Mega Ship Line #: Norwegian Cruise Line
Known for its colorful ships, Norwegian Cruise Line first broke into the mega-ship category in 2010 with the launch of Norwegian Epic, which can carry just over 5,000 passengers at full occupancy, and the company has since introduced five others in the Breakaway and Breakaway-Plus classes. The crowd aboard these vessels, which primarily sail in North America, the Caribbean, and the Mediterranean, often consists of families who take advantage of amenities like waterparks, virtual-reality gaming, and go-kart racing, though the cruise lines newest ship, Norwegian Bliss, has a decidedly more mature atmosphere. In November 2019, Norwegian launched the newest member of its fleet, Norwegian Encore, which is the most luxurious of its mega-ships.
River Ship Line #: Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection
Uniworld’s 21 ships cruise around the globe in Europe, Egypt, Russia, China, India, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Peru. Their excursions offer passengers the opportunity to get a little closer to their destinations of choice, with visits to local homes, farms, and artisans, and every excursion is rated by ability level. In 2018, two of its ships were overhauled for a new venture, U by Uniworld Cruises, with itineraries, dining, and activities that appeal to younger prospective passengersthink silent discos, mixology classes, and rooftop camping.
River Ship Line #: American Queen Steamboat Company
If nostalgias the name of your game, book a trip with the American Queen Steamboat Company, whose four paddlewheelers sail the Mississippi, Columbia, Snake, Ohio, Tennessee, and Cumberland Rivers. These are leisurely sailings: most are nine days long, with some outliers like the 15- or 16-day journey from Minneapolis to New Orleans.
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Small Ship Line #: Seadream Yacht Club
Sailing through the Caribbean, around Europe, or across the Atlantic on either of SeaDreams two 112-passenger yachts means quickly getting to know your fellow guests. Facilities on the six decks include a pool, whirlpool, and casino, but the real highlight is the watersports marina that can be lowered down to the waves for easy ocean swimming, kayaking, and more. The ships often overnight in port, allowing guests the opportunity to experience the local nightlife before taking off for their next destination.
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Its important you have realistic expectations about what river cruising is going to cost you. Increasingly, we are finding that river cruising in Europe will cost you, on average, $400 per day, per person. Take the Rhone river, for example 2020 peak season prices on the Rhone river range from a low of $309 per person a day to a high of $691 per person per day on Tauck. The average per diem of a 2020 Rhone river cruise for the dates we researched is $504 per person. See Rhone River Cruise Price Comparisons 2020 and How To Save On A 2020 Rhone River Cruise. You may also want to look at How Much Does River Cruising Cost?
My job, my passion, in fact, is to inform you as best as I can through my river cruise reviews. I know that you can become confused dizzy may be the better word by the various itineraries, stateroom categories, French balconies vs. step-out balconies, the differences in river ships and between the cruise companies.
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Medium Ship Line #1: Norwegian Cruise Line
Until it launched Norwegian Epic in 2010, then the Breakaway and Breakaway-plus classes in 2013 and 2015, respectively, Norwegian primarily focused on mid-sized ships that carry around 2,000 passengersand they still make up the majority of the fleet. A colorful atmosphere pervades the ships, as guests enjoy everything from water slides to silly pool contests like synchronized swimming to everyones favorite: bingo night. Norwegians ships have itineraries all over the world, with many focusing on North America.
Mega Ship Line #: Msc Cruises
Though MSC is headquartered in landlocked Switzerland, this cruise line has mastered the art of mega-ships, building five of the 15 largest in the world: MSC Grandiosa, MSC Bellissima, MSC Meraviglia,MSC Virtuosa, and MSC Seashore. Each can hold between 5,300 and 6,300 passengers at maximum capacity. MSC Seashore, a New York Citythemed ship, is the newest of the five, setting sail in November 2021. It’s the longest vessel in the fleet at 1,100 feet, allowing for more than 140,000 square feet of outdoor space, plus 7,500 square feet of dedicated space for kids, including the Pirates Cove Aquapark. MSC has some plans for mega-growth, too: it has four World-class mega-ships in the pipeline, each with a capacity between 5,800 and 6,850 passengers.
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Small Ship Line #: Windstar Cruises
The lines six shipsthree sailing yachts and three all-suite motor yachtsspecialize in visiting ports that ban larger ships, like the Byzantine hilltop town of Monemvasia in the Greek Islands, and the sleepy, palm-fringed Caribbean island of Bequia. Those smaller ports can give a sense of intimacy that isn’t always present in the most common cruise destinations, allowing for wholly different experiences. In 2017, Windstar also became the official cruise line of the James Beard Foundation, introducing further special itineraries with culinary themes and guest chefs.
Small Ship Line #: Quasar Expeditions
The first luxury line to sail the Galápagos, Quasar Expeditions is best known for its in-depth trips aboard its two intimate ships that carry fewer than 32 passengers each. Yet note the street cred of said ships: One of the two, the Grace, is the former yacht of Princess Grace of Monaco. The other, the Evolution, will allow you to retrace Darwin’s footsteps in the Galápagos. Book the Baltra Island itinerary, where you’ll work your way from San Cristóbal Island to Baltra, and explore all the central and southern islands of the archipelago in between.
