Quick Jump to Cruise Line Overview

Carnival  Celebrity  Clipper  Costa  Crystal  Cunard  Delta Queen  Disney  Holland America  MSC  Norwegian  Oceania  Orient  Princess  Regent  Royal Caribbean  Seabourn  Silversea  Windjammer  Windstar 

---

Carnival

The world's largest cruise line's humble origins pigeonholed it as the cruise industry's version of a floating fraternity party for a long, long time. But that's yesterday, and while Carnival still commands a certain reputation for a flashy, neon-esque atmosphere, and by no means stints on elaborate lounges and discos, its ships continue to evolve. In particular, Carnival has earned kudos for enhancing cuisine (never a high point in the old days), investing in a top-notch children's program, and expanding its itinerary offerings beyond traditional Caribbean and Bahamas trips to regions like Alaska, Atlantic Canada, even Europe. Lately, the line has taken advantage of the fastest-growing cruise segment in the United States—short vacations of three to five nights—and has deployed most of its Fantasy-class ships to those markets.

Celebrity

Now that Celebrity Cruises has launched Constellation, its last new build for the foreseeable future, the line is turning its attentions inward. The goal is ambitious: The company is introducing a series of enhancements that it hopes will position Celebrity as a legitimate Crystal competitor, albeit with a younger passenger demographic.

Clipper

Founded in 1982, the Clipper fleet consists of four ships. The 100-passenger Nantucket Clipper and the 138-passenger Yorktown Clipper were designed to sail tidal estuaries, rivers, and bays of the coastal U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean. The company's most exotic itineraries are handled by the 122-passenger Clipper Adventurer, which, with an ice-strengthened hull, can cruise in Antarctic and Arctic waters, not to mention Chilean fjords and Brazilian jungle rivers. The ship has its own fleet of Zodiac landing craft for an even more up-close-and-personal look at these remote areas. Clipper Adventurer also sails more conventional Western European itineraries. Finally, the 128-passenger Clipper Odyssey is the company's Pacific emissary, focusing on itineraries that visit places like Australia, New Zealand, Tasmania, the South Pacific, Korea, Japan, and even Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula and the Aleutian Islands.

Costa

What began as a fleet of freighters transporting fabrics and olive oil between Genoa and Sardinia in the mid-1800s is today the largest and most modern cruise fleet in Europe. Costa Cruises, a subsidiary of Carnival Corporation, is an Italian company with a modern fleet of ships, worldwide itineraries, and a distinct Italian personality.

Crystal

Crystal Cruises offers an intriguing hybrid style of cruise experience. The line is decidedly upscale, but its ships, unlike its luxury niche competitors, are big ones, each carrying 940 or more passengers. Founded in 1990, Crystal has two ships in its fleet: the 940-passenger Crystal Symphony and the 1,080-passenger Crystal Serenity, which introduced new Crystal signature features. These include a sushi bar; second paddle tennis court; boardroom with wine cellar; and indoor/outdoor pool (in addition to the standard centerpiece pool). Fantasia, the children's facility, is state-of-the-art, and keynote facilities, such as the Computer University@Sea and the spa, have been expanded. And 85 percent of its oceanview cabins have balconies.

Cunard

Steeped in the traditions of 160 years' worth of transatlantic service and the greatest liners in history, Cunard Line today lies under the umbrella of Carnival Cruise's Princess/P&O Cruises operations. At present, her fleet consists of two British-flagged liners: Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2), the longest-serving ship in Cunard's history and Queen Mary 2 (QM2), the largest, longest, highest, and most expensive ship ever built so far. Carnival has signed a contract to build a third ship, Queen Victoria, a running mate to Queen Mary 2; although smaller and not intended to cross the Atlantic year-round, the ship will have with many of the same amenities as its larger counterpart.

Delta Queen

Editor's Note: Due to Hurricane Katrina, all three of the Delta Queen Steamboat Company's ships have been taken out of service for winter 2006. Mississippi Queen and Delta Queen will resume service in April 2006, and American Queen will resume service in May 2006.

Disney

When Disney execs decided to enter the cruise business they looked back to the 1920's for inspiration. As a result, both Disney Magic¯ and Disney Wonder¯ resemble luxurious ocean liners of a bygone era that just happen to have all the modern bells and whistles. Best of all, Disney Cruise Line¯ proves that "elegant" and "family friendly" don't have to be mutually exclusive terms.

Holland America

Holland America Line is arguably the most historic (its first ship sailed in 1873) and tradition-laden cruise lines on the seas today. The line, however, is keeping up with the times: Its "Signature of Excellence" initiative has spent millions to enhance the entire fleet's guest accommodations, public rooms, dining, service, and enrichment programs. Changes include an early embarkation program (allowing guest to board as early as 11 AM); a Culinary Arts Theater for cooking demonstrations and classes; table-side wait staff service in the Lido Restaurant, the ships' casual dining venue; an expanded "Speakers Program"; new Greenhouse Spas offering thermal suites and hydro pools; a multidimensional venue for onboard programming called the "Explorations Café"; 24-hour concierge service for suite guests; and more extensive programs for children and youths.

