Christmas And New Year’s Combo Cruises
You can opt to party all week on a cruise that encompasses both Christmas and New Year’s celebrations. There are 10-day cruises that catch both December 25 and January 1 in almost every region of the globe, including the Caribbean, Mediterranean and Asia. Cruise lines transition between the two holidays seamlessly, allowing you to focus on enjoying the fun without the chores of taking down decorations and planning the New Year’s Eve party.
Deluxe Or Premium Cruise Lines
Not everyone is prepared to pay the costs associated with a luxury cruise, yet they still want an experience elevated above those offered by budget cruise lines. The highest rated intermediate cruise lines include names that are a little more familiar to the average cruiser. With these lines, travelers will experience impressive amenities and interesting destinations, but without the sticker shock of a luxury cruise.
The best rated among these cruise lines include:
Small Ship Line #1: Quark Expeditions
If youre after white sand and turquoise waters, Quark Expeditions isnt for you. This line specializes in polar expeditions: each of its six ships is an icebreaker or an ice-strengthened vessel capable of bringing guests to the farthest reaches of the northern and southern seas. While youre guaranteed to explore some incredible rugged terrain, you might also sail in a pretty rugged shipthe two icebreakers, in particular, are nothing to write home about in terms of luxurious decor. But the access they provide to the polar regions is unparalleled and well worth the authentic expedition experience. The swanky new Ultramarine, however, is another story entirely.
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Lind Rcl And Nclh Are Top For Value Growth And Momentum Respectively
The cruise line industry is part of the broader travel and tourism industry, focused primarily on providing sea-based vacation experiences. Companies in the industry own and operate cruise ships in various destinations worldwide, offering a variety of itineraries and themed cruises. They also may provide other travel and vacation services. The big cruise line companies include Carnival Corp. and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. . The cruise line industry has been severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and related travel restrictions and other social-distancing measures. The Delta variant of the coronavirus continues to pose a public health threat, posing new risks to the industry.
All pure-play cruise line stocks available to U.S. investors are underperforming the broader market, having provided total returns below the 35.7% total return of the iShares Russell 1000 ETF over the past 12 months. This market performance number and all statistics in the tables below are as of Sept. 9, 2021.
Below, we look at the top 3 cruise line stocks with the best value, least sales decline, and most momentum.
There are just 4 pure-play cruise line companies easily available to U.S. investors, but we look at them in our usual style. Because the entire industry has suffered losses in the most recent quarter, the value section below will be based on price-to-sales ratio rather than the usual price-to-earnings ratio .
Why Its Important To Pick The Right Line For You
Weve long said that no matter what type of cruise youre taking, its important to do a little bit of research or work with a travel advisor to make sure that you wind up with a vacation thats going to be a great fit. Yes, you can jump on just about any cruise ship and have an amazing time.
And yes, the basics of a cruise will be the same on most lines. But the devil, as they say, is in the details.
With that in mind, were going to look at each of the major cruise lines and give you an idea of what they have to offer adult travelers.
From restaurants perfect for date nights to a ship on which no one under the age of 18 is allowed, weve got all kinds of options for you to consider.
Think of this as a Beginners Guide to Adult Cruising. Lets dive in, looking at what they each offer, in no particular order.
Keep in mind that in some cases, well be speaking about what a cruise line specializes in generalities. Not all of the mentioned restaurants or amenities will necessarily be available on every ship in the lines fleet.
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What About Other Cruise Lines
The Best Cruises Guide Dont-Blame-Us-Disclaimer: facilities, onboard activities and prices were correct when we checked, but things change all the time so please check details direct with cruise lines, rather than blaming us. Bear in mind that some cruise lines are more ‘inclusive’ than others, so will add extra charges later. We just looked for the basic price.
Why Is River Ship Length Important
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One of the real subtle differences in river cruising is what the cruise line has on board their ships.
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For accommodations, this includes # of passenger cabins, what is in the cabin & views from the cabin.
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Unlike Ocean Cruising, there are no inside cabins, but there is a significant difference in window size & balconies.
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On board facilities & equipment is another factor that should be considered.
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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.
Small Ship Line #1: Silversea Cruises
Silversea’s five expedition ships stop in the Caribbean, the South Pacific, Europe, Africa, the Galápagos, and Antarctica on shorter duration sailings, but they also offer around-the-world itineraries for an international clientele. Off-the-beaten-path excursions make for once-in-a-lifetime experiences, like penguin spotting in Antarctica or private catamaran tours in tropical locales. In September 2019, Silversea completed its first journey through the Northwest Passagea monumental featwith the Silver Explorer, a 144-passenger expedition vessel. The fleet was joined by the new Silver Origin, a Galapagos-specific ship, in 2020.
