Old Ships vs. New Ships: What’s in a Cruise Ship’s Age?

Posted on 22 October, 2014 by Spacejunkie2

New ships always seem to get the spotlight, touting outrageous onboard additions that strive for the consumer “wow” factor. But what about their tried-and-true fleetmates — a mix of vessels that have long since paid their dues and the hot new ships from a few years back? Sure, newer ships are often larger and more packed with diversions for every age and taste, but they can also be expensive and crowded, and as with anything new, there are sometimes bugs to be worked out. Older ships might show wear and tear, but cruise lines have been investing millions to keep their entire fleet outfitted with modern amenities and popular attractions.

To help you decide whether new is better or old is the way to go, we’ve compiled a list of elements to consider before making a choice, addressing key points like amenities and price. Check out the key contrasts below.

Ship Size

Large Ship vs. Small Ship New: As a rule, newer vessels are larger. It makes sense: As more bells and whistles are added, more space is needed to contain them. Although ship sizes vary widely across various fleets, a number of vessels have launched in the last decade that can carry what amounts to the population of a small city. Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas, the largest ships afloat, each comprise 17 decks and have room for 5,400 passengers. For purposes of comparison, Majesty of the Seas, the oldest ship in the Royal Caribbean fleet, has 12 decks and holds 2,350 passengers — less than half the capacity of the Oasis-class ships. Other lines have followed suit: Ships in Carnival’s 14-deck Dream Class each carry 3,690 passengers, and those in Norwegian’s 18-deck Breakaway Class accommodate 4,028 cruisers. You can easily get lost, though you are less likely to be alone.

Old: Old stalwarts, which are smaller in size and lighter on fanfare, offer more relaxing and intimate experiences. Sure, they still have plenty of glitz, but passengers don’t have to feel like they’re missing as many marquee activities if they choose to curl up in a lounge with a good book or veg out by the pool for half a day. Old ships are also more likely to have quieter spaces like libraries and card rooms. Smaller ships suit travelers who don’t like large crowds, have trouble traversing the long decks of the biggest ships and don’t want to think about which of the five different sun deck areas they should utilize. But watch out — some cruise lines have refurbished their older ships to add more cabins, both cutting back on available public areas and squeezing more people into the space that’s left.

Cabins

Family Suite New: As ships’ public areas become more glitzy and glamorous, so do their cabins. One trend we’ve seen with newer ships is an increase in the number of balcony accommodations, but although they’ve increased in number, many have also decreased in size. Take, for example, the balconies on Royal Princess and Regal Princess. Balconies on these twin ships, the newest in Princess’ fleet, average 41 square feet — smaller than those found on the line’s older ships. And the suites on new ships possess lots of wow factor, from cantilevered, glassed-in showers to Ralph Lauren décor and multiple levels of living space.

Beyond standard verandahs, cabins that specifically cater to certain groups are all the rage. From solo cabins (Norwegian Epic, Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Getaway; Quantum of the Seas) and two-deck suites (Oasis of the Seas, Allure of the Seas and Quantum of the Seas) to inside staterooms with virtual scenery (Disney Dream and Fantasy, Quantum of the Seas), specialty cabins have stolen the spotlight. New ships also tend to have more connecting cabins and family cabins and suites, perfect for larger travel parties.

Old: Older ships are generally the way to go if balcony space is important to you. However, you’ll have to book early; while balconies might be bigger, verandah cabins make up a smaller percentage of stateroom inventory on older ships. (Some older ships have had balcony cabins added during dry dock.) The plethora of cabin categories on newer ships might also make your head spin, so if you just want to keep it simple, consider an older ship. Carpeting and soft furnishings like curtains and bedding are upgraded frequently during refurbs; despite that, keep in mind that older ships might show signs of wear — scuffs, dings, outdated bathrooms — that newer vessels don’t.

Top-Deck Amenities

Top Deck Pool New: For active types or adults traveling with children, newer ships offer far more in the way of outdoor fun. Norwegian’s two newest vessels, Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Getaway, have ropes courses that are enough to make anyone dizzy — no fear of heights required. Meanwhile, Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas have zip lines and surf simulators, and Quantum of the Seas brings skydiving to the high seas for the first time by way of an outdoor simulator. In terms of water-based fun, Carnival offers the WaterWorks aquapark on its Dream-class vessels. The open-deck expanse is a haven for anyone who enjoys waterslides, featuring the Twister, a 303-foot-long corkscrew tube; the Drainpipe, a 104-foot tube that empties into a giant funnel; and two side-by-side racing slides.

