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Ships also have a living room where guests can gather to talk or relax while listening to classical music performed by resident musicians. Opinions are our own, but compensation and in-depth research may determine where and how companies appear. Oceania Cruises' Marina is one of 12 ships chosen by our editors for 2024. Silversea Cruises topped the list as Best Luxury Cruise Line for the second year in a row. The list of brands includes everything from giant companies such as Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line, which are household names, to lesser-known small operators such as Windstar Cruises. There are more than two dozen lines marketing to North Americans — no two alike.
Carnival Cracks Down on High Stakes Activity on Pool Deck
Oceania Cruises has just seven ships, but the debut of the brand-new Oceania Vista catapults this cruise line into the luxury division. The cruise line's relatively new Go Local shore excursions for small groups bring travelers to under-the-radar destinations, T+L contributing editor and long-time cruiser Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon reported recently. Her 2022 cruise on Riviera included 70 excursions "from canoeing Croatia’s Cetina River to cooking classes in Athens."
River Awards
U.S. News Announces the 2024 Best Cruise Lines - PR Newswire
U.S. News Announces the 2024 Best Cruise Lines.
Posted: Wed, 25 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
This targeted advice aims to cater to the diverse needs and preferences of the modern cruiser, acknowledging the importance of inclusivity and the desire for personalized travel experiences. News & World Report ensures its rankings resonate with a broader audience by providing diverse options beyond traditional family and couple categories. This approach not only aids travelers in making informed decisions but also underscores the publication's commitment to covering the multifaceted nature of cruise travel. These rankings come as a comprehensive guide, catering to various traveler needs by highlighting 17 cruise lines across six distinct categories.
Seabourn
Each sailing hosts a Solo Travelers party where singles can meet each other, and a roommate matching service pairs same-sex travelers in a shared stateroom to save on surcharges. To help narrow it down, we asked a panel of cruise industry experts to nominate their top picks for cruise lines and ships across 12 categories. U.S. News has enriched the latest rankings, adding several cruise experts’ personal experiences and insider tips into profiles and ship reviews. This addition gives travelers a deeper understanding of each cruise line, enhancing their selection process. All are part of the stunning enrichment program Tauck rolls out on its European river cruise journeys – and all are done with considerable flair. These are experiences you couldn’t buy your way into or arrange on your own, and they add significant value to Tauck’s European river cruises by simply providing authentic experiences unlike any other you’ll find elsewhere.
Oceania has carved out a niche with relatively small, upscale ships that offer a significant upgrade from mass-market vessels but aren't quite as fancy (or pricey) as luxury offerings. A giant of cruising in Europe, Switzerland-based MSC Cruises is making a big play for North Americans with newer, bigger ships sailing year-round from Florida to the Caribbean and Bahamas. The choice of roughly one in five cruisers, Carnival Cruise Line's ships are notoriously lively, flashy and packed with fun features such as water parks with multiple waterslides. Get to know the best cruise lines in a variety of categories, based on member review ratings for cruises taken in the last year. The Avalon Envision is among the more recent additions to the Avalon Waterways fleet.
Summary of Money’s Best Cruises of 2023
Cruises are booming right now, buoyed partly by the popularity of domestic seacations that hauled in first-time sailors. So much so that Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ 34,000-mile world trip for 2024 sold out in just over two hours, while the adults-only Virgin Voyages, which aims to throw cruise stereotypes overboard, rose to first place in Large Ships. And we’ve brought back last year's new category showcasing the expedition cruises – small, often sustainable vessels with a shoal of scientific experts onboard – that follow in the wake of adventurers such as Sir Ernest Shackleton. The company shines with an always stellar lineup of onboard experts and guides.
Best for Customer Satisfaction: Disney
U.S. News considered the overall cruise line quality and average base fare per night, as well as extra benefits such as free gratuities, Wi-Fi access and all-inclusive package options. U.S. News & World Report ranked 17 different cruise lines and ranked everything from the best cruise lines for the money to the best cruise lines in the Caribbean. Virgin Voyages' first three ships (Scarlet Lady, Valiant Lady and Resilient Lady) have suites by acclaimed designer Tom Dixon. Destinations include the Dominican Republic, Mexico and a private beach club in the Bahamas, as well as parts of Europe and Australia.
