Faq About Booking Cruises Online
How do I know if a website is legit to book a cruise?There are dozens if not hundreds of websites that you can use to book your cruise. Frankly, not all of them look professional, so it is understandable you might question the legitimacy of a website or their deals.
We suggest you stick with the websites mentioned here or other well-known spots.
Above all, remember the age-old rule that if something sounds too good to be true, it likely is. Be wary of any websites advertising cruise deals that are significantly less than the same cruise priced elsewhere.
What about booking last-minute cruise deals on websites?It makes sense that if a cruise cabin is about to sail empty the price would drop to fill it up. In reality, this doesnt usually happen. In fact, cruise lines consistently have occupancy rates above 100% meaning that more than two passengers are in some cabins.
Have more questions about the best website to book a cruise? Let us know in the comments below.
Best Cruise Lines For Single Cruisers
Once an industry that was thought to be reserved for newlyweds, budget-conscious families and retirees, cruising is emerging as a preferred form of travel for single cruisers of all ages.
After all, a ship that is three football fields long, with all the entertainment, food and drinks you could want, and sailing to one exotic destination after another would seem to be a great way to meet new people, right?
Cruise Lines With Best Ships
When contemplating which cruise ship is best, consider what your job description is on one ship versus another. On a big ship your job may be very focused to one set of duties. Comparatively, the same type of cruise job on a smaller ship may take on a variety of tasks throughout the day and the cruise. For example, the position of Guest Services on a smaller ship may take on more responsibilities since there are fewer personnel.
Smaller ships tend to also have a closer-knit onboard crew community. Whereas, on larger cruise ships , its hard to get to know everyone onboard when there are over 1,000 crew. Yet, large ships are amazing when it comes to their extensive crew facilities complete with a pool and crew recreation areas. Some cruise lines have only small vessels while others have mostly larger ships, this may be something to consider.
You can also compare older ships versus newer ships. Newer cruise ships may have nicer crew cabins, the latest technology and better onboard wifi than older ships. Plus, newer ships are typically cleaner while older ships may have dated furniture and fixtures. Although, dont judge a ship based on its age, refits and refurbishments can make an old ship feel new again.
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Cruise Buying Tip: Prices Are Often The Same Across Every Site
If you are worried about finding the best price for your cruise, theres some good news and bad news. The good news is that prices for cruises are usually the exact same across every single website you search.
Below are the results of a search we did for a July 2023 Carnival cruise from Miami aboard Carnival Horizon, with prices listed for each website:
As you can see, they all have the exact same rates. That means you dont have to run yourself ragged trying to find the best deal.
The bad news? If youre a deal-hunter, there isnt some magic website that has cruise fares for dramatically cheaper than everyone else . But there are differences on where you book.
Thats because some sites can offer perks like onboard credit or even a direct phone number to call to talk to someone with any questions you might have before you cruise.
So should you just find any random site and book your cruise? Wed suggest not. Below we lay out the advantages and disadvantage of booking with each different type of website.
For more on getting the best deal on a cruise, see our 10 Rules to Getting the Best Deal on a Cruise here.
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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Final Recommendation For The Best Websites To Book A Cruise
Costco Members:If you are a Costco member, then we suggest CostcoTravel.com as the best website to book a cruise. Its the largest and simplest incentive weve seen for booking online. Prices are competitive, but the cash back offers provide a lot of value.
Non-Costco Members:If you arent a Costco member and dont want to join, then we suggest looking first at the specialized cruise travel sites to search all your options and find the cruise you want.
If the site offers a good incentive for booking through them, then know that youve found a good deal. If the incentive isnt that strong or you dont want to go through a third-party to your reservation, then booking directly through the cruise line is your best bet.
Best Cruise Stocks To Buy Now
In this article, we will be looking at the 10 best cruise stocks to buy now. To skip our detailed analysis of the leisure travel industry and its future outlook, you can click to see the 5 Best Cruise Stocks to Buy Now.
