There are a number of sources to turn to when attempting to find the best of the best in the cruise industry. For example, we recently ranked the top cruise lines according to Condé Nast. To determine the best new cruise ship, we looked at a few different sources, like Cruise Critic, a website with tons of cruise industry-related content, including lots of reviews submitted by passengers. (For more information on similar sites, check out our article on cruise critics and cruise reviews.) Cruise Critic put together a list of the “top new ships,” although their selection criteria is a little bizarre because this list contains both recently released ships and soon-to-be-released ships, as opposed to one or the other. We’re concerned with the cruise ships that are already out sailing, so we’ll select the best cruise ship from this set.

Cruise Critic employs a percentage system, in conjunction with a star rating, to rank cruise ships, such that the cruise ships with the most positive reviews submitted by passengers get the highest percentage assigned to them. Ships also get one to five stars – the more stars the better. A lot of websites that focus on the cruise industry, like Cruises Only, use similar ranking systems (smiley faces are used instead of stars, though), whereas other sites simply compile passenger reviews without assigning any specific rating (in stars, smiley faces, etc.) to a ship.

Based on a few of these websites, the following three ships emerged as some of the best new ships: Celebrity Silhouette, Allure of the Seas, and Oasis of the Seas. Other new ships that were highly rated include the Carnival Magic and the Norwegian Epic.

Of these ships, the Celebrity Silhouette seemed to come out on top. It received very favorable review on a few sites (e.g., five stars on Cruise Critic and five smileys out of six on Cruises Only), and for this reason, we crown the Celebrity Silhouette the best new cruise ship, or in any case it is one of the top new ships (ratings are constantly being updated, so the top ship of today may well be supplanted by another tomorrow). At 122,400 tons and with a passenger capacity of 2,886, according to Celebrity Cruises’ website, Celebrity Silhouette is a fairly large ship that started sailing in the middle of July 2011. One of its coolest features is the Lawn Club Grill, an outdoor venue which allows passengers to select a cut of meat, which they then get to grill alongside a chef of the restaurant. There is also a bar called Michael’s Club that has up to 50 international craft beers, which is one of many places you can relax with a drink. If drinking isn’t your thing, there are also a number of quite places – like The Hideaway, where can get coffee, or the Sky Observation Lounge, an expansive room with epic views of the sea – where you can, say, read a book or listen to music. So, there is a place for the booze hound and the bookworm.

It is worth mentioning that the two other new ships listed above that were highly rated – Allure of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas – are also the world’s largest cruise ships. So, these two ships, both of the Royal Caribbean International fleet, are not only enormous, but also well-regarded by the passengers who have sailed with them.

Celebrity Silhouette, Allure of the Seas, and Oasis of the Seas are all amazing new ships that people have so far enjoyed, so they are certainly worth considering if you are looking to book a cruise vacation.

To begin, the current fleet of Celebrity Cruises is composed of nine ships, all of which have a name that begins with “Celebrity.” All the ships also have the signature “X” on their funnel, which is the Greek letter chi.

The nine ships are broken into four different classes, which is a classification scheme utilized by most cruise lines. The four classes are the Century class, Millennium class, Xpedition class, and Solstice class.

The Century class is composed of only one ship, Celebrity Century. This ship entered the service of Celebrity Cruises in 1995, making it the oldest of the vessels currently operating. Celebrity Century has a gross tonnage of 71,545 and has a passenger capacity of 1778, which is smaller than all of the other vessels save one, Celebrity Xpedition.

Celebrity Xpedition is the only ship in the Xpedition class. Entering service in 2004, it is by far the smallest ship in Celebrity Cruises’ fleet: it weighs a mere 2,339 tons and can only accommodate 96 passengers. Because of its small size, passenger aboard the Celebrity Xpedition can expect more personal service. The ship also has a shallow draft (the draft of a ship is the extent to which it is immersed in water when bearing a load), allowing it to access ports that some of the larger vessels cannot.

The Millennium class is made up of three ships: Celebrity Millennium, Celebrity Infinity, and Celebrity Summit. The ships entered the service of Celebrity Cruises in 2000, 2001, and 2002, respectively. All the ships weigh the same amount, 91,000 tons, and can accommodate roughly the same number of passengers – about 2500, with the Celebrity Millennium holding some 40 less.

