Cruise lines have resumed operations with trimmed capacity and regional programs in Europe, Asia, and Australia. As of the end of August, 13 out of 26 ships in the fleet will have resumed service. Royal Caribbean International is one of the first cruise lines to resume service in Asia, while the Quantum of the Seas has been sailing.
Cruise companies have announced when each cruise line resumed sailing following their pause in operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The real-time cruise ship tracker provides live map data for ships in port, anchored, and at sea. Carnival Cruise ships are available for exploration and booking. Royal Caribbean offers last-minute vacation deals, including cruises departing soon and quick, short, and mini weekend trips. Carnival cruise deals and cruise packages to popular destinations include the Caribbean, The Bahamas, Alaska, and Mexico.
Cruises.org displays live maritime traffic tracking maps, cruise ports maps, and locations information. Cruise lines are monitoring their fleets in real-time, and last-minute vacation deals include cruises departing soon as well as quick, short, and mini weekends. Disney Cruise Line offers cruise schedules and specials on popular destinations like the Caribbean, The Bahamas, Alaska, and Mexico.
📹 The Cruise Lines Everyone Is Raving About RIGHT NOW (And Why!)
I’ve been diving into the latest cruise line reviews, reviewing all the comments and messages I receive and comparing that with my …
Is it safe to be on a cruise ship right now?
After the coronavirus shut down the industry, cruise lines further strengthened their protocols to include safeguards against airborne pathogens. They included social distancing and mask-wearing requirements, as well as the enhancement of air filtration systems. Other measures included contact tracing protocols, mandatory vaccination requirements and the expansion of onboard medical facilities and staff.
Many of the COVID-19-related policies — including requirements for mask-wearing and mandatory vaccination — have been relaxed, but the lines are able to reinstate them quickly if needed.
In addition to following cruise ship wellness policies, there are other ways you can minimize your chances of becoming ill when you sail. The best way to avoid both catching and transmitting germs is to wash your hands, particularly before eating and after using the restroom or coming in contact with high-touch surfaces like handrails and elevator buttons.
Are Royal Caribbean cruises still going to Haiti?
“Our Global Security and Intel Team is closely monitoring the evolving situation in Haiti, and in an abundance of caution we have suspended all visits to Labadee fleetwide through September 2024.”
Is Royal Caribbean Labadee cancelled?
We have suspended all visits to Labadee fleetwide through September 2024, and we continue to monitor the situation with our Global Security & Intelligence team. Please know that the safety and comfort of our guests are always our highest priority. We are committed to keeping you informed, and itinerary modifications are being communicated directly to guests ahead of their sailings. Please check back for any potential changes. Thank you for your understanding.
How many Royal Caribbean ships are cruising now?
While we’re always adding to our fleet, Royal Caribbean currently has a total of 28 ships, and we’re always building new ones!
Adventure of the Seas®Allure of the Seas® Anthem of the Seas® Brilliance of the Seas® Enchantment of the Seas® Explorer of the Seas® Freedom of the Seas® Grandeur of the Seas® Harmony of the Seas®Icon of the Seas℠Independence of the Seas®Jewel of the Seas®Liberty of the Seas®Mariner of the Seas®Navigator of the Seas®Oasis of the Seas®Odyssey of the Seas®Ovation of the Seas®Quantum of the Seas®Radiance of the Seas®Rhapsody of the Seas®Serenade of the Seas®Spectrum of the Seas®Symphony of the Seas®Vision of the Seas®Utopia of the Seas℠Voyager of the Seas®Wonder of the Seas®
Is it safe to cruise in the Caribbean?
The latest report is from 2022, and in that year reported crimes against cruisers for the entire Caribbean climbed from 102 to 122. Over the last decade, the fewest reported incident, 71, was in 2020 while the most, 140, was in 2019. In 2022, 12 violent incidents were reported of which 9 involved assault and robbery; this was up from two violent incidents in 2019.
In 2022, almost all of the assaults, robberies, and thefts occurred in St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, followed by Martinique, St. Martin, and Panama. Given the Caribbean’s huge area and population, the relative poverty of the locals, and the thousands of visiting cruisers, these numbers indicate that theft is an issue we all need to be aware of, but violent crimes against cruisers are extremely rare.
Tags: Caribbean, Cruising Compass, George Day, Simplicity.
How many cruise ships are there today?
As of November 2022 there were 302 cruise ships operating worldwide, with a combined capacity of 664,602 passengers. Cruising has become a major part of the tourism industry, with an estimated market of $29.4 billion per year, and over 19 million passengers carried worldwide annually as of 2011.
“Sea cruise” redirects here. For the song, see Sea Cruise.
Cruise ships are large passenger ships used mainly for vacationing. Unlike ocean liners, which are used for transport, cruise ships typically embark on round-trip voyages to various ports of call, where passengers may go on tours known as “shore excursions”. On “cruises to nowhere” or “nowhere voyages”, some cruise ships make two- to three-night round trips without visiting any ports of call.
Modern cruise ships tend to have less hull strength, speed, and agility compared to ocean liners. However, they have added amenities to cater to water tourists, with recent vessels being described as “balcony-laden floating condominiums”.
What cruise ship just sank?
They were using a kayak to stay afloat. According to the cruise line Carnival Jubilee’s team rescued the men off the coast of Isla Mujeres Mexico. We’ve.
Is it safe to travel to Labadee Haiti right now?
“The U.S. State Department’s Travel Advisory for Haiti remains at Level Four: Do not travel to Haiti. The current security situation in Haiti is unpredictable and dangerous. We are aware that there are few or no commercial options to depart Haiti safely at this time.
Is it safe to cruise to the Bahamas now?
