| 1. The World of Residencia |
The World of Residencia was started by a Norwegian-led business group who wanted to recreate the atmosphere of being on a private yacht. It has previously been voted the World's Most Luxurious Cruise Experience in industry awards. Yet despite this cruise line being a cut above the rest, guests will be met with understated sophistication rather than overstated snobbery. You can even have a chance of owning a home on board and becoming part of this privileged community.
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| 2. Sea Cloud Cruise |
The Sea Cloud Cruise was voted number one by Condé Nast, probably the world's premiere travel magazine. It scored 94.2 out of 100 for its food and service as well as the varied excursions that it offers. The ship sails through exotic destinations in the Caribbean, North Africa and Europe. Guests are sure to be impressed by the luxurious wooden panelling and you can get from the Canary Islands to Barbados in just 17 days.
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| 3. Oceania Cruises |
Oceania Cruises is ideal if you fancy lots of company during a trip as this huge cruise line has ships which can accommodate anywhere between 500 and 1,500 passengers. Oceania Cruises has a reputation for being more relaxed than other cruise lines because it aims to create a laid-back family feeling where you can chill out without having to worry about dress codes. Oceania Cruises also offers many exciting destinations right the way from Alaska down to South America and all the way across Asia.
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| 4. Disney Cruise Line |
If you want this holiday to be all about the kids, then the Disney Cruise Line will certainly have plenty of the little blighters running around. Yet the company scores highly for all of the things that matter including food and service. The 900 state rooms on board offer a variety of accommodation and there are also separate activity areas for all age groups if you want to get some peace and quiet. The highlight on the Disney Cruise line is visiting the company's own private islands in the Bahamas – Castaway Cay.
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| 5. SeaDream Yacht Club |
In terms of a medium-size boutique Cruise line you cannot do better than the SeaDream Yacht Club. The company has won numerous awards including Best Cruise line in the world for 2007. Just over 100 guests are accommodated on this five-star boat which aims to give an experience more akin to yachting than cruising. SeaDream Yacht Club also offers various charters and allows you to plan your own voyage. As well as offering traditional transatlantic cruises you can incorporate various land excursions into the trip such as truffeling in Croatia.
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| 6. Lindblad National Geographic |
For really adventurous cruise destinations travel with the Lindblad National Geographic cruise line. In the same pioneering spirit as the famous nature magazine, the cruise line sails to some of the world's most intriguing destinations including the Galapagos Islands where Charles Darwin's theory of evolution was born. As a forward-thinker National Geographic prides itself on offering environmentally-friendly cruises and so is the perfect way to take a guilt-free holiday.
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| 7. Royal Caribbean |
If money matters then the Royal Caribbean Cruise line offers excellent value at a modest price. The company offers various itineraries in all of the top cruising destinations including Mexico and the Caribbean. Customer service is very high on the priority list with the option of customising your cruise, while Royal Caribbean offers various tips for cruise enjoyment on its website.
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| 8. Norwegian Cruise Lines |
Despite the name this experienced cruise line does not offer voyages through the incomparable fjords of Norway. The best European route starts in Venice and finishes in Rome after taking in the Greek islands and the Croatian coastline. Norwegian Cruise Lines was in fact one of the pioneering companies for Caribbean cruises and was the first to dock at Ocho Rios in Jamaica. It was also a trendsetter in terms of relaxed cruises with no formal mealtimes.
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| 9. Holland America Line |
The Dutch know a thing or two about sailing and the Holland America Line
has its headquarters in Rotterdam - one of the world's largest ports. Seven continents are served by 15 ships and more than 700,000 annual passengers can get from extreme winter scenery in Alaska to the idyllic tropical island of Half Moon Cay. Otherwise known as Little San Salvador this island is privately owned by the company. The Holland America Line is a subsidiary of the larger parent group, the Carnival Corporation.
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| 10. Cunard Line |
The Cunard Line is one of the oldest cruise lines which are still operating, having its origins all the way back in 1839. The line operates the famous ships named after British Queens such as the Queen Elizabeth Two (QE2) and the Queen Victoria (QV). These are just some of the hundreds of ships which the cruise line operated over the years. The Cunard Line has headquarters in both Southampton and Santa Clara, California. In terms of destinations its bread-and-butter is in the Mediterranean, the Caribbean and Europe.
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