I’ve spent 140 hours on overnight trains and 14 nights on cruises. One is more comfortable, and the other is more fulfilling.

Before taking a cruise or overnight train, I thought the travel experiences might be similar. Both blend accommodation and transportation into one, setting them apart from the standard stationary vacation.

But after four years of sampling both travel types, I’ve found that they are starkly different. Cruising is more relaxing, but I prefer overnight trains.

I’ve spent 140 hours traveling 4,000 miles on overnight trains.

In October 2021, I took my first overnight train ride from New York City to Miami. I spent the 30-hour ride in a private cabin with two chairs and two bunks.

Since then, I’ve spent six more nights on trains and have had a range of experiences, from sleeping in seats and bunking with strangers to enjoying private cabins. I’ve even slept on a luxury train, Europe’s iconic Venice Simplon-Orient-Express.

I don’t recommend booking seats and shared cabins on overnight trains, but private accommodations are a different story.

I’ve spent 14 nights on cruise ships.

In April 2022, I took my first cruise — a seven-night Caribbean journey to Honduras, Mexico, and the Bahamas aboard Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas.

A year later, I took a weeklong Mediterranean cruise to Spain, Italy, and France with Virgin Voyages, a luxury, adults-only cruise line.

It’s hard to say which form of travel is pricier, but cruise tickets come with more perks.

Train and cruise prices vary too much for me to declare one to be more affordable than the other.

I’ve paid between $200 and $1,000 per night for private cabins on standard overnight trains in the US and Europe. My luxury ride aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express cost $9,000 for one night. The most expensive rides were about 30 hours, and the least costly were under 15. Price also varied based on cabin square footage.

These tickets included a private space, meals, and priority boarding in the US.

On the other hand, my Royal Caribbean cruise cost roughly $300 a night for an ocean-view cabin. The ticket price included many dining options on the ship.

My balcony cabin on the Virgin Voyages cruise had a starting rate of roughly $845 per night for the seven-night voyage, though Business Insider received a media rate. All food on the ship was included in the price of the ticket.

In addition to food, my cruise tickets included access to shows and activities on the ship (more on that later).

Train trips offer more freedom but require more planning.

In my experience, a train trip requires a lot of preparation. In 2022, I spent two weeks traveling by train through Germany, Austria, Italy, and Switzerland. Since the countries aren’t too far apart, I took only two overnight trains, and the rest took only a few hours.

In addition to mapping out train times, I had to book accommodations and plan activities, meals, and transportation at each destination.

While this was challenging and a bit overwhelming at times, it felt liberating to create my trip from scratch and decide how long I would stay in each place. In this way, traveling by train is freeing.

Cruises are easier to plan but leave less freedom to roam destinations.

Cruise lines take care of most of the planning. You don’t have to book each leg yourself like you typically do on a train.

The cruise line provides a schedule of activities and entertainment on board each day, so you can pick and choose at your leisure.

However, there is no flexibility when it comes to time spent at the port stop. Cruise ships stick to a tight schedule, and if you’re late, you may be left behind unless you’re on an excursion you booked through the cruise line. But if you plan your own train trip, you can give yourself as much time as you want to explore.

During my cruises, most port stops were about eight hours long. I booked excursions through the cruise line, including beach days, hikes, and tours. Some were compelling, but ultimately, I didn’t feel I had enough time to get more than a taste of the destinations we stopped at.

Boarding a train is a breeze.

When it comes to mass transportation, it doesn’t get easier than boarding a train. There are no security checkpoints, and I’ve rarely experienced lines. You should have no issues as long as you give yourself enough time to find the track your train departs from.

When I board overnight trains in the US, I typically arrive between 15 and 30 minutes before departure. In European cities, where stations are often larger and the language is different, I give myself a full hour to figure out where I need to be.

Boarding a cruise ship takes hours.

When embarking on both cruises, I spent hours in line, and for good reason — thousands of people and their luggage had to load into a massive vessel safely and securely.

I can’t deny that I dread this part of a cruise as much as I dread going to the airport.

Train accommodations are tiny and typically lack a bathroom.

