The Most Overrated and Underrated Cruise Ships Right Now

The Most Overrated and Underrated Cruise Ships Right Now

Let us get one thing straight before we begin: there are no truly bad cruise ships sailing today. Even the most "overrated" vessel on this list is a remarkable feat of engineering that will give most guests a wonderful vacation. This is not about bashing anyone's favorite ship or telling you that your last cruise was wrong.

This is about something more useful: setting realistic expectations and shining a light on ships that deserve far more attention than they get.

The cruise industry runs on hype. New ship launches generate millions of social media impressions, influencer partnerships, and breathless press coverage. That hype machine is excellent at creating excitement, but it sometimes inflates expectations beyond what the daily onboard experience can deliver. Meanwhile, genuinely outstanding ships sail quietly under the radar, overlooked because they lack the flashy marketing budget or the headline-grabbing superlatives.

After analyzing guest feedback, sailing reports, and spending considerable time studying the current fleet landscape, here is an honest assessment of which ships are overhyped and which hidden gems deserve a spot on your shortlist.

The Overrated: Great Ships That Cannot Quite Live Up to Their Hype

A reminder: "overrated" does not mean "bad." Every ship in this section has genuine strengths. The issue is the gap between marketing promises and the day-to-day reality onboard.

Icon of the Seas — The Weight of Being "The Biggest"

Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas arrived with the kind of fanfare usually reserved for space launches. The world's largest cruise ship. The most waterslides. The most pools. The most everything. And to be fair, the ship delivers spectacle on a scale that nothing else afloat can match. Category 6, the waterpark, is genuinely thrilling. The AquaDome is architecturally breathtaking. The variety of neighborhoods gives the ship a theme-park-like sense of exploration.

But here is what the marketing reels do not show you: the lines. On peak sailing days — embarkation day, sea days, and days in the ship's private island destination — the waterpark wait times can stretch to 45 minutes or more. Thrill Island, the dry-side adventure zone, has similar bottlenecks. With nearly 6,000 passengers aboard (and up to 7,600 at full double occupancy), the ship's signature attractions simply cannot absorb the demand during high-traffic periods.

Icon of the Seas is a triumph of engineering and a victim of its own marketing. The ship is extraordinary — but it was sold as a place where everything is always available, and that is not the reality when 6,000 people want to ride the same water slide at noon on a sea day.

Cabin quality is another area where expectations and reality diverge. Interior and ocean-view cabins on Icon feel cramped relative to the ship's massive size, and the finishes in lower-tier categories do not feel premium despite the elevated pricing. Suite guests in the exclusive Surfside neighborhood report a markedly better experience, but suites start north of $10,000 per person for a seven-night sailing. For the price of a standard balcony cabin on Icon, you could book a far more spacious and refined cabin on a premium or even luxury line — and actually enjoy it without fighting for a pool chair.

The verdict: Icon of the Seas is worth experiencing once for the sheer spectacle. But if you are expecting a relaxing cruise vacation, temper your expectations. The ship is a theme park that happens to float, and it comes with theme-park-level crowds.

Carnival Jubilee — The Excel-Class Hype Machine

Carnival Jubilee, the third Excel-class ship, arrived in late 2023 to enthusiastic reviews. The "Celebration Key" zone marketing drumbeat has been relentless, and the ship is genuinely a step forward for Carnival. BOLT, the roller coaster at sea, is fun. The dining options have improved. The RedFrog Tiki Bar is a great time.

But here is the reality check: Jubilee is still, fundamentally, a Carnival ship. That is not an insult — Carnival delivers exactly what it promises, which is an affordable, lively, casual cruise. The issue is that social media influencers and marketing campaigns have positioned the Excel-class as a transformative leap, suggesting the ship delivers a premium experience that rivals Celebrity or even luxury lines.

It does not. The main dining room food is average. The service, while friendly, is stretched thin during peak hours. The Celebration Place zone — the ship's signature feature — is essentially a nicely themed bar and entertainment area. It is pleasant, but it is not the revolutionary experience the content cycle suggests.

The verdict: Carnival Jubilee is a very good Carnival ship. If you love Carnival's energy and value proposition, you will enjoy it. But do not book expecting something it was never designed to be.

MSC Meraviglia-Class Ships — Beautiful Bones, Inconsistent Execution

MSC has built some of the most visually striking ships afloat. The Meraviglia-class vessels — Meraviglia, Bellissima, Grandiosa, Virtuosa, and Euribia (2023) — feature soaring LED-domed promenades, Swarovski crystal staircases, and interior design that feels genuinely European and sophisticated. Walking through the main atrium of a Meraviglia-class ship for the first time is a wow moment.

Then you try to get a drink at the pool bar.