The Bahamas – Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Updated with additional water safety information. Exercise increased caution in The Bahamas due to crime. Country Summary: The majority of crime occurs on New Providence (Nassau) and Grand Bahama (Freeport) islands.
Exercise increased caution in The Bahamas due tocrime.
Country Summary:The majority of crime occurs on New Providence (Nassau) and Grand Bahama (Freeport) islands. In Nassau, practice increased vigilance in the “Over the Hill” area (south of Shirley Street) where gang-on-gang violence has resulted in a high homicide rate primarily affecting the local population. Violent crime, such as burglaries, armed robberies, and sexual assaults, occur in both tourist and non-tourist areas. Be vigilant when staying at short-term vacation rental properties where private security companies do not have a presence.
Activities involving commercial recreational watercraft, including water tours, are not consistently regulated.Watercraft may be poorly maintained, and some operators may not have safety certifications. Always review and heed local weather and marine alerts before engaging in water-based activities. Commercial watercraft operators have discretion to operate their vessels regardless of weather forecasts; injuries and fatalities have occurred. Due to these safety concerns, U.S. government personnel are not permitted to use independently operated jet-ski rentals on New Providence and Paradise Islands.
Which cruise ship is sailing now?
Where are the cruise ships now?Ship NameScheduled Location*Scheduled SailingEurodamAt Sea7 Night AlaskaExplorer of the SeasPerfect Day At Coco Cay Bahamas6 Night CaribbeanFreedom of the SeasMiami, Florida3 Night BahamasGrand PrincessKetchikan14 Night Alaska.
What cruise ship flipped over?
Costa Concordia disaster, the capsizing of an Italian cruise ship on January 13, 2012, after it struck rocks off the coast of Giglio Island in the Tyrrhenian Sea. More than 4,200 people were rescued, though 32 people died in the disaster. Several of the ship’s crew, notably Capt. Francesco Schettino, were charged with various crimes.
The Costa Concordia was owned by Costa Crociere, a subsidiary of Carnival Corporation & PLC. When launched in 2005, it was Italy’s largest cruise ship, measuring 951 feet (290 metres) long with a passenger capacity of 3,780; by comparison, the Titanic was 882.5 feet (269 metres) long and could accommodate up to 2,435 passengers. The Concordia was known for its luxuries. It featured four swimming pools, a casino, and reportedly the largest spa on a ship. In July 2006 the vessel undertook its maiden voyage, a seven-day cruise of the Mediterranean Sea, with stops in Italy, France, and Spain. That became its standard route.
On January 13, 2012, the Concordia left Civitavecchia, Italy, at approximately 7:18 pm. On board were 1,023 crew members and 3,206 passengers. As the Concordia approached Giglio Island several hours later, it deviated from its standard course, moving closer to the small Tuscan island for a maritime “salute,” a common practice that included the cruise ship sounding its horn; the Concordia had performed several in the past. The area was known for rock outcroppings, and at some point, such a formation was noticed in the ship’s path. Schettino, a captain of more than seven years, ordered a change in course, but due to language issues, the Indonesian helmsman steered the boat in the opposite direction. It reportedly took 13 seconds to correct the maneuver. The boat’s bow ultimately swung clear, but the stern collided with the reef at approximately 9:45 pm. Confusion on the bridge resulted in conflicting orders, but the damage had been done: the Concordia’s port (left) side had suffered a 174-foot (53-metre) tear.
📹 Which Premium Cruise Line Is Top Of Their Game Right Now?
I have revisited the 4 main classic premium cruise lines (Princess Cruises, Holland America, Celebrity Cruises and Cunard Cruise …
I am buying lotto tickets with Holland America and Cunard specifically in mind. Their style seems to fit me the best. Good food, good drinks, and good music is 100% my wheelhouse. I love the older British stylings of Cunard. Give me oak and teak any day. I’ll gladly wear a suit and tie to breakfast in exchange.
Just returned from 10 days in the Caribbean on Celebrity Silhouette. What a beautiful ship and terrific crew. I have been on Holland America, Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Viking. This ship had the best entertainment of any I’ve been on. Every cruise line has its pros and cons but I have never had a bad time regardless of which cruise line I traveled on. Carnival gets a bad rap because it “may” cater to a younger more fun crowd but I am 71 and my husband is 73 and we had a blast. Just sit back and enjoy whichever cruise line you pick. If these past two years have taught us anything it’s better to be anywhere than quarantined in your house.
Thanks for the article. We have been on Holland America and Celebrity for quite a few cruises over the last ten years. There is one item that may be missing from your article. Since we are retired, we do not want to fly across the ocean for a 7 or 14 day cruise. We prefer a port intensive itinerary that is between 20 and 35 days. This is why we normally focus on Holland America. Cheers
My husband and I are 47 and 38, respectively. We’ve really loved Celebrity, and so far it’s been my favorite. He likes NCL, but I find that even though Celebrity’s prices may be higher, you get more bang for your buck vs. Carnival, NCL, and Royal especially if you’re looking for a more upscale experience. We’ve got Virgin and Princess booked, but I really want to try out Azamara and HAL.
Oceania’s Marina and Riviera were not mentioned. They are classy,and the food options are wonderful. The staff are attentive and if you like low key travel with the option of being able to relax without all the glitz and glamour and hectic outdoorsy entertainment then these two are ‘number 1’s’ for me!
I cruised Celebrity Millennium and Apex over Christmas and New Year respectively. Princess at the end of January and Royal Caribbean today. As a solo cruiser the best bang for my buck was Princess without a doubt. I’m aslo booked on the Regal Princess for her last two itineraries before repositioning. I then reposition with the Emerald mid April.