My train accommodations have ranged from 20 to 45 square feet with a similar setup — seating that transforms into bunks at night and a pullout table next to the window.

Only one overnight cabin I’ve booked has included a full bathroom — the Amtrak bedroom accommodation. Most of the others have had a sink and vanity in the room and access to shared bathrooms in the car. Some of my rides have had access to a shower, and some have not.

Cruise accommodations are larger and more comfortable, with full, private bathrooms.

Both of my cruise accommodations were roughly 200 square feet and had a king or queen-sized bed, a desk, a wardrobe, and a full bathroom.

My Royal Caribbean cabin had a window, and my Virgin Voyages room had a balcony.

There’s not much to do on a train, but for me, that’s kind of the point.

Space is very limited on trains, and there’s not much to do on board. Exploring the train cars can be fun, and some trains have observation cars with massive windows for sightseeing. You can also get some fresh air during train stops that are 10 minutes or longer. But you’ll likely spend most of your time in your cabin.

It may sound boring, but for me, a long train ride is an opportunity to be still for a while. When I spend my days exploring destinations, nights on trains force me to pause and relax without worrying about the time. I often take this time to catch up on reading, watch a movie, or listen to a podcast.

You could easily entertain yourself all week on a cruise ship.

Since most of a cruise is spent on a ship, it’s no wonder cruise lines fill them with pools, sports, fitness centers, and activities, from gaming to dancing and live entertainment. The amount of things to do will vary depending on what size ship you choose.

On board Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas, one of the largest cruise ships in the world, there were seemingly endless activities and unique offerings like laser tag, ice skating, and an escape room.

My Virgin Voyages cruise was on a midsize ship, but there was still plenty to do. My favorite part was the adult playground with jumbo-sized swings and seesaws.

Trains generally have limited food options.

Overall, I’ve had decent meals on overnight trains. In my experience, train menus only have a few options per meal.

I’ve noticed that Amtrak train food has improved over the years. Most recently, in January 2025, I particularly enjoyed a grilled chicken Caesar salad for lunch and a steak dinner.

And on board the luxurious Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, I had amazing fine-dining experiences, from eggs topped with caviar to scallops and lobster.

Cruises typically offer a wide variety of food.

Like activities, the number of food options on cruises varies depending on ship size, but both ships I sailed on spoiled me by satisfying every craving. From buffets to restaurants, I could have Southern comfort food for breakfast, pasta for lunch, and Korean barbecue for dinner.

Train views are constantly changing.

The most memorable views I’ve had were on trains. From the Swiss Alps to the Italian countryside, there’s something romantic about gazing out the window from a train bunk at an ever-changing view of the world around you.

It’s also fascinating to watch the landscape transform throughout a trip. I’ll never forget watching snowy mountains in Colorado melt into streams and canyons in Utah by sunset.

Cruise views are epic but often the same.

On day one of a cruise, I’m amazed by the view of the open ocean. Sunsets at sea are unforgettable.

However, by the end of the trip, I don’t stop to appreciate the view as much. I think this is because, aside from port stops and occasional islands in the distance, the views from a cruise ship typically stay the same.

Traveling by train is more sustainable than cruising.

When I travel, I try to minimize my environmental impact as much as possible, and trains are one of the most sustainable forms of transportation. Amtrak trips have a lower carbon footprint than flying or driving, according to the company’s website.

Meanwhile, the International Council on Clean Transportation says cruise ships produce more carbon emissions than flights.

According to a 2025 report by the European Federation for Transport and Environment, ships accounted for 12.7% of greenhouse gas emissions in Europe in 2024, while trains accounted for 0.4%.

Cruises may be more comfortable, but train trips leave me feeling more fulfilled.

Cruises have more of a vacation vibe than overnight trains do. And with less planning and more amenities, they’re also more relaxing. To me, cruise ships are like floating, all-inclusive resorts.

Still, my overnight train trips have been more memorable because the experiences felt more unique.

Train cabins don’t look like hotel rooms, and from car to car, the constantly changing view surrounds you. Being in that environment for a long journey feels like nothing else I’ve ever experienced. Off the train, spending more time at destinations and exploring them freely makes me feel more immersed in each place.

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