Best Budget: Carnival Conquest
Perfect for those interested in trying cruising for the first time, the 2,980-passenger Carnival Conquest is known for budget-friendly rates and short cruises to the Bahamas and Caribbean. While Carnival Conquest has some of the Fun Ship 2.0 features like the Blue Iguana Tequila bar , Guys Burger Joint, Red Frog Rum Bar and the Alchemy Bar you wont find the buzzworthy amenities like Sky Bikes or 4D theaters that you do on the newer ships. Passengers will have to pay close attention to the daily activity schedule, as most of the fun onboard is all about getting passengers out of the deck chair and actively involved.
Best Cruise Lines For Families
From kid-friendly ships and shows to family-favorite experiences and shore excursions, these are the best family cruises and cruise ships.
When Disney Cruise Line launched in 1998, it was a game changer for family cruises. Now in its third decade of operation, Disney Cruise Line consistently tops the list of best cruise lines for families. And with a new ship launching in 2022, parents and kids alike are already buzzing with anticipation for what will undoubtably be one of the best cruise ships for kids in years.
Of course, the best family cruises arent limited to just Disney. Carnival Cruises, Princess, Norwegian, MSC, and a host of other cruise lines have helped usher in a new era of family vacations on cruise ships with amenities like kids clubs, waterslides, age-appropriate stage shows, dining experiences, reduced fares for young children, andperhaps best of allkids sail free deals.
Princess Cruises For Relaxation Lovers And Wellness Enthusiasts
Roller coasters and race tracks arent for everyone. If you want to relax and recharge on your first cruise, Princess Cruises is an excellent option. With their tag line Come Back New, Princess emphasizes onboard amenities that are designed to help you unwind from the stress of daily life. Pamper yourself with a massage as the onboard Lotus Spa® or get your zen on at a free yoga class on deck.
The Sanctuary, a spa-like retreat tucked away at the back of every Princess ship, is described as an Ocean of Calm and is exclusively for adult guests. Serenity Stewards in The Sanctuary tend to your every need providing everything from chilled towels, to noise cancelling headphones, to healthy meals. The relaxation even continues through the night on the Princess Luxury Bed, exclusively designed for the line and named the Best Bed at Sea by Cruise Critic!
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People Test Positive For Covid
- 48 passengers and staff recently tested positive for COVID-19 on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship.
- Everyone who tested positive was either asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic, the company told Insider.
- There were 6,000 people aboard the cruise ship, which is one of the world’s largest.
Forty-eight passengers and staff tested positive for COVID-19 on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship that returned to Miami on Saturday, the company said on Monday.
Royal Caribbean said in a statement to Insider that people who tested positive for the virus “were identified as a result of immediate contact tracing after a guest tested positive.”
“Each person quickly went into quarantine. Everyone who tested positive was asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic, and we continuously monitored their health,” the statement said.
The company’s guidelines require travelers over the age of 12 to be vaccinated with either two shots of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, or one shot of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
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Large Ship #: Msc Cruises
Nearly half of MSCs fleetnamely those ships in the Musica and Fantasia classesfalls into the large cruise category, with most of its newer builds firmly taking a bigger is better stance. The eight large vessels primarily sail in the Mediterranean and the Caribbean, though they do offer itineraries in North and South America, Asia, and Northern Europe, too. The family-friendly ships skew toward the upscale side, and theyre known for their incredibly international crowds.
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The Best Cruise Lines For 2022 Have Been Announced
The best cruise line may be a very subjective question, but U.S. News & World Report has released their opinion of the best lines across various categories.
The 2022 Best Cruises rankings were announced on Tuesday, which is an annual look at which cruise lines rank among the top picks.
There are six categories of categories for ranking 17 different cruise lines.
Royal Caribbean did not come out as the winner in any one category, but did rank near the top in a few.
Large Ship Line #: Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity Cruises currently sails around the world with a fleet of 14 ships, ranging in size from its petite Xpedition-class vessels, which carry 16 to 100 passengers, to its large 2,800- to 3,100-passenger Solstice class and 2,900-passenger Edge class, which debuted in late 2018 with Celebrity Edge. This edgy ship was designed to appeal to a non-cruising clientele with innovations like Eden, a three-story hybrid experiential restaurant, craft cocktail lounge, and performance venue and Le Petit Chef at Le Grand Bistro, a dinner restaurant that features a 4D animation projected on your plate throughout your meal. Celebrity Edge was later joined by its sister ship Celebrity Apex in 2020, with Celebrity Beyond to follow in 2022 .
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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.
Brilliance Of The Seas
Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean International
The Brilliance of the Seas is undoubtedly one of the top cruises that depart from Tampa.
Not only does it fall into the affordable cruises category, it provides entertaining cruises packages for the entire family.
Teen disco, nursery, mini golf course, rock climbing, three-story theatre, movies by the pool, bars, nine restaurants all inclusive cruises dont get better than this.
Almost 75 percent of the cabins come with mesmerizing views of the ocean.
Budget accommodation options are also available on Brilliance of the Seas.
Size of Ship: Large
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Cruising On The Comeback
Though mass Covid-19 outbreaks early in the pandemic exposed health concerns surrounding cruising, a new survey indicates travelers may not abandon ship travel after all.
Before the pandemic, 2% of prior cruisers said they wouldn’t cruise again, while as of August 2021, 4% said the same, according to an ongoing survey conducted by U.S. News & Report.
The pandemic hasn’t scared off non-cruisers either. Pre-pandemic, 62% of people who had never cruised indicated they wanted to try it. Now, 61% of people say the same.
Sentiments may be softening with time too. Before the pandemic, about 10% of people that had never cruised said they “never” would. According to the survey, this number rose to 17% in June 2021, but fell to 14% by August.
