How to Chose the cruise for You

With so many cruise ships to choose from, the selection process can be time consuming. With so many great cruise bargains available, do not be tempted to book the one with the best price. There are many things to consider when choosing a cruise besides the price. Make your choice based on your interests and lifestyle, then followed by price. There are 3 categories of cruise lines to choose from: Luxury Cruise Lines, Premium Cruise Lines & Mainstream Cruise Lines. All of which have offer different types of ships to consider. Within the 3 categories of cruise lines are the following types of cruise ships: mega cruise ships, large cruise ships, small cruise ships , sailing ships, adventure cruise ships, river cruise boats and yachts.

Luxury Cruise Lines:

Luxury cruises aboard deluxe cruise lines such as Crystal Cruises, Radisson Seven Seas Cruises, Seabourn Cruise Line, SeaDream Yacht Club, Silverseas Cruises and Windstar Cruises offer guests the ultimate 5 star plus experience. These luxury lines offer itineraries in a variety of lengths an destinations. Many of these destinations are un-traveled by Premium or Mainstream cruise lines. These are high quality products at a high quality price. The majority of these cruise ships carry less than 500 passengers.

Premium Cruise Lines: These cruise lines offer a high quality product at a more affordable price. The quality of food and service varies between the ships so prepare yourself with plenty of cruies reviews before selecting a ship or itinerary. The majority of these cruise ships carry less than 2000 passengers. Premium cruise lines includes such favorites as Celebrity Cruises Cunard Line Hapag-Lloyd Cruise Lines Holland America Line Oceania Cruises & Peter Deilmann Cruises.

Mainstream Cruise Lines:

These cruise lines provide a good product at a good price. Cruise lines in this classification have something for everyone. They also carry the highest number of passengers per available space. Mainstream Cruise Lines include, Carnival Cruise Line, Costa Cruises, Delta Queen Steamboat Company, Disney Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, P&O Cruise Lines, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Royal Olympic Cruises & Star Cruises. The majority of these cruise ships can carry more than 3000 passengers.

TYPES OF CRUISES

A Luxury Cruise is perfect for those looking for:

• Formal yet refined atmosphere, epicurean dining and personalized service all with a touch of grand elegance.
• Deluxe and spacious accomodations.
• A limited number of fellow passengers with one-on-one attention from the crew.
• An average of 2 weeks or longer away.
• Onboard scholars and lecturers providing in-depth information on certain topics.
• These cruises attract business-oriented professionals whom are well traveled and average 55+ years of age.

A Premium Cruise is perfect for those looking for:

• Semi-formal yet relaxed atmosphere, great cuisine and personalized service.
• Above standard and spacious accomodations.
• An average cruise of 7 days or longer in length.
• An active lifestyle.
• These cruises attract business-oriented professionals, whom travel often and average 45+ years of age.

A Mainstream Cruise is perfect for those looking for:

• Casual and active atmosphere with good food, good service and a good price.
• Fast-paced entertainment and activities.
• Standard accomodations.
• An average cruise from 3-7 days in length.
• These cruises attract those looking for a good product at a good price.
• These cruises attract many families as well as passengers of any age.
  

CRUISE LINES

• Adventure Canada
  Specialists in Arctic and Antarctic voyages, wildlife viewing, and First Nations culture trips throughout Canada.
• American Cruise Lines, Inc.
  Specializes in trips throughout the New England Islands, Chesapeake Bay, Hudson River, and the inland waterways from Maine to Florida.
  
• American Canadian Caribbean Line, Inc.
  Small ships cruise line bringing you unique itineraries and destinations in North and South America.
  
• African Safari Club
  Offers cruise and African safari travel packages.
• Carnival Cruise Lines  (NYSE:CUK)
  Cruise vacations that appeal to a wide range of lifestyles and budgets from Carnival Cruise Lines. Site provides details for   destinations, onboard experiences, and shore excursions.
  
• Costa Cruise
  Offers cruises to and from the Mediterranean including the Caribbean, South America, the Baltic Sea, and the Atlantic Ocean. Packages for corporations and travel agencies available.
  
• Coral Princess Cruises
  Discover Australia's Great Barrier Reef on board fully appointed 50 berth cruise ships departing from Cairns and Townsvile.
  
•  Cruise Havana
  Offers voyages to Cuba and the Caribbean aboard the ship Valtur Prima.
  
• Captain Cook Cruises
  Reef escapes in Fiji and Australia.
• Celebrity Cruises
  Information about cruise destinations, on board amenities, shore excursions, activities, AquaSpa, and more.
  
• Clipper Cruise Line
  Offers small-ship adventures in the U.S. and internationally. Conde Nast top-ten cruise line.
  www.clippercruise.com
• Costa Cruise Lines
  Offering sailings in Europe, the Caribbean and Panama Canal.
  
• Cunard Line
  Features special offers, information, and itineraries.
•  Cruise West
  Specializes in small-ship cruising with destinations including Alaska, Canada's Inside Passage, California's Wine Country, and Columbia/Snake River.
  
• Crystal Cruises
  Information about cruises, destinations, onboard living, food and wine options, and ships from Crystal Cruises. Also details the Crystal Society membership program.
• Custom Alaska Cruises
  Luxury, small ship charter cruises in Southeast Alaska and the Prince William Sound.
• Disney Cruise Line
  Land and sea vacations in the Caribbean. Disney Cruise Line offers fun-filled activities and experiences for cruisers of all ages, favorite Disney characters in Broadway-style shows, family-size staterooms, and a private island paradise.
• EasyCruise.com
  Cruise lines from U.K. ports for vacations on the French and Italian Rivieras, and the Caribbean.
  
