Top 10 Best Cruise Lines
As the world has reopened and ships of all sizes have resumed sailing, the results represent the lines you wished to sail with when you couldn't travel and the ... read more...ones you returned to first once you could. Cruises have become a popular way to spend a holiday, whether it's during the winter, summer, or spring break. So, these are the top cruise lines you should be aware of.
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Royal Caribbean is the cruise line for you if you want to feel like you're living in a floating metropolis, since it features four of the world's largest cruise ships. In terms of passenger count (about 6,700 at full capacity), length (almost 1,200 feet), and gross tonnage, Symphony of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, and Oasis of the Seas are at the top of the list (more than 225,000 tonnes).
Given their size, these ships provide every luxury you can think of—and many you can't—from waterparks to world-class musical shows to autonomous bars manned by robots to double-decker suites with kid-friendly slides. These behemoths may be seen sailing the Caribbean and Mediterranean all year, but with so many activities on board, you might not want to leave.
Detailed information:
Best for: Families
Pricing: AverageLink: https://www.royalcaribbean.com/
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MSC Grandiosa, MSC Bellissima, MSC Meraviglia, MSC Virtuosa, and MSC Seashore, despite being based in landlocked Switzerland, has perfected the art of mega-ships, having built five of the world's top fifteen: MSC Grandiosa, MSC Bellissima, MSC Meraviglia, MSC Virtuosa, and MSC Seashore. At maximum capacity, each can accommodate between 5,300 and 6,300 people.
The newest of the five ships, MSC Seashore, is a New York City-themed ship that will take sail in November 2021. With a length of 1,100 feet, it's the longest ship in the fleet, with more than 140,000 square feet of outdoor area and 7,500 square feet dedicated to youngsters, including the Pirates Cove Aquapark. MSC has plans for mega-expansion as well: four World-class mega-ships are in the works, each with a capacity of 5,800 to 6,850 people.
Detailed information:
Best for: Couples
Pricing: AverageLink: https://www.msccruisesusa.com
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Norwegian Cruise Line, known for its colorful ships, initially entered the mega-ship category in 2010 with the debut of Norwegian Epic, which can transport just over 5,000 people at full capacity, and has since added five more in the Breakaway and Breakaway-Plus classes.
Although the cruise line's newest ship, Norwegian Bliss, has a decidedly more mature atmosphere, the crowd aboard these vessels, which primarily sail in North America, the Caribbean, and the Mediterranean, is often made up of families who take advantage of amenities like waterparks, virtual-reality gaming, and go-kart racing. Norwegian Encore, the most luxurious of its mega-ships, was launched in November 2019 as the newest member of its fleet.
Detailed information:
Best for: Couples
Pricing: LowLink: https://www.ncl.com/in/en/
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Carnival Cruise Lines is all about having a fantastic time with the family at a reasonable price. It has 25 ships that sail North America and Europe, with roughly half of them having a capacity between 2,500 and 3,900 people, making it the world's largest cruise line in terms of yearly passengers (more than five million) and fleet count.
Carnival is noted for its exciting upper decks, which resemble an amusement park at sea, featuring water slides, ropes courses, mini-golf, and attractions like SkyRide, which allows customers to pedal a suspended vehicle around a track. The family-friendly ships skew toward the upscale side, and they’re known for their incredibly international crowds.
Detailed information:
Best for: Families
Pricing: LowLink: https://www.carnival.com/
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Holland America Company is an American-owned cruise line based in Seattle, Washington. It is a part of Carnival Corporation & plc. Holland America Line was created in Rotterdam, Netherlands, and operated as a Dutch shipping line, a passenger line, a freight line, and a cruise line between the Netherlands and North America from 1873 to 1989. The firm was actively involved in the shipping of hundreds of thousands of emigrants from the Netherlands to North America as part of its heritage.
Of course, the cruise line's 11 ships now travel to more than 470 locations throughout the world, and its Alaska itineraries are well-known. While passengers can partake in traditional cruise activities such as swimming, sports, and gambling, Holland America is known for its culinary and musical offerings. It has a partnership with the television show America's Test Kitchen for cooking demonstrations, cooking classes, and a number of live music venues (including a B.B. King's Blues Club) as well as stage productions dedicated to the history of music on many of its ships.
