How to Master the Difference in Cruise Lines

A Quick and Easy Way for Boomers to Master the Difference in Cruise Lines

You’ve started planning your next vacation and decided you’re ready to take your first cruise. But oh, my goodness there are a lot of cruise lines out there! How do you know the difference in cruise lines? Some of your friends say Carnival is the way to go. Others say Celebrity. And other friends swear by Regent Seven Seas. How do you choose? My friends, let’s head back to a simpler time, when you first learned to drive.

Remember General Motors of the 60s and 70s?

Do you remember the General Motors line up, Chevrolet, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Buick, Cadillac and GMC trucks? There were a lot of different brands to choose from in this one company!

Chevrolet

“See the USA in your Chevrolet!” (I know in your head you are hearing Dinah Shore singing those words.) Everyone could afford a Chevy! It was the entry level automobile. Yet even within this brand you could find different levels. You could get the standard Chevy II (which even was available as a station wagon for families.)

(Yep, that’s me all the way in the back. Remember when we used to ride back there? It was always great fun!) Or you could go the top of the line and drive the Caprice. Even though they were at a lower price point, Chevy sold their vehicles on the fact that they were a good value for the dollar.

Pontiac

Pontiac was available for the sportier side of your life. In the 60s it was the GTO. (Cue up Ronny and the Daytonas singing “Little GTO.” Now that’s going to stay in your head all day.) Seriously, who didn’t want a Firebird in the 70s? Let’s face it; “Pontiac builds excitement”, was a tagline we couldn’t resist. (Don’t tell me you aren’t picturing Burt Reynolds and Sally Field driving in that T-top Firebird.)

Oldsmobile

Then there was Oldsmobile. The interior of the Olds was a little more refined. Nicer finishes. A larger car with a more classic look. “There’s something extra about owning an Olds!” You were definitely stepping up when you moved to an Oldsmobile. You had made it; you were established.

Buick

Next up, the Buick. (“Wouldn’t you really rather have a Buick?”) Buick was a pretty big step up from the Olds. A much more luxurious interior. More amenities and conveniences included or available. By the time you were looking at buying a Buick, you could afford a bit of luxury. I remember when I was about 8 years old a neighbor of ours had a red Buick convertible with a white interior. In my mind, I thought they must have been really rich to have a car like that!

Cadillac

At the top of the General Motors roster was the Cadillac. Cadillac was exclusive. It “created a higher standard.” The body of a Cadillac looked so different; you wouldn’t know it had the same chassis as some of the other lower end cars of the GM family. If it was good enough for Elvis… Well enough said!

GMC

Lastly there were GMC trucks. “Dependability” …That said it all. No messing around, just gets the job done.

GM Cars = Difference in Cruise Lines

Well, if you think about it, the cruise lines are set up pretty much the same way. Even though they are all cruise ships, there is a differentiation between the cruise lines. I’ll continue my General Motors analogy which will allow you to master the difference in cruise lines.

Contemporary Cruise Lines

Let’s start with the mass market, or contemporary, cruise lines: Carnival Cruises, NCL, MSC, and Royal Caribbean Cruises. They offer low price points to entice you in (the Chevy II, if you will). Or, if you desire, you can go for the top of the line stateroom, a suite (i.e. the Caprice) with lots of extra amenities that don’t come standard in the base model.

Since they start at a lower price point, these cruise lines attract those on a budget. Families abound on these ships. Of course, you’ll see young couples as well. And you’ll definitely see older couples. Sometimes when you travel, cost takes priority, and contemporary cruises fill the bill.

They offer loads of entertainment from ropes courses, to roller coasters, to ice skating rinks to flow riders. These ships are so big, they can offer venues that cruise lines never imagined of in the past.

Since there are so many families that sail on these cruise lines, they include special programs designed just for kids.

Contemporary cruise lines want to get you (lots and lots and lots of you) on board. Anywhere from 3,000 to 6,000 of you on each ship.

Upgrades cost extra

Would you like a window in your room? That will cost you extra. A balcony outside your room? That will be another upcharge. Would you like to dine in one of the restaurants where your food is served on fancy china? You get to pay for that too. Would you like a soda? Well, that will cost you extra, with a mandatory 18% gratuity added on.

