What Are The Top 3 Cruise Lines
Best Cruise Lines for the Money#1. Royal Caribbean International. #1 in Best Cruise Lines for the Money. … #2. Celebrity Cruises. #2 in Best Cruise Lines for the Money. … #3. Norwegian Cruise Line. #3 in Best Cruise Lines for the Money. … #4. Princess Cruises. … #5. Carnival Cruise Line. … #6. Holland America Line. … #7. MSC Cruises. … #8. Costa Cruises.
Do I Need To Wear A Mask
Among the latest developments, we are asking guests to:
- wear masks onboard while indoors, except when actively eating or drinking or when in their stateroom
- wear masks outdoors when social distancing is not possible
- adhere to local regulations when visiting ports of call.
Face masks that have two or more layers that completely cover your nose and mouth and fit snugly on your face are permitted. Face masks should block light when held up to bright light source. Masks with exhalation valves or vents single layer or masks made of thin fabric that dont block light are not permitted.
Your Itinerary Could Change Including Port Stops
Some itinerary changes have already occurred on sailings with coronavirus cases on board.
Holland America’s Koningsdam ship skipped a port call at Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, spokesperson Erik Elvejord confirmed to USA TODAY Sunday.
The ship had “small number of fully-vaccinated crew on Koningsdam tested positive for COVID-19,” Holland America said, without specifying the number of crew who tested positive. No passengers tested positive.
And Carnival Freedom had to change its itinerary due to COVID-19, too. The ship has an undisclosed “small number” of coronavirus cases on board and is following protocols, spokesperson AnneMarie Mathews told USA TODAY Thursday.
Aruba and Bonaire did not permit Carnival Freedom to call at their ports.
When port visits are canceled, she said, the cruise line will try to find an alternative destination.
Royal Caribbean’s Odyssey of the Seas has also had to make itinerary changes, including canceling port calls, due to at least 55 cases of coronavirus on board.
On Wednesday, Royal Caribbean announced that the cruise will not stop in Curacao or Aruba as planned.
“The decision was made together with the islands and out of an abundance of caution due to the current trend of cases in the destination communities and having COVID-19 positive cases on board … representing 1.1% of the onboard community,” according to a statement shared by Lyan Sierra-Caro, spokesperson for the cruise line.
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Covid Testing Requirement For Vaccinated Guests:
Cruises with embarkation dates through January 16, 2022: All guests will be required to take a COVID-19 antigen test, administered and paid for by the cruise line, prior to boarding and receive a negative result. Any positive antigen test will be confirmed with a PCR test. Guests are also responsible for complying with all local health and safety requirements which may include additional testing.
Cruises with embarkation dates beginning January 17, 2022: At time of check-in, all guests will be required to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 antigen or PCR test result administered by a verified third party at least 2 days prior to boarding for cruises originating in a U.S. port and 3 days prior for voyages departing from a non-U.S. port. Guests are also responsible for complying with all local health and safety requirements which may include additional testing.
What Vaccines will be accepted?
Any U.S. Food and Drug Administration , European Medicines Agency , and/or World Health Organization authorized single brand vaccination protocol 2 weeks after receipt of the final dose.
- Including, J& J Janssen, Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca/Oxford, etc.
- Note: Individuals receiving a Janssen COVID-19 vaccine before or after another COVID-19 vaccine are considered fully vaccinated against COVID-19 2 weeks after receipt of the single dose of the Janssen vaccine.
- Current Unauthorized Vaccines: Sputnik V, COVAXIN, Inactivated SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine , Novavax, Covovax.
Cruise Line Stocks With The Least Sales Decline
These are the cruise line stocks with the least year-over-year sales decline for the most recent quarter. A companys ability to maintain sales in a difficult business environment can be a sign of good management and/or a strong business model.
| Cruise Line Stocks with the Least Sales Decline |
|---|
Source: YCharts
- Royal Caribbean Group: See above for company description.
- Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.: Norwegian Cruise Line operates a fleet of passenger cruise ships. The company offers itineraries and theme cruises. The company announced in early August financial results for Q2 FY 2021, ended June 30, 2021. Norwegian Cruise Line posted a net loss of $717.8 million, a slight deterioration from the net loss of $715.2 million reported in the year-ago quarter. Total revenue sank 74.2% YOY. The company said that it expects its full fleet of 28 ships to return to service by April 1, 2022.
- Carnival Corp.: See above for company description.
These are the cruise line stocks that had the highest total return over the last 12 months.
| Cruise Line Stocks with the Most Momentum |
|---|
- Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.: See above for company description.
- Carnival Corp.: See above for company description.
- Lindblad Expeditions Holdings Inc.: See above for company description.