Just finished HAL’s 18 day Hawaii/San Diego Loop. It was very nice, and they were very careful w masking as the previous loop had had a lot of quarantines. This time the strict masking seemed to make all the difference. I would rate HAL a nice/I guess premium, cruise line. Definitely an older crowd-70s the predominant age. A lot of scooters, too. Food was very good- the buffet (served by crew behind glass) was exceptional. Our balcony cabin had the smallest bathroom yet, but was comfortable. Our 31 day Queen Victoria cruise from Fort Lauderdale/Panama Canal/SFO/Hawaii/to New Zealand trip was a step up. Food/entertainment/balcony room space all better. Then our Regent cruise to Alaska was superb. All included, they handled everything from the time we got to the airport. Spacious balcony cabins, loads of activities/courses, great excursions. A top recommend. Favorite is probably SilverSeas. They had the best food-high end entrees in the main dining room every night. No need for the specialty restaurants! Balcony cabin luxury equal to Regent & Cunard.
I laugh every time you say something is for the over 50 crowd 😆 im only 38 but I don’t like loud and busy. So anytime you said laid back chill or for older ppl, i perked up and took notes. I was told by someone that holland america would actually suit me really good, but i let a cheap fare sway me elsewhere. Won’t make that mistake again oof. Love your website 🥰 your vids are really entertaining. Also edited my comment to add that the last cruise (and my first cruise) that i went on, the only conversations i ever had worth anything were of ppl 50+. Its like they stopped teaching “how to have a conversation” in schools at some point 😆😭
Really excellent and informative article. We have cruised P and O, Cunard and Royal Caribbean and for our 25th anniversary we have booked Princess. For us the drinks package was the decider – we were also looking at Pand O Iona but it’s modern muted colour scheme and layout put us off. The lack of value for the extortionate drinks package really put us off, as did numerous reviews that said the number of drinks you can get included is very low and they often run out. I don’t want to pay for something that I end up not getting. The P and O drinks package only includes drinks up to £6.95, the Princess one is 12USD. Most drinks on P and O are over the 6.95 limit – even the wines are mainly starting at more than that – only 3 house wines seem to be under that limit. Both give up to 15 drinks a day, which is way more than either of us would ever consume but it’s really nice to not be tempted to count the pennies and to just have whatever we fancy. The other differences is that Princess’s drinks package also includes tips and one free wifi connection per cabin – that’s great value and makes the p and o one look very poor by comparison. On the down side the Princess balconies are absolutely tiny unless you go for the top option, also the UK prices do not include parking, P and O select fare does. I am not keen on most of the most modern ships, they don’t have the wow factor and look like they have been decorated so they don’t offend anybody. Life is about colour and music, it looked to us that Enchanted Princess offers both.
Gary: article idea. I would love a 20-to-30-minute article on the “categories of cruise ships”. What is resort, premium, premium-luxury, and luxury. This would cover lines from 7day trips at$599 to $10,000+ This is very subjective so avoid terms like “expensive” and maybe quote “web site prices” for a standard 7-day trip in the Mediterranean. This would clear up how to rank these ship lines.
I really found this a most useful run down of these 4 cruise lines. We have only cruised 4 times, each time on Princess but we have booked on Royal Caribbean next year, only because of their itinerary from Vancouver to Hawaii. We do have a few reservations about the on board experience we may have but have decided to go with an open mind and just enjoy the best of it!
As a younger cruiser I’ve enjoyed Celebrity and Holland a lot. You still have some families and kids but it doesn’t feel overcrowded. Food and service are great, and their newer ships have amazingly hi-tech theaters. I also like their emphasis on excursions, enrichment, and the environment. I just wish there was a premium cruise line with Viking’s decor and observation lounge.
Gary. Cruising with my wife on a 21-day Honolulu to Sydney via Tahiti and New Zealand on th Royal Princess. If you do not know, we are paying a daily gratitude US$17 each. They also charge 18% on alcohol and room service. Free Elite laundry, as we are, now takes 4 days. Our cabin attendant in forms us there are no face washers from there laundy. What a do!
I just finished my first “post pandemic” (are we really out of it yet?) cruise, with princess this time. I must say, compared to my last princess cruise (almost identical itenary, similar sized ship), the cost cutting in food (ingredients) and entertainment (e.g. number of shows) has been really apparent; service was still really really good I am happy to report.
I don’t think it was mentioned in the article, but it’s interesting to mention that all four these lines are owned by just two holding companies. Holland America, Princess, and Cunard are part of Carnival Corp. and Celebrity is owned by Royal Caribbean. For Carnival, you have the General Motors model where consumers can start at Carnival (the Chevrolet) move up to Holland America (the Buick), then end with Seabourn (the Cadillac). So you have value, premium and luxury categories all within the same holding group. Each level level offering more exclusivity at a higher per day cost as you move up the aspiration ladder. It’s interesting that Carnival Corp has three lines in this premium category. There’s just enough product differentiation to make them unique to certain consumer segments, but the underpinnings are still all very much Carnival Corp. I’d put Viking and Oceania (NCL’s own Buick product) in this premium mix. But I understand the scale grouping you were going for.
I think that Celebrity is setting themselves apart with their vastly improved food in not only the Main Dining rooms, but, especially in their specialty restaurants. Their now all inclusive fare with included tips, wifi and drinks is an excellent feature. The Edge class ships with the 4 main dining rooms with their unique cuisine is absolutely wonderful. I was very impressed with my two Celebrity cruises this past year. I would try Princess and Cunard again as we have enjoyed them in the past. I prefer not to dress up so much anymore in the evening so Cunard would not be my first choice.
