CRUISE LINE GUIDE
This guide does not attempt to classify every cruise line in the world, but rather tries to create a simple survey suitable for visitors to our website.
The classification is based on our own cruising experience as well as that of clients and friends, who are experienced cruise passengers, as well as various other sources. Of primary interest was the level of cruise experience offered by each cruise line. Some may disagree with the classification since the level of service may also vary between ships of the same cruise line.
This Guide uses a "star" rating system to differentiate the categories. One star indicates a very basic product, three stars - the center of the market, and five stars indicates the most deluxe. A plus rating indicates that a cruise line is at the top of their particular category.
The industry standard gross registered tons (tons) to describe the size of passenger ships has been quoted to give an indication of relative size between ships. It is generally of no other significance
Below are the Star rating Summaries followed by capsule reports on each of the cruise lines in that category. Click on the appropriate heading.

Cruise Line Summaries:
The Five-Star Category
A five-star cruise is not for the traveler addicted to the activity level on 3 star ships.
The "five-star-plus" cruise lines represent the ultra-deluxe segment of the cruise business, and most are primarily small ship operators. They offer a noticeably more elevated level of service than the regular five- star cruises but also tend to be the most expensive cruises. They are definitely not mass market. Exceptional service, elegant and refined ambiance, extra attention to passenger comfort and satisfaction, larger food budgets, a very high level of ship's maintenance, and more inclusive pricing are some of the hallmarks of the five-star cruise lines. Some five-star lines have eliminated tipping, or have a "tipping not required" policy. Single seating dining and/or alternative onboard restaurants that are open throughout the evening (at no extra charge) are popular features of many five-star ships.
Passengers generally tend to be older (45 plus). They are more experienced travelers who desire a less structured environment, and are more interested in "life enrichment" than a high onboard activity level. The life enrichment experiences is also reflected in the type of shore excursion offered some of which may be included in the price. The very expensive small ships in this classification may offer almost no planned activities at all, while the larger five-star ships within this category do usually offer production shows, movies, live music, and other activities typical of similar size ships in other categories, but oriented toward a more sophisticated traveler.
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Five-star lines generally offer a greater diversity of itineraries, since many of their typical customers have already been to the mass-market destinations. They usually have a very high percentage of repeat passengers on board, and generally receive the highest marks in customer satisfaction. The majority of the ships that have been voted "Ship of the Year," an honor bestowed annually since 1982 to a single ship by the members of the World Ocean Cruise Liner Society, have been five-star ships.
On the negative side the enormous expansion of the cruise industry in recent years, and consequent low fares, has put pressure on all the major cruise operators to raise additional revenues. Most of the five-star cruise lines have been affected, and their passengers are no longer immune from commercialism at sea. Onboard "revenue generation" through "art auctions," "gold chain by the inch" sales, sales of specialty items and increased adult beverage prices has become a fact of life on most cruise lines. Sometimes a reduction in onboard services has been experienced.


The Ships of 5 star plus rating
Crystal Cruises -. Crystal Harmony voted "Ship of the Year" in 1997, and Crystal Symphony ship of the year in 2001by the WOCLS. Crystal Cruises is at present perhaps the most highly rated of all the "big ship" cruise lines. The line has a very high repeat passenger rate, and many cruises sell out early.
Crystal Harmony, Crystal Symphony These beautiful sister ships, the Harmony being the older, are 48,621 tons and carry 960 passengers. They are roomy, and the public areas are very tastefully decorated. All the features and amenities typical of cruise ships their size are available on these ships. Crystal has ordered a new 68,000 ton ship with a capacity of 1,080 passengers to enter service in 2003
Comfort is one of Crystal's biggest selling points. Many of the staterooms have outside balconies. Early and late sitting dining in the main dining room are necessary. Two alternative restaurants are offered at no charge although reservations are required. On selected evenings, dining is also offered on deck around the Trident Grill. Service everywhere is outstanding.


