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 25 largest in the world: MSC Grandiosa, MSC Bellissima, MSC Meraviglia,MSC Seaview, and MSC Seaside. Each can hold between 5,300 and 6,300 passengers at maximum capacity. MSC Grandiosa is the newest of the five, offering innovative features like Zoe, an artificial intelligencepowered virtual assistant that can help you with any questions or requests on board, as well as impressive entertainment like the third set of Cirque du Soleil shows at sea . But on all five ships, youll find everything from top-notch dining options to bowling alleys to copious outdoor space for sunbathing. MSC has some plans for mega-growth, too: it has another Meraviglia-Plus class ship and four World-class mega-ships in the pipeline, each with a capacity between 5,800 and 6,850 passengers.
Medium Ship Line #: Regent Seven Seas Cruises
As far as all-inclusive cruises go, Regent Seven Seas is the real deal. Everything from specialty excursions to meals and alcohol to airfare is included in the rates. Even the mini-bar is free! The only things youll have to pay for are spa treatments, laundry, and the casino. The cruise lines five ships each carry 750 passengers or fewer, but the ships are actually quite large, offering each guest plenty of personal space, especially in their cabins. Regent Seven Seas specializes in round-the-world itineraries.
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, an edgy ship 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 the course of your meal. Celebrity Edge will be joined by three sister ships in the next five years, starting with Celebrity Apex as soon as this year.
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Cruise Cancellations Down Under
Princess Cruises, P& O Australia, and Carnival Cruise Line have announced further suspensions in Australia. The Carnival-owned cruise lines had multiple ships operating in the area and planned to resume with fully vaccinated Australian guests and crew members soon.
However, uncertainty regarding protocols, government guidance, and public health requirements has put the cruise lines in a spot where further cancellations are the only option.
P& O Australia Cruises that have been affected include cruises scheduled to depart from December 18, 2021, through to January 14, 2022, for cruises sailing from Brisbane and January 18, 2022, for cruises sailing out of Sydney. The cruise line has also cancelled Melbournes summer cruise season, the latest extension making it no longer feasible to operate.
Princess Cruises has cancelled all voyages until January 27, citing the uncertainty of cruises returning to the region as the main reason. There are three Princess cruise ships impacted by this.
Voyages on board Coral Princess through January 17 have been cancelled, and cruises onboard Royal Princess and Sapphire Princess through March 2022 are also cancelled.
Which Is The Best P & O Cruise For Families
Our family-friendly cruises have something for everyone, from little ones and teens, to parents and grandparents. Whether it?s a school holiday cruise deal or a long weekend getaway, book the best family cruise with a P& O family cruise. We have family cruises from Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide, Fremantle and Auckland.
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Norwegian Prima From Galveston & Features
Big news from Norwegian Cruise Line with the announcement thatNorwegian Prima will homeport in Galveston, Texas in 2023 and 2024 following the ships inaugural season.
The company also announced a massive amount of entertainment options that will feature onboard, including the first-ever three-level 1,378-foot long racetrack with the Prima Speedway and its first-ever freefall drop dry slides.
The new three-level racetrack called The Prima speedway will go around and through the vessels funnel, feature 14 turns for 15 drivers in go-karts that will reach 30mph.
The racing doesnt stop there though the ship will have the worlds first freefall dry slide called The Drop, where users will experience a 10-story plunge reaching the highest G-forces of any cruise line and two more dry slides called The Rush where passengers can race each other down the slides.
Making its splashing first appearance on Norwegian Prima as part of the ships Aqua Park and Main Pool area will be the Brands first Tidal Wave waterslide featuring gushing surfs where guests can ride an innertube to catch the perfect wave. Guests looking to relax can do so in either one of two infinity hot tubs or under the areas cascading water feature.
Onboard entertainment comes in the form of Summer: The Donna Summer Musical., brought by the production team that introduced Jersey Boys to Norwegian Bliss guests. The Musical will feature a score of more than 20 of Summers mega-hits and will last for 75 minutes.
Best Cruise Lines For Young Adults
- Young Adults
For decades, the ocean cruise industry catered toward either retired travelers or young families. Those days, however, are long gone. Nowadays, going a cruise is incredibly popular among the younger crowd as well. Its not unusual at all to go on cruises as a 20-something year old. In fact, many cruise lines now have plenty of amenities and facilities that focus on young people. In this post, we focus on the millennial audience, and have made an overview of the best cruise lines for young adults.
Before we begin, keep in mind that some cruise lines have minimum age requirements. Similar to renting a car, there are cruise lines that require you to be at least 21 years old. Make sure to ask your travel agent about any restrictions. If you decide to book with us , our agents will work with you to identify the best cruise line for you.
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Rule #: Do Choose Your Room Location Carefully
While not every cruise line does it, many will charge you different amounts for the same class of room in different locations of the ship. For example, a room on a higher deck will cost more than one on a lower deck. Through years and years of bookings, the cruise lines know which rooms are most desirable and charge accordingly.