The last class of ships is the Solstice class, which is composed of Celebrity Solstice, Celebrity Equinox, and Celebrity Eclipse. (Clearly, a theme unites the names of these ships.) The Solstice class is composed of the newest ships in the fleet. Celebrity Solstice entered service in 2008, Celebrity Equinox in 2009, and Celebrity Eclipse in 2010. The three ships in this class all have the same capacities and measurements: they have a gross tonnage of 122,000 and a passenger capacity of 2850, making them the largest ships in the Celebrity Cruises fleet.

Celebrity Cruises also has two ships on order: Celebrity Silhouette and Celebrity Reflection. The former will enter the service in July of 2011, and the latter will in November of 2012. These ships will have the exact same dimensions as the ships in the Solstice class.

Celebrity Cruises offers many amenities and activities on their cruise ships, which are part of a broad program called “CelebrityLife.” The amenities and activities covered by CelebrityLife are broken into four main categories: Taste, Learn, Revive, and Play.

“Taste” refers to the dining and drinking options available to the passengers of Celebrity Cruises. The cruise line has 10 world-class restaurants on-board, and there are options for both causal and formal dining. In addition, Celebrity Cruises has several unique features to their cruise line, such as a cooking competition that passengers can watch, as well as an educational workshop that is designed to teach “The Art of Wine and Food Pairing.” Celebrity Cruises also offers classes on mixology (i.e., how to mix drinks), as well as a general wine appreciation class.

The “Learn” component of CelebrityLife involves several activities that are designed to stimulate the intellect and satisfy passengers’ curiosity. For example, the cruise line offers lessons for different styles of dance and has a class that is specifically designed to help you organize and perfect your vacation photos using Apple products. Rosetta Stone language-learning software is also made available for passengers who want to expand their linguistic horizons while at sea.

“Revive” ranges over the exercise and wellness programs offered on-board Celebrity Cruises. There are cycling and yoga classes offered, as are health-oriented seminars that cover topics like acupuncture and the human metabolism.

“Play” is the fourth and final aspect of the CelebrityLife program. Not surprisingly, “Play” refers to the many “fun activities” offered on-board. Karaoke, trivia contests, and interactive videogames are available to passengers who enjoy competition, and there are also casinos on-board that offer games like blackjack and poker. Other activities include sports tournaments and aquatic games like pool volleyball.

Celebrity Cruises offers voyages that travel all over the world, so all of these activities detailed so far can be engaged in while sailing to the far corners of the globe. There are cruises that sail to Canada, Europe, South America, Asia, and everywhere in between. What’s more, there are multiple cruises itineraries associated with the different destinations – some are only a few days, others take multiple weeks – so you’ll almost certainly be able to find a cruise that fits your particular desires.

If you would like to learn more about Celebrity Cruises and the many different vacations they offer, visit the cruise line’s website here.

Celebrity Cruises

-Celebrity Solstice (2008)
-Celebrity Equinox (2009)
-Celebrity Eclipse (2010)
-Celebrity Silhouette (summer 2011).

The ship will be larger than the other Solstice-class vessels. It will have space for 89 additional cabins, 245 more sun decks, and a larger theater which seats 45 additional moviegoers. In addition:

-The main dining room will seat 40 additional guests
-The Oceanview Cafe will have room for 118 more diners.

According to Cruisecritic.com,

the ship will also feature a number of new venues not found on Solstice, Equinox or Eclipse. (Silhouette, which is debuting in July of 2011 will get ‘em.) The most significant changes will be made to three main areas: the Lawn Club, Michael’s Club and Team Earth. Celebrity will be adding 42 suites to Celebrity Reflection, including 34 AquaClass spa suites (the first cabins of their kind on this line) and eight Sky suites. Reflection will also have an additional 19 Concierge-class cabins and 11 inside cabins.

Most significantly, the Corning Glass Museum and the Solstice class’ famous glass-blowing demonstrations are being replaced by the Lawn Club Grill specialty restaurant (the museum and show will remain on the older ships). For $30 per person, passengers can dine at cruising’s first outdoor interactive grill venue: During lunch, the menu will feature high-end burgers and pizzas, and diners can participate in interactive demonstrations such as pizza-making. For dinner, you’ll have the opportunity to choose your own cut of meat and grill side-by-side with one of the restaurant’s chefs.

