Cunard For Bucket Listjourneys And Old World Cruising
If youve been idealizing the luxurious world of sea travel since you first saw Kate & Leo on Titanic back in 1997, the closest youll come to that old world cruise experience is on Cunard. Oozing tradition at every turn, Cunards iconic black, white and red ships will take you back in time as you listen to classical music, enjoy Shakespeare performances and leaf through literature at the largest library at sea.
With iconic itineraries like the Transatlantic crossing on Queen Mary 2, Cunard offers bucket list experiences that can only be found on a cruise vacation. The crossing involves at least a week at sea, but there is truly no better way to experience this once-in-a-lifetime journey than in the comfort and luxury of a Cunard ship.
We hope you found this guide helpful in determining which are the best cruise lines for first time cruisers! Taking the time to think about what kind of traveler you are and which cruise line aligns most closely with your preferences can make a huge impact on your cruise experience! Not all cruises are the same so choose wisely. For further reading in this series, take a look at Cruising 101: First Time Cruise Tips.
Seabourn Cruises For Solo Travelers
Seabourn Cruises is ideal for solo cruisers who want a little luxury in their vacation. The line’s small ships, with their cozy and social atmosphere, mean that singles won’t be overlooked. And getting to know fellow cruisers — and staffers — is easy. That’s a bonus for solo cruisers looking to hop on any of the line’s itineraries, including a Seabourn Mediterranean cruise.
One of Seabourn’s loveliest traditions is to have its officers, staff and entertainers host tables at dinner — not only on a formal evening but just about every night. Solo passengers receive special consideration when it comes to invites, so you really don’t have to dine alone if you don’t choose to. All cruisers are usually escorted across the dining room by the maitre d’ or other staffer, which is a nice touch, especially when you are traveling solo.
Seabourn Solo Cruise Pricing: Seabourn’s standard single supplement is 75 percent more than the double-occupancy fare for ocean view, veranda, penthouse and penthouse spa suites and 100 percent more for premium suites. Seabourn occasionally offers single guarantee fares for just 50 percent more than the double-occupancy fares. Note that with these fares, Seabourn selects the room and both location and availability are limited.
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& O’s newest ship, MS Iona is a mega-ship, as will be her sister, MS Arvia, due to sail in 2022.
Recommended Reading: Where Do Cruise Ships Dock In Aruba
Royal Caribbean For Adventure Seekers & Families With Older Kids
Boasting some of the biggest and most impressive ships at sea, Royal Caribbeans fleet features some seriously brag-worthy amenities that tweens and teens will love. Light up your social media feed with onboard experiences like a zip line, surf simulator and trapeze school where you and the kids can live out your circus dreams. Challenge each other to a race down Ultimate Abyss, the tallest slide at sea, or feel what its like to fly on RipCord® by iFLY® , Royal Caribbeans exhilarating skydiving simulator.
The thrills continue ashore on Royal Caribbeans private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay, which is exclusively visited by the lines ships on Caribbean and Bahamas itineraries. The island offers even more action including North Americas tallest waterslide, the Caribbeans largest freshwater pool, and a helium balloon ride soaring high over the island.
Best Overall: Regent Seven Seas
Regent Seven Seas
For an ultra-luxurious yacht voyage, Regent Seven Seas features all-inclusive pricing and premium service. Regent operates five vessels,with most carrying around 700 passengers in spacious suites offering modern, elegant furnishings, stocked minibars, and private balconies. On Regent, everything is included in the price: airfare, specialty restaurants, gratuities, Wi-Fi, and beverages. Private butlers and concierge service offer personalized attention to guests. Theres plenty of amenities onboard as well, ranging from a relaxing spa, onboard cooking lessons, trivia, and lively evening shows. Plus, Regents destinations span the globe although they dont have polar vessels.