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Best Cruise Lines In The World
The best cruise line for mega ships – vessels carrying more the 4,000 passengers – was revealed to be Norwegian Cruise Line, beating last year’s winner Royal Caribbean.
The best cruise line for large ships – carrying 2,500 to 4,000 passengers – was Disney Cruise Line which clung onto the title for another year.
– READ MORE: Find your perfect cruise with our handy cruise finder –
The best cruise line for medium ships – 500 to 2,500 passengers – was Viking Ocean Cruises.
The best cruise line for small ships – fewer than 500 passengers – was luxury adventure cruise brand Lindblad Expeditions. Last year the title went to Crystal Cruises Yacht.
Dolf Berle, CEO, Lindblad Expeditions added: âThis award inspires us to explore even farther in our pursuit of life-changing and wonder-filled expeditions.â
The best cruise line for river ships was Viking River Cruises.
Viking is the only cruise line with the top scores in two categories in the same year – and the brand is “proud” of the achievement.
In 2020 Viking won best cruise line for river ships but the medium ship category went to Crystal Cruises.
– READ MORE: How to pick the river cruise line thatâs right for you –
âSince we restarted operations in May of this year, tens of thousands of travellers have begun exploring the world in comfort once again,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking.
Todayâs announcement comes ahead of Vikingâs 25th anniversary in 2022, which is slated to be the companyâs biggest year yet.
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 have 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.
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River Ship Line #: Crystal River Cruises
Crystal River Cruises launched in 2016 with custom-built river ships. The company is dead-set on matching the top-of-the-line service of its ocean ships in this offeringand it’s certainly got readers convinced. The fleet has five river shipsfour of which, Crystal Bach, Mahler, Debussy, and Ravel, are Europes only all-suite, all-balcony river shipssailing the Moselle, Rhine, Danube, and Main rivers. Guests enjoy an all-inclusive experience, with free butler service, unlimited drinks , WiFi, and fitness classes.
Medium Ship Line #: Cunard
While Cunards Queen Mary 2 fits more than 2,600 passengersand a number of cats and dogson board, her sister ships, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria only have a capacity of about 2,000 passengers. Though theyre quite similar in layout, the QE and the QV differ in design. Both nod to the historic ocean liners of the early 20th century, but the QE takes on a bolder Art Deco vibe, while the QV features more subdued yet equally elegant decor. Guests on board both ships are likely to partake in afternoon tea before donning a glamorous gown for dinner.
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Medium Ship Line #1: Marella Cruises
U.K.based cruise line Marella, which is operated by TUI UK, has a fleet of six ships that hold between 1,100 and 2,000 passengers, sailing itineraries around Europe, the Middle East, North America, and the Caribbean, with some special journeys to Asia. The sailings are billed as all-inclusive, and they do include alcoholic beverages and tips, but some of the specialty restaurants cost an extra fee.
Medium Ship Line #: Viking Ocean Cruises
Originally a river cruise line, Viking has launched six ocean-going vessels since 2015, the most recent being the brand-new Viking Jupiter, whose maiden voyage took place in February 2019. The ships are nearly identical, carrying 930 passengers each, housed in balcony staterooms. Though not all-inclusive, Viking Ocean guests do receive one free excursion in each port , beer and wine with lunch and dinner, and an unlimited Wi-Fi connection.
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Noble Caledonia Review Which Recommended Provider
If a small ocean cruise is what you’re looking for, you’ll want to consider Noble Caledonia. Its cruise ships carry between 36 and 250 guests, making them some of the smallest you can sail on. As well as a personal on-board experience, it’s one of just three companies to earn a full five stars for the quality of its port excursions, making it a compelling way to say to see the world.
, or read our full Noble Caledonia review for more information.
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.
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Medium Ship Line #1: Princess Cruises
Of Princess Cruises 17-ship fleet, its five smallest include the Coral Princess, Island Princess, Sun Princess, Sea Princess, and the infamous Pacific Princess, which was the star of the TV show The Love Boat. The Pacific Princess is by far the smallest, holding just 680 passengers. The four other ships carry around 2,000 passengers and are the perfect size to sail through the Panama Canal.
