliver a genuine premium experience, and the value is there for those looking for an upgrade.
- Virgin Voyages: This is an adults only cruise line that’s stylish, and includes a lot (tips, wifi, some dining). Whether it counts as “luxurious” is debatable, but it’s an option worth checking out for yourself.
- Other Cruise Lines: For the British crowd, P&O, Marella, Fred Olsen, and Saga are also highly regarded. To be clear, these cruise lines lean more toward value than luxury, but many have classy touches (for example, Fred Olsen’s turndown chocolates and afternoon teas), and they’re pretty affordable.
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The Wrap Up
So this is where you have to decide what luxury means to you. If it means ample space, good food, great service, quiet, dressing up, etc. etc. there’s a cruise line out there that will fit your style and I guarantee they have some good deals waiting for you.
Start with our list about and work your way down. And of course, if you have any questions, please reach out to us. As a travel agent, I’m happy to help you book your cruise and get you the best deal.