Read Also: What Cruise Lines Sail From Jacksonville Florida
Royal Caribbean Cruise Line
Royal Caribbean Cruise Line is for those who love to have fun! On a Royal Caribbean cruise, the party never stops and there are plenty of amazing onboard activities that are tons of fun.
The great thing about Royal Caribbean is that many of the ships in their fleet have solo staterooms.
Youll find solo studio cabins on a few Royal Caribbean cruise ships. Some are regular interior cabins and others are equipped with virtual balconies. Harmony of the Seas and the Symphony of the Seas have solo balcony cabins.
If youre a single traveler, you will have no trouble meeting new people and making friends on a Royal Caribbean cruise. There are plenty of themed bars where everyone is very friendly and having a blast.
Onboard a Royal Caribbean cruise there are also plenty of activities. Water slides, rock climbing, skating rinks and surf simulators are on many of the Royal Caribbean cruises.
Recommended Royal Caribbean for Solo Travelers:
- Symphony of the Seas
Related: What to Pack for a Royal Caribbean Cruise: The Ultimate Guide
Book Yourspecial Occasions On Norwegian
Plan Your Family Reunions, Vacations with Friends, Birthday Celebrations and Much More!
Get together to get away with Groups by Norwegian. Celebrate milestones and start planning your group cruise by booking 5 cabins today and get group cruise discounts! Enjoy a Free Onboard Credit, Free Open Bar, a dedicated Groups Concierge to help plan onboard and offshore activities, and much more. Plus, receive up to an additional 15% off your cruise when you book early! Let us help you plan your group cruise today.
- Family Reunions
Recommended Reading: Captain Andy’s Dinner Cruise Kauai
Alaskan Shore Excursions And More
Shore Excursions and Sightseeing Tours. Never pay cruise line prices again. Shore Explorersreveals over 5,500 Discount Shore Excursions and Sightseeing Tours priced as low as $29! Shore Excursion Reviews. Alaska Cruise shore excursions, tours, things to do, sightseeing tours, day trips and more.
Up to 40% off regular pricing! Cancel any time and receive a full refund up to day of cruise Full refund if cruise is cancelled Full refund if ship misses port
Alaska is Adventurous!
Come explore some of the top active / adventure Alaska destinations, resorts, wilderness lodges and activities. Alaska Cruises Direct has you covered â whether itâs kayaking, hiking, cycling, helicopter glacier landing, flightseeing, fishing remote lakes, or zip lining through Alaskaâs mountains, we know where to have fun!
Alaska Land & Sea Vacation Packages
Alaska Cruises, Rail & Tours, Alaskaâs National Parks
With over 150 unique itinerary possibilities, from the 3 most popular cruise lines and hundreds of shore excursions, the combinations for your bucket-list inspired adventure are nearly endless. With Alaska Cruises Direct, youâll enjoy the best of Alaska by combining a seven-night sailing with a land tour into Alaskaâs most magnificent inland destinations.
Choose From 5 Great Ways To Sail Alaska
3 â 8 day land tours combined with a 7 day Alaska Cruise.
Start with glaciers and frontier towns on a 7-day Voyage of the Glaciers Cruise
You May Like: Cruises Departing From Mobile Alabama
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.
Read Also: What Cruise Lines Sail Out Of New Jersey
Best For Teens And Adventure
If youve got active kids who have an interest in nature and the environment, an expedition voyage could be exactly what will keep them engaged and off their devices. Anyone else looking to really explore Alaska should also consider an expedition cruise where youll hop aboard skiffs for up-close looks at glaciers, go hiking in Tongass National Forest and kayak the calm waters of the Inside Passage. Look to UnCruise Adventures, Alaskan Dream Cruises, Hurtigruten, Lindblad Expeditions , Ponant or Silverseas expedition ships .
Best Alaska Cruise For Kids
If youre cruising with small children, you cant beat the experience on the Disney Wonder. While Disneyland is known as the happiest place on earth, maybe their ships are the happiest place on the water?