The Porch, another new venue, will be a 48-seat eatery overlooking the lawn. It’ll offer complimentary breakfast and lunch options — plus specialty coffee, wine and beer for a fee — in a casual, beachy setting.

About Celebrity Cruises

www.celebritycruises.com has the youngest fleet in service today, yet Celebrity’s ships are ranked among some of the oldest and most magnificent vessels in the world. In 2003 alone, seven out of 10 Celebrity Cruises vessels were ranked among the top 10 large ships in Conde Nast Traveler’s “World’s Greatest Ships” readers’ survey.

Celebrity Cruises fleet includes the Century Class, Millennium Class, Xpedition Class, and Journey Class. Entered into service between 1995 and 1997, the Century Class includes Century, Galaxy, and Mercury. The Celebrity Cruises Century Class is popular for contemporary design, signature Celebrity amenities, and the use of modern technology.

Millennium Class features four vessels that were all introduced in the year 2000. Constellation, Infinity, Millennium, and Summit are considered the most technologically advanced vessels out of the entire Celebrity Cruises fleet. They are also among the most spacious and luxurious of all Celebrity ships.

Celebrity Cruises Xpedition Class features Celebrity Xpedition. Celebrity Xpedition was designed with the adventurous traveler in mind, meaning travelers interested in wandering off the beaten path. Smaller than the rest of the Celebrity cruise ships, Xpedition offers the passenger a more intimate environment and more personalize service. Xpedition, Celebrity’s newest ship, accommodates 98 comfortably.

Finally, Celebrity’s Journey Class features Celebrity Journey and Celebrity Quest. Celebrity Journey accommodates 700 comfortably and features a full-service spa and martini bar, while Celebrity Quest features a Martini Bar, Cova Cafe, a Casino, Michael’s Club, Boutique C, the AquaSpa by Elemis and butler service in every stateroom. Celebrity Quest accommodates 710 comfortably.

Because of the smaller size of some Celebrity Cruises vessels, they can navigate exotic locations with ease and they also allow the passenger to get up close and personal with the natural environment. This doesn’t mean that the larger ships don’t travel to exciting places as well, fortunately there are plenty of amazing destinations around the world to accommodate big or small ships.

Celebrity Cruises destinations include: Alaska, Australia/New Zealand, Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada/New England, Caribbean, Europe, Galapagos, Hawaii, Pacific Northwest, Panama Canal, South America, and Transatlantic sailings. Celebrity Cruises offers short and extended cruises anywhere from a few days up to 19 days or more. A variety of land and shore excursions are offered depending on destination. Celebrity Cruises also offers pre and post cruise package deals.

Interested in booking a Celebrity cruise? Contact your local travel agent or visit the Celebrity Cruises official website: To book a Celebrity Cruise, visit the official Celebrity Cruises website at www.celebritycruises.com. You can also call a Celebrity Cruises representative toll-free at 1-800-647-2251 for reservations.

Tip: If you’re interested in shopping and comparing prices on Celebrity Cruises vacations, visit any of the websites below to check out the latest Celebrity cruise deals. In addition, visit any of the cruise review websites listed at the bottom of the page to find out what previous passengers have to say about their Celebrity cruise experience.

Kayak.com
Expedia.com
Orbitz.com
Travelocity.com
CheapTickets.com
VacationsToGo.com
Cruise411.com
Cruise.com

Cruise Review Websites

Cruisecritic.com,
Cruisereviewsonline.com
Cruisereport.com,
Cruisedirectonline.com
Cruisemates.com

Cruisecritic.com offers more than just reviews, this site has several search functions to help you find everything from bargains and discounts to theme cruises, and exotic itineraries. The site also includes features, news, planning tools, and a variety of cruise message boards where fellow cruisers can exchange stories and information.

Cruisemates.com offers short reviews and ratings. The two types of ratings include: star ratings and value ratings. Star ratings are based on one question — “how good is this ship?” One star is the worst, five stars is the best. Cruisemates.com takes everything from age and accommodations to food, service, and entertainment into account when rating the worlds cruise ships. Value ratings or ‘thumbs up’ ratings are all about the “Bang for your Buck.” Five thumbs up means the ship is an excellent value while one thumb up means you won’t find much of anything that resembles a value here.

