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In their annual
readers' survey,
readers rate the
best experiences
cruising has to
offer—from
70-passenger
adventure ships to
Vegas-like liners.
Cruise ships are
going to extremes
like never before.
The geographic
extremes are
obvious: Cruises ply
waterways from the
Inside Passage to
Cape Town to
Tahiti.....
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..the other extremes
are about size: As
of now, there are
around 309,000
berths—27 percent
more than just two
years ago, a sudden
glut that has
resulted in price
reductions which,
while they last,
mean more affordable
cruising. It also
stiffens competition
in other ways. Most
of the new berths
are, not
surprisingly, on the
megaships that are
being produced in
record numbers. True
floating resorts,
they have enough
bells and whistles
to keep thousands
amused: gyms and
spas, lectures and
classes, sports from
golf to rock
climbing,
restaurants galore.
HOW TO CHOOSE
So how do you choose the
right cruise? By trusting
shared expertise. These
charts detail their readers'
ratings—category by
category, feature by
feature—of their favorite
ships. If fine dining is
what you're after, the
rating is there. Service is
the key for you? Design?
Ditto. And more. In this
vigorously competitive
era—which we may look back
on as the best in the
history of leisure
cruising—your opinion has
never been more important.
Click on a link below for
details for each ship.
|
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Insurance
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insurance
for cruises
of all
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sizes. Plans
may include
valuable
medical
coverage,
trip
interruption,
emergency
travel and
health
services and
more.
...or find
 more
information
Top
10 reason's
to buy
travel
Insurance. |
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In The News...Celebrity
Cruises has once
again won top honors
in one of the most
trusted surveys of
consumer travel
preferences in the
world. The
prestigious Conde'
Nast Traveler
magazine’s annual
Readers’ Choice
Awards ranked
Celebrity number one
in the new Mega-Ship
Cruise Lines
category,
recognizing the
widely heralded
Celebrity Solstice
and Celebrity
Equinox.
More than 25,000
experienced
travelers made their
voices heard in the
prestigious annual
poll ranking more
than 10,000 cruise
lines, hotels,
resorts, cities,
islands, airlines
and car rental
agencies. Celebrity
Cruises was among
the honorees
featured in a
segment on NBC’s
Today Show to
highlight what led
to the number-one
ranking.
"Winning first-place
in the new mega-ship
category is an
incredible tribute
to the style, design
and service that
have led to the
phenomenal response
our new Solstice
Class continues to
generate, and
further validates
our fleet's longtime
leadership position
in the premium
cruise category,"
said Celebrity’s
President & CEO Dan
Hanrahan. "We’re
honored that the
informed readers of
Conde' Nast Traveler
so appreciate the
Celebrity
experience."
No stranger to
netting top honors,
the Celebrity
Cruises fleet as a
whole has, for the
past seven
consecutive years,
dominated the
large-ship category
in Conde' Nast
Traveler’s "Top
Cruise Ships in the
World" survey
published each
February.
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For complete information,
read Conde'Nast Traveler
Magazine
Cruise lines are rated on a
five-point scale –
excellent, very good, good,
fair or poor – in seven
categories: activities,
cabins, service, design,
food/dining, itineraries,
and shore excursions.