Old: While most older ships offer mild outdoor pursuits like mini-golf, shuffleboard, Ping-Pong and possibly basketball, they’re much more low-key than newer ships. With swimming pools as their focus, they offer ideal spots for passengers to laze the days away in the sun, drinks in hand. That said, several lines have chosen to add some of the more popular upper-deck offerings to their older ships. Take Princess, for example, which has added Movies Under the Stars movie screens to most pool decks in its fleet after a successful debut on Caribbean Princess in 2004. Then there’s Carnival, which took its popular new Guy’s Burger Joint and Blue Iguana Cantina eateries and added them to the pool decks on most ships during its massive Fun Ship 2.0 upgrades. The line has also added waterslides to all ships in its fleet. For their parts, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian have installed rock climbing walls on many of their vessels.

Dining

New: Newer ships have lots of space to dedicate to dining. Sure, all vessels offer main dining rooms, but new concepts like Royal Caribbean’s Dynamic Dining (where there’s no set main dining room and cruisers can choose from a number of free and for-fee options) and Carnival’sAmerican Table (a revised list of comfort-food menu items that come in larger, shareable portions) are putting a new twist on traditional dinner options. Many specialty venues have been added on newer ships, as well, and you’ll have no trouble finding everything from Italian and Asian to French and seafood, most with cover charges but some without. Some ships, like Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Getaway, have even added dinner theater options, which include dinner and a show for a fee. If you’ve got a sweet tooth, watch out for gelato bars and specialty cake shops enticing you to snack between meals.

Old: Older, smaller ships tend to have more limited alternative dining options. But that’s a plus for passengers who prefer to avoid the nickel-and-diming associated with for-fee eateries, or those who prefer a smaller number of venues from which to choose. While some older vessels have gotten new dining additions, most remain pleasantly bare bones.

Activities & Entertainment

best-onboard-cruise-entertainment-blue-man-group New: Fun pursuits abound on newer ships, and they include some pretty incredible pastimes like parades, character breakfasts, roller skating and even bumper cars. Toss in some top-notch entertainment that rivals what you’d find ashore, and you’re in for an impressive cruise. AquaTheater, aboard Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas, features high-dive performances set against the backdrop of the ship’s wake. Additionally, the line has added Broadway shows on four of its newest ships: Quantum of the Seas (“Mamma Mia!”), Allure of the Seas (“Chicago”), Oasis of the Seas (“CATS”) and Liberty of the Seas (“Saturday Night Fever”). Norwegian has gone the same route, featuring “Legally Blonde” on Norwegian Getaway and “Rock of Ages” on sister ship Norwegian Breakaway. Other enticing options include added-fee dinner theater aboard Norwegian Getaway (Illusionarium), Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Epic (Cirque Dreams and Dinner). One downside to these events is that, for many of them (even if they’re free), tickets are required and can run out quickly.

Old: Entertainment aboard older ships is a bit more standard: Broadway revues, magicians, comedians and the like. However, several lines have brought their most recent offerings to older vessels. Most notably, Carnival added the Punchliner Comedy Club by George Lopez to most of its ships, in addition to “Hasbro, the Game Show,” where participants play giant versions of classic board games — like SORRY! and Connect 4 — on stage. The line also debuted its Carnival Live series of for-fee concerts aboard Carnival Fantasy and a handful of other ships in the fleet. Holland America has also livened up its entertainment across its family of vessels by adding Dancing with the Stars at Sea. Based on the popular TV show, the competition pits willing passengers against one another in a dance-off. Norwegian has plans to roll out its popular O’Sheehan’s pub (which offers free grub and for-fee arcade games) on a couple of its older vessels. Not to be outdone, Royal Caribbean has added performances by aerial acrobats to its entertainment lineup on some of its more seasoned ships.

Itineraries and Pricing

New: Because many passengers are willing pay a premium for the privilege of sailing on a newer ship, fresh-from-the-shipyard vessels are often based in the biggest markets. (Think Caribbean and Mediterranean.) The cruise lines have to fill all those thousands of berths, so you typically won’t find new ships on niche itineraries. In addition, huge ships like Oasis of the Seas are too big to dock at certain ports or sail through tight channels like the Panama Canal, so they are also constrained by their size. The combination of popular ports and a ship full of the latest innovations means cruise lines will ask top-dollar for cabins — and get it. The best cabins on these ships will also sell out more quickly than their fleetmates’. While you won’t find a lot of itinerary variety, it might not matter; many passengers would rather spend the time onboard taking in all the new attractions.

Old: Cruise lines have huge fleets these days — Carnival has more than 20 ships sailing — so the majority of their voyages are on older ships. These vessels sail every type of itinerary imaginable, from weekend cruises to multi-month round-the-world cruises. If you want to sail the islands of Hawaii or French Polynesia, ogle the scenery in Alaska or the Norwegian fjords, or head somewhere exotic like Asia or Australia, you’ll likely need an older ship. Typically, the very oldest ships in the fleet will be employed on shorter cruises from drive-to ports. These ships lend themselves perfectly to the cause, as they generally lack the extensive number of amenities that keep passengers busy during longer sailings on newer vessels. Pricing for older ships is often very itinerary dependent. An older ship sailing a well-traveled route will be lower than for a newer ship on a similar itinerary. On the flip side, exotic destinations or popular, short-season itineraries can pull in higher cabin fares.