Reviews, ratings, rankings, and popularity contests — at Cruisereviewsonline.com find out which cruise ships are at the top and which ones are not. Get other information on cruise lines, as well as information, ratings and rankings on embarkation ports, and ports-of-call.

Cruisereport.com offers the lowdown on cruise lines from A to Z. Unbiased reviews, cruise searches, quotes, and feature articles are just a few of the sites extras. You can also search for the perfect cruise, and browse through news pieces about cruising. After checking out their ratings and reviews, you can also search for discounts and deals. With more than 50,000 visitors per month, Cruisereport.com has information on roughly 8,500 current sailings.

Cruisedirectonline.com relies on reader surveys to help keep reviews & ratings in check. In addition to cruise ship reviews and ratings, visitors to the site will find top ten and top thirty lists, as well as feature articles about the best of the best in the world of cruises. The site has other information about discounts, as well as information on roughly 12,000 sailings. Cruise Direct Online has been featured in Frommer’s Budget Travel Magazine, and on MSNBC, CNBC, MSN Money, and more.

“Excitement brews with up to 50 international craft beers in the enhanced Michael’s Club. And guests can enjoy sweeping veranda views in 85% of staterooms.” Staterooms include penthouse suites, royal suites, celebrity suites, sky suites, aqua suites, concierge class, family ocean view with veranda, sunset veranda, deluxe ocean view with veranda.

Celebrity Silhouette will have its inaugural sailing cruise on July 23, 2011. The 7 night cruise will sail to Hamburg, Germany; Barcelona, Spain, and Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy. The next cruise will take place August 5, 2011. The 17-night cruise will sail to Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy; Alexandria, Egypt; Jerusalem (Ashdod), Israel; Santorini, Greece; Athens (Piraeus), Greece; Naples/capri, Italy, and Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy.

To book a Celebrity Silhouette Cruise, visit the official Celebrity Cruises website at www.celebritycruises.com.

About Celebrity Cruises

www.celebritycruises.com has the youngest fleet in service today, yet Celebrity’s ships are ranked among some of the oldest and most magnificent vessels in the world. In 2003 alone, seven out of 10 Celebrity Cruises vessels were ranked among the top 10 large ships in Conde Nast Traveler’s “World’s Greatest Ships” readers’ survey.

Celebrity Cruises fleet includes the Century Class, Millennium Class, Xpedition Class, and Journey Class. Entered into service between 1995 and 1997, the Century Class includes Century, Galaxy, and Mercury. The Celebrity Cruises Century Class is popular for contemporary design, signature Celebrity amenities, and the use of modern technology.

Millennium Class features four vessels that were all introduced in the year 2000. Constellation, Infinity, Millennium, and Summit are considered the most technologically advanced vessels out of the entire Celebrity Cruises fleet. They are also among the most spacious and luxurious of all Celebrity ships.

Celebrity Cruises Xpedition Class features Celebrity Xpedition. Celebrity Xpedition was designed with the adventurous traveler in mind, meaning travelers interested in wandering off the beaten path. Smaller than the rest of the Celebrity cruise ships, Xpedition offers the passenger a more intimate environment and more personalize service. Xpedition, Celebrity’s newest ship, accommodates 98 comfortably.

Finally, Celebrity’s Journey Class features Celebrity Journey and Celebrity Quest. Celebrity Journey accommodates 700 comfortably and features a full-service spa and martini bar, while Celebrity Quest features a Martini Bar, Cova Cafe, a Casino, Michael’s Club, Boutique C, the AquaSpa by Elemis and butler service in every stateroom. Celebrity Quest accommodates 710 comfortably.

Because of the smaller size of some Celebrity Cruises vessels, they can navigate exotic locations with ease and they also allow the passenger to get up close and personal with the natural environment. This doesn’t mean that the larger ships don’t travel to exciting places as well, fortunately there are plenty of amazing destinations around the world to accommodate big or small ships.

Celebrity Cruises destinations include: Alaska, Australia/New Zealand, Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada/New England, Caribbean, Europe, Galapagos, Hawaii, Pacific Northwest, Panama Canal, South America, and Transatlantic sailings. Celebrity Cruises offers short and extended cruises anywhere from a few days up to 19 days or more. A variety of land and shore excursions are offered depending on destination. Celebrity Cruises also offers pre and post cruise package deals.

