Not all cruise lines are worth cruising on right now, while others are really on the
top of their game.
Get ready to discover which lines I think are today’s smart cruising choice category
by category.
If you’re new here, welcome aboard.
I'm Gary Bembridge.
It's my goal to make it fun and easy to discover, plan and enjoy unforgettable cruise vacations.
There are four distinct categories in ocean cruising.
Let's start with the category that more passengers cruise on than any other.
The mass appeal, resort, value for money cruising segment.
It’s got a lot going on, and one line stands out more than the others.
In this category are the lines with large and mega ships carrying 3,000, 4,000 or more
passengers.
I can usually find a balcony cabin on these cruise lines for between $100 and $200 per
person per night, particularly in regions like the Caribbean.
These lines aim to create a bustling resort experience that appeals to a very wide range
of passengers as they must fill these huge ships week after week.
They have loads of facilities, attractions like waterparks, rock climbing walls, and
rides and daily program activities for kids, teens, and adults of all ages.
The activities are high energy and active.
There are loads of different things to do day and night.
There is also a wide range of cabins on these lines catering for all budgets, from inside
to some of the biggest and most expensive suites at sea.
Some of them have created ships-within-the-ship to create closed off neighborhoods for certain
types of cruisers.
Like the Yacht club on MSC Cruises with card-controlled access for premium guests only, which contains
all the suites, dedicated restaurant, bar, and pool deck.
The Haven on Norwegian Cruise Line is the same.
They also have an access-controlled Solo travellers Studio area with dedicated lounge and solo
cabins.
When it comes to fares, as I mentioned, I am usually able to get a balcony cabin, depending
on the time of the year and region, between $100 to $200 per person per night.
But once on board, there's lots of extras.
Gratuities, drinks, Wi-Fi, speciality dining, and from some of the activities and events.
I easily spend another $100 to $200 a day on board.
When it comes to places that these lines go to, it's limited, because these ships are
big and need ports that can receive these big beasts and have enough excursions and
infrastructure to cope with and keep the wide range of travellers entertained.
So, they tend to focus on the 3 main cruising regions of the Mediterranean, Caribbean, and
to lesser degree Alaska.
What lines are in this group to consider?
The 4 biggest lines, in terms of passengers carried, are in this group: Carnival Cruise
Line, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, and MSC Cruises.
In my view, P&O Cruises are shifting into big mega ship wide appeal cruising are more
in this category than before.
So, what is the must-do of line?
I believe, based on my experience, that is Norwegian Cruise Line.
They not only cater for a wide range of travellers across the ship, but the areas within the
ship, like The Haven for people who want to have a premium exclusive suite experience
and Solo Studio are travellers are appealing options for those seeking that.
While they have attractions, like Go-Karts and Laser Tag on their bigger ships, their
strength in my view comes in entertainment and choice on board.
They have full-on Broadway, West End and Vegas shows, like Six, Rock of Ages, Priscilla Queen
of The Desert, Choir of Man, Burn the Floor and not simply cruise line created revue shows,
included in the fare.
They created and lead on the “freestyle cruising” concept, which means there's lots
of choice.
There’s usually over 20 restaurants, 20 bars, and the ships themselves are stylish,
modern and feel premium.
Not brash and glitzy.
The other very close choice is Royal Caribbean.
They are the master of the mega ship.
Their ships are enormous like their new ship, the Wonder of the Seas, the biggest cruise
ship in the world that can carry 5,900 double occupancy, but up to 6,900 when kids sharing
cabins with parents.
If you are more interested in attractions, then they are the smarter choice.
The ships are enormous which means they have the space for bigger water parks, and ice
rinks, water shows, flow riders, indoor skydiving and so on.
What if you want something less high energy, more traditional and calling on a wider range
of destinations - but without too much more cost?
Then premium, the classic cruise experience is the category for you.
And here there is also a standout line.
On this category of lines, I usually pay roughly double for a balcony cabin than in the previous
category.
Between $200 and $400 per person per night.
Their ships are smaller, ranging from about 2,000 up to over 3,000 passengers.
They have a more traditional classic cruise experience and daily program of activities.
They do not have those resort attractions and facilities on board.
It’s focused on dining, bars, enrichment talks and events and activities like trivia,
quizzes, deck games and smaller scale song and dance production shows.
It's more sedate than the previous category.
Although on accommodation they also have inside cabins through to suites, trying to attract
a wide budget range of traveller looking for a more classic and less resort cruise.
Also like the previous category, there is usually a lot of the same extras to the fare
once on board.
However, there is a trend in this category to shift to more all-inclusive fares.
Celebrity has “Always Included” fares with gratuities, Wi-Fi and drinks, and others
like Princess and Holland America give me the option now of bolting on an all-inclusive
option.
These lines also call on more diverse places than the previous category.
Many run world voyages or have exotic voyages down to South America, around Africa or parts
of Asia.
They cover all the main territories: Alaska, Mediterranean, the Caribbean, but they do
go further afield.
Celebrity Cruises, Princess Cruises, Holland America, Cunard, and even Disney falls into
this category in my view, and also the new entrant, Virgin Voyages, with their modern
take on this classic premium experience.