I am currently sailing on the Regal Princess in the Caribbean, day two of a seven night cruise. I’ve sailed on all the lines mentioned in this article. This is my first cruise since the pandemic and I’ve observed a few cost cutting measures on this Princess cruise – for example cabin stewards are now cleaning the cabins once a day instead of twice a day. The food is adequate but not outstanding. The medallion app is a mess, it has been a problem since the start of the cruise. I am enjoying myself but I would say Princess is bordering on the premium category. As you point out It’s also less expensive than some of the others. The crew however is amazing and always try to make sure the passenger enjoys the cruise.
This is fo those of us 65 years and older. So far Viking Ocean Cruises is the one best for me. I have out grown the three major cruise lines. The service on Viking is the best I have ever experienced so far. They are the absolute cleanest ships I have ever been on. I am currently on a World Cruise and sailing on the Viking Star is truly an Utopian experience. I never had it so good.
The first Cruise I ever did on HA was before 2wks before 9/11. It was great with my kids who were really little. Lots of people of various ages on the ship. The last time I was on HA was about 2mo. before the pandemic hit and it was like a floating nursing home. Even the music venues reflect the ages of the base clients. My most recent cruise was on Celebrity edge, It was a perfect fit! The age rage was about late 30-late 50’s. Few kids. Classy, Modern and upscale experience with outstanding food. Royal is a good line too, and has something for every age.. Spot on for a multi generational family trip, but if you what a classy middle adult experience with fewer kids, Celebrity is the line to go with.
I think Cunard needs more on offer for their grills accommodation. When Celebrity adds in Premium Drinks, Tips, Wifi, and EVEN shore excursion credit starting at their entry level suite grade … getting that hefty gratuity bill at the end of your cruise paying all that for the grills anyway, just sort of stings…
Gary, haven’t written in a while but you were so helpful and informative throughout the pandemic so I subscribed and followed many of your articles. We waited almost 2 years but finally were on the inaugural transatlantic cruise on Celebrity Apex in October. I wanted to report it was a fantastic experience. On a ship that holds 2900+, there were 1200 passengers, 1100 crew. Celebrity worked very hard to ensure everyone was safe with a total of 3 tests. One before we boarded, the second after our last stop before the crossing and the last just before we landed in Ft Lauderdale. No one had a problem with being tested. We were in a suite so we experienced the Retreat perks. It was definitely one of the best cruises we had ever experienced. I can’t recommend the Edge class ships highly enough. The service, food, entertainment, ambiance of Luminae, specialty dining all contributed to a fantastic experience. We have a transpacific booked for September, however it will not be on an Edge class ship. I truly believe, Celebrity is the top of the line for the money spent. Thanks for all the informative and educational articles you put online. I’ll keep following.
TYVM! My understanding is that Princess is just not the Medallion (of which I approve) but also decent internet – something that is my expectation everywhere I stay although I am frequently disappointed. I just like to complement businesses that have chosen modernity. I hope these lines continue to succeed. In many markets, the middle is being eroded. Not that many midrange/middleclass survivors between the lowend Walmarts and boutiques. How to differentiate/choose amongst the Premium and up category would be my most requested topic. Thanks!
This was wonderful!! We’ve only ever been on Royal Caribbean and lately Celebrity (but none since COVID 😞). I’ve often wondered about the differences between these lines (including Norwegian) and this was hugely helpful! I’ll be forwarding this to hubby and let him pick the next cruise line. Though nothing will be booked until masks are no longer mandated – that may be a while, I know. Nevertheless I so appreciate your insight. Keep ’em coming Gary!!
i personally love Holland America even when i was kid, as i did not like crowds and would get overwhelmed easily due to my auditory processing disorder, so being on a quieter ship is a must for me, also I’m more of a young person who rather have a more laid back approach to cruising, i rather be around older people than younger as the younger crowd is more loud and i don’t care for the party crowd, but to each their own as this is jut my opinion. I would love to Cunard cruise as I actually love dressing up for the formal nights on Holland, it was always such fun . BY the way Holland kids program was fantastic i had so much fun there as a kid. I defiantly want to check out celebrity and Cunard now,. I love how he went over the cons and pros of each ship its very helpful. awesome article!
I’d suggest that the dining experience in Queen’s Grill (we’ve not eaten in Princess Grill yet) is quite different from dining in the MDR on Princess. It’s also different from the Britannia Dining room on Cunard. Haven’t done HAL nor X yet. Might not unless they offer something that Princess doesn’t. We are trying other lines, esp. the Lux and Ultra Lux lines. So many ships, so little time. David
Actually, Princess Cruises was the FIRST line to create an inclusive pricing program when they introduced what was then a promotional offer called Princess Plus. Shortly after the launch of Princess Plus they adopted it as a permanent pricing option that offers the top perks/add-on’s at a dramatically reduced amount versus adding them to the basic cruise fare. Princess now has 3 pricing options and their top-tier option offers more than any of the others, at a more discounted price that delivers more value.
you didnt commit Gary which I fully understand. For me, having done many trip on all 4 lines I am particularly fond of the new Celebrity, great ships, excellent service, wonderful food options. Just off a 2 weeks back to back on Reflection and cannot fault a single thing. I think how they treat their higher tier frequent guests is an important aspect and Celebrity do it well
My wife and I (low 70’s) have been on several Holland cruises, all very nice. However, in December, we went on a two week cruise on Regent Explorer. In every way it was FAR superior. It seemed every crew member knew who we were and our dietary requirements. They were extremely welcoming and we are customers for as long as we can.
