HOW TO CHOOSE
A CRUISE Here, are cruise accommodations that offer the best value on specific ships. These cabins won't suit everybody, but they do represent the vast range of staterooms available and are selected to the give you the best value on the given ships and cruise lines. Please ask our Cruise Specialists to check further their suitability and availability for your cruise experience. Adventure Lines Mainstream Lines Luxury Lines LUXURY LINES Crystal Cruises Cunard Line
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Seabourn Cruise Line The largest ultraluxe ships on the water, offering oodles of space, a yard-long list of activities and worldwide destinations. BEST SHIPS: Serenity, Symphony, Harmony. WHY THIS ONE? Crystal isn't shy about discounting, so your vacation money goes a long way. Boredom's not an option: At least one lecturer on history, politics, or topic X sails on every cruise; there are golf, dance and piano lessons and uber-extensive computer centers provide free workshops in Web design, digital photography, etc. Frequent theme cruises focus on music, food and wine. WHY NOT? Staterooms and bathrooms are cozy - but not in a good way. BEST BET: Dinner at Silk Road Restaurant on the Crystal Serenity, fronted by sushi guru Nobu Matsuhisa. There's no better Asian food at sea and the restaurant's mint and white-minimalism rates high marks for decor. (Too bad it's so hard to get into and almost impossible to dine there more than once.) CELEBRITY CHEFS: Nobu Matsuhisa, Piero Selvaggio. The most famous name afloat, with a long history and an even longer new flagship, the Queen Mary 2. BEST SHIPS: QM2 for comfort, QE2 for history. WHY THIS ONE? Tell your grocer or golf partner you're sailing on the QM2 and you'll hear nothing but oohs and aahs. No ship is sexier this year, especially on transatlantic sailings. Canyon Ranch's onboard SpaClub provides the works. (Writers from 'Gourmet' magazine were particularly enamored of the Mango Sugar Glo body scrub.) Oxford lecturers and one-acts from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art are better than classes in napkin folding and a medley from Cats. The QM2 is a liner by design with old-time ambiance in her Chart Room bar, Queens Room and enormous library. The QE2 is a liner in her bones, with the sleek look of a ship that was built for speed. She has, however, been banished from the Atlantic run, but will still be sailing out of Southampton (with a 110-day world sailing scheduled in 2005). WHY NOT? The QM2 is more cruise ship than Cunard pretends, with Caribbean itineraries in winter. She also has some chintzy off-notes, including 'Disneyfied' plastic wall panels in the central promenade. BEST BET: Forward Deluxe Balcony Staterooms on the QM2's Deck 11, just steps from the little-used observation deck. (Walk out to enjoy the same view as those paying through the nose in the Royal Suites, one deck below._ Plus, from your side-facing balcony, you can flirt with officers on the bridge wings. CELEBRITY CHEF: Todd English. Luxury without hubris, sailing to quality ports around the world. BEST SHIPS: Mariner, Voyage, Navigator, Paul Gauguin WHY THIS ONE? Here's a true luxury experience that's also sensibly priced, casual and free of pretension. Dining throughout the fleet is top-notch and the service is among the best in the business. Seven Seas Voyager and Seven Seas Navigator also have some of the roomiest, most luxurious standard-cabin bathrooms at sea - huge and marbled, with separate showers and tubs.C WHY NOT? Less cost inclusive than luxe rivals Seabourn, SeaDream and Silversea. Gratuities, dinner wine and a one-time minibar fill-up are included, but you pay for all other liquor. Special shore events are only complimentary on the Seven Seas Voyager world cruise. BEST BET: The Seven Seas Paul Gauguin's year-round Tahiti sailing, for which the line frequently offers free airfare and steep discounts. CELEBRITY CHEFS: None, but chefs from Le Cordon Bleu prepare menus in the specialty restaurants on Seven Seas Voyager and Seven Seas Mariner and some cruises offer cooking workshops for an extra $395. Old-school elegance BEST SHIPS: Identical 208-passenger globe-trotting triplet - Pride, Spirit and Legend WHY THIS ONE? A class act for doyens of decorum, with white-gloved waiters and cuisine that provides the perfect excuse for fancy dress. The suites are swanky and the swag is sweet. Goodies include Piper-Heidsieck Champagne. Tumi luggage tags and Molton Brown toiletries. Doting service includes neck and shoulder massages on deck and soothing eucalyptus oil baths drawn en suite. Fold-down watersports marinas mean you can walk from your suite right into the surf for swimming, kayaking, windsurfing and snorkeling. WHY NOT? No lounging on balconies - there aren't any. Instead, some suites have sliding glass doors that open to