Are you wondering what’s the best cruise for first time cruisers? Since cruises aren’t one size fits all, before booking your first cruise, it’s important to know what is the best cruise line for you.
There are many things to consider when you’re going on your first cruise, especially if you want to have the best cruise experience possible. As an experienced cruiser, I know first hand which cruise lines are best for first timers.
In this post, I share the 10 best cruises for first time cruisers.
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Best Cruise Line for First Time Cruisers
1. Royal Caribbean – Fun For All
When it comes to recommendations for the best cruises for first-timers, it’s hard to beat a Royal Caribbean cruise. Royal Caribbean is a cruise line that is fun for all, perfect for a first-time cruiser.
Although Royal Caribbean has many cruise ships of different sizes, the cruise line is known for making the largest and most extravagant ships at sea. RCL is constantly pushing the boundaries by creating the most innovative cruise ships.
When you go on a Royal Caribbean cruise, you can expect plenty of activities to keep you busy. On some Royal Caribbean cruise ships, you’ll find water slides, rock climbing walls, zip lines, surf simulators, and even indoor sky diving.
Additionally, plenty of delicious dining options are onboard, from casual to fine dining.
One of the big things that Royal Caribbean is known for is its entertainment. They have great comedians, musicians, Broadway-style shows and even an aqua show on Oasis class ships.
In 2024, Royal Caribbean launched the Icon of the Seas, the world’s largest cruise ship. This cruise totally revolutionized the cruise industry by featuring over 40 dining and drinking venues, 8 neighborhoods, and a category 6 waterpark.
One of the perks of taking a Royal Caribbean ship is that you’ll likely visit Perfect Day at Cococay. This private island is incredible and one of the best cruise stops worldwide. Royal Caribbean’s private island is hard to beat, from waterparks to giant pools and beautiful beaches!
Royal Caribbean can suit cruise passengers of all ages, from young families to older cruisers. Those who cruise with Royal Caribbean are often called “young at heart”.
Royal Caribbean is a great option if you’re booking your first cruise. On a Royal Caribbean cruise, you will eat well, have fun, and enjoy the amazing entertainment.
Related: What to Pack for a Royal Caribbean Cruise
2. Carnival – Budget Cruise Line
Carnival Cruise Line is a budget-friendly cruise line known for being an absolute blast. It’s hard to find another cruise line offering a better vacation value than Carnival.
If it’s your first time cruising, Carnival is a great way to explore beautiful destinations while having fun!
Carnival cruises tend to have a party vibe and people who love to have a good time.
Onboard certain Carnival cruise ships, you’ll find fun water slides, which is one of the reasons Carnival cruises are so popular for families and kids. On select cruise ships, you’ll find trampoline parks, ropes courses, and even a roller coaster on Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration!
Carnival has many casual food options, including Big Chicken, Guy’s Burger Joint, and the BlueIguanna Cantina. If you prefer a sit-down meal, Carnival has a main dining room serving three meals daily.
Carnival offers plenty of 3- and 4-day cruise itineraries for first-time cruisers. This is a great option for people new to cruising and wanting to dip their feet in to see if it’s for them.
Overall, Carnival is an affordable cruise line known for being extremely fun. Carnival is a great start for new cruisers if you’re trying to save money and cruise on a budget.
Related: What to Pack for a Carnival Cruise
3. Celebrity Cruises – Modern Luxury
Celebrity is considered to be a premium cruise line. However, it has coined the term “modern luxury,” which suits the cruise line well.
Celebrity Cruises is the cruise line for you if you want a relaxing cruise vacation with great service and food. Even though Celebrity is a popular, mainstream cruise line, it has some of the most stunning and luxurious-looking ships at sea.
On Celebrity, the crew is very friendly and accommodating. This is one of the many reasons why so many cruisers love to travel with Celebrity Cruises.
A big part of cruising is visiting the cruise ports. Sea days on Celebrity cruise ships are equally enjoyable. Celebrity cruise ships are so modern and beautiful; the service and food are amazing.
Regarding food and dining, it’s hard to beat what Celebrity offers. The buffet, casual restaurants, specialty restaurants, and the popular Cafe Al Bacio are all quite good. Celebrity appeals to new foodie cruisers who appreciate a relaxed yet upscale experience.
Currently, Celebrity’s Edge-Series cruise ships are the most picturesque. Whether you sail on Celebrity Beyond, Ascent, Apex, or Edge, these cruise ships are stunning and offer a luxurious cruise experience.
