Best European cruises: 6 ships that stand out across the pond - The Points Guy (2023)

FAQs

Which part of the ship is best for cruises? ›

starboard side of the ship is best to stay on. Your decision will depend on a variety of factors, from your stateroom type to your cruise itinerary. Here are helpful tips for choosing which side of the ship will suit you best.

Royal Caribbean Wonder of the Seas

Its maiden voyage in March 2022, becoming the fifth member of Royal's Oasis-class ships. The aptly-named Wonder of the Seas has 18 decks (16 guest-accessible decks), 2,867 staterooms and 19 pools (the most on any cruise ship).

Card room. Casino — Only open when the ship is at sea to avoid conflict with local laws.

Barcelona, Spain

One of the top European cities for cruising is Barcelona. It is also a major cruise hub where ships regularly embark. This European city is decorated with gothic architecture, and you can walk around Casa Mila or La Sagrada Familia, Antoni Gaudí's architectural masterpieces.

If you're after views, the best room on a cruise ship will be a balcony cabin at the ship's rear end. Aft balcony accommodations at the ship's corners are also the largest and often give more outside area than conventional balcony cabins, allowing you to enjoy both the beautiful views and the extra space.

You want to be as close to the pivot point as possible to feel the least movement. Avoid cabins near the front (bow) or back (stern) and on decks higher than the middle deck of the ship. So, on a ship with fourteen passenger decks, your best options are below deck seven.

Balcony cabins on cruise ships are more spacious due to the outside space. They have spectacular ocean views, fresh sea air, and a private seating area. Although these cabins are more expensive, the rewards of a private balcony sometimes outweigh the cost. If it fits within your budget, balcony cabins are worth it!

Best "Low-Motion" cabins

The "best cabins for seasickness" are located at the ship's edges (top decks, bow, and stern). The worst area in the front section, as the bow is first hit by waves. Higher deck front cabins fell more the up and down motion, while for the aft cabins the motion is less noticeable.

To reduce motion sickness, choose a stateroom in the middle of the ship on a lower deck. You will feel any sway of the ship less in this section. Although it may seem counterintuitive, if you're worried about seasickness on a cruise, book a stateroom with a window or a veranda.

Cruise ships very rarely sink, and when they do it is often when they don't have passengers on board. Just over one cruise ship every 5 years has sunk in the last 100 years. Regarding sinking with casualties, that's only one every 7 years. In the last 50 years, there have been 15 cruise ships that have sunk.

Where is the most stable part of a cruise ship? ›

The best cabin location for those worried about seasickness is midship on a low deck. As a ship rocks and rolls in the waves, it is most stable at its lowest, most central point.

Decommissioned ships are almost always sent to one of two scrapyards. The largest is Alang, located in India's Gulf of Khambhat, which recycles more than half of the world's decommissioned cruise ships. The second largest is Aliaga in Turkey.

Of these, Carnival is by far the leading cruise company in Europe, accounting for 45 percent of the total market in 2021. Carnival owns and operates numerous brands, including Costa, AIDA, and P&O Cruises.

Southampton is widely recognised as the cruise capital of Europe. The Port of Southampton plays host to a wide variety of cruise lines, including P&O Cruises, Cunard, Royal Caribbean, MSC and Princess Cruises, and welcomes more than two million passengers to the city each year.

The higher the deck, the better and, often, more panoramic the view. Cabins on top decks aren't always the best on the ship, but many suites and specialty cabin categories are typically located on upper decks. Like to be near all the action? Most mega-ships place their lido (pool) areas on higher decks.

Lower Deck cabins are – as the name suggests – below deck, away from the busier communal areas of the ship. This means they're quieter, and therefore better for sleeping, with a whole extra floor separating you and the restaurant, bar, and top deck above.

There are no rules that say that passengers on cruise ships can't sleep on their balconies. That said, cruise lines do generally advise against it. Despite this many people enjoy sleeping on their balconies and you won't have any problem doing so if you want to.

The back of the ship tends to be considered the next best cabin position after midships. Whilst the front of the ship gets the most movement the back also does get some. Whilst it's nowhere near as bad as the front of the ship, you may still notice some movement in rough seas.

The nicest and most expensive cabins on any ship are generally on the highest decks. That typically means just below the pool deck. However, the pool deck is often the loudest during the day (and often well into the night).

Is the front or back of a cruise ship better for motion sickness? ›

The middle of the ship and not too high is your safest bet. A mid-ship stateroom with a balcony for quick access to fresh air may be ideal. If not available, consider a room that is either lower or closer to the back, as the front of the ship tends to experience the most movement.

The best deck on a cruise ship to avoid seasickness is the lowest passenger deck. This is because the top of a ship sways from side to side much more than the bottom. To avoid motion sickness, choose a cabin close to the waterline.

French Balcony cabins have floor-to-ceiling glass doors, while Verandah cabins have larger outdoor spaces with chairs and tables where guests can relax in the fresh air and enjoy their own private view of the river.

Its service oriented. Luxury cruises are typically smaller ships that carry less than 1,000 people and provide more intimate service. It offers exquisite dining, six-star service, and smaller vessels to reach the destinations that larger ships can't.

Cruise cabins near the elevator or stair access points are some of the noisiest staterooms at sea and their location will lead to a lot of noise during most parts of the night and therefore, should be avoided.

If seasickness is a worry of yours, the best way to avoid that is getting a room in the center of the ship. As cruise ships tend to bob on waves and slightly roll from side to side, the heart of the ship is its only part that stays virtually in the same place.

If you're prone to motion sickness, the worst cabins you can get on a cruise ship are at the front and rear.

