Which cruise line

Thinking about booking your first cruise? The sheer range of choices can be daunting. There are more than two dozen lines marketing to North Americans — no two alike. The list of brands includes everything from giant companies such as Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line that are household names to lesser-known small operators such as Windstar Cruises. Some of the brands — Royal Caribbean, MSC Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line , in particular — operate massive vessels that are like giant floating resorts with deck-top waterparks and other over-the-top amusements.

Others specialize in intimate, boutique hotel-style ships. Some lines, such as Carnival, are aimed at a budget crowd. Others operate vessels that are as luxurious as any luxury resort found on land.

Where to begin? Related: How to plan a cruise with points and miles. With just three small ships each holding fewer than passengers, Azamara is one of the smallest players in the cruise business. But it has a loyal following of travelers who appreciate the upscale ambiance of its vessels, the inclusive amenities it offers including gratuities and alcoholic drinks and its destination focus. The line prides itself on offering longer stays in ports, including multiday visits.

Its ships have an intimate, boutique-hotel feel. The choice of roughly one in five cruisers, its ships are notoriously lively, flashy and packed with fun features such as waterparks with multiple waterslides. Related: The best Caribbean cruise for every type of traveler. Expect high-end design, cutting-edge art and on-trend restaurants. They boast a glass wall that opens from the top to create a balcony-like effect. Some say this is the ultimate luxury line.

Despite its small size — aside from a budding river cruise operation, it offers just two traditional ocean ships and a small yacht — Crystal long has set the bar for onboard service, elegance and fine dining. A storied line with roots that go back to the s, this three-ship brand is perhaps best known for its 2,passenger flagship, Queen Mary 2.

Queen Mary 2 lives up to its billing as a true ocean liner with semiregular, transatlantic service between Southampton, England, and New York. Meet-and-greets with Disney characters, Disney-themed shows and the most extensive kiddie fun zones on the high seas are just a few of the family-friendly allures of a Disney cruise. The biggest downside of the brand? Tradition long has been a touchstone for this storied line, which dates to and is known for carefully crafted, globe-circling itineraries on midsize ships.

But Holland America has been shaking things up in recent years with lively new venues such as B. Couples and retirees are the market; families with kids might want to look elsewhere. A giant of cruising in Europe, Switzerland-based MSC Cruises is in the midst of making a big play for North Americans with newer, bigger ships sailing year-round from Florida to the Caribbean and Bahamas.

The vessels also are packed with eateries, bars, casinos and showrooms. The brand is particularly known for its entertainment, including big Broadway shows. Its six ships feature a relaxed, country club-like ambiance and inspired dining that appeal to a mostly older crowd. Itinerary-wise, Oceania is known for destination-intensive voyages that typically are 10 nights or more in length, with some globe-circling trips as long as days. This France-based line is a specialist in expedition cruising, a type of cruising that involves traveling to remote, hard-to-reach places on small, hardy vessels that carry their own landing craft.

They also like its wide range of itineraries, which include voyages in Asia and Australia as well as closer-to-home places like the Caribbean. Related: The ultimate guide to Princess Cruises. This device can open doors, make reservations and pay for services. Holland America Line is one of the most affordable luxury liners and sails on mid-sized ships that can provide a more personal trip.

As you might expect, fares can be more expensive than the mainstream providers, but the voyage quality can be worth the upgrade. Complimentary onboard activities can be local culinary experiences, shore excursions and classes. Complimentary fresh fruit, shoeshine service and binoculars during the voyage are also included in all staterooms.

The liner also has many exciting itineraries to tropical and temperate climates with exciting onshore excursions. Several cruise lines likely sail from your desired initial port or docks in the destinations you want to see. Instead of only looking at the initial price, also consider any amenity and excursion credits you might receive. This is a BETA experience. You may opt-out by clicking here. More From Forbes. Nov 14, , am EST. Nov 13, , am EST.

Edit Story. Jun 29, , pm EDT. Runner-up: Seabourn is all about the finer things in life without getting stuck in the past. All of the ships feature vast spas, spacious cabins starting at square feet and gorgeous suites, menus and signature restaurants designed by chef Thomas Keller, and a mostly inclusive pricing policy covering drinks, dining, entertainment and gratuities.

Look for signature touches such as a "Pure Pampering" bath drawn by your cabin steward, complete with strewn flower petals and aromatherapy scents.

Best Luxury Cruise Ships. Why: Older kids need distractions and special attention; Royal Caribbean gives them both. Depending on the ship, the line taps into teens' and tweens' bottomless well of energy with rock climbing walls, ziplines, ice and inline skating, surf and skydiving simulators, water slides and basketball and volleyball courts. For its youth programs, Royal Caribbean wisely splits up tweens and teens into their appropriate age groups. It also treats the underage crowd like mini-adults with such sophisticated amenities as spa treatments designed especially for the primping generation and their adolescent needs; DJ lessons; teens-only casino nights; backstage tours of the ship; and no-elders-allowed lounges where they can dance, drink mocktails and socialize with their new pals until past their parents' bedtimes.

