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One thing to understand is that the lists of cruise lines you'll find here at TPG and at other travel sites include companies offering an incredible range of experiences. Cruises are booming right now, buoyed partly by the popularity of domestic seacations that hauled in first-time sailors. What’s interesting is that while there are fewer economies of scale with smaller ships and the line aims for more luxury, prices for Princess are not that much higher than the major cruise lines. Itineraries for Princess are also global, meaning more trips to and from faraway places versus what’s seen with mass-market lines.
Best Cruise Lines in the US
Couples looking for the best cruise lines for a romantic adventure should make reservations with Viking Ocean Cruises. All Viking cruise ships are adults-only, so couples can enjoy their trip without interruptions from other travelers' children on board. Silversea ships are all-suite with butler service and capacities that range from 100 guests to just over 700. Though each ship is distinct, the fleet consists of a mix of expedition-class vessels and “classic” ships, but even the expedition ships are designed around making every trip both exciting and luxurious. Paul Gauguin Cruises operates just one ship, but it is exquisite, hosting 330 guests and sailing only in the South Pacific to destinations like Tahiti, Fiji, Tonga, and the Cook Islands.
Best cruise line for younger travelers
Traveler Editors' Favorite Cruise Ships in the World: Gold List 2024 - Condé Nast Traveler
Traveler Editors' Favorite Cruise Ships in the World: Gold List 2024.
Posted: Wed, 13 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
It prides on providing an individualistic yet immersive experience to cruisers, which is why its fleet comprises of smaller sized cruises in comparison to others. Its pristine dining facilities allow passengers to feast on delicious cuisines, complementary caviar, and the finest alcoholic beverages. On its most elegant cruises, Silversea offers its S.A.L.T. (Sea and Land Taste) program, which allows cruisers to dive deep into the flavors of the regions they voyage to. Outside of dining, Silversea offers the chance to journey around the seven seas. It is especially lauded for its land expeditions, including some which explore the farthest regions of Alaska. Silversea has a long list of accolades from various outlets including being the “Ultra-luxury Cruise Line of The Year” and the “Expedition/Adventure Cruise Line of the Year” in 2024.
The floating megaresort lines
Silversea Cruises topped the list as Best Luxury Cruise Line for the second year in a row. Cruise Critic just announced its annual list of the Best Cruise Lines of The Year. This is the 15th iteration of the list compiled by the online cruise community’s international team of cruise experts. In short, if you’ve ever thought that cruising was stodgy or old-fashioned, then Virgin Voyages is designed to break that stereotype. In terms of ships, Norwegian’s aren’t as large as its rival Royal Caribbean, but they are still plenty big.
Paul Gauguin Cruises
You might expect given the cost of visiting Disney World it would be pricey to sail on the ship. Of all the major cruise lines, we’ve found Disney to be the highest priced. For example, we found four-night cruises in July (peak season), which might be $400-$600 on most cruise lines selling for about $1,500-$2,000 per person on Disney. That’s a high price to pay, but many people rave about the service and experience on a Disney cruise.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ Seven Seas Grandeur
The provided gear will include outerwear (a souvenir parka is yours to keep on polar expeditions) and the ships are equipped with complimentary launderettes. Staterooms feature comforts like Viking’s famous heated bathroom floors, but the expedition ships are also equipped with heated drying closets for wet gear and in-room coffee makers supplied with coffees and teas. Holland America's innovative additions to the entertainment lineup above also keep the company's loyal cruisers in mind. There are alternative dining options for a charge, as well as a complimentary buffet. In the top class of Queens Grill Suites, complimentary mini bars are stocked with soft drinks and two bottles of wine or spirits. Disney cruises are heavily focused on The Bahamas, Caribbean and Mexico, but also have seasonal cruises along the Pacific west coast, Alaska, Bermuda, the Mediterranean and Northern Europe.
Best Cruise Line for First Timers on a Budget: Carnival Cruise Line
When this luxury cruise line says it's all-inclusive, it's not overstating. Everything from shore excursions, Wi-Fi, and laundry to gratuities, top-shelf liquor, and business-class international flights are included with Regent Seven Seas Cruises' fares. Among the companies offering cruises along the Danube are A-ROSA Cruises, with whom we have partnered to bring you our remarkable river cruise.
