Wednesday, April 24, 2024

Cruise ship guide: 20 popular lines explained

ranking cruise lines

If you've ever dreamed of having your own butler, Silversea is the luxury cruise line for you. In fact, Silversea's butlers take white-glove service to a whole new level — they'll handle your laundry with more care than you do, scour port towns to find your favorite tastes of home, and even help you pack and unpack your suitcase. Further, Silversea's new culinary program, nicknamed S.A.L.T. (for Sea and Land Taste), brings the taste of destinations on board through cooking classes. Of course, there's no need to cook for yourself aboard a Silversea ship, as each one features several restaurants with multi-course menus to whet your appetite every night.

Ways Cruise Passengers Get the Crew in Trouble

A storied line with roots that go back to the 1800s, this three-ship brand is perhaps best known for its 2,695-passenger flagship, Queen Mary 2. The ship lives up to its billing as a true ocean liner with semiregular, transatlantic service between Southampton, England, and New York. Below, you'll find our quick guide to some of the most popular cruise brands. It's just a short overview — enough to give you a sense of which particular cruise operator might best appeal to you. However, you should purchase your insurance immediately after booking your trip.

MSC Cruises

Families, in particular, will love this line, due to all the family-friendly activities and venues on its vessels. Royal Caribbean ships sail everywhere in the world, but the line's heaviest presence is in the Caribbean and Europe. Operating a fast-growing fleet of tough but upscale expedition ships (none carrying more than 264 passengers), Ponant is known for voyages to places like Antarctica and the Arctic. We considered prices; the number of ships in each fleet; the flexibility to serve specific traveler types, such as families and singles; and the types of itineraries offered by each company. The minimum age requirement to go on cruises varies depending on the cruise line and itinerary.

ranking cruise lines

Best Cabins

All are part of the stunning enrichment program Tauck rolls out on its European river cruise journeys – and all are done with considerable flair. These are experiences you couldn’t buy your way into or arrange on your own, and they add significant value to Tauck’s European river cruises by simply providing authentic experiences unlike any other you’ll find elsewhere. This fast-growing line has dominated the world of river cruising for North Americans for years, and in the last few years, it's become a significant player in upscale ocean cruising as well.

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Avalon Waterways makes solo cruising not only simple and enjoyable but also highly affordable. Avalon waives the single supplement fee so solo cruisers can enjoy river cruising like anybody else. Plus, they can enjoy the roomy staterooms and suites on their own, without the need to stay in a cramped single cabin, which is customary on other lines. With several communal locations, ease of mingling and exciting excursions, solo cruisers thrive while when sailing with Avalon – without having to break the bank.

ranking cruise lines

From Royal Caribbean to Disney: These 5 cruises are among the best, travelers say - Cruise Blog

From Royal Caribbean to Disney: These 5 cruises are among the best, travelers say.

Posted: Wed, 21 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

Excursions are one of a kind, which can be hard to find in river cruising. Uniworld’s crew do their best to ensure an atmosphere that is still fun, never stuffy. The line prides itself on offering longer stays in ports, including multi-day visits.

Food often has nods to regional specialties, and first-time river cruisers will no doubt love Viking’s attention to the little details, like heated bathroom floors and plenty of cabins with full, step-out balconies. As with other luxury lines, Seabourn offers a wide range of itineraries around the globe. It also recently jumped into more adventurous, expedition-style cruising with two new 264-passenger vessels designed to operate in polar regions such as Antarctica and the Arctic.

Compare: 10 Best Cruise Ships in The Bahamas and Caribbean - Cruise Critic

Compare: 10 Best Cruise Ships in The Bahamas and Caribbean.

Posted: Mon, 23 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

As a rule, interior, windowless cabins are the least expensive, while cabins with ocean-view balconies are the priciest. Additionally, larger cabins and extra perks like early boarding usually come at a higher cost. Ships also have a living room where guests can gather to talk or relax while listening to classical music performed by resident musicians. U.S. News & World Report used a combination of factors for the 2023 rankings with three main components.

Best for Families: Royal Caribbean

Multistory waterslides, ropes courses and even go-kart race tracks are among the gee-whiz attractions atop Norwegian Cruise Line's giant, resort-like ships. Like Royal Caribbean and Norwegian, MSC Cruises operates big, resort-like vessels that appeal to a broad audience. Among the highlight of its cruises in North America are stops at its new private island in the Bahamas, the Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve. Some of the brands — Royal Caribbean, MSC Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line, in particular — operate massive vessels that are like giant floating resorts with deck-top water parks and other over-the-top amusements.

In addition, it’s helpful to understand the types of cruises and cabins, and how best to choose among them. With a fleet of three ships, Virgin Voyages offers itineraries from two to 14 nights. As for destinations, Virgin has itineraries along the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, the South Pacific and even a 14-day transatlantic journey from Barcelona to Miami.

Typically, passengers traveling alone must be at least 21 years old on the day of embarkation. McDaniel notes other ways in which ship size affects the cruising experience. “There’s also a greater space ratio onboard, allowing for less crowding and more space for guests to spread out and enjoy,” she says.

By definition, small ships hold fewer than 1200 passengers, usually making the cruise experience more intimate with more individualized service. They range from seven to 15 nights and visit destinations in 16 states; itineraries take you through the colonial-heritage-rich Northeast, America's agricultural heartland and the pioneer routes of the Pacific Northwest. American Cruise Line sails all the waterways mentioned above, while Viking offers itineraries solely on the Mississippi. Additionally, Lindblad Expeditions has introduced a food-and-wine-centric river cruise on the Columbia and Snake rivers. Whether you're fascinated by American history, culture and cuisine, or you've enjoyed river cruising in Europe but are now looking to explore closer to home, U.S. river cruises are an easy and enjoyable vacation option. American Cruise Lines’ American Serenade takes top prize this year in the river cruise category – the first time we’ve awarded Best New River Ship to an American vessel.

First, this ensures coverage if your trip is canceled or you can’t travel. Second, purchasing early may qualify you for add-on coverage like “cancel for any reason,” which is typically available only within a specific period (about 15 days) after you book your trip. Cruise lines offering or hosting themed trips are Norwegian Cruise Line, Windstar Cruises, Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean. If you’re ready to hop aboard, here are Money’s picks for the five best cruise lines of 2023. U.S. News & World Report ranked 17 different cruise lines and ranked everything from the best cruise lines for the money to the best cruise lines in the Caribbean. Meena Thiruvengadam is a lifelong traveler and veteran journalist who has visited more than 50 countries across six continents.

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