When cruising from the Vancouver cruise port, your 7-day family cruise sails the inside passage, which minimizes the risk of rough seas. Also, your cruise includes visits from the Disney characters themselves.
If your children love Disney and want to meet their favorite characters, the wait is much shorter than at the theme park itself. Plus, youll get to see them in their Alaskan outfits.
Disney Cruise Lines kids club, Oceaneer Club, is fantastic and provides babysitting when needed.
From dining to theater shows, the theme is Disney-based and fun for adults and kids. The Wonder features adult-only areas if you want time without the little ones.
The Ovation of the Seas, Norwegian Bliss, and Encore are recommended if your kids arent into Disney.
Also Check: Hotels Near Royal Caribbean Cruise Port In Fort Lauderdale
Best Small Ship: Oceania Cruises
Oceania cruises introduce Alaska to guests by offering local experiences in partnership with native tribes for a more meaningful connection to the area beyond sightseeing.
Two specialty restaurants , WiFi, and free and unlimited soft drinks replenished daily in refrigerated mini bar
-
Onboard menus feature local Alaskan delicacies, such as Halibut, King Crab, and Alaskan blueberry pancakes
-
Impressive guest-to-staff ratio: maximum of 656 guests served by 400+ officers and crew
-
4 open-seating restaurants, 8 lounges and bars, and a casino
-
Not all staterooms feature private verandas
Built in 1998 but fully refurbished in 2019, Oceania Cruises Regatta dazzles guests with bejeweled chandeliers in the Grand Dining Room, fresh color palettes, and new furnishings in the public spaces, plus new everything in the suites and staterooms. Between the gentle rocking of the ship and the Ultra Tranquility Bed, youre sure to sleep like a baby.
When youre not off exploring Alaskas many wonders, keep busy at the casino, take in an after-dinner production of Tuxedo or Gatsbys or chill out and choose a book from the English-style library with 2,000 options. Book a spa treatment or work out in the Aquamar Spa + Vitality Center, play nine holes of golf on the putting greens, shop the three boutiques, and unwind, help yourself to afternoon tea with all the accouterments at 4 p.m. daily.
Discover The Best Cruise Ships
There are so many reasons to get excited about a Royal Caribbean® cruise. Choose from itineraries that take you to top-rated destinations, from sun-soaked Caribbean isles to ancient temples in Asia and everywhere in between. And make the most out of every moment at sea onboard the worlds best cruise ships, loaded from bow to stern with game-changing thrills, dazzling entertainment, next-level dining and activities for all kinds of adventure-seekers. No matter which ship you choose to sail on, this is a fleet filled with incredible feats.
Recommended Reading: What Cruise Ships Leave From Tampa Fl
Small Ship Line #1: Ponant
Fine French cuisine, Hermès bath products, and personalized service come standard on Ponant’s fleet of globe-circling ships. The line has recently expanded its original fleet of four expedition ships and one sailing yacht with six new Explorer-class ships designed for luxury expedition-style cruising. Each features an infinity pool, an underwater viewing lounge, and itineraries that include destinations as far-flung as Papua New Guinea and West Africas Bissagos Islands. In 2019, Ponant acquired Paul Gauguin Cruises, adding another ship to the fleet, and just this year launched Le Commandant Charcot, an ice-breaking expedition ship.
The List: Best Cruise Lines According To Experts
1. Disney Cruise Line
If top-notch entertainment, great amenities, and fun for both kids and adults is what you are seeking, than Disney Cruise Line will be a hit.
Disney cruise lines are known for their character meet and greets and great Disney entertainment on the seas. According to Travel and Leisure, perhaps most noteworthy, though, is that these ships manage to cater to both families with kids and adults sans kids. Grown-ups get separate hangout spots such as an adults only nightlife area, pool, and specialty dining venues.
This is an awesome feature considering Disney Cruise lines has figured out a way to cater to both kids and adults yet still keep the Disney magic.
