I've sailed on 5 different cruise lines, and Norwegian became my favorite after just one voyage. Here's why.

I've been on a total of 15 cruises — sailing with Disney, Norwegian, Princess, Royal Caribbean, and Semester at Sea.

Although I've only sailed with Norwegian once on an eight-day voyage aboard the Getaway, it's already my favorite cruise line.

Norwegian ships operate under the concept of freestyle cruising, so when I took an eight-day cruise aboard the Norwegian Getaway, I had the flexibility to design my vacation on my own terms.

I didn't have to follow a strict onboard itinerary, adhere to assigned dining times, or worry about any formal dress codes like I've had to do on most other cruises. I participated in activities of my choosing and attended any evening entertainment I liked.

The Getaway offered most shows and activities more than once, so I didn't have FOMO like I've had while sailing with Disney Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean Cruises, where my entertainment options were often tied to my dinner plans.

Plus, if I really enjoyed something on the Getaway, like a comedy show, I could go twice.

You can always show up and try to get a seat since many shows are first come, first served. But even though you have the option to wing it, which I did, I recommend planning ahead and booking your seats in advance, especially if watching the shows is really important to you and your cruise is sailing at or near capacity.

On many cruise lines, passengers have to select a standing dining slot or even eat at an assigned restaurant. But Norwegian ships have freestyle dining, so travelers choose where and when they want to eat.

When I was on the Norwegian Getaway, I chose between three dining rooms, a buffet, and other casual eateries, along with à la carte specialty-dining options. I appreciated the ability to be spontaneous and have so many choices.

It was nice to just show up for dinner whenever and wherever I wanted, but I recommend making reservations so you can avoid long wait times, particularly if you don't want to eat dinner super early or right before the restaurants close.

If you're looking to eat at one of the specialty-dining venues, it's essential that you make reservations in advance, although you can sometimes get lucky and snag a table due to last-minute cancellations.

I also liked that I got my own private table on the Getaway. I was extremely grateful that I didn't have to sit at the same table with other passengers and make polite, sometimes awkward conversation.

Like any cruise, the Getaway had food everywhere, but I thought the food quality and taste were far superior to the offerings I've had on similarly priced cruise lines.

In my opinion, the Getaway's food didn't taste mass-produced like it sometimes does on some other cruise lines.

Cruisers may be put off by Norwegian's à la carte pricing and extra surcharges, but I appreciated not having to pay for services and amenities I didn't want or wouldn't use much.

During my eight-day cruise on the Getaway, I paid $1,135, a price that included my balcony stateroom, an unlimited open bar, free Wi-Fi, two specialty dining experiences of my choice, and a $50 credit to put toward excursions.

Factoring in add-ons, my daily cost was $166.75 — an exceptional value for my balcony stateroom, three daily sit-down meals, unlimited drinks, unlimited access to the Thermal Suite, and endless entertainment.

The price of my four-day voyage on Disney Cruise Line's Wish in 2022 was twice the price of my eight-day Norwegian cruise in the same year, and it didn't include a drink package or Wi-Fi like the Norwegian price did.

Norwegian ships offer a variety of accommodations for all types of travelers. There are staterooms, balcony suites, spa suites, and The Haven by Norwegian, which includes 24-hour butlers, a concierge service, a private courtyard, a restaurant, and a bar.

Many cruise lines cater to couples and families, but in my opinion, Norwegian is the best option available for solo travelers.

Norwegian ships have staterooms specifically for one person. Although singles can book a regular statement and pay twice the cruise fare, the studio staterooms are built and priced for solo travel.

Norwegian isn't the only cruise line that offers solo staterooms — Celebrity, Cunard, and Holland America also offer this option — but it goes a step further, offering solo travelers exclusive access to their own lounge and special events just for singles.

Even though I'm single, I was disappointed that I couldn't partake in the bar crawl hosted by cruise staff or hang out in the singles' lounge because the crew said these amenities are only for guests traveling in studio staterooms.

By the end of a week-long cruise, I usually feel like I've seen and done everything on a ship and don't feel a need to make a repeat voyage, but that wasn't the case during my cruise aboard the Getaway.

The ship felt like a floating resort. It had ropes courses, escape rooms, variety shows, deck parties, live music, and full-scale musicals. In the span of one week, I saw the Tony Award-winning "Million Dollar Quartet," two comedy shows, and a magic show.

I've found the entertainment on Disney Cruise Line to also be exceptional, but I appreciated that Norwegian's offerings were more geared toward adults.

Likewise, Princess and Royal Caribbean also offer quality entertainment and a variety of options, but I found Norwegian's to be more aligned with my particular tastes and preferences.

I'm a spa junkie, so on my eight-day cruise aboard the Getaway, I spent $199 for unlimited access to the Thermal Suite, which features a variety of hydrotherapy stations, steam rooms, a sauna, a salt room, and heated loungers that overlook the ocean.

The spa offers over 50 specialty treatments, and I was relieved that the staff wasn't pushy at all. Spa attendants on other cruise lines would constantly try to upsell me their services, but I liked that the Norwegian spa staff was more reserved.

In my experience, other cruise lines were more expensive but with fewer options. Plus some other cruise lines lack the sweeping views of the ocean that I enjoyed on the Getaway.

Norwegian's spa was noisy and crowded at times, but its amenities are world-class. It was worth every dollar.

Unlike the drinks on other cruises that skimp on alcohol or have a hit-or-miss consistency, the beverages on the Getaway were exceptional.

Guests could choose from two drink packages: the unlimited open bar package or the premium plus beverage package. I had the former, which was less expensive and was included as a free bonus when I booked my cruise.

I like fruity cocktails and there were so many options for margaritas, mojitos, and caipirinhas. Every cocktail I ordered was delicious and seemed similar to the cocktails you would get at a good tiki bar. None of the drinks I enjoyed had the hallmark taste of cocktails made with cheap alcohol and mixes.

Each day, the ship's 15 bars and lounges served a cocktail made with surplus ingredients. For example, the Pineapple Surplus had JAJA Tequila, passion fruit, pineapple juice, pineapple peel, and turmeric honey.

The Getaway is by far the most convenient, laid-back cruise I've been on.

I didn't have to pack clothes for formal nights or themed events, and unlike my experiences on many other ships, I could go straight to my stateroom and immediately get settled just moments after I stepped on board.

I also appreciated the ship's relaxed vibe. My regular life is overly scheduled, and one thing that annoys me about cruise-ship travel is that embarkation day can feel like running errands.

I often have to dash from venue to venue on the ship to book reservations that couldn't be made ahead of time. It's stressful and a waste of precious vacation time, so it was a relief to not have this pressure with Norwegian.