One Cruise Surprised Us! | Our Top 10 Cruises of 2025

In 2025, we sailed on 10 cruises across a wide range of cruise lines and ship classes. In this video, we’re not just naming our favorite cruise. We’re answering two different questions: • Which cruise was the best overall experience? • Which cruise delivered the best value for the money? Using the same evaluation criteria across every sailing—ship design, service, food, crowd management, stateroom comfort, and overall experience—we break down what actually mattered once the cruise was over. Every cruise was evaluated using the same standards, regardless of price or cruise line. Cruises included in this ranking: • Explora Journeys (Explora I / Explora II) • MSC Cruises (MSC World America – Yacht Club / MSC Armonia) • Celebrity Beyond • Norwegian Cruise Line – Getaway (Haven class sailing) • Viking – Gersemi (river cruise) • Oceania – Insignia • Virgin Voyages – Valiant Lady • Carnival – Celebration Some results surprised us. One cruise we expected to rank higher didn’t. Another completely over-delivered for the price. If you’re planning a cruise in the upcoming year—or want an honest, experience-based ranking—this video is for you. Chapters 00:00 Introduction 02:14 Top 10 Cruises of the Year 13:31 Top 10 Values of the Year #CruiseReview #BestCruises2025 #CruiseRanking #CruiseTips #LuxuryCruising #CruiseValue #TopCruises #janandtraceytravels Our Recommended Cruise Gear OREI American to European Plug Adapters—Many cruise ships are equipped with 220 European plugs, which are useless unless you have the correct adapter. These are the essentials we pack in our bags every time we cruise or travel to Europe. They come in an affordable six-pack which you can find at this link: https://amzn.to/44ixS0U Strongman Tools Strong Magnetic Hooks—A couple of these 6-pack sets of hooks are always with us when we cruise. Each individual hook can hold up to 30 lbs of weight and is ideal for hanging coats, hats, and the shelves described below. Get your set of these useful magnetic hooks at this link: https://amzn.to/3UDrVbJ Whitmor 5 Section Closet Organizer—Unfortunately, drawer and shelf space are sometimes limited in some cruise cabins. That’s why we always bring at least one of these inexpensive closet organizers, which gives us plenty of room for our folded clothes. We typically use a couple of magnetic hooks, as described above, to hang these from the ceiling in the corner of our room. Here’s the link where you can get yours: https://amzn.to/3w3GvQn Our Recommended Camera Gear DJI Osmo Pocket 3--You’ll usually see Tracey using this in almost all of our videos. Love this wonderful, small, and versatile camera. Basic Camera: https://amzn.to/3UDJJDF Creators Combo: https://amzn.to/4beP6OP GoPro Hero12—This is the best action camera we’ve ever used. Whether taking videos on the Zodiacs in Antarctica, snorkeling in Papua New Guinea, or scuba diving in Bonaire, this camera is always in our hands. Find the link to get yours here: https://amzn.to/3UkTcy1 Peak Design Slide Lite Camera Strap—If you still carry a DSLR or Mirrorless camera, as Jan does, this is the perfect strap to use. What's great is that this fully adjustable strap can be configured to be worn across your body, distributing the weight of your camera across your back rather than your neck. Additionally, it provides a bit more security when traveling through high-risk pickpocket areas. Get your Slide Lite Strap here: https://amzn.to/3xW6pWR As Amazon Affiliates, we earn from qualifying purchases.