the outside. BEST BET: A moonlight dinner at the outdoor cafe, with the silvery sea just below - a romantic must. CELEBRITY CHEFS: Charlie Palmer. Play hard, but still keeps its upper-crust aura while hitting haute spots in the Caribbean, the Med and the Yucatan Peninsula. BEST SHIPS: Twin ex-Cunard yachts SeaDream I and SeaDream II WHY THIS ONE? It's fun in a yacht-owning playboy sort of way, sans attitude, evening wear and the usual cruise hokum. Guy toys like Yamaha Jet Skis, Montague mountain bike, Segways and fully loaded MP3 player for the asking. These tiny yachts (110-passengers each) explore in depth, are able to dock at small piers close to the action (just steps from the Plaza San Marco, for instance) and often stay overnight so guests can take in some restaurants. Delicious meals on board, but nothing can top the lavish beach barbecues on Jost Van Dyke and Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands, where waiters carry Champagne and caviar through the surf to passengers frolicking shore. SeaDream is another top-shelf player that's not too proud to discount. Per-person rates dip as low as $300 a day for cushy suites and include toys, spirits and gratuities. WHY NOT? What's not to love? But, as with the Seabourn and Windstar vessels, these 20-year-old ships are showing a bit of wear, mostly on their exteriors. BEST BET: Getting dibs on one of the queen-size sun beds that line each vessel's top deck, with extra-thick mattresses, teak side table and beautiful sea views. Four 'chichi' ships sail a sea of Champagne and caviar from Venice to Vietnam to Valparaiso. BEST SHIPS: Silver Shadow, Silver Whisper WHY THIS ONE? Everything. From sublime food to sumptuous decor, these 288-passenger, all-suite, Italian-built ships spell excellence at sea. Sip some Philipponn at Royale Reserve, pop jumbo shrimp to your heart's content, then amble into a wine tasting, language lesson or lecture on world affairs - everything but spa treatments and shore excursions is included. The Terrace Cafe's themed six-course menus - Provencal one night, Mediterranean the next. It's some of the best food at sea. WHY NOT? Stuffy. The been-there-on-the-Concorde crowd can be chilly company for down-to-earth types. BEST BET: Bathrooms. Each marble palace has double sinks and Bulgari toiletries, plus a separate shower stall and an extra-long bathtub. CELEBRITY CHEFS: Jacques Thorei, Joachim Koeper. The world's biggest motor-sail ships, carrying 148 to 308 passengers around the Med, the Caribbean and the South Pacific. BEST SHIPS: Wind Surf, Wind Star, Wind Spirit. WHY THIS ONE? Tall-ship sailing without the rigmarole, as sails unfurl electronically and engines do most of the work. Retractable water sports marinas let you water-ski, snorkel, or take a kayak right out from the ship. Forget the formal wear: no jackets required - ever. Ships typically call on a port every day, with frequent overnight stays for exploring local nightlife. The alternative? Head back to the ship for great food. WHY NOT? Windstar's ships are no spring chickens, with 14 to 18 years under their keels. They're comfortable but lived-in. BEST BET: The once-a-week dinner party on deck, under sails and stars, as the ship glides away from Mykonos, St. Bart's or St.-Tropez. CELEBRITY CHEFS: Hiacgun Splichal. ADVENTURE LINES American Safari Cruises Clipper Cruise Line Cruise West Lindblad Expeditions Star Clippers Twelve-and 22-passenger yachts are the most intimate experience lots of money can buy on outing to Alaska, the South Pacific, Northwest, Mexico's Sea of Cortes and the rivers of California wine country. BEST SHIPS: Escape, Quest. WHY THIS ONE? If passengers want to change the itinerary, the captain just might turn the boat around and oblige. If you want a brand of Scotch that's not on board, they'll call ahead to get it for you. And if some folks want to kayak while others want to go bear watching, nobody's going to argue. Almost everything's included - not just drinks but also excursions like lunch in Napa's Clos Pegase wine caves. WHY NOT? You pay for all that exclusivity, with per diems running from $500 to $750. BEST BET: Charter the 12-passenger Safari Escape outright and you'll save 5 percent off the rack rate. Small ships (128 passengers maximum) with worldwide, learning-oriented itineraries. BEST SHIPS: Adventurer, Odyssey. WHY THIS ONE? Itineraries - from Antarctica to Greenland, China to Central America, with U.S. coastal spots thrown in for good measure. Onboard naturalists and historians provide insight for the typically big-brained passengers.Clipper Adventurer has an icebreaker hull that makes her perfect for Arctic, Antarctic and Scandinavian cruises, plus renovations have imparted the feel of an old-time passenger ship. Totally classy. The sleek Clipper Odyssey is 'yin' to Adventurer's 'yang', sailing to Japan's Inland