Cruise Lines

All cruise lines are not created equal, not that they're not good or bad, just that they tend to cater to different segments of the travel market. Some are the favorite of younger cruisers and some appeal to an older crowd. Following is a list of most of the major cruise lines with a brief synopsis about what each cruise line has to offer. You can visit the cruise line's website by clicking on the links.

MAJOR CRUISE LINES

Carnival Cruise Line

Carnival Cruise Lines has earned its position as the "Most Popular Cruise Line in the World" by offering more of what consumers desire in a vacation – a wide variety of on-board choices; a fun, relaxed atmosphere; outstanding value; and beautiful and exciting destinations.

Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Cruises is the world's top-rated premium cruise line with a taste of luxury, appealing to savvy travelers, age 35-55, with a household income of $75,000+. Celebrity tends to attract experienced cruisers who appreciate quality and desire a vacation experience that offers multiple opportunities for rejuvenation, enrichment and connections with friends, family and fellow guests.

Costa Cruises

Costa, Europe’s #1 cruise line, offers 226 sailings with 67 different itineraries ranging in length from 3 to 22 nights. Enjoy a true European experience throughout the Mediterranean, North Cape/Fjords, Baltic & Russia and Transatlantic. Sail the youngest fleet in Europe aboard 9 Italian-inspired ships - the Costa Allegra, Costa Atlantica, Costa Europa, Costa Classica, Costa Mediterranea, Costa Romantica, Costa Tropicale and Costa Victoria. Or cruise the Caribbean Italian Style with plenty of sun, fun and an Italian week of unforgettable enjoyment. Indulge in all the magic cruising Italian Style has to offer and experience the time of your life on Costa. As South America's #1 cruise line, Costa offers cruises throughout Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Uruguay.

Crystal Cruises

Crystal Cruises is the recipient of many of the travel industry’s highest awards, including "World's Best Cruise Line" ('96, '97, '98, '99, '00, '01, '02, and '03) and "Best Large Ship Line" ('96, '97, '98, '99, '00, '01, '02) in Travel and Leisure and Conde Nast Traveler surveys, respectively. Six-star Crystal Harmony, Crystal Symphony, and Crystal Serenity feature elegantly appointed staterooms (most with private verandahs), an unprecedented array of dining options (Italian and Asian alternative restaurants as well as casual dining in the Trident Bar on designated nights), award-winning entertainment, a lavish Crystal Spa and Salon adhering to Feng Shui principles, extensive exercise and sports facilities and instruction, and the only Caesars Palace at Sea casino.

Cunard

Cunard Line proudly continues the tradition of luxury cruising that began in 1840 with The Most Famous Ocean Liners in the World. Queen Mary 2 debuts in 2004 as the new flagship of the Cunard fleet. As the tallest, longest, largest and most expensive cruise ship ever built, QM2 provides her guests with unprecedented amenities and accommodations at every turn. Maintaining the tradition of her Cunard and White Star Line predecessors, QM2 is the only ship offering regularly scheduled transatlantic service. Queen Elizabeth 2 continues to set the standard of British elegance with superb White Star Service and gourmet cuisine.

Disney Cruise Lines

From its inception, Disney Cruise Line was destined to be different. As the first owned and operated cruise line by the dream makers at Disney, Disney Cruise Line specifically designed its ships with areas and activities that appeal to the unique vacation needs of every member of the family. As a result, Disney Cruise Line vacations offer guests an unbelievable cruise experience not found anywhere else. Disney Cruise Line offers guests an exciting new way to vacation with Disney.

Holland America

Marking its 130th year in business in 2003, Holland America Line features 13, five star ships offering premium cruises to more than 250 destinations around the world. With the new Vista class of four ships set for delivery between 2002 and 2006, Holland America will continue its leadership in the premium category.

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL)

Miami-based Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) is an international cruise company and industry innovator operating 10 ships to 140 ports around the world. NCL is the leader in round-trip seven-day cruising from U.S. and Canadian ports. Offering its popular Homeland Cruising program seasonally from Baltimore, Boston, Charleston, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Orlando (Port Canaveral), San Juan, Seattle and Vancouver, and year round from New York, Miami, Houston and Honolulu. NCL ushured in a new era of cruising when it introduced its innovatve Freestyle Cruising program.

Orient Lines

This line could almost fall into our small cruise ship category, but since it's the sister company to NCL (above) we've included it here. Miami-based Orient Lines is the cruise industry’s destination specialist, offering passengers an in-depth experience through extended land and sea journeys to sought-after destinations around the globe. Orient Lines’ Marco Polo offers Cruise Tours land and sea experiences to ports of call across the world, from small, intimate venues to experiences to world famous cities. Marco Polo cruises extensively to the Greek Isles, Mediterranean, Scandinavia and Antarctica. Orient Lines’ Cruise Tours offer more than just an ocean voyage.

Princess Cruise Line

Princess Cruises, one of the best-known names in North American cruising, is a global cruise and tour company. It will operate a fleet of 14 ships in 2004 on nearly 150 different itineraries calling at nearly 260 ports around the globe. Princess is known for its Personal Choice Cruising program, a fleet-wide dedication to providing passengers with a wide variety of options with which to customize their vacations.

