In the world of cruising, luxury and intimacy go hand in hand. Conventional wisdom dictates that the smaller the ship, the more exclusive the experience. So when Crystal Cruises launched as a luxury brand with a ship that carried more than 900 passengers, many industry insiders were skeptical
But Crystal delivered on the promise – in spades – and today, Crystal cruises are among the best money can buy. And loyal passengers think their service is absolutely tops. Read more…
In order to attract more sophisticated travelers, the cruise ships upgraded the dining experiences they offered their passengers a few years ago. Since good food and wine go hand-in-hand, expanded wine cellars, professional tastings, and multiple-course dinners with food-and-wine pairings weren’t far behind.
Today, you can drink as well at sea as you can on dry land. Many of the luxury cruises include good wine in the cruise fare. In addition to on-board tastings and seminars, many voyages include vineyard visits and tastings in some of the world’s top wine regions. And most ships have at least one wine bar where you can enjoy new and classic wines by the glass. Read more…
Regent Seven Seas Cruises (RSSC) was formed in 1994 when Seven Seas Cruise Line merged with Radisson Diamond. The brand was relaunched as RSSC in 2006, and today, they offer some of the most highly rated cruises in the world. RSSC consistently ranks as the best cruise line in a number of categories and the staterooms are often singled out as the best at sea.
Seven Seas Voyager was named the Best Medium-Sized Cruise Ship by Conde Nast Traveler in 2007 and Ship of the Year by Ocean and Cruise News in 2005 and 2007. Launched in 2003, and extensively refurbished last year, Seven Seas Voyager is a delightful, roomy ship that passengers really enjoy. Read more…
Not that long ago, the only way to stay in shape on a cruise was to take a brisk walk around the promenade deck. But today. cruise ships offer a staggering array of ways to keep fit, no matter what your level of fitness.
Serious athletes can rappel off rock walls, use the latest Kinesis technology to boost strength and flexibility, or get their heart rate up in a boxing ring, batting box, or current pool. Those who just want to keep the extra pounds at bay can sign up for stretching or yoga classes. Read more…
If you’ve suffered through an awful rendition of We Are Family for the tenth time, or watched a comedian bomb, you know that while entertainment may not be the most important aspect of cruising, when it’s bad, you notice.
A decade ago, most cruise ships had the same thing to offer — a show room with a couple of musical reviews, a cocktail lounge with a pianist playing standards, and room with a dance floor and a band. Throw in a juggler and a comic and you had the formula for almost every ship on the briny. Read more…
With 22 cruise ships, Royal Caribbean International (RCI) is the second largest cruise line in the world. There are six classes of vessels in their fleet. And all of them introduced exciting new features and amenities that resulted in sleepless nights for their competitors.
Sovereign of the Seas, which launched in 1988, was cruising’s first megaship. And RCI has never looked back. Sovereign’s atrium lobby influenced nearly every cruise ship that followed. And the bragging rights that come with having the biggest ship at sea, more often than not rest with RCI. Read more…
If you’re not familiar with river cruising, it’s a great way to see the heart of Europe in an up-close and personal way. Development of the continent followed the path of great rivers like the Danube and the Rhine. So you’ll sail through some of the most historic cities and towns. But you’ll only have to unpack when you board. Every other morning, you’ll arrive some place new without having experienced any of the hassles of travel.
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The largest and most expensive passenger ship when she launched in 2004 at a cost of $780 million, Queen Mary 2 is a true ocean liner, purpose built for crossing the Atlantic.
With grand, Art Deco public areas and ceilings that are 50% taller than conventional ships, she evokes the glamour of cruising during the gilded age.
Cruise ship spas have come a long way. In fact, some of the best spas at sea can compete head-to-head with land-based competitors and come out on top. That’s because several lines now offer spa staterooms, restaurants, and suites that let passengers extend the spa experience into their living spaces.
From thermal suites and villas with spectacular ocean views to Japanese gardens with cascading waterfalls, cruise ship spa are also some of the most beautiful in the world. And the range of available treatments is truly impressive. Read more…
In 1920, The United States passed The Merchant Marine Act. Also known as the Jones Act, it prevents foreign-flagged cruise ships from embarking and disembarking passengers in U.S. ports unless they visit another country during the cruise.