The gap between MSC's physical product and its service delivery is the most frustrating disconnect in mainstream cruising. Bartenders are overwhelmed. Dining service can be painfully slow. The beverage package, which costs extra, has restrictions and fine print that catches guests off guard. And the nickel-and-diming extends to areas that other mainstream lines include — certain dining venues that look complimentary turn out to have cover charges, specialty coffee costs extra, and the Wi-Fi packages are among the most expensive at sea.

MSC builds ships that photograph like luxury liners and operate like budget airlines. The hardware is stunning. The software — the service, the consistency, the attention to guest experience — has not caught up.

MSC's marketing leans heavily into "European luxury" and "Mediterranean elegance." For guests coming from Royal Caribbean or Norwegian, the onboard experience can feel confusing — the ship looks upscale, but the service model is decidedly mainstream, and the additional charges add up quickly.

The verdict: MSC Meraviglia-class ships are worth considering for their Mediterranean itineraries and striking design. But go in with eyes open about service levels and have realistic expectations about what "luxury" means in MSC's vocabulary.

The Underrated: Hidden Gems That Deserve Your Attention

Now for the good part. These ships deliver experiences that consistently exceed expectations, yet they rarely make the top of anyone's "most anticipated" list. That is their loss — and your opportunity.

Holland America Nieuw Statendam and Rotterdam — The Pinnacle of Overlooked Excellence

If there is a single most underrated class of ships sailing today, it is Holland America's Pinnacle-class. Nieuw Statendam (2018) and Rotterdam (2021) are two of the most beautiful mid-size ships on the water, and almost nobody under 50 talks about them.

The design is genuinely world-class. Holland America partnered with hospitality designer Adam D. Tihany and architect Bjorn Storbraaten to create interiors that feel like a contemporary luxury hotel — warm woods, artful lighting, curated art collections, and public spaces that flow naturally from one to the next. The main atrium avoids the Vegas-in-the-ocean aesthetic that plagues many mainstream ships in favor of something more refined: a three-deck, naturally lit space anchored by a stunning art installation.

Then there is Music Walk, which might be the single best entertainment concept at sea. Rather than a big theater with a production show, Holland America created an entire deck of intimate live music venues: Lincoln Center Stage for classical music, B.B. King's Blues Club for blues and Motown, Billboard Onboard for sing-along piano bar hits, and Rolling Stone Rock Room for classic rock performed by legitimately talented musicians. On any given evening, you can wander between venues, drink in hand, discovering whatever catches your ear. It is the antithesis of the mega-ship approach, and it is wonderful.

Itineraries are another Pinnacle-class strength. Holland America leans heavily into longer voyages — 10 to 14 nights through Alaska's Inside Passage, the Norwegian Fjords, the Baltic, and extended Mediterranean runs that visit smaller ports the mega-ships cannot reach.

Why it is underrated: Holland America's brand carries a reputation for being "your grandparents' cruise line." The average guest age is higher than mainstream lines. But the ships themselves are thoroughly modern, the food is excellent (the Dining Room and Rudi's Sel de Mer are highlights), and the value proposition is hard to beat if you prioritize quality over quantity.

Celebrity Beyond — The Best Ship Nobody Is Talking About

Celebrity Beyond, the third Edge-class ship, launched in 2022 to strong reviews and then promptly disappeared from the conversation as Icon of the Seas absorbed all the oxygen. That is a shame, because Beyond might be the best-designed ship in the premium category.

The Edge-class introduced the Magic Carpet — a cantilevered, moving platform that repositions along the side of the ship to serve as a restaurant, a bar, an embarkation station, or a lounge depending on its location. It sounds gimmicky on paper. In practice, it is mesmerizing. Sitting at the Magic Carpet bar with a cocktail at sunset, the ocean stretching out beneath you with no railing or barrier between you and the sea, is one of the most memorable moments available on any ship.

Beyond refined the Edge-class formula with more outdoor space, a reimagined pool deck with a resort-style feel, and Le Voyage, a restaurant created by Michelin-starred chef Daniel Boulud that serves some of the best food afloat — in any category, mainstream through luxury.

The Retreat, Celebrity's suite-class experience, deserves special mention. Retreat guests get access to a private sundeck, a dedicated restaurant (Luminae), a private lounge, and priority everything — boarding, dining, shore excursions. The experience rivals what you would find on a luxury line at a fraction of the cost. A Retreat suite on Beyond for a seven-night Caribbean sailing can be booked for less than a standard veranda suite on Silversea or Seabourn for the same itinerary.

Why it is underrated: Celebrity does not have the marketing firepower of Royal Caribbean (its parent company's flagship brand). Beyond also lacks the superlative-driven hook that drives social media — it is not the biggest, the newest, or the most extreme. It is simply one of the best-executed ships sailing, and that is a harder story to tell in a 30-second reel.

Viking Ocean Ships — The Quiet Revolution

Viking has done something remarkable: it built an entire fleet of nearly identical ocean ships — Viking Star, Viking Sea, Viking Sky, Viking Sun, Viking Venus, Viking Mars, and several more — and made every single one of them excellent. There are no bold experiments, no roller coasters, no waterslides. There is just a consistent, refined, beautifully designed ship that does everything well.

