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A great cruise ship specialty restaurant should feel like date night at an exciting venue – and that’s exactly what Norwegian Cruise Line delivers on its ships. Passengers are spoiled for choice, from upscale Italian in Onda by Scarpetta and delicious Teppanyaki and sushi, to fine French food or Mediterranean fare. The line also offers thoughtful dining packages to help make visiting these venues less restrictive and costs more manageable.
Best Small Cruise Ship: SeaDream II
Connecting staterooms and Family Suites make it easy to keep an eye on the kids while enjoying some privacy. In January, Ponant kicks off the first of 12 expeditions in partnership with the Explorers Club, the science-minded nonprofit. The series begins with a 30-day “half-circumnavigation” of Antarctica aboard the luxury icebreaker Le Commandant Charcot, starting in South America and wrapping in New Zealand. Both will tour the Mediterranean next summer, visiting in-demand ports in Greece, Italy, and Spain. We considered prices; the number of ships in each fleet; the flexibility to serve specific traveler types, such as families and singles; and the types of itineraries offered by each company. But the furry companion must perform specific tasks for its owner, such as guiding to assist in overcoming sight-impairment.
What cruise ports are on the east coast?
Bathrooms include glass-enclosed showers, anti-fog mirrors and heated floors. Accommodations are designed with families in mind by including privacy curtains, divided bathrooms and storage space in most staterooms. This may influence which products we review and write about (and where those products appear on the site), but it in no way affects our recommendations or advice, which are grounded in thousands of hours of research. Our partners cannot pay us to guarantee favorable reviews of their products or services. "The cruise itself was absolutely perfect. Nice weather, great excursions, beautiful scenery, nice ship and excellent staff." For the best in-suite views, book a room at the back of the ship, Kelly Cochrane, executive chef of Regent Seven Seas Cruises tells T+L.
Best cruise lines for couples: Viking Ocean Cruises
Finally, you'll find some round-trip San Francisco itineraries — usually 10 or 11 nights long — as well as longer sailings between San Francisco and Vancouver. There's "cruising" and there's "yachting" – small ships that dock in harbors and ports inaccessible to larger ships. SeaDream offers 7- to 15-day voyages with a maximum of 56 couples and a 95-person crew, so service and attention to detail are highlights.
Explore the Last Frontier by cruise ship, and you can travel to gold rush towns, glaciers, Alaska Native heritage sites and natural areas brimming with wildlife in comfort, even luxury. Included and specialty dining both shine, with plenty of options for everyone. Also included in every SeaDream experience is complimentary access to wave runners, Hobie cats, kayaks, snorkeling gear and other water sports equipment. These are some of the most popular itineraries because of their accessibility, affordability and wide variety of activities. The ships tend to be large – some can carry more than 6,000 passengers – and are packed with amenities. Extras like shore excursions and souvenirs can add up quickly, as can certain on-board activities.
One nice thing about the Inside Passage is how calm the water is because you're sailing between land masses. If you worry about seasickness, an Inside Passage trip is the best Alaska cruise itinerary versus a sailing where your ship transits rougher, open waters. Glacial ice carved this passageway long ago, and today, cruise ships and fishing vessels thread their way through the islets and channels to see some of the most spectacular natural sights in the world. Weeklong itineraries generally embark in either Seattle or Vancouver, British Columbia — though some itineraries originate in Juneau. A few lines, such as Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line and Cunard Line, offer 10-night Inside Passage cruises from Seattle or Vancouver. Most sail along the Inside Passage, a maritime route along the state's southern coast (and into British Columbia and Washington state) that weaves around the area's thousand islands.
Best Family Cruise: Regal Princess - Princess Cruises
Windstar Cruises' luxury small ships call on 150 ports throughout Europe, Central America, the Caribbean, and the South Pacific, and there's no way you'll go hungry on the journey. Exquisite onboard menus have been designed by acclaimed chefs from Michelin-starred restaurants. Alaska cruises offer a wide range of activities in port, with options for active travelers, wildlife lovers, history buffs and shoppers. Whether you're traveling with young kids or require more sedentary recreation, the Alaska cruise ports won't disappoint.
The Best Cruises in the World: 2023 Readers' Choice Awards - Condé Nast Traveler
The Best Cruises in the World: 2023 Readers' Choice Awards.