Medium Ship Line #: Holland America Line
Of Holland Americas 10 ships, eight of them fall into the medium-size category, carrying between 1,400 and 2,500 passengers. The refined ships sail to destinations across the world, but one of the most popular destinations for the cruise line is Alaska. When cruising resumes, we think you should check out the Noordam, which was refurbished in 2019, as it sails itineraries around the Japanese archipelago, China, and Southeast Asia.
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Medium Ship Line #1: Msc Cruises
Showing up for the third time on our list, MSC Cruises is clearly beloved by many! The Swiss cruise line has just four medium-size shipsthe Lirica classwhich accommodate between 2,000 and 2,600 passengers. Theyre also the oldest ships in the fleet, though they each underwent refurbishment as part of MSCs Renaissance program to modernize interiors and expand their size. The line is known for its Mediterranean inspirationthough its fleet sails far beyond the region, calling at ports all over the worldso youll find delicious Italian food on board no matter where your ship is taking you. MSC sailings are quite lively, especially at night, with many guests partying at nightclubs into the late hours.
Best Cruise Lines Of 2020
Welcome to our Readers Choice Awards for this, the most extraordinary year in our 25 years of publishing.
We thought long and hard about whether we should run these awards at all, given 2020 saw only three months of cruising.
But we know how much our readers and the cruise lines look forward to the results so they can use them to choose their next journey or improve their services.
Votes this year were down on our usual numbers, for perfectly understandable reasons, but our readers answered 42,000 questions and spent an average 8.5 minutes giving us their views.
As well as our usual questions, we also asked who handled the pandemic best. We loved the comments about individual crew members. And while weve picked out the best, the most common comment was: They were all great, so nominating one individual is impossible. Youll find those winners on pages 18 and 19.
To those who took our survey, our heartfelt thanks. We know cruise lines will study your verdicts, so youve helped fellow cruisers and the industry through a difficult time.
We would also like to thank our regular sponsor Singapore Airlines. All of us will be back next year, when our awards night will return in person.
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Getting To And From A River Cruise
A consistent pain point in customer reviews of river cruise lines involves travel to and from the ship, which for travelers can be a stressful aspect of a trip. Common complaints include air travel thats either difficult to book, inconvenient, poorly managed or not available around the travel dates. Manage your flights online. Pick your seats early and check in frequently before your travel date to make sure nothing has changed.
Depending on how close the airport is to your ships port, you might consider taking an Uber or a Lyft from the airport to your port location or hotel if youre staying in one the night before. This saves on not only car rental costs but parking costs while youre on your cruise.
Will Princess Cruises Resume In 2021
Island Princess and Diamond Princess join eight MedallionClass ships Majestic Princess, Grand Princess, Ruby Princess, Enchanted Princess, Sky Princess, Regal Princess, Caribbean Princess and Emerald Princesswhich have returned to service or are scheduled to restart by November 28, 2021, taking guests to Alaska,
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Regent Seven Seas Review Which Recommended Provider
For a luxurious, all-inclusive ocean cruising experience, it’s hard to beat Regent Seven Seas. Almost every cabin has a balcony, staff are friendly and helpful, and the port excursions are consistently enjoyably and well-organised. The only real downside is the cost.
, or read our full Regent Seven Seas review for more information.
Best Traditional Cruise: Princess Cruises
Courtesy of Princess Cruises
- Ship Name: Royal Princess
- Itinerary: Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, Whittier
Royal Princess is a gorgeous ship that like all Princess cruises focuses on a more traditional experience . As passengers sail through Glacier Bay or the College Fjord they can stroll around the stunning skywalk a glass walkway that overhangs the vessel or relax next to a lovely water fountain in the pool area. In the evenings, passengers catch movies under the stars. The cruise concludes in Whittier, Alaska, where most cruise lines do not visit. Although Whittier is industrial, its ideal for those extending their stay in Alaska on land. The Alaska railroad connects Whittier to Anchorage so travelers can also enjoy a scenic ride to Anchorage and hop on a connecting flight.
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Winner: Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian Cruise Lines newest ships have some of the most stunning accommodation at sea. Staterooms are spacious and sophisticated, and filled with useful amenities like USB ports.
Club balcony suites, family balcony and balcony staterooms all have comfortable seating areas, convertible drop down beds and plenty of storage space, making them perfect for a family of four. The high-end suites in Norwegian Cruise Lines exclusive VIP area, The Haven, come with their own sitting rooms and dining areas and are beautifully appointed with unique pieces of artwork.
Select Norwegian ships also offer award-winning studios that are designed and priced for singles.