•
The Best Large Ships
Top Ten Large Cruise
Ships
•
The Best Medium Ships
Top Ten Medium Cruise
Ships
•
The Best Small Ships
Top Ten Small Cruise
Ships
Small, Medium and Large
Cruise Ships
•
The Best
Crew/Service
•
The Best Itineraries
•
The Best Food/Dining
•
The Best
Cabins
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Small Ships
Polaris (Lindblad
Expeditions),
100
SeaDream II
(Sea Dream
Yacht Club),
100
Seabourn
Spirit (Seabourn),
98.5
Silver
Shadow (Silversea),
98.1
Silver Cloud
(Silversea),
98.0
|
Small Ships
Mozart
(Peter
Deilmann),
100
Polaris (Lindbald
Expeditions),
100
Silver Cloud
(Silversea),
97.0
River
Countess (Uniworld),
96.8
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Medium Ships
Crystal
Serenity
(Crystal),
98.3
Seven Seas
Mariner
(Radisson
Seven Seas),
97.4
Crystal
Symphony
(Crystal),
97.2
Seven Seas
Voyager
(Radisson
Seven Seas),
95.6
|
Medium Ships
Crystal
Serenity
(Crystal),
98.3
Tahitian
Princess
(Princess),
97.8
Regatta
(Oceania),
96.0
Marco Polo
(Orient),
95.8
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Large Ships
Constellation
(Celebrity),
93.4
Galaxy
(Celebrity),
93.3
Summit
(Celebrity),
91.7
Disney
Wonder
(Disney),
91.3
Radiance of
the Seas
(Royal
Caribbean),
91.3
|
Large Ships
Island
Princess
(Princess),
92.0
Galaxy
(Celebrity),
91.8
Brilliance
of the Seas
(Royal
Caribbean),
91.6
Constellation
(Celebrity),
90.9
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Small Ships
SeaDream II
(SeaDream
Yacht Club),
100
Seabourn
Legend (Seabourn),
96.9
Seabourn
Spirit (Seabourn),
96.9
Seabourn
Pride (Seabourn),
96.4
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Small Ships
Silver
Whisper (Silversea),
98.0
Silver Wind
(Silversea),
97.4
Silver
Shadow (Silversea),
97.1
Seabourn
Spirit (Seabourn),
96.9
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Medium Ships
Crystal
Serenity
(Crystal),
97.4
Crystal
Symphony
(Crystal),
95.4
Seven Seas
Mariner
(Radisson
Seven Seas),
93.8
Seven Seas
Voyager
(Radisson
Seven Seas),
93.4
|
Medium Ships
Seven Seas
Mariner
(Radisson
Seven Seas),
95.9
Seven Seas
Voyager
(Radisson
Seven Seas),
95.7
Crystal
Serenity
(Crystal),
93.0
Crystal
Symphony
(Crystal),
91.2
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Large Ships
Mercury
(Celebrity),
87.8
Millenium
(Celebrity),
87.8
Century
(Celebrity),
87.7
Galaxy
(Celebrity),
87.2
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Large Ships
Constellation
(Celebrity),
91.2
Serenade of
the Seas
(Royal
Caribbean),
89.2
Summit
(Celebrity),
88.7
Disney
Wonder
(Disney),
88
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Small Ships
500 passengers or less
They're the boutique hotels of the cruise industry. Carrying fewer than 500 passengers each, they are small enough to skim into tiny, shallow harbors—the kind you find in remote, exotic places. The Seabourn Spirit sets the standard.
Small Ships
Top 10 Rated Small Cruise Ships
20 More Honorable Mentions...
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1.
Seabourn Spirit
Seabourn, 97.7
COMMENTS
Ship is now a Wi-Fi hot spot; sails Africa, Asia, Mediterranean.
AT A GLANCE
Passengers: 208
Value: E
RATINGS
Overall: 97.7
Itineraries: 100
Crew/Service: 100
Cabins/Design: 97.1
Food/Dining: 97.1
Activities/Facilities: 94.3
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2.
Paul Gauguin
Radisson Seven Seas, 95.5
COMMENTS
Crew-to-guest ratio of 1 to 1.5; sails French Polynesia exclusively.
AT A GLANCE
Passengers: 320
Value: E
RATINGS
Overall: 95.5
Itineraries: 96.5
Crew/Service: 97.4
Cabins/Design: 95.7
Food/Dining: 94.8
Activities/Facilities: 93.0
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3.
Silver Cloud
Silversea, 95.5
COMMENTS
Refurbished in 2004; sails Asia, Australia, Europe, Middle East, South America.
AT A GLANCE
Passengers: 296
Value: G
RATINGS
Overall: 95.5
Itineraries: 98.8
Crew/Service: 97.6
Cabins/Design: 96.4
Food/Dining: 95.3
Activities/Facilities: 89.4
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4.
Silver Wind
Silversea, 95.3
COMMENTS
Tripoli added to ports of call; sails Africa, Europe, Seychelles, South America.
AT A GLANCE
Passengers: 296
Value: G
RATINGS
Overall: 95.3
Itineraries: 100
Crew/Service: 95.7
Cabins/Design: 95.7
Food/Dining: 93.6
Activities/Facilities: 91.5
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5.
Silver Shadow
Silversea, 94.9
COMMENTS
Its 100-day cruise travels from San Diego to Venice.