When travel restrictions were put in place because of the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, the travel industry as a whole took a huge hit, but more than any other sector, the cruise line sector may be the one that was impacted most at the time. According to the Carnival Corporation & plc’s 2020 annual report, while the global cruise line sector made a $3 billion profit in 2019, in 2020, it ended up with a $10 billion loss with its revenues plunging by 73%. This is unsurprising because the global community clamped down on all forms of travel because of COVID-19, and leisure travel ended up being the first to go for many. This had unprecedented effects on many aspects relating to the operation of the cruise industry, leading to a loss of over $77 billion in global economic activity, 518,000 jobs, and $23 billion in wages in 2019 alone, according to the Cruise Lines International Association’s 2021 State of the Cruise Industry Outlook.
Photo by Stephanie Klepacki on Unsplash
With this context and industry outlook in mind, let’s now take a look at the 10 best cruise stocks to buy now. We took into account hedge fund sentiment, fundamentals, future growth catalysts and analysts’ ratings while choosing these stocks.
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Best For Newbies Or Cruisers With Little Vacation Time
Carnival: Known for its short sailings of three to five nights, Carnival is a great option for people with limited vacation time or those who haven’t sailed before and aren’t sure if they’ll like cruising. Sticking with a short sailing to the Caribbean or Bahamas will give you a taste of what a “typical” voyage is like.
Norwegian: Norwegian is a solid choice for newbies looking for shorter sailings to and from the U.S. East Coast. The line is notorious for nickel-and-diming its passengers, so the less time you spend onboard, the less time you have to spend money if you’re on a budget. You can still enjoy the experience without additional spending, though, so this is a good line if you don’t mind a more basic experience.
Royal Caribbean: Royal Caribbean can be a little more pricey than Carnival, but it’s comparable to Norwegian — particularly after you factor in extra fees that can accumulate on NCL. Like the other two lines in this category, Royal offers a great experience for beginners, particularly on its shorter sailings to beachy destinations.
Compare: Carnival vs. Norwegian Cruise Line
Report: Best 8 Cruise Lines For The Money
If youre thinking about sailing the seas sometime soon, youll be glad to know that you may be able to book some affordable cruises right now.
A recent report from U.S.News & World Report shows the best cruise lines for the money. Ill also show you some of the best deals weve found directly from the sites of the cruise lines in the report.
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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.
River Ship Line #: Delfin Amazon Cruises
Sailing the Amazon River in Peru isnt quite like other river journeysits a blissful escape into the wilderness, where you might be surrounded by pink dolphins or piranhas at any given moment. Delfin, the first Relais & Chateaux cruise line, makes the journey incredibly comfortable, offering boutique hotellike accommodations aboard its three rustic-luxe ships. And, as part of the Relais & Chateaux family, the cuisine is spectacular, incorporating regional dishes made with local ingredients.
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Small Ship Line #: Lindblad Expeditions
This fleet of 15 vesselswith passenger capacities ranging from just 28 to 148sails to rugged, far-flung destinations, including Arctic Svalbard, Antarctica, Indonesia, and the Galápagos. A Lindblad cruise typically prioritizes adventure over luxury. On most ships, expect small, simple cabins, but plenty of memorable excursions, like snorkeling in Borneo or hiking an ice field in Patagonia. But some of its recent fleet additions are truly luxe, from its two polar-sailing expedition ships, National Geographic Endurance and National Geographic Resolution, to the elegant Oberoi Philae, which sails the Nile. Each sailing has an expedition team made up of experts in fields like marine biology and photography.
What Is The Best Cruise Line
There’s a lot to consider when you’re trying to figure out which cruise line is the best. It’s not a simple question to answer because it depends on the interests, personalities and budgets of you and the people with whom you’ll be traveling.
When determining how to pick a cruise line, check out our superlatives below, which are designed to point you in the right direction. Simply find the things that matter most to you, and see which cruise line falls under most of them.
If you’re still struggling with what’s the best cruise line, check out some of our comparison pieces, linked throughout the article below.
