Carmen
Travel editor at Reisedrop · 2026-09-15
The honest short answer for Switzerland: MSC for Mediterranean flair and a short journey there (Genoa!), AIDA for relaxed, German-speaking feel-good cruising, Costa for families watching the budget, TUI Cruises for the premium middle ground, Royal Caribbean and NCL for superlatives and an international onboard language. And now the details – impartially, as any proper comparison should be.
MSC Cruises: the Mediterranean giant on your doorstep
Elegant ships, international guests, show evenings with Italian passion – and the unbeatable Swiss advantage: departures from Genoa, reachable in just over four hours by train. Prices are aggressive, life on board is lively and multilingual. Anyone expecting German cosiness will be better off elsewhere.
AIDA: the floating holiday village in German
Relaxed dress code, buffet variety, sports deck, German-language entertainment: AIDA is the laid-back classic in the German-speaking market. Ideal for anyone who does not want gala evenings. Departures are usually from Hamburg, Kiel or Palma – getting there needs to be part of the budget.
Costa: la dolce vita for the family budget
Costa sails from Savona – like Genoa, practically on Switzerland’s doorstep. Italian cuisine, lots of entertainment, strong family prices (children often travel very cheaply). The ships are lively and loud in the best possible sense. If you are looking for peace and quiet, book the higher categories or choose another cruise line.
TUI Cruises (Mein Schiff): the premium middle ground
The «feel-good» concept with many included drinks and restaurants is honestly priced: the brochure price looks higher, but once on board hardly anything gets added. For anyone who loves keeping the budget under control, it is often the cheapest premium choice in the end.
Royal Caribbean & NCL: America at sea
Surf simulator, go-kart track, Broadway shows: the US cruise lines build the most spectacular ships in the world. Onboard language English, tipping culture American, prices plus dollar extras. For experience-hungry families – and anyone for whom the ship itself is the destination.
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