Friendly Travel
Cruise Lines List
Take a gander at any cruise lines list and you’ll be bombarded by the unending possibilities and luxuries offered by the top cruise lines. A cruise is a wonderful choice for a fun-filled vacation or a honeymoon, and they’re cost-efficient, as well. With numerous cruise lines to choose from, you can plan your dream getaway and visit the places you’ve always wanted to see.
Top 20 Cruise Lines List
- Avalon Waterways
- Azamara Club Cruises
- Carnival Cruise Lines
- Celebrity Cruises
- Costa Cruises
- Crystal Cruises
- Cunard Line
- Disney Cruise Line
- Holland America Line
- MSC Cruises
- Norwegian Cruise Line
- Oceania Cruises
- Princess Cruises
- Regent Seven Seas Cruises
- Royal Caribbean International
- Seabourn Cruise Line
- SeaDream Yacht Club
- Silversea Cruises
- Uniworld River Cruises
- Viking River Cruises
Avalon Waterways, awarded the Cruise Critic 2010 Best River Cruise Line Award, is known for catering to passengers with a modern, hotel styled flair. Guests are treated to nightly turn-down service and freshly-brewed morning coffee or tea served with delicious pastries. Avalon Waterways offers the European and Galapagos cruises, both featuring completely non-smoking interiors. They also boast China and Egypt cruises, and smokers must stay in specific areas on those tours.
The entertainment on these tours is mid-level, with piano music after dinner and some live entertainment. Bars and lounges are available on ships, as well. One of the most striking features of the Avalon Waterways cruises is the expert tours where individuals can experience some local custom depending upon where they’re going. For instance, those who sail the Yangtze may learn Tai Chi, study calligraphy or even learn the Mandarin language.
Azamara Club Cruises helps individuals travel all over the world, to 187 ports in 58 different countries. They offer up the beautiful Azamara Journey and the Azamara Quest ships, both featuring luxury spas and the Mosaic Café. Azamara Club Cruises is perfect for individuals who want a smaller, more intimate cruise. Built specifically to hold fewer occupants than others, each ship will accommodate less than 700 guests, and the staff works hard to pamper each one.
Carnival Cruise Lines brought home the 2010 Cruise Critic Award for Best Budget-Friendly Cruising, so it’s a wonderful option for those who want to cruise without spending an arm and a leg. Carnival is known as a family-friendly cruise line, offering up plenty of fun and entertainment on each ship. For instance, all ships offer Jacuzzi and pool areas, as well as casinos and Vegas styled shows.
Carnival is also great for offering up a variety of foods to suit every taste, from Asian cuisine to pizzerias, Indian restaurants, sushi bars and home-style buffets. Carnival Cruise Line features more than 2,000 ships and is easily the largest cruise line in the world. They visit the Caribbean, Europe, the Bahamas, Mexico, Hawaii, Bermuda, Canada, New England, and more, with plenty of fun on-shore excursions.
The goal of Celebrity Cruises is to make their guests feel like celebrities; with a staff member present for nearly every two passengers, personal attention is one thing this cruise line is noted for. On the Celebrity ships, dining is done at a certain time, and the dress code is a little stricter than with some of the other cruise lines. Celebrity also boasts a pretty fair program for children also, so this is a family-oriented cruise line.
Costa features nearly twenty ships in their fleet and focuses more on offering a great price than glitzy entertainment and the most luxurious amenities. However, their ships are beautiful and rooms are comfortable and cozy, and in addition to Eco-excursions, they offer custom-created excursions. This is a cruise line for those with small budgets who still want to have an exciting time in a comfortable ship with a service-oriented staff.
Crystal Cruises features some of the largest ships a cruise company can boast, and every one of them is the perfect picture of luxury. Dinner is held at a set time, though there are boutique restaurants located on the ships, as well. The higher end rooms on the ships are luxurious and very comfortable, and while the lower end rooms are still comfortable, they are nowhere near as spacious. Some of the on-board activities include a formal afternoon tea, casinos, and paddle tennis. Crystal has worked hard to cater to families, with excellent children’s accommodations and activities, also.
If there were a cruise lines list for the most elegant and luxurious, the Cunard line might be at the very top. Cunard is the proud recipient of the 2010 Cruise Critic U.K. Editor’s Pick Awards for Best New Ship (the Queen Elizabeth) and Best Pub at Sea (the Golden Lion). Queen Mary 2 restaurants are assigned based on cabins, with the more expensive cabins being assigned to the higher end restaurants. This same ship has a white-glove afternoon tea as well as a stunning 2-story spa. All ships offer cabins with more than 2,000 square feet, making this line the perfect choice for those who prefer the absolute best when it comes to a cruise.
