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Choosing a Cruise Line - are They Really That Different?
by Roy Witman
Casinos. Formal dining rooms. Day spas and fitness centers. All cruise lines offer the same things, right? That may have been true decades ago, but no longer! Today, there is a great deal of variety in the cruise lines with regard to onboard activities, amenities, destinations and more. Since “how do I choose a cruise line” is probably the most frequently asked question I get, allow me to give you a quick overview of the most popular cruise lines and what each offers. You’ll want to bookmark this article so you can find it quickly in the future when you’re ready to book your next cruise.
Carnival Cruise Lines
Known as the Fun Ships®, Carnival made a bold move years ago by breaking the stereotype of cruise vacations. Carnival opened the door to Ordinary Joe to experience vacations at sea just as the rich and famous did. Thanks to Carnival, everybody can take a cruise at an affordable rate. These are fun, basic cruises that offer comfortable accommodations and all the amenities you would expect. Casinos, Broadway-style shows, spa treatments and fitness centers are all onboard, as well as extensive kids activities. With destinations to the most popular locations including the Caribbean, Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico and the Bahamas, Carnival offers quickie three- and four-day cruises as well as lengthy 16-day tours.
Norwegian Cruise Line
With several new ships launched over the last few years, Norwegian has a relatively new fleet. Known for “Freestyle Cruising,” NCL gives you the freedom to do what you want to do, when you want to do it. Traveling to the four corners of the world, NCL offers an extensive lineup of destinations in addition to the typical ones listed above. Book passage to Hong Kong, Singapore, Sydney, Madrid, Amsterdam, Athens, or Paris, as well as numerous cities in Egypt, Norway and Belgium. Exclusive Courtyard Villas with exceptional amenities make accommodating large groups or families a breeze. The large array of kidâs activities means the children will also have a great time!
Royal Caribbean Cruises
The slogan “Get Out There!” should tell you something about Royal Caribbean. These fast-paced ships are new, innovative and large! With many firsts at sea, Royal Caribbean has the newest fleet at sea loaded with unusual things to do including a rock wall, FlowRider® onboard surfing machine, ice skating rink, boxing ring and bowling alley. All this in addition to the expected casinos, spas, fitness centers and restaurants. Extremely kid-friendly, Royal delivers a diverse selection of baby, toddler, child, pre-teen and teen activities. Sailing to the four corners of the world, Royal can take you to six of the seven continents for some amazing adventures.
Princess Cruises
The original “Love Boat,” Princess Cruises has been a recognized leader in the industry since the early 70’s when the television series put them in front of the public eye. Today, Princess continues to offer casual yet refined cruises to typical destinations as well as Asia, Australia, South America and Europe. With art auctions and ScholarShip® programs there’s plenty to do onboard, including taking lessons in painting and digital photography plus listening to guest lecturers and more. Multiple youth and teen activities mean every member of the family can have a great time while vacationing on these smaller, but well-appointed ships.
Celebrity Cruises
More sophisticated and a little slower paced than the others, Celebrity’s hallmark is exceptional service. With an eye toward anticipating the passenger’s need and delivering before you even ask, Celebrity delivers award-winning service with every cruise. While they do offer a good selection of activities for children through teens, Celebrity offers more to adults. Enrichment programs and art auctions are included along with the typical casinos, shows and dining options. Offering signature destinations rarely found elsewhere, Celebrity can show you wonders of the world including the Galapagos Islands, Panama Canal and more around the globe.
Holland America Line
Signature white-glove service and premium accommodations set Holland America apart. With high levels of staffing, Holland sails with about one crewmember for every two guests, ensuring you get everything you want. A Culinary Arts Center offers hands-on as well as demonstration cooking lessons in a theater setting equipped with plasma TVs. Extensive programs for children and youth make this luxurious line family-friendly as well. Sailing to six of the seven continents, Holland calls on ports in lesser know, but fascinating destinations. Iceland, Norway, Greenland and Denmark as well as the ever-popular Caribbean, Bahamas and Mexico can be visited when sailing with Holland.
Windstar Cruise Line
Intimate. Peaceful. Personal. Not massive ocean liners: Windstar offers cruises onboard motor-sail yachts with sails furling! Small ships accommodating just over 300 passengers offer a truly unique way to see the most popular destinations in the world including the Caribbean, Europe and the Greek Isles. Take part in water sports right off the back of the ship! Relish in the gourmet meals and enjoy the pampering of well-appointed cabins. Geared specifically to adults, no children’s activities are offered. Two of the three ships have casinos; all have a delightfully different way to enjoy a cruise.
Cunard
The best of the best. Cunard says, “Excellence is to be expected” and they mean it! With three of the most recognized ships in the world, the Queen Mary 2, the Queen Elizabeth 2 and the Queen Victoria, Cunard offers five-star service and accommodations at every turn. Regal in every detail, these world-famous ships frequently play host to royalty, heads of state, the wealthy and celebrities. Reminiscent of grand ocean liners of past eras, Cunard is home to Canyon Ranch Spa, offers cultural enrichment programs and also an onboard planetarium. Partake in authentic English afternoon tea, stroll the deck, try your luck at the casino or drop the children off in The Zone while you relax on deck. Sailing to the four corners of the world, Cunard can take you anywhere you want to go.