Radisson Seven Seas Cruises - Radisson Seven Seas Cruises has been rated Best Overall Value in the ultra-deluxe small ship class. The ships are known for their excellent and varied itineraries. A combination of competitive pricing and many amenities included at no extra charge, a complementary in stateroom bar set-up, no tipping, wines in the single sitting dining rooms, add up to value. Service is reported to be exacting and excellent. Luxury mated with a casual ambiance is the hallmark of the Radisson ships. They all offer extensive on-board lecture and enrichment programs.
The ms Paul Gauguin, Radisson Diamond, Seven Seas Navigator, Hanseatic, Seven Seas Mariner are medium size vessels, above 10000 tons, carrying from 320 to 700 passengers. On the other hand the Song of Flower, with an established reputation as an ultra-deluxe small ship, is a 8282 ton yacht-like vessel carrying 180 passengers. The most unusual ship is the Radisson Diamond. She is a 20,000 ton twin hull catamaran that carries 354 passengers. All staterooms are outside, and 70% have balconies. She is 423 feet long and, due to her twin hulls, 105 feet wide. She is capable of only 12.5 knots, but very stable.
The ms Mariner, new in 2001, is unusual. The largest ship of the fleet carries 700 passengers in an all-suite, all-balcony stateroom format. She features more space per passenger than any other ship in the world. She has four distinct dining rooms, all single sitting with no assigned tables.


Seabourn Cruise Line - Seabourn is the ultra-deluxe line of Carnival ‘s "World's Leading Cruise Lines" conglomerate. All ships feature single sitting dining, excellent food, and first class service, including 24-hour room service. No tipping is permitted on Seabourn ships. All five small Seabourn ships are typical of the small ship experience, and feature unusual all over the world itineraries. There is little in the way of organized activities but water-sports equipment is available onboard.
The Fleet
consists of the Seabourn Legend, Seabourn Pride, Seabourn Spirit, Seabourn Sun. (the latter will be transferred to Holland America for the 2002 season)..
The Legend, Pride, and Spirit, are also ships (approx 10000 tons) carrying 212 passengers. Their cabins are large and elegant, with plenty of storage space. In addition to the single sitting dining room, there is also an alternative Veranda Cafe, open for all meals.
The Seabourn Sun is a much larger ship of 37,845 tons, and carries 768 passengers. It offers amenities which include a movie theater, onboard entertainment, and so on. The cruise experience on the Sun is comparable to that of other large ultra-deluxe ships. She will be joining the Holland America Fleet in the coming season.


Silversea Cruises - is one of the most ultra-deluxe operations afloat aimed directly at the high end of the market. Silversea includes virtually everything in the price of the cruise, a policy that used to be common on ultra-deluxe ships, but has faded in recent years. Keep this in mind when comparing prices, which may appear high at first glance
The Fleet
Silver Cloud, Silver Wind, Silver Shadow, Silver Whisper. Are 16800 and 25000 ton ships.Passenger density is low, however, at 296 double occupancy for the first pair, and 388 for the second pair. All ships feature very roomy staterooms; most are suites, many with balconies. The public rooms are beautifully designed and decorated. There is a single, open, sitting for dinner, and the food is top-notch, as is the service. Dinner wines are complementary. The alternative Terrace Cafe offers a casual environment for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. 24-hour room service can provide anything available on board.


The Ships of 5 Star rating

Holland America Line - The oldest ship line in the world, and one of the best, Holland America is currently the leader in the five-star category. Holland America has probably received more awards and recognition than any other cruise line in recent years. HAL is rated as the Best Cruise Value among all cruise lines in all categories and individual HAL ships have been voted "Ship of the Year" six times by the members of the WOCLS. They are rated among the World's Best Cruise Lines by Conde' Nast Traveler magazine readers. They are regarded as having the Best Onboard Service by Onboard Services Magazine. HAL ships cruise around the world. Holland America Line was acquired by Carnival Corporation quite a few years ago, and is part of Carnival's "World's Leading Cruise Lines" empire. Carnival capital has permitted the expansion of Holland America to the point that today the HAL fleet is among the most modern in the world
The Fleet
ms Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Maasdam, Ryndam, Statendam, Veendam, Volendam, Zaandam, Noordam, Prinsendam.
All are large ships with modern amenities and tasteful European decor, accented by antiques and original fine art. HAL ships are very well organized, and their Lido buffet remains the best in the industry. Holland America invented the concept of serving casual meals on the Lido deck; virtually every other ship line has since copied the idea. On Holland America ships, the Lido buffet is open for dinner as well as breakfast and lunch. Two sittings in the main dining room remain standard on all ships. The HAL flagships Rotterdam and Amsterdam also offer an alternative Italian restaurant at no extra charge however reservations are required. Holland America ships have a "no tipping required" policy, a pleasant change from the 15% gratuity automatically added to your bill by many other ship lines. So if you choose to tip for exceptional service, it is truly appreciated.
HAL's Westerdam is to be transfered to Carnival Corporation's Costa Cruise Line Division. The Noordam is the oldest ship in the fleet

