Saturday, April 13, 2024

Cruise Ship Types and Classifications: A Comprehensive Guide

types of cruise ships

The emphasis on food and drink with chef-driven menus tempts the palates of premium-level cruisers. Its newest and largest ship, Icon of the Seas, just entered the market. Unique to mainstream cruising, their American-flagged ship, Pride of America, sails the Hawaiian Islands round-trip from Honolulu. It lacks a casino, but saves the long and sometimes rough crossing from the West Coast of the USA. Known for its Free-Style concept of open dining, Norwegian Cruise Line and innovation go hand-in-hand.

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Challenge yourself to try a vacation that might push you out of your comfort zone or be an entirely new type of sailing. You just might find yourself with a new favorite cruise type along the way. Ocean crossings were common in the early days of ocean liners, which were used to transport both people and goods between countries. As passenger cruising began to evolve, crossings became as much about entertainment and vacationing as they were about getting from point A to point B.

Celebrity Cruises

Along those lines, Royal Caribbean often sends some of its Vision Class ships to Europe in the summer to operate port call-intensive itineraries. The vessels also often sail longer trips in the Caribbean that include less-visited southerly islands. In both cases, the allure of the cruises has more to do with the ports the ships visit than the onboard experience. All the above come in addition to many of the core Royal Caribbean attractions you'll find on most of the brand's ships, including pools, rock climbing walls, casinos, spas and Broadway-style shows.

Carnival Vista

Multistory waterslides, ropes courses and even go-kart race tracks are among the gee-whiz attractions atop Norwegian Cruise Line's giant, resort-like ships. The vessels also are packed with eateries, bars, casinos and showrooms. Designed to be a cut above mainstream options such as Carnival while remaining relatively affordable, this Miami-based "premium" line is known for some of the most stylish big ships at sea. The self-described "fun ship" line is the king of short, affordable, fun-focused cruises from U.S. ports to the Caribbean, the Bahamas, Mexico and beyond. Norwegian Joy is part of Norwegian Cruise Line's iconic Breakaway Class, but has a distinct personality of its own. Just keep in mind that, despite the wealth of excellent specialty dining and activities like go-karts, VR games and laser tag, NCL price tags are less inclusive and most of these features will cost extra.

Compare the 8 Most Popular Cruise Ships in the World

All cruise ships aren’t the same, but there are definitely similarities amongst the brands. Just like hotels, the offerings vary and guests often become loyal members to a certain cruise line. Others enjoy trying a variety of cruise lines for several reasons – the size, the atmosphere, the itinerary, the age of the ship, as well as the ease and cost of reaching the port.

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types of cruise ships

With many of the luxury cruises averaging one crew member per guest, “at your service” contributes to the guest experience. A rapidly growing segment of the cruise market, expedition cruises take guests to remote areas around the world. Initially, you may think that expedition cruises are equated with cold destinations, but that is not the case. Princess cruise ships also vary in size with the brand’s largest ship, Sun Princess, having just debuted in the Mediterranean. Sun Princess is a complete evolution for the brand, looking to appeal to more multigenerational groups.

Princess Cruises

Destinations include the Dominican Republic, Mexico and a private beach club in the Bahamas, as well as parts of Europe and Australia. Itinerary-wise, Oceania is known for destination-intensive voyages that typically are 10 nights or more in length, with some globe-circling trips as long as 180 days. Its seven ships feature a relaxed, country club-like ambience and inspired dining that appeal to a mostly older crowd.

Carnival Splendor

Use of kayaks, SUPs, and other water sports equipment is often complimentary. Luxury expedition cruises might even include submarines or helicopters. While Alaska offers many longer itineraries that deviate from the typical seven-day cruises that mainstream ships sail, Holland America’s smaller ships venture into lesser-known ports as well. Although Royal Caribbean boasts the largest cruise ship on the seas, it also has several smaller ships in its fleet. Although smaller ships have fewer or smaller public venues, finding a variety of entertainment options is still possible. There are also smaller cruise lines that cater to a more intimate feeling among their guests.

Food & Dining

The main region for cruising was North America (70% of cruises), where the Caribbean islands were the most popular destinations. A cruise is a holiday where you travel by, and stay on, a ship or boat – usually a ship. There are many different types of cruise, which you can read into below. Or if you want an in depth explanation on cruise take a look at my article about cruise tourism, covering the benefits and limitations of cruise and the top places for cruise tourism around the world.

As for small cruisers, the facilities onboard are limited and depends on the size of the vessel and operationality. We are often left in awe looking at the magnificent engineering marvels called the cruise ships. In conclusion, selecting the right cruise ship type is crucial for a successful cruise vacation.

When you’re ready to soak up the sun, find a lounge chair at the adults-only pool deck or splash down on one of the slides at WaterWorks. Head to the main theater for enchanting live performances and shows every night, enjoy tacos and burgers on the pool decks, or find a lounge chair around the pool and soak up the sun. Carnival Sunshine (formerly Carnival Destiny) is 10 years old and a fan favorite. The lower guest capacity, at just over 3,000 for double occupancy, means you won’t have to fight hoards of people to get to and from activities. Families who want even more cabin space should book one of the aft-view extended balcony rooms with great wake views and ample private outdoor space.

You just won't find several of the most over-the-top attractions, such as zip lines, that Icon Class and Oasis Class ships have. At 90,090 tons, the four vessels in the series are less than half the size of Royal Caribbean's massive Icon Class and Oasis Class ships, but still big enough that they have a lot to offer. The newest and largest ship in the series, Wonder of the Seas, has the most differences from the other Oasis Class vessels. At 236,857 tons, it's about 4% bigger than the next biggest ship in the series; the extra space is devoted to such additions as a dedicated suite area with a private lounge, a restaurant and a sun deck. The ships also have glass-enclosed capsules mounted on mechanical arms that will take you soaring into the sky for bird's-eye views.

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