Us News Announces The Best Cruise Lines For 2022
U.S. News & World Report has announced its 2022 Best Cruise Lines rankings.
The publication surveyed travelers to understand the effects of COVID-19 on cruiser sentiments. It unveiled the results at the Seatrade Global Conference in October which found that cruisers both first-time and longtime are currently booked at higher levels than before the pandemic.
Survey data also revealed that among the frequent travelers who indicated that they would cruise again, 20 percent are already booked on their next sailing.
Though most avenues of travel have been impacted throughout the coronavirus pandemic, the cruise industry has seen the most challenges, said Nicola Wood, travel editor at U.S. News. U.S. News is excited to once again highlight the leading cruise lines and provide in-depth information on ships, onboard activities and itineraries to travelers looking to research and book a cruise vacation.
The method used to collect these rankings factor in expert evaluations of cruise ship quality, reputation among travelers, results from health assessments conducted by the CDC, and other factors such as price class and itinerary offerings.
Celebrity Cruises took the top spot as the Best Cruise Line for the Money. Vikings ocean cruises venture is number 1 for couples and luxury cruising, thanks to its adults-only environment and amenities such as fireplaces in common areas and balconies in every stateroom.
Here are this years top four rankings in each category:
For the Money
Staterooms Size/views On The Amamagna
Since this ship is so unique, here is the size and number of 96 staterooms by category for comparison purposes:
1 Owners Suite 710 sq feet with balcony
6 Grand Suites 474 sq feet with balconies
46 Suites Category SA & SB 355 sq feet with balconies
34 Category AA & AB 252 sq feet with balconies
11 Category D & E 205 sq feet with fixed windows
What Makes A Which Recommended Provider Cruise Line
Which? Recommended Providers are the cream of the crop and, as a minimum, we only consider giving the accolade to cruise lines with the highest customer scores.
Thats not all. We know that pricing transparency is important, so we only make a company a WRP if it provides clear information about gratuities, excursions and drinks at the booking stage. After all, it’s hard for customers to compare prices if they can’t find these details before parting with their cash. If the companies fall down in more than one area, theyre not eligible to be Which? Recommended Providers, whatever score they receive in the survey.
Similarly, a cruise company can only be a WRP if it is committed to refunding customers promptly for any cancelled cruises, and is prepared to offer alternatives, including a refund, if itineraries are changed due to travel restrictions.
Which? is independent. You can be sure that our recommendations are influenced only by our survey results and policy analysis. We’re not influenced by third parties and we don’t accept freebies from product manufacturers, retailers, or providers.
Recommended Reading: City Cruises New York Pier 15
Disney Dream Cruise Ship
-
Disney Dream Overview
Disney Dream is the 3rd Disney Cruise Line cruise ship operated by The Walt Disney Company and has been active since 2011. The ship currently sails three-day, four-day, and sometimes five-day cruises to the Bahamas. It has a capacity of 2,500 or 4,000 passengers maximum and has a crew of 1,458. Disney Dream is 1,114 ft in length and has a gross tonnage of 83,000.
Routes: With the arrival of the Disney Wish, the Disney Dream is no longer primarily based at Port Canaveral, Florida. It now offers 3, 4, and 5-night Bahamas cruises from Port Miami, along with multiple European itineraries of 4-11 nights departing from Barcelona, Civitavecchia , Copenhagen, and Southampton.
Overall, the Disney Dream is a fantastic cruise ship. Its not our absolute favorite but theres really not much to complain about.
-
Disney Dream Dining
-
Disney Dream Entertainment
Disney Dream onboard activities include digital sports simulators, a 9-hole mini-golf course, a full-sized basketball court, a volleyball court, a pitch, and a walking track.
Disney Wonder is also home to a water roller coaster called the AquaDuck, Mickeys Slide, and has three pools. The ship also boasts two theaters: the Walt Disney Theater, and the Buena Vista Theater .
-
Disney Dream Activities for Kids
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.
You May Like: Holland America Canada New England Cruise
The Best/worst Cruise Lines In The World
Seated in the lap of luxury, surrounded by sparkling waters as far as the eye can see, exploring a new port each daythe experience of an ocean or river cruise is something you wont soon forget. While few people would probably turn down a cruise no matter what provider it were with, there are definitely some cruise lines that have built a reputation as being better than others. Cruiseline.com provides real reviews from actual travelers and assigns each cruise line an overall average rating based on these customer reviews. Lets take a look at the 15 best and worst cruise lines out there as ranked by passengers:
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.