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Dining On Norwegian Cruises
Dine the Way You Want We believe lunch is when you’re hungry. Same goes for breakfast and dinner. You’ll never have to drag yourself out of bed for a forced breakfast seating at 7:45 am or interrupt whatever you’re doing so you can make it to a dinner seating precisely at 5:45 pm. We also think you should eat with whomever you want so we’ll never choose your dining partners for you. Want to meet someone new? We can arrange that, too. More Restaurants Than Days of the WeekDon’t be misled by other cruise lines’ dining ‘options.’ They really come down to some fast-food choices or one big dining hall where you often have to eat with strangers. NCL has a wide variety of actual restaurants with great, new signature dishes in every one. And, with up to 13 different restaurants and dining rooms on board, like Le Bistro, NCL’s exclusive French bistro, and Cagney’s, NCL’s scrumptious steakhouse, you’ll find something to satisfy your every craving, every night of your cruise. Don’t be misled by other cruise lines’ dining ‘options.’ They really come down to some fast-food choices or one big dining hall where you often have to eat with strangers. NCL has a wide variety of actual restaurants with great, new signature dishes in every one. And, with up to 13 different restaurants and dining rooms on board, like Le Bistro, NCL’s exclusive French bistro, and Cagney’s, NCL’s scrumptious steakhouse, you’ll find something to satisfy your every craving, every night of your cruise.
Half Moon Cay Holland America Line
In 1997, Holland America Line purchased Little San Salvador from its previous owners for $6 million. Today, the 2,400-acre island is known as Half Moon Cay and serves as a private retreat for passengers on the line’s Caribbean and Panama Canal sailings. Carnival ships also make use of the port.
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Perfect Day At Cococay
Perfect Day at CocoCay.
- Location: Private island in the Bahamas
- Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean
- Dock or Tender: Dock
Originally envisioned as a private island destination by Admiral Cruises in the late 1980s, CocoCay opened to Royal Caribbean passengers in 1990 after the line acquired Admiral. While always a popular tender port in the Bahamas, a day at CocoCay became perfect after a $250 million rehab that included the addition of a water park, pier, multiple pools, and more.
Perfect Day at CocoCay, the awkward name the island assumed after the renovations, is on-par with Castaway Cay as a cruise draw for families. The Thrill Waterpark carries an extra admission charge, but features 13 water slides, including the largest in North America, and the largest wave pool in the Bahamas.
However, a water park ticket isnt necessary to enjoy most of what the 140-acre island has to offer, including multiple beaches, a freshwater pool, and beach-side sports including volleyball, basketball and more. Theres no adults-only area here, but the extra-charge Coco Beach Club, with an infinity pool and sit-down restaurant, is likely to attract fewer kids than the rest of the island.
Which Company Owns Your Favorite Cruise Line
Head to the grocery store and you might be surprised that a number of your favorite brands are actually owned by much larger companies.
For instance, Ben & Jerrys ice cream is actually owned by Unilever. Tide laundry detergent is owned by Procter & Gamble. Kool-Aid is owned by Kraft.
Its the same thing for automobiles. Acura is part of Honda. Lexus is part of Toyota. And Audi is part of Volkswagen.
Believe it or not, its a similar model in the cruise business. Three major companies: Carnival Corporation, Royal Caribbean Cruises LTD., and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings LTD., own the majority of lines out there.
Below, weve put together an infographic that shows exactly which cruise lines are owned by which companies. Check it out:
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The Choice To Cancel Or Not Can Be Personal
Cruzely.com founder Tanner Callais told USA TODAY he thinks the decision is personal and based on one’s “risk tolerance.”
“Assuming you are otherwise healthy, then you may think it is fine to sail,” he continued. “There are risks, but we’ve seen that there are risks in any group of people, be it in a restaurant, theme park, or stadium. If you plan to be in close interaction with others, then cruises have the strongest requirements of any group setting I can think of.”
But, he added, others may want to cancel if they have underlying conditions, are unvaccinated or are in contact with others who may be at risk.
“Personally, I’ve taken several cruises since they’ve returned, but I’m holding off on sailing for a month or two until things have calmed down,” Callais said. “With daily contact with a family member that has health issues, I think there’s no harm in putting off travel until cases fall.”
The CDC advises people who are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to avoid cruise travel and advises travelers to get a booster shot if eligible, Daigle said.
What Cruise Line Is The Best For Families
Best Cruise Lines for Families
- #1. Disney Cruise Line. #1 in Best Cruise Lines for Families.
- #2. Royal Caribbean International. #2 in Best Cruise Lines for Families.
- #3. Carnival Cruise Line. #3 in Best Cruise Lines for Families.
- #4. Norwegian Cruise Line. #4 in Best Cruise Lines for Families.
- #5. MSC Cruises. #5 in Best Cruise Lines for Families.
- #6. Costa Cruises.
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Use The Onboard Credits Smartly
There are plenty of fun ways to spend your onboard credits. The only exclusions? You wont be able to use them on charter sailings, onboard service charges, or prepaid activities.
Before you start shopping, its best to understand how these credits work and what other restrictions may apply.
First, the onboard credits have no cash value, nor are they transferrable. Youll simply have to use them as they were intended to help make your vacation that much more memorable!