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Medium Ship Line #: Regent Seven Seas Cruises
As far as all-inclusive cruises go, Regent Seven Seas is the real deal. Everything from specialty excursions to meals and alcohol to airfare is included in the rates. Even the mini-bar is free! The only things youll have to pay for are spa treatments, laundry, and the casino. The cruise lines five ships each carry 750 passengers or fewer, but the ships are actually quite large, offering each guest plenty of personal space, especially in their cabins. Regent Seven Seas specializes in round-the-world itineraries. Next up for Regent: the Seven Seas Grandeur, scheduled to launch in 2023.
Medium Ship Line #: Crystal Cruises
While many cruises are notorious for charging guests for alcohol and specialty dining options, Crystal practices a generally all-inclusive fare structure covering all drinks , one specialty dining reservation per passenger , 24-hour room service, and a Wi-Fi package. The line has just three ocean-going vessels: Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony, which both have capacities of fewer than 1,000 passengers and sail global itineraries, and the newly launched Crystal Endeavor, an expedition megayacht that set sail this year.
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Medium Ship Line #: Seabourn
Dont think of Seabourn as a typical cruiseits ships are much more akin to megayachts, with ultra-luxurious decor, service, and dining. The fleet currently has five vessels, the two largest of which carry 600 passengers each. Their small size allows the vessels to dock in small ports all around the world . Many of the cruise lines guests are lifelong learners, and they flock to the nightly Seabourn Conversation program, which brings all sorts of intriguing figures, from Steve Wozniak to Elaine Paige, on board for lectures and casual chats. In 2015, Seabourn announced a partnership with celebrity chef Thomas Keller, who crafted new menus for the three existing ships and spearheaded new restaurants on the two newest ships, Seabourn Encore and Seabourn Ovation. In December 2021, Seabourn Venture is due to join the fleet, with a not-yet-named sister arriving in 2022.
Tripadvisor Launches New Cruise Portal For Reviews Planning And Deals
Cruise Line & Cruise ShipPatrick Clarke April 09, 2019
TripAdvisor users can now write cruise reviews, share their favorite vacation photos and even shop for deals from an inventory of more than 70,000 cruises.
The travel website announced the launch of TripAdvisor Cruises on Tuesday, unveiling a handful of new features, including “Ship-tinerary” pages, which TripAdvisor calls “the most comprehensive tool in cruise planning.” The tool will provide thorough ship profiles, traveler reviews, photos and advice to help users decide which cruise is right for them.
Available in the U.S. and U.K., the new portal will also allow users to compare prices, sort and filter cruises by cabin type, itineraries, price and more as well read and write reviews while sharing their photos.
“We know our community demands the best options while traveling and by adding awe-inspiring cruises to our platform, we’re excited to support the continued growth of the overall cruise industry by bringing cruise to the world’s largest travel audience,” said Bryan Saltzburg, president of TripAdvisor Flights, Cruise & Car, in a statement.
TripAdvisor says cruise lines around the world are embracing the new portal as a way to reach more travelers.
TripAdvisor plans to add more cruise lines, cruise ships and content while expanding to other markets in the coming months.
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The Ultimate Guide To Norwegian Cruise Line Ships And Itineraries
Looking for a cruise where you can do what you want, whenever you want, without a lot of structure and rules? Norwegian Cruise Line could be your brand.
The Miami-based cruise line pioneered the idea of freestyle cruising — cruising without rigid dining schedules, dress codes and formal nights — and its still the go-to line for vacationers who want a floating resort experience with a casual, laissez faire vibe.
Instead of a few big main restaurants with fixed seating times, Norwegian ships offer a wide range of eateries and no assigned seating times — just make a reservation. When its time to head out to dinner, if you want to dress up, fine. But theres no rule saying you must.
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Norwegian vessels also offer lots of options for daytime fun, but are particularly well known for evening entertainment. Youll find everything from music halls with Beatles cover bands and dueling piano bars to theaters with some of the most elaborate shows at sea — including some big-name Broadway productions.
Norwegian ships are also loaded with bars, lounges and nightclubs, including always-busy casinos. Put it all together, and you have vessels with a very lively atmosphere — particularly at night. If you had to compare Norwegian ships to something on land, youd probably say they were like floating versions of the casino resorts you find in Las Vegas.
The Best Cruise Lines In The World: 2021 Readers Choice Awards
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For our 34th annual Readers Choice Awards survey, registered voters weighed in on their favorite cruise lines. As the world has begun to reopen and ships of all sizes are once again leaving port, the results reflect the lines you longed to set sail with when you couldnt travel and the ones you returned to first once you could. More than 800,000 of you filled out our survey, and while were always curious about where youve been and where youre going, were especially excited to learn about the truly memorable cruise lines that sparked your imagination and stayed with you when your next sailing seemed out of reach.
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/15 The Communication On Dream Cruises Is Very Poor
According to tripadvisor.com, some of the customers who have cruised with Dream Cruises claim that they received some conflicting information about their cruise. This probably caused lots of confusion for them, so it is easy to see why the cruise lines customers are frustrated. This sounds like a stressful experience.
