I'm a travel editor who's been on 50 cruises – this is the best ship for cruise virgins and the one that's dirt cheap

The Sun

29-04-2025

I'VE been hooked on cruises since I stepped aboard my first ship more than 20 years ago – and with more than 50 trips under my belt, there's not much I don't know about life on the ocean wave.
I never expected to love cruising as much as I did — my favourite holidays are spent camping.
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Cruising, I wrongly assumed, would mean eating with strangers at a set time in the same restaurant wearing formal clothes.
I couldn't have been further from the truth.
With a big family, I soon discovered the joy of a cruise meant the kids were entertained and happy, I could relax without having to cook and, every day, there was a new, amazing destination to explore.
And I'm not the only one. The sheer scale of choice — and size of ship — means there's now a cruise line and destination for every type of holidaymaker.
More than 2MILLION Brits are now enjoying the suite life at sea every year, but which ship should you choose? And what's the one ship I'd always recommend for first-timers? Here's my ultimate guide to the best cruises for all.
BEST FOR CRUISE VIRGINS
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IF you've never cruised before, I think Marella Cruises' mid-size ships, designed specifically for the British market, are a great place to start.
Owned by tour giant TUI, Marella's five ships sail from ports in the Mediterranean and Caribbean and come with flights from multiple UK airports and transfers included.
For me, it's the chance to combine a few nights on land with your first cruise, and the all-inclusive nature of their sailings, that makes them ideal for first-timers.
Unlike other ships, all your travel, food, drinks and tips are included in the price.
The ships are not new but have been recently refurbished and have a relaxed and informal atmosphere, as well as great entertainment.
A bucket-list river cruise through Egyptian waterways with TUI
GO: Seven nights' all-inclusive on Marella Voyager's Treasures of the Mediterranean itinerary is from £933pp including flights from Gatwick to Majorca and calls in Italy, Sardinia, Corsica and Spain.
See tui.co.uk/cruise.
BEST FOR FAMILIES
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ONE of the biggest changes in cruising has been the growth in facilities targeted at families.
As well as children's clubs with tie-ins to big brands such as Lego, the size of ships now means a chance to spoil the little ones with everything from waterparks, dodgems and rollercoasters to fairground carousels.
Royal Caribbean International, P&O and MSC are all stand-out lines for families — and with all offering sailings from the UK, the pricing can be very competitive.
You can even test the waters with two-night mini cruises. And, of course, Disney is a dream for little ones. The Disney Fantasy cruise will be sailing the Mediterranean this summer, perfect for combining sun-drenched ports of call with Mickey Mouse fun.
GO: Two nights' full-board on P&O Cruises' newest flagship, Iona, sailing from Southampton on October 23, is from £174pp, based on two adults and two children sharing an inside cabin.
See pocruises.com.
BEST FOR MULTI-GEN HOLS
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CRUISE holidays — particularly on larger ships — promise to keep everyone happy.
Grandparents and mum and dad can enjoy time together with the kids onboard and in port, as well as time apart with sophisticated spaces and spas for grown-ups.
Think everything from buzzing bars and speciality restaurants for adults to relaxed areas where the whole family can enjoy entertainment and fun kids' club facilities.
Lines to explore include Norwegian Cruise Line, P&O and Royal Caribbean as well as Princess Cruises, whose latest ship Sun Princess has a whole deck at the top of the ship dedicated to family fun, plus some chic adult areas.
And there's lots for families to explore on Sky Princess, which sails out of Southampton this summer and next.
GO: Seven nights' full-board on Sky Princess is from £672pp, sailing from Southampton to Spain and France on March 23, 2026. Calls at La Coruna, Bilbao, Le Verdon for Bordeaux and Cherbourg.
See .
BEST FOR PARTY PEOPLE
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WITH West End-style shows, live music and buzzing nightclubs ALL included in the price, a cruise is fabulous value.
And the line that has taken partying to a new level is Virgin Voyages.
With four adult-only ships — including Brilliant Lady, which launched this year — its cruise model is perfect for those who want to ramp up the excitement.
Prices include tips, all dining, wifi and entertainment in a relaxed, informal atmosphere.
Carnival also offers a good value buzz in the Caribbean while Royal Caribbean's mega-ship Utopia of the Seas, with silent discos and Vegas-style pool parties, boasts 40 bars and restaurants.
GO: Ten nights' full-board on Virgin Voyages' Scarlet Lady, sailing from Portsmouth on July 27 to Iceland and Norway, is from £987pp, calling at Amsterdam, Bergen, Lerwick/Shetland, Akureyri, Ísafjörður and Reykjavik.
See virginvoyages.com.
BEST FOR NO-FLY VALUE
ONE of the joys of a cruise is you can visit multiple destinations without having to keep unpacking.
And with no air fares, ex-UK cruises - which sail directly from a British port - offer some great prices too.
Ambassador Cruise Line has two smaller ships offering traditional cruising with modern touches.
Known for their friendly staff and over-50s clientele, ships sail from London Tilbury, Bristol, Dundee, Falmouth, Liverpool and Newcastle upon Tyne making it easy for guests to board at a local port. Fred Olsen also offer similar ex-UK cruises on smaller ships.
GO: Six nights' full-board on Ambassador Ambition's Channel Islands and the Netherlands Experience from Liverpool is from £499pp, departing July 13 and calling at Guernsey and Ijmuiden for Amsterdam.
See ambassadorcruiseline.com.
BEST FOR EMPTY NESTERS
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THE kids are grown and gone and you've got the freedom to head away when and where you fancy.
A cruise is the perfect option and there are plenty of companies ready to offer those looking to meet like-minded fellow travellers.
Holland America's mid-size ships offer the perfect mix, with lots of facilities and dining options without the crowds — and its ship Nieuw Statendam sails from Dover in summer 2025 and 2026.
Saga's two impressive ships offer premium cruising with great extras, including chauffeur-driven cars to your UK port of departure and travel insurance.
The likes of Fred Olsen and Ambassador Cruise Line both offer great value, longer cruises for retirees who don't need to dash back to work.
GO: Enjoy 14 nights on Holland America Line's Viking Trails and Celtic Origins cruise on Nieuw Statendam, departing Dover on August 9 from £1,119pp with stops in the Netherlands, Norway, Iceland and Scotland.