Added: 06/21/2005 |
Cruise linersToday in catalogues of cruise companies all over the world you can find liners to your taste: from reasonably priced to luxurious ones. Often the difference between two "neighboring" classes is rather relative. What liner should you choose?
In order to structure market and organize work with the most exacting cruisers on a high level, the leaders of cruise market use the world-known and independent guide "Berlitz Ocean Cruising & Cruise Ships", which is renewed every year. Rating of each liner consists of more than 400 points. For example, ship can be very modern in design and interior, but if meals, service, staff's hospitality fall short of requirements that summarized rating won't be high.
Ships of "standard" class concern to economic liners. These are the companies, which own such liners as: Carnival Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean International, Princess Cruises and others. Although cruises of these operators are not expensive, they offer their passengers rather vast spectrum of entertainment abroad and also worthy level of service.
"Premium" class consists of such companies as Holland America Line, Celebrity Cruises, Windstar Cruises. Cruises on these liners cost more, but passengers are offered more qualitative and manifold meals, and more services on the liner.
The most expensive are liners of "lux" class. Such companies as Crystal Cruises, Cunard Line, Seadream Yachts, Yachts of Seabourn, Radisson Seven Seas Cruises own these ships. They offer the best spectrum of services providing luxury cruise vacations.
You also should notice the higher liner class, the more natural materials and items of art in its interior, the more natural flowers, etc. And at the same time the attitude to evening dress is stricter.
Often liner's class depends on what its technical equipment is like. Important factors are ship's age, level of technical maintenance, outward paint, arrangement of open decks, condition of speed-boats and life-boats, etc.
Common condition of liner's interiors, height of ceilings, arrangement of lobbies, stairs, rest halls, etc. - is of great importance for ship's rating. The range of comfort is determined by absence of crash's feeling. Naturally, the higher liner's class, the sparer place will be for each passenger.
Accommodation is one of the important points in classification. It also takes into account availability of balconies, light, furniture class in cabin and equipment of bath-room. The most rapt attention is paid to light, air-conditioning, audio-, video- equipment, items of art, presence of separate bed-room, also flowers and fruits (which always wait passengers of "premium" class), slippers, bathrobe, etc.
Standards of meals are very high. Every passenger has his own taste predilections, so cruise companies try to prepare meals to any taste. On liners of "lux" class meals are often cooked by clients' individual order.
So, the higher the liner's level, the better its service and meals are, and also the higher the price of cruise is. Those devoted to considerable and high-quality rest should choose a cruise company, which may offer them the highest-possible level of service. But if you are attracted by fun and entertainment, you should pay your attention to cruises of "standard" class.
Tastes differ!
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