Viking has really stepped up their game and am prepared to pay a bit more to travel in style with none of the amusement park features you find on some cruise lines. Sadly, too many parents bring their kids on cruises and set them free (with very little training on how to behave in more formal settings). The cruise turns into a floating Chuck E. Cheese’.
On a recent cruise on the Queen Elizabeth, my wife and I tried to draw-up our own pros & cons charts for the cruise lines we’ve now experienced (P&O, Saga, Celebrity and Cunard – we’re booked on a Princess cruise next year). They all had their good points and their not-so-good but one where Cunard scored a big negative in our view was Internet access. The others all offer free or affordable Internet options – but Cunard sell it by the minute at a ridiculous price. We love to be able to research ports we’re heading to and the weather, look up other ships we see to discover what they are and where they’re going, and of course it’s sometimes nice to be in contact with family while one is away. Our QE cruise was the first for a long time where we were completely cut off from the world on sea days and reliant on mobile data in ports. I know it may not matter to some of their older customers but for us it’s a significant reason to avoid them until they change this. By the way, we loved the QE itself – beautiful from the moment you step on board.
I think out of these I’d probably pick Celebrity. My husband and I have gone on Princess and we didn’t think it was particularly premium. It seemed very much like the resort lines, so I personally wouldn’t call it premium. We’ve had a much more premium feel on NCL in the Haven. HAL and Cunard seem a little too old.
My wife and I are more d sixties and retired. We like to travel on Hal on the smaller ships. Unfortunately they did away with the S class and half of the R class. We have moved up to the Vista/ Compass class ships. We have 3 more cruises scheduled for the next year with HAL. My wife and I would like to try Cunard for the old world charm. We always stay in a Neptune suite where we pick the room.
My personal pick is Celebrity. However, I do wish they would offer a la carte pricing for drinks. I do NOT purchase, as I do not drink more than one or two fancy non-alcoholic frozen drink on a 10-14 day cruise. Just not my thing and it does frustrate me that I now have to pay for a drink package no matter my personal desire. Until that changes, I do not think this Elite Plus member will be booking again. Princess and Royal will have my $$$$.
My first cruise was in December on the Celebrity Reflection and it was pretty awesome. We are going on another cruise next week actually, end of February, for our anniversary on the Celebrity Edge. Both of those are Caribbean cruises and we have one scheduled for Alaska on the Celebrity Eclipse as well. My wife has been on several cruises before and now i am obviously hooked!
We typically go only on Holland America these days (just booked another Koningsdam trip!), seems to fit our style very well. Plenty to do, quiet atmosphere compared to the buzz of the others. Of course I haven’t been on them all to know which is best but unless there’s a specific trip we want that someone else offers we’ll probably stay on HAL. That said, I watched a documentary at the weekend about the MSC Seaside and no thank you, sooo many people packed around the pool shouting and drinking (and having fun!), definitely not my thing.
So I’m perusal this article while onboard Holland America’s Rotterdam. While I do think they’re doing really good things from a music point of view, I don’t think they’re doing much else from an entertainment point of view. I’m finding that at night, if you don’t fancy sitting listening to music, there’s really not much to do… That said, I’ve found them to be really welcoming and good from a solo traveller point of view, so would cruise with them again in the future!
Sadly my cruising day are over but have been generally a good experience (even on MSC). The American superhulks are not for me; small is good. My 3 Cunard jaunts were pretty good but were in Queens Grill accommodation. I couldn’t possibly cope with the regimentation in Britannia. RCL were so-so – restaurant food poor and rushed but Windjammer was more than adequate. For my money – and quite a lot of it – Seabourn takes first prize every time.
I have to say we have only gone on one Holland America cruise and will never go on another one. We were in our 50s at the time, everything shut down at 9:00 and there was nothing to do. The food was totally bland and not much to choose from so we ended up eating on the lido deck most of the time. This was over 10 years ago so they may have changed since then but we haven’t been back.
As a previous champion of Celebrity, I can say that they are not the cruise line they were. Their customer service is struggling to provide an adequate service and leaving people stressed by their call answering capabilities. They’re not coping with onboard outbreaks of Covid too efficiently either, allowing a confirmed onboard case to leave the ship without checking that they are clear and safe to fly. I didn’t expect that?
Our first and last cruise was with Norwegian. The entire experience was designed to separate you from your money. We got a package that included some free add-on’s, such as the drink package. This package included the cheap garbage booze. The top shelf liquor was not included, but of course, you can buy those drinks out of pocket. Every experience was similar. It was mediocre at best with upgrades offered at considerable additional cost. Our cruise was in Feb 2020 right when COVID was up and coming. The cruise lines knew about it but didn’t want to talk about it. Wife and I, and half the ship, were sick on day 3. Cold meds were sold out and the onboard medical facility was charging $100 per visit. If you mentioned to staff that you were under the weather, you were encouraged not to discuss it with other passengers. We couldn’t get anywhere near the pool because of the crowds but we were encouraged to “upgrade” to the private beach club. The food was OK. Typical trough feeding buffet style. We figured the restaurants would be better food, but what was included in our package was just the same buffet food served in a better presentation. The real restaurants were, of course, available at additional cost.
There was a time when P&O would have been considered premium, but sadly the experience has been degraded by cost reduction measures: the move to bigger ships, the erosion of formal evenings, significant deterioration in food quality, boring entertainment and allowing the interiors to become tired and dirty.