AT A GLANCE
Passengers: 382
Value: G
RATINGS
Overall: 94.9
Itineraries: 96.3
Crew/Service: 97.5
Cabins/Design: 98.7
Food/Dining: 94.9
Activities/Facilities: 87.3
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6.
Silver Whisper
Silversea, 94.1
COMMENTS
Golf clinics on board; sails eastern Canada, Caribbean, Europe.
AT A GLANCE
Passengers: 382
Value: VG
RATINGS
Overall: 94.1
Itineraries: 93.7
Crew/Service: 96.2
Cabins/Design: 98.7
Food/Dining: 96.2
Activities/Facilities: 85.9
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7.
Seabourn Legend
Seabourn, 93.6
COMMENTS
Seabourn's youngest ship; sails Caribbean, Central America, Europe.
AT A GLANCE
Passengers: 208
Value: G
RATINGS
Overall: 93.6
Itineraries: 96.1
Crew/Service: 97.3
Cabins/Design: 91.9
Food/Dining: 97.3
Activities/Facilities: 85.3
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8.
Seven Seas Navigator
Radisson Seven Seas, 93.0
COMMENTS
More than 67 cubic feet per passenger; sails Central America, Europe, South Pacific.
AT A GLANCE
Passengers: 490
Value: VG
RATINGS
Overall: 93.0
Itineraries: 88.4
Crew/Service: 97.1
Cabins/Design: 95.7
Food/Dining: 94.2
Activities/Facilities: 89.9
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9.
Yorktown Clipper
Clipper, 91.8
COMMENTS
Has an American crew; sails Alaska, Caribbean, Central America, North America.
AT A GLANCE
Passengers: 138
Value: E
RATINGS
Overall: 91.8
Itineraries: 100
Crew/Service: 100
Cabins/Design: 74.1
Food/Dining: 96.3
Activities/Facilities: 88.5
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10.
Radisson Diamond
Radisson Seven Seas, 91.1
COMMENTS
No longer sails for Radisson
Twin hulls result in exceptional stability; sails caribbean, Central America, Europe.
AT A GLANCE
Passengers: 350
Value: E
RATINGS
Overall: 91.1
Itineraries: 90.9
Crew/Service: 95.8
Cabins/Design: 88.2
Food/Dining: 94.1
Activities/Facilities: 86.6
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For complete information, read Conde'Nast Traveler Magazine
12.
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13.
Explorer II
Abercrombie & Kent, 88.7
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14.
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15.
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16.
Mozart
Peter Deilmann, 87.1
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17.
Polaris
Lindblad Expeditions, 86.7
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18.
Royal Clipper
Star Clippers, 85.9
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19.
Endeavour
Lindblad Expeditions, 85.2
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20.
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21.
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22.
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23.
Spirit of Endeavour
Cruise West, 82.2
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24.
Spirit of '98
Cruise West, 80.6
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25.
Clipper Odyssey
Clipper, 80.4
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26.
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27.
Sea Lion
Lindblad Expeditions, 79.2
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28.
Star Clipper
Star Clippers, 77.7
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29.
Oberoi Philae
Oberoi Nile Cruises, 76.2
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30.
Yankee Clipper
Windjammer, 75.0
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Medium Ships
Between 500 to 1500 passengers
Like small luxury resorts, these ships are scaled for intimacy and carry from 500 to 1,500 passengers—but with enough space to allow grandeur in their design. The list is topped this year by Radisson Seven Seas.
Medium Ships
Top 10 Rated Medium Cruise Ships
9 More Honorable Mentions
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1.
Seven Seas Voyager
Radisson Seven Seas, 95.6
COMMENTS
Smallest cabin measures 356 square feet; sails Caribbean, Central America, Europe, the world.
AT A GLANCE
Passengers: 700
Value: E
RATINGS
Overall: 95.6
Itineraries: 95.2
Crew/Service: 97.6
Cabins/Design: 96.4
Food/Dining: 96.4
Activities/Facilities: 92.7
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2.
Crystal Harmony
Crystal, 95.3
COMMENTS
Onboard classes from calligraphy to pastry-making; sails Alaska, Asia, Caribbean, Hawaii.
AT A GLANCE
Passengers: 940
Value: G
RATINGS
Overall: 95.3
Itineraries: 96.2
Crew/Service: 97.5
Cabins/Design: 91.1
Food/Dining: 98.1
Activities/Facilities: 93.6
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3.