Last year, I sailed on Celebrity Ascent and met several first-time cruisers. They could not believe how nice the cruise ship was, and they said it would be hard to find another cruise ship as beautiful as this one.
If you’re a first-time cruiser looking for a relaxing cruise vacation with an all-inclusive feel, Celebrity is a great choice.
4. Princess Cruises – Service & Value
Princess Cruises has a good mix of service and value. First-time cruisers can feel very comfortable on Princess cruise ships.
On a Princess cruise, you can expect top-notch service, amazing food, and beautiful ship designs. For those who appreciate travel, Princess has many great itineraries from which to choose.
The crew onboard Princess is super friendly and always helpful. They always do their best to accommodate all of their passengers.
One of the cool things about Princess Cruises is their Medallion technology. The Princess Medallion is a quarter-size wearable device that adds convenience and enhances your cruise vacation.
With the Ocean Medallion technology, you can order food and drinks from your phone, and the crew will be able to find you because of your Medallion.
With Princess’s Plus & Premier packages, Princess Cruises is one of the best cruise lines for first-time cruisers looking for an all-inclusive experience. If you purchase one of these packages, your specialty dining, Wi-Fi, and beverage packages are all included.
Recently, I sailed on Princess’s Sun Princess and had the chance to experience Princess Premier. The experience was amazing, and it truly felt like everything onboard was included.
You’ll enjoy good food, activities, and diverse entertainment on a Princess cruise. New cruisers who like the idea of a traditional yet innovative cruise line will appreciate a Princess cruise.
Related: What to Pack for a Princess Cruise
5. Disney – Family Friendly
If you’re traveling with young kids or a Disney lover, you must try a Disney cruise. Disney Cruise Line has Disney-themed cruises that are fun for the whole family.
On Disney cruise ships, plenty of activities are fun for the whole family. You’ll find water slides, fireworks at sea, and character experiences where you can meet your favorite Disney characters.
One unique thing about Disney is that they have rotational dining. You will eat at three different dining rooms with different themes throughout your cruise.
In the dining room, the menus have plenty of Disney references, which is a lot of fun. The Disney entertainment continues as you eat dinner, creating an immersive dining experience.
If you want to plan the ultimate family vacation, Disney Cruise Line is a good first cruise option.
6. Norwegian Cruise Line – Freestyle Cruising
Norwegian Cruise Line is known for it’s laid-back, “freestyle cruising”, which can be great for those new to cruising. Norwegian also offers More at Sea, a popular “free perks” promotion.
Unlike most other cruise lines, Norwegian doesn’t have dress codes and no set dining times.
Norwegian cruises have multiple main dining rooms and restaurants, and you can eat when you want. While open dining is now available on many other cruise lines these days, there’s no question that dining is more relaxed on NCL.
If you’re considering a family cruise, Norwegian is a good choice.
Norwegian makes some of the largest and most fun ships at sea. The newest Norwegian cruise ships have some of the most amazing attractions.
You’ll find water slides, virtual reality, racing simulators, and go-kart tracks on certain Norwegian ships. These cruise ship activities are super fun, especially for kids, teens, and young adults. However, something to note is that some have an additional charge.
Recently, I had the chance to sail on Norwegian Joy. This cruise ship had a Go-kart track, water slides, an arcade, and plenty of fun family activities. This cruise ship is absolutely stunning, with several dining venues, bars, and a large theater to watch incredible production shows.
As a first-time cruiser, NCL is a great choice as it offers various activities suitable for all age ranges. A Norwegian cruise is a great choice for new cruisers, from theme parties to trivia.
Norwegian also attracts easygoing adult cruisers and those who like to party and have fun late at night. So, if you’re looking for a party cruise atmosphere, Norwegian is a great option.
Related: What’s Included on Norwegian Cruise Line and What Is Not
7. Holland America – Classic Cruising
Holland America is a great first cruise for mature travelers who would enjoy a traditional and classic cruise experience.
Holland America Line has been around for 150 years. However, this traditional cruise line continues to innovate and provide an interesting and enriching cruise experience.
Highlights of Holland America include delicious food, top-notch service, and unique entertainment. This includes the popular Music Walk on select ships featuring Billboard Onboard, Rolling Stone Rock Room, and B.B King’s Blues Club.
Holland America also offers a variety of itineraries. This includes Caribbean and Alaska cruises (popular with first-time cruisers) and more exotic destinations.
