The Best Cruise Lines: Breakdown
Table Of Content
From luxury small-ship cruises to big-name brands with full entertainment and leisure facilities, the cruise lines rated top are always those that have the best passenger-to-space ratio on board. See the full results below to find out which companies provide enough room, and which ones pack you in like sardines. While travel credit cards offer some trip protection, we suggest you check out our list of best cruise travel insurance, as these plans are geared specifically for cruise trips. While Viking Cruises is mostly known for its European itineraries, it also offers itineraries along the Mekong River in Vietnam and the Nile River in Egypt, giving travelers the opportunity to enjoy these rich destinations all from the comfort of a luxury ship. With a fleet of three ships, Virgin Voyages offers itineraries from two to 14 nights. As for destinations, Virgin has itineraries along the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, the South Pacific and even a 14-day transatlantic journey from Barcelona to Miami.
Best cruise lines for singles: Norwegian Cruise Lines
2024 Member Choice Awards: Best Cruise Lines and Ships - Cruiseline.com
2024 Member Choice Awards: Best Cruise Lines and Ships.
Posted: Wed, 21 Feb 2024 02:14:25 GMT [source]
When you dine aboard a Regent cruise, you'll experience world-class chefs as well as sommeliers to pair your wine to your meal. Dining options include a variety of restaurants serving French cuisine, Pan-Asian dishes, Italian specialties, steak and more. Families can experience Disney magic by booking a cruise through Disney Cruise Lines. With over 19 ports of departure to choose from, your family can take a Disney cruise from almost anywhere in the world. Departure cities include Barcelona, Rome, Fort Lauderdale, Sydney, New Orleans and San Diego. Today's launching of Norwegian Aqua signifies the completion of the external work done on the ship readying it for its April 2025 debut.
Is it safe to travel to Dubai for a holiday?
Viking's carefully crafted itineraries and "good value" also received praise from readers. "Met wonderful new friends. Absolutely outstanding service and terrific food," said one fan. Best for boutique cruisingUnder the same ownership as Scenic, Emerald Cruises offers a more affordable experience on contemporary Star Ships that would give smart boutique hotels a run for their money. Each of the nine in Europe has an on-board Activity Manager to facilitate yoga classes, cycling, kayaking and hiking trips.
The greatest place I’ve ever stayed (including a campsite in Wales) – according to 15 travel writers
It goes without saying that they are significantly more expensive than a mainstream cruise. Cruisers who seek an ultimate luxury experience must typically take a trip with boutique, small-ship cruise lines such as Seabourn that have relatively few crowd-pleasing attractions. For a premium fare, MSC’s Yacht Club offers what’s called a “ship-within-a-ship” experience — a dedicated VIP enclave on a larger cruise ship that gives guests the best of both worlds.
How travelers can use the list
Below are some things to consider when choosing which cruise to book for your next vacation. This may influence which products we review and write about (and where those products appear on the site), but it in no way affects our recommendations or advice, which are grounded in thousands of hours of research. Our partners cannot pay us to guarantee favorable reviews of their products or services. “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. These are the best cruise lines in the world, according to the 2023 Readers' Choice Awards. Cruise’s AV stack is based on AI technology that learns from information gathered through our driving experience and retrains and evolves our models continuously.
Cruising offers something for every traveler, allowing you to visit multiple destinations while sleeping in the same bed every night. Whether your next vacation is with your family, your partner or solo, there's a ship that’s right for you. The best cruise lines offer promotions regularly, so keep an eye out for specials that match your budget. This year’s winner, Uniworld – which has held on to the top spot since the last awards in 2019, renowned for its lavish interiors and palatial décor – is a case in point. Its product range now includes new mystery voyages, rail-and-cruise hybrid itineraries and, in a first for both the line and the river cruise industry as a whole, a 46-night sailing taking in nine countries on five of its luxury Super Ships. In second place is archetypal boutique line Azamara Cruises, with its four classically styled ships dedicated to fulfilling the line’s promise of “destination immersion”.
Focusing on smaller ports of call, longer stays in port, more overnight stops and night-time tours – as well as its signature AzAmazing Celebrations – Azamara’s cruises are designed to fully immerse guests in their destination. Best for cultural excursionsScenic’s smart, modern “Space Ships” sail the rivers of Europe and Asia in considerable style. Everything is included, from bar drinks to a choice of excursions themed around cultural enrichment, soft adventure, food and wine, varying from a private dinner in the Palais des Papes in Avignon to guided kayaking and cycling.
Expedition Awards
Those assessments were combined to generate results for the cruise lines in six categories, including river cruising. Viking Cruises is a river and ocean cruise line that recently added expedition sailings and the Great Lakes trips to its repertoire. "T+L readers rave about the consistency of Viking's vessels and their Scandinavian design," cruise expert Fran Golden reported when Viking once again topped T+L's World's Best Awards last year. Viking came in at No. 1 in T+L's best mid-size ship category and river cruise category.
On board, your family will enjoy live shows that rival Broadway performances, evening fireworks displays and visits from popular Disney, Marvel and Star Wars characters. Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. And while our site doesn’t feature every company or financial product available on the market, we’re proud that the guidance we offer, the information we provide and the tools we create are objective, independent, straightforward — and free. Meena Thiruvengadam is a lifelong traveler and veteran journalist who has visited more than 50 countries across six continents. Her writing has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Departures, TripSavvy, and other publications.
Golden said the WBA Hall of Fame honoree's 50 river "longships" are "light-filled floating boutique hotels." Best for a leisurely paceRiviera Travel is the UK’s largest provider of European river cruises and its smart, friendly ships attract a mainly British audience looking for affordability, comfort and included excursions. There’s a wide variety of itineraries, some sailing at a pleasingly slow pace, going deeper into the destinations.
Yacht Club guests get 24-hour butler service and their own dedicated concierge, plus a premium drink and internet package. They also enjoy complimentary access to the ship’s spa as well as other perks like a luggage packing and unpacking service and priority check-in and check-out. MSC is a European cruise line that offers itineraries in the Caribbean as well as to popular destinations in Europe like the Mediterranean and Norway. Disney is famous for its attention to detail and focus on the guest experience in its theme parks, and those attributes extend to its cruises, too. Families will enjoy meet-and-greets with Disney characters, themed restaurants, and a slew of onboard activities and entertainment.
Readers praised the line's value proposition and shore experiences that go beyond the norm. The "Thinking Man's vacation" is the way one reader who sailed on a Viking ship on the Rhine river put it. With the American and Australian markets slow to recover, last year bargain prices and great deals abounded for British travellers – though this year has seen a return to higher prices and sold-out sailings. In 2019 – the last “normal” year of business, which companies are now measuring against – the industry celebrated breaking the two-million-passenger barrier. More than three years later, there’s finally talk of returning to this figure by the end of 2023, aided by a new cohort of converts who dipped their toes into cruising on those first UK sailings in 2021 which signalled the industry’s tentative return. As competition in the cruise world grows, so does the need for companies to differentiate themselves, offering a more personalised feel and building on specialist interests to offer guests a more enriching experience.
Comments
Post a Comment