Monday, April 1, 2024

Cruise ship guide: 20 popular lines explained

popular cruise lines

However, depending on the size of the ship, they could be farther from entertainment and dining areas. On big ships, there may be 10 or even more flights of stairs between your cabin and the pool, sun deck, buffet, and other amenities found at the top of the ship. There will be elevators, of course, but you should expect queues at busy times.

National Geographic Expeditions

If you are looking for family fun at an affordable rate, Carnival Cruises will be a perfect fit for you. The cruise line is most popular for offering low fares to sail but plenty of family-friendly activities onboard that won’t cost you extra. In 2022, the cruise line’s newest ship, Wonder of the Seas, broke the record for largest cruise ship in the world. Royal Caribbean also holds the next 4 slots for biggest ships in the world with Harmony of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, Allure of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas. The cruise line has held the title for largest cruise ship since 2008 with the debut of the Freedom of the Seas.

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These include a private car and driver in every port, an exclusive private dining experience and an in-suite spa with unlimited treatments. Virgin Voyages has also strayed away from the traditional cruise main dining room experience. Every single restaurant onboard is included, and passengers can walk in anytime to be seated. There are enough options to satisfy everyone's palette, including Mexican, vegetarian, steak and seafood, Italian, Korean BBQ, and more.

The Galápagos Islands on Quasar Expeditions’ Evolution

The cruise line was the first to ditch longtime cruising traditions like formal night and set dining times in the evening, making it a popular choice for travelers who want a carefree cruise. The cruise line was the first to offer Freestyle cruising, which is meant to be more convenient and relaxing than traditional cruises. The cruise line has been focusing on upgrading its fleet and building new ships with innovative design, all while offering fairly affordable itineraries. Cruisers love that Norwegian offers an upscale experience with plenty of family-friendly activities for the whole gang to enjoy. With 24 ships in its fleet, Carnival offers sailings around the world to Hawaii, Mexico, Europe and the Caribbean. For those looking to getaway for a weekend, Carnival offers plenty of sailings that are 3 to 4 night cruises.

Best North American Homeport

The self-described "fun ship" line is the king of short, affordable, fun-focused cruises from U.S. ports to the Caribbean, the Bahamas, Mexico and beyond. It's just a short overview — enough to give you a sense of which particular cruise operator might best appeal to you. They have six ships that rotate sailing the Caribbean to maintain a year-round presence making stops at their private island, MSC Ocean Cay Marine Reserve. If you have more flexibility in your budget, consider what’s important to you in accommodation.

From giant water slides and ziplines to Broadway musicals, there's no lack of things to do, see, eat and explore on board. All 2,747 rooms on Harmony of the Seas come in dozens of varieties that range from two-story suites to solo studios. Restaurants top the two-dozen mark, some included in the cruise fare, others bearing an additional charge. By definition, small ships hold fewer than 1200 passengers, usually making the cruise experience more intimate with more individualized service.

Just refurbished, the 165-cabin Paul Gauguin will be exploring the Pacific in 2023, with trips to the Cook Islands, Fiji, the Marquesas, and the Society Islands. The single-vessel brand was voted the very best small-ship cruise line in the World’s Best Awards 2022, as T+L readers gave particularly high marks to the Paul Gauguin’s on-board staff. Cruise Critic is an online cruise community with more than 650,000 ship reviews of 700 ships from experts and cruise aficionados. “And if someone has cruised before–or considers themselves an avid cruiser–we hope this list helps introduce them to new options, whether an entirely new line or new possibilities offered by some of their favorites.

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Consider potential noise from above or below your cabin, especially if it’s immediately above or below a dance floor, crew area, or near the pool. You could also save money by booking a saver fare offered by some cruise lines. Inside cabins on the 'P&O Arvia' cruise ship are a good value accommodation option.

Princess Cruises

popular cruise lines

Princess Cruises' customers also like its wide range of itineraries, including voyages in Asia and Australia, as well as closer-to-home places like the Caribbean. This France-based line is a specialist in expedition cruising, a type of cruising that involves traveling to remote, hard-to-reach places on small, hardy vessels that carry their own landing craft. Oceania has carved out a niche with relatively small, upscale ships that offer a significant upgrade from mass-market vessels but aren't quite as fancy (or pricey) as luxury offerings. Celebrity's four newest ships, Celebrity Edge, Celebrity Apex, Celebrity Beyond and Celebrity Ascent, feature "infinite veranda" cabins that are open to the sea in a way we haven't seen with other ocean ships. They boast a glass wall that opens from the top to create a balcony-like effect.

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An older sister to Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises earns a spot on our most popular cruise line list. With new ships offering world-class cuisine, service and entertainment, it’s no surprise cruisers are loving the experience onboard Celebrity’s cruise ships. The most popular cruise lines continue to innovate ships that are bigger and better than ever before. These mega ships can hold up to 7,000 passengers and have more things to do than most cruisers would even have time to complete during their sailing. As technology continues to evolve, cruise ships become more advanced than ever. If you’re looking for a family vacation and willing to spend generously, there is perhaps no better way to entertain your children than aboard one of the Disney cruise ships.

One of the most obvious upgrades on the newer Mardi Gras is BOLT, the first roller coaster at sea. It also includes Carnival's first-ever Grand Central Atrium, complete with three-story walls of glass overlooking the sea. Of course, sticking to Carnival's brand, the vibe onboard still skews upbeat (in other words, it's a party). Celebrity Apex is the second ship in Celebrity's distinctive Edge Series, which has taken cruising -- and the Celebrity brand -- in a new direction by applying innovation on par with sister-line Royal Caribbean.

Its ships conform to the medium size category and travel to destinations all around the world. It is extremely popular among seniors and retirees, partly because it offers extended travel duration which can last up to 195 days! It offers one of the most diverse culinary experiences in the industry, with options ranging from southern Porterhouses, to steamy Callaloo, to delicious Bouillabaisse. Travelers can engage in amenities such as culinary classes, luxury spas, and destination focused cultural activities. Royal Caribbean International takes the top spot on our list and it’s no surprise why. With their innovative ships, thrilling onboard activities like rock climbing and surfing, Broadway-style entertainment, and world-class dining options, Royal Caribbean offers an unforgettable experience for all travelers.

The long itineraries are meant to provide enriching voyages that allow cruisers to be immersed in different cultures. On some of these longer voyages, Princess Cruises offers sailings to incredible destinations like South America, Morocco, Taiwan and Thailand. Since 2011, Carnival has been upgrading older ships as part of their Fun Ship 2.0 initiative.

The ship's 2023 Eastern Mediterranean itineraries match its beachy vibe, and the detox-retox atmosphere carries over to ports like Santorini and Mykonos, thanks to exceptionally generous shore time. It should fit in well Down Under, where it just redeployed for its inaugural season there. In addition to its presence in the Caribbean and the Bahamas, Virgin Voyages is now offering seasonal sailings in the Mediterranean and voyages to Australia and New Zealand. With its upscale atmosphere, Michelin-star chef-curated menus, and wellness activities, Virgin Voyages’ three-ship line stands out. Virgin Voyages’ trophy cabinet is not bursting with accolades in 2023 for nothing.

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