Interested in booking a Celebrity cruise? Contact your local travel agent or visit the Celebrity Cruises official website: To book a Celebrity Cruise, visit the official Celebrity Cruises website at www.celebritycruises.com. You can also call a Celebrity Cruises representative toll-free at 1-800-647-2251 for reservations.

Tip: If you’re interested in shopping and comparing prices on Celebrity Cruises vacations, visit any of the websites below to check out the latest Celebrity cruise deals. In addition, visit any of the cruise review websites listed at the bottom of the page to find out what previous passengers have to say about their Celebrity cruise experience.

Kayak.com
Expedia.com
Orbitz.com
Travelocity.com
CheapTickets.com
VacationsToGo.com
Cruise411.com
Cruise.com

Cruise Review Websites

Cruisecritic.com,
Cruisereviewsonline.com
Cruisereport.com,
Cruisedirectonline.com
Cruisemates.com

Cruisecritic.com offers more than just reviews, this site has several search functions to help you find everything from bargains and discounts to theme cruises, and exotic itineraries. The site also includes features, news, planning tools, and a variety of cruise message boards where fellow cruisers can exchange stories and information.

Cruisemates.com offers short reviews and ratings. The two types of ratings include: star ratings and value ratings. Star ratings are based on one question — “how good is this ship?” One star is the worst, five stars is the best. Cruisemates.com takes everything from age and accommodations to food, service, and entertainment into account when rating the worlds cruise ships. Value ratings or ‘thumbs up’ ratings are all about the “Bang for your Buck.” Five thumbs up means the ship is an excellent value while one thumb up means you won’t find much of anything that resembles a value here.

Reviews, ratings, rankings, and popularity contests — at Cruisereviewsonline.com find out which cruise ships are at the top and which ones are not. Get other information on cruise lines, as well as information, ratings and rankings on embarkation ports, and ports-of-call.

Cruisereport.com offers the lowdown on cruise lines from A to Z. Unbiased reviews, cruise searches, quotes, and feature articles are just a few of the sites extras. You can also search for the perfect cruise, and browse through news pieces about cruising. After checking out their ratings and reviews, you can also search for discounts and deals. With more than 50,000 visitors per month, Cruisereport.com has information on roughly 8,500 current sailings.

Cruisedirectonline.com relies on reader surveys to help keep reviews & ratings in check. In addition to cruise ship reviews and ratings, visitors to the site will find top ten and top thirty lists, as well as feature articles about the best of the best in the world of cruises. The site has other information about discounts, as well as information on roughly 12,000 sailings. Cruise Direct Online has been featured in Frommer’s Budget Travel Magazine, and on MSNBC, CNBC, MSN Money, and more.

To learn about Celebrity X Cruises and job openings, visit the official website at www.celebritycruises.com. In the “About Us” section, you will find a profile of the company, the company’s history, the company’s philosophy, information about the leadership team, a letter from Celebrity X Cruise line President, career opportunities, the company’s ideas about environmental stewardship, investor relations, and corporate governance.

The other tabs offer additional information about Celebrity X including contact information, ship information, and information on specific cruises.

Follow the “Careers” tab on the right-hand side of the screen to learn about available positions, the job application process, and employee benefits. Benefits include the ability to participate in the employee development programs and career growth opportunities along with more traditional benefits such as vacation time and health insurance. Other benefits include free air travel to and from the ship, free meals, free accommodations, and discounts on services aboard the ship.

To learn more about benefits by follow the “Benefits” tab on the Career page. There are three additional links if you’re interested in information about what working for Celebrity X is like, job searches, and jobs onboard. To learn about current cruise ship jobs on Celebrity X Cruises, follow the job search or jobs onboard links. Once you have found an opening that you are interested in, you must follow the application instructions carefully to be considered for the position.

To Contact Celebrity X Cruises, call 800.256.6649. You can also email Celebrity X by clicking on the “E-mail Us” links throughout the site. This will redirect you to an online contact form. For contact information for Celebrity X cruise offices around the globe, visit: www.celebritycruises/contactus.

U.S. Offices

Celebrity X
1050 Caribbean Way
Miami, FL 33132

Holiday Caribbean cruises | Inside staterooms from $599 per person. Book now for a memorable holiday cruise on any of 8 stunning ships and 19 spectacular itineraries of 5 to 14 nights.

