The 15 Worst Cruise Lines Ranked (2026 Reviews)

Not all cruise holidays are created equal.

Most people step off a ship already planning their next sailing. But scroll through the reviews, and you’ll quickly see that not every cruise line leaves guests smiling.

Here’s the thing though, it’s rarely because a cruise line is outright “bad”. More often, it’s a mismatch. The wrong ship. The wrong vibe. The wrong expectations.

Some lines consistently score lower than others, and when you look at the data, the patterns are surprisingly clear.

So which cruise lines are getting the worst reviews right now… and why are passengers marking them down?

1. Costa Cruises

• Rating: 3.0
• Fleet: 9 ships
• Top departure ports: Barcelona, Marseille, Civitavecchia (for Rome)
• Approx price per night: £40-60

Costa Cruises is an Italian cruise line that stands out for its distinct Mediterranean style and vibrant atmosphere.

Known for its rich Italian heritage, the cruise line really embraces that European vibe with crew speaking many languages onboard and a lot of dining options that incorporate the ingredients of the Med.

The atmosphere onboard the mid-sized ships is quite lively, although don’t expect a huge range of entertainment facilities.

The ships are family-friendly and have good kids clubs but you won’t find much in the way of unique attractions like you’d find on bigger American cruise lines.

With a score of 3 out of 5, there are a lot of people who have a great time and an equal number who rate the cruise line very poorly. Customer service tends to be mentioned frequently, with staff described as everything from “unhelpful” to “aggressive” in their manner.

Food is another common complaint, particularly for vegetarians and especially vegans with limited options available. Nothing is labelled in the buffet, and vegan protein sources are scarce. I ate pasta with tomato sauce for lunch every day on my cruise!

The buffet is described as overcrowded and even chaotic by some guests, with poor management. This is something I can attest to – as even with no seats available in the buffet, crew members prevented me from taking my food and sitting at one of the hundreds of seats outside.

Costa’s cruises are some of the cheapest available, and that can show with the quality of a cruise holiday onboard, but if you’re on a budget and you know what to expect then you can still have a great time.

Suggested read: My £30 Per Day Costa Cruise (Honest Review)

2. MSC Cruises

• Rating: 3.2
• Fleet: 24 ships
• Top departure ports: Various
• Approx price per night: £50-60

MSC Cruises is another Italian cruise line that offers affordable ocean cruises on mid-size and large ships. While the cruise line is Italian and offers some European touches through its dining options, it is really more of a European-American blend of cruise styles, and many of the ships sail out of the US too.

Fares are affordable and there’s a good range of entertainment onboard, including fun daytime activities such as bowling, mini golf, arcades and a Formula 1 driving simulator – although these do have additional costs attached. And you won’t find a lot of the best features on the older, smaller ships.

Many of the ships have launched in the last few years and so are modern and well-kept but there are some older ships in the fleet that are a little more dated now.

One important point for MSC – they don’t tend to run traditional cruises with a single start and finish port. Instead, guests will embark and disembark at most ports on the cruise – your first day might be halfway through someone else’s cruise on the ship. The flexibility is good, but it can also make each port visit a little hectic.

There are two recurring themes to the negative reviews of MSC Cruises – the range and quality of the food are often commented on, as are the standards of service. Some people have found the crew to be less helpful or unresponsive to concerns when compared to other cruise lines.

Suggested read: Why Are MSC Cruises So Cheap?

3. Ambassador Cruise Line

• Rating: 3.3
• Fleet: 3 ships
• Top departure ports: London Tilbury, Bristol, Liverpool
• Approx price per night: £80-110

Of the cruise lines on this list, Ambassador is one of the newest. This British cruise line was only formed in 2021, although it was launched by the former CEO of Cruise & Maritime Voyages, which went bust in 2020 – so there was heritage there.

While the cruise line is new, the ships are not. Ambience was the first ship acquired, which was first built in 1991, while sister ship Ambition is a little newer having been first built in 1999. Renaissance, a ship that they’re chartering for Caribbean cruises, was built in 1995.

The cruise line offers a wide range of itineraries, sailing from ports around the UK. Most cruises are adults only although some are multigenerational during the school holidays. The atmosphere onboard is very relaxed and the clientele does tend to be older.

There are now some fly-cruises in the Caribbean on Renaissance, too.

The age of the ships is mentioned in a lot of the negative reviews for the cruise line – despite extensive renovation for each ship, guests still mention issues with the dated facilities, while the cabins (and the bathrooms) are particularly small in some cases. 

Guests have also criticised the organisation, with last-minute cancellations along with how crowds are managed in particularly busy areas. There are also mentions of the age of passengers in a negative way, but that’s as much on the guests to research before they travel so that they understand what the likely audience will be.

