Matching a cruise to your personality
Kids enjoy the Oceaneer Club on the Disney Dream cruise ship. Credit: AP Photo/
Cruise lines have personalities, too. Matching your interest to a cruise line is the best recipe for an outstanding vacation.
If you're reserved, for instance, you wouldn't dream of taking a cruise on a party boat.
Though finding the right cruise line ultimately is a matter of taste, we've put some cruise lines on the couch to determine what makes each one tick. Here's a brief sketch:
CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES
The Lady Gagas of the seas. The 13 Fun-Ships in this fleet bulge with eye-popping decor, miles of neon and million-dollar Broadway-style extravaganzas. The line also offers some of the best bargains at sea and surprisingly good food. And don't forget the splash. The 130,000-ton Carnival Dream, for instance, boasts the largest water slide afloat.
NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE
Restaurant row with ocean views. On this innovative line with 11 ships, you can dine in a bistro that rivals those in Paris or sate yourself on some of the freshest sushi and sashimi at sea.
DISNEY CRUISE LINE
Fantasy family vacations. All three Disney ships sparkle with pixie dust and the magical imaginations of the world's best children's entertainers. On the 2,500-passenger Disney Dream, even the portholes are animated seascapes.
ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISE LINES
Super sports complexes at sea. More than just the young and the restless can enjoy this line's list of sports firsts: rock-climbing wall, surfing pool, ice-skating rink, bungee trampolines, boxing ring and a zip line that soars high above the pool deck.
COSTA CRUISES AND MSC CRUISES
The two little Italys. For a plethora of pastas and all things Italian, these independent lines offer passengers a taste of Roma. Both lines pride themselves on delivering a refined European experience distinct from competitors'.
REGENT SEVEN SEAS CRUISES
TLC to the nth degree. On its three intimate all-suite vessels, passengers get it all, including complimentary shore excursions, wines and spirits, specialty dining and gratuities. You won't dip into your pockets for much else on this all-inclusive line.
PRINCESS CRUISES
Love boats and more. Perennially romantic, Princess' 17 vessels are an ageless destination for newlyweds and honeymooners seeking an amorous sanctuary and escape from routine.
CUNARD LINE
The royal treatment since 1840. On Cunard's iconic bevy of queenly monarchs - Mary, Victoria and Elizabeth - passengers can experience the ultimate in refined British traditions with white-glove afternoon tea service and renowned dining.
CRYSTAL CRUISES, SEABOURN CRUISE LINE AND SILVERSEA CRUISES
The triumvirate of tres-luxe lines. Can't-go-wrong choices for those who want to visit unique places on the globe "cosmo" style.