Caribbean Cruises From Florida
Arguably the number one cruise destination from Florida, the incredibly diverse Caribbean Islands offer a wide array of awesome experiences. Made up of three distinct island arcsthe Greater Antilles, Lesser Antilles and Leeuward Islandthis vast island group consists of more than 30 countries or territories, including many of the most famous beach destinations on the planet. This includes such iconic islands as the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, Curacao, Martinique, Sint Maarten and Saint Lucia.
It is, therefore, not surprising that theres an abundance of Caribbean cruise itineraries available from Florida. These are generally split up into three categories: Western Caribbean, Eastern Caribbean and Southern Caribbean cruises.
Whichever region you choose, youll have the chance to visit some of the most breathtaking beaches on Earth, explore colorful coral reefs, hike to waterfalls and so much more. The vibrant Caribbean island culture is also a major attraction. Shop for unique island crafts, clothes and artifacts, from jewelry and Mexican silverware to Cuban cigars.
And then theres the food! For some people, the opportunity to indulge in amazing Caribbean cuisine is the only reason they need to book a Caribbean cruise from Florida. Enjoy spectacular fish and seafood dishes, sample a variety of grilled foods and snack on juicy tropical fruits. Food is a huge part of the Caribbean cruise experience.
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Large Ship Line #: Norwegian Cruise Line
Things escalated quickly for Norwegian: the cruise line jumped from medium-size ships to mega-ships practically overnight , with just three ships in its current fleet sized somewhere in between. But thats soon about to change. Norwegian currently has six ships on order as part of Project Leonardo, each of which will hold about 3,300 passengers. Its interesting to see a cruise line scale back from its mega-ships and opt for a more manageable size for such a large order. The first, Norwegian Prima, is expected to launch in 2022 some of its highlights include the fastest slides at sea , a three-level go-kart racetrack, and a three-story theater that transforms into a nightclub after the evening’s show.
Large Ship Line #: Royal Caribbean International
Though Royal Caribbean is perhaps best known for its mega-ships, it has quite a number of large ships, toothe 3,100-passenger Voyager-class ships, for instance, were once the worlds largest, until Royal Caribbean debuted the larger Freedom class and subsequently the Oasis class. Each class had its own series of firstsVoyager of the Seas was the first ship to have an ice rink and a rock-climbing wall, while Freedom of the Seas introduced the first FlowRider surf simulator at sea.
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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.
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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Cruise From Home And Relax
Everyone knows that a cruise vacation is one of the most relaxing, hassle free vacations you can take. Imagine if you also didn’t have to worry about traveling to start your vacation but could just drive up to a port near your home and get onboard your luxury cruise ship. Here at CruiseExperts.com we’ve made it easy to see which cruises start close to home. Get started with our Home Port widget by clicking on your home port below.
Large Ship Line #: Holland America Line
As its name indicates, Holland America is a cruise line that was established in 1873 to primarily ferry passengers, many of whom were emigrants, between the Netherlands and the United States. Of course, these days, the cruise line sails more broadly to more than 470 ports around the world on its 11 shipsand its highly regarded for its Alaska itineraries. While passengers can enjoy classic cruise activities like swimming, sports, and gambling, Holland America is particularly noted for its culinary and musical programs: it has a partnership with the TV show Americas Test Kitchen for cooking demonstrations, cooking classes, and a number of live music venues , and stage productions dedicated to the history of music on many of its ships. The latest addition to Holland Americas fleet is the Rotterdam, which first set sail in July 2021, with a capacity of 2,650 passengers.
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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 Cruise Lines For The Money
The 2022 rankings for best valued cruises are:
Here, average daily rates accounted for 60% of scores, while expert, traveler and health ratings accounted for the other 40%. Cruise lines with average daily rates of $300 or more did not qualify for this category.
Celebrity Cruises was named the best cruise for the money. It’s part of the Royal Caribbean Group, which also operates Royal Caribbean International, which took home a “Silver Award” in this category.
Wi-Fi, tips and drinks like cocktails, wine and specialty coffees are included in most Celebrity cruise bookings, however the cheapest rates can be purchased without them. Right now, a four-day cruise from Miami to the Bahamas is around $440 per person, including taxes, for an inside state room.
Also on the list: Princess Cruises , Costa Cruises and MSC Cruises .
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Small Ship Line #: Paul Gauguin Cruises
The single ship Paul Gauguin focuses solely on the Pacific, treating its 332 guests to picture-perfect beaches and dramatic scenery in Tahiti, Bora Bora, and Fiji year-round. On Mota Mahana, the lines private island in French Polynesia, passengers sip cocktails from the floating bar or paddle out over coral reefs on kayaks and paddleboards, straight from the ships water sports marina. For those wanting to get under the waves, an onboard PADI scuba program certifies divers in some of the clearest waters on the planet. Best of all? The ships rates are all-inclusive. In 2019, Ponant acquired the cruise line.
Best New Ship: Carnival Sunrise
Courtesy of Carnival Cruises
Fresh off a $200 million refurbishment, the changes to the Carnival Triumph were so dramatic that the ship needed a new identity, and so in 2019 Triumph was reborn as Sunrise . Every cabin on Sunrise was remodeled with fresh new furnishings, and dining and beverage additions such as Cucina del Capitano, Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse, Bonsai Express, and Red Frog Pub. A new Sports Court was installed with mini golf, a ropes course, and Waterworks. In the evenings, head over to the multi-functional Liquid Lounge or the Limelight Lounge, home to the Punchliner Comedy club. Sunrise sails from Ft. Lauderdale to the Bahamas, Cuba, and other Caribbean itineraries plus Bermuda cruises from New York in the fall.
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Best Safety Steps For Cruising
Amie Clark