Suggested read: Ambassador Ambience Cruise Review

4. P&O Cruises

• Rating: 3.4
• Fleet: 7 ships
• Top departure ports: Southampton, Tenerife, Bridgetown
• Approx price per night: £65-100

P&O Cruises is an established cruise line catering to the British market. The ships have traditionally been mid-sized, though the more recent additions of Iona and Arvia are definitely large cruise ships, offering even more variety of bars and restaurants onboard.

The ships are quite relaxed and modern – don’t expect to find crazy water slides, robotic bartenders or any other gimmicks. Instead, the focus is on providing excellent service, great quality food, and a pleasant vibe that’s as suited to families as it is to older guests travelling solo or with friends/partners.

Because P&O Cruises is modernising, there are elements that disappoint long-standing fans, and a lot of the negative reviews are from self-confessed long-time P&O cruise guests who feel that the service standards are slipping as ships are getting bigger and crowds are becoming harder to wrangle.

On the flip side, reviews of the smaller ships focus on deteriorating cabins and a lack of excitement onboard, especially from those who admit to trying P&O after trying other, larger cruise ships.

I’m a little surprised that the average score is just 3.4 because I’ve loved my cruises with P&O and never really had a bad experience.

But other long-time P&O Cruises fans don’t seem to be as enamoured as they once were. And with changes such as the new charges for reserving places in the kids clubs, I think a lot of people are just starting to fall out of love with the direction the cruise line’s heading in.

5. Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL)

• Rating: 3.6
• Fleet: 21 ships
• Top departure ports: Miami, New York, Civitavecchia (Rome)
• Approx price per night: £90-140

NCL is one of the bigger cruise lines in the world, with a large fleet of ships. While none are close to being the biggest ship in the world, they’re all at least mid-sized and some of the newer ships have capacity for around 4,000 guests.

A Norwegian Cruise Line cruise is typically aimed at families and at younger adults, with a lot more amenities for enjoying a day packed with fun. The latest ships even have the only go-kart tracks at sea, while you can expect thrilling water slides, rock climbing walls, bowling and more.

NCL’s fares are a little tricky to unpick, because they can sometimes seem high but you have to take the More at Sea offers into account, which will get you drinks packages, free WiFi, shore excursion credit or speciality dining meals included.

But one of the biggest criticisms of the cruise line in recent reviews – and a long-standing one for NCL – is the ‘nickel and diming’ onboard, referring to how many small additional costs there are if you want to enjoy everything that the ships have to offer.

Guests also comment on the disorganisation in the dining rooms, with long wait times for sit-down meals and overcrowded buffet restaurants. The food quality is also described as a bit samey and sometimes of low quality.

Many reviews focus on the port-side customer service too, rather than the actual onboard experience, so if you don’t need to speak to the customer support teams before or after you travel, you might find that the service on the ship itself is actually very good.

Suggested read: NCL Ships Ranked Best To Worst

6. Celestyal Cruises

• Rating: 3.7
• Fleet: 2 ships
• Top departure ports: Athens, Istanbul, Kusadasi
• Approx price per night: £100-120

Celestyal Cruises is a cruise line that does things a little differently compared to larger companies. It focuses only on the Mediterranean and specifically the Greek Islands, but what makes the cruises so special is that you’ll often enjoy multiple ports of call in a single day.

Being able to visit different islands for a few hours at a time is a lot of fun, giving you even more chance to explore, though it does certainly feel a little less relaxed than a cruise where you’d have up to 8 hours in each port.

Also, since the focus is very much on the ports of call, don’t expect a wealth of things to do during the day on your ships, although the evening entertainment helps to bring much of the local culture to life.

The quality of the ships does get some negative attention in the reviews – the ships are older, and the renovations haven’t always made everything brand-new. Some guests have reported broken furniture, dirty cabins and general wear and tear around the ships.

With such a packed schedule, dining hours are a little more limited on a Celestyal ship, and that’s drawn some ire in the reviews, too, along with some instances of poor customer service.

That’s not what I found though – check my Celestyal review to read my own experience.

7. Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines

• Rating: 3.7
• Fleet: 3 ships
• Top departure ports: Southampton, Newcastle, Liverpool
• Approx price per night: £110-150

Fred. Olsen is another British cruise line, though it has a much smaller fleet. It has a very long heritage, with the shipping company existing since 1848 and cruises available since 1966.

The ships are quite old now, but have been carefully refurbished to keep them comfortable. Fares are also higher on Fred. Olsen ships than they are on some other British cruise lines, but they aim to offer a more traditional cruise experience with high standards of service.