I enjoyed this presentation. I think “best for” is the most effective way to distinguish the lines and that’s the approach you took. I would slightly disagree that Celebrity is more “contemporary” in that prior to the Edge class, Celebrity, while having the most adventurous art, actually had a more modern-retro style to their ships. There’s a big difference between Edge ships or Solstice and Millennium ships and even updated Solstice ships are still different than their newest ships. I also think Cunard is a half-step above and not necessarily “premium” but maybe premium plus than the other three lines. The only thing I would say is why is older or more formal a downside? People get older. I don’t really know if it is about “older” or “old” vs. tastes. Even at 35 I liked the idea of an elegant cruise and one that had spaces for ballroom or swing dancing and jazz, jazz, jazz. I didn’t want anything to do with Carnival. While I’m not in the majority there are people in their 30s and 40s that want the same. When you’re 50 and above it’s nice to be able to sail with others a similar age. I also think casual is overrated. The ships are often full of swanky areas, why not match those areas at night sometimes dressing better? Jeans everywhere is kind of boring to me. Like jeans can be a uniform look as well. I think many people cruise for itinerary, staterooms and food. I cruise for music and music/dance venues and think the Celebrity Edge ships fall woefully short of music dance venues.
Just returned from a 7 day Princess NE cruise on the Enchanted Princess . Being a platinum level guest I’ve sailed this line approx 10x over the last 20 yrs. I will never sail this line again unless food quality and service returns to pre Covid levels. It is very evident the standards from previous voyages before Covid no longer exists. Too many other premium level cruise lines to spend our money on, I’m sad.
We just did a cruise on Ruby Princess. The service was great, but the food has slipped. We have done 12 other Princess cruises and have sent food back exactly once. This cruise the food was not properly prepared many times. The coffee was undrinkable, bitter- never had that before. And anything fried was mush, cooked at way too low a temperature: fish, tempura terrible. We also had trouble with temperature on some dishes. My guess is they lost a lot of staff during covid and the kitchens are either overworked or inexperienced. Some things were very good but the overall quality is not as good as before Covid. We are giving them another try later this year but if things aren’t better we will try another line. Also three day post cruise and no post cruise questionnaire. We want to give our feedback but have not been able to.
Agree that premium companies are great, but mainly for longer cruises, which we loved before Covid. Now we prefer taking shorter cruises in biggest ships due to their incredible entertainment and trying to keep near home in case we get sick. Cruising takes us completely away from lockdowns and gives us great options of entertainment not offered in the premium ships. Incredible shows in the Odyssey, Allure, Oasis and Symphony of the Seas and Celebrity Apex and edge are above to the comparable premium companies. Dining is better in premiums but at the time, entertainment is more important to us, and free drinks for frequent travelers does it even better. The service of premium companies and dining is better, but no much to complain about in the biggest ships, more so now with fewer passenger numbers!
Gary, we watch your articles often. We love Viking for many of the reasons that you highlighted as elements that some people don’t like. First and foremost, the smaller number of guests on a Viking ship. Large cruise lines – to me – are like going to a huge shopping mall just before Christmas. Too many people and too much confusion. I have been on big ships and I really dislike the casino and the crowds and in general the confusion. In this article, I feel that you downplayed the evening entertainment, although I agree that it is not as “deluxe” as the larger cruise lines, it is adequate for the reason we go on Viking. We love the enrichment lectures and our experience is that there are often 2, 3, or even 4 historians on board and we will frequent many if not all of the lectures. We also LOVE the understated elegance of the Viking ship decor. I personally find the larger ships too overdone and very Las Vegas in their style. You also forgot to say that the Spa is included in Ocean cruising. Not the massage, and hair salon, but the basic spa facilities are included. I will also question you on focusing on everyone having the same experience when it comes to excursions. Yes, Viking offer one included and many people do go on that, but there can be 3 to 5 to 10 optional excursions to choose from and we go on many of those. Excursions are a choice that the guest makes, and Viking offer many options, so I think that you are wrong in saying that most have the same experience. Viking offer options, it is up to the individual to choose what they want to experience.
I enjoyed this article. We were loyal HAL cruisers for years, have our 5 star medallions, etc. They stopped sending us brochures, and didn’t seem to want our business. Our travel agent said she gets very little info from HAL, and has to pursue the agent. Their loss because we’ve started to cruise on Oceana, Regent, and SilverSeas. What do you call this category, luxury? And could you do a article on these upscale lines and compare them as you did for the “premium” lines? Thank you for your consideration. A loyal follower and cruiser, Sandra
I really enjoy your calm and to the point commentaries. Unfortunately we Aussies feel very excluded from these worldwide articles as we are never mentioned. I honestly can’t blame anyone for that other than the shipping companies…..the problem being we hardly get any. Princess cruises dominate with their 12 months cruising, ( just one ship) winter is sold out months before they sale, also they are quite cultish, by that l mean their itinerary. If they were to change it some Aussies would be devastated. For the rest of us that love RCC Celebrity ( my favourites) are popular but they just keep travelling to NZ or Pacific Islands or Tasmania. You may say what else is there. Well, variety for a start, no we don’t have a Europe but for now I’ll just focus on Queensland. Whitsundays and Cairns five months of the year. Do tell them Queensland has a 12 months summer and two dozen places that make a brilliant POC. Darwin is chosen only once a year? !!! We need more than ONE ship to visit Queensland during our winter. End note. Temps between April and October are 18c to 30c, rarely that goes lower but can go higher up to 34c. Please Gary, go and tell them, best wishes from a frustrated Brisbane cruiser. Foot note. We have a fabulous new shipping terminal. X
QM2 I was disgusted dogs allowed to walk with their owners through and amongst the buffet. Queen Elizabeth was lovely to cruise on. I didn’t realise the difference of how we were treated (like 2nd class people) due to our Brittania balcony room, and it is for these reasons I’ll probably never cruise cunard again
Cruised Princess to Alaska during Covid and with a 50% capacity. Completed an Atlantic crossing 3 years ago and a Panama Canal cruise 2 years ago. Same sub-excellent food, same dinner plates, same menu, poor nightly entertainment (no one in our group wanted to attend), same art auctions, etc. The electronic badge system was worthless, aggravating. We are in our early 50’s and don’t want to be on a retirement cruise. What cruise line should we try? Holland Am music entertainment looks promising. Would Viking Ocean be an option? Have been one of their river cruises which was excellent.
