Written by Owen
If there’s one thing I enjoy more than cruising, it’s listening to Taylor Swift (and being a fully unapologetic Swiftie). After seeing the Taylor Swift-themed cruise, I had the best idea ever… What if we vibe-matched a different cruise ship for every era?
Every Taylor Swift album has a unique vibe, so I wanted to pair each era with a cruise ship I think fits perfectly. I’m focusing on the overall energy and je ne sais quoi of each era, paired with a cruise ship that feels like the perfect match – not the ship’s itinerary or ports.
I know this is extremely niche. But if you’re new to this blog, this is a fundamental part of who I am. Let’s kick this off.
The very first Taylor Swift album, rightfully titled Taylor Swift, was released in 2006 to moderate success. Debut is the most personable Taylor Swift album, charming, raw, and slightly rough around the edges (no shade), so the cruise ship has to reflect that vibe too.
In my opinion, that’s a Carnival ship – and it one that evokes nostalgia from the early 2000s: Carnival Dream!
Carnival Dream is fun, family-friendly, doesn’t take itself too seriously, and is packed full of charm and heart. She was ordered on January 31, 2006, and launched on October 24, 2008, so chances are you could have taken your newly purchased CD copy of Taylor Swift and listened on your Walkman. Or an iPod if you were lucky!
Fearless was a groundbreaking album for country music and the one that gave Taylor global recognition. It catapulted her from country singer-songwriter to the face of modern country music.
When we’re talking cruise ships, there’s one that shares that legacy: Royal Caribbean’s Independence of the Seas. She was a game-changer for her time and was once the biggest cruise ship in the world. A perfect match for the most awarded country album of all time. Like Fearless, she’s still iconic – maybe not the newest, but forever remembered as the ship that made people fall in love with cruising.
Plus, Fearless was my introduction to Taylor Swift, and Independence of the Seas was my very first choice, so it fits perfectly.
Speak Now was the first album Taylor wrote entirely on her own – bold, romantic, and full of fairytale imagery. It’s an album about taking control of your story while still believing in magic.
That whimsical energy is pure Disney Cruise Line. To be fair, Speak Now could be matched with any ship in their fleet, but if I had to pick one, it would be Disney Fantasy. She’s sparkly, imaginative, and feels like stepping into a storybook. There’s elegance beneath the sparkle, just like Speak Now’s mix of innocence and independence. If any ship could soundtrack “Enchanted” under the fireworks, it’s this one.
Red marked Taylor’s first major shift – a vibrant mix of genres and emotions. It’s eclectic, experimental, and the first time she fully stepped into the mainstream pop spotlight. From tearful ballads to dance-pop bangers, Red was chaotic in the best possible way.
For that reason, it belongs on Norwegian Breakaway. At the heart of Breakaway is music and performance. From Rock of Ages onboard to Syd Norman’s Pour House, she’s a music lover’s paradise. Like Red, she’s a little all over the place, but that’s exactly what makes her so exciting.
1989 was a rebirth. Taylor’s first full pop record – glossy, confident, and in-your-face fun. It was a declaration of reinvention and a reminder that she could dominate any genre she touched.
That moment deserves Icon of the Seas. Royal Caribbean’s most talked-about ship is the 1989 of cruising – era-defining, bold, and bursting with colour. It’s playful, daring, and impossible to ignore. From the towering AquaDome to the multi-neighbourhood design, Icon doesn’t just join the Royal Caribbean fleet – it defines a new generation.
Reputation was the album that rewrote the narrative. Dark, glittering, and defiant, it was Taylor at her most experimental and self-assured. It wasn’t about chasing approval – it was about reclaiming control.
That reinvention mirrors Celebrity Edge. Edge disrupted the traditional luxury cruise space with striking, modern design and bold choices like the Magic Carpet. Sleek, confident, and a little mysterious, she’s the perfect match for Taylor’s “look what you made me do” energy.
After the storm came Lover, bright, joyful, and full of pastel optimism. It is romantic, fun, and celebratory. A love letter to happiness after darker times. It was also Taylor’s first album with Republic Records, marking a bold new chapter in her career.
That energy is exactly what Sun Princess is all about. She is sunny and charming, with a perfect callback to the Love Boat era that feels like a wink to Lover’s dreamy, romantic world. Sun Princess radiates the same playful, heart-filled optimism that defines this album. Sun Princess also represented a fresh era for Princess Cruises, echoing how Lover marked Taylor’s first album with Republic Records.
Like Lover, she does not shy away from being full of colour, light, and joy, but she also has a soft elegance beneath the fun, making her a cruise ship embodiment of Taylor’s most romantic era.
Folklore arrived quietly, wrapped in soft tones and storytelling. It’s introspective and atmospheric, a return to simplicity and emotion.
That stillness belongs on P&O Iona. Designed for scenic cruising through Fjords and the British Isles, Iona is all about slow moments and horizon views. You can imagine listening to folklore from her glass-walled Observation Lounge with a tea in hand.
If folklore was the cosy cottage in summer, evermore is the frost-covered one in winter. It’s contemplative, layered, and a continuation of that quiet storytelling – but with deeper roots.
Enter P&O Arvia, Iona’s sister. She carries the same heart. Evermore and Arvia both feel like companions – comfortable, warm, and beautifully understated.
Midnights sparkles with introspection and glittering nightlife. The album plays out like a night spent thinking too much, laughing too loud, and dancing anyway. The first album that was released in its entirety with no singles and no previews.
That duality is perfectly captured by Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady. Sleek, modern, and built for late nights, Scarlet Lady is a ship of reinvention. Cabaret shows, tattoo parlours, and rooftop parties – it’s all there. Like Midnights, she’s edgy, a little unpredictable, and knew to change the industry.
Tortured Poets is sprawling, reflective, and deeply literary – full of melancholy glamour and emotional depth. It’s thoughtful, poetic, and steeped in academia.
That energy lives on Cunard’s Queen Mary 2. Elegant, historic, and the only ocean liner still crossing the Atlantic, she’s a ship made for journaling in libraries and gazing out at grey seas.
The Life of a Showgirl is all spectacle, sequins, and sass. It is bold, theatrical, and currently one of Taylor’s most polarising albums.
And when you think of controversial, polarising, and sparkly, who comes to mind? MSC Cruises, right?
MSC World Europa is a showgirl! She’s glamorous, impossible to ignore, and has cutting-edge design and dramatic flair at every turn. Just like Showgirl, she demands attention and makes a statement. From her sleek public spaces to the latest sustainable technology, World Europa embodies that daring, show-stopping persona.
From Debut’s charming start on Carnival Dream to Midnights’ glittering Scarlet Lady energy, every Taylor era has a ship that matches its mood. Maybe you’re sailing through your folklore era, chasing quiet horizons, or living your 1989 life on something big and bold.
The beauty of it all? Just like Taylor, the sea has an era for everyone.
You can usually find me on a cruise ship, somewhere in Europe, or sneaking a beach day. I share beautiful photos, travel tips, and the occasional ‘why did I book this?’ moment.
I have t-shirts, enamel pins, and digital downloads!!
