River Ship Line #: Viking River Cruises
Parent company Viking Cruises has expanded feverishly in recent years, with more than 60 river ships and six ocean vessels in its fleet. Under Viking River Cruises, the company’s riverboats explore familiar waters like the Danube and Rhône in Europe, as well as faraway itineraries on the Volga in Russia, the Nile in Egypt, and the Mekong in Southeast Asia. Viking River Cruises also includes complimentary Wi-Fi and select shore excursions in its prices, and its Culture Curriculum offers experiential learning through events like regional wine tastings and menus that rotate seasonally.
Small Ship Line #: American Cruise Lines
American Cruise Lines has the unique distinction of operating not only old-school paddlewheelers in the United States, but also contemporary river ships. And they dont just sail on the Mississippiyou can also explore the Columbia and Snake Rivers in the Pacific Northwest, too. Beyond that, the 15-strong fleet also has oceangoing vessels that explore the coasts surrounding the entire country, from New England to Alaska to the Gulf of Mexico. The newest ship, American Melody, set sail in August 2021 and will spend its inaugural season on the Mississippi River.
Decks With Obstructed Views
There are cabins at certain decks that provide obstructed views of the scenery. Decks with obstructed views could be a disadvantage for travelers who want to capture the spectacular view of the surrounding areas. However, when the view doesnt matter to you, then you can choose the deck that suits your priorities the best.
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What Is The Best Cruise Line For Your Money
Ocean cruises are one of the best ways to explore multiple Caribbean islands or the Pacific Northwest without the hassles of booking numerous flights, hotel rooms and rental cars. With so many cruise lines to choose from, finding the best cruise for your money can be challenging.
People stand in line as they prepare to board the Celebrity Edge cruise ship in Fort Lauderdale, … Florida, on June 26, 2021. – Celebrity Edge is the first major cruise ship to restart operations from a US port since the Covid-19 pandemic shutdown cruise travel.
Royal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean is the best overall value for many itineraries. Their fares are competitively priced and are some of the cheapest fares starting as low as $225 per night.
Booking a cheap cruise doesnt mean youre automatically going to have a no-frills voyage or be on a party boat where the celebration never ends, even when youre trying to rest. This cruise line has a reputation for having a good mixture of solo travelers, families and retirees. There are also many on-ship amenities for entertainment, relaxation and dining.
Families are more likely to find childrens programs without the steep cost of a Disney cruise. While the experience isnt the same, children and parents will likely still have a great time. Booking a suite can also be a good option if you have a bigger travel budget but dont want to splurge for a luxury liner.
Carnival
Norwegian Cruise Line
Celebrity Cruises
Princess
Holland America Line
What Makes A Which Recommended Provider Cruise Line
Which? Recommended Providers are the cream of the crop and, as a minimum, we only consider giving the accolade to cruise lines that achieve a customer score of 70% or above.
Thats not all. We know that pricing transparency is important, so we only give the award to the companies that provide clear information about gratuities, excursions and drinks at the booking stage. After all, it’s hard for customers to compare prices if they can’t find these details before parting with their cash. If the companies fall down in more than one area, theyre not eligible to be Which? Recommended Providers, whatever score they receive in the survey.
Similarly, a cruise company can only be a WRP if it is committed to refunding customers promptly for any cancelled cruises. Neither Azamara or Seabourn could make this commitment for bookings cancelled due to COVID-19, so both have had their WRP status removed for 2021.
Which? is independent, you can be sure that our recommendations are influenced only by our survey results. We’re not influenced by third parties and we don’t accept freebies from product manufacturers, retailers. or providers.
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What Are Cruise Casinos Like
In many ways cruise ship gambling is similar to what youll find on land. That also means that while they all feel familiar with flashing lights and dinging bells, each casino has its own personality.
In general, the gaming floor is small by the standards of land-based casinos. On many ships, youll usually find closed-in areas with relatively low ceilings . The low ceilings and maze of games give the casinos a cozy feel. Still, they are among the largest rooms on a cruise ship.
Some ships most notably the newest ships in Norwegians fleet have more open casinos. On those ships, the casino floor opens up to the rest of the ship, giving it a brighter feel.
As for atmosphere, within seconds of walking into a cruise ship casino youll forget that youre on a ship. Give the casino size and number of passengers, evenings can get crowded. That means the casino will feel high energy, with lots of people cheering, noise from machines, and generally a festive atmosphere.
Where Are The Best Cabins On A Cruise Ship
Choosing the best cruise cabin location on your ship is a matter of personal choice. Generally, your cabin will be located either on lower deck, mid-ship, forward or aft , with some pros and cons to all these locations. Booking a “guarantee” cabin is an open deal – you pay for a cabin category – best prices are guaranteed, but not necessarily the best location.
- Lower Deck cabins – cheapest. The cheapest are the lower deck Interior staterooms. The main advantage is a smoother ride. Main disadvantages – you’re using constantly elevators/stairs, more engine noise/vibrations, the sound of the anchor dropping .