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Best Modern Cruise: U River Cruises
Courtesy of U by Uniworld
- Ship Name: The A
- Itinerary: Haarlem, Netherlands Düsseldorf, Germany Cologne, Germany Koblenz, Germany Rüdesheim Germany Frankfurt Germany
Geared towards millennials, U River Cruises takes a hip approach to river cruising, with modern, stylish ships featuring chic rooftop lounges with ice bars and fabulous, trend-setting dining venues. Theres also yoga, paint and wine classes, and themed cruises that bring special guests onboard, ranging from celebrity drag queens to famous tattoo artists. On the 120-pasenger A ship, cabins include adjustable mood lighting, USB ports, built-in Bluetooth speakers, and luxurious baths with heated mirrors and plush bathrobes. Plus, theres dedicated rooms for solo travelers or groups of three. On the Rolling on the Rhine cruise, the ship stays late in port, with night excursions in Amsterdam, Frankfurt, and others included in the fare.
The Best Cruise Lines In The World 2020
Mega ships
2. Norwegian Cruise Line 87.801. Royal Caribbean International 90.06
Large ships
9. P& O Cruises 82.178. Carnival Cruise Line 84.337. Royal Caribbean International 84.586. Norwegian Cruise Line 86.415. Holland America Line 87.464. Princess Cruises 88.011. Disney Cruise Line 94.25
Medium ships
15. Norwegian Cruise Line 82.9014. Marella Cruises 84.2113. Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line 84.3912. MSC Cruises 85.1711. P& O Cruises 85.3810. Celebrity Cruises 86.108. Holland America Line 87.387. Azamara Club Cruises 87.906. Silversea Cruises 87.924. Regent Seven Seas Cruises 92.103. Seabourn Cruise Line 93.292. Viking Ocean Cruises 95.141. Crystal Cruises 96.06
Small ships
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How They Picked The Winners
If you’re reading these rankings and want to know how winners were picked , then here is the methodology used.
Here is how U.S. News & World Report explained the way they got to their rankings.
Expert Rating : Our editors assign each ship an Expert Rating between 1 and 5 based on the ship’s level of luxury, with 5 being the highest score. This score represents our editors’ analysis of a ship’s atmosphere, facilities, activities, cabins, cuisine and service.
Traveler Rating : A ship’s traveler rating is provided under license by Cruiseline.com. Reviewers assign a rating between 1 and 5 based on their level of satisfaction with their cruise experience.
Filtering Lists by Criteria: Cutoff points and other criteria are used to identify cruise ships or cruise lines that qualify for a given ranking list.
Traveler Type: Each cruise ship and cruise line’s placement on our traveler type cruise rankings takes into account the aggregate traveler rating among specific types of travelers. Cruise ships and lines with the highest Overall Ratings and the greatest approval rating among a certain traveler type , appear on such lists. To qualify for a cruise ship traveler type ranking list, a ship had to have a minimum of 10 total guest reviews, and a certain percentage of reviews had to come from the specified traveler type the percentage required varies by list.
Medium Ship Line #1: Carnival Cruise Line
The eight ships between Carnival’s Fantasy and Spirit classes each clock in around 2,100 passengersCarnival hasn’t built a ship that small since 2004 and has no plans to order any more. But these smaller ships sail itineraries all over the world, from the Panama Canal to the South Pacific, as well as shorter sailings from Florida to the Caribbean, and bring the same amount of laid-back fun to each sailing as the much larger Carnival ships.
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Best Safety Steps For Cruising
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Best For Cruisers On A Budget
Carnival: Carnival is known for its fun, family-oriented and budget-friendly sailings. Of the major cruise lines, it includes the most in its fares, from entertainment to dining, meaning that you get the most for your money and don’t need to spend anything extra to enjoy your sailing.
MSC: MSC’s fares are comparable to Carnival’s, but they feature more for-fee extras and tiers of service from which to choose. Despite the similar price tags, expect a totally different onboard vibe that’s less party and more preppy.
Norwegian: NCL tends to tack on extra fees for lots of things, but it’s still possible to have a great time onboard without spending an extra cent. Plus, there are generally great deals to be had on some of the line’s older ships.
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Medium Ship Line #: Hurtigruten
What started as a coastal ferry company in Norway in 1893 has expanded its operations to include expeditions to such destinations as Antarctica, Cape Verde, and Greenland. Of Hurtigruten’s 14-ship fleet, there are seven expedition vessels, five of which fit 500 to 1,000 passengers. The cruise line’s two newest ships, MS Roald Amundsen and MS Fridtjof Nansen, are hybrid-powered ships, demonstrating Hurtigruten’s dedication to sailing as cleanly as possible to protect the environment.