Cruise the Caribbean from $599
7 stunning ships. 27 sun-drenched itineraries. Over 7 nights or more. Starting from just $599 per person. Book now to take advantage of these special offers.

Europe | Inside Staterooms from $1,699 per Person
Experience Europe’s favorite cities on voyages that combine historical charm with contemporary flair. Multiple itineraries from 10 nights and up.

Alaska | Up to $300 onboard credit offer
Reserve an Alaska Cruisetour on selected Celebrity Millennium® sailings and receive up to $300 in onboard credit.

Panama Canal cruises | Inside staterooms from $1,249 per person
Book now for a great deal on any of 4 amazing cruise ships and 15 memorable itineraries of 13 to 15 nights.

You can secure Celebrity Cruise discounts and deals using several other tips as well.
For deals and discounts, you can start by booking your cruise in advance. Cruise lines offer special incentives, credits, and cash back just for booking far in advance. If you don’t mind waiting until the last minute, you may enjoy special Celebrity Cruise deals up to 75 percent off. If any given Celebrity Cruise is not booked solid several weeks or so before the cruise departs, prices take a dive.

Other ways to enjoy a cheap Celebrity Cruise include: booking off-season, booking with a group, taking advantage of package deals, and booking online (in most cases).

If you want to book off-season, you will find the majority of the discounted Celebrity Cruises in year-around destinations. For example, slow or shoulder seasons for say Alaska, may differ from the Mexican Riviera. Here is a list of destinations and their slow seasons: Alaska, May and September; Bermuda, April-May and September-October; Canada/New England, July-August; the Caribbean, late April-May, September-early January; Hawaii, late August, late November, and February; Mexican Riviera, early January and May, October-November; Eastern and Western Mediterranean, March-April and September-November.

Besides Celebrity Cruise deals for groups and families, Celebrity Cruises may also offer discounts for seniors. A senior is typically defined as a person who is 55 or older. Unfortunately, in order to lock in senior rates, you cannot book online. You must call a cruise travel specialist or book directly with Celebrity Cruises. Proof of age is required.

For more Celebrity cruise deals visit any of the following popular discount booking search engines:

Kayak.com
Expedia.com
Orbitz.com
Travelocity.com
CheapTickets.com
VacationsToGo.com
Cruise411.com
Cruise.com

About Celebrity Cruises

Founded in 1989, Celebrity Cruises main objective was to offer high quality cruises at affordable prices. Another main objective was to make the dining experience the highlight of the cruise experience by offering the finest gourmet cuisine at sea. This means elaborate dining areas and cuisine made from scratch using only the freshest ingredients around. The dining focus is believed to be a first in the cruise industry.

In 1995, Celebrity Cruises launched the Century-class fleet and another industry first — a luxury spa experience within the environment of a cruise ship with the introduction of the AquaSpa by Elemis. Roughly two successful years later, in 1997, Celebrity Cruises merged with Royal Caribbean International, a heavy-hitter in the industry. Together, the company has a total of 29 ships in service.

In 2000, Celebrity Cruises was responsible for yet another industry first, the launch of Millennium, featuring the industry’s first application of gas turbine engines, which reduce exhaust emissions by up to 95 percent over traditional propulsion systems. Several industry first’s followed such as Acupuncture at Sea and Celebrity Xpeditions. According to the company website, Celebrity Xpeditions, introduced in 2004, is a series of unique events and excursions designed to offer savvy travelers once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to be treated famously in new environments, such as the Galapagos Islands, and a series of premium excursion options on select itineraries.

Celebrity Cruises has the youngest fleet sailing today, yet its ships are ranked among the best in the world. Each ship has it’s own style and most travel to the some of the same destinations including: Alaska, Australia/New Zealand, Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada/New England, Caribbean, Europe, Galapagos, Hawaii, Pacific Northwest, Panama Canal, South America, and Transatlantic voyages.

Celebrity’s fleet is divided into four classes including: Century Class, Millennium Class, Xpedition Class, and Journey Class. Century Class features Century, Galaxy and Mercury. Century Class vessels entered service between 1995 and 1997 and are popular for their contemporary design, signature Celebrity amenities and use of modern technology.