Detailed information:
Best for: Older couples
Pricing: HighLink: https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US.html
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Carnival Corporation & plc owns Princess Cruises, an American-British cruise line. The corporation is based in Santa Clarita, California, and is incorporated in Bermuda. It is the second largest cruise line in terms of net revenue as of 2018. It was once a subsidiary of P&O Princess Cruises and is now owned by Holland America Group, a division of Carnival Corporation & plc, which also owns the Princess Cruises brand. The line has 14 ships that sail throughout the world on routes that appeal to both domestic and foreign guests.
Princess Cruises, which is part of the Carnival company, has a quirky claim to fame: the TV program The Love Boat was filmed aboard its Pacific Princess ship. If you haven't watched an episode, you're in luck since one of the onboard TV station's broadcasts replays 24 hours a day. However, after you see all of the activities available on board its 14 ships, you won't want to stay in your cabin. The cruise line's unique Seawitch craft beer program partners with brewers all over the globe, while Discovery at SEA features activities based on TV shows from Discovery, Inc.'s family of networks, including Animal Planet, Discovery Channel, and Science Channel.
Detailed information:
Best for: Couples
Pricing: Low
Link: https://www.princess.com/ -
Cunard Line is a British cruise line located in Southampton, England, and owned by Carnival Corporation & plc. It is run by Carnival UK and owned by Carnival Corporation & plc. Cunard and its three ships have been registered in Bermuda since 2011.
Cunard is the place to go if you're looking for the romantic romanticism of bygone transatlantic sailings. The iconic cruise line was founded in 1840 and has had hundreds of ships in its fleet, however there are only three operating ships today: the Queen Mary 2, the world's only genuine transatlantic ocean liner, as well as the world's first pet-friendly ship; Queen Elizabeth; and Queen Victoria. In the previous 180 years, activities haven't altered all that much—still there's a traditional afternoon tea, black-tie banquets, and galas in the ballrooms. It's almost like stepping back in time, yet with all the contemporary safety features. Cunard's next ship will be launched in 2022 or 2023.
Detailed information:
Best for: Couples
Pricing: High
Link: https://www.cunard.com/en-gb -
Celebrity Cruises has a fleet of 14 ships that travel around the world, ranging in size from the small Xpedition-class ships that hold 16 to 100 guests to the huge 2,800- to 3,100-passenger Solstice class and 2,900-passenger Edge class that launched in late 2018 with Celebrity Edge.
With innovations like Eden, a three-story hybrid "experiential" restaurant, craft cocktail lounge, and performance venue; and Le Petit Chef at Le Grand Bistro, a dinner restaurant with a 4D animation projected on your plate throughout your meal, this edgy ship was designed to appeal to a non-cruising clientele. In 2020, Celebrity Edge was followed by Celebrity Apex, with Celebrity Beyond following in 2022 (and two more in the years to come!).
Detailed information:
Best for: Older couples
Pricing: HighLink: https://www.celebritycruises.com/
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If there's one thing Disney Cruise Line excels at, it's providing excellent service. The 2,400-passenger Disney Magic and Disney Wonder, as well as the 4,000-passenger Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy, have incorporated every lesson learnt from the company's parks and resort operations into its four cruise ships. The ships are constructed with families in mind—there are various themed events every day, ranging from meet-and-greets to full-fledged Disney character parties—but there are plenty of adult-only locations to get away from the kids.
However, when it comes to Disney decor, the ships aren't over-the-top. In truth, they're extremely lovely, with Art Deco and Art Nouveau aesthetics and design inspiration from early twentieth-century ocean liners. The four ships presently travel the Caribbean, Alaska, Europe, the Pacific Coast, and the Panama Canal, including stops at Disney's own island, Castaway Cay. Between 2022 and 2025, three more ships, including Disney Wish, will be added to the fleet.
Detailed information:
Best for: Families
Pricing: AverageLink: https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/
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Oceania Cruises is a cruise operator established in Miami, Florida that operates six cruise ships on destinations all over the world. It usually provides cruises that run 10 to 14 days, but it is also renowned for its lengthy voyages that may last up to 195 days. Bob Binder is the line's President and CEO, as well as its vice-chairman and co-founder.
Its 1,250-passenger MS Marina and MS Riviera offer restaurants by Jaques Pepin, a six-course Dom Perignon dinner with a pairing of three vintages, a cooking center where passengers of all cooking skill levels can take classes, and culinary-themed excursions, like a visit to the market in Nice with a chef. The Polo Grill and the Italian cafe Toscana are among the ships' four smaller Regatta-class ships, which each accommodate 684 guests. Oceania will receive two new 1,200-passenger ships in 2023 and 2025, respectively.
Detailed information:
Best for: Families
Pricing: HighLink: https://www.oceaniacruises.com