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Sip on artisanal cocktails and dance under the stars at the Magic Carpet or the Rooftop Garden. Pamper yourself at The Spa, or squeeze in some exercise at The Fitness Center. Our award-winning ships have everything you could ever ask for—and much, much more.
Former Carnival Cruise Ships
Following the global pandemic and multiple delays, Mardi Gras finally began sailing on July 31, 2021, from Port Canaveral in Florida. The ship’s godmother is Dr. Lucille O’Neal, mother of Carnival Cruise Line’s Chief Fun Officer Shaquille O’Neal. The huge transformation cost Carnival $200 million and the ship is now 101,509 gross tons with a guest capacity of 2,984 at double occupancy and 1,108 crew members. River cruise ships carry about a couple hundred passengers, and the vibe is generally more low-key than on mainstream cruises. Daily activities -- if offered -- focus on cultural experiences, such as wine tastings or history lectures, and evening entertainment is more adult-oriented and mellower than on bigger cruise ships. Chances are fellow cruisers will be couples rather than families with children in tow.
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Romantic types will love Windstar's three vessels with sails — a relative rarity. Foodies can choose one of the James Beard-themed cruises, which include market tours and cooking demonstrations with a James Beard Award-winning chef. The cruising arm of Ritz-Carlton has been in operation for just a bit over a year, and the jury still is out on where it ranks in the pantheon of luxury cruise brands. The line notably struggled to get off the ground after years of construction delays for its first and only ship. Exquisite service, refined dining and well-appointed accommodations are hallmarks of this Monaco-based luxury line with 12 vessels.
Royal Caribbean Symphony of the Seas
Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas was previously the world's largest cruise ship, starting in January 2022. Its first voyage was in March 2022, becoming the fifth member of Royal's Oasis-class ships. The aptly named Wonder of the Seas has 18 decks (16 guest-accessible decks), 2,867 staterooms and 19 pools. She wasn’t built for the cruise line but was the first ship for the newly formed Ted Arison Carnival Cruise Line at the time. The ship started sailing for Carnival in 1972, and the “Fun Ships” have kept coming ever since! Mardi Gras was over 27,200 gross tons, a huge difference from the new Excel-class vessels.
Royal Caribbean announces new Icon Class ship will be called Star of the Seas - Royal Caribbean Blog
Royal Caribbean announces new Icon Class ship will be called Star of the Seas.
Posted: Thu, 05 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Celebrity Ascent
There are 12 passenger decks and she cost the cruise line $375 million. Carnival Dream has a gross tonnage of 130,000 and a guest capacity of 3,646 at double occupancy, slightly less than her sister ships. The ship was also the second in the fleet to receive the new Carnival-colored inspired livery during a dry dock in 2021. Carnival Sunshine which also dons the red, white and blue livery is 102,853 gross tons, slightly larger than her sister ships Carnival Radiance and Carnival Sunrise.
The line is the largest in the North American market, with roughly two dozen ships sailing from ports across the United States, from Long Beach to Galveston to Miami to Baltimore to San Juan. Expect stylish spaces galore, including the Sunset and Martini bars, plus a sleek Rooftop Terrace where cruisers can catch outdoor flicks while basking in the ocean views. Celebrity’s newest ship is also its flashiest — in the best way possible. The Celebrity Ascent offers an expanded Retreat area (exclusive to suite guests), complete with a 40-percent-larger two-story sundeck, and the swanky Sunset Bar, which is 180 percent larger. Finally, stay in one of the Iconic Suites, the largest in the Celebrity fleet, for the ultimate splurge. As with other luxury lines, Seabourn offers a wide range of itineraries around the globe.
Royal Caribbean Quantum of the Seas
The ship was originally ordered by sister line Costa Cruises as a Concordia-class vessel. The ship was transferred to operate for Carnival during her construction in 2008 in Genoa, Italy. Unlike ocean liners, expedition cruises are small and have flexible schedules that adapt to the weather and wildlife sightings. These cruises are not for those seeking all-night dancing, drinks by the pool and multiple dining options.