Millennium Class features four vessels that were all introduced in the year 2000. Constellation, Infinity, Millennium and Summit are considered the most technologically advanced vessels out of the entire fleet. They are also among the most spacious and luxurious of the Celebrity cruise ships.

Xpedition class features Celebrity Xpedition. Celebrity Xpedition was designed with the adventurous traveler in mind, meaning travelers interested in wandering off the beaten path. Smaller than the rest of the Celebrity cruise ships, Xpedition offers the passenger a more intimate environment and more personalize service. Xpedition, Celebrity’s newest ship, accommodates 98 comfortably.

Finally, Celebrity Cruises Journey Class features Celebrity Journey and Celebrity Quest. Celebrity Journey accommodates 700 comfortably and features a full-service spa and martini bar, while Celebrity Quest features a Martini Bar, Cova Cafe di Milano, a Casino, Michael’s Club, Boutique C, the AquaSpa by Elemis and butler service in every stateroom. Celebrity Quest accommodates 710 comfortably.

Mini-cruises may stand alone or they might be part of a larger itinerary. When part of a larger itinerary, mini-cruises may include exotic river cruises, small yacht cruises, or small expedition cruises that travel where larger ships cannot. Mini cruises offer the same variety of entertainment, dining options and leisure facilities that are found on longer sailings, but they are designed to allow passengers to get the most out of their time onboard.

Some mini-cruises may take place during the week, but many take place on weekends. These types of cruises are packaged as “weekend getaways.” Popular destinations for weekend cruises include The Bahamas, The Western Caribbean, The Pacific Northwest, and Baja Mexico. Pacific Northwest mini-cruises typically last for three nights and they leave from Seattle. Bahamas cruises leave from Miami for three nights, and Western Caribbean cruises leave from Miami for four nights. Baja Mexico cruises leave from Los Angeles for three nights.

These are not the only mini-cruises available. Most cruise lines offer short cruises, but some of the most popular mini-cruises are offered through:

-Royal Caribbean
-Disney Cruise Line
-Carnival Cruise Line
-Celebrity Cruises

Prices for mini-cruises are “mini” too. Thanks to the shorter duration of the cruises, the are perfect for cruisers that are short on time and money. Depending on the type of accommodations, a mini-cruise may cost as little as $150 per person for an interior suite, up to $500 for a deluxe suite. You can also save money on mini-cruises by booking through a discount booking search engine such as Kayak or CheapTickets.com. The links to the most popular discount booking search engines are provided below.

Kayak.com
Expedia.com
Orbitz.com
Travelocity.com
CheapTickets.com
VacationsToGo.com
Cruise411.com
Cruise.com

So why take a mini-cruise? Mini-cruises are a perfect way to test the waters (no pun intended). If it’s your first cruise, a mini-cruise will let you know if you will get seasick, if you are ok with crowds, if you will like the cruise experience overall, the food, entertainment, etc. Next, as stated earlier, mini-cruises are less expensive than longer cruises. Mini-cruises also allow you to visit a variety of locations in a short amount of time without having to deal with flying or staying overnight in multiple locations. And finally, if you are short on time and you only have a few days to unwind, a mini-cruise offers just enough time to accomplish your goals.

To book a mini-cruise, visit any of the websites listed in this article or use the Ships and Cruises Directory to locate dozens of different cruise lines around the world.

Just a few of the best Christmas cruise this year include Norwegian Cruise Lines 9-night Southern Caribbean Cruise, Carnival Cruises 8-night Western Caribbean Cruise, Celebrity Cruises 8-night Eastern Caribbean Cruise, and P&O’s popular Calypso Christmas and Magical Mediterranean.

To book a Norwegian, Carnival, of Celebrity Christmas cruise, just click the cruise line above to go directly to the official website to get started. P&O Cruises’ Calpyso Christmas and Magical Mediterranean cruises depart on the 17th and the 20th (CC) and19th (MM) of December. *Descriptions of each cruise are as follows:

*The Caribbean’s laid-back charm and idyllic islands are certain to make your Christmas go with a swing. Exchange the frantic festive rush for lounging by the pool with a good book, relaxing on deck with a Planter’s Punch and exploring a different island almost every day and feel the Christmas spirit mount!

