The 11 Best Luxury Cruise Lines, According to T+L's Experts

Table Of Content

• Cruises Closer to Home With American Queen Voyages
• The Galápagos Islands on Quasar Expeditions’ Evolution
• Best Family Cruise: Regal Princess - Princess Cruises
• Best Mid-Sized Cruise Ship: Carnival Sunshine - Carnival Cruise Line
• The Galápagos Islands on Celebrity Flora
• The Best Cruise Ships in the World: The Gold List 2024
• Best River Cruise Line: Avalon Waterways

MSC sets itself apart by making that complex more accessible than ever before, thanks to the line’s value-priced MSC Yacht Club Inside Staterooms that provide a lot of luxe for a little dough. With its endless dedication to kids, Disney Cruise Line breezes to the top of the pack when it comes to the family cruise experience. Larger-than-average staterooms with double-bathrooms, free room service and fountain sodas, and Disney’s spectacular kids facilities and production shows help set the line apart. But Disney doesn’t forget that adults are footing the bill and crafts a memorable experience for them, too. Royal Caribbean is the world's largest cruise line, with a large fleet of ships that cater to a wide range of traveler types. The vessel is one of four in the line's Vision class, featuring ships much smaller than the typical Royal Caribbean vessel.

Cruises Closer to Home With American Queen Voyages

There aren’t many lines where, when the clubs and bars wind down, the party continues deep into the night. Whether it’s a 70s theme night with the entertainment team dressed like the Village People, live DJs in the main promenade or a White Night Party with live music on the main pool deck, there is always something happening on an MSC ship. One of three ships in the line's Freedom class that date to the mid-2000s, Freedom of the Seas is no longer the creme-de-la-creme of the Royal Caribbean fleet (though it was when it debuted). At around 156,000 tons, it's about 30% smaller than Royal Caribbean's newer Oasis-class ships and has fewer venues, from bars and restaurants to entertainment spaces. Called the Suite Neighborhood, the complex offers some of the biggest (and priciest) suites at sea, including the sprawling, two-deck-high Royal Loft suites that measure more than 1,500 square feet. Cruises are booming right now, buoyed partly by the popularity of domestic seacations that hauled in first-time sailors.

The Galápagos Islands on Quasar Expeditions’ Evolution

This environmentally-friendly ship, which began its inaugural cruise in August, 2023 is the industry’s first hybrid luxury cruise ship. Get to know the best cruise ships in a variety of categories, based on member review ratings for cruises taken in the last year. Virgin perfected onboard entertainment in 2023, introducing fresh, eye-popping shows like Lola's Library and Persephone.

Best Family Cruise: Regal Princess - Princess Cruises

From the tallest slide at sea, to culinary concepts that take guests from Japan to Italy to Wonderland, the world’s largest cruise ships are full of adventures guaranteed to wow every kind of explorer. Upstart cruise line Atlas Ocean Voyages offers all-inclusive fares on its two 98-suite vessels, and, in a departure from industry norms, the brand doesn’t charge solo travelers a single supplement. It will sail nine-, 10-, 11-, and 12-night round-trips from Ushuaia, Argentina, to Antarctica through March 2023 before heading to the Mediterranean to hit Spain, France, and Portugal. Paul Gauguin Cruises operates just one ship, but it is exquisite, hosting 330 guests and sailing only in the South Pacific to destinations like Tahiti, Fiji, Tonga, and the Cook Islands. The ship is small enough to access private ports at remote beaches and take travelers well off the beaten path.

We recommend one of the two large bars at the Music Hall, where you can make new friends while sipping musically inspired cocktails and listening to live bands. If the Music Hall is too noisy for chatting up other solos, head to the sometimes quieter Schooner Bar. While the solo cabins on the Quantum-class ships don't come with a dedicated solo lounge as they do on Norwegian ships, solo travelers will find Royal Caribbean-hosted meetups for solo travelers on the vessels. It's a great way for single travelers to find others in the same boat, so to speak. Cabins on higher decks will provide better views from balconies and suites, and good access to many of the ship’s amenities, but passengers may feel the ship's movement more. These engineering wonders take home awards every year for their cutting-edge design, first-of-their-kind attractions, world class dining and accommodations, and unforgettable experiences.

I sailed on Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas. These were my 8 favorite amenities on the world's largest cruise ship. - Yahoo News Canada

I sailed on Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas. These were my 8 favorite amenities on the world's largest cruise ship..

