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Carnival’s low fares and fun amenities make it a popular choice for those looking for a quick, affordable cruise (although it also offers longer trips to Europe, Australia and more). Its ships cater to travelers looking for an entertaining, exciting getaway — with an emphasis on pools, waterslides, mini-golf and karaoke, plus comedy shows, casino games and nightclubs for adults. As mentioned, I’ve been going on cruises since 2018 and will be heading on my sixth cruise this year. I’ve been on Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian, so I have first-hand experience on how each cruise line’s amenities, activities, entertainment, food and more.
Best for Families: Royal Caribbean
Typically, passengers traveling alone must be at least 21 years old on the day of embarkation. Premium cruises are generally mid-size (1,500-2,000 passengers) to large (over 2,000 passengers). If you’re ready to hop aboard, here are Money’s picks for the five best cruise lines of 2023. 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. My biggest tip for any cruise — but especially for Americans traveling to Europe for a Mediterranean cruise — is to arrive at your embarkation city at least a day before your sailing starts. This will likely result in you being allocated a cabin at the front or back of the ship, but it will save you money.
Best for Families
There will be elevators, of course, but you should expect queues at busy times. Princess Cruises is known for being the best cruise line for the whole family, from baby to grandma. And let the grandparents join in on the fun through educational excursions partnered with Discovery and Animal Planet, as well as splash zones, backyard games and yes, a kid-friendly bar with sweet mocktails. The cruise line also has their very own mascot, Stanley, who spends his time all over the ship to play games, take photos and interact with guests. If you have older kids, Norwegian may be the best cruise line for your family. Zoom around the largest race track at sea, immerse yourself at the high-tech Galaxy Pavilion or take a plunge on the water slides.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Windstar has a series of 2023 itineraries on the 156-cabin Star Pride and 171-suite Wind Surf that hit yachty Caribbean ports like Jost Van Dyke, in the British Virgin Islands, and Anguilla. The small-ship line, which is known for both its sleek “Star Plus Class” ships and its classic vessels with their dramatic sails, also has an array of itineraries along the coast of Australia and in the South Pacific. Travelers are turning to trusted lines to help minimize the hassles of country hopping and maximize relaxation time in each destination. Once this list was obtained, we used several different metrics to score each cruise line against. The first was the number of times each cruise had been recommended in our previous search.
The 5 Best Large-ship Ocean Cruise Lines in 2022
The line also offers a free onboard beverage package, free shore excursions credit, free dining package, and free WiFi. Princess Cruises also has comparable prices, as well as a “highest customer satisfaction” rating from TravelAge West and fantastic customer service. If you're looking to spend a little more, MSC Cruises has some lovely trips that will give you value for money. No vacation is fun when you’re worried about money, so make sure to keep budget in mind when booking.
Oceania Cruises
"We have both crossed the Atlantic and cruised in the Caribbean on the QM, and the experience is always outstanding." 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.
Holland America Line
Well, as always, we are here to partake in this debate with our list of best cruise lines in the US. According to Reuters, over 35 million tourists around the world are looking to cruise in 2024. The US contributes more tourists to the cruise industry than any other country in the world. Florida, California, and New York are home to some of the busiest cruise ports in the world.
The Best Cruise Lines of the 2023, According to Cruise Critic
The line also offers thoughtful dining packages to help make visiting these venues less restrictive and costs more manageable. MSC Cruises is perhaps the most affordable and family-friendly cruise on our list. It would be ranked even higher, if not for the fact that it is an Italian cruise company which has only a select few voyages from US ports.
The Best Cruises in the World: 2023 Readers' Choice Awards - Condé Nast Traveler
The Best Cruises in the World: 2023 Readers' Choice Awards.
Posted: Tue, 03 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Steps to Choosing the Right Cruise for Your Next Vacation
Higher fare tiers include more amenities but are significantly more expensive. Royal Caribbean’s wide range of activities and amenities include a little something for everything, from waterslides and ziplines to dance classes to movie nights. The ships even offer babysitting services so grownups can have a night out at a restaurant, nightclub or show. Royal Caribbean International’s ships sail to a wide variety of destinations, from shorter trips to the Caribbean and Mexico to longer vacations to Alaska, Europe, Asia and the South Pacific.
The trip, which departs June 24, is a seven-night expedition that takes in many of the most notable sites on the islands, with programming specially tailored for both kids and adults. The Alaska trips on Ocean Victory, a fuel-efficient, 93-cabin ship from American Queen Voyages, come with the opportunity to kayak past glaciers and spot bald eagles and grizzlies. The vessel, which first debuted in 2021, represents an evolution in ship design for American Queen, with its cutting-edge X-Bow design (which helps reduce fuel burn) and chic suites, including many with private verandas. Scroll on to see the full list of the best cruise lines for mega-ships and learn more about why readers loved Celebrity in particular. Holland America Line, celebrating 75 years in Alaska in 2022, is in the No. 4 spot. "Food is excellent, crew is friendly and attentive; and cabins are large compared to other cruise lines," one voter wrote.
Food options include gourmet specialties, quick-serve bites and 24-hour room service, so you and your family can eat anytime you're hungry. Parents can even book a romantic dinner while the kids have fun at one of the supervised youth clubs. By definition, small ships hold fewer than 1200 passengers, usually making the cruise experience more intimate with more individualized service. 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.
If you've ever dreamed of having your own butler, Silversea is the luxury cruise line for you. Further, Silversea's new culinary program, nicknamed S.A.L.T. (for Sea and Land Taste), brings the taste of destinations on board through cooking classes. Of course, there's no need to cook for yourself aboard a Silversea ship, as each one features several restaurants with multi-course menus to whet your appetite every night. Single cruisers on Norwegian have access to a dedicated lounge and meetups where they can mingle with other travelers, too.
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