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Cunard has been sailing for more than 180 years, and you could say they’ve perfected it. The line features three magnificent ships (a fourth is on the way), and while the Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria are certainly fit for royalty, Cunard’s centerpiece—the historic Queen Mary 2—is resplendent in both its decor and history. As the most discerning, up-to-the-minute voice in all things travel, Condé Nast Traveler is the global citizen’s bible and muse, offering both inspiration and vital intel. We understand that time is the greatest luxury, which is why Condé Nast Traveler mines its network of experts and influencers so that you never waste a meal, a drink, or a hotel stay wherever you are in the world. These are the best cruise lines in the world, according to the 2023 Readers' Choice Awards. “And if someone has cruised before–or considers themselves an avid cruiser–we hope this list helps introduce them to new options, whether an entirely new line or new possibilities offered by some of their favorites.
The 11 Best Luxury Cruise Lines, According to T+L's Experts
One such trip is this 12-night itinerary from Celebrity Cruises, which includes a visit to both Visby and Tallinn. Other highlights include a visit to Stockholm and Copenhagen, including an overnight stop in the latter. Mediterranean cruises can last anywhere from seven days to two weeks, depending on the company and itinerary. Booking every excursion through the cruise line can add up, but luckily, there are typically more affordable options through third-party companies.
GREAT CRUISES NEAR ME
Those two stops combined give cruisers the opportunity to enjoy water sports, spend some time at the beach and experience a bit of Bahamian culture. As an avid cruiser who’s been everywhere from Alaska and Iceland to Russia and the United Arab Emirates aboard cruise ships, I’m recommending these specific cruise lines based on my own experiences and those of my friends and colleagues. My husband and I scouted out the best cruises for kids when our own children were young, and since becoming empty nesters, we’ve found the best adults-only cruises and couples cruises. Paul Gauguin Cruises operates just one ship, but it is exquisite, hosting 330 guests and sailing only in the South Pacific to destinations like Tahiti, Fiji, Tonga, and the Cook Islands. The ship is small enough to access private ports at remote beaches and take travelers well off the beaten path.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ Seven Seas Grandeur
While each luxurious suite features ocean views, nothing beats the view from the epic 4,000-square-foot, two-bedroom Regent Suite, which has two wraparound balconies, three walk-in closets, two Picasso lithographs, and a grand piano. American Queen Voyages will offer the longest trips in the line’s history in 2023, with two 23-day river itineraries on the Mississippi and Ohio aboard the 123-stateroom American Countess. “The ship will sail more than 1,700 miles from Minnesota down the Ohio River and Upper Mississippi River, calling on more ports and offering more guided tours than ever before,” as T+L reported in August.
How can I maximize the value of my cruise vacation?
Historically, new ships are reserved for longer itineraries, so this is a fantastic opportunity to enjoy a snack-size sampling of a brand-new ship without spending the money on a longer sailing. The world’s largest cruise line, Carnival boasts 23 ships that are favorites among those looking for less expensive fun on the sea. Although they’re known best for their Caribbean itineraries—good for a quick weekend getaway—Carnival also sails to many other destinations, including Europe, Mexico and Hawaii. You’ll travel aboard the National Geographic–Lindblad fleet—expedition ships that can navigate narrow waterways and small harbors that aren’t accessible on larger vessels, so you can get as close as possible to amazing sights. The ships are even equipped with kayaks or paddleboards, snorkeling gear and Zodiacs, and hydrophones and underwater cameras for further exploration. If you’re looking for something a little more kitsch, these themed cruises will be right up your alley.
The Best New Cruise Ships of 2023
Ponant's luxurious small ships sail to remote destinations like Antarctica, incorporating once-in-a-lifetime experiences such as eclipse spotting from the edge of the earth. The company also partners with Smithsonian and Disney on certain sailings. Choose from itineraries that take you to top-rated vacation destinations, from sun-soaked Caribbean isles to ancient temples in Asia and everywhere in between. No matter which ship you choose to sail on, this is a fleet filled with incredible feats. Despite a rocky couple of years due to the pandemic, cruising is back, and it’s stronger than ever.
Meet the world's biggest, boldest ships
If you want to make your experience even more all-inclusive, you can opt for beverage and specialty dining packages that cover drinks and dinner at some of the most exclusive restaurants in the fleet. On top of all that, the cruise line presents frequent limited-time offers and seasonal sales, making it easy to score big savings when booking your vacation. Whether you’re looking to book a short getaway or a longer adventure to far-flung destinations, Royal Caribbean makes it easy to save big on everything from your cruise fare to special experiences onboard and onshore.
Best cruise line for kids
Your Personal Suite Steward will take care of everything from laundry to snacks to little surprises you hadn’t even considered. While there are a few things you can no longer do on cruises, this cruise line will make you forget all about them. This line hosts LGBTQ+ welcome parties, social hours and other events on almost every cruise, from the Bahamas to the Mediterranean to Australia. You’ll want to book now for the fifth annual Pride Party at Sea, which will held next June. Each ship in the fleet will participate in this vibrant celebration of the LGBTQ+ community—and that, in itself, is worth celebrating. And they’ve won numerous awards for not just being LGBTQ-friendly but for being totally inclusive and wholeheartedly embracing and encouraging diversity.
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The second sailing will be a three-night cruise to the Bahamas that departs on July 26, 2024. Earn your wilderness badge as you cruise between the Alaska glaciers, pan for gold in prospecting towns, and trek across the rugged tundra on an Alaska vacation. And savor a burst of flavors throughout culture-rich ports in the Mediterranean, the British Isles, Scandinavia and beyond on an unforgettable cruise through Europe. No matter where in the world you choose to wander, cruises can take you deep into top-rated cruise ports and off-the-beaten-path gems, so you can experience each one like a local.
You can even browse sailings and deals by homeport, destination and season, so you can rest assured you’re getting the best possible deal no matter when or where in the world you choose to set sai. The two-night cruise itinerary includes one day in Freeport, where you can shop, hit the casino, enjoy water sports or chill on the beach. Margaritaville at Sea also offers cruise-and-stay itineraries of either four or six nights (including the two nights onboard the ship).
If you've ever dreamed of having your own butler, Silversea is the luxury cruise line for you. In fact, Silversea's butlers take white-glove service to a whole new level — they'll handle your laundry with more care than you do, scour port towns to find your favorite tastes of home, and even help you pack and unpack your suitcase. Further, Silversea's new culinary program, nicknamed S.A.L.T. (for Sea and Land Taste), brings the taste of destinations on board through cooking classes.
For instance, the day my family and I explored Rome, the ship docked in Civitavecchia, Italy, and we had to take a two-hour bus ride into the city. My biggest tip for any cruise — but especially for Americans traveling to Europe for a Mediterranean cruise — is to arrive at your embarkation city at least a day before your sailing starts. The latest Silversea ship, Silver Nova, will spend the summer cruising the Inside Passage between Vancouver and Seward, Alaska. In the fall it heads to Asia for trips that include a 16-day Tokyo-to-Singapore swing. Virgin Voyages aimed to be a disrupter in the cruise market from the beginning — creating a product designed to please even those who claim they would never set foot on a cruise ship.
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. 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. Meena Thiruvengadam is a lifelong traveler and veteran journalist who has visited more than 50 countries across six continents. Her writing has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Departures, TripSavvy, and other publications. Cruise Critic is an online cruise community with more than 650,000 ship reviews of 700 ships from experts and cruise aficionados.
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