They also offer amazing shore excursions and enrichment activities, which create a stronger connection to the ports of call that cruise passengers visit.
HAL was also voted Best World Cruise Itinerary by Travel Weekly, Readers Choice Awards.
If you’re looking for a classic cruise experience, Holland America is a great choice for a first-time cruiser.
8. MSC Cruises – Innovative Italian Cruise Line
MSC Cruises is an Italian cruise line known for its beautiful and innovative cruise ships. MSC cruises are often affordable, attracting many families and young adults. MSC might be one of the best values in cruising.
Since MSC is an Italian cruise line, the dining experience tends to be a little different from that of American cruise lines.
Onboard MSC Cruises, they have zip lines, water slides, ropes courses, hot tubs, and gorgeous pool areas. They also have great live entertainment, from production shows to deck parties and live music.
If you’re cruising with your family, they will have tons of fun on an MSC cruise. With so many fun activities, a kids club, and a pool designed for children, they will love sailing with MSC.
MSC is building more sustainable and innovative cruise ships. Since MSC has an Italian design, it feels like you’re at a beautiful resort at sea.
I have a friend who went on an MSC cruise for his honeymoon, and he loved the experience. MSC offered a romantic, affordable cruise vacation with dining, onboard entertainment, and activities.
If you want an affordable, fun, different cruise experience, check out the MSC Cruise line. They often have Kids Sail Free promotions, which are amazing for families looking to try their first cruise.
9. Virgin Voyages – Modern Cruising
Virgin Voyages is an adult-only cruise line that is known for being different from all other cruise lines. Everything from the pool areas to the cabins and entertainment is unique on Virgin Voyages.
Some unique features of Virgin Voyages are group fitness classes, hammocks on the balconies, and even a tattoo parlor on board their ships. As a first-time cruiser, this is very different from what is offered on other cruise lines.
When you look at a Virgin Voyages cruise, they look totally different from all other cruise ships. The front of the ships has a unique look, and they have a modern industrial decor that makes them stand out next to other ships.
The food on Virgin Voyages is known to be some of the best at sea, and it’s all included. From seafood and steakhouses (The Wake) to Korean BBQ (Gunbae) to vegetable-forward restaurants (Razzle Dazzle), Virgin Voyages is the ultimate foodie cruise ship.
Furthermore, the crew is super friendly and accommodating. One thing I really appreciated about Virgin was how the crew could express themselves. They had a more relaxed uniform and were allowed to show off their tattoos (which is not always the case on major cruise lines).
Virgin Voyages is the right cruise line for first-time cruisers who want a kid-free, fun, and foodie cruise experience.
Related: Why Virgin Voyages Is The Ultimate Cruise Line For Young Adults
10. Viking – Destination Focused (Luxury)
Viking might be the cruise line for those who love to travel and aren’t sure if they’d like a cruise.
In contrast to most cruise lines recommended for first-timers, Viking cruise ships are smaller and more intimate. Viking ships are beautifully designed, with an elegant modern Scandinavian design.
The travel experience and destinations are the focus when sailing with Viking.
When you travel with Viking, your specialty coffees, teas, and bottled water are all included. Additionally, beer and wine are included during both lunch and dinner.
Those who cruise with Viking tend to be mature travelers who value great service, excellent food, and visiting beautiful destinations. Although Viking is more expensive than mainstream cruise lines, they offer a more refined cruising experience.
Viking is the cruise line for you if you’re a first-time cruiser who wants the travel experience of a lifetime and to explore new destinations.
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Final Thoughts on best Cruises For First Time Cruisers
Well there it is, the best cruise lines for first time cruisers!
If you’re a first time cruiser, it’s important to know what each cruise line is known for and what they do best. The last thing you want, is to end up on a cruise line that doesn’t match your needs.
Each cruise line has it’s positives and negatives, so it’s important to choose the one that suits your style of cruising best.
In this post, I shared the best cruises for first time cruisers.
What cruise line do you think is best for first time cruisers? Please let me know in the comments below.
Happy Cruising!
Ethan
Ethan Schattauer, a seasoned cruiser since the age of four, has gone on over 40 cruises with his family. Drawing from his extensive travel experiences, Ethan offers a fresh and youthful perspective on the world of cruising. He also writes about cruise cuisine, onboard experiences, and practical tips, providing valuable insights for cruise travelers worldwide.
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