- Higher Deck cabins – more expensive. You’ll feel more motion . But you’re closer to the best ship amenities – entertainment and dining venues, onboard pools, Spa, bars and lounges, etc.
- Midship cabins – less motion and a central location. The main disadvantage – more traffic outside. Also, check the lifeboat locations .
- Forward cabins – the most motion, wind and spray, smaller windows . Forward located suites provide larger than average balconies.
- Rear cabins – more motion than the midship cabins, but less than the front ones.
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Rule #: Do Book Your Cruise When You Find A Rate You Like
We know that trying to find the best rate can be nerve-wracking. Dont let it get to you. We think the key is to do some research first on the cruises offered and what they are selling for. Once you have a ballpark idea of what they cost, you can have a better idea if you are getting a good deal.
Once you find a rate that you think is fair , go ahead and book it. Theres no sense in waiting and watching to see if the price will fall more, especially since it could also rise.
And while you want to book your cruise once youve found a rate youre happy with, we recommend NOT paying in full. In fact, put down the smallest deposit allowed.
This will give you some leverage for Rule #10.
Small Ship Line #: Seabourn
Seabourns six ships feature fewer than 300 suites eachbut they leverage that small size into access at some of the worlds most beloved yacht ports: St. Tropez in the south of France the Greek island of Kos and popular large ports like Dubrovnik and Monte Carlo. Michelin-starred chef Thomas Keller designs specialty menus on the ships, and a partnership with UNESCO ensures shore excursions and sustainable tourism practices at some of the wildest and most wonderful destinations around the world. Later this year, the line will debut its first expedition ship, Seabourn Venture, with a sister ship to follow.
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A Wedding At Sea The Ultimate Romantic Cruise
While were on the subject on honeymoons, how about combining a wedding and honeymoon into one cruise? A wedding at sea is extremely easy to plan. Couples have the choice of getting married on embarkation day, thus allowing non-sailing guests to attend, or they can choose a wedding at sea, or in a destination during the cruise. Wedding planners help with the legalities and arrange everything from reception, cake, and photographer, to anything else that the couple desires. Wedding cruises are available onboard Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Cunard Line, Disney Cruise Line, Holland America Line, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, and Royal Caribbean. Some ships onboard Carnival, Princess, and Royal Caribbean even have wedding chapels to host the ceremony.
With so many options to choose from, couples will have no trouble finding the perfect romantic cruise!
Large Ship #1: Costa Cruises
Italian cruise line Costa Cruises, which operates under parent company Carnival, has quite a history: it was founded in 1854 as a cargo shipping company, transporting olive oil and textiles around the world. Transferring to the leisure cruise side of the business in 1959, Costa currently operates 11 shipsthe majority of which accommodate between 2,800 and 5,300 passengersthat sail all over the world. Its next ship, Costa Toscana, will debut in December 2021.
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Best And Worst Cabins On Cruise Ships
What are the best and worst cabins on cruise ships – and why? Where and what are the best cabins on a cruise ship is a question about location , fares and price-inclusive amenities. Where and what are the best and worst staterooms are among the general questions for first-timer cruisers.
Staterooms are like tiny homes at sea, and choosing your “best” is kinda personal. Your choice also will depend on the company, vessel, room size, type/view, deck location, amenities. Not to forget the special offers with super low-priced promo deals that could change everything you know on the subject. Find out more secrets at our stateroom tips and tricks.
Rule #: Do Be Flexible With Your Days To Cruise The Cheapest
As you can see in the chart below, the fares for the same cruise can vary dramatically, depending on when you sail.
Holidays like Christmas and New Years fetch the highest prices by far. These rates can often be double what you would pay in the lower season.
The highest rates found around the holidays are closely followed by peak summer rates when families with kids like to cruise.
The best times with the lowest rates? The fall months when people are back at school and work are less popular for cruising, meaning that rates hit their lowest. You can also find low rates in the time between New Years and Spring Break.
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Deck Right Below The Top Deck
The top deck is where the sun deck, pools, slides, hot tubs, water parks, and other outdoor facilities are generally located. Thus, people would be trooping to these spots all day long. If youre in a cabin located at the deck below the top deck, youre in for a lot of noise and disturbances.
Noise can come from the scraping of chairs, booming voices, loud splashes of water, boisterous laughter, cheering, or buzzing conversations. However, you have one advantage: within minutes, you can avail yourself of most of the cruise ships amenities.
On the contrary, you can choose this deck if youre not bothered by the noise and prefer to be near cruise amenities.
Calculating The Cruise Line Rankings
Best Luxury Cruise Lines: For our luxury cruise lines ranking, we include only cruise lines with a price class rating of 3.5 or above. Qualifying cruise lines are ranked highest to lowest based on their Overall Rating.
