A cruise vacation can be a big investment, but it can also be one of the best vacations you’ve ever taken!
Choosing the right cruise line and itinerary should be fun, not stressful. The very first thing to decide when planning a cruise vacation is, “Which is more important? The destinations and ports of call you visit or the journey on the cruise ship itself?”
Modern cruise ships are destinations in and of themselves! Offering everything from serenity gardens and hidden alcoves to go-carts, surf simulators, and waterslides off the sides of the ship, choosing the right cruise line for your trip may be all about what you can do while ONBOARD.
If a certain port of call is your primary vacation focus, then pairing up the destination with the right ship and cruise line will be an equally important deciding factor.
Not all cruise line itineraries (nor ships) are created equally for every port of call.
If there is a particular city you want to visit, there may be only one or two cruise lines that have it as a port. If you are looking at a specific region like the Mediterranean or Alaska, there are cruise lines that excel over the others.
On a traditional Bahamas or Caribbean cruise, where the ship has become more important than the destination, you can have a great time without ever disembarking.
The next things to consider are your budget, departure port, and how long you’d like to cruise. Once you decide these things, it’s a little easier to start narrowing down your options.
If you would like to discuss which one of these cruise lines may be best for your family – schedule a time to chat I would love to hear from you!!
DISNEY CRUISE LINE
Disney redefined the cruise industry when they brought families to the market. Kid’s clubs, family activities, and Broadway-style shows are where this entertainment juggernaut excels. They also have the largest staterooms in the industry making it comfortable and fun to cruise with the whole family. With one of the smaller fleets, the high demand keeps the cost higher but unlike other lines, there is very little upcharging once you get on the ship.
Size: Large
Cost: Moderate – Deluxe
Activity Highlights: Themed kids clubs with activities for every age group and visits from familiar characters, adult-only spaces allow Mom & Dad to relax too, the Broadway-style entertainment is the best in the industry
Food Highlights: Three restaurants are included in the unique rotational dining with some of the best food you will find included in the cost of the cruise. The only specialty restaurants are adults only.
Low Points: Traditional cruisers may miss having a casino, not much to keep teens entertained, the pool gets crowded with kids
Demographics: Families with young children there to see the Mouse. And believe it or not, adults (sans kids) who appreciate the Disney touch and service and know the kiddos are so well entertained that they are rarely underfoot.
ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISE LINE
Royal Caribbean has one of cruising’s most famous, and most over-the-top fleets. Ships range from mid-sized to state-of-the-art mega-ships. Known for bringing innovation to sea including indoor skydiving, bumper cars, surf simulators, circus school, and rock climbing walls. While not gourmet, Royal Caribbean’s food is usually good enough to please most of their passengers.
Size: Large
Cost: Low – Moderate
Activity Highlights: Climbing walls, ice skating rinks, and zip lines keep kids and grown-ups busy. Broadway productions include “Chicago,” “Saturday Night Fever,” and “Hairspray.”
Food Highlights: Flexible Dine Times, Many Specialty Restaurants
Low Points: Cabins are tight, especially on the older ships; food in main dining rooms can be underwhelming, a lot of things require an upcharge, older ships show their age.
Demographic: Royal Caribbean, the world’s second most popular cruise line, attracts a wide swath of cruisers. During the summer you’ll see lots of families, especially on Caribbean voyages. The rest of the year you’ll find a mixed group – making RCCL perfect for multigen families.
NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE
Norwegian seems to be competing with Royal Caribbean to bring you the biggest and best at sea. The newer ships feature luxury villas, martini and champagne bars, interconnecting cabins, and bowling alleys. Their aggressive discounts make it a great value. Norwegian is a great option for multi-generational families with lots of options for everyone. The new studio cabins make this the best cruise line for single travelers.
Size: Large
Cost: Low
Activity Highlights: improvisational comedy and family-friendly shows like Blue Man Group, Nickelodeon characters, water slides, and trampoline for active passengers.
Food Highlights: Flexible dine times, Dining options galore, most ships feature 10+ specialty restaurants
Low Points: Standard cabins are among the smallest at sea, older ships are run down and don’t have nearly as many features
Demographic: The cruise line continues to attract a lot of first-time younger cruisers, couples, and friends sharing staterooms.
NCL HIGHLIGHT: Pride of America
Each island in the Hawaiian chain has a unique personality and offers visitors different types of experiences – whether it’s heart-pounding adventures, total relaxation, or something in between. If you aren’t sure which island is right for you, explore them all by cruising on Norwegian’s Pride of America.
Think of NCL’s Pride of America as your floating hotel. Explore the islands by day, and sail to the next destination by night.
PRINCESS CRUISES
Princess Cruises are a wonderful option for travelers of any age. Their ships feature expansive facilities, with spacious spas and fitness facilities, amazing kids club serving ages 3 to 17, and quality entertainment venues including casinos, discos, and nightclubs. Princess’s food is good for their tier, offering a mix of culinary themes and different specialty restaurants varying by ship class.
Size: Large
Cost: Moderate
Activity Highlights: The Scholarship at Sea program allows cruisers to learn anything from Photoshop to cooking while at sea, big screens on the pool deck for movie nights and Wii tournaments.
Food Highlights: Some of the better complimentary food with excellent buffet spreads at breakfast, lunch, and dinner; pizza made from scratch by the pool.
Low Points: The tiered balcony design eliminates verandah privacy, and entertainment seems lacking next to competitors.
Demographics: You’ll find every type of passenger on Princess Cruises — from wide-eyed first-time cruisers to those who already know the maître d’ and have sailed with the company dozens of times. The line’s big ships offer endless activities and options and a popular shore excursion program.
CELEBRITY CRUISE LINE
Celebrity is owned by Royal Caribbean and is slightly more elevated than its sister line. Here you will find an older crowd, more traditional features, onboard activities focused on education. The cruise line offers excellent food and service but may be too sedate for younger cruisers looking for a lot of activity.
Size: Large
Cost: Moderately Priced
Activity Highlights: Unique offerings like art tours on iPads, Apple stores onboard, and outdoor lawns with real grass.
Food Highlights: Big focus on molecular gastronomy. Specialty restaurants are known for their creativity. This is the best cruise line for foodies.
Low Points: Lots of things cost extra
Demographics: With its fleet of upscale ships, Celebrity Cruises attracts a mixed bag of millennials, middle-aged people, and seniors who tend to be great fans of the fun and food Celebrity provides. Passengers are likely to be better-traveled.
HOLLAND AMERICA
Holland America has a classic old-time traditional feel. The ships are great if you just want a relaxing, tranquil, and quiet cruise. Their entertainment is more low-key with most passengers heading to bed on the early side.
Size: Medium
Cost: Low – Moderate
Activity Highlights: Free movies in a real theater, impressive cooking classes, and the best combination Internet café/onboard library at sea.
Food Highlights: Poolside lunch buffets are impressive for the price. Canapes before dinner are abundant.
Low Points: Sleepy nightlife
Demographic: Most of the passengers on the Holland America reserved, dedicated to the line, and happy to bypass a floating amusement park in favor of quieter activities.
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