Which luxury cruise line is right for you?
There is no best luxury cruise line — only the one that fits how you travel. For each of the things people most often choose by, here is the ship group CruiseLens scores highest, and why. The ones close behind, and the compromise each involves, are what the reading is for.
Lines appear by ship group because a line’s ships can differ more than two lines do: Silversea’s expedition ships and its newest ocean ships, for instance, are further apart than most pairs of ship groups from different lines (our study of the whole fleet). Scores are an advisor’s judgement held to a written methodology, not a measurement.
Everything included
The fare covers the most: drinks, dining, gratuities and, at the top, excursions, flights and hotels.
Top of our scores
Regent Seven Seas, both ship groups
Premium drinks, gratuities and unlimited shore excursions are all in the fare.
One more comes within a point. Which suits you depends on what you would trade for it. Answer the questions →
Shore excursions in the fare
Excursions included in every port, rather than paid for one by one.
Top of our scores
Regent Seven Seas, and Ponant’s Le Commandant Charcot
Regent includes unlimited shore excursions; on Le Commandant Charcot the expedition landings are included.
Four more come within a point. Which suits you depends on what you would trade for it. Answer the questions →
A yacht, not a ship
Close to the water: a marina at sea level, open aft decks, tenders as routine.
Top of our scores
SeaDream and Orient Express Corinthian
Both carry about 110 guests and have a watersports marina.
Five more come within a point. Which suits you depends on what you would trade for it. Answer the questions →
A small ship
Few enough guests that the whole ship is walkable in minutes.
Top of our scores
Silver Origin and Celebrity Flora
100 guests each, the fewest of any ship group we score; both sail only in the Galápagos.
Eight more come within a point. Which suits you depends on what you would trade for it. Answer the questions →
Contemporary design
Architectural, art-led interiors that read as a hotel rather than an ocean liner.
Top of our scores
Explora Journeys
The most contemporary, hotel-like interiors of the 30 ship groups we score.
Three more come within a point. Which suits you depends on what you would trade for it. Answer the questions →
Food as the point
Tasting menus, chef partnerships and sommelier pairings.
Top of our scores
Silversea’s Nova class and Orient Express Corinthian
The most ambitious cooking of the 30 ship groups we score.
Six more come within a point. Which suits you depends on what you would trade for it. Answer the questions →
Local food
Menus rebuilt for each region, with local producers and market visits.
Top of our scores
Silversea’s Nova class
Menus rebuilt for each region, more than on any other ship group we score.
Two more come within a point. Which suits you depends on what you would trade for it. Answer the questions →
Remote places
Antarctica, the Arctic, Melanesia, the Kimberley: remote by design.
Top of our scores
Le Commandant Charcot, and Silversea’s and Seabourn’s expedition ships
The most remote itineraries we score. Le Commandant Charcot holds Polar Class 2.
Eight more come within a point. Which suits you depends on what you would trade for it. Answer the questions →
Quiet and space
Room to be alone: unclaimed decks, private terraces, generous verandas.
Top of our scores
Four Seasons I and Crystal
The most room to be alone: about 179 gross tons per guest on Four Seasons I, 93 on Crystal.
Four more come within a point. Which suits you depends on what you would trade for it. Answer the questions →
Lively evenings
Animated public rooms, live music and bars that fill up.
Top of our scores
Explora Journeys, Ritz-Carlton’s Ilma class and Orient Express Corinthian
The liveliest public rooms of the 30 ship groups we score.
Five more come within a point. Which suits you depends on what you would trade for it. Answer the questions →
Travelling solo
Solo suites, low or no single supplements, hosts and solo gatherings.
Top of our scores
Crystal and National Geographic Endurance
Crystal has dedicated single rooms; National Geographic Endurance has 12 solo cabins.
One more comes within a point. Which suits you depends on what you would trade for it. Answer the questions →
Travelling with children
Connecting suites, a youth programme and a welcome for families.
Top of our scores
Explora Journeys
Children are welcome from six months old.
Nothing else comes within a point, but whether it suits the rest of how you travel is another question. Answer the questions →
Not feeling like a cruise
A floating hotel or members’ club, with almost no cruise conventions.
Top of our scores
Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection and Four Seasons I
Yachts from two hotel brands, with almost none of a cruise’s conventions.
Two more come within a point. Which suits you depends on what you would trade for it. Answer the questions →
Value
Distinctive food, places or small ships at a more attainable fare.
Top of our scores
Azamara’s R class
The most value-led fares we score, with select drinks and gratuities included.
Three more come within a point. Which suits you depends on what you would trade for it. Answer the questions →
There are always compromises
Most people want several of these at once, and they pull against each other: the most inclusive ships are rarely the most yacht-like, and the smallest are rarely the liveliest. CruiseLens weighs all 28 characteristics against your answers and names the one ship group that fits best, with the compromise shown.
Find yours. Twenty-three questions, about four minutes, no cruise knowledge needed.
Find my ship → Ask MarcHead to head
- Regent Seven Seas vs Silversea
- Silversea vs Seabourn
- Regent Seven Seas vs Seabourn
- Explora Journeys vs Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection
- Azamara vs Silversea
Expeditioner Travel is paid commission by the cruise line on bookings, by every line here; no line pays for placement or for a score. How we’re paid.