There aren’t a huge number of negative reviews for Fred. Olsen, and those that there are have been accrued over a number of years. But there are a few themes that do stand out, including the food, which some guests found repetitive and a little bland, although there were just as many reviews praising the dining options, too.

The ships are older, and so there is some criticism of their upkeep, especially in the cabins. Broadly, though, the refurbishments have kept them to a good standard.

Most of the negative reviews focus on things outside of the cruise line’s control, including the weather, either causing itinerary changes or spoiling excursions for the Northern Lights.

Fred. Olsen certainly has a loyal audience of older guests, and those who know what to expect tend to really enjoy their time onboard.

Suggested read: Fred. Olsen cruise review

8. Marella Cruises

• Rating: 3.7
• Fleet: 5 ships
• Top departure ports: Palma, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Jamaica
• Approx price per night: £120-160 (incl. flights and drinks)

Marella is a cruise line primarily targeting the British market, but it’s a little unique in that it doesn’t ever sail from the UK. Instead, it offers cruises in the Mediterranean, Caribbean, Canary Islands and Asia, cutting out the sea days by sailing from ports much closer to the action.

As such, flights are always included in the fare you pay, and they’re often run by TUI, Marella’s parent company. With flights and cruises handled by the same company, guests love the seamless experience, as you know you’ll never miss a ship departure, since it will wait for any delayed flights.

Cruises are also more inclusive than other cruise lines – you don’t have to pay tips, and you get a wide range of drinks covered by your fare, too. WiFi isn’t included, but it’s a lot cheaper than other cruise lines.

So, why does it make this list? The ships are a little older, and while they have been refurbished, some guests felt that they still showed their age. Others criticised the lack of variety in the food too, particularly in the Marketplace casual dining venue.

Some guests also felt that the ships were crowded, especially on the pool deck. The great value offered by Marella often means that ships sell out, so they can feel quite busy. But most guests love the service of the crew, the fact that you don’t need to pay any hidden extras, and all the extra time you get seeing ports since you’re flown right to each destination.

Suggested read: 22 Fun Things To Do On A Marella Cruise

9. Pearl Seas Cruises

• Rating: 3.7
• Fleet: 1 ship
• Top departure ports: Toronto, Milwaukee, Quebec City
• Approx price per night: £600-800

There are several cruise operators in North America that focus almost exclusively on the continent, either for cruises of the Great Lakes or of the coastlines around Canada and New England. They are often priced high compared to other global cruise lines. Pearl Seas Cruises is one such example.

The experience is advertised as one of luxury – guests can expect all dining and snacks to be covered along with soft/hot drinks, complimentary cocktail parties and entertainment on the ship. Crucially, at these high prices, they are not all-inclusive – port fees and taxes are separate, and gratuities also need to be paid.

A lot of the negative reviews felt that the ship didn’t meet the standards advertised, and that while the cruise was expensive, it certainly wasn’t luxurious. Guests felt that the cabins in particular fell some way short of what was expected, including worn-out furnishings and problematic heating systems.

Food quality was another common criticism, as was the quality of the onboard entertainment – guests felt that their time on the ship was a little basic, and the fares didn’t reflect good value.

The highlight of these cruises should be the itineraries, which are broadly praised, but some guests did feel that excursions were rushed or that last-minute changes were poorly communicated.

If you want to really delve into the regions that Pearl Seas Cruises offers, then it’s still worth considering – an average score of 3.7 out of 5 shows that most do have a good time. But don’t expect opulence.

10. Regent Seven Seas Cruises

• Rating: 3.7
• Fleet: 6 ships
• Top departure ports: Athens, Miami, Southampton
• Approx price per night: £680-900

Regent Seven Seas Cruises has a reputation as one of the world’s most luxurious cruise lines, and for most people, that reputation feels deserved. The cruise line has a fleet of smaller ships and a high crew-to-guest ratio, ensuring that everyone enjoys a more personalised service.

The cruise line is all-inclusive, too. The approximate prices I’ve quoted are without flights, but you can choose fares with flights included too. Otherwise, you’ll find that all dining, drinks, tips and excursions are covered, along with transfers to/from the ship from the airport.

The ships offer suite accommodations only – no basic cabins here. And everyone has use of a butler who will go above and beyond what you’d expect from a stateroom attendant – they’ll make reservations for you, serve canapes in your suite, and even shine your shoes.

The lower scores are a result of guests finding a dip in service standards in recent years. Most people are still impressed, but some guests have criticised issues with housekeeping, and said that the food isn’t always the same quality. “Hit or miss” was a phrase used a couple of times.

