There are so many choices when picking a first cruise that the decision can feel overwhelming. From the Caribbean to Europe to Alaska, is there one destination that would be better for a first-timer?
Cruises are designed to be as inviting to anyone, regardless of their experience. Nonetheless, certain regions might be a better idea for your first sailing than another simply because there's an aspect of it that is a good fit for a newbie.
Our team has been cruising for decades, and we've been on lots of cruises with new cruisers. In our experience in speaking with hundreds of cruisers, it's clear there are better choices for a first Royal Caribbean cruise.
Here are the top choices for best cruise itineraries for first-time cruisers.
A 7-night Caribbean cruise on a new ship
White sandy beaches, clear blue waters, and hot temperatures are why so many people that have never cruised before want to try a Caribbean cruise.
Royal Caribbean dominates the Caribbean cruise market with a wide selection of ships and itineraries, but I think someone that has never cruised before should try a weeklong sailing on a cruise ship that was launched in the last 10 years.
Resist the temptation to book a weekend cruise because the experience goes by too quickly to really get a grasp of what cruising is all about. Likewise, don't chase a low price on an old small ship because those ships lack the variety of activities and features a new cruiser expects to find on a ship.
My advice is to pick a cruise that goes to the Western Caribbean or Eastern Caribbean for 7-nights. You'll be able to visit 3 or 4 ports, each with beautiful beaches and idyllic waters.
If you're feeling bold, try to find one that visits the Southern Caribbean ports of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao.
The Southern Caribbean has arguably the best beaches in all of the Caribbean, but you'll need to either go on a longer sailing or depart from a port outside of Florida (like San Juan, Puerto Rico).
Avoid this cruise: While Royal Caribbean advertises weekend cruises on the brand new Utopia of the Seas heavily towards people that have never cruised, trust me a weekend cruise is too short.
You might think about a short cruise out of trepidation of not liking what a cruise is all about, but think of a cruise as a floating resort rather than a boat.
Plus, you'll go to more interesting places than The Bahamas on a longer cruise.
An Alaska glacier cruise from Seattle
There is no better way to see Alaska than on a cruise ship, so try a cruise as a way to get your feet wet.
The great thing about an Alaska cruise is it tends to be a port intensive itinerary, which means you're docked and on land most days of the cruise. This is a crutch for new cruisers who might be worried about being bored on sea days.
Alaska is majestic, and the natural beauty will likely capture your imagination quickly. Because of how land-focused an Alaska cruise is, the cruise experience becomes almost secondary due to the landscape around you.
Royal Caribbean's ships sailing from Seattle offer a convenient option with plenty of flight options and they sail on Royal Caribbean's bigger and newer ships.
Bigger ships matter because there's better entertainment onboard, as well as a wider variety of restaurants. More to do onboard is really important for families with kids.
Avoid this cruise: The open-jaw sailings that offer one-way cruises between Vancouver and Seward, Alaska.
These cruises can be tempting, but the logistics involved with flying one-way is a challenge. Moreover, Royal Caribbean's smaller ships sail these routes, which offer less to do onboard. For someone that has never cruised, I'd save the smaller ships for a follow-up trip.
Ciao Italy! Cruise the Mediterranean
Similar to Alaska, a cruise along the Mediterranean is a great first-time cruise choice.
While you'll have limited time in ports, a European cruise is a great way to get a taste of the Old World without having to deal with transportation logistics, making your time in Europe that much more enjoyable.
One way to augment your first cruise in Europe is to combine it with a land trip. Since you'll need to fly in early to acclimate to the new time zone as well as ensure travel delays don't cause you to miss the cruise, many people prefer combining a European cruise with a land-based vacation.
As an example, you could fly to London a week before a cruise from Southampton, giving you plenty of time to visit sites like Stonehenge, Windsor, and the Roman Baths.
Avoid this cruise: In considering the "worst" choice for a European cruise as a first-timer, skip a sailing that visits Northern France and Spain only.
In the grand scheme of European cruises, I think a cruise that only visits the coast of Normandy, Galicia and Basque Country is underwhelming compared to almost anywhere else on the continent.
In addition, the Bay of Biscay is notorious for rough seas.
So you still want a 3-night cruise? Fine, go to Royal Caribbean's private island
Earlier I recommended going on a 7-night cruise as your first cruise, but I know lots of first-time cruisers still prefer to dip their toe with a short sailing.
In that case, your best bet is a cruise on a big new ship that visits Perfect Day at CocoCay.
Royal Caribbean is well-known for offering the best options for families, kids, and adults because of how much they include on their ships. Plus, there are ways to splurge with a suite or keep it cheap with an inside cabin.
The advantage of picking a weekend cruise on Utopia of the Seas or Wonder of the Seas that include stops in The Bahamas are the lineup of what you can do on land.
CocoCay is open exclusively to Royal Caribbean passengers, and so much of it is included in your cruise fare. This island is designed to be easy to navigate and a "no thinking required" kind of beach day.
Opening in December 2025 is a new beach club for Royal Caribbean passengers in Nassau, Bahamas.
Royal Beach Club Paradise Island will have an admission cost, but it will be all-inclusive and another easy button to press for a great first cruise.