Just like buying a car: Do you want an AM radio? That’s extra. Perhaps an AM/FM radio? Well, it will cost you a bit more. How about an automatic transmission or air conditioning? Maybe you want the bigger engine that will really impress the girls? Yep, those extras are all gonna cost you!

Once you’re on board, there’s a myriad of ways you can spend more money. The bars, casinos and spa for instance. There will be continual announcements throughout the day encouraging you to find the different venues where you can spend your money. Let’s face it, you didn’t pay a lot of money for the cruise, so the cruise line has to encourage you to spend more while you are on board. That’s where they make their profit.

As you can see, the mass market, or contemporary cruise lines fall into the Chevy category. Usually a great price at the onset. Then you can pick and choose the areas in which you wish to spend extra money.

Did I mention, that just like buying a car where you have tax, title and registration, with cruises you must add in taxes, fees and tips into the bottom line? (This applies to all the cruise lines, regardless of category.)

The ‘Chevy’ cruise lines attract the fun loving, party hearty, bring your kids along, contemporary cruisers.

Where they cruise

You’ll find many of these ships complete the same one or two itineraries over and over again. The itineraries will often encompass 3, 4, 5, or 7 nights. They will send a few ships to Europe and Alaska during the summer months, but you’ll find the majority of their itineraries are found in the Caribbean and Mexico.

Contemporary with a Twist

Let’s face it, no one builds excitement better than the Walt Disney Company, so I’ll put the Disney Cruise Line in the Pontiac category. It’s a lot slicker on the outside, but still the same basic cruise as the contemporary cruise lines when you get down to it. They do have cruises in Europe and Alaska, but 3, 4, and 7-day cruises in the Caribbean are their bread and butter. And trust me, you will find kids on a Disney cruise. Just like ‘Chevy’ cruise lines, there will be additional add ons to raise the price of that cruise.

However, if you are traveling with younger grandkids, the ships of Disney Cruise Line have the most impressive kids’ programs, hands down. They will be kept entertained. There are a lot of family venues at night, so you don’t have to worry about accidently taking the kids to an adult themed show. Conversely, Disney Cruise Line also offers plenty of adults only entertainment and areas on the ship. If you love everything Disney, you’ll love Disney Cruise Line.

Mid-Market Cruise Lines

If you feel the need, you can move up to the mid-market cruises. The ‘Oldsmobiles’ of the cruise industry if you will. That would be Holland American Line, Princess Cruises, or Celebrity Cruises. The finishes are much nicer. And the pace a bit slower.

There might be a little more included in the base model, but mostly, it just looks better; more refined if you will. As with the contemporary cruises, everything is a la carte. And as with Oldsmobile, those that purchase a mid-market cruise will be a little older, and not necessarily traveling with children. (Although there will probably be some children on board.)

You’ll still pay more for a room with a view, or a balcony. Or, you can go top of the line and get a suite with a few more perks. They don’t have all the flashy bells and whistles, i.e. roller coasters, ropes courses and ice-skating rinks like you will find on the mass market cruises. But there are still things to do, like cooking classes or guest lecturers to keep you entertained.

Smaller but not small

With 1,500 to 3,000 passengers, mid-market ships are a bit smaller than those of the contemporary cruise lines.

You’ll also find mid-market cruise lines typically have a variety of destinations available. They may sail in Alaska or Europe during the summer months and move back to the Caribbean or Mexico in the winter. Although they might be slightly longer itineraries, they typically sail the same itinerary week after week in those locations.

There are shows every evening, and things happening around the ship throughout the day. But, if you are looking for a bit of quite time to sit down and read a good book, or listen to your favorite podcast, there will be places to do that too.

For a bit of variety, mid-market cruise lines often offer a World Cruise or Grand Voyages with longer itineraries on a limited number of ships. You might find these ships sailing around Australia, South America and Asia.

Premium Cruise Lines

Then we have the ‘Buicks’ of the cruise lines. The premium cruises. The ships of these lines tend to be much smaller with fewer passengers, up to 1,500, but usually less. They sail on longer itineraries. These lines, such as Viking Ocean Cruises and Oceania Cruises, don’t focus on one location but move around the world. Because the ships are smaller, they can go to more unusual ports of call that the larger cruise ships can’t access.

A cruise on one of these ships is a higher cost per day, but the cost typically includes things like airfare, a refrigerator in the room stocked with bottled water and your favorite soft drinks. Specialty dining may be included. Shore excursions are often included as well. Read the fine print, because you may find that the cost of the taxes and fees are already included in their pricing.

