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Royal Caribbean itineraries have a heavy emphasis on the Caribbean, Mexico and Central America. They also offer several seasonal sailings, including Alaska, Bermuda, Canada, Hawaii, both U.S. Coasts, Europe, Asia, the Mediterranean and the South Pacific, including Australia and New Zealand. The line caters to a broad spectrum of guests, with ample activities and attractions onboard that perfectly match the needs and desires of guests of all ages. It’s at the top of the list of cruise line companies that truly cater to cruisers from two to 82. Get to know the best cruise ships in a variety of categories, based on member review ratings for cruises taken in the last year.
Best Cruise Line for First Timers on a Budget: Carnival Cruise Line
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. Each ship has a wellness centre and a fleet of e-bikes for independent exploring. The company is Australian-owned, so expect to sail in the company of Australians and New Zealanders. Best for hedonistsSeaDream’s two 112-passenger ships offer a cruise experience as close to a private yacht as you’ll find, with intuitive service, superb dining and an open bar. The twin yachts have both had a multi-million pound refurbishment with top-to-toe cabin upgrades and new public areas including indulgent hot tubs for couples.
Best for LGBTQ+ Travelers
Best for activitiesAPT is an Australian-owned cruise company specialising in luxurious, all-inclusive voyages worldwide. In Europe, APT charters ships from AmaWaterways, a reflection of the quality you can expect. All tours are included, with Signature excursions offering special, tailor-made experiences such as private music recitals and visits to European castles hosted by actual royalty. It also operates the value-for-money Travelmarvel brand on contemporary vessels that include a pub-style bar. 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.
Best for Solo Travelers: Norwegian
Best for adventure in comfortSeabourn’s five ultra-luxurious ships sail all over the world, including to Antarctica, offering the highest standards of cuisine and cultural experiences. All-suites accommodation, all-inclusive dining and drinks attract a well-travelled, discerning crowd, many of them repeaters, which creates a happy vibe akin to that of a private club on board. A purpose-built expedition ship, the 264-guest Seabourn Venture, set sail in 2022. It’s equipped with two submarines that seat six people for underwater viewing adventures.
In April and August, it will offer itineraries that focus on the history of World War II, with visits to islands involved in the conflict, including Chuuk and Guadalcanal. The cruise lines and itineraries to consider in the year ahead, as selected by T+L news director Paul Brady. U.S. News has enriched the latest rankings, adding several cruise experts’ personal experiences and insider tips into profiles and ship reviews. This addition gives travelers a deeper understanding of each cruise line, enhancing their selection process. Virgin Voyages dominates the Best Cruise Lines for the Money category for another consecutive year.
A few stellar examples include the Culinary Arts Center, a partnership with America's Test Kitchen that focuses on cooking demos and hands-on workshops, self-guided art tours of the onboard art collections and Explorations Central. Explorations Central aims to highlight local culture and history onboard via special talks, port guides and cultural demonstrations. None of that means children aren’t welcome; they simply aren’t the line’s primary market. You won’t find massive water slides and zip lines on Celebrity ships, but Celebrity’s Camp at Sea is designed as a flexible way for children on board to have as much fun as their parents. The atmosphere on board is similar to that at an all-inclusive couples’ resort.
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The line’s newest ships, including Silver Dawn, offer the SALT (Sea and Land Taste) programme, which features in-depth culinary tours and experiences. The other perks included in your cruise fare will depend on how much you pay; many larger cruise lines offer multiple tiers of fares. The lowest tier will be the cheapest, but you should expect to pay out of pocket for extras like drinks, certain restaurant meals and activities and excursions once you’re on board. Higher fare tiers include more amenities but are significantly more expensive.
We considered prices; the number of ships in each fleet; the flexibility to serve specific traveler types, such as families and singles; and the types of itineraries offered by each company. While most cruises are on the ocean, some lines (like Viking) offer trips in smaller vessels that cruise along rivers. These tend to be quieter and attract an older clientele compared to a mainstream ocean cruise. These cruises are a step up from those on mainstream ocean liners, and so tend to cater to a slightly older crowd. They typically boast more sophisticated amenities, too, like art collections and educational classes on sea days. Extras like shore excursions and souvenirs can add up quickly, as can certain on-board activities.
Best Cruise Line Overall for First Timers: Royal Caribbean
This is the cruise that proves it’s all about the journey, not the destination. Just make sure to check this cruise packing list so you bring all the right things with you. For added assurance, you might want to take these unexpected essentials with you as well. Single cruisers also have access to an exclusive shared social space called the Studio Complex and Lounge.
Entertainment and most activities are included in the fare, but keep in mind that crew tips are not. 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.
It also recently jumped into more adventurous, expedition-style cruising with two new 264-passenger vessels designed to operate in polar regions such as Antarctica and the Arctic. Others operate vessels that are as luxurious as any upscale resort found on land. A few small luxury players such as Regent Seven Seas Cruises have ships with lavish suites that'll cost you as much as $11,000 a day. Before you buy a cruise, you’ll be well-served by understanding how these vacations work, what is and isn’t included in the fare and what it might cost to insure your trip in case the worst were to happen. In addition, it’s helpful to understand the types of cruises and cabins, and how best to choose among them. Crew gratuities are included in the cruise fare, but tips for excursion tour guides on non-expedition cruises are not.
11 Best Cruise Lines to Book in 2024 — Best Cruises for Every Traveler - Reader's Digest
11 Best Cruise Lines to Book in 2024 — Best Cruises for Every Traveler.
Posted: Tue, 12 Mar 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
The line has long been praised by its fans for having plenty of tasty food choices included with the cruise fares. Think burgers and barbecue from TV chef Guy Fieri and fried chicken inspired by basketball legend Shaquille O’Neil (who happens to be a Carnival spokesperson). First-time cruisers can sail on Royal Caribbean ships from 15 U.S. ports and 18 international ports.
20 Best Cruise Lines In The U.S. (Ranked By Rating) - TheTravel
20 Best Cruise Lines In The U.S. (Ranked By Rating).
Posted: Sun, 11 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
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. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer) as we strive to provide site experiences for browsers that support new web standards and security practices. Get Reader’s Digest’s Read Up newsletter for more travel, tech, cleaning, humor and fun facts all week long. Oceania Cruises' Marina is one of 12 ships chosen by our editors for 2024.
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. Operating a fast-growing fleet of tough but upscale expedition ships (none carrying more than 264 passengers), Ponant is known for voyages to places like Antarctica and the Arctic. This much-beloved luxury line recently restarted operations under new owners after shutting down for 18 months.
Best for wellnessAmaWaterways’ five-star fleet offers river cruises in Europe, Asia, southern Africa and Egypt aimed at a mainly North American market looking for a quality, comfortable product. There’s an increasing emphasis on wellness, with a qualified fitness trainer on almost every cruise and a fleet of bicycles on every ship. The extra-wide AmaMagna, which sails the Danube, is one of the most luxurious riverboats in Europe. The line has also pioneered epic 46-night cruises along seven rivers in 14 countries, and in 2024 it will be the first to offer sailings on Colombia’s Magdalena River.
For example, you might find there are two cruises leaving a particular port on the same ship on the same day. This makes Holland America the best cruise line for allowing cruisers the flexibility to build the itinerary that suits them. The line has long offered both one-way and round-trip Panama Canal cruises, and seasonally moves a number of ships to Northern European and Mediterranean routes, as well as to Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific.
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