Celebrity Cruises - Royal Caribbean International owns Celebrity. As you would expect from an RCI subsidiary, the ships are very well run and beautifully maintained. Celebrity cruises are very competitively priced sometimes making it difficult to deliver a true five- star cruise experience. One result is the attempt at considerable onboard "revenue generation." Celebrity ships primarily cruise the mass-market areas, but can also be found in the Mediterranean and Baltic Seas. Passengers tend to be a more diverse age group than most five-star ship lines with many different nationalities.
The Fleet
ms Millennium, Infinity, Summit, Century, Galaxy, Horizon, Mercury, Zenith, Constellation.
All the ships are large, relatively new, and well appointed. Standard staterooms feature modern amenities and adequate storage space. The ships' spas are reported to be among the best afloat. The main dining room on all ships has two sittings. The food and general dining experience is very good. There is also an alternative bistro for dinner; reservations are normally required. The live entertainment is good.

Cunard Line - is owned by the Carnival group and therefor part of the "World's Leading Cruise Lines." It remains one of the most prestigious lines in the world. Cunard is the only ship line that still offers regularly scheduled transatlantic crossings (on QE 2). Queen Elizabeth 2, Caronia. The aging QE 2, completed in 1969, and Caronia, completed in 1973, are all that remain of the once extensive Cunard fleet. Carnival Corp. has contracted for a new mega-ship for Cunard, to be named Queen Mary 2. At approximately 150,000 tons, she will be the largest passenger ship ever built. She is scheduled to enter service in 2003.
The Fleet
The Caronia is a 24,116 gross ton ship that carries 690 passengers. She was recently refitted. She attracts sophisticated and knowledgeable passengers with very high standards from the UK, Germany, and North America (virtually all of whom speak English). There are a lot of formal evenings on Caronia, and formal dress is often in evidence even on informal evenings. The Garden Lounge Caronia with its panoramic forward view, is still the nicest lounge afloat. Caronia offers single sitting dining in her elegant main dining room, as well as a small, upscale, alternative restaurant (no extra charge, but reservations are required). Her itinerary is usually quite varied, and she is widely sold in Europe (particularly Germany and the UK) as well as North America, which makes for a stimulating passenger mix.
The 66,450 gross ton QE 2 is registered in Great Britain, and carries 1,877 passengers in 4 different classes, based on accommodation and restaurant grade. She is the only one in the industry that still carries on this old cruise ship class tradition in her dining rooms. She offers single seating dining in all but her least expensive Mauretania dining room. The ship's public rooms are open to all classes. She can cruise at 28.5 knots, and has a 32-knot top speed. This makes her the fastest passenger ship in the world.The Queen Mary II is now in the works.