Sea, Easter Island, Tahiti, New Zealand, Bora-Bora and Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula. WHY NOT? Quiet demographic. Don't go to swing. BEST BET: a thousand bucks for more space and larger windows, but why? No one spends time in their cabin on these trips. Founded by Alaska tourism pioneer Chuck West and still run by his family; the line positions its small ships (78 to 114 passengers) in Alaska, the Pacific Northwest, Baja, Central America and on the rivers of California's Napa and Sonoma valleys. BEST SHIPS: Spirit of Oceanus. The other vessels are almost interchangeable. WHY THIS ONE? Two-week Alaska/Bering Sea itineraries on the Spirit of Oceanus make standard Alaska Inside Passage cruises seem like the Circle Line. Historians and naturalists lead trips to native villages and wilderness areas in eastern Siberia and the most remote islands of western Alaska, including the wildlife-rich Pribilots. As far as we're concerned, meeting Yupik reindeer herders trumps cheesy gold-rush reenactments any day. The Oceanus is one of the most comfortable small ships in the business, with spacious, wood-paneled suites. In late 2005 she'll start wintering in the South Pacific, sailing from Honolulu, Papeete, Fiji and Kobe, while spending Christmas Eve on Christmas Island. No dull conversations - Cruise West attracts smart eggs. WHY NOT? High average passenger age (72 percent over age 62 on the Bering Sea cruises) makes for slow-paced group activities, though naturalists will take active types for hikes through the tundra. BEST BET: As with Clipper Cruise Line's ships, snag the main-deck cabins - same size as the next level up, but $300 to $400 less expensive per person. The only difference is two big portholes instead of a picture window. The most learning-oriented expedition line Lars-Eric Lindblad, father of current owner Sven Lindblad, pioneered Antarctic tourism in 1966 and got a cove named after him for his trouble. BEST SHIPS: Endeavour. WHY THIS ONE? Worldwide expeditions take you off the map, or at least to its edges. A boatload of scientists - biologists, geologists and polar experts - on every cruise. Guests go offboard via Zodiac landing craft and kayaks and an undersea specialist uses a tethered video camera to record what's going on 500 feet under the ice, screening his films for passengers in the evening. WHY NOT? Anything but inexpensive. Antarctic voyages start at nearly $8,000 per person for a two-week cruise. BEST BET: In November, the line traced the route of famed explorer Ernest Shjackleton and passengers could trek across South Georgia Island or explore its coast by sea before sailing on to the Falklands. Two-week sailings to Antarctica on December 15 and 26 include free airfare, saving you $1,000 per person. Dead ringers for the real thing, these gorgeous tall ships cut a sharp profile in the Caribbean, the Med and the Far East. BEST SHIPS: Royal Clipper, Star Clipper, Star Flyer. WHY THIS ONE? Classic beauty, with sky-high masts and muscular deckhands for an authentic sailing vibe - just ignore the engines that kick in to keep the ship on schedule. Under full sail, the square-rigged Royal Clipper is breathtaking. Port-packed weeklong itineraries skip the crowds and go for the offbeat, from Les Saintes in the French Caribbean to Langkaw Island in Malaysia. Despite their Errol Flynn ambiance and smallish size (Star Clipper and Star Flyer carry 170 passengers, Royal Clipper carries 227), these ships don't skimp on amenities. All have comfy cabins and Royal Clipper has a spa/gym and 14 suites with private balconies and hot tubs. WHY NOT? Those prone to mal de mer should remember: In open seas, the smaller the ship, the more motion you can expect. BEST BET: Crawling out into the bowsprit netting for a nap above the waves. Politicians go centrist in order to attract more votes, and Buddhists seek the middle path. So why shouldn't these cruise lines, which appeals to as wide an audience as possible, do the same? Celebrity Cruises Holland America Line Oceania Princess Cruises Royal Caribbean International Striking 1,950-passenger megaships take furnishings and diversions to the edge. BEST SHIPS: Millennium, Infinity, Summit, Constellation and for something a little different, the small (98-passenger) Xpedition WHY THIS ONE? This megaship decor takes its cue from cutting-edge onboard art, with pieces by Hockney, Koons, Botero, Borofsky, and Christo. Piece de resistance: the translucent, backlit onyx staircase that spans three decks of each ship's lobby. Dinners in the alternative restaurants (as opposed to the dining rooms) are themed around architectural pieces from the grand ocean liners, with excellent surroundings, music and service. Menus, although with modern cuisine, also include dishes from the old ships, including the scrumptious Long Island duckling featured on the