People often ask me which is the best cruise in the world. With 13 cruises behind me and my 14th underway, here's the first thing I'll tell you: there isn't one. There's the best one for what you want to live. That said, some cruises have stayed with me more than others, and I'll tell you which ones and why.
What makes a cruise "the best"?
It depends on what you look at. For me there are three things: the route, the ship and, above all, the people you travel with.
The cruises I remember most for what I lived and saw are one thing. But I've repeated the Mediterranean many times, routes I already knew from land or from another cruise, and they were still completely different because of the company. The first time I went with a big group, twenty-something people, my idea of a cruise changed. I was used to going with four or five, and suddenly there were more conversations, more group moments, theme parties and costumes. It was a lot of fun.
That's why I say no two cruises are alike. I sailed the same route twice on the Costa Toscana, and the people I was with completely changed the experience.
When someone asks me for a recommendation, I always ask the same thing: what matters to you right now, what do you want to live? If you're after the ship experience, size and how modern it is matter a lot. If you're traveling with kids, look for a cruise line with plenty for children, like Disney, MSC or Costa. If you want calm and relaxation, an adults-only ship like Virgin Voyages may fit better. These are different criteria, and none is better than another.
Which are the best cruises I've taken?
The first one. Your first cruise is unforgettable, unless it was a bad experience. I tell the story in The Mediterranean: The Best Destination for Your First Cruise.
The Caribbean. Leaving from Miami, sailing to the Bahamas and arriving in San Juan, Puerto Rico was beautiful. These were also places I had wanted to see for a long time.
The Norwegian fjords. I've done two, and the second is the one I'm living right now. On the first, the Geiranger fjord left me speechless and Bergen surprised me enormously. On this one I went back to Bergen, saw another part of Norway and saw the northern lights. I'm still living it and I'm too excited to put it into words.
Istanbul, Athens, Ephesus, Mykonos, Corfu, Olympia, Bari and Trieste. This is the one I recommend most if you like culture and history. In a single trip you touch three cultures: Greek, Roman and Ottoman. Istanbul with its mosques, the Parthenon in Athens, ancient Ephesus from Kusadasi, ancient Olympia from Katakolon, and Trieste, whose history I didn't know and which captivated me.
Which itinerary is more surprising than expected?
Two. The Istanbul one: I didn't expect it to impress me so much or to teach me so much history. And the fjords: until I stood in Geiranger, I couldn't imagine what it would be like.
Which cruise did I like least?
One I took from Brindisi around the Greek Islands, on a small, very old ship. I want to be clear that it wasn't a bad experience, because a cruise is always a good experience. But it was the one I enjoyed least of all.
Several things came together: the ship was very old, I already knew the route, and the group, people I really care about, didn't quite come together as a group. The excursions didn't carry much weight either, and everything felt more out of sync. It's another proof that the ship and the route aren't everything.
MSC or Costa: where does each one stand out?
They're extremely similar, and in How to Choose a Cruise Line (It's Not Just About Price) I explain the differences in detail. Here are the ones I notice most right now:
Costa prioritizes smaller spaces and more movement all over the ship. Its drinks package has better brands and more variety of coffee.
MSC bets on bigger parties and larger spaces where everyone gathers in one or two places. I've had a very good experience with the Aurea package, which includes the spa, and I like its buffet more because it changes more.
The restaurants are very similar.
Which cruise is best for a first trip, and which for someone who has done several?
For the first one, I recommend a modern, large ship and a route like the Mediterranean from Barcelona. If you want to leave Europe, the Caribbean. These ships are very well prepared to carry a lot of people without it showing, and you get to live what happens on board, not just the sailing. The newer ships are much better equipped.
As you do more cruises, you'll start to value the ship itself and also look for new routes.
Which are the best cruises I still haven't done?
Plenty, and that's the good part. What attracts me most:
Asia: Japan, China and Korea.
Australia and New Zealand.
Sailing through the Panama Canal and the Suez Canal, or even going around the world.
River cruises: the Danube, Amsterdam to Basel, the Nile, one in Colombia and another in South Africa with safaris.
In short
What is the best cruise in the world? There isn't one. It depends on what you want to live and who you go with.
Which have been my best cruises? The first one, the Caribbean, the Norwegian fjords, and the Istanbul one through the Greek islands, Ephesus and Trieste.
Which do I recommend if you like history? The one that leaves from Istanbul, because you touch Greek, Roman and Ottoman culture in a single trip.
Do the people on board matter? A lot. The same route with different people is a different cruise.
Which cruise for a first trip? The Mediterranean from Barcelona on a modern, large ship, or the Caribbean if you want to leave Europe.
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