I get what you are saying about premium but I really don’t see how your definition excludes ncl or royal carribean from that category. I do think holland and princess offer a higher cap on the quality of experience which is how I feel they are more premium (I’ve not gone on celebrity or Cunard yet but I assume especially Cunard that they also offer higher luxury and formality given the price). I’ve heard you say you don’t like princess that much as they are getting bigger ships and don’t change up the decor. I would love it if you would do a review of ncl ‘s newest ship the viva and prima (when the prima launches). They are going the opposite way towards less guests and completely changing how they shape a ship with I think a look into more what virgin is doing with food and small space entertainment (and offering an exceptional experience for solo cruises) I would really be interested in your opinion.
My wife, and kids and I like to travel. We’ve been on several cruises and now we’re thinking about booking something again. Do you know if cruise lines are going to move away from vaccine mandates any time soon? As teachers we have some time in the summer and are trying to decide between a cross country road trip, or a cruise. Thank you.
I have just gone to book a couple of cruises with Celebrity in their 60% off second person promotion. I have never sailed on Celebrity and just got home from an Azamara cruise and have booked another for later this year. I was under the impression that Celebrity included standard alcoholic drinks, gratuities and some wifi on all their cruises. I was shocked to get right to the end of the booking, after choosing my cabin etc, to find that Everything included is an additional package that was going to cost an additional $1100 for my husband and I. (No 60% off the package for the second person either). So I went looking to find out how much just a wine package would cost and they say they have one, but no info on what the cost is, nor the gratuities etc, if you decide to not take the so called everything included option. I am pretty disgusted by it because I thought Celebrity was supposed to be reputable.
Hi Gary, I enjoy what you say here as I believe you to be one of the very few people who know what they are talking about. However, your version of premier saying it is generally thought to be ships carrying between1500 to 3000 passengers. As you say people have different opinions but in all the years I have been associated with the maritime industry it is the first time I have ever heard the lines you mention as being premium These lines are just a cut above Carnival, RCCL, NCL etc and in my experience luxury ships have always fallen between small and mid sized ships. The exception in the lines you mention would be Cunard and can be considered premium but even the the line is far from what it was when British owned. Same goes for P&O when British owned would have had a far better reputation than it does here. Then again are you think of premium as being different from luxury ships. Seems the following are considered premium/luxury :-Viking,Seabourn,Regent Seven Seas, Azamara, Crystal Cruises (or was) Silversea Cruises and Oceania Cruises. Then again according to Douglas Ward’s Berlitz Cruising & Cruise ships generally thought of as the bible for cruise ships then Hapag Loyds Europe and Europa2 would be way up there as they recognised as being the only 5 stars cruise ships in the world each is considered 5 stars + and then again according to the CDC report of CDC dated January 21, 2020 the 6 dirtiest ships n the world at that times were Oceania’s Insignia, Silver Wind, Silver Spirit,Safari Endeavor,Norwegian Breakaway, and Le Boreal.
Interesting – thanks! I want to try Princess next. The one issue I have with Cunard is their alleged ’British’ base is their use of the dollar 💵… why? I presume it’s because their ‘Britishism’ is a marketing gimmick for their US / transatlantic customers, or it’s a tax dodge?? I enjoyed the experience of QM2, she is amazingly stable ship – force 7-8 gales and waves and we hardly felt a thing! – but I wouldn’t rush back to Cunard because, as you say, once on a ship, it’s not that different from others really 🤷🏻♀️
From my Experience a few weeks ago on sky princess i would say its as far from premium as you can get, Average at best The staff in the self-service restaurant just didn’t want to be there I made it very obvious, due to go on royal princess in December but on my last Experience I’m hoping for better .
I agree with you completely that Trans-Atlantic cruises are a memorable experience. I’ve done them on the QE2 a few times, along with the original Queen Elizabeth, the SS United States, and the ship we came to Canada on, the RMS Carinthia (which was definitely not a “cruise” experience). The thing is (and I’m English) I never want to sail with Cunard again. “Suit and tie” is my personal kryptonite so I detest dress codes. I find Cunard stuffy, boring, dated, and overrated as an experience but to be fair, the QE2 was a long time ago so perhaps it’s changed. This article leads me to think it has changed very little. I would do Trans-Atlantic again, but on a repositioning cruise with a more relaxed line. When we go cruising again it will likely be with Princess. Based on your advice they seem like the best fit for us, so thank you very much for the great reviews!
Hi Gary Premium to me is the top. That is it the top nd these cruise lines certainly do not fall into that category. Nothing wrong with them but there are other cruise lines that are premium which some may cal luxury. The Rea way to ascertain wt is premier or luxury is to simply read the bible to cruising that is Douglas Ward’s book Berlitz Cruising and cruise ships where all cruise ship are allowed stars in regard to luxury. Despit some cruise lines calling their ship 6 star (amazing really if a American owned ship calls itself 6 star when there are no 6 star hotels in USA). The two top ships in the world as rated by Berlitz Cruising and Cruising ships are Europa and Europa 11 owned by Hapag-Lloyd and even they are NOT 6 star. Both are the top rated cruise ships both being 5 stars plus.