Today, all American cruise ships — except one — are foreign flagged because it’s less expensive to register ships in other countries like the Bahamas. Essentially, this prevents them from being able to operate roundtrip cruises in Hawaii. Read more…
During the past two decades, cruising has experienced tremendous growth. And prior to the economic downturn, no end was in sight. To keep up with demand, many cruise lines ordered new cruise ships — more than a dozen of which have debuted recently.
While several new ships are virtually identical to other vessels already in the fleet, others introduced exciting innovations and amenities that have never been available before. These next-generation ships provide passengers with unforgettable entertainment, dining, and activities. Read more…
Royal Caribbean has a long history of introducing bigger, shinier cruise ships with amenities and activities that turn out to be game changers in cruising. They’re the ones to thank for rock-climbing walls, skating rinks, FlowRider surfing simulators, and boxing rings.
Maybe that’s why the introduction of their Oasis of the Seas was so eagerly awaited. And why pretty much everyone believes it was worth the wait, and the $1.4 billion price tag. Read more…
While there’s still plenty of mediocre food at sea, these days, restaurants aboard cruise ships can compete with the finest venues on land. With menus created by chefs like Todd English, Jacques Pepin, and Charlie Palmer, cruise ship dining no longer emphasizes quantity over quality. In fact, many of the ships’ chefs shop the local markets for seasonal ingredients while the ships are in port.
Today, even the smaller ships offer several alternative places to dine, so there’s usually plenty of variety. And virtually every menu has healthy and vegetarian options available. Read more…
These days, cruises are great family vacations. Most popular cruise ships offer programs and facilities for kids. And they make it easy for parents to get some quality time too.
Whether you want to travel in luxury or just get away for a fun-filled vacation, there’s a cruise ship that’s just right for you and your family. Which one is best depends on how old your kids are, and what you enjoy. Read more…
With lines that echo the steamships of the golden age of cruising, a jet black hull, and two red funnels, Disney Magic is one of the most distinctive cruise ships at sea. But don’t let those classic good looks fool you – she’s also very modern.
While this is one of the best cruise ships for children, particularly young ones, there’s also plenty to please their parents – from Champagne brunches in the adults-only Palo to the two hot tubs at the aptly named Quiet Cove. Read more…
When Royal Caribbean International’s (RCI) Freedom of the Seas launched in 2006, she was the biggest cruise ship in the world. With a capacity of 5,400 passengers, Oasis of the Seas has since overtaken her, but Freedom is still one of the best cruise ships for families, especially those with older kids.
Few things are more romantic than watching the sun set or gazing at the stars from the deck of a cruise ship – or better yet, from your own private veranda. With virtually everything taken care of for you, a cruise makes it easy to relax, unwind, and reconnect with your special someone.
But there are a couple of key things you should look for when planning a romantic getaway at sea. First of all, choose a ship that makes it easy to dine as a couple – sharing a table with six strangers isn’t conducive to romance. Read more…
In 2007, Royal Caribbean decided to take the two former Renaissance cruise ships they had bought for Celebrity Cruises and start a separate cruise line instead. Named Azamara, the new line would travel to exotic destinations and cater to experienced travelers looking for a near-luxury experience without the luxury price tag.
Today, Azamara is now Azamara Club Cruises and true to their word, they call at ports bigger ships can’t visit, and they stay in port longer – sometime even overnight. Read more…
Those who love to sail, but enjoy the convenience and amenities of a cruise ship, will think Wind Sprit was created just for them. With four huge masts, and thousands of square feet of canvas, she’s one of the most striking cruise ships afloat.
When the sails are unfurled – which happens at the touch of a button – Wind Sprit is transformed into a magnificent vessel. But an innovative, computerized ballast system keeps motion to a minimum, so even landlubbers will be comfortable on this ship. Read more…
When nothing but the best will do, Silversea fits the bill nicely. No other cruise line does such a fabulous job of balancing the personal attention of a small ship with the amenities and spaciousness of a larger vessel.
Silver Whisper has one of the highest space-per-passenger ratios, and it truly is one of the most luxurious cruise ships at sea.
