Small Ship Line #1: Seadream Yacht Club
Sailing through the Caribbean, around Europe, or across the Atlantic on either of SeaDreams two 112-passenger yachts means quickly getting to know your fellow guests. Facilities on the six decks include a pool, whirlpool, and casino, but the real highlight is the watersports marina that can be lowered down to the waves for easy ocean swimming, kayaking, and more. The ships often overnight in port, allowing guests the opportunity to experience the local nightlife before taking off for their next destination. In 2021, SeaDream will launch a 110-cabin luxury expedition yacht, SeaDream Innovation, that will sail to all seven continents.
Cruise Lines Comparison: Which Has The Best Rooms
In the main three ships that I used to compare these cruise lines, Carnival’s Dream , Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas , and Norwegian’s Epic, the rooms were all updated from the older ships in each fleet. Each of the cruise lines have gone out of their way to make the accommodations more aesthetically pleasing, but I must say that Royal Caribbean and Norwegian have left Carnival at the port.
The rooms onboard the Royal Caribbean and Norwegian ships have much more color and better décor than Carnival. The high points for each is the new wavy design of the Norwegian Epic , which gives it a much more modern feel, and sheer size in the Royal Caribbean Allure of the Seas . The Norwegian ship does have issues with their bathroom design which may be more European than most would prefer, but I think anyone could overlook that for a five day trip.
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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Small Ship Line #1: Star Clippers
Star Clippers has a fleet of three ships, with its flagship Royal Clipper holding the record as the worlds largest full-rigged sailing ship. All three are sailing yachts, unfurling their sails for itineraries across the Caribbean, Mediterranean, and Southeast Asia, with classic exteriors and interiors featuring several bars, a swimming pool, library, and formal dining room.
Best Traditional Cruise: Tauck
- Ship Name: MS Savor
- Itinerary: Bratislava, Slovakia; Vienna, Austria; Melk, Austria; Passau, Germany; Prague, Czech Republic;
Adventure tour provider Tauck has been in the travel industry since 1882, and in addition to a number of land tours, the company operates its own fleet of river vessels. Tauck has dedicated family voyages called Tauck Bridges,;but the more traditional themed cruises have excursions that are aimed at adults. Built in 2014, the 130-passenger MS Savor has a gorgeous main atrium with a dripping chandelier, a putting green, and some innovative features like loft-style cabins with windows that open with the touch of a button. On the Musical Magic on the Blue Danube river cruise, interactive musical workshops, onboard performances, and themed excursions like a trip to the Opera House in Bratislava or a private performance at a palace in Vienna are included.;
Take a look at other river cruising options with some of the best European River cruises.
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Cruise Lines Comparison: Which Has The Best Amenities
The amenities aboard cruise ships have improved greatly over the past 10 years. Most ships now have massive water slides, added hot tubs, adult only areas, and other recreational opportunities. Although the big three fleets have slightly different focuses, a good time can certainly be had on any of them.
For Carnival, trying to break away from the stiff itinerary feel of years ago has been difficult. If you are not paying attention to the information brought to your room each night on a Carnival cruise, you will find yourself missing many events. Although the Dream has been given many upgrades from the rest of the fleet, the feel of an older fleet is still prevalent.
On a Royal Caribbean cruise, you will find plenty of opportunities. There will be physical fitnesswith climbing, zip-lining, and surfing available, as well as cruise shows that occasionally bring in big stars for entertaining passengers. The ability to make your own schedule is much greater than that on Carnival, but still falls a little short of Norwegian’s “freestyle” cruising. With the larger ships being put out by Royal Caribbean, there is also an ability to add more choice in shows, activities, and dining, which makes Royal Caribbean my choice for the amenity packed cruise.
Starboard Vs Port: Bottom Line
Ultimately, the most important cabin choices are which deck you’re on, whether you’re in the middle or toward one end of the ship , and which size and category of room you select. Choosing a starboard or port cabin will have little impact on your trip, especially when you can head up to a public deck to get a wider view.
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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 paddleboardsstraight 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.
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.
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Best Large Balcony Cabins
Aft balcony cabins have the ship’s largest private verandas, and there are just a few such rooms per deck. They are lined up along the stern and give more terrace space and privacy. Aft cabins located in the ship’s corners are usually with wraparound balconies.
Larger balconies also have the “hump cabins”, located where the vessel’s superstructure changes from narrower to wider. Most verandas there are angled and with curvy outlines. For more hump cabins search in the fleets of Royal Caribbean or Celebrity Cruises.
Cruise Comparison: Which Cruise Line Has The Best Ship For You Carnival Norwegian Or Royal Caribbean
If you are planning your first cruise or had a less than desirable experience on your last cruise, you will want to find out what is the best cruise line to make the most of your future cruise experience. There is much more to the best cruise ships than just sleep, eat, and excursions, and you should be well informed to take advantage of all there is to offer.
Some cruise lines only offer certain dining, some have only a few suites, and others are mostly suited for adult passengers. Below I have given comparisons of the three largest cruise lines servicing the continental United States: Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian Cruise Lines. These cruise lines have ships that visit the Caribbean, Hawaii, and more.