The packed schedule, overseen by an attentive crew, lets parents enjoy their own downtime without worrying about their charges growing bored and antsy. Runner-up: Norwegian Cruise Line appeals to teens with its exclusive spaces clubs and lounges for teenagers , sophisticated parties and theme nights black-light Glow Party and a dress-up, dinner-and-a-show evening , and pop culture and retro-hip activities bowling, Nintendo Wii U, "American Idol"-style shows. Plus, late-night dining venues and top-deck activities like water slides, rock climbing walls and ropes courses will keep the hardest-to-please cruisers busy and happy.

Best Cruises for Teens. Why: Disney really gets what parents and small children need on vacation, from entertainment and dining to childcare. The line is rare in the industry for attending to the needs of babies and toddlers; it provides nurseries for little sailors up to 3 years old and has a water-play area available to the diapered set.

The cruise line also fills its ships with its signature characters, such as Mickey, Goofy, Cinderella and her princess pals, who engage youngsters at planned events and spontaneous encounters. Its expansive play areas are themed after popular Disney, Pixar, Star Wars and Marvel movies, with plenty of high-tech games and interactive and often educational programming.

Runner-up: Carnival has teamed up with Dr. Seuss for its kids programming. The Camp Ocean facility is one of few to both accept 2-year-olds and employ counselors who will change diapers. It also has options for childcare and parent-kid playtime for babies and toddlers too young for Camp Ocean.

Loads of casual dining options, water-play areas and mini-golf, and large standard cabins as well as family-focused options on some ships just add to the line's appeal for parents. Best Cruises for Kids.

Why: Upscale Silversea attracts a dedicated following of mature travelers in fact, it's a rarity to find a child onboard. Its all-inclusive pricing model allows for a luxury experience without lots of unexpected expense, with Silversea inclusions like room service, wine and spirits, gratuities and transportation into town from port all bundled into the upfront fares.

The line's nine small ships -- accommodating just to guests -- are well-suited to guests seeking easy camaraderie, as well as for those with limited mobility. Plus, Silversea's itineraries propose access to more off-the-beaten-track worldwide ports they sail to plus locales across all seven continents that hold special appeal for seasoned travelers looking for new horizons to explore.

Runner-up: Holland America, an elegant midsize line, has traditionally drawn a more mature crowd by emphasizing the classic cruising experience over partying and pushing the adrenaline limits. It offers quieter pleasures, such as the Culinary Arts Center and a partnership with America's Test Kitchen that focuses on cooking demos and hands-on workshops; self-guided art tours of the onboard art collections; and Explorations Central, which aims to highlight local culture and history onboard via special talks, port guides and cultural demonstrations.

The athletic pursuits, such as a tai chi, yoga and tennis, don't require a year-old's physique. Even innovative additions to the entertainment lineup keep the company's loyal cruisers in mind. HAL has a fabulous B. King's Blues Club and dinner events featuring menus by epicurean stars like noted chef Elizabeth Falkner and Michelin three-star chef Jonnie Boer.

Best Cruises for Seniors. Why: Holland America Line caters to solo travelers via its Single Partners Program, which includes hosted parties for onboard singles early on in the cruise , followed up by special singles-themed cocktail parties and games that give solo cruisers plenty of time to connect. The line will also group singles together for dining on request , and on sailings of 40 days or longer, even provides special gentlemen hosts to accompany single women to dinner or on the dance floor.

HAL facilitates a roommate matching service with fellow solo travelers of the same sex; if the line can't find a suitable partner for participants, it will still guarantee them a double occupancy fare.

Alternatively, two Holland America ships offer dedicated single cabins: Koningsdam has 12, and Prinsendam has three.

Runner-up: Norwegian reached out to solo cruisers when it introduced the Studio concept on Norwegian Epic. These cabins, specifically designed for solo travelers, come with hip minimalist furnishings and no dastardly single supplement. Cruisers who book this category of cabin also receive exclusive access to a gathering place with a bar, snacks and space for socializing.

Best Cruise Lines for Solo Travelers. Why: The fact that Oceania has famous French chef Jacques Pepin as its executive culinary director speaks volumes about its dedication to fine onboard dining. The main dining rooms offer high-quality fare in an open-seating plan, and even the buffets and poolside grill fare refuse to disappoint. Lobsters come sourced from the line's own Maine lobster farm, and its beef is dry-aged for 28 days in Oceania's aging facility.

Specialty venues are all fee-free minus special wine-pairing menus , and range from the Asian-style Red Ginger to Italian Toscana and French bistro Jacques. And if eating mouth-watering cuisine isn't enough, you can learn to prepare it yourself with classes in the Culinary Center.