Princess Cruises - Princess Cruises is the "Love Boat." P&O, the British ship line that owns Princess Cruises, is one of the oldest and most prestigious lines in the world. Princess ships cruise worldwide, with emphasis on Alaska, the Mexican Riviera, the Caribbean, Hawaii/South Pacific, Australia/New Zealand, Europe, and South America.
The Fleet
Grand Princess, Golden Princess, Star Princess, Sun Princess, Dawn Princess, Sea Princess, Ocean Princess, Crown Princess, Regal Princess, Royal Princess, Pacific Princess, Sky Princess, Coral Princess. Princess ships tend to be modern and large, yet carry fewer passengers than many other ships of their size; they never seem crowded. Inside, the ships' decor is contemporary, attractive, and restrained. Staterooms are large, with all the modern amenities expected by the experienced traveler. Princess has instituted what they call "Grand Class Cruising." Princess ships have an excellent alternative bistro restaurant that operates from 7:00 PM into the wee hours of the morning at no extra charge, and with no reservation required. This affords the passenger tremendous dining flexibility. You order from a menu, just as at any fine restaurant. The latest dining option to be instituted is called "Personal Choice" dining in the main dining room. It retains the traditional two dinner sittings (6:15 PM and 8:15 PM) for those that prefer them, but adds a new "no reservations" flexible seating option. The main dining room will be open from approximately 5:30 PM to midnight (presumably on a space available basis) for those who choose the new flexible seating option. Live entertainment, especially on the newest ships, is on of the highlights on Princess ships..

Windstar Cruises - Windstar cruises are in a group to themselves since they are small sailing vessels. These small ships offer the exclusivity of a small ship cruise with the informality of a sailing vessel. The onboard experience, as their advertising slogan says, is "180 degrees from ordinary. They are part of Carnival's "World's Leading Cruise Lines." previously owned by Holland America. The officers are European, and the hotel and service staff are Filipino and Indonesian. Windstar Cruises is rated as the Best Overall Value for small ships in its category by the WOCLS. They have a very high percentage of repeat passengers.
The Fleet
Wind Song, Wind Spirit, Wind Star, Wind Surf. Wind.... can usually be found cruising among the beautiful islands of the Pacific, Caribbean, and Mediterranean.
The Windstar ships are powered by automatic, computer controlled sails, as well as powerful diesel auxiliary motors. They look like small cruise ships with masts and modern jib-headed sails, not traditional square-rigged "clipper" ships. There is a complete array of watersports gear on board, but few planned activities. All cabins (except one) are identical, small but luxurious, equipped with a TV, VCR, and CD player for entertainment. Public rooms include a lounge, piano bar, library, gym, dining room, and a small casino; all are compact, as you might imagine for ships that only carry about 150 passengers. There is a small pool and a hot tub on deck. Dining is single sitting, and there are no assigned tables. There is also the Veranda cafe for casual meals during the day. Room service will see to your nourishment needs in your cabin should you prefer. There are no formal nights. The food is excellent and the service onboard is outstanding. The bridge is usually open to passengers.

The Ships of 4 Star Rating

From physical point of view the four-star cruise lines offer most of the amenities of the five-star lines but at somewhat less cost. This is particularly true on the four-star-plus ships. However smaller staterooms, more passengers, lower space and passenger to crew ratios, a slight reduction in amenities, and perhaps a little less personalized service are evident. This may however be compensated for by an increase in things such as shipboard activities, theme cruises, more contemporary stage shows, and increased nightlife. Onboard "revenue generation" has hit most of the four-star lines hard, even worse than the five-star lines, and it has usually been accompanied by some reduction in services.
The four-star ship lines often attract a more diverse and somewhat younger clientele than the five-star ship lines, but this also depends on the itinerary (mass market destinations tend to attract younger passengers). They are a step above the 3 star cruise lines with many of the ships having been voted "ship of the Year" in the past. They tend to place more emphasis on service and the overall quality of the cruise than the three-star ship lines. Four-star ships also have larger food budgets, and higher quality and more diverse food offerings, than three-star ships.
The cruise lines in this category have a large number of repeat passengers, and a high degree of customer satisfaction. People who choose a four-star cruise wisely are unlikely to be disappointed.


