2025 Cruise Year in Review - 8 Cruises Ranked

Annual Statistics

• Total Cruises: 8
• Nights at Sea: 52 (approximately 7.5 weeks/2 months)
• Cruise Lines: Norwegian Cruise Line (3), Virgin Voyages (1), Royal Caribbean (3), Celebrity Cruises (1)
• Embarkation Ports: 5 unique ports
• Ports of Call: 18 unique ports across 9 countries
• Distance Sailed: 14,313 nautical miles (16,471 statute miles)
• Miles Flown: 31,330 miles
• Total Cost: $12,403.62

Ranking Methodology

Rankings based on complete cruise experience including: itinerary, cruise ship, food, service, and overall experience (not just ship quality alone)

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#8: Celebrity Silhouette - 3-Day Weekend Cruise

Ship Details

• Ship Class: Solstice Series (completed entire series)
• Ship Condition: Fully renovated with modern elegance matching Edge Series style
• Departure Port: Fort Lauderdale
• Duration: 3 nights (Friday to Monday)

Itinerary

• Day 1: Key West, Florida
• Day 2: Bimini, Bahamas
• Port each day

Highlights

• Key West: Fantastic destination, walking food tour
• Bimini: Favorite alternative to Nassau (not built up, intimate, no huge port area)
• Ship Quality: One of most complete Solstice Series ships due to full renovation
• All staterooms renovated with modern elegance
• Top-notch food and service

Why Ranked #8

Not due to quality issues, but simply a shorter weekend cruise compared to more extensive voyages taken throughout the year

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#7: Star of the Seas - 4-Day Preview Cruise

Ship Details

• Ship Type: Royal Caribbean's newest Icon Class ship (first Icon Class experience)
• Departure Port: Port Canaveral
• Duration: 4 nights

Itinerary

• Sea Days: 2 (doing "donuts" in Atlantic Ocean)
• Port Stop: Perfect Day at CocoCay (Royal Caribbean's private island, Bahamas)

Ship Features

• Colorful, family-oriented design
• Huge water park with slides on top decks
• The Hideaway (adults-only retreat at back of ship)
• Multiple neighborhoods including Central Park

Why Ranked #7

• Primary Issue: Too family-focused for solo cruiser experience
• Not as relaxing or laid-back as preferred
• Doesn't plan to return to Icon Class ships anytime soon
• Better suited for families with children

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#6: Celebrity Excel - 4-Day Maiden Voyage

Ship Details

• Ship Class: Edge Series (5th ship in series)
• Special Note: First cruise/maiden voyage
• Departure Port: Fort Lauderdale
• Duration: 4 nights

Itinerary

• Sea Days: 2
• Port Stop: Cozumel

Ship Changes (7 New Areas)

• The Bazaar: Replaced Eden at back of ship
  • Not relaxing, disappointing replacement
  • Step backward from traditional Eden experience
• Mosaic Restaurant: New venue in the Bazaar
  • Similar to Eden restaurant but much more expensive
• Bora: Replaced Rooftop Garden Grill
  • Dinner was disappointing, brunch was better

Why Ranked #6

• Huge departure from other Edge Series ships
• Changes didn't improve upon original Edge Class design
• Would prefer Celebrity Ascent or Celebrity Beyond
• No plans to return to Excel
• Note: Had just sailed Celebrity Apex for 2 weeks prior, making comparison unfavorable

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#5: Utopia of the Seas - 3-Day Cruise

Ship Details

• Ship Type: Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class (first mega ship experience)
• Ship Age: Fairly new (sailed in March 2025)
• Departure Port: Port Canaveral
• Duration: 3 nights (Friday to Monday)

Itinerary

• Perfect Day at CocoCay
• Nassau

Ship Highlights

• The Boardwalk: Favorite neighborhood
  • Open-air concept
  • Multiple restaurants
  • AquaTheater at back: Amazing high-dive show into small pool while ship is moving at sea
• Neighborhoods: Loved exploring all areas
• Dining: Mason Jar specialty brunch, excellent grab-and-go options throughout ship
• Entertainment: AquaTheater show was astonishing

Why Ranked #5

• First mega ship experience exceeded expectations
• Would absolutely sail again on Utopia or Oasis Class sisters
• Recommends for those curious about mega ships
• Newest of Oasis Series ships
• Sailing 3-4 day itineraries

Comparison Note

Utopia superior to Star of the Seas because Star changed AquaTheater (moved to interior AquaDome, smaller and less impressive)

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#4: Celebrity Apex - 13-Day Transatlantic

Ship Details

• Ship Class: Edge Series
• Special Note: Second transatlantic voyage, booked 2-3 years in advance
• Departure Port: Southampton, UK
• Arrival Port: Port Canaveral, Orlando, FL (Apex's first time/new homeport, first Edge Series ship homeported there)
• Duration: 13 nights

Itinerary

• Spain (port stop)
• Portugal (port stop)
• Azores
• Bermuda
• Crossed Atlantic Ocean
• Ended in Orlando, Florida