Best Cruise Lines for the Money: For our affordable cruise lines ranking, we include only cruise lines with a price class rating less than 2.5. Qualifying cruise lines are ranked highest to lowest based on their average Overall Rating, which carries a 40 percent weight and their price class rating, which carries a 60 percent weight.
Best Cruise Lines for Couples: This ranking factors in each line’s Overall Rating as well as the aggregate traveler rating by “couples” travelers and the percentage of a cruise line’s reviews on Cruiseline.com that are left by couples. For example, a cruise line that receives a high percentage of its reviews from couples is more likely to be couples-oriented. Cruise lines are ranked according to the weighted average of their rank within each of these three factors. For a cruise line to be eligible for inclusion in this ranking, at least 62 percent of its total traveler reviews had to come from couples.
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The Best Romantic Cruise Lines For Couples
Onboard any given cruise, the majority of the passengers are usually couples. Why is cruising so popular for couples? First of all, its a stress-free vacation every detail from accommodations, meals and entertainment, to activities and sightseeing are looked after and prepaid. Once onboard, theres no need to lift a finger or make a decision, except to order a beverage or choose which dinner entrée to have.
Cruising also brings couples to their destinations safely and conveniently. No unpacking and packing, changing hotels or deciding on where to eat and how to get there. The ship is a floating resort that whisks them to interesting places, and after a day of sightseeing, it welcomes them home with a delightful dinner, fantastic entertainment, and a comfortable bed guaranteed. All the details being taken care of means more time for couples to spend with each other.
Last but not least, cruises for couples offer so many activities to do together from romantic dinners, spa treatments to ballroom dancing, and star-gazing. And at every port, couples can discover exciting destinations and build lifetime memories.
The 7 Best Ships For First
For newbies looking to take their first cruise, the most confusing question is which ship to try. They can be hard to tell apart at first glance, but trust us, the experiences on board different ships and lines are vastly different. So how do you choose the best cruise ship for your very first cruise? It depends on what you’re looking for, but here are some suggestions to get you started:
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What Does A Cruise Ship Cabin Look Like
- All cabins have twin beds, usually convertible to create a queen bed, while suites may have king-sized beds. Family cabins may also have pull-down or bunk-beds , sleeper sofa or an additional twin bed.
- All have a small safe to lock in it all valuables while onboard , at least 1 large wall-mounted mirror, individually controlled air conditioning.
- All have private bathrooms with showers, basic bathroom amenities , ship toilets operate by power suction.
- All have a phone . Nowadays all ship cabins also feature a flat TV and a DVD player, a mini-bar and a small refrigerator .
- All have a reach-in closet, a shelf for life-vests, storage drawers . Higher categories cabins also have a desk with a chair.
- Power outlets are minimized to avoid fire risk. Near the bed there are 1 or 2 low-wattage outlets for laptops.
A good cruise travel agent could be of great assistance to you guiding you through all the grades and deckplan codes for the nuances of features, best locations and the best-worst staterooms on a particular boat.
They Were Just Overwhelmed
David Beyer, a 68-year-old travel adviser from Colorado, tested positive Dec. 30, eight days after boarding the Celebrity Equinox for the ultimate Southern Caribbean cruise.
Beyer developed a slight cough before he woke up not feeling good at all. After waiting hours for a test and results, he relocated from his cabin to an isolation room a couple of floors down.
The new room was a stripped-down version of the original, Beyer said, with just a bar of soap in the shower, no tissues and no bath mat.
If Id had hair I needed to shampoo, I wouldve been he said. Thank goodness Im bald.
His husband, Don McCleary, kept their original room because he had tested negative McCleary said he planned to get tested again this week because he had covid symptoms.
Until the ship returned to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Jan. 3, Beyer passed the time talking on the phone, playing games on his cellphone, watching TV and gazing at the sea from the balcony. He was able to order from the dining room menu, though the process to obtain the lukewarm food that arrived in paper boxes left a lot to be desired.
Sometimes I was dialing upward of nine to 10 times to get through, he said. I think it was just so many people they were just overwhelmed, and it took a long time.
Still, Seguin said she thought it was just as safe on a cruise as it would be in plenty of environments on land.
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Large Ship Line #: Princess Cruises
Part of the Carnival family, Princess Cruises has a fun claim to famethe TV show The Love Boat was set on its Pacific Princess ship. If youve never seen an episode, youre in luck, as one of the onboard TV channels airs reruns around the clock. But you wont want to stay cooped up in your stateroom when you discover all the activities on board its 14 ships. Its special Seawitch craft beer program sees the cruise line partner with breweries around the world, while Discovery at SEA offers a series of activities based on TV shows from the Discovery, Inc. family of networks, including Animal Planet, the Discovery Channel, and the Science Channel. In 2020, Princess Cruises newest ship, the Enchanted Princess, set sail, and its next ship, Discovery Princess, is scheduled to launch in the spring of 2022.