Most times the premium you pay for room location wont seem like a big deal. The cruise lines typically frame it by adding something like $3-5 per person, per day.
Lets do the math, however.
A room with two people being charged an extra $5 per person, per day would rack up $10 per day or $70 in room location charges over the course of a week-long cruise. That may not sound like much to some of you, but that comes about to about 6-8 drinks from the bar if you were to want to spend your money on alcohol instead.
The rule of thumb is that the higher up your room is on the ship, the more you will pay.
For the absolute best rate for your particular room class, let the cruise line place you automatically at their lowest rate.
Medium Ship Line #: 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 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.
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Norwegian For Entertainment Buffs & The Indecisive
If your ideal land vacation is a trip to New York or Vegas to experience the best of the dining and theater worlds, look no further than Norwegian for your first cruise. The line was voted Best Entertainment by Cruise Critic and for good reason! With musicals like Rock of Ages, Footloose and Kinky Boots performed onboard, youll forget youre at sea and not on Broadway. Cirque Dreams, Norwegians unforgettable theatrical dining experience, showcases acrobatic feats you never dreamed possible, while Burn the Floor will have you swaying in your seat along with the dance theater companys Latin beats.
In line with their Freestyle Cruising philosophy, Norwegian offers something for everyone, from solo staterooms to the largest suites at sea from delectable fine dining restaurants to pool-side burger joints from relaxing retreat areas to a thrilling, multi-level race track. If you cant decide what kind of traveler you are, Norwegian could be a good option for your first cruise.
Hurtigruten Review Which Recommended Provider
It’s all about the destination on a Hurtigruten ocean cruise. Its vessels may not be the most luxurious around, but they are compact enough to access smaller ports and towns that large ships can’t. Throw in exceptional customer service and there are few better ways to explore Norway and the Arctic.
, or read our full Hurtigruten review for more information.
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Small Ship Line #: Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Sailing with only 490 guests, the Seven Seas Navigator takes its all-inclusive promise seriously, offering unlimited shore excursions, open bars with premium wines , unlimited Wi-Fi, and dining in specialty restaurants. The ship sails all over the world, spending time in Asia Pacific, North America, and Europe on week-long to three-month-long sailings.
Best For Affordable Elegance
MSC: MSC sailings can be booked for rates similar to those you’d find with Carnival, but you’ll see a lot less kitsch and a lot more swank. Throughout each ship, passengers will notice sophisticated touches like fine art and staircases inlaid with sparkling Swarovski crystals.
Celebrity: Perfect for 30- and 40-somethings who have left their college frat party days behind, Celebrity is reasonably priced and offers the modern touches of mainstream cruise ships but with a more refined vibe.
Holland America: With fares that appeal to budget-conscious travelers, Holland America tends to attract an older demographic of cruisers who appreciate traditions like the Captain’s Dinner and formal attire. Passengers will often find understated glitz, rather than flashy colors or garish neon lights.
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Our Picks For The Best Cruise Lines For Young Adults
Millennials tend to spend their money on experiences instead of on material things. The following best cruise lines for young adults know this and have catered their ships and activities to this. On their ships, youll find nightclubs and concert venues, along with things to do like bar crawls, hiking excursions and onboard zip lining.
Most Luxurious Cruise Ship Cabins
Luxury cruises are known for their glitz and glam and this does not fall short in the cabins in this sector.
On Oceaniaâs newest, most luxurious cruise ship Sirena, cabins are equipped with comfortable Ultra Tranquillity beds that feature custom-made Italian mattresses.
– READ MORE: Oceania Cruises: Inside the new health-focused kitchen and spa onboard Vista –
This ship features some of the largest balconies in the industry ranging from 55 to 995 square feet.
On luxury cruises, space is never a problem Viking Ocean Cruisesâ smallest cabin, the Deluxe Veranda, is comfortably sized at 270 square feet.
There are plenty of different options when it comes to luxurious cabins.
Celebrity Cruises offers holidaymakers The Retreat. So much more than a suite, The Retreat includes stunning accommodations, a private restaurant and an exclusive lounge and sundeck.
On this line, The Retreat accommodations blend the line between outdoor and indoor living, with no detail overlooked.
– READ MORE: Celebrity Cruises newest ship Apex celebrates naming ceremony â whatâs onboard? –
Crystal Cruises is another luxury cruise company that has impeccable accommodations with one to two bedrooms and a balcony in most of its suites.
Regent Seven Seas ship, Seven Seas Explorer, has cabins that are only suites and if you have a love for balconies, you wonât be disappointed.
On this luxurious cruise ship there is the Regent Suite that includes an in-suite spa and wrap-around balcony.
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Cruise Lines That Dont Require Covid Vaccines
Do you have to be vaccinated to go on a cruise? The short answer is no.