Crystal Serenity
Crystal, 95.1
COMMENTS
Newest and largest of the three Crystal ships; sails Asia, Caribbean, Europe, South Pacific.
AT A GLANCE
Passengers: 1,080
Value: G
RATINGS
Overall: 95.1
Itineraries: 95.7
Crew/Service: 97.8
Cabins/Design: 88.4
Food/Dining: 97.8
Activities/Facilities: 95.6
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4.
Crystal Symphony
Crystal, 93.2
COMMENTS
Crystal inaugurated its own wine label; sails the Americas, Caribbean, Europe, Panama Canal.
AT A GLANCE
Passengers: 940
Value: G
RATINGS
Overall: 93.2
Itineraries: 94.1
Crew/Service: 95.1
Cabins/Design: 91.3
Food/Dining: 95.1
Activities/Facilities: 90.3
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5.
Seven Seas Mariner
Radisson Seven Seas, 92.9
COMMENTS
Sister ship to the newer Seven Seas Voyager; sails Alaska, Asia, Caribbean, South America.
AT A GLANCE
Passengers: 700
Value: VG
RATINGS
Overall: 92.9
Itineraries: 91.5
Crew/Service: 95.8
Cabins/Design: 95.8
Food/Dining: 95.8
Activities/Facilities: 85.5
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6.
Tahitian Princess
Princess, 88.9
COMMENTS
Top-rated among Princess's ships for Itineraries; sails French Polynesia, Hawaii.
AT A GLANCE
Passengers: 670
Value: VG
RATINGS
Overall: 88.9
Itineraries: 98.4
Crew/Service: 91.4
Cabins/Design: 89.8
Food/Dining: 79.7
Activities/Facilities: 84.7
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7.
Amsterdam
Holland America, 85.0
COMMENTS
Flagship of the 12-ship fleet; sails Alaska, Asia, Hawaii, Pacific Northwest, South America.
AT A GLANCE
Passengers: 1,380
Value: G
RATINGS
Overall: 85.0
Itineraries: 91.6
Crew/Service: 90.8
Cabins/Design: 82.0
Food/Dining: 78.9
Activities/Facilities: 81.4
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8.
Rotterdam
Holland America, 84.9
COMMENTS
One of the four Holland America ships that sail Caribbean, Europe, South America.
AT A GLANCE
Passengers: 1,316
Value: VG
RATINGS
Overall: 84.9
Itineraries: 88.6
Crew/Service: 90.3
Cabins/Design: 82.4
Food/Dining: 82.3
Activities/Facilities: 80.6
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9.
Zaandam
Holland America, 84.9
COMMENTS
Like other Holland America ships, offers 24-hour room service; sails Alaska, Caribbean.
AT A GLANCE
Passengers: 1,440
Value: VG
RATINGS
Overall: 84.9
Itineraries: 81.1
Crew/Service: 89.4
Cabins/Design: 88.5
Food/Dining: 83.6
Activities/Facilities: 81.8
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10.
Ryndam
Holland America, 81.7
COMMENTS
New Culinary Arts Program offers tastings and classes; sails Alaska, Mexico, Pacific Northwest.
AT A GLANCE
Passengers: 1,258
Value: G
RATINGS
Overall: 81.7
Itineraries: 84.7
Crew/Service: 89.2
Cabins/Design: 79.9
Food/Dining: 79.1
Activities/Facilities: 75.8
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For complete information, read Conde'Nast Traveler Magazine
12.
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16.
Royal Princess
Princess, 78.3
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Large Ships
1500 or more passengers
Truly great ships—and getting greater in every way. These vessels carry a minimum of 1,500 passengers; indeed, some carry 4,000. Celebrity's Infinity, and Constellation, achieves the highest scores yet for a large ship.
| Large Ships
Top 10 Rated Large Cruise Ships
20 More Honorable Mentions
1.
Infinity
Celebrity, 90.3
COMMENTS
Top-rated for Crew/Service and Food/Dining among large ships; sails Alaska, Hawaii, South America.
AT A GLANCE
Passengers: 1,950
Value: E
RATINGS
Overall: 90.3
Itineraries: 92.3
Crew/Service: 95.8
Cabins/Design: 88.0
Food/Dining: 89.4
Activities/Facilities: 86.0
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Constellation
Celebrity, 90.0
COMMENTS
Has added 128 Concierge Class staterooms; sails Canada, Caribbean, Europe.
