Cruise Ships

Welcome to our Cruise Ships mini web site. Here you will find a listing of the most popular Cruise Ships, some information about cruise ships, the best times of the year to take a cruise, cruise vacation deals, and current news about cruise ships. We also provide a chat room about cruise ships, cruise vacations, and related topics.

In an effort to help you find the right cruise, we have also included on our site a Cruise Ships Book Store. Our Book Store provides a large assortment of books and guides, all about cruise ships. After a simple browse of our book store, you will have an appreciation for the amount information available for anyone who desires to have a cruise ship vacation. This site should provide you with a starting point for information gathering so that you can have the most enjoyment, for the money spent on your vacation.

Cruise ship vacations have increased in popularity over the past ten years. To meet this increase in global demand, on average 9 new cruise ships have been built around the globe, per year since 2001. There is currently available 60 cruise lines operating 300 cruise ships. The question arises, with such an enormous number of cruise ships available, which cruise ship is right for you? There are basically two types of cruise ships available. Those that cater to families with children, and those that cater more to the adult vacationer. We will provide a list consisting of the most popular cruise ships for each of these two categories.

The type of cruise ship you would like to vacation on is not only dependent on whether or not you have a family. You also need to determine what type of port-of-calls and environment you would like to cruise through. For example, a cruise ship with a destination to Barbados or the Virgin Islands is completely different then a cruise ship which traverses along the coast of Alaska. If you reside in the area of the United States where the winters are very cold, then a winter cruise to a southern location such as the Virgin Islands seems more attractive then an Alaskan cruise. Yet, if you live in the Southern United States, and you want to escape the heat and humidity during the summer, then an Alaskan cruise sounds more interesting.

A cruise ship is an excellent way to vacation, simply because you are forced to relax, which is the entire objective of a vacation any way. Many people go on vacations where they run around so much, that they actually need a vacation from their vacation. When you complete a vacation with such a busy schedule, you feel exhausted at the end of your vacation, and you have basically wasted your money.

On a cruse ship you are forced to slow down, and you have the option of doing more or less activities. You are not rushing from one destination to another in a car. Diversity is provided by different port-of-calls and many available activities on the ship itself. All individuals should go on at least one cruise ship for a vacation. And if you really like it, more cruise vacations would be in order.

The following is the 10 most popular cruises for families with children. We do not rank these or provide an opinion. We consider these all to be equal. This list is simply the most popular, in terms of number of customers per year. The port-of-calls for these cruise ships are scattered through out the world.

• Disney Cruise Line
• Carnival Cruise Lines
• Celebrity Cruises
• Costa Cruise Lines
• Crystal Cruises
• Cunard Line
• Holland America Line
• Norwegian Cruise Line
• Princess Cruises
• Royal Caribbean International

The following is our list of the most popular adult oriented cruise ships. These cruise ships are designed for honeymooners and romantic getaways. We consider these all to be equal. This list is simply the most popular, in terms of number of customers per year. These ships, generally speaking, are smaller then there family oriented counter parts, which imparts an environment which is more conducive to adults with no kids.

• Windstar Ships & Cruises
• Princess Cruises Tahitian Princess
• Celebrity Cruises Celebrity Xpedition
• Cunard’s Queen Mary 2

Another consideration when selecting a cruise ship is the method of payment. There are available all-inclusive cruise ships. These cruise ships provide for one fee, drinks, food, and entertainment. You would of course pay more for this type of cruise. If you are thinking about going on an all-inclusive package type cruise, it really depends to what degree you plan on using the facilities provided by the ship. Some cruise ships which are provide an all-inclusive price, do not include everything, but most things. For example, some all-inclusive cruise ships do not include between meal snacks, which simply means you should eat larger meals.

The prices for a cruise ship vacation can vary greatly, depending on the cruise line and the time of year you decide to go on a cruise. Price of course is also determined by the length of time of the cruise. Prices can range from $249.00 USD for a 4 Night Western Caribbean Cruise offered by Carnival Cruise Lines to $2,899.00 USD for a 7 Night Galapagos Islands Cruise offered by Celebrity Cruises - Celebrity Xpedition. Prices can be higher then this, depending on the type and length of the cruise.

Given that there are currently 60 cruise lines, operating over 300 cruise ships, competition among these companies for cruise ship vacationers is very high. Therefore you should shop around for the best price. Prices also change by season. You can usually find a lower price during a non-peak season. Due to the extensive competition among cruise ship companies, you can also expect many specials, price reductions, and package deals periodically through out the year.

You can find cruise ships departing from many locations around the world. In the United States, cruise ships have points of departure at Florida, Texas, Louisiana, and New Jersey. European departure points include England, Italy, Germany, Spain, and Portugal. In the United States, the greatest number of departing cruise ships is at Miami, Florida. The most popular cruises among American citizens is those that depart Miami, Florida with port-of-calls in the Caribbean. Increasing in popularity rapidly are cruises to non-tropical port-of-calls, such as Alaskan cruises.

Even though the popularity of cruise ships has steadily increased, many potential vacationers are concerned about safety in terms of possible terrorists attacks. Given the current post 911 environment we live in today, and the fact that terrorists prefer to attack large groups of people, this is a legitimate concern. But it also should be noted that for some reason, current terrorists do not prefer the venue of a ship, at least lately. So should you be concerned. Yes, but remember statistically the odds are very slim, and therefore you should not decide to cancel a cruise vacation just because there is a very slim chance of a terrorist attack. Terrorists want you to alter your life style and they want you to be scared, therefore go on a cruise ship if you desire to do so. Statistically you have a greater chance of dying in a car accident during your drive to the ship, then you do from dying from a terrorist attack on a cruise ship.

Cruise Ships - Conclusion

Cruise ships are a viable alternative for any individual who is seeking a relaxed vacation. The cruise ship industry has grown to the point where the typical vacationer with a limited budget, can select a cruise which is not real expensive. Given the high cost of gas, prudent individuals are selecting a cruise over the typical long distance driving, which has been a part of the American culture for many years. With so many cruise lines to choose from, and therefore better pricing for the consumer, a relaxed vacation which is not expensive is within reach.