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.
Top 5 Best Cruise Lines For The Money
Who said your next vacation has to break the bank? Cruising is one of the most affordable vacations, particularly for families, thanks to all-inclusive dining, entertainment and amenities as well as constant deals, perks and promotions offered by cruise lines all over the world. Some cruise lines even cater to cruisers on a budget so they get to enjoy all the fun and excitement of a cruise vacation without spending a fortune doing so.
Porthole Cruise readers voted for the best cruise lines for the money and the results are in. Click the link below to jump to each cruise line!
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.
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Best Excursions: Crystal Cruises
Crystal has greatly expanded its luxury cruise brand to include ocean and river cruise ships, yachts, expedition ships, and even a private jet charter. The company also offers some extremely exclusive, high-end shore excursions, as well as volunteer excursions so passengers will feel more involved in the ports of call. The company has an impressive 2,000 excursions to choose from in ports all over the world. Onboard Crystal Cruises theres trivia, magic and comedy shows, movies, live music, theater performances, and the fabulous Crystal spa. The two ocean-going ships, Serenity and Symphony, carry around 900 guests, and offer butler service in suites and all-inclusive pricing.
Ocean Cruise Lines Rated
In the table below, we show the latest results from our survey of Which? members. These results were first published in January 2020 and represent pre-pandemic experiences. To determine WRPs for 2022 we applied extra scrutiny to our existing WRPs, ensuring that your money is safe if you book with them and travel regulations change. We’ve provided links for all the companies with a customer score of 80% or higher.
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Small Ship Line #1: Crystal Yacht Cruises
In early 2015, Crystal brought a yacht into its fleet for the first time, and following its success, the cruise line decided to custom-build a polar-class expedition megayacht. The ultra-luxe Crystal Endeavor, which sails to remote locations like the Arctic and the Antarctic, as well as urban ports around the world, launched in 2021, and can carry up to 200 passengers.
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Match The Cruise Line To Your Personality
Everyone has a different personality and so do cruise lines! For the ultimate cruise vacation, youll want to choose a cruise line that will match your unique personality. The main difference here is between those who want a quieter type of experience and those who are looking for something a little livelier.
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Best Cruise Lines In The Mediterranean
With another win, Viking tops three of U.S. News’ six categories, this time for its presence in the Mediterranean. In every instance, it is followed by Seattle-based Seabourn Cruise Line, Carnival Corporation‘s ultra-luxury brand.
Seabourn has five ships, which hold between 450-600 passengers and cruise to more than 400 destinations. As part of a multi-year agreement, the cruise line has contributed more than $1.5 million to support UNESCO, which grants its guests “unique access” to more than 170 World Heritage Sites, according to its website.
Also on the list: Oceania Cruises , Crystal Cruises , Costa Cruises , MSC Cruises , Silversea Cruises , Holland America Line , Norwegian Cruise Line , Princess Cruises , Royal Caribbean International and Cunard Line .
How They Picked The Winners
If you’re reading these rankings and want to know how winners were picked , then here is the methodology used.
Here is how U.S. News & World Report explained the way they got to their rankings.
Expert Rating : Our editors assign each ship an Expert Rating between 1 and 5 based on the ship’s level of luxury, with 5 being the highest score. This score represents our editors’ analysis of a ship’s atmosphere, facilities, activities, cabins, cuisine and service.
Traveler Rating : A ship’s traveler rating is provided under license by Cruiseline.com. Reviewers assign a rating between 1 and 5 based on their level of satisfaction with their cruise experience.
Filtering Lists by Criteria: Cutoff points and other criteria are used to identify cruise ships or cruise lines that qualify for a given ranking list.
Traveler Type: Each cruise ship and cruise line’s placement on our traveler type cruise rankings takes into account the aggregate traveler rating among specific types of travelers. Cruise ships and lines with the highest Overall Ratings and the greatest approval rating among a certain traveler type , appear on such lists. To qualify for a cruise ship traveler type ranking list, a ship had to have a minimum of 10 total guest reviews, and a certain percentage of reviews had to come from the specified traveler type the percentage required varies by list.
