2023 Cruise Critic Editors' Picks Awards: Best New Ship ocean

top 5 cruise lines

Well, as always, we are here to partake in this debate with our list of best cruise lines in the US. According to Reuters, over 35 million tourists around the world are looking to cruise in 2024. The US contributes more tourists to the cruise industry than any other country in the world. Florida, California, and New York are home to some of the busiest cruise ports in the world.

Expedition Cruising With Seabourn

There’s also adult-exclusive dining in case parents want a romantic dinner away from tantrums and time outs. Guests will also enjoy checking out Disney’s own private island in the Bahamas called Castaway Cay, where you just might see some hidden statues of your fave characters if you like to try out snorkeling under the sun. "This was a banner year for the cruise industry," explains Colleen McDaniel, Editor-in-Chief of Cruise Critic. A great cruise ship specialty restaurant should feel like date night at an exciting venue – and that’s exactly what Norwegian Cruise Line delivers on its ships. Passengers are spoiled for choice, from upscale Italian in Onda by Scarpetta and delicious Teppanyaki and sushi, to fine French food or Mediterranean fare.

Best for Families

Its ships offer a wide variety of specialty dining options, from a food-truck style market with a burger shop, taco shack and sushi bar. 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.

Seabourn

Typically, passengers traveling alone must be at least 21 years old on the day of embarkation. Premium cruises are generally mid-size (1,500-2,000 passengers) to large (over 2,000 passengers). If you’re ready to hop aboard, here are Money’s picks for the five best cruise lines of 2023. It doesn’t matter if you want adventure, relaxation or a combination of both, the best cruises offer a convenient and all-inclusive way to explore multiple destinations without the hassle of planning individual itineraries. My biggest tip for any cruise — but especially for Americans traveling to Europe for a Mediterranean cruise — is to arrive at your embarkation city at least a day before your sailing starts. This will likely result in you being allocated a cabin at the front or back of the ship, but it will save you money.

Steps to Choosing the Right Cruise for Your Next Vacation

Moreover, Virgin cruises has its very own private beach club in the Bahamas where its cruises make port, allowing travelers to spend an entire day at the resort. Princess Cruises offers voyages to over 330 destinations over the world, more than almost any other cruise line. Its vast fleet of cruise ships is tailored to have destination specific itineraries, enabling cruisers to fully explore some of the most breathtaking sights nature has to offer. While most onboard activities are included in the ticket, offshore excursions often come at a premium.

Alaska on Ocean Victory

But one seabound itinerary people often forget to add to their bucket lists is a Mediterranean cruise. 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. Kids can try out the buffet or main dining room to get everything from grilled cheese sandwiches to a mini margarita pizza. MSC also offers in-room dining menus in case your kiddo gets a little restless at the dinner table. Plus, the cruise line is especially loved for being sensory- and autism-friendly, offering a wide range of services like priority checking, Camp at Sea flexible grouping and more. Slated to launch in the spring, the 228-passenger Scenic Eclipse II will visit ports from Dublin to Lisbon, as well as both polar regions, in 2023 and 2024.

Compare: 10 Best Cruise Ships in The Bahamas and Caribbean - Cruise Critic

Compare: 10 Best Cruise Ships in The Bahamas and Caribbean.

Posted: Mon, 23 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Higher fare tiers include more amenities but are significantly more expensive. 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.

Best Cabins

Some of its ships have onboard pools, water parks, ziplines, jungle gyms, mini golf courses, and IMAX theaters that are sure to keep kids of all ages entertained while sailing the seas. Carnival Cruise Lines’ ships also have adult spas, salons, bars, casinos, and late night concerts and plays. If you’re looking for a fun and exciting cruise line that will keep your kids smiling from ear to ear, the Disney Cruise Line will not disappoint.

Delfin II — Lindblad Expeditions-National GeographicArrow

The cruise line was started in 1996 as a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company. On board you can see live, Broadway-caliber Disney shows, hang out with Disney characters, and feel like a princess or pirate with Disney-themed events. The other side of the spectrum are cruise lines like Celebrity Cruises and Holland America Line.

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. A game changer in lowering emissions, Ponant’s brand-new hybrid-electric Le Commandant Charcot can operate on less-carbon-intensive battery power and liquefied natural gas and has room for 245 guests. The game-changing ship, which has already hosted eclipse watchers on a trip to Antarctica and sailed to the geographic North Pole, also offers adventures in places such as Iceland and Svalbard. It certainly begs the question “What is the number 1 cruise line in America?

top 5 cruise lines

"We have both crossed the Atlantic and cruised in the Caribbean on the QM, and the experience is always outstanding." When you dine aboard a Regent cruise, you'll experience world-class chefs as well as sommeliers to pair your wine to your meal. Dining options include a variety of restaurants serving French cuisine, Pan-Asian dishes, Italian specialties, steak and more. Families can experience Disney magic by booking a cruise through Disney Cruise Lines.

There will be elevators, of course, but you should expect queues at busy times. Princess Cruises is known for being the best cruise line for the whole family, from baby to grandma. And let the grandparents join in on the fun through educational excursions partnered with Discovery and Animal Planet, as well as splash zones, backyard games and yes, a kid-friendly bar with sweet mocktails. The cruise line also has their very own mascot, Stanley, who spends his time all over the ship to play games, take photos and interact with guests. If you have older kids, Norwegian may be the best cruise line for your family. Zoom around the largest race track at sea, immerse yourself at the high-tech Galaxy Pavilion or take a plunge on the water slides.

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. Food tours can be booked through third-party travel operators, like TripAdvisor or Viator, and offer the chance to see some of the major landmarks of a city, try local dishes, and learn some history all in one outing. If you're looking for a unique excursion that still gives you the highlights of a European city, I recommend booking a food tour. I've done tours in places like Amsterdam, Budapest, and Paris, and I've never been disappointed. Going early or late in the season usually means you'll have more tolerable weather and smaller crowds in some of the big destinations like Athens.

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