Large Ship Line #: Disney Cruise Line
If theres one thing Disney Cruise Line does well, its hospitality. The company has taken every lesson its learned from its parks and resort operations and implemented that into its four cruise ships, the 2,400-passenger Disney Magic and Disney Wonder, and the 4,000-passenger Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy. The ships are designed for families through and throughthere are numerous themed activities every day, from meet-and-greets to full-blown parties with Disney charactersbut there are plenty of adults-only areas that provide a respite from little ones. That said, the ships are not over-the-top when it comes to Disney decor. In fact, theyre quite elegant, taking design inspiration from early-20th-century ocean liners and sporting Art Deco and Art Nouveau aesthetics. The four ships currently sail the Caribbean , Alaska, Europe, the Pacific Coast, and the Panama Canal. Three more ships, including Disney Wish, are scheduled to be added to the fleet between 2022 and 2025.
Mega Ship Line #: Msc Cruises
Though MSC is headquartered in landlocked Switzerland, this cruise line has mastered the art of mega-ships, building five of the 15 largest in the world: MSC Grandiosa, MSC Bellissima, MSC Meraviglia,MSC Virtuosa, and MSC Seashore. Each can hold between 5,300 and 6,300 passengers at maximum capacity. MSC Seashore, a New York Citythemed ship, is the newest of the five, setting sail in November 2021. Its the longest vessel in the fleet at 1,100 feet, allowing for more than 140,000 square feet of outdoor space, plus 7,500 square feet of dedicated space for kids, including the Pirates Cove Aquapark. MSC has some plans for mega-growth, too: it has four World-class mega-ships in the pipeline, each with a capacity between 5,800 and 6,850 passengers.
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The 4 Best Luxury Cruise Lines For Elegance And Exclusivity
Like fine European hotels or the fanciest boutique properties, the ships of the best luxury cruise lines are designed to appeal to people who seek and can afford an elegant style of travel.
Champagne flows. You can snack on caviar. Exquisite cuisine is prepared a la minute and accompanied by pours of fine wines. Onboard lounges are wonderfully intimate, with no mass-market anything. When you rest your head, its on a luxury mattress topped with the finest linens.
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The byword is exclusivity. Perks included in the cruise fare may include beverages, Wi-Fi, fresh flowers, extraordinary pampering and, in some cases, butler service.
The price to get on board could be in the area of $1,000 per person, per day.
Here are our picks for the top four luxury cruise lines that are operating now. One other iconic luxury line from years past, Crystal Cruises, may rise again in the coming year after shutting down in early 2022. For now, we’re leaving it off the list, but historically it has been another wonderful luxury line to consider.
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Large Ship Line #: P& O Cruises
The United Kingdoms premier cruise lineand the worlds oldest, having commenced passenger operations in 1837P& O sails Europe, North America, and the Caribbean with a crowd made up primarily of British nationals. As such, prepare for the ships amenities to have a British bent . Three of the fleets six current ships fall into the large category, while its two adults-only ships, MS Aurora and MS Arcadia, are medium-sized. P& Os newest ship, MS Iona is a mega-ship, as will be her sister, MS Arvia, due to sail in 2022.
Best Excursions: Crystal Cruises
Crystal has greatly expanded its luxury cruise brand to include ocean and river cruise ships, yachts, expedition ships, and even a private jet charter. The company also offers some extremely exclusive, high-end shore excursions, as well as volunteer excursions so passengers will feel more involved in the ports of call. The company has an impressive 2,000 excursions to choose from in ports all over the world. Onboard Crystal Cruises theres trivia, magic and comedy shows, movies, live music, theater performances, and the fabulous Crystal spa. The two ocean-going ships, Serenity and Symphony, carry around 900 guests, and offer butler service in suites and all-inclusive pricing.
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Best Small Ships: Silversea
If youre ready to be completely pampered, Silverseas five-star service, smaller ships, and all-inclusive pricing is difficult to beat. Onboard, passengers enjoy free-flowing wines, in-suite dining, gourmet cuisine, enrichment lectures, 24-hour butler service, and included gratuities. Since most Silversea ships carry less than 300 guests, the company is a hybrid between yachting and cruising. Silverseas entertainment is very relaxed, so expect to unwind in luxurious lounges or in the onboard spa. There is no shortage of dining choices on Silversea vessels, ranging from intimate venues serving Asian fusion to open-air patios highlighting regional specialties.
Us News Announces The Best Cruise Lines For 2022
U.S. News & World Report has announced its 2022 Best Cruise Lines rankings.
The publication surveyed travelers to understand the effects of COVID-19 on cruiser sentiments. It unveiled the results at the Seatrade Global Conference in October which found that cruisers both first-time and longtime are currently booked at higher levels than before the pandemic.
Survey data also revealed that among the frequent travelers who indicated that they would cruise again, 20 percent are already booked on their next sailing.
Though most avenues of travel have been impacted throughout the coronavirus pandemic, the cruise industry has seen the most challenges, said Nicola Wood, travel editor at U.S. News. U.S. News is excited to once again highlight the leading cruise lines and provide in-depth information on ships, onboard activities and itineraries to travelers looking to research and book a cruise vacation.