AT A GLANCE
Passengers: 1,950
Value: E
RATINGS
Overall: 90.0
Itineraries: 94.4
Crew/Service: 91.6
Cabins/Design: 87.7
Food/Dining: 89.4
Activities/Facilities: 86.6
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3.
Island Princess
Princess, 90.0
COMMENTS
The highest scoring Princess ship; sails Alaska, Hawaii, North America.
AT A GLANCE
Passengers: 1,970
Value: E
RATINGS
Overall: 90.0
Itineraries: 93.4
Crew/Service: 93.5
Cabins/Design: 85.5
Food/Dining: 85.5
Activities/Facilities: 91.9
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4.
Mercury
Celebrity, 87.9
COMMENTS
Personal trainers available; sails Alaska, California, Mexico.
AT A GLANCE
Passengers: 1,870
Value: E
RATINGS
Overall: 87.9
Itineraries: 90.1
Crew/Service: 94.4
Cabins/Design: 83.8
Food/Dining: 88.2
Activities/Facilities: 82.8
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5.
Summit
Celebrity, 87.7
COMMENTS
Has an onboard botanical conservatory; sails Alaska, Caribbean, Mexico, Panama Canal.
AT A GLANCE
Passengers: 1,950
Value: E
RATINGS
Overall: 87.7
Itineraries: 91.7
Crew/Service: 94.2
Cabins/Design: 83.5
Food/Dining: 86.8
Activities/Facilities: 82.6
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6.
Galaxy
Celebrity, 87.1
COMMENTS
The only Celebrity ship with a cigar bar; sails Europe, Mediterranean, Panama Canal.
AT A GLANCE
Passengers: 1,870
Value: VG
RATINGS
Overall: 87.1
Itineraries: 89.7
Crew/Service: 93.2
Cabins/Design: 84.8
Food/Dining: 88.3
Activities/Facilities: 79.5
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7.
Golden Princess
Princess, 86.8
COMMENTS
Now does seven-day New England sailings in fall; sails Caribbean, Europe, North America.
AT A GLANCE
Passengers: 2,600
Value: VG
RATINGS
Overall: 86.8
Itineraries: 86.6
Crew/Service: 91.9
Cabins/Design: 87.2
Food/Dining: 82.6
Activities/Facilities: 85.9
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8.
Coral Princess
Princess, 86.5
COMMENTS
Of its 879 outside cabins, 84 percent have balconies; sails Alaska, Caribbean, Central America.
AT A GLANCE
Passengers: 1,970
Value: VG
RATINGS
Overall: 86.5
Itineraries: 87.1
Crew/Service: 89.7
Cabins/Design: 85.3
Food/Dining: 85.3
Activities/Facilities: 85.3
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9.
Millennium
Celebrity, 86.4
COMMENTS
Instituting onboard acupuncture services; sails Caribbean, Europe.
AT A GLANCE
Passengers: 1,950
Value: G
RATINGS
Overall: 86.4
Itineraries: 90.5
Crew/Service: 89.1
Cabins/Design: 84.9
Food/Dining: 85.6
Activities/Facilities: 81.7
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10.
Oosterdam
Holland America, 85.7
COMMENTS
Top-rated among large ships for Cabins/Design; sails Alaska, Caribbean, North America.
AT A GLANCE
Passengers: 1,848
Value: VG
RATINGS
Overall: 85.7
Itineraries: 80.4
Crew/Service: 89.3
Cabins/Design: 92.9
Food/Dining: 82.1
Activities/Facilities: 83.9
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Cruise Traveler
Magazine rated these
ships, comparing
them on a 10-point
scale. Not every
ship at sea was
compared, nor were
they given points to
compare. The list is
simply subjective
and readers may and
often do differ in
opinion. The Ships
are listed in order
of ranking. Each
ship was judged on
their.... |
- Onboard Activities, Amenities, Things To Do.
- Stateroom Accommodations
- Service Achievement
- Ambience, Design , Atmosphere
- Dining Experience, Food Quality, Presentation
- Destinations, Itineraries
- On Shore Experiences
|
Top 15 Best Small
Ships
Up to 500 guests,
include riverboats
and expedition
vessels.
