There are many ways to rate a cruise and so much of it depends on how well the cruise line met or exceeded your expectations. Families will have a whole different list of interests and needs than a couple on their honeymoon, for example. Beyond those basic considerations, the cruise industry has expanded cruise options to include river cruises, expedition cruises and a variety of different sized ships.
Mega Ships – 4000+ passengers
The winner in this category was Norwegian Cruise Line. The Breakaway and Breakaway Plus class ships and don’t forget about Epic, NCL has several options in this category. The mega class ships offer a great deal more in entertainment and activities as well as bar and restaurant options. They have clearly found the right formula on these mega ships to offer everything their guests are looking for in this category.
Large Ships – 2500-4000 passengers
A relative newcomer, Virgin Voyages took this top spot with only 3 ships in their entire fleet thus far and 1 more on order. One huge difference with Virgin Voyages compared to most other cruise lines is their adults only policy. Perhaps this appealed to more cruisers than you might have expected. Interestingly, Disney ranked #2 in this category so clearly there is a demand for both family oriented as well as not so family oriented experiences on this size ship. NCL, with the new Prima Class ships at just around 3000 capacity is also considered a large ship.
Medium Ships – 500-2500 passengers
Taking first place here was Viking with their current fleet all able to accommodate 930 passengers and their newest ship coming in 2024 able to accommodate 988 passengers. Viking is also an adults only cruise line, as well as several services that explain why they ranked #1 for things they do not offer! This size ship can provide a very nice experience for those who prefer not to cruise with the masses.
Small Ships – fewer than 500 passengers
This may be a category you didn’t even know existed, and the winner here was Emerald Cruises. Their fleet of 9 Star-Ships that accommodate just under 200 passengers as well as their luxury yachts that accommodate just 100 passengers certainly paint a picture of exclusive luxury. While not strictly adults only, children must be at least 12 years old and if under 21, accompanied by an adult. For those who want to be enjoy a lot of space and luxury at sea this might be for you.
River and Expedition Cruises
With Viking winning both of these categories, let’s consider them together. These cruises are generally on medium or small sized ships. Exploring the towns and historic sites by river offers a more intimate and less stressful experience than seeing them by roadway. Some of these cruises can be quite long, up to 70+ nights and carry a price to match. Still, expedition cruises are gaining popularity and offer a chance to feel like an explorer.
The Best Choice
With the wide range of experiences covered in all of these categories, you can see why you have to decide what you want to experience on your next cruise! It would be impossible to say there is one perfect cruise and cruise line. By taking the time to consider what you want, however, you can certainly find the one that is best for you! – René
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