I will say that Cunard should probably be put into this category, in the fact that they sail longer itineraries and go to different destinations around the world. However, the three ships of their fleet are larger, and they don’t include as much in their pricing.

Luxury Cruise Lines

Lastly, we have the ‘Cadillacs’. The luxury cruise lines of Seabourn, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Sea Dream Yacht Club, and Crystal Cruises. Some of these lines have even smaller ships than the premium lines.

Like Cadillac, they sell exclusivity. If you sail on these lines, you are somebody.

You will find just about everything included in the price. And yes, it’s typically expensive, but you’ll find that they offer things that the other cruise lines can’t provide. For instance, a special concert at a port of call. Or top tier guest lecturers or performers (sometimes both). There is often no tipping with these cruise lines, and you can bet the service will be impeccable.

You will usually find fewer categories of staterooms on these lines. In many cases, even their lowest level stateroom will have a balcony. These are the cruise lines that offer walk in closets, and double sinks in the bathroom. Sometimes even a shower and a tub. Even on a long cruise you will find you have plenty of room for you and all your belongings with no worries. (Remember, not every luxury cruise line is the same, read the room descriptions before you choose.)

Expedition Cruise Lines

We can’t forget the ‘GMCs’ of the cruise industry. These are the lines that will take you on expeditions, like to Antarctica, Africa, or the Galapagos Islands. You can depend on them to get you there and back.

Actually, these cruise lines run the gamut from luxurious to pretty basic, but the destination is the selling point, not the ship. Lines such as Azamara, Quark, Ponant, and National Geographic-Lindblad will be found in this group.

Uncategorized Cruise Lines

Not all the cruise lines fit neatly into one category. Particularly, the river cruise lines, and the sailing ships. Overall, I would say they fall into the premium and luxury categories. But they don’t quite fit in as well. They aren’t necessarily as luxurious, and they don’t usually include as much in the price. But they do provide unique experiences that you won’t find on any contemporary or mid-market cruise line.

River cruise lines have smaller ships just due to the nature of where they are sailing. Some of these lines, particularly those in Europe, have included more in the price, such as soft drinks and wine with meals, and an escorted tour of each city. But, if you take a river cruise in the US, you will find it to be less inclusive and more a la carte in pricing.

Still Not Sure Which Cruise Line is a Better Fit?

Just like you will find in car advertising, the cruise lines advertise where their target market is most likely to be found. You’ll find the contemporary cruise lines advertise a great deal on television. If you happen to read something along the lines of Good Housekeeping Magazine, you’ll see advertisements for the contemporary and mid-market cruise lines. But, if you’re reading Bon Appetite, Decanter or Conde Nast Traveler magazines, you’ll find the premium and luxury lines advertised.

Pay attention to the ads in the magazines you are reading, you’ll see which cruise lines fit with the typical reader. That will give you a clue as to which cruise line might be more in line with your interests.

More Information on Cruise Lines

If you’re looking for more information on a particular ship, Cruise Mapper offers a great list of all cruise lines, their ships and passenger capacities that you can use for reference. You can also visit the Cruise Line International Association (CLIA) for links to their member cruise lines.

Now Do You See the Difference in Cruise Lines?

Well, I hope that little trip down memory lane helped you to understand the difference in cruise lines. There really is no right or wrong. Different cruise lines check off different boxes.

Traveling with the extended family? A contemporary cruise might be perfect.

Ready to head off and collect that 7th continent? An expedition cruise will work well.

Perhaps you want to celebrate that special anniversary, just the two of you? That would be a great time to splurge on a luxury cruise line.

Just like learning which brand car made you happiest, you might need to try out a few before you find the cruise line that feels the most comfortable. Or, you may find that you like more than one, and there’s nothing wrong with that!

Let’s face it, there are some days we just want to leave the Caddy in the garage, and be the coolest thing in town when you “turn it on, wind it up, blow it out’ in your vintage GTO!

I admit, I’m a premium cruise line gal. I’m all about destinations now, so the contemporary and mid-market cruise lines don’t meet my needs. How about you? What cruise lines do you like and why? I’d love to hear from you. Share your thoughts below in the comments section. And don’t forget to share this blog post with your friends!