Wherever you want to go, whatever you want to do, use the guide above to direct you to the right cruise line for you at the right price. You’ll quickly be able to decide the best vacation for you and your family with just a glance.
Roy Witman
http://www.articlesbase.com/cruising-articles/choosing-a-cruise-line-are-they-really-that-different-138899.html
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7 Responses to “Choosing a Cruise Line - are They Really That Different?”
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February 7th, 2009 at 5:58 am
Disney Cruise Line?
We were thinking about going on the DCL next year. I heard it was really fun. There are so many different crusies to choose from!Which cruise do you recommend? We want to stay more than 4 days. Also how is the food on the cruise? How are the rooms on the cruise? Thanks! I really appreciate it!
Also when you make a stop at a island (for example The Bahamas) do you get to go off the boat and explore the island?
February 7th, 2009 at 11:00 am
yeah, when the ship stops somewhere, you can get off and explore that area. Just remember to be back by the time they want you back or else they might just leave you there.
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February 7th, 2009 at 11:02 am
Our 2nd DCL trip is scheduled for this summer. It is so much fun! We do the 7 Day Land and Sea vacation, spending 4 days at Animal Kingdom Lodge and 3 days on the ship. It visits Castaway Cay and Nassau, You could also choose the 4 days at sea and 3 days on land package which gives you an extra day at sea. The Veranda rooms are super with a private balcony. Go online and check out rates and the ships layout. Midship is always best and at least level 5 or up. It is more expensive (about $2,000 pp) than the traditional cruises but well worth the price. Have fun.
References :
http://www.disneycruise.com
February 7th, 2009 at 11:04 am
I've been on several cruises and Disney is by far the best.
Choose the cuirse based on the places you ant ot see because, yes, you get off the ship at each port and you can spend the entire day in that country.
The food is outstanding as is the service. Rooms are small on cruises but Disney's are a little bigger than most. \
Have a great time!!
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February 7th, 2009 at 11:06 am
We just got back from our first DCL cruise on the 5th. We had a blast. We did 3 days land and 4 day cruise. We picked the 4 day cruise because it was our first cruise. Our next one will be longer!
We stopped at Castaway Cay, Nassau, and again at Castaway Cay. We normally were able to get off the ship at about 8:30 am and needed to be back by 5:00pm. So you do get time to explore the ports.
The food was very good in the restaurants (the sit down meals in the evenings) The buffet was so so for breakfast. Nothing special just typical breakfast items. The snack places were good for a quick bite, which we did often.
We had two inside state rooms for us. The two of us in one and our two teen aged daughters in the other. There would have been no way to have four in the type of room we had!
The cabins are well designed and spacious, but would have been very crowded. We know that we would have gone for a different cabin if we all were in one.
The entertainment at night was very good. 3 shows were Disney productions, one night was a comedian. He started out ok then crash and burned at the end. From what I understand that 3rd night changes so I don't know what it would be on your cruise.
Lots to do on the ship, we wished we would have had a day at sea to do more of it. Played bingo one afternoon and won 118 bucks. Cost 29 bucks to play
I would suggest investigaiting the different cruises Disney offers, they have quite a few and will be adding more in 2010 and 2011 when their 2 new ships are ready to sail.
Have fun! You won't be disappointed
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February 7th, 2009 at 11:08 am
Try Here. It’s an excellent site with some wonderful options for you. You won't regret opening it. It will definitely help you. Have a look.
http://best-cruises-of-world.blogspot.com/
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February 7th, 2009 at 11:10 am
Disney is the best. People go who don't even have children. They go above and beyond to make your vacation memorable.
We did the 7-day Western Caribbean. We did not go to Cozumel due to a hurricane having hit there, so we went to Costa Maya and Grand Cayman, then Castaway Cay. The best part of the trip was Castaway Cay. We had such a blast. If I were to recommend the cruise of my choice, it would be the one with two stops to Castaway Cay - but that one is booked quickly.
We stayed in Category 11, which is the bottom of the ship. You get less movement being near the bottom and you are not in your room enough to care about it being quite small, but it suited myself, my husband and our 3 year old well. The only complaint I had about that was when there is any music playing in a restaurant or night club, you will hear it. You also hear the motors of the ship going, but you get use to that. You can also spend more money and move up on the ship - but then you're more likely to have motion sickness more towards the top of the ship.
Food is everything to my husband. He was in heaven on the ship - especially when they brought him two lobsters one night. I had a few misses in my meals, but was altogether satisfied with it.
Their shows are unbelievable. I got goose bumps every time I watched one. That was my favorite part of the boat. You will be able to get off at every port of call and just walk around or you can book excursions. We did a lot of looking around because we had a 3 year old and didn't have many choices of excursions with her.
There is so much to do and you will not be bored. My daughter constantly talks about wanting to go on one again - but they are not cheap. Disney's line is one of the most expensive, but I thought it was worth every penny!
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