1. Seabourn Legend -
Yachts of Seabourn
2. Paul Gauguin -
Paul Gauguin Cruises
3. Seabourn Spirit -
Yachts of Seabourn
4. Seabourn Pride -
Yachts of Seabourn
5. Silver Cloud -
Silversea
6. Silver Shadow -
Silversea
7. Amadagio -
AMAWaterways
8. Viking Century
Sun - Viking River
Cruises
9. Viking Century
Sky -Viking River
Cruises
10. Wind Surf
-Windstar
11. Avalon Artistry
- Avalon Waterways
12. Viking Pride -
Viking River Cruises
13. Silver Wind -
Silversea
14. Wind Star/Spirit
- Windstar
15. Endeavour -
Lindblad Expeditions |
Top 10 Best Medium
Ships
501 to almost 1,500
guests
1. Crystal Serenity
- Crystal Cruises
2. Crystal Symphony
- Crystal Cruises
3. Seven Seas
Voyager - Regent
Seven Seas Cruises
4. Seven Seas
Mariner - Regent
Seven Seas Cruises
5. Seven Seas
Navigator - Regent
Seven Seas Cruises
6. Prinsendam -
Holland America
7. Insignia -
Oceania Cruises
8. Nautica - Oceania
Cruises
9. Regatta - Oceania
Cruises
10. Tahitian/Ocean
Princess - Princess
|
Top 20 Best Large
Ships
Over 1,500 guests to
as many as 3500
Guests
1. Celebrity
Solstice - Celebrity
2. Celebrity Summit
- Celebrity
3. Coral/Island
Princess - Princess
4. Celebrity
Millennium -
Celebrity
5. Mariner of the
Seas - Royal
Caribbean
6. Serenade of the
Seas - Royal
Caribbean
7. Celebrity
Infinity- Celebrity
8. Noordam - Holland
America
9. Emerald Princess
- Princess
10. Sapphire/Diamond
Princess - Princess
11. Westerdam -
Holland America
12. Zuiderdam -
Holland America
13. Brilliance of
the Seas - Royal
Caribbean
14. Crown Princess -
Princess
15.
Navigator/Adventure
of the Seas - Royal
Caribbean
16. Celebrity Galaxy
-Celebrity
17. Jewel of the
Seas - Royal
Caribbean
18. Oosterdam -
Holland America
19. Queen Mary 2 -
Cunard Line
20. Star/Golden
Princess - Princess
|
2009 Cruise
Critic Editors'
Picks Awards
Each year Cruise
Critic honors
the World's top
cruise lines and
celebrate the
best of cruising
with the
announcement of
the Cruise
Critic Editors'
Picks Awards.
This year they
have selected
winners in
thirty-one
categories,
reflecting the
diversity of the
cruise ships and
amenities
available to
travelers today.
The Cruise
Critic Editors'
Picks Awards
evaluate cruise
lines and ships
according to the
types of
passengers to
whom they cater.
Categories
include: "Best
Family Cruise
Line," awarded
to Royal
Caribbean; "Best
for Romance,"
awarded to
Princess
Cruises; and
"Best for
First-Timers,"
awarded to
Carnival Cruise
Lines. More
specific
categories
include "Best
for Healthy
Dining," awarded
to Celebrity,
and "Best Spa,"
which went to
Costa Cruise's
Samsara Spa.
"There's no
'one-size fits
all' in cruising
but, rather, a
whole host of
options for
every type of
cruiser,"
explains Carolyn
Spencer Brown,
editor in chief
of Cruise
Critic.
"Choosing the
winners is never
easy, and each
year, cruise
lines raise the
bar, as new
amenities are
added, ships are
refurbished, and
new vessels are
launched. Our
2009 picks
represent not
only the best
cruise lines,
but also some of
the best travel
companies in the
world."
Our
congratulations
go to the
winning cruise
lines listed
below.