To make your cruise as convenient as possible, all of your shipboard expenses will be charged to your Onboard account. Youll sign up for this account when you check-in for your cruise, selecting from among a variety of payment options, including Visa, MasterCard, and more. If youve sailed with other cruise lines before, such as Royal Caribbean, this Onboard account works similarly to the SeaPass you may have used in the past.
Your onboard credits will be deducted from your account first, leaving you to pay any balance that remains once theyre gone. That said, what are some of the most fun things you can use them to cover? Lets take a look!
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Cruise Lines Owned By Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd
Like Carnival Corporation, Royal Caribbean Cruises LTD. is most famous for its own namesake: Royal Caribbean International. The company also own Celebrity Cruises and the ultra-luxury line Silversea, along with the immersive Azamara.
In addition to these lines, Royal Caribbean Cruises LTD. owns partial stakes in both Pullmantur and TUI Cruises.
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Ship Size And Things To Do
When it comes to the largest ships with the most features, theres little argument that Royal Caribbean is the gold standard.
Its Oasis-class ships are the largest cruise liners in the world, measuring more than 1,000 feet and 225,000 tons. The ships are also well-known for having unique things to do, including ice skating, FlowRider standing waves, huge multi-story slides, and tons more. If you want a ship with the most to do at sea, then Royal Caribbean is likely your choice.
Norwegian is making huge strides in this area, however, as a whole the fleet isnt quite there yet. Its Breakaway-Plus class of ships are the cruise lines largest. These ships measure about 165,000 tons. On board you will find a number of unique things to do, including go-karts, laser tag, and even waterslides that will take you out over the edge of the ship.
To be fair, we think these newer ships are comparable with Royal Caribbean, its just that on average Royal Caribbean offers larger ships with more things to do.
Fuel Surcharge Policy On Norwegian Cruises
Norwegian Cruise Line has eliminated its fuel surcharge effective for all voyages departing in 2009. NCL will refund the fuel supplement in the form of an on-board credit for all 2009 bookings within the final payment period. All existing 2009 bookings outside of the final payment period will be adjusted to remove the fuel supplement and NCL will revise the final payment amount. NCL is suspending the company’s fuel supplement for all voyages departing in 2009 at this time. The Company reserves the right to re-instate the fuel supplement for all guests should the price of light sweet crude oil according to the NYMEX increase above $65 per barrel. NCL may collect any fuel supplement charge in effect at the time of sailing, even if the cruise fare has been paid in full.
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The Ships Of Norwegian Cruise Line Offer A Casual Yet Contemporary And Upbeat Environment
Norwegian Cruise Line offers a fun, lively experience, and the Freestyle format offers a less-traditional approach to dining with a more casual dress code. Combined, the ships of Norwegian Cruise Line are a favorite choice for families. Itineraries span the Caribbean, Europe, Hawaii, Mexico and more. Plus, receive a Costco Shop Card with every sailing.
Norwegian Cruise Lines Great Stirrup Cay
These 250-acres dotting the Caribbean was the first private island getaway owned by a cruise line and, decades on, this pristine slice of Bahamian paradise is still delighting Norwegian cruise passengers thanks to easy access to snorkeling among colorful tropical fish, memorable stingray encounters, eco-boat tours, and a massive complimentary buffet ensuring no one goes hungry on Stirrup Cay. New to the island, through the Norwegian Edge program, is a brand new exclusive lagoon retreat featuring a secluded beach, a family area for swimming, an exclusive restaurant with stunning views, and luxury beachfront accommodations ranging from a studio to a palatial two-bedroom villa to enjoy during your port of call day at Stirrup Cay.
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Cruise Ships With Cdc Restrictions
On Wednesday afternoon, there were 95 cruise ships under CDC restrictions.
Aside from the Pearl and the Getaway, the CDC also started investigations in 24 ships
CDC is monitoring 3 ships
Some Cruise Lines Have Flexible Cancellation Policies Others Are Adding
Options for canceling cruises vary by line. Canceling doesn’t always mean a full refund, it may mean a future cruise credit and some lines are stricter than others but some have more flexible options as a result of the ongoing pandemic.
Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Silversea Cruises
Royal Caribbean Group’s “Cruise with Confidence” program has been in place since March 2020 and applies to flagship line Royal Caribbean International, Silversea Cruises and Celebrity Cruises, Sierra-Caro told USA TODAY on Wednesday.
“It allows guests to cancel up to 48 hours before their departure for any reason at all and get 100% of the value back in a Future Cruise Credit that they can use towards any sailing,” Sierra-Caro said.
If a passenger or someone in their party tests positive for COVID-19 before the cruise is set to depart, they can also get a 100% fare refund.
Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Cruise Line warned passengers scheduled to cruise through Jan. 14 in an email obtained by USA TODAY, that itinerary changes may happen as a result of omicron’s spread and said no refunds would be issued for missed port stops beyond pre-purchased excursions.
“We recognize that given the circumstances, some of our guests may want to consider sailing at a different time,” the cruise line continued, noting that passengers should contact the company, their travel agent or planner to rebook or cancel for a full refund.
Holland America Line
Norwegian Cruise Line
MSC Cruises
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