Most Viking ocean ships carry 930 guests, with the newer Viking Vela and Viking Vesta accommodating 998 passengers. Every one has the same elegant Scandinavian design, the same heated infinity pool, the same excellent spa (included thermal suite and snow grotto), the same Manfredi's Italian restaurant (included, no surcharge), and the same explorers' lounge with floor-to-ceiling windows and a library of books about your destinations.

Viking does not try to be everything to everyone. It tries to be one thing — a beautifully designed, culturally enriching, destination-focused cruise — and it executes that vision better than anyone else in the industry.

The inclusions are extraordinary for the price point. Every sailing includes a shore excursion in every port, Wi-Fi, specialty restaurant dining, self-service laundry, and 24-hour room service. Beer and wine are included at lunch and dinner. Compared to other lines at a similar fare, the value is difficult to beat.

Viking's enrichment programming — port lectures, destination-focused cooking classes, and cultural performances — is also best-in-class. This is a cruise for people who want to learn something, not just lie by the pool (though you can absolutely do that too).

Why it is underrated: Viking's marketing is actually quite strong, but the ships get overshadowed in "best cruise ship" conversations because they lack the novelty factor. They are not flashy. They do not have headline-grabbing features. They are simply very, very good at what they do — and that consistency is, paradoxically, easy to overlook.

Regent Seven Seas Grandeur — The Quiet Pinnacle of Luxury

Regent Seven Seas Grandeur entered service in late 2023 as the newest ship in the Regent fleet, and it might be the finest luxury cruise ship afloat. Yet it received a fraction of the press coverage that Icon of the Seas generated, because "everything is included and beautifully executed" is not as clickable as "world's biggest ship."

Grandeur is all-suite, all-balcony, and genuinely all-inclusive. The fare covers business-class airfare (on certain bookings), unlimited shore excursions, all dining, all beverages (including premium wines and spirits), Wi-Fi, gratuities, and pre-cruise hotel stays on select voyages. The suites range from 307 square feet to the 4,443-square-foot Regent Suite, which has its own spa, baby grand piano, and in-suite dining area.

The dining program features Compass Rose (the elegant main restaurant), Prime 7 (steakhouse), Chartreuse (French-inspired), Pacific Rim (Asian fusion), and Sette Mari at Grandeur (Italian) — all included, all excellent, and all without the need to plan or reserve weeks in advance (though reservations are recommended for specialty venues).

Why it is underrated: Regent operates in a rarefied segment — most travelers have never heard of it, and those who have often suffer from sticker shock at the headline fare without realizing how much is included. When you factor in that the fare covers flights, excursions, drinks, dining, and gratuities, the true cost comparison with mainstream lines is far narrower than it appears.

Azamara Onward — The Port Collector's Secret Weapon

Azamara Onward carries just 702 guests, which means it can dock in ports that mega-ships sail right past. But the real differentiator is Azamara's commitment to late-night stays and overnight port calls. While a Royal Caribbean ship might dock in Dubrovnik from 8 AM to 5 PM, Azamara will stay until midnight — or dock overnight, giving you time to experience the city after the day-trippers have left.

For destination-focused travelers, this changes everything. You can have dinner at a local restaurant in port, watch the sunset from a waterfront cafe, or simply wander cobblestone streets in the evening light without rushing back to the ship. Azamara builds its entire itinerary philosophy around this concept, and the result is a fundamentally different relationship with the places you visit.

The ship itself is intimate and well-maintained, with a country-club atmosphere that falls somewhere between premium and luxury. AzAmazing Evenings — exclusive cultural events held in port, like a private concert in a historic amphitheater — are complimentary and genuinely special.

Why it is underrated: Azamara is a small brand with limited marketing reach. It does not build new ships (Onward was a refurbished vessel), so it never generates "new ship" press cycles. But for travelers who cruise primarily to explore destinations rather than to enjoy the ship itself, Azamara delivers an experience that the mega-lines simply cannot replicate.

The Takeaway: Think Beyond the Hype Cycle

The cruise industry's marketing machine is very good at telling you what to be excited about. New ships, record-breaking statistics, and influencer partnerships dominate the conversation. But the ships that will give you the best vacation are not always the ones generating the most buzz.

The best cruise ship for you is the one that matches your priorities — whether that is jaw-dropping spectacle (Icon of the Seas, for all its crowds, genuinely delivers that), refined elegance (the Pinnacle-class ships and Celebrity Beyond), cultural immersion (Viking and Azamara), or all-inclusive luxury without compromise (Regent Grandeur).

Do your research. Read reviews from real guests, not just launch-day influencer content. Compare total costs, not just fare prices. And do not be afraid to book a ship you have never seen on social media — the quiet ones are often the best.