Disney is a very family-oriented cruise line, offering fun for “kids” of all ages. From interactions with Disney characters on deck to fun, themed cruises and children’s activities, Disney cruise line is at the top of the cruise lines list for children and families. They’re known for world class staterooms, 24-hour room service, and clubs for children of different age groups. This is a perfect choice for parents who want to bond with their children and have a wonderful vacation.
Holland America cruises worldwide and is generally thought of as a cruise line for more relaxed, older individuals. With beautiful art collections, tastefully decorated state rooms, and fun classes in culinary arts, fitness, and photography, Holland America holds something for everyone. They’ve recently created Club Hal, which caters more to children and active individuals, but the line is still more suited for tastes that are more relaxed.
MSC Cruises are a wonderful choice for honeymoons or family vacations. With an Italian feel to most cruises, the ships cruise worldwide, but the majority of them are to the Mediterranean. On-board entertainment ranges from soft and soothing jazz music to circus styled acrobatic shows. The cruises are affordable, while extra items may be costly.
Norwegian Cruise Line boasts the 2010 Cruise Critic Editor’s Pick Awards for Best New Restaurant, Best for Honeymooners, Best for Gamblers, and Best for Evening Entertainment. They also earned the 2010 UK Editors’ Picks Awards for Best Non-Stop Fun and Best Entertainment at Sea. Overall, it’s a fun cruise line that is very laid-back with a focus on entertainment and pampering. Passengers will find full-service spas, a variety of eateries, and top-notch entertainment.
Couples looking for cruises where they’re not likely to bump into rowdy children should definitely consider Oceania. In fact, they hold the 2010 Cruise Critic Editor’s Pick Award for Best Kid Free Travel. This line caters to retirees and others who want to enjoy a relaxing, quiet time in a rich setting with beautiful decor and plenty of fine dining choices.
Princess Cruises holds the 2010 Cruise Critic Editor’s Pick for Best Honeymoon at Sea and Best Main Dining Room. With their “eat anytime” program, individuals don’t have to follow a set schedule. Attracting a wide range of individuals and families, Princess features numerous on-board experiences, from digital editing classes to culinary arts classes and classic video game fun for the younger passengers. It’s a great family choice, and the “Bon Voyage” program allows friends and family members who aren’t cruising to enjoy the fun, as well.
Professionals looking for business cruises or relaxing getaways should consider Regent Seven Seas Cruises. With internet centers, butler service available in some rooms, spas available on each ship, and spacious cabins, passengers are truly pampered with this line.
The Royal Caribbean International Cruise Line boasts the 2010 Cruise Critic Editor’s Choice Awards for Best New Ship, Best Pool Scene, and Best for Families. They also hold the 2010 UK Editor’s Pick Award for Best for First Timers. Families will enjoy these cruises which feature on-board activities like rock wall climbing, mini golf courses, and ice skating. They also feature anytime dining, so passengers don’t have to stick to a set schedule.
The Seabourn Cruise Line is the perfect choice for couples and individuals who want the best in luxury. In fact, they boast the 2010 Cruise Critic Editor’s Pick Award for Best for Luxury and the UK Editor’s Pick Award for Best for Luxury. Passengers can look forward to delicious cocktails, designer soaps, and complimentary champagne in their state rooms and shorter, less crowded cruises.
With a casual/elegant atmosphere, SeaDream cruises are sporty and fun with a more traditional type cruise feeling. Passengers can expect a full-service spa, premium wines, DVDs for viewing in their rooms, and fun shore excursions. This isn’t the best choice for families, but it’s perfect for professionals and more mature individuals.
With a fleet of five ships, Silversea Cruises take passengers through Asia, the Caribbean, South America, the Panama Canal, the Arctic and Antarctica, the Mediterranean, the North Cape, and Africa. Perfect for business and professional passengers, ships feature stocked libraries and exquisite eateries. Passengers should be prepared to pay up to $200 for meals with courses and wine. This is not a family-oriented cruise line but is perfect for affluent professionals.
While river cruises operate on a smaller scale, Uniworld River Cruises offers a host of exciting entertainment, bold and beautiful design, and lots of fun. Passengers will enjoy large-screen televisions, plush furnishings, and the ultimate comfort as well as fun entertainment, dancing, and shore excursions. This is a great choice for individuals or couples without smaller children.
The Cruise Critic UK Editor’s Choice pick for Best River Cruising, Viking offers something for a variety of tastes. Passengers can cozy up in libraries and read, enjoy posh bars and lounges, educational entertainment, and French styled balconies. This is a great option for individuals and couples.
Choosing Your Vacation from the Cruise Lines List
Before deciding on which cruise line to enjoy, thoroughly investigating this Cruise Lines List might help you determine which line works best for your unique personality and desires.