2010 cruises:

-Aurora R016 departs 17 Dec 10 for 23 nights
-Ventura N031N departs 17 Dec for 15 nights, Ventura N031B departs 17 Dec 10 for 28 nights and Ventura N031C departs 18 Dec 10 for 28 nights
-Oceana E027 departs 20 Dec 10 for 14 nights

Combine all the magic of Christmas with some stunning destinations in the Mediterranean on this Arcadia holiday. From the piazzas and fountains of Rome to the chic Riviera atmosphere of Cannes and the buzz of Barcelona where you’ll see in 2011, you’re sure to have a Christmas and New Year to remember.

2010 cruises:

-Arcadia J022 departs 19 Dec 10 for 17 nights

To book a P&O Christmas cruise for this year or 2011, visit the official P&O Cruises website at
www.pocruises.com. If you are feeling a little adventurous and you want to book a P&O cruise last minute, you are in for a treat. At this close to the departure date, your cruise could cost up to 75% less than regular price. Please visit the website or simply call P&O cruises at 0845 678 00 14 for details.

P&O Address and Hours:

P&O Cruises
Carnival House
100 Harbour Parade
Southampton
SO15 1ST
Tel: 0845 678 00 14 (from U.S. 011 0845 678 00 14)
Fax: 023 8065 7030 (from U.S. 011 023 8065 7030)

Opening times:

Mon-Fri: 8.00 – 8:00
Saturday: 9:00 – 5:00
Sunday: 10:00 – 4:00

Discount Booking Search Engines

Kayak.com
Expedia.com
Orbitz.com
Travelocity.com
CheapTickets.com
VacationsToGo.com
Cruise411.com
Cruise.com

Sources

*P&O Cruises, www.pocruises.com
Cruise Compete, www.cruisecompete.com

Five major cruise lines feature weekly service from Seattle aboard 10 premier vessels. Norwegian Cruise Line and Celebrity Cruises depart from the Bell Street Pier Cruise Terminal at Pier 66. Holland America Line, Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean depart from the Terminal 30 Cruise Facility. Celebrity Cruises offers weekly departures to Alaska onboard the Infinity, plus 3 and 4 day Pacific Northwest itineraries on the Mercury. For sales information please contact your local travel agent or call (800) 722-5941.

Holland America Line offers seven-day cruises from Seattle to Alaska on the ms Amsterdam, ms Oosterdam and the ms Westerdam. Holland America passengers depart from the Terminal 30 Cruise Terminal located at the south end of Seattle’s downtown waterfront. For sales information please contact your local travel agent or call (877) 932-4259.

Norwegian Cruise Line has made Seattle its homeport for seven-day summer cruises to Alaska on board the Norwegian Star and Norwegian Pearl. Passengers depart from the Bell Street Pier Cruise Terminal at Pier 66 on Saturdays and Sundays. For sales information please contact your local travel agent or call (800) 327-7030.

Royal Caribbean offers seven-day cruises to Alaska on the Rhapsody of the Seas departing from Terminal 30 every Friday. For sales information please contact your local travel agent or call (866) 562-7625.

About Seattle Cruises Cruise Lines

Celebrity Cruises’ Infinity and Summit feature AquaSpas with thalassotherapy pools and a wide assortment of beauty treatments. Art aficionados on their way to Alaska will also appreciate the Celebrity’s impressive art collections as well. Guests aboard any of Celebrity’s 11 ships can expect an endless number of unforgettable cruises filled with excursions highlighting culture, wildlife, history, and geology. Alaska excursions will include all highlights along with everything from flightseeing and flights to the Arctic Circle to dog sledding.

Princess Cruise Lines and Holland America Cruise Line is considered the best Seattle to Alaska cruise line thanks to their excellent cruisetours. These cruise lines currently lead the industry in interior voyages (Alaska and Yukon Territory) and Holland has exclusive passage into the Yukons Kluane National Park, as well as Tombstone Territorial Park. Princess Cruise Line’s 7-day Gulf of Alaska cruise should be noted as well.

While the majority of Alaska cruise lines mentioned above are kid-free, there are several cruise lines that top the list for families interested in an Alaska cruise. Carnival Cruise Lines and Norwegian Cruise Line feature special shore excursions for kids and teens, as well as onboard activities that will keep kids busy during long days at sea. Royal Caribbean may also be a bit more family friendly.