Carnival Valor
The vessel was previously known as Carnival Triumph, which originally entered service in 1999. Queen Elizabeth 2, though built as an ocean liner, became famous more as a hybrid craft that brought together the best of a traditional ocean liner and a modern cruise ship -- ideal for its pioneering annual world cruises. Often called the "Big U," the ship still holds the westbound speed record for transatlantic passenger service, known as the Blue Riband. Cruise ship classes are sets of ships that have similar weight, height, length, passenger capacity and accommodation. No cruise line is as large and well-represented in cruising as Carnival.
Known for its appearances in most episodes of television series "The Love Boat," the original Pacific Princess sailed around the globe from 1975 to 2002, operated by Princess Cruise Lines. As the popular TV show fueled the explosion of the cruising industry, the ship also became well known. The U.S. government helped finance a portion of the construction, ensuring that the ship could easily be converted into a troop carrier or hospital ship if the need arose. The United States was retired from service in 1969 but stood at the ready as a reserve ship for the U.S.
Its seven ships feature a relaxed, country club-like ambience and inspired dining that appeal to a mostly older crowd. Tradition long has been a touchstone for this storied line, which dates to 1873 and is known for carefully crafted, globe-circling itineraries on midsize ships. Meet-and-greets with Disney characters, Disney-themed shows and the most extensive kiddie fun zones on the high seas are just a few of the family-friendly allures of a Disney cruise. There are more than two dozen lines marketing to North Americans — no two alike. Oceania Cruises' Marina is one of 12 ships chosen by our editors for 2024. The Carnival Glory is the second ship built in the hugely popular Conquest-class.
It’s also worth noting that these suite guests also enjoy access to the SEA Thermal Suite and a dedicated spa concierge. Don’t miss the adults-only Solarium, the Rooftop Garden, the aforementioned Eden, or the Magic Carpet, which offers the best views at sea. Carnival Mardi Gras first debuted in 1972 and was a trailblazing ship. Its preliminary focus was on festive fun for all guests (hence the name), which was unlike any other cruise ship at the time. The unique onboard ambiance continues today on the most recent Mardis Gras, which was launched in 2021, and has 17 passenger decks, 2,641 staterooms and a rollercoaster. MSC entered the top ten in 2022 when World Europa made its maiden voyage in December of that year.
Spectrum of the Seas has 16 total decks (14 guest decks) and 2,137 staterooms. MSC Virtuosa, which is another member of the Meraviglia-Plus class, first set sail in May 2021. It is easily one of the largest in MSC's fleet (along with sister ship Grandiosa), having 2,421 cabins on 15 passenger-accessible decks (18 decks total).
MSC Meraviglia is the first ship in MSC's Meraviglia-class and received the "8 Golden Pearls" award, which recognizes sustainable and environmental stewardship. This meritable ship has 18 decks, 15 of which are accessible to guests, and 2,244 total staterooms. AIDA Cruises AIDAnova is the first launched in the Excellence-class, which also has sister ship AIDAcosma.
Celebrity's four newest ships, Celebrity Edge, Celebrity Apex, Celebrity Beyond and Celebrity Ascent, feature "infinite veranda" cabins that are open to the sea in a way we haven't seen with other ocean ships. They boast a glass wall that opens from the top to create a balcony-like effect. Note that TPG has many guides to individual lines, which you can find by clicking on our cruise line hub pages linked in each segment below. Below, you'll find our quick guide to some of the most popular cruise brands. It's just a short overview — enough to give you a sense of which particular cruise operator might best appeal to you.
Access to the exclusive Retreat area is reason alone to book one of the contemporary suites. This much-beloved luxury line recently restarted operations under new owners after shutting down for 18 months. For years, it was considered the ultimate luxury cruise operator, and our take after sailing on Crystal Serenity after its relaunch is that the line is even better than before. But it recently announced plans to expand rapidly with four more ships over the next six years. With just four ships, each holding fewer than 700 passengers, Azamara is one of the smallest players in the cruise business.
Its tenure included service as a troop carrier between Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom during World War II. The years at sea were not without mishap; Queen Mary suffered a near-capsizing roll in 1943 and ran aground in 1949. When you sail with Norwegian Cruise Line, you are cruising on the most innovative and accommodating fleet on the high seas. Our award-winning fleet was built for Freestyle, designed to give you freedom and flexibility. Choose your ship, choose your destination and step on board for the perfect vacation.