Experience

• Sailed with friends
• Recently out of dry dock, beautiful condition
• Still favorite cruise ship (first Celebrity Cruises experience)
• Full transatlantic experience video available

Transatlantic Notes

• Not for party atmosphere seekers
• Older crowd, very laid-back and relaxed
• Daily routine: Sipping tea, evening shows, dinner, early retirement
• Perfect way to relax
• Highly recommended

Why Ranked #4

Only ranked here due to incredible cruises above it, not quality issues

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#3: Norwegian Spirit - 10-Day Japan Cruise

Ship Details

• Ship Type: Smallest/oldest ship in Norwegian Cruise Line fleet
• Renovation: $100 million refurbishment (2019/2020)
• Departure Port: Tokyo, Japan
• Arrival Port: Seoul, South Korea
• Duration: 10 nights

Itinerary

• Port every single day (no sea days)
• Flew into Tokyo 2 days early for exploration
• 10 days traveling around Japan

Experience Highlights

• Japan: "Beautiful, beautiful country" - highly encourages first-time visit
• Worth long flight to experience
• Perfect cruise destination: Ports close together, maximizes time ashore
• Port-intensive: Seeing a lot in short time
• Smaller ship but great cruise experience
• Loves Norwegian Cruise Line

Why Highly Ranked

Return trip to favorite destination (Japan) combined with excellent port-intensive itinerary

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#2: Brilliant Lady (Virgin Voyages) - 5-Day Maiden Voyage

Ship Details

• Ship Type: Virgin Voyages' newest Lady Ship
• Voyage Type: Maiden voyage from New York City
• Duration: 5 nights (September 2025)
• Special Note: Second time with Virgin Voyages (couple years since first)

Itinerary

• Sea Days: 2 (outbound), 1 (return)
• Bermuda: Overnight stay

Virgin Voyages Unique Features

Dining (All Included)

• 6 unique main dining restaurants (all included, no upcharges)
• Best aspect: No specialty dining fees
• All food on all ships included

Ship Design

• Initially skeptical (gray exterior, red interior looked "ugly")
• Now appreciates beauty and layout
• "Adult playground": Swings, seesaws on top deck
• Basketball court
• Walking track on top deck (great for sunset photos/video)

Entertainment

• "Murder in the Manor": Who-done-it style show
  • Line out the door every showing
  • Offered multiple times throughout cruise
• Entertainment runs all day, even on sea days
• Production shows throughout the day
• Some of best entertainment seen anywhere

Stateroom

• Solo Insider Room: First time in solo-designed room
• Bed positioned in nook behind bathroom (perfect layout)
• Fell in love with room design

Virgin Voyages Notes

• Adults Only (no kids)
• Great for solo cruisers
• Attracts younger cruisers
• Offers something different from traditional cruise lines
• Something for all ages (adults)

Why Ranked #2

Beautiful newest ship, excellent entertainment, all-inclusive dining, innovative design, perfect for solo/younger cruisers

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#1: Norwegian Aqua - 10-Day Transatlantic (Maiden Voyage)

Ship Details

• Ship Class: Prima Plus Series (bigger than Prima, with venue tweaks)
• Voyage Type: Maiden transatlantic voyage
• Original Plan: 7-day Southampton to Boston
• Actual Voyage: 10-day Southampton to New York City (extended due to Atlantic weather)
• Duration: 10 nights (9 sea days)

Why Extended Cruise

Weather over Atlantic required southern route, adding 3 days Extended for free

Booking Details

Solo traveler price made it irresistible booking decision Flew overnight to London, car to Southampton

Ship Highlights

Staterooms

• Beautiful design throughout
• Had balcony stateroom

Dining

• Indulge Food Hall: Favorite feature (previously loved on Norwegian Prima in 2024)
• Delicious food throughout ship
• Many specialty restaurants

Ship Spaces

• Deck 8 (Ocean Boulevard): Favorite area
  • Outdoor outer deck
  • Infinity pools
  • Walking track around entire ship exterior
  • Lots of outdoor areas
• Aqua Slide: First aqua coaster at sea (top of ship)
• Interactive Mini Golf: Top deck
• Modern elegance: Similar to Celebrity Edge Series ships
• Something for everyone: Adult offerings plus family features (water slide/roller coaster for kids)

Vibe Beach Club

• Exclusive paid area
• Plush loungers
• Dedicated bar
• Perfect for 10-day crossing

Experience

• Initially unsure about 10 days of all sea days
• "Have to really love cruising" for this
• Ended up loving it - perfect experience
• So glad cruise was extended

Comparison to Other Ships

Similar modern elegance to Celebrity Edge Series but offers more variety (kids' features + adult sophistication)

Future Recommendation

• Norwegian Luna: Launching March 2026
• 13-day transatlantic available
• Highly recommends booking

Why Ranked #1

Perfect combination of: brand new ship, extended maiden voyage experience, beautiful design, excellent dining, versatile offerings, and successful all-sea-day transatlantic crossing