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River Ship Line #: Tauck River Cruising
Taucks nine river ships specialize in navigating Northern Europe, with itineraries that highlight the castles of Germanys Rhine River or explore Paris and Monets gardens at Giverny on a Seine cruise. Special departures throughout the year welcome multigenerational family groups, including young childrena unique offering among river cruise lines.
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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River Ship Line #: Avalon Waterways
With a fleet of 14 river ships, Avalon has quite a few itineraries throughout Europe, India, Southeast Asia, Egypt, and Peru . Avalons own purpose-built ships are incredibly spacioussuites are 30 percent larger than the industry standard and feature fully retractable floor-to-ceiling windows.
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Which Is The Best Cruise Line In The World 31 Top Companies
Sue Bryant and Jeannine Williamson
Tuesday March 22 2022, 14:47pm
Big ships or small ships, bucket list or budget trips, family-friendly or adult-only, adventurous expedition vessels or ones that are big on entertainment? There are so many cruise lines out there and choosing the right company for you can seem as time-consuming as it is bewildering. Every line is different and will appeal to different tastes, so its important to get it right. Read our at-a-glance guide to find out what each line has to offer.
Main photo: Scenic Sapphire in Avignon, France
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River Ship Line #: Vantage Deluxe World Cruises
The river cruise branch of tour operator Vantage Deluxe World Travel has several of its own ships, the majority of which sail in Europe. In fact, the vessels were some of the first river ships in Europe to have cabins designated for solo travelers. But in 2020, the company started operations in Egypt on its new m/s Nebu, which also has solo cabins. Providing its clients with even more options, Vantage also charters ships around the world for a variety of itineraries.
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The Best Cruise Lines In The World 2020
Mega ships
2. Norwegian Cruise Line 87.801. Royal Caribbean International 90.06
Large ships
9. P& O Cruises 82.178. Carnival Cruise Line 84.337. Royal Caribbean International 84.586. Norwegian Cruise Line 86.415. Holland America Line 87.464. Princess Cruises 88.011. Disney Cruise Line 94.25
Medium ships
15. Norwegian Cruise Line 82.9014. Marella Cruises 84.2113. Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line 84.3912. MSC Cruises 85.1711. P& O Cruises 85.3810. Celebrity Cruises 86.108. Holland America Line 87.387. Azamara Club Cruises 87.906. Silversea Cruises 87.924. Regent Seven Seas Cruises 92.103. Seabourn Cruise Line 93.292. Viking Ocean Cruises 95.141. Crystal Cruises 96.06
Small ships
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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 Venus, whose maiden voyage took place in 2021. The ships are nearly identical, carrying 930 passengers each, housed in balcony staterooms. Though not all-inclusive, Viking Ocean offers guests one free excursion in each port , beer and wine with lunch and dinner, and an unlimited Wi-Fi connection.
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Best Cruise Lines For Families
The top-ranking cruises for families for 2022 are:
Disney dominates the family cruise category, as it has every year since U.S. News started ranking cruises in 2013.
The company has five ships: Magic, Wonder, Dream, Fantasy and its latest, Disney Wish, which is scheduled to launch in summer 2022. The ship is also set to introduce Disney’s first “attraction at sea” 760 feet of water slide tubes with Mickey Mouse-themed music, lighting and special effects.
Also on the list: Costa Cruises .
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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.
Important: Keep in mind that most cruise lines have minimum age requirements. Similar to renting a car, most cruise lines require that you 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.
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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Best For Cruisers On A Budget
Carnival: Carnival is known for its fun, family-oriented and budget-friendly sailings. Of the major cruise lines, it includes the most in its fares, from entertainment to dining, meaning that you get the most for your money and don’t need to spend anything extra to enjoy your sailing.
MSC: MSC’s fares are comparable to Carnival’s, but they feature more for-fee extras and tiers of service from which to choose. Despite the similar price tags, expect a totally different onboard vibe that’s less party and more preppy.
Norwegian: NCL tends to tack on extra fees for lots of things, but it’s still possible to have a great time onboard without spending an extra cent. Plus, there are generally great deals to be had on some of the line’s older ships.
Small Ship Line #: 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.
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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.
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
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