The method used to collect these rankings factor in expert evaluations of cruise ship quality, reputation among travelers, results from health assessments conducted by the CDC, and other factors such as price class and itinerary offerings.
Celebrity Cruises took the top spot as the Best Cruise Line for the Money. Vikings ocean cruises venture is number 1 for couples and luxury cruising, thanks to its adults-only environment and amenities such as fireplaces in common areas and balconies in every stateroom.
Here are this years top four rankings in each category:
For the Money
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Medium Ship Line #: Msc Cruises
Showing up for the third time on our list, MSC Cruises is clearly beloved by many! The Swiss cruise line has just four medium-size shipsthe Lirica classwhich accommodate between 2,000 and 2,600 passengers. Theyre also the oldest ships in the fleet, though they each underwent refurbishment as part of MSCs Renaissance program to modernize interiors and expand their size. The line is known for its Mediterranean inspirationthough its fleet sails far beyond the region, calling at ports all over the worldso youll find delicious Italian food on board no matter where your ship is taking you. MSC sailings are quite lively, especially at night, with many guests partying at nightclubs into the late hours.
Small Ship Line #: Seabourn
Seabourns six ships feature fewer than 300 suites eachbut they leverage that small size into access at some of the worlds most beloved yacht ports: St. Tropez in the south of France the Greek island of Kos and popular large ports like Dubrovnik and Monte Carlo. Michelin-starred chef Thomas Keller designs specialty menus on the ships, and a partnership with UNESCO ensures shore excursions and sustainable tourism practices at some of the wildest and most wonderful destinations around the world. Later this year, the line will debut its first expedition ship, Seabourn Venture, with a sister ship to follow.
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Seven Seas Splendor Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Passenger-to-Crew Ratio: 750 passengers to 542 crew
What Makes Regent Splendor One of the Best Cruises?Regent Seven Seas Cruises once again aimed for Luxury Perfected with the 2020 launch of Seven Seas Splendor. Splendor features the exquisite cuisine and generous all-inclusive rates for which Regent is known, with some of the most luxe rooms at sea.
All 366 cabins are suites aboard this small luxury ship. And if you love balconies, the suites on Regent Seven Seas Splendor are some of the largest afloat, ranging from 83 to 1,292 square feet. . Likewise, public spaces aboard Splendor are stunning. Granite and Italian marble are found all over, and there are almost 500 chandeliers made of Czech crystal and glass throughout the ship. There are also 2,500 pieces of art on display, including works by masters such as Pablo Picasso and Joan Miro.
For foodies, all you need to know is that each restaurant on Seven Seas Splendor excels. The two main restaurants are Compass Rose and La Veranda/Sette Mari. La Veranda is the buffet option for breakfast and lunch, and the space transforms to Sette Mari in the evening, offering a hybrid experience that includes a buffet as well as an a la carte menu. There are also three complimentary specialty restaurants: the pan-Asian Pacific Rim Chartreuse, which has a French flair and the line’s signature steakhouse, Prime 7.
What Makes A Which Recommended Provider Cruise Line
Which? Recommended Providers are the cream of the crop and, as a minimum, we only consider giving the accolade to cruise lines with the highest customer scores.
Thats not all. We know that pricing transparency is important, so we only make a company a WRP if it provides clear information about gratuities, excursions and drinks at the booking stage. After all, its hard for customers to compare prices if they cant find these details before parting with their cash. If the companies fall down in more than one area, theyre not eligible to be Which? Recommended Providers, whatever score they receive in the survey.
Similarly, a cruise company can only be a WRP if it is committed to refunding customers promptly for any cancelled cruises, and is prepared to offer alternatives, including a refund, if itineraries are changed due to travel restrictions.
Which? is independent. You can be sure that our recommendations are influenced only by our survey results and policy analysis. Were not influenced by third parties and we dont accept freebies from product manufacturers, retailers, or providers.
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Staterooms Thoughtfully Designed For Your Comfort
Rejuvenate in a king-size bed with a soft duvet and goose-down pillows. Indulge in complimentary programming on a flat-screen LCD TV with an easy-to-use remote. Generous closets, plentiful USB ports and US/EU outlets, plush robes and slippers add to your comfort. And our award-winning bathrooms feature large glass-enclosed showers with easy-to-see controls, premium Freyja® toiletries, anti-fog mirrors and heated floors.
Bathrooms are superb, even at the lowest category, with glassed-in showers, sleek styling, plenty of storage, Freyja toiletries andthe biggest indulgence of allheated tile floors and towel racks.- Cruise Critic
Royal Caribbeanwonder Of The Seas
$999 per person for Inside Cabin — Double Occupancy$1269 per Person for Balcony Cabin — Double OccupancyPort Fees and Taxes Not IncludedPrice IncludesAt least Nine Square & Round Dance Sessions: Mainstream, Plus, A2, Phase II-V RoundsPrivate Group Reception with Hor D’Oeuvres and Open BarFinal Payment Due November 6, 2023Your deposit is fully refundable until this date.
