Find out which cruise lines live up to the hype as we sail across rough reviews and see if their cabins are as perfect as advertised.
It's a fact that your cabin can make or break your cruising experience. Ocean liners shell out millions of dollars a year just to maintain a high level of comfort and surprisingly, not all of them can keep up with the standards. Big names such as MSC and Viking are falling off the map because of the deteriorating level of customer service.
The lack of cleanliness is the main reason why customers are leaving terrible remarks, and 99 percent are aimed towards housekeeping: rotten food, stained mattresses, and filthy bathrooms.
Therefore, today's list will help you decide which cruise brand is right for you. Let's get a little Nauti as we count down 15 photos passengers took of the cabins aboard popular cruise lines.
15 Oceania Cruises: Completely Mishandled
"Why would anyone even go on Oceania Cruises?", an angry reviewer rambled on Trip Advisor. This is understandable, especially when your boarding process takes a tiring 8 hours. But also, their minuscule rooms provide little to no comfort at all: disgusting couches, exhaust smells, and balconies bombarded by soot are all common features.
14 Carnival Splendor: Outstanding Experience
Carnival Splendor and its breed of SuperLiners offer triple A comfort although they come at a price (an arm and a leg) and even the most basic room outclasses most of the other cruise liner brands. It combines simplicity and elegance and will make you proud of your voyage.
13 American Cruise Lines: Sanitary Issues
American Cruise Lines' cabins aren't very well maintained as evidenced by one of the reviewer's rants on Consumer Affairs. "The $13,000 stateroom" was nothing but an epic mess: food was not fresh, bathrooms were filthy and housekeeping refused to carry out their duties. It's broken and management wouldn't do anything to fix the issues.
12 Cunard Line: A Royal Twist
The Cunard Line offers a more traditional, majestic, and intimate royal-themed experience. The beautiful rooms and itinerary options make it a superb choice if you plan to see the northern destinations such as the Norwegian Coast. "We spent most of the trip in our cabin. Boy was it worth it!", a Cruise Critic reviewer shared.
11 Star Clippers: No Comfort
Star Clippers is inconsistent when it comes to their cabins. The great scenery can be ruined by the noisy engines and the whole experience really depends on where you've been reserved to stay. "The cabin was a real let down," a reviewer on Cruise Critic recalled his wedding anniversary aboard his tiny cabin.
10 Crystal Symphony: Magical Vacation
Currently ranked the number one cruise line of America according to US News, Crystal's cabins average 4.5/5 stars according to Cruise Critic and the 2018 overhaul just made the massive suites even better. Although a little bit old-fashioned, Crystal is the most complete: minibars, love seats, multiple coaches and a queen-sized bed are all available for your comfort.
9 Costa Cruises: A Total Rip-off
See that jail cell above? That's actually a cruise suite and it's stunningly terrible. So terrible that your dream vacation can't get any more ruined than this. Cleanliness is the only positive thing here but aside from that, the basic rooms are overpriced and it's evident from the photo above that the management doesn't care about aesthetics.
8 Regent Seven Seas: World's Finest
Regent has one goal in mind and it's perfecting the art of luxury: all guests get a complimentary bottle of champagne to start, shoeshine service and a personalized minibar. The cabins are akin to 5-star hotel rooms you could see in Dubai or Las Vegas.
7 Norwegian Cruise Line: Disastrously Disappointing
Norwegian is now plagued with issues and guests on Cruise Critic are bombarding the brand with bad reviews. It used to be a decent ocean liner a decade ago but its name has been tarnished due to the lack of focus by management. Notice the photo above, the layout is making our heads hurt.
Related: 20 Reasons Vacationers Might Want To Choose Crystal Cruises Over Norwegian
6 Viking Ocean Cruise: World-class Comfort
Another perfect 5-star rated cruise ship is Viking Ocean Cruise. The secret comes down to the hard work they put in every little detail. The way everything's been laid out and the spotless rooms are worth every penny in your pocket. The suites aren't too tight at all and there's room for breathing.
5 Holland America: Tasteless & Terrible
Holland America is more like a depressing version of Costa Cruises as you can see above. Even worse, the lower decks offer no privacy at all and the ones near the engine aren't too comfortable in terms of sound. The rooms aren't too special and the furniture is dusty and outdated.
4 Disney Cruises: A Modern Spectacle
Like a floating theme park in the sea, Disney is the premier choice for families all around. Having already established itself as an entertainment and hotel conglomerate, Disney excels in every way possible. The cabins are colorful and comfortable with just the right amount of room to breathe in.
Related: Why You Won't Regret Going On A Disney Cruise This Winter
3 MSC Cruises: Above Average
"NEVER AGAIN!", a traumatized guest fired the SeaScanner forum up with harsh words as he recalled his ruined vacation stating that the cabins were so dirty, staff had to clean the room for most of the day and they weren't able to make the most out of their cruise. The bathrooms are old, cabinets are broken and even the TV was barely functioning.
Related: 20 Things That Will Get Anyone In Hot Water With The Cruise Ship Staff
2 Azamara Cruises: Exceptional Service
The Azamara line features deluxe staterooms with different themes and top-of-the-line amenities: whirlpool tubs, private verandas, and an entertainment system are part of the deal along with some complimentary goodies such as fruit baskets, afternoon canapés, and personal stationery.
1 Seabourn Cruise Line: Ultra-luxurious & The Best Around
Seabourn Cruises sets the bar for all ocean liners and luxury is a massive understatement. You're looking at the best cruise line in the world. Each of their spacious suites comes with Egyptian cotton-woven beds, spas, and personalized minibars. Currently, the cruise line has an average rating of 4.5/5 stars on US News.