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The Best Cruise Lines In The World
Readers' Rating: 81.434
Anticipate "elegant public spaces" and "a wide variety of excursions" from Cunard's three liners—Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth, and Queen Victoria—which make transatlantic crossings and extended journeys around the world.
This most venerable of cruise lines (two of its ships were christened by the Queen of England) caters to an older, dignified crowd, but there are family-friendly itineraries as well.
Readers' Rating: 81.707
Encounter an "outstanding crew" on this 18-ship line that sails to the Caribbean, South Pacific, Europe, and South America, among other destinations. Staterooms feature soft tones, wood detailing, and big TVs.
The latest addition to the fleet, the Regal Princess, launched in fall 2014 and includes the SeaWalk, a glass-bottomed walkway extending out over the water.
Readers' Rating: 83.174
Celebrity's fleet sails seasonally up the East and West coasts, around the Caribbean, Europe, and South America, with year-round itineraries in the Galápagos Islands aboard the Celebrity Xpedition.
Cabins are "well laid out and exceptionally comfortable," and the varied onboard activities ensure that "there is something for everyone." Of note: The oh-so-peaceful Solarium is the adults-only pool complex aboard Solstice-class ships, including Solstice,EquinoxEclipseSilhouette, and Reflection.
Readers' Rating: 84.158
This fleet's 22 vessels include the world's two largest cruise ships afloat—the 5,400-passenger Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas—and the line's stops include ports in Asia, Australia, the Caribbean, Europe, and South America, among others.
On board, there are tons of activities to choose from, including rock climbing and ice-skating.Quantum of the Seas, a futuristic new vessel that includes tech-y touches like increased Internet connectivity, and, yes, a robot bartender, is set to debut in October 2014.
Readers' Rating: 85.651
Cruise casual is the order of the day aboard Norwegian’s fleet of ships, whose routes span the globe from the Falkland Islands to the Greek Isles, and just about everything in between.
The relaxed, family-friendly cruises include a wealth of onboard entertainment, including Blue Man Group and Broadway musicals like Rock of Ages.
Readers' Rating: 88.211
This family-friendly line offers cruises to classic getaway destinations like the Bahamas, Hawaii and Alaska, as well as locales like the Panama Canal and the California coast.
A two-week transatlantic cruise sails from the Caribbean to the Mediterranean. Aboard the Disney Dream, kids and adults alike can zoom down a 765-foot outdoor covered waterslide—the first of its kind on a cruise ship.
Readers' Rating: 81.093
Encounter an "outstanding crew" on this 18-ship line that sails to the Caribbean, South Pacific, Europe, and South America, among other destinations. Staterooms feature soft tones, wood detailing, and big TVs.
The latest addition to the fleet, the Regal Princess, launched in fall 2014 and includes the SeaWalk, a glass-bottomed walkway extending out over the water.
Readers' Rating: 82.355
These three all-suite vessels sail to the ends of the earth, from New Zealand and the South Pacific to the Panama Canal and Africa.
The atmosphere on board is more laid-back than many other luxury cruise lines of its size, but swanky touches—such as wood-paneled cabins with balconies—are everywhere. Onboard spas are run by Canyon Ranch.
Readers' Rating: 83.157
All five of Oceania's "un-glitzy ships are perfect in size" and make stops in Europe, South America, and beyond. The "uniformly excellent" onboard dining venues include Jacques, a classic Parisian bistro masterminded by Jacques Pépin.
Excursions, including a private tour of the Vatican, are the "strong point, although they're a little bit pricey." The newest ship in the fleet, the Riviera, made its maiden voyage in 2012.
Readers' Rating: 83.949
This Royal Caribbean offshoot maintains two "intuitively designed, modern" ships that sail to Asia, the Panama Canal, Europe, and more.
Cabins are designed in the style of a small European hotel, with Egyptian cotton linens and duvets, and have 24-hour room service. Onshore trips take in the likes of the Monaco Grand Prix and Rio de Janeiro's Carnaval.
Readers' Rating: 84.019
Cruise casual is the order of the day aboard Norwegian’s fleet of ships, whose routes span the globe from the Falkland Islands to the Greek Isles.
The relaxed, family-friendly cruises include a wealth of onboard entertainment, including Blue Man Group and Broadway musicals like Rock of Ages.
Readers' Rating: 85.107
Serving destinations in all hemispheres, this line has 15 ships with "well-appointed" cabins decorated in classic European style. The atmosphere this venerable line is refined without being overly formal.
Onboard entertainment options on some vessels includes live Dancing with the Stars: At Sea performances.
Readers' Rating: 90.142
This line is based out of Southern California, and it shows in the two-ship fleet’s stylish aesthetic and social atmosphere. Excursions span the globe, with ports of call on every continent (including Antarctica).
On board, expect "the best lecturers and personalities of any cruise line." Crystal Penthouses come with ocean view hot tubs, and some have Swarovski chandeliers.
Readers' Rating: 81.779
Sailing to the Caribbean, Europe and across the Atlantic on these 112-passenger yachts is "a unique experience—the ships are small, so you get to know other travelers."
Facilities on the six decks include a pool, a whirlpool, and a casino. The ships often overnight in port, allowing guests the opportunity to experience the local nightlife.