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What To Expect From A Luxury Cruise Line
The general boat cruise market is a personal treat. Disney, Carnival, and Royal Caribbean are just a few cruise line names that cater to the general market. In general, these larger ships are designed for families or at least cater to a broad range of ages.
Premium and luxury cruises tend to focus on a more adult market. The boats, ships, and yachts generally have smaller capacities, gourmet and Michelin-star cuisine options, and luxury level accommodations.
In some cases, the vessels are also smaller, allowing them to visit places that larger commercial ships cannot. Some luxury ships advertise one crew member for every two passengers. Thats a focus on attention.
Another difference in detail is the itineraries. Luxury and premium lines may offer more detailed and longer itineraries a lot like luxury train lines and even curated excursions as part of the packages. Here are the best of those lines, in no particular order.
Lind Is Top For Value And Performance And Nclh Is Top For Growth
The cruise line industry is part of the broader travel and tourism industry, focused primarily on providing sea-based vacation experiences. Companies in the industry own and operate cruise ships in various destinations worldwide, offering a variety of itineraries and themed cruises. They also may provide other travel and vacation services. The big cruise line companies include Carnival Corp. and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.
The cruise line industry has been severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, related travel restrictions, and other social-distancing measures. Many cruise operators ceased ship operations for many months throughout the early portion of the pandemic. Now many cruise lines have resumed the majority of their operations. However, additional issues hamper the industry: cruise companies have struggled to hire back employees, which has led to cancellations and reduced on-board amenities.
All pure-play cruise line stocks available to U.S. investors are underperforming the broader market, having provided total returns below the -14.3% total return of the Russell 1000 Index over the past 12 months. There is no specific benchmark index for the cruise industry. The market performance number above and all statistics in the tables below are as of June 17, 2022. Below, we look at the top three cruise line stocks with the best value, fastest growth, and best performance.
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Medium Ship Line #1: Norwegian Cruise Line
Until it launched Norwegian Epic in 2010, then the Breakaway and Breakaway-plus classes in 2013 and 2015, respectively, Norwegian primarily focused on mid-sized ships that carry around 2,000 passengersand they still make up the majority of the fleet. A colorful atmosphere pervades the ships, as guests enjoy everything from water slides to silly pool contests like synchronized swimming to everyones favorite: bingo night. Norwegians ships have itineraries all over the world, with many focusing on North America.
Best Cruise Lines In The Caribbean
It’s a clean sweep for Disney in this category too. Disney has been named the top cruise line in the Caribbean for the past eight years, according to U.S. News & World Report.
Living up to its name, the Miami-based Celebrity Cruises partners with well-known names in the arts and entertainment industry. It’s newest ship, Celebrity Beyond, has Gwyneth Paltrow as its “wellbeing advisor” and a restaurant created by Michelin-starred chef Daniel Boulud, according to its website.
Also on this list: Regent Seven Seas Cruises , Holland America Line , Carnival Cruise Line , Norwegian Cruise Line , Oceania Cruises , Princess Cruises and MSC Cruises .
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Best Cruise Lines For Luxury
Smaller cruise lines with ships that fit hundreds rather than thousands of guests dominated U.S. News’ luxury rankings list.
Viking, a cruise line based in Basel, Switzerland, is no stranger to accolades. It topped U.S. News’ luxury list last year too despite Chairman Torstein Hagen indicating he isn’t a fan of the word.
“I have outlawed the use of the word ‘luxury’ I think we are elegant, we are understated and hopefully timeless,” he said at a naming celebration for seven new river boats in March 2019, according to cruising website QuirkyCruise.com.
Also on the list: Silversea Cruises and Oceania Cruises .
Fastest Growing Cruise Line Stocks
These are the cruise line stocks with the highest year-over-year sales growth for the most recent quarter. Rising sales can help investors to identify companies that are able to grow revenue organically or through other means and to find growing companies that have not yet reached profitability. In addition, accounting factors that may not reflect the overall strength of the business can significantly influence earnings per share . However, sales growth can also prove potentially misleading about the strength of a business because growing sales on money-losing businesses can be harmful if the company has no plan to reach profitability.
| Fastest Growing Cruise Line Stocks |
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Source: YCharts
- Lindblad Expeditions Holdings Inc.: See above for company description.
- Royal Caribbean Group: Royal Caribbean Group, formerly known as Royal Caribbean Cruises, operates a fleet of vessels in the cruise vacation industry. Royal Caribbean reported Q1 2022 results on May 5. Net losses widened slightly as revenue surged dramatically YOY. The continuing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, in contrast with strong demand for cruising, were factors impacting net losses and revenue growth, respectively.
- Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.: See above for company description.
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Medium Ship Line #1: Celebrity Cruises
Celebritys Millennium-class shipsCelebrity Millennium, Infinity, Summit, and Constellationare the smallest in the fleet, each with a capacity between 2,100 and 2,200 passengers. The ships just got a bevy of both new and upgraded staterooms as part of Celebrity’s fleet-wide modernization, and when they launched in the early aughts, they were some of the first ships to use more eco-friendly engines that combined gas and steam power. The four ships sail from home ports around the world, from Europe to North America to Asia.