Some of the ships are older, too, and guests say that they’re showing it with some maintenance issues. Some reviews also mention poor organisation around itineraries or shore excursions, leading to frustrations.

Regent has very high standards, and those can sometimes mean guests are even more critical in their reviews – arguably, with these prices, they’re entitled to be.

11. Scenic Ocean Cruises

• Rating: 3.8
• Fleet: 2 ships
• Top departure ports: Nice, Lisbon, Buenos Aires
• Approx price per night: £650-850 (incl. flights)

Scenic Ocean Cruises is a luxury cruise line from a company that is well-known for its river cruise options. You’ll pay a premium for a Scenic cruise, but you get a lot included for the price as well, such as your shore excursions, your drinks, and your flights are always included in the fare as well.

The experience is designed to be opulent. The ships are described as “Discovery Yachts” as they are smaller than most cruise ships, and capable of exploring many parts of the world others can’t reach.

Don’t expect a loud atmosphere – crowds are minimal, the ambience is always relaxing, and the guests are typically looking for a blend of adventure and serenity.

And with average reviews of 3.8 out of 5, there is a real mix of hits and misses, but a common complaint of the negative reviews is that customers didn’t feel that the ships were luxurious enough for the price paid. It’s not so much in the styling or furnishing, but in the layout, which is clumsy and counter-productive for relaxation.

Guests also felt that the entertainment onboard was severely lacking – the ships are aimed at exploring ports, but when sailing, you won’t find there’s much to keep you busy. Dining complaints were less about the quality of food and more about scheduling, with meal times clashing with excursion schedules, leading to guests feeling frustrated and rushed.

Most guests enjoyed a luxurious getaway with Scenic, but there are occasional issues which dampen the experience.

Suggested read: Scenic vs Emerald Ocean Cruises

12. Carnival

• Rating: 3.8
• Fleet: 29 ships
• Top departure ports: Miami, Port Canaveral, Galveston
• Approx price per night: £70-100

Carnival is one of the biggest cruise lines in the world, with a massive fleet of ships. Particularly popular in the US for cruises to the Caribbean, Bahamas and Mexico, the cruise line calls its fleet “Fun Ships”, with a focus on a party atmosphere.

Expect an experience that’s bold and a little brash – kids will be having loads of fun with the various facilities, such as roller coasters and water slides, while adults enjoy taking advantage of the many bars serving all manner of cocktails and beers.

A score of 3.8 out of 5 tells you that most people have a great cruise, but there are some negatives. Because the ships are on the larger side, common review complaints include overcrowding around the more popular parts of the ship, as well as delays and poor organisation, especially on embarkation day and when in port. 

Dining is another element of Carnival that can come under fire, both for the lack of variety (especially on the older, smaller ships) and for the overall quality. With Carnival, you aren’t paying luxury prices, so you shouldn’t expect fine dining.

Entertainment also comes under fire for the quality compared to other cruise lines, but it does tend to have good comedians on board in particular.

Avoid Carnival if you don’t like the idea of a loud, hectic cruise, but if you love a lively atmosphere, it could be perfect.

Suggested read: Carnival Cruise Guests Share Their Worst Cruises Ever

13. Amadeus River Cruises

• Rating: 3.8
• Fleet: 12 ships
• Top departure ports: Amsterdam, Cologne, Passau
• Approx price per night: £200-275

Amadeus is a river cruise line that also trades as Luftner Cruises for the German market. Under the Amadeus brand, the marketing is more global, but the result is a fleet of ships that attract a multicultural group of guests. The crew are comfortable in English as well as German so communication issues aren’t anything to worry about.

Amadeus offers a typical river cruise experience, primarily exploring the rivers of Europe and offering a relaxed atmosphere onboard, albeit with little to do during your sailing time beyond some simple entertainment. The aim here is to spend your time exploring – not fill your days with endless activities onboard.

I have to draw a line on the rules for this list, but Amadeus River Cruises can perhaps call itself a little unlucky to make the list. Of the 66 reviews the cruise line has, there are just 12 that are either 1 or 2 out of 5, compared to 27 that are 5/5. 

Of those negative reviews, the main issues seem to be around the limited dining options, the quality of the food that was served, and the accommodation quality, with small and unwelcoming cabins.

Guests also said that the cruises sometimes felt that the senior crew weren’t organised, and that excursions were missed due to poor management.

14. Princess

• Rating: 3.8
• Fleet: 17 ships
• Top departure ports: Port Everglades, Southampton
• Approx price per night: £90-140

Princess Cruises is a well-established cruise line that sits in the slightly premium end of the mainstream market, widely appreciated for its relaxed vibe and traditional cruising style. It may not be the flashiest fleet on the seas, but it consistently earns praise for its balance of quality service, comfortable ships and good overall value.