Read Also: Cruise Parking Miami – Port Of Miami Parking
The Worst Cruise Lines According To Reviews
This post may contain affiliate links. If you click one, I may earn a commission at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Whenever youre trying to find the best in something, it means you automatically have to rank something as the worst at the same time. And its the same with cruise lines.
Remember though that worst doesnt mean bad You can have five amazing things, but one of them has to be the worst of those amazing, and thats often the case with cruise lines.
And sometimes there are things which arent that great, but in the context of the price of the cruise, or personal preference, its not that bad.
For this article, Ive taken a look through the latest Which? Ranking report to see which cruise lines have scored worst for different aspects of life on board. Which? is probably the biggest consumer magazine in the UK, and so is a reliable source when it comes to garnering opinion.
And where theres a tie, Ive then looked through a lot of reviews and forums online, to see what people are saying to make a call on the worst of the cruise lines.
Lets take a look
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.
You May Like: Hotels Near New Orleans Cruise Terminal
The Worst Cruise Line
MSC Cruises is often voted as one of the worst cruise lines, with some people unhappy with the standard of service, the quality of the food and drink, and the cramped feel to some of the larger modern ships. However many people still love their time on the lines ships.
And thats key here everything is down to personal preference. If youre someone who doesnt mind waiting a little longer at the buffet, and you enjoy simple food, then you might have a blast on an MSC cruise. It all comes down to what you prioritise on your holiday.
And a lot of the people who leave bad reviews are experienced cruisers. They arent saying its a bad holiday just that this is how they perceive MSC in comparison to other cruise lines. Again, worst doesnt mean bad.
Hurtigruten is another cruise line that gets bad reviews, but they are clear and upfront about the service they offer, and how their focus is always on the destination, not the journey.
Plus, the most important thing to remember is that you get what you pay for, and MSC cruises are often some of the cheapest available, especially for families. Its often possible to book MSC cruises for under $50 or £40 per person, per night. Where else can you get so much for such a low price?
When you consider whats included, its understandable that MSCs standards in some areas may be a little below the more expensive cruise lines.
Disney Magic Cruise Ship
-
Disney Magic Overview
Disney Magic had its maiden voyage on July 30, 1998, and has been in service thereafter. It boasts a length of 984 ft, a gross tonnage of 83,338, and has 11 public decks, 875 staterooms, a crew of 945, and enough capacity for 2,700 guests.
The interior of Disney Magic is decorated in an Art Deco style while the ships exterior color scheme is black, red, and white with 20 yellow lifeboats . Disney Magics horn blasts a tune from Disneys famous When You Wish Upon a Star. The ships Godmother is Patricia Disney, the wife of Roy E. Disney.
Routes: 4 Night Caribbean Cruises 5, 6, 7 and 8 Night Western Caribbean Cruises 2, 3, 4 and 8 Night Bahamian Cruises 4, 5, 7, 9, and 12 night Mediterranean Cruises and Special Cruises
Simply put, Disney Magic is.magical!
-
Disney Magic Dining
Disney Magic offers two dining times early and late. The Disney Cruise Line uses something they call Rotational Dining to ensure that guests have a chance to experience each of the ships themed restaurants. As far as dining options go, Disney Magic has several restaurants and all three participate in the Rotational Dining schedule. Disney Magics dining locations including Lumieres , Rapunzels Royal Table , and Animators Palate. Disney Magics Palo restaurant is located on the aft deck and serves Northern Italian fare at dinnertime .
-
Disney Magic Entertainment
-
Disney Magic Activities for Kids
-Its a Small World Nursery is a play area for infants.
Recommended Reading: Cruise Lines With Single Cabins
Worst: Viking River Cruises
With a massive fleet of 40 longships and 23 other vessels, Viking River Cruises has firmly planted themselves as having the most river cruise vessels of any company in the world. That being said, the cruise line is a popular choice if youre looking to see the sights of Europe, Russia, Asia or Egypt. Like other river cruise companies, Viking will be enjoyed by those who enjoy not having to plan anything on their own, but may not be a great option if you enjoy setting your own schedule. The company received a 3.4 star overall rating from customer reviews on Cruiseline.com and its important to note that over 81% of reviews came from couples which shows you the demographics of this cruise line. Some complaints from passengers include last minute itinerary changes, small cabin rooms and expensive rates.