The 2009 Cruise
Critic Editors'
Picks Award
winners are:
Accommodations
& Service
Best Big Ship
Luxury Enclave -
MSC Cruises - (MSC
Fantasia and MSC
Splendida)
Best for Big
Ship Suites -
NCL - Courtyard
Villas
Best for Cabins
- Holland
America Line
Best Luxury
Service -
Crystal Cruises
Best Luxury
Staterooms -
Regent Seven
Seas Cruises
Activities
Best Cruise Line
Private Island -
Disney -
Castaway Cay
Best for
Activities -
Holland America
Line
Best for
Nightlife -
Carnival Cruise
Lines
Best Sun Deck -
Celebrity
Cruises -
(Celebrity
Solstice and
Celebrity
Equinox)
Body
and Soul
Best for Fitness
Enthusiasts -
Royal Caribbean
International
Best Spas -
Costa Cruises -
(Samsara Spa)
Cruise
Styles
Best Family
Cruise Line -
Royal Caribbean
International
Best for
Adventure -
Lindblad
Expeditions
Best for Couples
- Azamara
Cruises
Best for First
Timers -
Carnival Cruise
Lines
Best for Kids -
Royal Caribbean
International -
(Freedom Class)
Best for Romance
- Princess
Cruises
Best for
Sophisticated
Singles - Cunard
Line
Best for Teens -
Royal Caribbean
International -
(Freedom Class)
Best Luxury
Cruise Line -
Crystal Cruises
Best River
Cruise Line -
Uniworld
Best Sailing
Ship - Windstar
Cruises
Food
and Dining
Best Buffet -
Carnival Cruise
Lines
Best for Healthy
Dining -
Celebrity
Cruises
Best Luxury
Dining -
Seabourn Cruise
Line
Best Main Dining
- Carnival
Cruise Lines
Best Specialty
Restaurants -
Oceania Cruises
Innovation
Best Kept Secret
- MSC Cruises -
(MSC Fantasia
and MSC
Splendida)
Best New Luxury
Ship - Seabourn
Odyssey
Best New River
Ship -
Uniworld's River
Beatrice
Best New Ship -
Celebrity
Cruises -
(Celebrity
Solstice and
Celebrity
Equinox)
Weddings and
Honeymoons
Best for a
Honeymoon
Splurge -
SeaDream Yacht
Club
Best for
Weddings At Sea
- Princess
Cruises
ZAGAT RELEASES
RESULTS OF FIRST
CRUISE LINE
SURVEY
Cunard, Regent
and SeaDream Are
Top Rated,
Respectively,
for Large,
Mid-Size and
Small Ships
While Royal
Caribbean,
Crystal and
Windstar are
Most Popular in
Each
Size Category
Carnival Wins
for Budget
Travel and
Singles; Disney
for Families,
Nightlife
and Entertainment
When it Comes to
Top Itinerary
Choices,
Romance,
Shopping, Spas
and Casinos,
Cunard Sweeps
New York, NY.
November 12,
2009 – Zagat
released the
results of its
first Cruise
Line survey
today. The
survey,
conducted on
ZAGAT.com,
covers 22 major
cruise lines as
voted on by
2,379 regular
cruise-goers who
had taken 9.5
trips, each
averaging nine
days. All told
the surveyors
had taken a
total of 22,700
separate
cruises.
“The survey
reveals what the
cruise line
industry is
doing plenty
right, but that
there's still
room for
improvement,”
said Tim
Zagat, CEO of
Zagat Survey.
“Hopefully,
these new
results will
help consumers
during a time
when making
informed
decisions is
more important
than ever.”
Background:
The cruise lines
in the survey
were categorized
as follows:
Large
Ships
(1,500+
passengers),
Mid-Size
Ships
(200 to 1,500)
and
Small Ships
(less than 200),
based on the
average size of
the ships in its
fleet. Each line
was then rated
on Zagat's
signature
30-point scale
for five aspects
of its
performance: (1)
Cabins, (2)
Service, (3)
Dining, (4)
Facilities and
(5) Shipboard
Activities, with
an “Overall
Score” based on
an average of
the five
separate
ratings.
Smooth Sailing:
The top cruise
lines, based on
their Overall
Scores, are
Cunard
Line
(Large),
Regent Seven
Seas
(Mid-Size) and
SeaDream
Yacht Club
(Small). Lines
with mid-size
ships tended to
get the highest
overall ratings.
Thus, following
Regent were
Crystal,
Seabourn
and
Silversea
all with a score
of 26 out of a
possible 30.
Following with
overall rating
of 25 are Cunard
and Disney.