Some themes are cruise-wide, while others are group itineraries with exclusive activities. These are some of the most popular itineraries because of their accessibility, affordability and wide variety of activities. The ships tend to be large – some can carry more than 6,000 passengers – and are packed with amenities. It doesn’t matter if you want adventure, relaxation or a combination of both, the best cruises offer a convenient and all-inclusive way to explore multiple destinations without the hassle of planning individual itineraries. Here at TPG, we offer a growing array of guides to individual cruise lines, as well as ship-specific reviews. Even the biggest of these lines — Disney — is just one-tenth the size of industry leader Royal Caribbean when measured by passenger capacity.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Of all the cruise lines featured here, Virgin is without a doubt the most unique. The cruise line does things very different from any other line, from the way the ship looks to the onboard experience, to its fares. As for ships, the cruise line’s newest ship holds about 4,300 passengers. That said, newer ships (including its Prima class) point toward more of a focus on luxury.
Best for health-conscious cruise fansAvalon’s 19 river ships, which sail in Europe and Asia, are luxurious and contemporary, offering a culturally immersive, active cruise experience. On the European ships, the Panorama Suites, with floor-to-ceiling windows that open into private balconies, are the most prized. Excursions focus on the active and experiential, from hikes, jogging, cycling and kayaking to art classes and immersive cultural tours. Dining mixes regional specialities with Avalon Fresh options, featuring local ingredients and vegetarian dishes.
Star Clippers and Sea Cloud Cruises, which both operate sailing ships, are popular with people who want to experience what it was like traveling in the days before steam power. American Cruise Lines has developed a significant niche offering small-ship trips along U.S. coastal waterways and rivers, including voyages along the coast of Maine, up the Hudson River and in the Chesapeake Bay. 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.
If your vacation preferences favor mountain landscapes, wine tasting and pioneer lore, consider American Cruise Lines' eight-night Columbia & Snake River Cruise. You'll explore the Pacific Northwest from Portland, Oregon, to Clarkstown, Washington (or vice versa). There's eagle spotting in Red Wing and agricultural innovation in Quad Cities, Iowa. You'll enjoy Mark Twain lore in Hannibal, Missouri, and architectural landmarks, such as the soaring Gateway Arch, in St. Louis. By the way, Insider Monkey is an investing website that tracks the movements of corporate insiders and hedge funds.
Maybe it should be ranked as one of the best cruise lines for fun, as well as for being budget friendly. This Miami-based luxury line operates some of the most opulent vessels at sea, including three recently unveiled Explorer-class ships billed as the most expensive luxury vessels ever built on a cost-per-berth basis. A giant of cruising in Europe, Switzerland-based MSC Cruises is making a big play for North Americans with newer, bigger ships sailing year-round from Florida to the Caribbean and Bahamas. Note that TPG has many guides to individual lines, which you can find by clicking on our cruise line hub pages linked in each segment below. Over two weeks, you'll visit Native American burial grounds and archeological sites in West Virginia and learn about the underground railroad in Ohio. You can taste bourbon and explore the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory or the Kentucky Derby Museum & Horse Park in Louisville.
There is a wide variation among these brands in the size of their ships. The biggest Holland America ships, for instance, are less than half the size of the biggest Royal Caribbean ships and hold far fewer passengers. Emerald Yacht Cruises, a line best known for its river ships, launched its first ocean-going vessel, Emerald Azzura, in 2022 followed by an identical sister ship, Emerald Sakara, in 2023. Both ships are intimate with a capacity of 100 passengers in 50 staterooms. The larger lines like Carnival and Royal Caribbean have more ships, which means more departure ports.
The best way to describe them is that they are like the big Las Vegas resorts, except they float. These ships can hold as many as 5,000 or even 6,000 people, not including the crew. The key thing to know about the seven "biggies," as I call them, is that the type of experience they offer varies greatly.
However, it offers an experience on its ocean ships that some would call luxury, with spectacular onboard service, high-end eateries and many inclusions in its base fares, such as a shore excursion in every port. Each of these brands operates medium-size to big ships that are not loaded up with water parks, rock climbing walls, surfing simulators and all the other things that are hallmarks of the floating megaresort lines. These are more traditional cruise ships for people who don't want a floating theme park or Las Vegas resort experience.
