How we weight ship scores
A family holiday and a quiet trip for two need different things from a ship. Our scores change to reflect those priorities.
What the score measures
The traveller score compares the ship’s recorded features across six categories. It is a guide to how the ship fits a travel style. It does not rate a particular sailing, cabin or fare, and it is not a guest review average.
The weights for each travel style
These percentages set the balance between categories before the final score is adjusted against the fleet. Open a travel style to see its weights. Figures are rounded, so the displayed total can differ slightly from 100%.
All-round traveller
Even-handed baseline — no particular traveler.
| Category | Weight |
|---|---|
| Space & Comfort | 16.7% |
| Dining | 16.7% |
| Pools & Relaxation | 16.7% |
| Activities & Thrills | 16.7% |
| Entertainment | 16.7% |
| Value / Cost | 16.7% |
Young Family
Space, kids' pools & clubs, casual food, activities.
| Category | Weight |
|---|---|
| Space & Comfort | 17.2% |
| Dining | 13.8% |
| Pools & Relaxation | 20.7% |
| Activities & Thrills | 20.7% |
| Entertainment | 13.8% |
| Value / Cost | 13.8% |
Luxury Traveler
Space per guest, suites, fine dining, calm.
| Category | Weight |
|---|---|
| Space & Comfort | 62.5% |
| Dining | 18.8% |
| Pools & Relaxation | 12.5% |
| Activities & Thrills | Not included |
| Entertainment | 6.3% |
| Value / Cost | Not included |
Mature Couple / Retired
Relaxation, enrichment, quality dining, adults-only calm.
| Category | Weight |
|---|---|
| Space & Comfort | 36.8% |
| Dining | 21.1% |
| Pools & Relaxation | 15.8% |
| Activities & Thrills | Not included |
| Entertainment | 15.8% |
| Value / Cost | 10.5% |
Solo Traveler
Social spaces, value per person, easy solo dining.
| Category | Weight |
|---|---|
| Space & Comfort | 10% |
| Dining | 20% |
| Pools & Relaxation | 10% |
| Activities & Thrills | 20% |
| Entertainment | 20% |
| Value / Cost | 20% |
Active / Adventure
Thrills — slides, climbing, sports, racing.
| Category | Weight |
|---|---|
| Space & Comfort | 11.1% |
| Dining | 11.1% |
| Pools & Relaxation | 11.1% |
| Activities & Thrills | 33.3% |
| Entertainment | 22.2% |
| Value / Cost | 11.1% |
Adult Couples
Grown-up trip, no kids — adults-only spaces, quality dining, relaxation & nightlife.
| Category | Weight |
|---|---|
| Space & Comfort | 14% |
| Dining | 23.4% |
| Pools & Relaxation | 18.7% |
| Activities & Thrills | 11.2% |
| Entertainment | 23.4% |
| Value / Cost | 9.3% |
Why category scores change too
We also change the importance of features within each category. For example, family profiles favour children’s facilities and included amenities. Adult-couple profiles put more weight on adult spaces, dining and relaxation; children’s facilities can count against that fit.
Luxury, mature and adult-couple profiles compare some facility counts per guest. Other profiles use the total number of facilities. This helps distinguish space and access from sheer quantity.
From ship facts to the final number
- We compare recorded features with the fleet. For many numeric features, the 10th and 90th percentiles provide the low and high reference points. Features where less is better are reversed.
- We apply feature weights to calculate each category. Missing facts are left out of that calculation; they are not treated as a “no”.
- We combine the categories using the travel-style weights above. A category with no usable data or a zero weight is left out, and the remaining weights are adjusted to total 100%.
- We adjust the category and overall scores against the fleet to give a consistent spread. This is why averaging the visible category numbers does not reproduce the headline score.
How the score range is set
The current model uses the fleet’s 2nd and 98th percentiles as reference points. Category scores are mapped to a range of 38–97 and overall scores to 45–96, on a scale out of 100. Scores are relative to the ships and facts in the calculation; they are not percentages of facilities a ship has.
A category that a travel style does not weight can still have a display score based on the default feature weights. It does not contribute to that travel style’s overall score.
Use the score with the specifications
A high score does not guarantee your ideal trip. Check the facilities you need, the itinerary and the cruise line’s current details. Sparse records can make a score less informative. Scores can change when ship facts, fleet coverage or the model are updated.