The long answer is that vaccine requirements vary by cruise line, cruise ship, and departure port/destination. Currently, due to the rise of the Delta variant and new restrictions by ports of call, the majority of U.S.-based cruise ships are allowing unvaccinated travelers onboard only if they are too young to be vaccinated or have medical or religious exemptions.
While many U.S.-based cruise lines planned their return to cruise with mainly vaccinated guests, several lines followed CDC protocols via its Conditional Sail Order to run simulated voyages and get approval to sail with unvaccinated guests. Royal Caribbean completed the most test cruises to ensure that families with young children could continue to sail. However, lines that planned to welcome unvaccinated adults have had to get stricter about vaccine requirements to adhere to new government policies.
Heres the current list of cruise lines that do not require Covid vaccines to sail, for travelers who cannot or choose not to get the shot.
September 24, 2021
The Best Cruise Lines In The World 2021
Mega ships
3. MSC Cruises 84.43
Large ships
10. Norwegian Cruise Line 82.779. Carnival Cruise Line 82.788. Marella Cruises 84.017. Royal Caribbean International 84.856. MSC Cruises 84.975. Holland America Line 86.874. Princess Cruises 87.18
Medium ships
15. Royal Caribbean International 83.2014. Carnival Cruise Line 83.5813. Celebrity Cruises 84.2612. Holland America Line 87.0311. Azamara 88.3910. P& O Cruises 88.579. Hurtigruten 88.634. Regent Seven Seas Cruises 92.683. Seabourn 93.33
Small ships
15. Sea Cloud Cruises 87.1414. Star Clippers 87.7713. Crystal Yacht Cruises 89.3312. Ponant 89.3410. SeaDream Yacht Club 91.469. Metropolitan Touring 92.206. American Cruise Line 93.185. Windstar Cruises 94.083. Regent Seven Seas Cruises 94.802. Paul Gaugin Cruises 95.51
10. Delfin Amazon Cruises 90.339. Avalon Waterways 92.278. Crystal River Cruises 93.227. American Queen Steamboat Company 93.416. AmaWaterways 93.535. Vantage Deluxe World Cruises 94.284. Grand Circle Cruise Line 96.003. Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection 96.742. Tauck River Cruising 97.51
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What Are The Bars And Nightclubs Like
You will be happy to know that cruise ships have active nightlife onboard. Whether you prefer a sports bar, dancing by the pool, or a karaoke bar, you will likely find it aboard your ship.
In addition to bars and lounges, most cruise ships have nightclubs full of partygoers dancing and singing well into the night. These elaborate clubs have insane light and sound systems and incredible dance parties hosted by scratch DJs.Whatever your style of partying, you are bound to find it on many cruise ships.
Finding The Best Cruise Deals
Ever wonder how to find the best cruise deals? There are a lot of great resources out there, and we picked from some of our favorites to bring you a list of tips. According to the Cruise Lines International Association between 2003 and 2013, demand for cruising worldwide increased 77 percent, from 12 million to 21.3 million passengers. The CLIA says that Florida remains the center of cruising in the United States, with its five cruise ports accounting for nearly 62 percent of all U.S. embarkations. Following Florida, are California, Texas, and New York .
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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.
Adventures By Disney River Cruise
Got a sweet tooth? Cruise the Danube River with Adventures By Disney and AmaWaterways this December, and learn how to make iconic European holiday treats. Excursions include marzipan-making in Germany and strudel-making in Hungary. On board, activities include gingerbread cookie decorating and mulled wine tasting for adults.
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Small Ship Line #: Ecoventura
As Ecoventura operates a fleet of three expedition yachts with a capacity of only 20 passengers, you know youre getting a personalized experience on board. The ships sail two week-long itineraries in the Galápagosyou can combine them both if you want more time with the islands incredible wildlife. The luxurious ships each have 10 well-appointed cabins, a lounge where naturalists provide lectures and briefings before excursions, a dining room and bar, a library filled with scholarly tomes on the Galápagos, and a sundeck for relaxation.
Rule #: Do Monitor Price Dropsand Call The Cruise Line
So what if after all this you book your cruise, and then the price drops?
First, you should be monitoring the price of your cruise after you book if you want to save money. Were not saying to check it every day, but once or twice a week is sufficient.
If you run across a price drop, then you should contact the cruise line immediately. This is where having put down only a deposit and not paying in full buys you some leverage.
Many times the cruise lines will work with you to compensate for the lower fare, even though they often arent obligated to do so. They can refund the difference or offer onboard credit to make you happy.
Some lines have price protection policies in place. Carnival, for example, has its Early Saver Program:
1. When you book a 3-5 day cruise three months in advance, or 6 day or longer cruise five months in advance, you are assured the lowest rate.
2. In the unlikely event that you do find a lower Carnival-advertised rate after booking your cruise, we will honor it and adjust your cruise rate accordingly. Simply fill out the Price Protection Claim form and well take care of the rest.
If you only have a deposit down, and they wont work with you on the price difference, determine the refund policy to see if it is worth it to cancel your original trip and re-book the cruise at the lower rate.
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