The 4 star plus cruise lines
Disney Cruise Line - Disney Cruise Line offers both short and standard 7 day cruises. The Wonder generally handles the short cruises, and Magic the 7 day cruises. Disney's popular cruise/tour packages include a visit to Disney World in Florida. Special theme cruises are offered during the year. Naturally, there are extensive children's' programs on board, reportedly superior to all others, and the ships are very family friendly.
The Fleet
Disney Magic, Disney Wonder.
These two sister ships are large, modern, and have twin funnels. They are styled to vaguely resemble classic ocean liners. The staterooms are large and they are equipped with all the usual modern amenities. There are many public rooms of various sorts, offering a wide range of facilities. Activities for all ages offer passengers the opportunity to be as busy as they want to be while onboard. Dining on the Disney ships is unusual. There are three main dining rooms, each with their own galley and decor, and each serving a different cuisine. There is also a smaller, more intimate, adult only Italian restaurant by reservation only. And there is a buffet, pizzeria, hot dog stand, and ice cream shop. Shipboard entertainment is good, and varied; there is something to appeal to everyone. The main show lounge is huge, and specializes in Broadway style productions. The movie theater seats 270, and shows new Disney Studio releases as well as the usual variety of movies.


Orient Line -Orient Line cruises are strongly destination oriented. All cruises include pre- and-post-cruise hotel stays in major cities around the world. The Orient Line ships cruise to Northern Europe, Southern Europe (the Med.), Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand, South America, Africa, India, and the Antarctic. Orient Line specializes in cruise-tours, and they offer some of the most interesting itineraries available. Orient Line's prices are quite reasonable. They tend to attract older and more experienced passengers who are more interested in the destination than the onboard experience. They won the WOCLS "Best Overall Value" award in their category.
The Fleet
Crown Odyssey, Marco Polo..
The 32,242 ton, 1000 passenger, Crown Odyssey entered service in 1988. She was the first of a new style of cruise ship and one of the favorites of several groups we organized on her. Her interior decor makes extensive use of glass and reflective surfaces in a very classy manner. She is a beautiful ship, with spacious staterooms and a wide variety of public rooms. The food, the service, and the entire experience onboard the Crown Odyssey is highly recommended.
The older Marco Polo is 19,860-ton ship carrying 800 passengers. She was completed in 1965 but completely refitted in 1993. Both ships have two sittings in their main dining rooms.

Royal Caribbean International - This Norwegian ship-line is one of the "big three" cruise lines (along with Princess and Carnival), and the biggest player in the four-star category. Royal Caribbean International also owns Celebrity Cruises. Royal Caribbean is known for impeccably maintained ships and a very consistent product, which receives high customer satisfaction ratings. Although Royal Caribbean ships now cruise in other parts of the world, including Europe and Alaska, RCI remains a leader in Caribbean cruises.
The Fleet
Explorer Of The Seas, Voyager Of The Seas, Adventure Of The Seas, Radiance Of The Seas, Enchantment Of The Seas, Grandeur Of The Seas, Legend of the Seas, Majesty Of The Seas, Monarch Of The Seas, Rhapsody Of The Seas, Sovereign Of The Seas, Vision of the Seas, Nordic Empress, Viking Serenade , Splendour of the Seas are all newer very large ships. They are designed to bring a "resort experience" to sea. At present Voyager and Explorer are the largest passenger ships in service. They are registered at 142,000 gross tons, and they carry 3,114 passengers in double occupancy.
Staterooms on all Royal Caribbean ships tend to be very nice, but smaller than on many of their competitors' ships. The trademark "Viking Crown Lounge," right aft and the highest passenger area on all ships, is a great observation lounge for cocktails. The main dining room serves two sittings. There is an alternative cafe or restaurant, and many shipboard activities, at no charge. The food is reportedly is still better than average. The Las Vegas style shipboard entertainment is usually excellent. Passenger ages and experience are apt to vary widely, as Royal Caribbean manages to appeal to a lot of people, but everything seems to work smoothly. Service is very good, and considerable effort is made to accommodate individual passenger requests.