Do you want a quiet cruise, away from noise and distraction or a big 7-day party on the seas? Would you rather have assigned dining in a specific room with a variety of food that changes each day or would you want to have plenty of different restaurants to choose from on a 24 hour basis? Read the cruise lines comparison below so that you can make an informed decision as to what is the best cruise line for you.
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Best River Cruise Line: Viking River Cruises
Founded in 1997, Viking River Cruises plies the waterways of Europe, Russia, China, Southeast Asia and Egypt with its fleet of more than 60 vessels. While Viking has also launched an award-winning ocean cruise line, the company built its reputation in river cruising.
These all-inclusive cruises feature outside staterooms, Wi-Fi, wine and beer with meals, shore excursions in every port and Vikings signature Culture Curriculum program.
Uniworlds Ss Maria Theresa
The S.S. Maria Theresa is a 443ft-long vessel dedicated to Austrian empress Maria Theresa and Viennas royal palace.
Tributes to the empress can be found in every corner of the ship, which has been decorated in 18th century style and features golden chandeliers and marble staircases, as well as a large-scale portrait of Maria Theresa herself.
Staterooms boast lavish padded fabric wall coverings, period-style furnishings and English Savoir beds draped in Egyptian cotton bed linens.
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All Aboard: Nine Cruise Lines To Suit The Whole Family
Rebecca Barnes
Friday May 14 2021, 20:00pm
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Standard Cruise Ship Cabins
Many cruise ships today have standard cabins of similar size and amenities, with the price differential being the location. The least expensive, inside standard cabins on a mainstream cruise ship run from about 120 square feet to 180 square feet. Since most cruise ships are relatively new or have been refurbished, the cabins usually are tastefully decorated with twin beds that can be pushed together to make a queen-sized bed for couples. The staterooms have wall-to-wall carpeting, individually controlled air conditioning/heating, dresser or storage space, closet, telephone, and satellite television. The television usually has news, sports, local on-ship channels for broadcasting information on shore excursions or from guest lecturers, and movies. Some cabins have VCRs or DVD players, and some televisions also have radio/music channels. The cabins also usually have a night table, reading lamps, and a chair. Most modern cruise ships come with a hairdryer, so you won’t have to bring one from home. Some standard staterooms feature personal safes, table, desk with chair, convertible loveseat, mini-refrigerator, and even Internet access, although it is often much more costly than in the common Internet lounge. The cruise line brochure or website usually specifies which amenities are in each cabin.
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Medium Ship Line #: Seabourn Cruise Lines
Dont think of Seabourn as a typical cruiseit ships are much more akin to mega-yachts, with ultra-luxurious decor, service, and dining. The fleet currently has five vessels, the largest of which carry 600 passengers. Their small size allows the vessels to dock in small ports all around the world . Many of the cruise lines guests are lifelong learners, and they flock to the nightly Seabourn Conversation program, which brings all sorts of intriguing figures, from Steve Wozniak to Elaine Paige, on board for lectures and casual chats. In 2015, Seabourn announced a partnership with celebrity chef Thomas Keller, who crafted new menus for the three existing ships and spearheaded new restaurants on the two newest ships, Seabourn Encore and Seabourn Ovation.
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 a form of luxury expedition-style cruising, each featuring an infinity pool, an underwater viewing lounge, and itineraries that include destinations as far-flung as Papua New Guinea and West Africas Bissagos Islands. It also acquired Paul Gauguin Cruises in 2019, adding another ship to the fleet. Ponant will launch Le Commandant Charcot, an ice-breaking expedition ship, in 2021.
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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.
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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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.
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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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 .
Best New Cruise Ship: Carnival Mardi Gras
Carnival is celebrating its first-ever ship, the 1972 TSS Mardi Gras, with an all-new version packed with the lines signature entertainment options. When Mardi Gras launches in 2021, it will feature six themed Zones with amenities like the first rollercoaster at sea, Emerils Bistro 1396, Family Feud Live and a jazz bar inspired by the sounds of New Orleans.
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Medium Ship Line #: Azamara
Though Azamaras three 700-passenger ships are lovely, with top-quality dining and plenty of on-board activities to fill days at sea, passengers choose this cruise line for the experience at its destinations, which span all seven continents. Azamara not only offers personalized shore excursions , they also do a number of overnights, allowing guests to explore more destinations farther inland. The overnights also allow passengers to experience an evening out on the town in port cities, if they so choose.
Cabins With Balconies Or Verandas
The next step above an outside cabin is one with a balcony . These cabins have sliding glass or French doors giving you access to the outside. The sliding doors also mean you can see outside from anywhere in the cabin, i.e. lie on the bed and still see the ocean outside. Usually, the balcony cabins are also larger than the standard cabins, and some qualify as mini-suites. which means they have a small sitting area with a loveseat or convertible sofa. The mini-suites also usually have a curtain that can be drawn to separate the sleeping and sitting areas. This feature is ideal for couples who have different sleeping habits. Early risers can sit in the sitting area or balcony, and enjoy the early morning sunrise without waking up their significant other.
Most balconied cabins do not have verandas large enough for a lounge chair where you can lie down and sunbathe in private. The balconies are often narrow, just wide enough for two chairs and a small table. If you want a larger balcony, look for a cabin on the rear of the ship. The balconies on some ships offer no privacy. These balconies would definitely not be appropriate for daytime nudity.
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