Small Ship Line #: Metropolitan Touring
Operating three expedition vessels in the Galápagos, Metropolitan Touring is the ideal cruise line for those seeking a casual experience in the wildlife hotspot. The tiny ships, which only accommodate between 40 and 78 passengers, have a laid-back atmosphere where the focus is very much on wildlife spotting. The company also offers land-based tours in mainland Ecuador, Peru, and Colombia that can be combined with a Galápagos expedition.
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What Makes American Cruise Lines Stand Out
Dedicated to showcasing Americas unique history through her rivers, American Cruise Lines has a specific destination focus that allows them to really be experts in Americas rivers.
These cruises are not just about getting from place to place. They are a truly encompassing experience. Youll enjoy regional cuisine, daily entertainment, and unique port excursions that help craft the story of Americas culture and history.
Small Ship Line #1: Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity’s three expedition vessels are by far the smallest ships in the cruise line’s fleet: Celebrity Xpedition carries 48 passengers, Celebrity Xploration carries just 16, and Celebrity Flora carries 100 passengers. All three sail the Galápagos, with some itineraries including pre- or post-sailing tours to mainland Ecuador and even Peru, where guests can visit Machu Picchu.
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Large Ship Line #: Norwegian Cruise Line
Things escalated quickly for Norwegian: the cruise line jumped from medium-size ships to mega-ships practically overnight , with just three ships in its current fleet sized somewhere in between. But thats soon about to change. Norwegian currently has six ships on order as part of Project Leonardo, each of which will hold about 3,300 passengers. Its interesting to see a cruise line scale back from its mega-ships and opt for a more manageable size for such a large order. The first, Norwegian Prima, is expected to launch in 2022 some of its highlights include the fastest slides at sea , a three-level go-kart racetrack, and a three-story theater that transforms into a nightclub after the evening’s show.
Portland Oregon Columbia River Cruise
We returned 27 October 2022 from a five day American Cruise Lines Columbia River cruise and once again we had a great cruise, thanks to Gabriella Francis, Allyson Kupiec, Angelina Allums, Whitney Pegues, Terry Whittington, Shaude Nelson, Josh DeHart, Rowanna Herndon, Jerquira Waddler, table server Jai, and guest speaker Richard Wing. The entire crew was absolutely fantastic, always greeting everyone with a smile. This is only our second cruise and look forward to our Juneau cruise in 2023.
Date of experience:October 23, 2022
The entire trip was very good including bus drivers, coordinators, excursions, food, drinks, staffing.Three issues that need attention Back Deck-out of food items and cold foodHorrible internet and TV reception
Date of experience:October 14, 2022
Smaller passenger boat made the experience more personable with staff and guests. Staff hustled to please. The meals were plentiful and delicious. Now dreaming of a Mississippi cruise with American Cruise Lines!
Date of experience:October 23, 2022
The attitude and demeanor of ALL the crew made our cruise very special. Their handling of the adversities created by the historical low water levels of Mississippi River was incredible.
Date of experience:October 22, 2022
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Pacific Northwest Historical Journey
One highlight of the trip was the couple who provided musical entertainment and had us on the edge of our seat as they told the story of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Highlight number two was the food. The highlights continued with our daily excursions and the change in topography from the Pacific coastal region to the wheat fields of Eastern Oregon and Washington.
Date of experience:October 16, 2022
River Ship Line #1: Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours
Scenics 16 luxurious river ships sail waters across Europe and Asia, from the Danube in Germany to the Irrawaddy in Myanmar to the Volga in Russia. Each voyage is completely all-inclusivetransfers, excursions, all food and beverage , and gratuities are covered in the ratemaking for a truly relaxing and stress-free experience. And did we mention theres butler service for every cabin?
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Large Ship Line #: Royal Caribbean International
Though Royal Caribbean is perhaps best known for its mega-ships, it has quite a number of large ships, toothe 3,100-passenger Voyager-class ships, for instance, were once the worlds largest, until Royal Caribbean debuted the larger Freedom class and subsequently the Oasis class. Each class had its own series of firstsVoyager of the Seas was the first ship to have an ice rink and a rock-climbing wall, while Freedom of the Seas introduced the first FlowRider surf simulator at sea.
Who Will Enjoy Traveling With American Cruise Lines
American Cruise Lines passengers are largely US based, though some international travelers join their cruises as well. These trips are great for history buffs eager to explore more of their own backyard, so to speak.
Americas rivers are steeped in the countrys history, whether its tracing the footsteps of Lewis and Clark or learning about the enigmatic Mississippis role in the zeitgeist of American culture.
Travelers in the 50+ and senior range are the most common ages – though these trips will be popular among families as well, since its not as far to go as an international trip might be.
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River Ship Line #: Tauck River Cruising
Taucks nine river ships specialize in navigating Northern Europe, with itineraries that highlight the castles of Germanys Rhine River or explore Paris and Monets gardens at Giverny on a Seine cruise. Special departures throughout the year welcome multigenerational family groups, including young childrena unique offering among river cruise lines.
