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Now some of these lower prices may be a way to encourage more people to try out the cruise line since it’s not well-known in the United States just yet. Perhaps the biggest difference is that since MSC has a large presence in the global cruise market, many passengers hail from outside the United States. While cruises from the U.S. on most lines are largely filled with American passengers, on MSC you’ll find all nationalities. While Princess is the luxury cruise line owned by Carnival Corporation, Celebrity is the luxury line owned by Royal Caribbean. In the many ways you’ll find similarities between Royal Caribbean and Carnival, you’ll also find similar experiences on Princess and Celebrity. NCL has appeal for solo travelers, including offering studio rooms designed for only a single guest.
Best Cruise Lines You’ll Want to Book Right Now
While there are a few things you can no longer do on cruises, this cruise line will make you forget all about them. Cunard has been sailing for more than 180 years, and you could say they’ve perfected it. On an expedition cruise, the focus is often on remote wilderness areas and the wildlife that inhabits them.
Holland America
Cruisers enjoy lots of world-class amenities like restaurants, shows and water activities on board, and they also have the option to disembark and sightsee or participate in excursions when the ship docks. Single cruisers on Norwegian have access to a dedicated lounge and meetups where they can mingle with other travelers, too. That’s not to mention all the regular activities and excursions Norwegian offers, from rock climbing and bowling to spa treatments to boxing classes.
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There are plenty of “wow” moments, from skydiving simulators and zip-lining to dazzling ice shows, high diving displays and a bar that glides up and down between decks. The youth programme, Adventure Ocean, is one of the finest at sea, whether you’re travelling with babies or adrenaline-hungry teens — and the Ultimate Family Suite has a slide between two floors. Holland America Line, celebrating 75 years in Alaska in 2022, is in the No. 4 spot.
MSC Cruises
I went on an African safari by cruise ship. Not everything went as planned, but I would do it again - Cruise Blog
I went on an African safari by cruise ship. Not everything went as planned, but I would do it again.
Posted: Thu, 15 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
But in recent years, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises has occasionally marketed to English speakers with specific sailings operated on a bilingual basis. While relatively unknown in North America, it operates several of the most elegant, spacious and service-focused cruise vessels anywhere in the world. Luxury ships also typically offer more onboard space per passenger than mass-market ships. This means you'll have a lot of room to spread out and never experience crowds. At the same time, luxury ships generally are smaller than mass-market ships — often by a lot.
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For added assurance, you might want to take these unexpected essentials with you as well. As you can see, there is no shortage of companies in the river cruise business. The list above doesn't even include river lines that primarily cater to Europeans, of which there are many, including France-based CroisiEurope and Germany's Nicko Cruises. Like expedition cruising, this has been a fast-growing segment of the cruise world in recent years, with capacity among the major river cruise lines growing at a rapid pace. Historically, expedition ships have carried under 200 passengers — a manageable number for an exploration-focused vessel operating in a remote location such as Antarctica.
Finally, there are lots of little (and in some cases tiny) cruise lines that I call "niche" lines. These lines offer a specialized product, often with just a handful of ships. As a rule of thumb, the ships with fewer passengers offer a more premium experience — and are priced accordingly.
There is a growing trend of traditional cruise lines getting into the expedition cruise space. Two of the brands mentioned above — Seabourn and Viking — only added their first expedition ships in 2022. However, comparing such high pricing to the pricing of mass-market cruises can be misleading.
Eagle-eyed readers will notice that four lines listed above — Silversea Cruises, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, Seabourn and Viking — also appeared in this story's listing of luxury or almost-luxury lines. The four brands are major players in both the traditional luxury ship market and the expedition cruise ship market. Instead of bustling attractions, the top decks of the ships these lines operate offer lots of quiet and relaxing pool and lounge areas where you can enjoy the experience of being at sea without a lot of hustle and bustle. Inside, the experience often revolves around dining, classic entertainment and a classy bar and music scene.
Take time to appreciate American artistry at the National Quilt Museum in Paducah, Kentucky. Rest up from your portside adventures during five days of scenic river cruising. American Cruise Line offers this itinerary on five ships from April to October 2024, 2025 and 2026. Three of the ships (American Song, American Jazz and American Harmony) are 180-passenger modern river ships launched from 2018 to 2020. American Pride is a 150-passenger paddlewheeler launched in 2012, and American West is a 110-passenger veteran paddlewheeler launched in 1995.
It’s not just price that makes Carnival so attractive to many passengers. The line offers more homeports than any other, including smaller ports of call like Baltimore, Charleston, and Mobile. That means a cruise is within driving distance for millions more people.
Cabins range from budget-friendly rooms to two-story suites with five-digit cruise fares. 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. With just four ships, each holding fewer than 700 passengers, Azamara is one of the smallest players in the cruise business. But it has a loyal following of travelers who appreciate the upscale ambience of its vessels, the inclusive amenities it offers (including gratuities and alcoholic drinks) and its destination focus.
"Food is excellent, crew is friendly and attentive; and cabins are large compared to other cruise lines," one voter wrote. Royal Caribbean International, with its smaller 1990s ships such as Enchantment of the Seas and Vision of the Seas, comes in at No. 5. In the No. 2 spot is the venerable line Cunard, with its three ocean liners.
If exploring the central U.S. — Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois and Missouri — without driving is appealing, consider the 15-night Grand Ohio River Cruise offered by American Cruise Lines. You'll enjoy regionally inspired dining and eclectic landmarks along the Ohio and Mississippi rivers as you sail. Best for active familiesRoyal Caribbean operates some of the most innovative ships in the world, along with the biggest — Icon of the Seas (debuting in 2024).
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