The 5 Best Cruise Lines 2026 (And The 5 We're Avoiding)
Key Moments
Editorial Summary
The creators provide a detailed ranking of cruise lines for 2026, categorizing them into top recommendations and lines to avoid. The top five recommendations include Viking Cruises for its relaxing, all-inclusive atmosphere and premium amenities like heated bathroom floors and included thermal suites. Royal Caribbean is highlighted for its massive, entertainment-filled ships and private island resorts, while Disney Cruise Line is noted for its exceptional service and family-oriented magic despite higher costs. MSC Cruises is recommended specifically for its Yacht Club experience, which offers a luxury ship-within-a-ship concept. Celebrity Cruises rounds out the top list for its sophisticated design and high-quality dining. Conversely, the creators identify five lines to avoid due to declining quality and rising costs. Costa Cruises is criticized for chaotic dining and poor hygiene, while Cunard is described as feeling neglected and offering a fake sense of luxury. P&O Cruises is noted for losing its traditional charm to become a crowded, budget-oriented experience. Virgin Voyages is placed on the avoid list due to logistical issues with dining reservations and technical failures. Finally, Norwegian Cruise Line is criticized for its aggressive nickel and diming policies and declining service standards.
Written by TripBacon from this video's transcript.
How This Review Compares
This review is more positive than the all-time creator consensus.
Source: Our analysis of the creator's lived experience, based on what they said in this video.
Creator's Key Takeaways
We have cruised over a 100 times on basically every major cruise line. And let me tell you, the game has definitely changed in 2026.
Viking ocean ships are consistently at the top of almost every single cruise travel poll. And there's a very good reason for that. It's because they have perfected the art of no.
The food on Celebrity is fantastic. Out of all the major mainstream cruise lines, we feel they have the best main dining room food and the best buffet.
Creator's Tips & Advice
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Topics Covered
Scale: 0–5 strips in half-step increments. 0 = “meh”, 5 = “bacon bliss”. Aggregated from creator-review sentiment, weighted by channel expertise.
About our Bacon Score methodologyVideo content sourced from the creator's original upload. Watch on YouTube