MSC

Mediterranean Shipping Company’s MSC Cruises was formed in 1987 and was based upon the premise of offering Europeans an affordably-priced cruise vacation, a fairly revolutionary idea for the time. Its fleet can be divided into two categories: the very-value-priced and refurbished "classic" ships and the new builds.

Norwegian

Owned by Star Cruises of Malaysia, Miami-based Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) is notable for its innovative "Freestyle Cruising”—passengers dine as they like and wear what they like—as well as for its extremely relaxed disembarkation policy, revolutionary in mass-market cruising.

Oceania

The brainchild of cruise industry veterans Frank Del Rio and Joe Watters, former heads of Renaissance Cruises and Crystal Cruises, respectively, Miami-based Oceania Cruises emphasizes a destination-intensive, floating-hotel experience, with top-notch food and superior service—at a mid-market price point.

Orient

Owned by Norwegian Cruise Line since 2000, Orient Lines bills itself as the “Destination Cruise Specialist,” a fitting moniker. The line is known for its creative, “one-way” cruises that feature more ports per itinerary, more time in each port, and more overnight stays than other cruise lines. Orient Lines also offers cruise tours featuring pre- and post-cruise hotel stays with virtually every itinerary. Its one ship, the Marco Polo, manages the impressive feat of traversing the globe each year.

Princess

What began as the little cruise line that could, operating one small luxury liner between Los Angeles and the Mexican Riviera (and later Alaska) in 1965, evolved into a cruise industry giant, with 14 ships sailing on more than150 global itineraries ranging from seven to 72 days. Princess now ranks as one of the top mass-market cruise lines, with a reputation for being a force for change in the industry. Its well-maintained fleet ranges from the mega-sized “post Panamax” ships—so-named for being too wide to fit through the Panama Canal—to more intimate, 680-passenger vessels.

Regent

Regent Seven Seas Cruises, previously Radisson Seven Seas Cruises, was formed in 1992 as the result between two one-ship lines, Radisson Cruises and Seven Seas Cruises. Its parent company is the Minneapolis-based Carlson Hospitality Worldwide, one of the travel industry’s largest hospitality companies. In March 2006, Carlson announced that Radisson would become Regent; the crux for the company has long been that Radisson Seven Seas, which pioneered many of today's most significant luxury accouterments—from all-outside cabins to all-balcony suites to butler and concierge services—is upscale, but Carlson's Radisson Hotels, which share the name, are resolutely mass-market. The small-but-growing Regent chain of hotels, acquired by Carlson five years after it had launched its cruise line, seemed a better fit.

Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean has been around since 1969 and currently operates 16 ships. The line is perhaps best known for having some of the largest passenger ships in the world (142,000 tons); these are the ships with rock-climbing, ice-skating, and in-line skating facilities; Johnny Rockets diners; promenade shopping malls; and more. In fact, the rock-climbing walls have proven to be so popular that RCI has added them to the entire fleet. All in all, it’s a moderately priced cruise line, with rates varying by itinerary.

Seabourn

Seabourn Cruise Line is part of Carnival Corporation, whose seven cruise lines are members of the "World's Leading Cruise Lines" marketing group. Seabourn markets its ships as "The Yachts of Seabourn," and the ultra luxury ships do in fact feel like private yachts; or, more aptly, private clubs. The 208-passenger sister ships Seabourn Legend, Seabourn Pride, and Seabourn Spirit are nearly identical, and all create an intimate environment where wealthy passengers can unwind with their peers, enjoy fine dinner cuisine and solicitous service, and visit exotic ports around the world.

Silversea

Silversea’s watchcry is “Uncompromising Commitment to Service,” and the company has clearly shown that it belongs with the best of the ultra-luxury cruise market. Though not an inexpensive product on paper (no luxury cruise is!), the line’s all-inclusive pricing offers guests value for the money. Gratuities, port charges, and alcoholic beverages (including wine at lunch and dinner) are folded into the cost of the cruise. One complimentary shore excursion—known as the Silversea Experience—is provided on many of its voyages, and it invariably features something other than the run-of-the-mill tour onshore. On one such excursion, the Silversea Experience included a visit to an ancient castle where a produce fair was in progress and at which the mayor of the town greeted passengers in person. Not your basic city coach tour!

Windjammer

Windjammer Barefoot Cruises has most definitely evolved. Though it’s still cruising's most casual, free-spirited option, the eccentric Windjammer (they really do mean it about going barefoot) consists of a fleet of five vintage tall ships and one freighter and has, mostly, adapted to new times. Which means? Some of its funkiest eccentricities have disappeared: For example, passengers are no longer permitted to climb the riggings and howl at the moon. The notoriously Spartan ships have acquired some civilizing touches, such as curtains in the dining room and some double-bedded cabins, and "activities mates" have been added to each ship to handle shore-related explorations.

Windstar

Windstar's sleek masted sailing ships with computer-directed sails offer the perfect balance of sophisticated pampering, exceptional service, and luxurious amenities amidst a casual atmosphere. Windstar Cruises currently has three ships: . Wind Spirit and Wind Star carry 148 passengers each, and Wind Surf carries 312 passengers. Passenger-to-crew ratios are very high—1.5 to 1—and a superb level of personalized service is the result.