Royal Caribbean Announces Cancellation of All Cruise Stops to Private Island
Disney Cruise Line captured the Best Cruise Lines for Families distinction for the 10th consecutive year. Disney ships’ family-oriented experiences — like character meet-and-greets and themed dinners — keep the line a perennial favorite among family travelers. Royal Caribbean International ranks second with its diverse onboard amenities and dining options. Carnival Cruise Line, a tenured name often celebrated for its water parks and family-friendly activities, rounds out the top three. Carnival’s low fares and fun amenities make it a popular choice for those looking for a quick, affordable cruise (although it also offers longer trips to Europe, Australia and more). Its ships cater to travelers looking for an entertaining, exciting getaway — with an emphasis on pools, waterslides, mini-golf and karaoke, plus comedy shows, casino games and nightclubs for adults.
Are pets allowed on cruises?
Azamara, Windstar and Viking Ocean cruises are three examples of luxury cruises. Royal Caribbean’s wide range of activities and amenities include a little something for everything, from waterslides and ziplines to dance classes to movie nights. The ships even offer babysitting services so grownups can have a night out at a restaurant, nightclub or show. Royal Caribbean International’s ships sail to a wide variety of destinations, from shorter trips to the Caribbean and Mexico to longer vacations to Alaska, Europe, Asia and the South Pacific. Cruisers who seek an ultimate luxury experience must typically take a trip with boutique, small-ship cruise lines such as Seabourn that have relatively few crowd-pleasing attractions. For a premium fare, MSC’s Yacht Club offers what’s called a “ship-within-a-ship” experience — a dedicated VIP enclave on a larger cruise ship that gives guests the best of both worlds.
Princess Cruises, nostalgically remembered for its role in The Love Boat, secures the third position, continuing to be a favorite for its romantic allure and value proposition. We made our picks with the understanding that no single cruise is the best choice for every type or traveler or every type of trip — each cruise line has strengths and weaknesses, and our aim is to highlight the strengths that differentiate the winners. There are exceptions for service animals, which many cruise lines allow.
These are some of the most popular itineraries because of their accessibility, affordability and wide variety of activities. The ships tend to be large – some can carry more than 6,000 passengers – and are packed with amenities. Before you buy a cruise, you’ll be well-served by understanding how these vacations work, what is and isn’t included in the fare and what it might cost to insure your trip in case the worst were to happen. In addition, it’s helpful to understand the types of cruises and cabins, and how best to choose among them. With a fleet of three ships, Virgin Voyages offers itineraries from two to 14 nights.
Multistory waterslides, ropes courses and even go-kart race tracks are among the gee-whiz attractions atop Norwegian Cruise Line's giant, resort-like ships. The vessels also are packed with eateries, bars, casinos and showrooms. Tradition long has been a touchstone for this storied line, which dates to 1873 and is known for carefully crafted, globe-circling itineraries on midsize ships.
Emerald Yacht Cruises, a line best known for its river ships, launched its first ocean-going vessel, Emerald Azzura, in 2022 followed by an identical sister ship, Emerald Sakara, in 2023. Both ships are intimate with a capacity of 100 passengers in 50 staterooms. The line’s newest ship, Silver Nova, which holds 728 passengers was ranked as the Best New Luxury Ship. This environmentally-friendly ship, which began its inaugural cruise in August, 2023 is the industry’s first hybrid luxury cruise ship. This fast-growing line has dominated the world of river cruising for North Americans for years, and in the last few years, it's become a significant player in upscale ocean cruising as well.
Whether travelers seek luxury, family fun, or the most bang for their buck, the 2024 Best Cruise Lines rankings are a meticulously curated guide to the best cruise options available today. Avalon Waterways makes solo cruising not only simple and enjoyable but also highly affordable. Avalon waives the single supplement fee so solo cruisers can enjoy river cruising like anybody else. Plus, they can enjoy the roomy staterooms and suites on their own, without the need to stay in a cramped single cabin, which is customary on other lines. With several communal locations, ease of mingling and exciting excursions, solo cruisers thrive while when sailing with Avalon – without having to break the bank. Viking wins Cruise Critic's top choice for a first-time river cruise experience simply because of all the things the line does right.
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