Princess is chasing Carnival to the bottom with their huge new ships, horrible app and their ditching traditional dining. HAL is my favorite now, with traditions intact. Their app is also optional. Princess food has been slowly going downhill for years, but now it’s worse than Carnival ever was. (Carnival actually has some good food.) I have found HAL food to be what Princess was a decade ago. I have a bunch of credit to use on Princess (thanks to the pandemic) or I would avoid them altogether.
We’ve cruised on Royal Caribbean, Holland America and last on Princess. Princess was so bad I don’t know why they are in business. From the moment I saw their website I was unsure about booking with them. And then I saw their app. A complete disaster. Doubt it? Please download and look at the apps from competing cruise lines and see for yourself. Royal’s and Holland’s apps worked very well for us. The only thing that was reliable was the food. Uninspiring and tasteless. We did have passable meals in the steak house and barely passable in the pasta restaurant. I would not accept a free Princess cruise anywhere.
In the last 5 years Princess has been a major disappointment for my wife and I. Both services and food have gone down a lot. No more Princess. But we have tried Celebrity several times and it is the winner for us. Great food especially in the Luminae. Service is top of the line and they always make every effort to make us happy. The best in that group.
We should stop talking about demographics. In my experience, adults sometimes could be more fun than young people. Loud too 😃. It is more about environment and experience. Love HAL with such a relaxed atmosphere, excellent food and service, beautiful ships decor, and mostly GREAT itineraries. Sadly sometimes overpriced. Love Princess’s ships because are big (most of them) and had a lot of pools, open decks areas & entertainment. Food and service are good too. Great pricing lately!!! Love Royal but not a fan of the MEGA ships. Love Carnival for short cruises during weekdays, as there are fewer children, less noise, and there are more opportunities to enjoy the ship’s facilities.
As a same sex couple do you have an opinion as to which lines are more inclusive of same sex couples? We have been on seven or eight cruises and there is definitely a difference in how the ships accommodate same sex couples. That said, do you know or believe that one line is better for travelers like us?
I find it interesting that there are people that go “Yuck, kids!” So there is a time in your 20s when you just want to party and don’t want kids there and I guess there is a time after your 50s when you also don’t want kids there because you want to relax. I’m in my 30s and I’ve been around kids of various ages my whole life so it doesn’t bother me but I guess some people can’t deal with it.
We’ve cruised with Celebrity on six occasions, once with Royal Caribbean and next month we’re going to be cruising on the Enchanted Princess in the Mediterranean. My question is this, after our previous excellent cruising experiences are we in for some kind of a culture shock when we board a Princes ship for the first time…?
I was a longtime Celebrity fan. I thought that their previous ships were superb, but IMHO they’ve really dropped the ball with the Edge/Apex. The central atrium is a really raucous experience which permeates into the semi-open premium restaurants adjoining. This doesn’t equate with luxury to me. A big NO from me.
Hi Sir,i am one of your subscriber and i also work in Princess Cruises as a Security Guard. I am a beginner of some content for youtube. I woul like to ask permission from you to upload your article in my website especially if the content is mentioning about Princess Cruises. Is that okey with you sir?
I have a question. We have cruised twice with Crystal on their Symphony. This is a smaller ship ~1,000 guests. But we really liked that nearly everything was included, from multiple dining options to cocktails. There were no packages, no tips, no additional fees. The service was exceptional, like I said, we cruised twice on the same ship and while there were 2 years in between some of the staff recognized us! We would cruise with them again in the future but at the moment their travels are suspended and if I’m honest, I am not sure if they’ll come back. What would be a good equivalent for a full service, no hassle, quiet cruise company?
Not Princess! Abysmal accounting and handling of your money, broken promises, hours on the phone and a truly ANCIENT crowd. At 64 we were by far on the young end of our one and only Princess cruise. Average age we guessed was 75+. Don’t get me wrong, they people were very nice, but the idea that it’s a bit younger than HAL or others? No way.
They are all uninteresting and in some cases borderline offensive. Viking River in Europe is best, most solicitous, equitable when it comes to problems. I don’t want a bunch of forced comradery, schedules or crowds. I want to see the cities and the culture. I don’t want to be stuck on a boat in the middle of an ocean and not be able to get off.
Never sailed on Princess, last cruise was HAL (it was WONDERFUL) have 20+ on Celebrity and we are done with them. Their new ships are horrid, their food has become bland (especially their specialty restaurants who are so much better than what Celebrity has now). They are the best in the Galapagos but their Edge ships are HORRIBLE! The “infinite verandah” is an outside stateroom with a window that opens. Most people who book them don’t realize that you can’t run the AC if the verandah window is open. And the captain can close it at any time and insects and birds can fly in at will. Not sure why you think X is more youthful. We actually found much more entertainment on HAL. X has one show a night. With the Music Walk, HAL is vastly superior. Cunard is just fine but it’s not for anyone who doesn’t want absolutely traditional cruising. Love the way the ships look but I don’t want to dress up that much and their internet sucks.
None of these mammoth barges are “premium” cruises. Think Oceania, Viking, Azamara. Holland America and Princess have $499 inside cabins. Cunard is God’s waiting room. The only decent line out of these four is Celebrity…depending on the ship, some of their ships like the Millennium and Summit are old 20 year old junkers.
Regent is the best. Oceania is a dump. Do waste you money unless you really like bad seasick. Production show only consists of 4 people, music only play 45 minutes per day. All their money is spent on mailing advertising, 2 or 3 books per day in my mail box. Lobster is dry, tough with frozen taste. Specialty restaurants are not that good at all. Service is OK. I been to 250 cruises, this is the worst experience. Lots of adverting, most are paid YOUTUBER and highly bias.. DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY ON THIS WORTHLESS CRUISE.