Royal Olympic Cruises - Royal Olympic is a Greek ship line, with Greek officers and crew. Excellent itineraries and a laid-back atmosphere are the main focus of standard length Royal Olympic Cruises. They attract passengers who are primarily concerned with the itinerary, and who appreciate a traditional style of cruise. Royal Olympic is one of the leaders in Mediterranean cruising. One of the features of Royal Olympic Cruises is the on-board lecturer series which touches on a wide range of subjects and expertise. The two new ships, Olympic Explorer and Olympic Voyager should be rated into a higher class.
The Fleet
Olympic Voyager, Olympic Explorer, Stella Solaris, Stella Oceanis, Olympic Countess, Triton, World Renaissance. Most of the ships are older and have had several owners over there lifetime. The Olympic Voyager and Olympic Explorer on the other hand are new, high-speed ships. They measure 24,500 Gross Tons, carry 800 passengers in 400 staterooms, have 16 public rooms, and are designed to cruise at 27 knots. The intent is to allow them to reach more distant ports within the time frame of the typical cruise. Naturally, they have modern amenities. Triton, World Renaissance, Stella Oceanis and Olympic Countess operate short cruises in the Mediterranean during the summer season. All ships have two sittings in their main dining rooms.

Costa Cruise Line - Costa Cruise Line is one of the Carnival Corporation's "World's Leading Cruise Lines" group. Costa is Europe's #1 cruise line, and "Cruising Italian Style" is the motto of the line. Their Italian origin is the focus of the style and ambiance of the ships, and of the food served in the two sitting main dining rooms. Not all Costa ships are actively sold in the North American market, although this may change as the line grows. Most Costa ships are sold primarily in the European market. Their trade mark is the toga party on board
The Fleet
Costa Atlantica, Costa Victoria, Costa Allegra, Costa Azzurra, Costa Classica, Costa Marina, Costa Riviera, Costa Tropicale (formerly Carnival).
The Atlantica and Victoria are modern, comfortable ships often sold in North America. These very large ships cruise in the Caribbean and in Europe, depending on the season. The public rooms can be both charming and spectacular, and there is something for everyone. The ships offer all the usual shipboard entertainment, from major production shows to movies, to intimate club acts. Standard staterooms are on the small side, but very well designed and appointed. There are two main dining rooms, which serve two dinner sittings. For casual meals, there are buffet areas, a pizzeria, and an ice cream bar. There are plenty of "Italian style" activities on board, and the overall focus is on an enjoyable cruise.
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Renaissance Cruises - ceased operation in 2001.

The 3 Star Cruise Lines
The standard three-star ship lines are the norm of the cruise industry. Most lines in this category provide a good product and a good value. The cost of a three-star cruise is generally less than that of a four-star cruise. The general emphasis is on delivering a good cruise rather than absolute perfection afloat. Three-star ships are generally more crowded, and offer fewer frills, than four-star ships. The pace of the cruise is generally faster, particularly on cruises of less than 7 days. Food budgets are typically lower than on four-star ships, and there may be less variety, but the food is good. Dining in alternative restaurants, when available, is usually not included in the price of the cruise ticket. Extra charges are often levied for services that are complimentary on four and five-star cruises. There is often a lot of extra "revenue generation." The environment is more structured, and there is less personalized service. This does not mean that the crews do not try hard to do everything within their means to satisfy their passengers-- they do.
These ship lines are for most people, but not for everyone. If you expect a lot of personal service, or have become accustomed to being pampered on five-star ships, a three-star cruise may not fulfill all your expectations. Three-star cruises are popular with young families and younger people in general. The average passenger age is usually somewhere in the 30's or 40's, but all ages will be found onboard.
Most itineraries will be in the high volume areas, particularly the Caribbean. The outstanding success in the category, Carnival Cruise Line, carries more passengers per year than any other ship line. They also have the most modern fleet, and their ships have a consistent style. Norwegian Cruise Line, Carnival's biggest 3-star rival, has also been modernizing their fleet in recent years, and is continuously upgrading their operation. Some of the other lines in the three-star category operate a mix of old and new ships. In fact, the age, size, and style of the ships in the three-star category vary widely between lines, as well as within some of the lines. The three-star cruise lines, in general, receive favorable comments from their passengers.