Large Ship #: Msc Cruises
Nearly half of MSCs fleetnamely those ships in the Musica and Fantasia classesfalls into the large cruise category, with most of its newer builds firmly taking a bigger is better stance. The eight large vessels primarily sail in the Mediterranean and the Caribbean, though they do offer itineraries in North and South America, Asia, and Northern Europe, too. The family-friendly ships skew toward the upscale side, and theyre known for their incredibly international crowds.
- air-travel
You May Like: Cruises Leaving From Norfolk Va
Small Ship Line #: Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Sailing with only 490 guests, the Seven Seas Navigator takes its all-inclusive promise seriously, offering unlimited shore excursions, open bars with premium wines , unlimited Wi-Fi, and dining in specialty restaurants. The ship sails all over the world, from New Zealand to Dubai, on week-long to three-month-long itineraries.
Medium Ship Line #1: Carnival Cruise Line
The eight ships between Carnival’s Fantasy and Spirit classes each clock in around 2,100 passengersCarnival hasn’t built a ship that small since 2004 and has no plans to order any more. But these smaller ships sail itineraries all over the world, from the Panama Canal to the South Pacific, as well as shorter sailings from Florida to the Caribbean, and bring the same amount of laid-back fun to each sailing as the much larger Carnival ships.
Also Check: Bay Cruise In San Francisco
Where Is The Best Location On A Disney Cruise Ship
The best location on a Disney cruise ship for the best views is the very front or the very back of the ship.
The best location on a Disney cruise ship if you are prone to getting seasick is the center part of the ship because youll feel the least movement there. Specifically, try to reserve Deck 6 Midship on the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder, Deck 6 or 7 Midship on the Disney Wish, and Decks 7 and 8 Midship on the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy.
Worst For Customer Service: Msc Cruises
MSC Cruises was rated the worst for customer service, with two stars out of five from Which. Looking online at the reviews, it seems to be a mix of people complaining about the service when trying to book or amend their cruise, or at the port, with some complaints about communication on the ship.
The pre-cruise service reviews talk about people giving the wrong information, but a lot of that is during the COVID pandemic around vaccination requirements. Meanwhile, the port complaints tend to be around long wait times, or poor communication and signage which isnt always the fault of the cruise line but could be the port authority.
On board, people have mentioned excursions being cancelled at short notice, or crew not taking enough action to stop people smoking in their cabins.
Ive cruised with MSC Cruises three times and in my own experience, the service hasnt been great. Theres no doubt that the crew members work very hard, but sometimes there just arent enough of them to prevent huge queues from forming at the bars, or for dinner to be served within a reasonable time.
Theres no point in having a drink package if it takes over 30 minutes for each drink to be served to you. And when guests are allowed to leave towels down on unattended sunloungers all day, you might have to remove them yourself if you ever want to be able to sit down outdoors.
Read Also: Cruise Lines Out Of Norfolk Va
Best Overall Cruise: Carnival Horizon
Having set sail in 2018, the Caribbean-focused Carnival Horizon offers everything you need for a fun and relaxing vacation.
Family Harbor and Cloud 9 staterooms cater to families Serenity Adult-Only Retreat features signature cocktails and hot tubs Dr. Seuss Bookville library with whimsical furniture and books
-
Two restaurants by celebrity chef Guy Fieri: Guys Pig & Anchor Brewhouse and Guys Burger Joint
-
Tons of onboard activities
-
The Cloud 9 Spa offers massage, facials, body wraps, and more
-
Ship can feel busy and chaotic
-
Pool lounge chairs can be hard to come by when the ship is at capacity
One of Carnivals newest ships sails from Miami with plenty of accommodation choices, including the Family Harbor, dedicated family staterooms with their own lounge and concierge, and the Cloud 9 Spa staterooms with unlimited access to the spas thermal suites.
The luxurious Havana suites come with swinging hammock chairs on the balconies and exclusive daytime access to the hip Havana Bar and Lounge. The lounge has a South Beach vibe on the outside, complete with chaise lounges, a pool, and a cocktail bar that transforms into a nightclub in the evening, while the inside feels like a nostalgic Cuban cigar bar. Horizon also has a live Lip Sync Battle , plus dazzling playlist productions. And for some outdoorsy fun, the ship has a WaterWorks water park and the SkyRide suspended bikes.
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.
Don’t Miss: Best Western Fort Lauderdale Airport/cruise Port
