Depending on the source, the top ten cruise lines list may vary greatly. There are so many categories to consider that it’s tough for top reviewers, websites, and travel guides to offer a simple top ten cruise lines list that will appeal to all. What cruise review/discount websites such as Cruisedirect.com do offer is top ten cruise lines lists in a number of different categories ranging from top ten cruise lines for staterooms or dining to top ten cruise lines for service or entertainment. That being said, there are a number of reliable sources that do offer their honest opinion about which lines deserve to be included on a top ten cruise lines (overall) list, but you won’t find the usual suspects on these lists. What you will find is top ten cruise lines with a common theme – the cruise lines listed are among the most expensive and luxurious cruise lines on the market today – and most carry 400 passengers or less.
According to Gayot.com, a well-respected source of reviews for hotels, wine, spas, movies, automobiles, cookbooks, fashion, aviation, and contemporary culture, the top ten cruise lines or rather “The World’s 10 Best Cruise Lines” are: Abercrombie & Kent, Butterfield & Robinson, Crystal Cruises, Hebridean Island Cruises, Lindblad Expeditions, SeaDream Yacht Club, Silversea Cruise Line, Viking River Cruises, Windstar Cruises, and The Yachts of Seabourn. Gayot.com (pronounced guy-OH), based its picks on the level of personal service, luxury, facilities, amenities, gourmet restaurants, staterooms, and size.
Sites such as Traveltruth.com are right in line with Gayot.com, with several differences. Traveltruth.com’s top ten cruise lines list includes: Silversea Cruise Line, Regent Seven Seas, SeaDream Yacht Club, The Yachts of Seabourn, The World of Residensea, Crystal Cruises, Cunard Line, Oceania Cruises, Azamara Cruises, and Windstar Cruises. Traveltruth.com also recommends the following cruise lines: Sea Cloud Cruises, Hebridean Island Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Lindblad Cruises, and surprisingly, Disney Cruise Line.
Not everyone loves small ships. In fact, large ships are the preferred type of vessel for families, large groups of friends, and for theme cruisers. Travel+Leisure listed its “Top Ten Large-Ship Cruise Lines” and its “Top Ten Small-Ship Cruise Lines” in the world for 2007. And the winners in the large-ships category are: Crystal Cruises, Regent Seven Seas, Oceania Cruises, Disney Cruise Line, Cunard Line, Celebrity Cruises, Holland America Line, Orient Line, Princess Cruises, and Royal Caribbean International. For small-ships, Travel+Leisure lists the top ten cruise lines as SeaDream Yacht Club, The Yachts of Seabourn, Silversea Cruises, Abercrombie & Kent, Windstar Cruises, Grand Circle Small Ship Cruises, Avalon Waterways, Majestic America Line, Clipper Cruise Line, and Peter Deilmann Cruises. Keep in mind that the majority of vessels in large ship lines carry more than 400 passengers, and small-ships carry less that 400.
If you’re looking for more information about the top ten cruise lines, visit any of the links included in this article or visit sites such as Expedia.com to check out which cruise ships are best sellers. For links to all cruise websites listed in this article visit: ShipsandCruises.com.