Having only been on five cruises across five different cruise lines in the past 18 years, I’m not about to pretend I’m a cruise expert. But a few of you have asked what I think, so I thought I’d share what I like…and what I don’t like.
A little background about me: I’m a low-fuss traveler in every sense. Shorts and a t-shirt are my uniform. I will dress up when required, but I’m not chasing formal nights. Hell, if I’m not traveling with others, I avoid them like the plague. I want food that hits that sweet spot between quality and quantity. I like a little dazzle and spectacle, but give me a good piano bar and a conversation over a Broadway-style production any day.
I cruise to relax. To unplug. To meet interesting people from all over the world, crew and passengers alike. Connection and calm. That’s my goal.
With that in mind, here’s how my cruise experiences stack up…so far:
NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE
Mexican Riviera (Bliss, 2025)
Likes: Freestyle cruising is more my speed. No rigid schedules, no pressure to dress up. Good mix of dining options, and the Observation Lounge on the Bliss is one of my favorite spaces at sea.
Dislikes: It can feel a little crowded, and sometimes the “freedom” comes with a side of chaos. You have to work a bit to find your rhythm.ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISES
Mexican Riviera (Quantum of the Seas, 2025)
Likes: Big energy. Tons to do. The tech and innovation are impressive, and if you want options, you’ve got them.
Dislikes: Honestly? It can be a bit too much for me. It felt like a floating amusement park. I spent more time trying to avoid things than enjoy them. Not entirely relaxing.PRINCESS CRUISES
Alaska (???, 2008)
Likes: Classic cruising. Great for Alaska. The focus on scenery and itinerary really stood out. It felt like the destination mattered.
Dislikes: A bit too traditional for me. There was an air of formality that didn’t quite match my personal style. I remember feeling slightly out of place more than once. But what a great first cruise!HOLLAND AMERICA LINE
Alaska + British Columbia (Noordam, 2026)
Likes: The food is fabulous and the vibes are mostly relaxing. If you enjoy a classic cruise line, this one’s for you. I also liked the size of the ship. Under 2000 passengers? Yes, please.
Dislikes: Slow “team” service and a little too fancy for my tastes. The older ships don’t really bother me, but I’m sure not everyone will like paying premium prices for older vessels. And do I really need to sign a check for every soda? For fuck’s sake. I bought a drink package so I don’t have to deal with that. Ugh.DISNEY CRUISE LINE
Mexican Riviera (???, 2010)
Likes: There’s no denying it, Disney does immersion better than anyone. The food is world-class, the service is excellent, the ships are spotless, and if you’re traveling with kids, it’s basically Disneyland on water.
Dislikes: The list price on a Disney Cruise is ridiculous. I only got to sail because I was, at the time, employed at one of the divisions. And as much as I love the Disney “magic” for kiddos, I’m about as far from a Disney adult as you can get. Also, some of the folks on the cruise were entitled brats and twats.
I know the ship matters almost as much as the cruise line, and I’m still early in my cruising life, so these rankings aren’t set in stone. But one thing is clear: I lean toward mid-size ships, fewer bells and whistles, and more space to breathe.
If I want a theme park, I’ll go to Disneyland again. And if you know me, you know that’s not likely. Been there, done that, got the mouse ears.
Other cruise lines I’d like to sample sooner than later are Virgin Voyages, Celebrity Cruises, and Carnival Cruise Line. In that order.
Hope this cruise line ranking was helpful or at least interesting. And if you’re thinking about booking a cruise, I recommend checking out Vacations To Go. The site may not win any design awards, but it’s packed with deals, and their helpful, knowledgeable travel agents make the booking process easy, breezy, and beautiful.
Keep calm and get your sail on!
Clint 🌈✌️
COLLIDE PRESS is a reader-supported publication.
Please consider becoming a Paid Subscriber or Patron.
FROM THE ARCHIVES
BORN THIS WAY ON THIS DAY
04-24 = Ethel Smyth (1858-1944) = English composer and suffragist 🌈
04-24 = Jean Paul Gaultier (1952- ) = French fashion designer 🌈
MAN CRUSH OF THE DAY
“I would like to say to people, open your eyes and find beauty where you normally don’t expect it.”
Jean Paul Gaultier
We haven't been on any of those cruise line as we mostly take Celebrity and get a lot of perks because of it. (We're going on a British Isles cruise this summer on Celebrity.) We've also been on MSC in Europe which we were underwhelmed by. We've also been on Royal Caribbean which, if I remember correctly, was a mostly gay cruise and pretty crazed! We've also been on the Queen Mary 2 through Cunard. A bit too formal for my taste but we met a lot of fun people.
Brian I don't have any modern cruise experience but my Bro and SIL do. All I have is the cross channel ferry to France before the channel tunnel was built. Bro is on the special offers list with P&O cruises as he's cruised so much with them. They have cruised several times to the Norwegian Ffiordes as well as the Carribean. As you know cruises are far from my wish/to do list 😵💫 So Brian, cruise on! Cheers DougT 🏴🇬🇧