With Disney Cruise line having something for everyone it is important to note that nothing is lost in what we expect from a Disney vacation. According to U.S. News, Disney cruises receive kudos from families and critics alike for their kid-friendly atmospheres, whimsical amenities and well-equipped staterooms. And, says Cruiseline, of course, entertainment is of the highest quality you would expect from Disney.
2. Viking Cruise Line
Viking Cruise line has a lot to offer with their special features, adult-only policy, and small ship sizes.
There are many things that separate Viking Cruise lines from its competitors. According to Cruiseline, onboard features include multiple swimming pools, a complimentary thermal suite in the spa, and all-balcony cabins.
3. Celebrity Cruise Line
Also Check: What Cruise Lines Go To Iceland
Small Ship Line #: Metropolitan Touring
Operating three expedition vessels in the Galápagos, Metropolitan Touring is the ideal cruise line for those seeking a casual experience in the wildlife hotspot. The tiny ships, which only accommodate between 40 and 78 passengers, have a laid-back atmosphere where the focus is very much on wildlife spotting. The company also offers land-based tours in mainland Ecuador, Peru, and Colombia that can be combined with a Galápagos expedition.
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.
Read Also: When’s The Best Time To Cruise Alaska
Best For Cabin Choice
Royal Caribbean: Royal Caribbean features a large selection of cabin types. Whether you’re traveling alone, as a couple, with family or as part of a large group, there’s a cabin to accommodate you and your budget. Those with the highest price tags offer jaw-dropping amenities like two decks of space and private kids’ play areas.
Disney: Disney Cruise Line gets a nod for the sheer functionality and thoughtfulness of its staterooms. Done up in nautical decor, they include touches like virtual portholes that make inside cabins feel more open and curtains that can separate kids’ sleeping areas from those of their parents.
Celebrity: With its large number of stateroom choices, dedicated spa suites and chic style, Celebrity offers some of the most well-appointed and functional cabins at sea.
Picking A Cruise Ship
Once youve decided on a budget and cruise line, you will still find tons of itineraries, destinations and cruise ships to choose from. When picking a cruise line, do some research on the different classes of ships offered by each company. You can often find cruise ship specific reviews online.
Royal Caribbean, for instance, has a fleet of 26 ships that sail around the world. Operating some of the biggest cruise ships in the world, youll still find a varied experience even among all of Royal Caribbeans ships.
Depending on where you want to depart from and which itinerary youre considering, you should research which cruise ships check all the boxes for your vacation needs.
You might find one cruise line has a cruise ship that better fits your needs than another, especially if you want to sail on a newer and bigger ship.
Typically, smaller and older ships wont have all the onboard thrills and activities youre looking for similarly, the giant cruise ships wont always provide an intimate and quiet experience.
If youre looking for the latest and greatest that the cruise industry has to offer, one of the Big 7 cruise lines will be your best bet. These cruise lines are building cruise ships with more activities, eateries and onboard thrills than you can imagine. Those wanting a more relaxing and subdued cruise experience might consider an older cruise ship that exudes the essence of traditional cruising.
Read Also: Where Is Port Canaveral Cruise Terminal
Mega Ship Line #: Norwegian Cruise Line
Known for its colorful ships, Norwegian Cruise Line first broke into the mega-ship category in 2010 with the launch of Norwegian Epic, which can carry just over 5,000 passengers at full occupancy, and the company has since introduced five others in the Breakaway and Breakaway-Plus classes. The crowd aboard these vessels, which primarily sail in North America, the Caribbean, and the Mediterranean, often consists of families who take advantage of amenities like waterparks, virtual-reality gaming, and go-kart racing, though the cruise lines newest ship, Norwegian Bliss, has a decidedly more mature atmosphere. In November 2019, Norwegian launched the newest member of its fleet, Norwegian Encore, which is the most luxurious of its mega-ships.