• Galapagos Cruises, Inc.
  Offering 3, 4, and 7 night cruises by first class and luxury ships and yachts. Diving and yacht charters available.
•  Holland America Line
  Information on cruises to Alaska, the Caribbean, Canada and New England, the Panama Canal, Europe, the Orient and the South Pacific.
• Hebridean Island Cruises
  Small ship cruise line offering luxury cruises around Scotland and other destinations worldwide.
  www.hebridean.co.uk
  
• DFDS Seaways & SeaEurope Holidays
  Offering Northern European group and do-it-yourself tours.
  www.seaeurope.com
  
• Kastaway Island
  Ship embarking on a 10-year cruise around the world and offering both timeshare packages and weekly charters.
• Louis Cruise Lines
  Operating East Mediterranean mini cruises from Cyprus for two and three days to Egypt, the Holy Land, Beirut, Greece, and the Greek Islands.
• Lindblad Expeditions
  Offering worldwide adventure cruises to such destinations as the Galapagos, the Sea of Cortez, and Antarctica.
  
• Massachusetts Bay Lines
  Providing public and private cruises around Boston Harbor.
  
• Norwegian Coastal Voyages / Bergen Line Services
  
• Norwegian Cruise Line
  Itineraries to destinations throughout the world from Norwegian Cruise Line. Site features cruise specials along with fleet, destination, and shore excursion information.
  
• Orient Lines, Inc.
  Specialists offering cruise vacations to the Mediterranean, Greek Isles, Antarctica and the South Pacific.
  
• Odyssey Cruises
  Offers cruises for brunch, lunch, dinner, and moonlight sightseeing tours in Boston at Rowes Wharf, Chicago at Navy Pier, and Washington, DC at Gangplank Marina.
  
• Oceania Cruises - Regatta, Insignia and Nautica ply the waters of Europe (Eastern and Western Mediterranean, Western Europe and the British Isles, and Northern Europe's Baltic and Norwegian Fjords) during warm weather months.
• Princess Cruises
  Destination and fleet information and a travel planner from Princess Cruises. Site features Bridge Cams that provide live images via satellite of cruise ships at sea.
• Phillip's Cruises and Tours
  Offers the 26 Glacier Cruise, a day cruise opportunity from Anchorage and Whittier, Alaska.
  www.26glaciers.com
  
• Paradise Cruises (Cruises between Cyprus, Egypt and Israel)
  P&O Cruises(Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company)
  P&O Cruises Australia
• Pearl Seas Cruises (An offshore affiliate of American Cruise Lines, Inc.)
  Peregrine Adventures (Expedition cruises, Melbourne. First Choice Holidays group)
  Peter Deilmann Cruises (River cruises as well)
  Peter Deilmann Cruises UK (River cruises as well)
• Quark Expeditions
  Operator of expedition cruises, specializing in Arctic and Antarctic on polar icebreakers.
  
•  Regent Seven Seas Cruises
  Luxury cruise line offering itineraries worldwide
• Regent Seven Seas Cruises
  Luxury cruise line offering itineraries worldwide.
  
• ResidenSea
  Residential ocean-going resort. With private apartments and guest suites making a community at sea sailing continuously around the world.
  
• Royal Caribbean International
  Specialize in luxury cruises to the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Alaska, and other destinations. Site features details of ships and facilities with prices and special offers.
  
• RMS St. Helena
  Luxury cargo liner accommodating up to 128 passengers with private cabins and facilities. Sails between St. Helena, Ascension, Tristao da Cunha, South Africa, and Britain.
• Seabourn
  Luxury cruises to worldwide destinations including trans-oceanic, around the world, and more.
  
• Saga Cruises
• Sea Cloud Cruises
  Offering cruises on three-masted sailing ships including Mediterranean and European waterways. Also offers trans-Atlantic trips.
• Silversea Cruise Line
  World's Best Small Ship Cruise line Travel & Leisure World's Best Awards ~ 1997 & 1998 & 2001.
• Star Clippers
  Sailing cruises in the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, and the Far East, aboard genuine tall ships.
  
• Star Cruises
  Travel to exotic places in Asia in style. Find out all about various destinations and special promotions.
  
• Spirit of Adventure (Saga Shipping UK)
  Star Cruises
  Star Cruises India
• Scotia Prince Cruises
  Offering daily sailings between Portland, Maine and Yarmouth, Nova Scotia onboard the Scotia Prince.
  
• St. Lawrence Cruise Lines
  Cruise on the St. Lawrence and Ottawa rivers.
• Spirit Cruises
  Featuring dinner cruises, lunch cruises, live entertainment, and sightseeing.
  
•  Tui Tai Fiji Island Adventure Cruises
  Premier adventure experiences in the South Pacific. Tui Tai Adventure Cruises provide unique holidays designed for active travelers looking to get off the beaten path and experience Fiji.
  
• Sunset Concert Cruises
  Live concerts and buffet supper aboard ship at sunset while cruising Lake Michigan and Green Bay waters off the Door County, Wisconsin peninsula.
  
• Swain World Cruises
  Creates, designs, and arranges celebrity-hosted cruise events for celebrities to sail with their fans.
• Union-Castle Line
  Historic mail steamship company taking a cruise retracing the steps of mailships.
  
• Pacific Catalyst
  Expeditions into the coastal wilderness of Southeast Alaska and the Pacific Northwest aboard the historic vessel Catalyst.
• Windstar Cruises
  Luxury sail-cruise ships in the Caribbean, Europe, and Polynesia. Windstar Cruises offers a sailing alternative to traditional cruises.