Readers' Rating: 82.688
Celebrity's fleet sails seasonally up the East and West coasts, around the Caribbean, Europe, and South America, with year-round itineraries in the Galápagos Islands aboard the Celebrity Xpedition.
Cabins are "well laid out and exceptionally comfortable," and the varied onboard activities ensure that "there is something for everyone."
Readers' Rating: 84.600
This fleet of ten small ships—passenger capacity ranges from 28 to 148—sails to rugged destinations like Arctic Svalbard, Antarctica, Indonesia, and the Galápagos.
"Going on a cruise with Lindblad is about the adventure, not about luxury," so expect small, simple cabins but plenty of memorable excursions, such as snorkeling in Borneo and hiking through a Patagonia ice field.
This American-as-apple-pie company specializes in trips all over the U.S., cruising down rivers in the Southeast, Northeast, Alaska, and the Pacific Northwest. Of the six ships in the fleet, two are old-school paddle wheelers.
Trips often have a historical focus, like the Mark Twain Tribute Cruise on the Mississippi and the Lewis & Clark Cruise on the Columbia and Snake Rivers. An additional ship, theAmerican Eagle, will begin Mississippi excursions in spring 2015.
Readers' Rating: 87.965
These eight ships stop in the Caribbean, the South Pacific, Europe, Africa, the Galápagos, and Antarctica, and also offer around-the-world cruises to an international clientele.
Off-the-beaten-path excursions yield once-in-a-lifetime experiences, from penguin spotting in Antarctica to an evening in the desert.
Readers' Rating: 89.291
This high-end luxury cruise line sails to Central America, the Middle East, Europe, New Caledonia, the South Pacific, Patagonia, Antarctica, and amazingly, other destinations worldwide.
The five-yacht fleet "sails into ports not available to larger ships," and offers onboard dining options that incorporate local ingredients from ports of call. Suites feature roomy bathrooms and walk-in closets.
Readers' Rating: 90.065
Itineraries on these hybrid sailboat–cruise ships take in the Caribbean, Central America, the South Pacific, and Europe.
Windstar will double the size of its fleet in 2015, and there are plans to add trips to Southeast Asia, Iceland, and the Middle East. Excursions include a painting lesson in Dubrovník and custom fragrance-making in a Monte Carlo perfumery.
Readers' Rating: 82.962
Make like Mark Twain with an excursion aboard one of this company’s two steamboats, the steam-powered American Queen and the diesel-fueled American Empress.
Itineraries take passengers along the upper and lower Mississippi, the Ohio and the Tennessee, and the Columbia and Snake Rivers in the Northwest. The decor on board is Victorian Americana, complete with a 19th-century-style card room.
Readers' Rating: 83.240
This line, based in California, sails down waterways in Europe, Russia, Asia and Africa.
Newer ships (two were launched in 2014, and two more are coming next year) include large cruise–type amenities like twin balconies in staterooms, a pool with a swim-up bar, and an onboard fleet of bicycles. AMA recently expanded to add itineraries down the Ayeyarwady River in Myanmar.
Readers' Rating: 85.029
Vantage operates ships and cruises around the world, including itineraries in the South Pacific, Antarctica, and Central America.
The line’s main offerings, however, are European river cruises, from Christmas market sailings on the Danube to wine-harvest excursions on Portugal's Douro River. The line has plans to add two more ships to its European fleet in 2015.
Readers' Rating: 86.091
Traveling in Europe, Asia, North and South America, and the Galápagos, the vessels of this Swiss company boast the largest staterooms of any riverboat line.
Ships with suites feature floor-to-ceiling sliding-glass windows and French balconies for optimum views. Avalon added three new ships in 2014, and is launching two more in 2015.
Readers' Rating: 89.453
This 19-ship line offers cruises on the waterways of Europe, Russia, China, India, Vietnam, and Cambodia.
Select European sailings offer the Epicurean Adventurer Program, focusing on the region's culinary delights with food-and-wine pairings and cooking demonstrations. The refurbished River Queen has the only working fireplace on a riverboat.
Readers' Rating: 90.231
This European line expanded its fleet exponentially in 2014, christening 16 new vessels over a two-day period. Destinations include the rivers of Europe, Russia, Ukraine, China, Egypt, and Southeast Asia.
Off the boat, take a walking tour through Budapest or a trip to a working cheese farm near the Dutch city Gouda. Over the next year, Viking also has plans to launch ocean cruises.
Readers' Rating: 91.266
This line with seven ships cruising the rivers of northern Europe (namely the Danube, Rhine, Rhône, and Seine) offers shore excursions led by "knowledgeable and accommodating guides."
Food and wine menus are paired to the regions the ships are traveling through, while "cabins are roomy" with "views onto the countryside." A new 130-passenger vessel, the Inspire, launched in April 2014.
Readers' Rating: 91.851
With wood paneling, brass fittings, old lanterns, and black-and-white photos, these riverboats have a true Old World feel.
Itineraries through Europe and beyond explore “villages, cultures, and history,” and may include Kaffee and cake at a German family's home, an oyster farm tour in France, or a visit to a local Kindergarten in Slovakia.