Posted: Thu, 18 Apr 2024 23:37:30 GMT [source]

Ponant's luxurious small ships sail to remote destinations like Antarctica, incorporating once-in-a-lifetime experiences such as eclipse spotting from the edge of the earth. If you are looking for Michelin starred fine dining on a luxury cruise, with butler service you should search for a high quality vessel like Norwegian Cruise Line's Regent Seven Seas. Perhaps you are searching for a very large premium to luxury line with cruise ships like Royal Caribbean's symphony of the seas which is a 1,184.42 square feet (1.1 a) in size.

The Best Cruise Ships in the World: The Gold List 2024

Travelers are turning to trusted lines to help minimize the hassles of country hopping and maximize relaxation time in each destination. With 2023 poised to be a big year for both new and frequent cruisers — thanks in part to an abundance of new ships and itineraries — Travel + Leisure has hand-selected 16 different types of adventures to consider in the year ahead. While many apps at sea are still finding their footing, Royal Caribbean's delivers an experience that is seamless and fun. PortMiami’s enviable location, near Miami Beach, and ease of access has long made it the world’s busiest cruise port. Cruise lines have also imprinted their personalities on the port’s terminals, with Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Carnival and Virgin Voyages serving as land-based extensions of the onboard experience.

Best River Cruise Line: Avalon Waterways

The sailings out of Colon and Cartagena offer the chance to visit Southern Caribbean ports such as Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao that aren't on most Royal Caribbean itineraries in the Caribbean. The sailings out of San Juan will also get you into the Southern Caribbean, while the sailings out of Israel and Cyprus offer a destination-heavy tour through the Eastern Mediterranean, including stops at multiple Greek islands. The vessel also has multiple pool areas, a water park, a miniature golf course and a rock climbing wall on its top deck. It also has one of Royal Caribbean's signature Royal Promenades in its interior — a mall-like space filled with eateries, bars and shops. For would-be Royal Caribbean cruisers, Freedom of the Seas serves as a sort of "test the line" ship.

I tried the newest ships from Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, and Norwegian. Here's how they compare - Cruise Blog

I tried the newest ships from Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, and Norwegian. Here's how they compare.

Posted: Wed, 17 Apr 2024 12:57:15 GMT [source]

The newest, largest cruise ships such as Royal Caribbean's 'Icon of the Seas' offer a huge range of ... Some ships offer cabins with direct access to the promenade deck, while the largest ships, including MSC World Europa, offer balconies overlooking an internal courtyard or promenade. Choosing your cruise ship cabin or stateroom is an essential part of planning a dream cruise vacation. The right accommodation can enhance your cruise experience, providing you with a comfortable retreat after a day of adventure, but some choices may turn out to be an expensive mistake. Unpack once and take in the sights of the world’s rivers and seas from your floating hotel, all while enjoying top-notch entertainment, dining and amenities.

The only things you won't find are the most over-the-top Royal Caribbean attractions found on newer Royal Caribbean ships, such as zip lines, skydiving simulators and bumper car pavilions. Booking with the cruise company guarantees your return to the ship, even if your excursion runs late. The tours are usually led by locals, which means the guides can also give you some good recommendations if you have time before you need to return to the ship. If you're looking for a unique excursion that still gives you the highlights of a European city, I recommend booking a food tour.

Instead, Virgin scouts acts from the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and works with underground theaters in NYC to create something all-new at sea. Intimate venues quite literally immerse passengers in some shows, and the effortlessly diverse casts further the line's come-as-you-are ethos. Expect drag queens, Greek mythology, existential gameshows and quite a bit of skin. But I only book with third-party operators if the ship docks right at the city I want to explore because I never want to miss the all-aboard time. If you have more flexibility in your budget, consider what’s important to you in accommodation. If you plan to spend a lot of time in your cabin, you might value a balcony or a spacious room more.

I've done tours in places like Amsterdam, Budapest, and Paris, and I've never been disappointed. Even though it means paying for lodging and likely a few meals before boarding the boat, getting a good night's sleep before a jam-packed vacation is worth it to me. Some ports of call, like Nice, France, were easy to get around, but others like Rome were packed to the gills. This will likely result in you being allocated a cabin at the front or back of the ship, but it will save you money. Travel + Leisure hand-selected 16 different types of on-the-water adventures to consider in the year ahead. To view the full details of each category, visit the 2023 Cruise Critic Editors’ Picks Awards.