Cruise ships

Norwegian Epic – One of the Top 10 Cruise Ships for Nightlife and Entertainment.

October 4, 2011

Launched in June, 2010, Epic raised the bar on entertainment at sea, made cruising more attractive and affordable for singles, and established NCL as a top innovator in the cruise industry. She’s a beautiful ship that builds on the success of Norwegian Gem, NCL’s previous cruise ship. Dining aboard Norwegian Epic. Cruisers on NCL Epic [...]

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Top 10 New Cruise Ships for 2011.

August 3, 2011

Aside from Oceania’s spectacular new Marina, most of the new cruise ships for 2011 are carbon copies of their predecessors. Sure, there’s a new bar here, and a few new suites there, but for the most part the ships that were introduced last year stole the show. The big innovations this year were in river [...]

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Allure of the Seas — One of the Top 10 Largest Cruise Ships.

February 18, 2011

Allure in Port Everglades

Allure of the Seas sailed her maiden voyage on December 1, 2010. She was supposed to be the same size as sister ship Oasis of the Seas. But so vast are these ocean-going cities, that even though Allure was built on the same superstructure, she emerged five centimeters longer and 70,000 tons heavier. She is currently the largest cruise ship in the world.

All the best features of Oasis are present on Allure — the open-air park, Aqua Theater, and Loft Suites. But Allure has some exciting new features all her own, including the first Starbucks on a mainstream cruise ship. Read more…

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The Top 10 coolest bars on cruise ships.

October 25, 2010

The perfect martini -- at sea

There’s never been any shortage of water holes on cruise ships. In fact, most have a dozen or more bars and lounges. But the latest generation of vessels has raised the bar with innovative new spaces, including an authentic, Scandinavian-style ice bar.

Here’s our list of the Top 10 Bars on Cruise Ships:

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Top 10 Largest Cruise Ships

October 18, 2010

Oasis of the Seas, the largest cruise ship in the world

Fifteen years ago, a passenger vessel over 100,000 tons was newsworthy. But today, ships twice that size are pleasing cruisers with amenities and activities that would have been unheard of back then. Pretty much everything you enjoy ashore — from bowling to ice skating — is now offered at sea. And the biggest cruise ships can compete with their land-based rivals when it comes to spa services, fitness facilities, dining, and entertainment. Read more…

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River Beatrice — one of the Top 10 European River Cruise Ships.

October 13, 2010

Ships that sail Europe’s great waterway are low and narrow by design, so they can tuck under bridges and make their way through tight canals. In some ways, this limits how grand a first impression they’re able to make. And many first-time river cruisers who are accustomed to the over-the-top lobbies found on ocean-going vessels may be underwhelmed when they first board a river boat. Read more…

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Seabourn Odyssey – One of the Top 10 Luxury Cruise Ships.

October 2, 2010

Santorini is a frequent call for Seabourn Odyssey

When Seabourn first announced their plans to built a 450-passenger ship, everyone wondered if they could provide the yacht-like experience the brand promises on that scale. After all, the new Seabourn Odyssey carries twice as many passengers as any of the other Yachts of Seabourn.

Most critics agree that Seabourn pulled it off and that Odyssey offers the best of both worlds — the service and attention to detail found on their smaller ships with more amenities, facilities, and elbow room. Read more…

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Crystal Serenity – One of the Top 10 Luxury Cruise Ships.

August 28, 2010

Crystal Serenity Art Glass

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…

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Seven Seas Voyager — One of the Top 10 Cruise Ships for Foodies.

August 2, 2010

Regent Seven Seas Voyager

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…

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Top 10 Cruise Ships for Staying Fit.

July 22, 2010

Ship’s promenade

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…

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Top 10 Cruise Ships for Entertainment and Nightlife.

July 4, 2010

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…

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A Brief Guide to Royal Caribbean Cruise Ships.

June 29, 2010

RCI’s Crown and Anchor

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…

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Viking Legend – One of the Top Ten European River Cruise Ships.

June 26, 2010

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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Queen Mary 2 — One of the Top 10 Luxury Cruise Ships.

June 10, 2010

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.

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Top 10 Cruise Ships for Spa Lovers

June 7, 2010

Stairs to the AquaSpa on Celebrity Solstice

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…

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NCL Pride of America — The Last of the American-flagged Cruise Ships.

May 31, 2010

Pride of America

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…

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Top 10 New Cruise Ships.

May 30, 2010

Royal Caribbean Oasis of the Seas

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…

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Oasis of the Seas — One of the Top 10 New Cruise Ships

May 30, 2010

Oasis of the Seas in Labadee

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…

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Top 10 Cruise Ships for Foodies.

May 29, 2010

Crab Cakes at Todd English on the Queen Mary 2

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…

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Top 10 Cruise Ships for Families.

April 29, 2010

Fun on the Beach

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…

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