The Best Cruises for First-Time Cruisers — Ranked by Budget
Key Moments
Editorial Summary
The creator provides a ranked guide for first-time cruisers in 2025, categorizing cruise lines by budget and atmosphere. For those on a tight budget, MSC Cruises is recommended for families, though the creator warns that many amenities may involve extra costs. For a larger budget, Icon of the Seas is described as a massive floating city ideal for families seeking non-stop action and themed neighborhoods. Norwegian Aqua is presented as a premium option for travelers desiring a modern, polished experience with high-quality dining. The creator also offers an honorable mention for Virgin Voyages, noting it is an adults-only line designed for those wanting to avoid traditional cruise tropes and children. Finally, a sleeper pick is identified as Princess Alaska cruises, which are suited for couples seeking a slower, romantic, and nature-focused experience. The video concludes by advising viewers to avoid common rookie mistakes by watching a follow-up guide on essential packing and booking tips.
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
I'm breaking down my top three cruise lines for first-timers in 2025.
Virgin Voyages is your loophole, I think that's your money shot right there.
Creator's Tips & Advice
🆕New to Cruising? This Creator Addresses:
Questions This Creator Answers
Topics Covered
Port Highlights
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