Carnival Cruise Line - Carnival is the leader in the three-star category with the largest fleet in the industry.They unashamedly cater to the mass market and are the most popular cruise line in the world. Carnival Cruise Line is rated the Best Overall Value in their category by the WOCLS. Carnival Corp. also owns several other ship lines, including Holland America, Windstar, Seabourn, Costa, and Cunard. Together with Carnival Cruise, these constitute the "World's Leading Cruise Lines," sharing repeater's privileges and benefits.with Carnival Cruise.
The Fleet
Carnival Pride, Carnival Spirit, Carnival Destiny, Carnival Triumph, Carnival Victory, Fascination, Imagination, Inspiration, Paradise, Sensation, Ecstasy, Fantasy, Holiday ,Tropicale, Celebration, Elation, Jubilee.
All of the Carnival ships are relatively new and have a glitzy Las Vegas style decor, much favored by their predominately young clientele, but all are individually different. The list of services and facilities on these ships is far too long so let's just say that if it is offered at sea, Carnival ships probably offer it. These large ships carry a lot of passengers. Public spaces vary in size, decor, and intimacy, so there is something for almost everyone.
The food served onboard gets positive comments from passengers; it is not especially fancy, but it is good. As a response to Norwegian Cruise Line's "Freestyle Cruising" concept, Carnival has introduced "Total Choice Dining" on all of their ships. This somewhat complicated scheme allows passengers to opt for either the main dining rooms or the alternative, casual, Seaview Bistro each evening. No reservations are required for the latter. In the main dining rooms, passengers are assigned to one of four seating times (6:00 PM, 6:45 PM, 8:00 PM, and 8:45 PM). Gratuities in all dining areas are automatically added to guests' shipboard accounts.
The entertainment on Carnival ships is usually quite good, the lighting and sound spectacular. Standard staterooms are average in size, but rather sparsely furnished, and finished with easily cleaned surfaces . Carnival ships offer cruises as short as 2 days, and the longest is 8 days. Needless to say, the pace on short 2, 3, and 4 day cruises is frantic. There simply is not enough time to enjoy the ship on such a short cruise. Carnival ships operate in the mass-market areas, principally the Caribbean, and Alaska, but also on the Atlantic seaboard, the West Coast, and Hawaii. Prices are low, value is high, and the activity is non-stop.


Norwegian Cruise Line - Norwegian Cruise Line is the world's fourth largest cruise line, and is owned by Star Cruise Line, an Asian company.
The Fleet
Norway, Norwegian Dream, Norwegian Majesty, Norwegian Sea, Norwegian Sky, Norwegian Sun, Norwegian Wind, Norwegian Star, Norwegian Dawn.
The flagship of the fleet is the elegant 76,049-ton, 2,565 passenger, Norway. She is by far the oldest of the NCL ships and is due to be transferred to Star Cruises late in 2001, and replaced by Norwegian Leo.
Staterooms on most NCL ships tend to be rather small, but the ships offer all the usual services and a plethora of public rooms. "Freestyle Cruising" is NCL's most important innovation. The main dining rooms on NCL ships no longer serve two sittings at assigned tables. Instead, the dining rooms are open for most of the evening, and passengers are allowed to dine at any time during those hours, just like at an ordinary restaurant. Passengers can thus participate in whatever onboard activities they wish, and schedule meals as they wish. This is a fine idea, which is already beginning to catch on at other cruise lines. NCL has a recent agreement with Mandara Spa to upgrade and operate all ship's spas in the relaxed style of the best resort spas (NCLhas always emphasized sports on their ships). Another good feature of NCL is that they minimize onboard "revenue generation," a pleasant change from other mass-market operations. You won't be continuously badgered to spend money, as happens on far too many ships today. NCL has a good reputation for excellent entertainment and diverse onboard activities. The staff is friendly and tries hard to please.
NCL also has a good reputation for shoreside operations, which include embarkation and disembarkation, an often overlooked area. The clientele tends toward the young and active. NCL is the main competition for Carnival in this category, and they continue to improve under new management.


United States Lines - ceased operation in 2001.

The 2 Star Cruise Line
The economy two-star cruise lines operate elderly ships, usually recycled from one of the other cruise lines and therefore are without the modern features of the newer three-star ships. The staterooms can be very small, with minimum storage space. They are generally more crowded and unable to offer a high degree of personalized service. The food tends to be relatively plain and have less variety than on three-star ships, and the service may be willing but less than perfect. There are often a great variety of passenger ages and backgrounds. Considering the prices offered by some of the other cruise lines we generally do not find them a satifactory product.