One thing many guests highlight is the quality of the onboard experience. Dining tends to get strong marks across both main dining rooms and speciality venues, with plenty of variety and thoughtful menus. The entertainment tends toward the classic side, Broadway-style shows, engaging enrichment talks and good live music, rather than the adrenaline-packed attractions you’ll find on some other lines. For travellers who prefer a more traditional cruise experience with elegant evenings and scenic port days, Princess often hits the mark.

Service is another recurring positive in the reviews. Many travellers note that crew members are friendly, attentive and professional, creating a welcoming atmosphere that feels more personal than you might expect on larger ships. Cabins are generally described as comfortable and well maintained, though, as with most big fleets, newer ships tend to feel fresher and more modern than the older ones.

In terms of vibe, Princess often attracts a slightly older or more relaxed crowd than some competitors, and this comes through in guest feedback. It’s a line that appeals to couples, adults and families who want a classic cruising rhythm, good food, smooth sailing and plenty of time to enjoy ports of call — without constant stimulation.

While most feedback is positive, a few themes recur in more critical reviews. Some guests feel that extras can add up quickly, speciality dining, beverage packages and shore excursions aren’t always included, which can push the total spend higher than expected. A handful of reviewers also mention that certain entertainment offerings or shore time can feel predictable or less dynamic compared to lines focused on big-budget onboard thrills.

Overall, Princess Cruises is described as a solid choice for travellers seeking a comfortable, service-oriented cruise experience with quality food and a more classic style, especially if you’re not after nonstop onboard activities or theme-park-style attractions.

15. Royal Caribbean

• Rating: 3.9
• Fleet: 29 ships
• Top departure ports: Miami, Port Canaveral
• Approx price per night: £70-120

Royal Caribbean is one of the world’s biggest cruise lines and is best known for its huge, activity-packed ships. It’s a very American-style cruise experience, with bold entertainment, big production shows and ships that often feel more like floating resorts than traditional ocean liners.

Fares are generally affordable for what you get, especially considering the scale of the ships. There’s an enormous range of things to do onboard, including surf simulators, zip lines, climbing walls, ice skating rinks and huge waterparks on the newest vessels. Families in particular tend to rate the kids’ clubs and activities very highly. That said, many of the headline attractions are only found on the newer, larger ships, so experiences can vary significantly across the fleet.

Royal Caribbean has launched several innovative ships in recent years, and the newest vessels are modern, bold and packed with tech. However, some of the older ships are beginning to feel more traditional and less feature-heavy in comparison, even if they’ve had refurbishments.

One thing that often comes up in reviews is the sheer size of the ships. Many guests love the variety and energy, but others feel they can be crowded, especially around pools and on sea days. The larger ships also tend to attract a high number of families, so they’re not always the quietest choice.

Recurring themes in more negative reviews include complaints about additional costs once onboard. While the base fare can be competitive, drinks packages, speciality dining, Wi-Fi and certain activities can add up quickly. Food reviews are mixed. Many guests are happy with the variety, but some feel the quality in the main dining room has declined compared to previous years. Service is often described as friendly and hard-working, though consistency can vary depending on the ship and sailing.

Overall, Royal Caribbean is a strong choice for cruisers who want high-energy ships with lots to do, particularly families and first-timers. Those looking for a quieter, more traditional or more inclusive experience may prefer a smaller or more premium line.

The Bottom Line

It’s worth remembering that none of these scores are disastrous. Even the lowest-rated cruise lines here are still averaging around 3 out of 5, which suggests a very mixed bag rather than a total disaster.

Price plays a huge role too. Expectations naturally rise with the fare. If you’ve paid £50 per night, you’re unlikely to get luxury-level dining and flawless service. If you’ve paid £700 per night, you probably expect perfection. Reviews often reflect that gap between expectation and reality more than the actual experience onboard.

In many cases, the issues mentioned are recurring themes rather than universal truths. One guest’s overcrowded buffet is another guest’s lively atmosphere. One traveller’s “dated ship” is someone else’s “classic and traditional”.

The key isn’t to avoid the cruise lines on this list altogether. It’s to understand what they’re known for, what they’re not, and whether that fits the kind of holiday you actually want.

Do your research. Read recent reviews. Match the vibe to your personality.

And you’ll probably step off already planning the next one, just like most cruisers do.

Related Posts

• The 11 Worst Ports of Call For Cruise Ship Tourists
• The 12 Worst Cruise Ships (According to Real Reviews)
• The Worst Cruise Shore Excursions Passengers Ever Booked