My Cruise Checklist

Ship reviews

Long-form, structured reviews of the ships the editorial team has actually sailed. Each review includes a category-by-category rating breakdown and a clear who-should-book / who-should-skip verdict.

6 reviews
Royal Caribbean International Icon of the Seas
Royal Caribbean International · Icon of the Seas4.5

Icon of the Seas — Yes, the Largest Ship Actually Works

Sensory overload would be the natural expectation. Instead, Royal Caribbean's neighborhood concept genuinely delivers a 7,600-passenger ship that doesn't feel like one.

March 30, 2026
Norwegian Cruise Line Norwegian Prima
Norwegian Cruise Line · Norwegian Prima4.4

Norwegian Prima — The Design Bet Paid Off

Smaller than the Oasis and Excel megaships and better for it. The Prima is the most design-forward Norwegian build to date.

March 15, 2026
Disney Cruise Line Disney Wish
Disney Cruise Line · Disney Wish4.6

Disney Wish — The Premium Tax and What It Buys

The Wish prices like a small Mediterranean apartment for a week. The cruise that arrives is, by most measures, the strongest family ship at sea.

March 2, 2026
Celebrity Cruises Celebrity Ascent
Celebrity Cruises · Celebrity Ascent4.5

Celebrity Ascent — Grown-Up Cruising Done Right

The fourth Edge-series ship doubles down on the formula — design-forward spaces, the leading main dining in the segment, and a confidently quiet evening pace.

February 22, 2026
Royal Caribbean International Wonder of the Seas
Royal Caribbean International · Wonder of the Seas4.4

Wonder of the Seas — Oasis-Class Near Perfection

The fifth and final Oasis-class refinement adds a dedicated Suite Neighborhood and the line's strongest production show lineup. The ceiling is real.

January 25, 2026
Disney Cruise Line Disney Fantasy
Disney Cruise Line · Disney Fantasy4.3

Disney Fantasy — The Rotational Dining Still Wins

Thirteen years after launch, the Fantasy is showing a few signs of age but the core experience — and the rotational dining concept — is as strong as ever.

November 30, 2025