Radisson Seven Seas Cruises

Radisson Seven Seas Cruises offers an incomparable program of exploration and discovery to over 300 ports on six continents, including Antarctica. Our luxury vessels are designed for guests numbering in the hundreds rather than the thousands. The ambiance on board is personal, individual, accommodating-upscale but not uptight. All ships share certain distinctions in accommodations, service, dining and amenities that elevate them to the lofty vantage point of our enviable six stars.

Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean International is a leading, innovative cruise vacation company. Our guests are active travelers who are looking for new experiences, a wide array of choices for the whole family, and a great vacation value. From activities onboard our ships like rock climbing and ice skating to shoreside adventures like glacier trekking and exploring Mayan ruins, we provide an experience that lets our guests see and do more than they ever imagined in places all over the globe. Our brand is distinguished by the Royal Advantage: Gold Anchor Service, energizing onboard and shoreside adventures, the most amazing and innovative ships, and remarkable destinations all over the world. Whether it's a 3-night getaway, a longer 14-night vacation, or something in between, Royal Caribbean provides an amazing vacation experience.

SMALL SHIP CRUISE LINES

Norwegian Coastal Voyages

Travelers interested in niche cruising should consider the Norwegian Costal Voyage – “The World’s Most Beautiful Voyage.” This fleet has traveled the spectacular west coast of Norway for more than 100 years, carrying passengers as well as freight and cargo. Passengers will enjoy 1,250 miles of captivating, fjord-filled landscape. Majestic fjords, snow-capped mountains, sea eagles and reindeer are all part of the voyages as the ships call on 34 amazing ports each way, from Bergen in the south, across the Arctic Circle in the north, to Kirkenes near the Russian border or vice versa. Shore excursions, sightseeing opportunities and land packages are available in conjunction with the voyage.

Oceania Cruises

Oceania Cruises is a distinctively different cruise line. Two modern luxury ships carry just 684 guests. Nearly 70% of all staterooms feature private verandas and service is provided by an attentive European staff. At Oceania Cruises, the priority is an extraordinary cruise experience that will fit varied interests and exceed all expectations. This includes the finest cuisine at sea, carefully crafted by world-renowned Master Chef Jacques Pepin. Each ship, Regatta and Insignia, offers the flexibility of open-seating dining in four unique restaurants.

Silversea Cruises

Silversea is a cruise company reflecting generations of maritime and travel experience. In the early 1990s, the Lefebvre family of Rome, former owners of Sitmar Cruises, conceived and organized a unique cruise company pledging to build and operate the highest-quality ships in the ultra-luxury segment. The name “Silversea” was chosen because it connotes quality and luxury as well as capturing the romance and special sensations of the sea. Silversea’s fleet was purpose-built for the ultra-luxury market, establishing a new class of smaller, intimate vessels that could slip into more exotic ports off the beaten path.

Swan Hellenic

Fifty years' experience has made Swan Hellenic the acknowledged leader in discovery travel. Swan Hellenic has perfected an effortless style of exploration which delights passengers and encourages many to cruise with us again. Discovery is a powerful ingredient in our recipe for success. Together our itineraries encompass the most charismatic places on earth, visiting a variety of famous and lesser-known destinations and allowing ample time to experience the full flavor of different cultures, people and places encountered along the way. Guest speakers present a captivating range of introductory topics, and our inclusive shore excursions are led by local guides.

The Yachts of Seabourn

The Yachts of Seabourn provide the ultimate in small-ship ultra-luxury cruise vacations to the most desirable destinations on earth. The intimate all-suite Seabourn Pride, Spirit and Legend each carry a maximum of 208 guests and nearly the same number of skilled and dedicated staff, providing a level of personalized service that is unmatched in the industry. Many suites have balconies. Superb cuisine created by celebrity chef Charlie Palmer is served in an open-seating restaurant. Alternative casual dining is available in the indoor/outdoor Veranda Café. Guests may also enjoy dinner served, course by course, in the privacy of their suites.

Windstar Cruises
“180° from Ordinary“ describes Windstar's small luxury sail cruises. Elegantly casual and relaxed atmosphere features no assigned-seat dining, no ties or jackets required and five-star cuisine. Visiting some of the world’s small, exotic and most facinating ports in ships accomodating 148 to 308 pampered guests. Windstar’s target clientele are around 51, professional, well-educated, and most have cruised on large ships previously.

Linblad Expeditions
Linblad offers small shop cruising and expeditions to the far corners of the world. From the Arctic to the Antarctic. From Alaska to Zimbabwe, these intimate small group adventures offer a fascinating look at the natural and pristine world.

American West Steamboat Co.
Recapture the romance of sternwheeler cruising with an Inside Passage Cruise or a Columbia River Cruise. Our luxurious paddlewheelers are the newest and largest to provide small ship cruises in western America. Our sternwheelers combine the best features of large and small ship cruises. You get the amenities and spaciousness of a large ship cruise combined with close-up, casual cruising of a small ship cruise. All Alaska cruise packages and Lewis and Clark vacations include live showboat entertainment, fine dining and featured shore tours. Our Alaskan Cruises also offer optional shore excursions.