Specialty Cruise Lines
These cruise lines offer a product that does not fit into the above classification system due their special nature.These ships offer unique features that traditional cruise ships do not. The passenger mix tends toward the elderly and the adventurous, people who are seeking something different from the typical cruise.
Cruise West - An American owned, American flag, cruise line. Operates diverse types of ships, primarily in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest, but also to the California wine country, the Sea of Cortez, the South Pacific, Asia, and the Russian Far East. Most are fairly typical small coastal vessels of the modern "adventure" type that are reportedly rather Spartan, the emphasis being on the itinerary, but the food and service are good. Cruise West is rated Best Overall Value in the specialty cruises category by the WOCLS.
The Fleet
Spirit of Oceanus, Spirit of 98, Spirit of Endeavor, Spirit of Glacier Bay, Spirit of Columbia, Spirit of Alaska, Spirit of Discovery, Sheltered Seas.
Their newly acquired blue water flagship, Spirit of Oceanus, allows Cruise West operations to the Far East. She has 57 staterooms, all outside suites ranging from 215 square feet to 353 square feet, and carries 114 passengers.
The Sheltered Seas is an excursion boat that operates in Alaska, with no staterooms at all. She is 90 feet long and carries 70 passengers, who spend their nights ashore in hotels.
The Spirit of 98 looks like a turn of the century coastal steamer. She is 192 feet in length and carries 96 passengers.


Peter Deilmann Cruises - well known for its European River Ships operates two deep sea vessels.
A"clipper" type sailing ship, the barquentine Lile Marleen, which carries 50 passengers in 25 outside staterooms. She is 249 feet long, and carries 13,000 square feet of sails.
The Deutschland - a new, 5 star-plus, ocean going cruise ship, which entered service in 1998.. This German owned and operated ship is primarily marketed in Northern Europe where she is known as one of the world's finest ships, but the entire crew also speaks fluent English. She is registered at 22,400 tons and carries 513 passengers. Her ambiance is "grand hotel". Everywhere the decor is beautiful. All public rooms are elegantly furnished. The main evening entertainment takes place in the Emperor's Theater. Other particularly noteworthy public areas are the Lili Marleen bar and lounge, and the Lido Terrace observation lounge and library. There is no ship's casino. The main dining room has two sittings, with assigned seating. An alternative, by reservation only and very upscale, Four Seasons restaurant, and the more casual Lido Gourmet and Grill, are also offered at no extra charge. The food is top notch, and the service is outstanding. Her staterooms are average in size, but very luxurious and perfect in every detail. A TV, radio, telephone, mini-bar, refrigerator, and safe are provided in every stateroom. The passengers on the Deutschland tend to be wealthy and well bred and you will get good use out of your formal wear. The cruises are not very structured; you are expected to know how to enjoy yourself without a lot of direction. Deutschland competes in the European cruise market and the company would like to attract more North American customers. Her cruise fares are not cheap, but they are commensurate with the value received. She favors Europe, but cruises worldwide.


Star Clipper Cruises - Operates the modern "clipper" type sailing ships Royal Clipper, Star Flyer, and Star Clipper for a true sailing cruise experience. All three ships offer a variety of water-sports equipment. Staterooms are small but comfortable. They have an "open door" policy, allowing passengers on the bridge. They also offer classes in sail handling. Passenger ages vary, but most are already sailors..
The Royal Clipper is the latest ship to join the fleet, and is the largest square-rigged sailing ship in the world. She is registered at 5,000 tons, and carries 54,000 square feet of sails on five masts. Features include three swimming pools, a water sports platform, a three-deck atrium, and 21,000 square feet of deck space.


IATA - CLIA - ACTA - GIANTS
BC GOV'T REG #2685-4
BC Ministry of Finance & Corp Relations Certificate X0230071AT
City Vancouver Business Liscence 01-107274