Posted: Tue, 03 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Gulf of Alaska sailings — especially those in late August and September — can encounter rough seas in the gulf portion of the voyage. Alaska cruise weather can be chilly (in the 40s to 50s) first thing in the morning and at night. However, if it's a sunny summer day, temperatures can shoot into the 70s and even low 80s. The new Regent Seven Seas Grandeur is headed for the Caribbean and then Europe, but will return to the U.S. in the fall for a series of scenic New England cruises that also hit New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Quebec.
Best Specialty Dining
It's known for great fishing (salmon, halibut and trout) and an eagle preserve — because eagles know where the best fish can be found. Hop a bus, kayak, boat or plane to look for bears, eagles, whales, sea otters and other wildlife. Note that moose don't regularly show up in the Inside Passage; you'll need to head farther north to find them. Look to UnCruise Adventures, Alaskan Dream Cruises, Hurtigruten and Lindblad Expeditions for the best adventure cruises. If you've got active teens who have an interest in nature and the environment, an expedition voyage could be exactly what will keep them engaged and off their devices. Many people trek to Alaska to commune with nature, but there's also history here that you shouldn't overlook.
If you’re looking for something a little more kitsch, these themed cruises will be right up your alley. A unique, fun and educational option for families with older kids who want to experience nature with a touch of Disney magic, these expedition cruises are the stuff of lifelong memories. Small, purpose-built ships are designed to access the remote landscapes of the Polar Regions and the Galápagos Islands—and to appeal to both kids and adults. Cruises are booming right now, buoyed partly by the popularity of domestic seacations that hauled in first-time sailors. So much so that Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ 34,000-mile world trip for 2024 sold out in just over two hours, while the adults-only Virgin Voyages, which aims to throw cruise stereotypes overboard, rose to first place in Large Ships.
Top scenic cruising destinations in Alaska include Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, Hubbard Glacier, Tracy Arm (Twin Sawyer Glaciers), Dawes Glacier at Endicott Arm and College Fjord. Onboard naturalists generally narrate what you're seeing, so head to the observation lounge (or tune to a broadcast on your in-room television) to learn about some of the top sights featured on scenic cruising days. Alaska's capital city is interesting because no road leads from here to the rest of the state. It's located at the base of Mount Juneau, and you can only get there via boat or small plane — even residents have to bring their cars to Juneau via ferry. Home to Mendenhall Glacier, this is a popular port for hikes by, kayak tours to and helicopter landings on the glacier. Ships in all price ranges sail a variety of itineraries, so don't let budget stop you from visiting.
Additionally, larger cabins and extra perks like early boarding usually come at a higher cost. Ships also have a living room where guests can gather to talk or relax while listening to classical music performed by resident musicians. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer) as we strive to provide site experiences for browsers that support new web standards and security practices.
Whether it's a river or an ocean you want to cruise, Scenic can take you there in style. On board, you'll find fine dining, expansive spas and fitness facilities, and butler service. If you've ever dreamed of having your own butler, Silversea is the luxury cruise line for you.
Luxury cruises tend to be smaller, with more staff per guest and more deluxe amenities. Among the amenities, passengers can enjoy upscale accommodations, spas and sauna facilities, water sports equipment and fine dining. It goes without saying that they are significantly more expensive than a mainstream cruise.
The ship's 2023 Eastern Mediterranean itineraries match its beachy vibe, and the detox-retox atmosphere carries over to ports like Santorini and Mykonos, thanks to exceptionally generous shore time. It should fit in well Down Under, where it just redeployed for its inaugural season there. Regent offers an all-suite fleet so travelers can enjoy spacious and luxurious accommodations. Each suite has a private balcony, a dedicated attendant, an in-suite minibar and a separate sitting area.
As for destinations, Virgin has itineraries along the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, the South Pacific and even a 14-day transatlantic journey from Barcelona to Miami. Single cruisers on Norwegian have access to a dedicated lounge and meetups where they can mingle with other travelers, too. That’s not to mention all the regular activities and excursions Norwegian offers, from rock climbing and bowling to spa treatments to boxing classes. These cabins are generally located in the interior of the ship, so be aware that they might not have windows or balconies.
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