Cruise holidays are a topic we’ve been passionate about for a very long time. Since the launch of the original game changing cruise ship “Voyager of the Seas” from Royal Caribbean, we felt cruising “opened” up. Cruising was no longer the preserve of the senior traveller. That my friends was 15 years ago. In 1999, Voyager introduced us to ice skating rinks, and a street in the middle of a ship as just two of her innovations. Voyager has 4 sisters which followed, Explorer of the Seas, Adventure of the Seas, Navigator of the Seas, and Mariner of the Seas. A while later, what we feel are “big brothers” the Freedom Class arrived “Liberty of the Seas”, “Freedom of the Seas”, “Independence of the Seas”. Freedom class was approx 1/3 larger by gross tonnage, and added “Flowriders” – the surf simulators, along with “jacuzzi’s” hanging over the side of the ships……you’ve got to try them! And in recent years, Royal Caribbean added the largest cruise ships afloat – “Oasis” of the Seas and “Allure” of the Seas with a third “Oasis” class ship on the way. However, we’ve just seen the “Anthem of the Seas” and the “Quantum of the Seas” and boys have these two stepped everything up again……..”Ifly” the skydiving simulator……….and a host of fantastic imaginative entertainment and food eateries to “Wow” you! Royal Caribbean really has something for everyone!
Royal Caribbean is joined by a number of other cruise lines in the “Middle” ground. Norwegian Cruise lines who innovated in “Freestyle” cruising – dining as you want so to speak, along with a few more twists. Norwegian also has been adding new ships at a pace – the first of the “innovators” was Norwegian EPIC, one of our all time favourite ships. EPIC added cool entertainment such as Blue Man Group, the Spiegeltent ……..a Cirque De Soleil style dining experience at sea. Norwegian combined the large venues with cool jazz and brilliant comedy in more intimate settings. In last year or two, we’ve seen Norwegian Breakaway, and Norwegian Getaway. These three ships – EPIC, Getaway and Breakaway are all large, “resorts” at sea……..and are simply fantastic. Again they tend to cater for “all”……
Following on from Royal Caribbean and Norwegian is actually the largest cruise line in the world – Carnival Corporation. Carnival amongst their armada have the Carnival Cruises fleet, “the fun ships”. Again a family staple, And to be fair, Carnival have been adding new ships such as the Breeze and Dream. Carnival have sat more main stream adding dining venues such as “Guys Burger Joint” names after the Food Networks “Guy Fieri” of Diners Drives In’s and Dives fame. Our cruises on Carnival could certainly be described as fun!
Now, adding into the mix of the above which are all “American” based companies, we have a European offering. “MSC” the Mediterranean Shipping Company. MSC cruises sprouted from one of the most successful and largest container companies in the world. Initially buying older cruise vessels, modernising and I suppose “learning” the trade. Ambition indeed went on the rampage, MSC is now one of the largest cruise ship companies in the world. The MSC Fleet are “detailed”! Most notable are the “Fantasia” Class with the first of the Fantasia class being “MSC” Fantasia”, this has been followed by sister ships “MSC Splendida”, “MSC Preziosa” and “MSC Divina”. Fantasia being the first of the fleet, coming into service as recently as 2008. MSC offers serious value, with excellent facilities and the “cruise ship” within a cruise ship “Yacht Club”. Yacht Club is the five star experience on board the Fantasia Class. We love the ornate designs on the Fantasia Class with crystal staircases, and an almost intimate feel in these floating resorts. Excellent children’s facilities and in the case of Preziosa – a fantastic waterpark …….at sea.
MSC Cruises, Norwegian, Carnival and Royal Caribbean we see as covering a spectrum of ages, and have something to offer pretty much everyone.
In the luxury end of the market, there is serious value from Holland American (Part of the Carnival family), Cunard (again part of the Carnival family) and Celebrity Cruises which is owned by Royal Caribbean. Cunard being 175 years old this year has a rich seafaring history which embodies modern British culture with grand tradition. In the case of Cunard, they have three ships in the fleet, Queen Mary 2 – the worlds largest ocean liner, Queen Victoria, and Queen Elizabeth. Victoria and Elizabeth are traditional cruise ships in styling but absolutely ultra modern both being very young ships. Queen Mary 2 has just passed her 10th birthday, which in cruise ship terms is “hardly run in”. The cruise ships spend their summers mainly in the Mediterranean or plying the waters out of Southampton to the Mediterranean with twists to the Norwegian Fjords, British Isles and Baltics. Queen Mary 2 on the other hand travels transatlantic and longer “World Cruises”. All three of the Queens take on world cruise holidays normally from January to May or so each year. Cunards ships have a certain “Calm” to them. Of course all the normals are there – fantastic spa’s, beautiful pool areas, wonderful restaurants with mouth watering food offerings. …….it’s all just “another” world.
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