Based on their
ratings, the
major category
winners are as
shown below:
| |
Large
(1,500+) |
Mid-Size
(200 to
1,500) |
Small
(<200) |
|
Top
Rooms |
Cunard |
Regent |
SeaDream |
|
Top
Service |
Cunard |
Seabourn |
SeaDream |
|
Top
Dining |
Cunard |
Seabourn |
SeaDream |
|
Top
Facilities |
Cunard |
Crystal |
SeaDream |
|
Top
Activities |
Disney |
Crystal |
Lindblad |
|
Top
Overall |
Cunard |
Regent |
SeaDream |
When asked to
name their
personal
favorites, the
surveyors chose
Royal
Caribbean
(Large),
Crystal Cruises
(Mid-Size) and
Windstar
Cruises
(Small).
Setting Course:
When choosing a
cruise line, 88%
of surveyors say
that Ports of
Call is their
principal
consideration,
with Past
Experience (81%)
and Ticket Price
(80%) following
close behind.
Other major
issues are
Cruise Duration
(72%), Dates
(69%) and
Balcony/Deluxe
Room
Availability
(64%). Departure
Ports are cited
by 61% of
surveyors, with
Ship Size and
Activities tying
at 58%.
Staying Afloat:
As a result of
the recession,
many lines
lowered their
prices. The
three named as
“best for budget
cruises” are
Carnival
Cruise Lines,
Costa
Cruises
and
Norwegian Cruise
Line in
that order. When
asked how the
economy has
affected their
cruising, 47%
say they're
looking for
better values,
while 23% report
cruising less.
Surveyors report
these alternate
ways to be
cost-conscious:
20% are limiting
their
excursions, 19%
are choosing
cruises that
depart closer to
home, 15% cut
back on what's
included in
their packages,
10% choose less
expensive rooms
and 5% take
shorter cruises.
A lucky 18% say
the recession
hasn't affected
their cruising
habits, while an
unlucky 19% say
they “don't
cruise enough to
have habits
yet.”
Choppy Water:
Although
cruising is all
about feeling
good and
relaxing, we
asked surveyors
about their top
complaints:
crowds/lines
(23%),
embarking/disembarking
(15%), other
passengers'
behavior (12%),
bad food (11%),
poor service
(11%), room
sizes (5%),
smoking (4%) and
extra charges
(3%).
Surprisingly,
bad weather,
motion sickness,
ship size and
fixed dining
times were not
serious
concerns.
More Winners:
Other categories
with smoother
sailing are as
follows:
Top
Fitness
Centers
-
Celebrity
Cruises
-
Cunard
Line
-
Royal
Caribbean
Top Live
Entertainment
-
Disney
Cruise
Line
-
Cunard
Line
-
Royal
Caribbean
Top
Nightlife
-
Disney
Cruise
Line
-
Royal
Caribbean
-
Cunard
Line
Top Spa
Services
-
Cunard
Line
-
Disney
Cruise
Line
-
Celebrity
Cruises
Top
Onboard
Shopping
-
Cunard
Line
-
Disney
Cruise
Line
-
Royal
Caribbean
Top
Casinos/Gambling
-
Cunard
Line
-
Royal
Caribbean
-
Celebrity
Cruises
Top
Excursions
-
Princess
Cruises
-
Celebrity
Cruises
-
Cunard
Line
Best for
Singles
-
Carnival
Cruise
Lines
-
Royal
Caribbean
-
Norwegian
Cruise
Line
Top
Itinerary
Choices
-
Cunard
Line
-
Holland
America
Line
-
Celebrity
Cruises
Best for
Romantic/Honeymoon
-
Cunard
Line
-
Celebrity
Cruises
-
Princess
Cruises
Best for
Kids
-
Disney
Cruise
Line
-
Royal
Caribbean
-
Carnival
Cruise
Lines
Best for
Weekend
Getaways
-
Disney
Cruise
Line
-
Royal
Caribbean
-
Carnival
Cruise
Lines
Best for
Families
-
Disney
Cruise
Line
-
Royal
Caribbean
-
Carnival
Cruise
Lines
Best for
Budget
Cruises
-
Carnival
Cruise
Lines
-
Costa
Cruises
-
Norwegian
Cruise
Line
Best for
Seniors
-
Holland
America
Line
-
Cunard
Line
-
Celebrity
Cruises
Best for
Expedition
Cruises
-
Celebrity
Cruises
-
Princess
Cruises
-
Holland
America
Line
The Survey in
Detail:
Please visit (www.zagat.com/cruiselines)
for the full
survey results.
 |
|
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