For me, the must do line here is Holland America, which offers a classic experience.
It is the most sedate in many respects, but has a phenomenal music walk, covering four
different music venues plus the main theatre, Rolling Stone Rock Room, Lincoln Centre Stage,
Billboard Onboard, BB King's Blues Club.
They have a great interpretation of a classic experience and good food.
However, the must do, if you want a more upbeat dynamic version, is Celebrity.
They have interesting new ships with the Edge class.
They have the same classic cruising program as Holland America, but with more modern take.
Of course, Virgin Voyages is an even more modern interpretation, but still finding its
feet and moving along way.
So, the smart choice right now is Holland America and Celebrity I feel.
Many people will argue Cunard Queen Mary 2 Transatlantic is a must-do.
Which it is.
But that is an itinerary rather than a whole line choice.
The others can take you more places more often right now.
But what if you find this category ship too big still, and have a bit more money to spend?
This next category is my favourite, the luxury small ship experience.
This is a step above the premium ships, and they cost between $400 and $500 per person
per day for a balcony cabin.
These have small ships, ranging from 200 passengers up to about 1,200 passengers.
They’re a bit like staying in a boutique hotel while the premium category I mentioned
earlier are more like smart big hotels in a chain.
It’s a smaller, more intimate experience and still a traditional cruise experience,
but on a smaller and dialed down scale, with much more emphasis on enrichment.
Port talks, cooking classes, artwork classes and that kind of stuff.
The cabins are less predictable here.
Some of the lines have inside cabins, some have very few balcony cabins and more Oceanview
and some, like Viking, only balcony and suites.
As I mentioned, the fares are higher than the premium lines, but more is included though
within that, like speciality dining, some drinks and one, Viking, even includes an excursion
in every port.
So, on a day-by-day basis, I sometimes find it’s not that much more expensive than the
premium lines like Holland America and Celebrity in the end.
When it comes to itineraries, they have more diverse itineraries, and they cover large
parts of the globe.
Many have world voyages.
They tend to not repeat itineraries.
Even if they're in the Caribbean, they'll keep doing different islands on each itinerary.
They’re able to call on smaller, more out of the way ports.
The lines to be considered here include Viking, Oceania Cruises, Windstar, Azamara, and Saga
in the UK.
For me, the must do is Oceania.
The reason I chose Oceania is, they offer two distinct options.
I can have the even smaller experience with their R-class ships, which take about 695
passengers.
And then they have the bigger ships like Marina Riviera, and the new Vista, which take 1,200,
which is a good transition from the larger premium line ships as similar choice of venues
but less lines and crowds.
Their big focus is on dining.
They claim to have the finest cuisine at sea, and they do have incredible food, very high
levels of service.
Viking is the other very strong contender.
They have beautiful new ships.
All of the ships are exactly the same and they're incredibly consistent.
So, no matter which ship you go on, anywhere in the world, it is basically going to look
the same, feel the same, and they have great dining, with lots of inclusions.
And I would say both Oceania and Viking have probably two of the best afternoon teas at
sea.
The other plus with Viking is it is an adults only ship.
You must be over 18.
There is another very exclusive category, that is costly.
Making it even more critical to make a smart choice in.
This is the ultra-luxury category.
And here you pay significantly more - at least $700 to $800 plus per person per night for
their entry level balcony suite.
That’s 7 to 8 times more than on the resort mass category ships like Royal Caribbean,
Carnival and Norwegian.
The ships carry around 500 to 600 passengers, and all cabins are considered suites.
So, that’s also why you find that big leap up in price.
In this category, many have butlers, it is an incredibly personalised service and very
plush decor.
The attention to detail and the quality of everything is very high.
Due to the size of the ships, while the entry level balcony is considered a suite, it is
more like a large balcony cabin in size in the other categories, and I can book one of
the much bigger suites on both the mass and premium ships for the same price or less.
The itineraries tend to lean towards the exotic or going to interesting out of the way places.
Many have world voyages.
They cover most areas of the world, even skirting around places like Antarctica.
The lines to consider here are Seabourn, Silversea, Regent Seven Seas.
Crystal used to be in this category before their troubles.
Also lines like Hapag-Lloyd from Germany, and new entrants like Ritz-Carlton Yacht Club.
What is the must do line?
This is one I find incredibly difficult.
Most people choose Regent Seven Seas Cruises, because they usually have the best, most personalised,
formal, and detailed on-board experience.
And importantly, they have more inclusions, not only dining, drinks, but multiple excursions
included within the fare, pre-cruise hotel stays and transfers.
For me, the must do is Seabourn.
I find Seabourn ships beautiful.
They have great service and great food.
But I like the more informal and personal approach over the more formal.
It's hard to really put your finger on about these experiences once in the ultra-luxury
category and it ends up being all about atmosphere and style of service.
Four categories and over 30 cruise lines to consider.
Those are the ones right now that I think make a smart choice.
Are there any lines that I would avoid?
Yes, and that is a topic for another day and another video!
If you want to find out a little bit more about the lines that I have recommended as
must use, look at this playlist where I have in-depth videos about each of those lines,
starting with the one line that I, of all the lines, if I could only ever go on one
line again which it would be.
See you over there.