Pick a big ship

The smaller the ship, the more movement you'll feel. To minimize the risk of seasickness, book one of the world's largest ships, such as Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas.

The lower you are, and more towards the middle of the ship, you will not feel it as much. Cabins at the front and back of the ship tend to sway the most, so you want to avoid any rooms in these areas.

The Cruise Passenger publication says: "There were only six reports of pirates attempting to attack cruise ships over the last 10 years – in fact there has never been a successful pirate attack on a cruise ship.

How often do cruise ships encounter rough seas? ›

The good news is that cruise ships will rarely travel through a rough sea. They are equipped with the latest in weather tracking information and navigation systems so they can avoid any potential storm or heavy seas.

People very rarely disappear on a cruise ship. On average it's around 19 people that go missing each year. This is out of the many millions of cruise ship passengers that travel aboard one of the 314 cruise ships that sail the world's oceans each year.

When the stabilizers aren't needed, they are retracted into the side of the vessel. Older and smaller ships are less likely to have this technology and are much more apt to feel the motion of the ocean. A mega-ship, such as Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas, might just be the best cruise ship to avoid seasickness.

Best Deck for Seasickness and Access to Amenities

The best location to book your cabin will be in the center of the cruise ship and on the lower deck. The lower you go down, the less rocking you will experience during your trip. If you suffer from any motion sickness, this area is ideal for you.

The forward is subject to the most movement out of anywhere on a ship. And the higher the deck, the more pronounced that rolling and swaying motion tends to feel. Movement at the aft is a bit less drastic than the forward, but still isn't the most stable place for those who are prone to seasickness.

Corrections & Clarifications: In a previous version of this article, the name of the Swedish city of Gothenburg​ was misspelled. The MV Astoria is the oldest cruise ship currently sailing, and Cruise and Maritime Voyages embraces the story of its vintage vessel.

Imagine living on board a ship full-time, allowing you to travel without a mortgage weighing you down. Well, one retired couple is doing just that. In an interview with CNN, former Seattle residents Angelyn and Richard Burk revealed they've been residing on cruise ships since leaving behind their home base in May 2021.

The average lifespan of a ship is 25-30 years. After this span, the ship may become too expensive to operate, but most importantly, to become unseaworthy putting human safety at risk. So, have you ever wondered what happens to a ship when it is too old to sail?

Best for Customer Satisfaction: Disney. Why we chose it: Disney received the highest overall average rating from customers on Cruiseline.com, and its staff and service were also ranked highly.

World cruises start from around $10,000 per person and can cost as much as $300,000 per person if you choose the best suite on the most luxurious cruise line. Expect to pay around $15,000 to $25,000 on a mainstream cruise line, and between $60,000 and $100,000 on a luxury cruise line, on average.

What time of year are cruises most popular? ›

The best time of year to book a cruise is often January through March.

What is the biggest cruise ship in the world? The largest cruise ship currently in service is Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas.

Largest Cruise Lines Research Summary

The largest cruise line in the world is Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), with a revenue of $22.86 billion. As of 2022, the global cruise line industry has a market size of $7.67 billion.

For passengers looking to enjoy views, especially the scenery in the wake of a ship, we recommend higher decks and the back of the vessel. The higher you pick, the farther you'll see. If you're after views, the best room on a cruise ship will be a balcony cabin at the ship's rear end.

The main language used on board is English. However, we offer our international guest service in German and Spanish on all fleetwide sailings and in French and Italian on all sailings in Europe and select worldwide itineraries.

About Western Mediterranean Cruises

Spanning two continents (Europe and Africa), the region includes the artistic meccas of Italy, France and Spain and Arabic culture in Morocco and Tunisia.

The best deck on a cruise ship to avoid seasickness is the lowest passenger deck. This is because the top of a ship sways from side to side much more than the bottom. To avoid motion sickness, choose a cabin close to the waterline.

Generally, mid-ship is most favorable on lower decks, especially if you are prone to motion sickness. There is more noticeable movement in the more forward areas of the vessel, or on higher decks.

The forward is subject to the most movement out of anywhere on a ship. And the higher the deck, the more pronounced that rolling and swaying motion tends to feel. Movement at the aft is a bit less drastic than the forward, but still isn't the most stable place for those who are prone to seasickness.

The most stable place to be on any cruise ship is low down on the vessel near its equilibrium point, which is generally near its center. Since inside cabins are closer to the center of a ship than “outside” ocean-view and balcony cabins, they can be more stable in rough seas.

Does the location of a cruise ship matter? ›

Whether your room is on the port or starboard side of the ship is in most cases totally irrelevant. There are a few rare itineraries where the side of the ship your room is on may matter subjectively, but it is not a factor that I recommend considering.

The back of the ship tends to be considered the next best cabin position after midships. Whilst the front of the ship gets the most movement the back also does get some. Whilst it's nowhere near as bad as the front of the ship, you may still notice some movement in rough seas.

Low and midship: Best cabin location to avoid seasickness

The best cabin location for those worried about seasickness is midship on a low deck. As a ship rocks and rolls in the waves, it is most stable at its lowest, most central point.

The front of a ship can be the most uncomfortable place to be in big waves. This is because the front of a ship pitches a lot more in waves than the center of a ship or even the back. Think of the teeter-totter you played on as a kid.

If you'd rather see the sunrise while sailing south or east, staying on the port side is your ideal choice as well. Choose the starboard side for the opposite situation: sunsets are visible on southbound and eastbound sailings while sunrises are visible on northbound and westbound cruises.

Aft cabins on cruise ships tend to be quieter, as they're farther from the midship bustle of activity that might be just a few decks above or below you, like bars, lounges, pools and the atrium.