United States. Breaks from the standard cruise 'shtick' include entertainment by Cirque du Soleil. Prices are still low: You get a lot for rates that dip as low as $100 per person, per day. Celebrity Xpedition, the flagship at Celebrity's new adventure-travel program, has luxurious year-round sailings in the Galapagos. WHY NOT? Size.Elegant or not, steer clear of the megaships if you don't think bigger is better. BEST BET: Concierge Class Staterooms cost less but come with lots of suite-style extras, like a pillow menu, free Champagne, double-thick Frette bathrobes, high-powered binoculars for your balconies and priority reservations for just about everything. CELEBRITY CHEF: Michel Roux. Old Dutch masters, with some traditionally designed vessels and, also, family-oriented megaships. There is no question about which ones we prefer. BEST SHIPS: Rotterdam, Amsterdam. WHY THIS ONE? Classy cruise ships, heirs to Holland America vessels like the old Rotterdam V. Great, long 2005 itineraries: to South America and Asia for Amsterdam, to the Med and Scandinavia for Rotterdam. Friendly service from Indonesian and Filipino staff, with nice touches like a uniformed bellboy announcing dinner with a chime. WHY NOT? Entertainment can be 'snoresville' and a sedate older crowd might mean sleepy nightlife. BEST BET: Drinks and dancing in the classically 'shippy' Ocean Bar, with waiters serving hors d'oeuvres and a piano trio on the bandstand. Go on formal night for the full effect. The successor to bankrupt Renaissance Cruises, with three of its handsome ships sailing long, leisurely itineraries in Europe, South America and the Caribbean. BEST SHIPS: Regatta, Insignia, Nautica - all identical. WHY THIS ONE? A low-priced Radisson Seven Seas, with a country-club-casual dress code and a relaxed, hands-off atmosphere - no inane activities. Signature Tranquility Beds really are sublime, with extra-thick mattresses. Egyptian cotton sheets, thick duvets and dreamy down pillows. Tasty menus are served in four open-seating restaurants, some walk-in, some by reservation, all with polished, friendly service. Even casual dining on deck is nice: under the stars, with hurricane-lamp lighting. Boutique-hotel intimate, with only 684 passengers per ship. Everything's a short walk away, lounges are roomy and plush and decor shoots for a ritzy vibe. WHY NOT? Less than luxe on closer inspection, with faux bookcases and plastic balcony furniture dragging the mood back toward the middle. BEST BET: Stern-view tables in the Polo Grill and Toscana specialty restaurants - ask when you reserve. CELEBRITY CHEF: Jacques Pepin. The Love Boats of the 1970s have given way to some of the best-looking big vessels around. BEST SHIPS: Diamond, Sapphire, Tahitian, Pacific. WHY THIS ONE? Diamond Princess and Sapphire Princess are the most attractive new megaships (2,600 passengers each) in years, built in Japan with exceptional attention to detail. While the Alaska and Mexico routes are just so-so, the 2005 Asia itineraries for Sapphire Princess buck the trend. Tahitian Princess and Pacific Princess (ships that once belonged to Renaissance Cruises, are quiet, intimate ships (680 passengers each) sailing to Polynesia, Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand and up the Pacific Coast to Alaska. British and Italian officers and staff lend a traditional touch to an otherwise standard American line. Flexible dining. On Diamond Princess and Sapphire Princess you can go traditional all week in the main dining rooms or choose from four restaurants themed by cuisine - Asian, Italian, Southwestern, Steakhouse. WHY NOT? No great sparks of inspiration here. Princess's image rests on just being "nice". BEST BET: Standing in the wraparound bow of either the Diamond or the Sapphire at night, with the stars reflected in the sea, feels like flying into outer space. Or maybe the cayenne onion rings with ancho chili dip in the Sterling Steakhouse. Sporty 2,100-passenger megaships focus on the Caribbean, Europe, Mexico and Alaska. BEST SHIPS: Radiance of the Seas, Brilliance of the Seas, Serenade of the Seas, Jewel of the Seas. WHY THIS ONE? Easy on the eyes and tons of fun. You get a lot for a little on these affordable cruises. Blue heaven for sporty types, with rock-climbing walls, miniature golf, basketball courts and gyroscopically balanced billiards tables. Napping nirvana in jungle-themed solaria: Waterfalls, wood and stone carvings and lots of tropical foliage surround a central pool and hot tubs, with padded wooden chaises that make napping irresistible. WHY NOT? On ships this big (with rates so low, there's no escaping some frat house buffoonery. Think Bud-chugging guys in sexy-legs contests. BEST BET: Lovely stern-view lounges stretching across Deck 6. Low lights, soft seating, inlaid-wood flooring and Oriental rugs set a romantic mood. |
Page