Tips for Finding Peace and Quiet on a Cruise

Posted on 20 October, 2014 by Spacejunkie2

Cruising conjures visions of languidly flip-flopping up to some teak-swathed covered pool deck to enjoy a margarita and a good book under the Caribbean sun. But , while there certainly are opportunities for downtime, depending on the cruise, you may have to look harder to find them.

On a brilliantly sunny day at sea, for example, you might meander out to the pool only to find it overrun with fellow sun-worshippers , all fighting over the same few dozen deck chairs. Throngs of splashing, laughing children will have taken over the pools and the hot tubs, and the sound of the waves will have been drowned out by an outdoor movie’s soundtrack, the resident reggae band or a raucous belly-flop contest.

But, if you try just a little harder, peace is still possible to find. You can rent a private cabana for a few hours, or claim a lounger in an adults-only section of the deck. You can retreat to the spa or to the pool on a sunny shore day, when everyone else is exploring off the ship. The bottom line? Cruising can be equal parts amped-up and low-key, sociable and solitary. What you personally experience may depend on where you are on the ship at a certain time of day, which ship or cruise line you’ve chosen, the itinerary and how much extra you’re willing to budget for your vacation.

While there are no hard and fast rules guaranteeing a quiet getaway, we’ve compiled some basic tips to help you tune out distractions — and fellow passengers — while you cruise. But first, here’s what to avoid as you aim for a serene sailing:

Inside cabins. Don’t book a windowless, cheerless, 150-square-foot stateroom cabin if your idea of relaxation means spending time alone or as a couple, away from cruising’s stereotypically chummy, social scene. Living in cramped quarters only forces you out more into the ship’s hustle and bustle.

World cruises or “Grand Voyages.” If you’ve the soul of a hermit crab, these lengthy voyages aren’t for you; they attract affable crowds of repeat cruisers and promote social bonding amongst crew and passengers. In other words, you’ll be drawn out of your shell, regardless of how much you long to stay in there.

Theme cruises. These full or partial charters essentially take over a ship or a substantial number of cabins. Nearly everything revolves around the theme, and the experience is all about connecting like-minded folks socially in big-group activities.

School holidays. The minute school’s out, mainstream cruise ships tend to fill with children — especially on itineraries of less than seven days. That isn’t a problem if you’re cruising as a family. Choose Disney Cruise Line for the littlest ones or Royal Caribbean for tweens and teens, as both have ideal setups to whisk your brood off to play and out of your hair. But if you’re booking a “grown-up” cruise, you’ll find a more relaxing atmosphere on posh lines like Regent Seven Seas,Paul Gauguin Cruises, Seabourn Cruise Line or river lines like Uniworld. Looking for a more budget-oriented getaway? Stick to the mainstream lines when school is in session.

Now, our top tips for finding peace and quiet when you cruise:

Accommodations

Book a sanctuary. Big balcony suites make for an idyllic retreat, with extra living space inside and a private verandah — no fighting over chairs! — outside. When the crowds on deck or in public areas become overwhelming, you can seek solace in your cabin. Even standard balconies work well for this — so long as the balcony is truly private. (It shouldn’t afford a view of you to passengers on decks above.) And since balcony cabins are an increasingly standard feature on newer ships, you may be able to upgrade affordably, especially if you book during a balcony or upgrade sale.

Live at the spa. Spa suites and cabins, a recent trend on cruise ships, allow passengers to create their own spa-themed experiences onboard with accommodations near the spa, V.I.P. spa privileges and soothing in-cabin amenities like spa showers and yoga mats. However, perks vary widely from line to line. Residents in AquaClass cabins on someCelebrity Cruises ships get unlimited access to the spa’s Persian Garden aromatherapy steam room and Relaxation Room, as well as access to their own specialty, healthy-eating restaurant called Blu.Costa Cruises passengers booked in Samsara Spa cabins or suites receive two spa treatments, two fitness classes, unlimited use of the thalassotherapy pool and a reserved table in the Samsara restaurant. Other lines with spa accommodations include Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland Americaand NCL.

Spend your way to quiet times. Classed cruising is making a comeback, so you can spend more money to maximize privacy and R&R. Book a Courtyard Villa on an NCL ship to enjoy spacious accommodations and a luxe ship-within-a-ship experience. Onboard Norwegian Epic, for example, villa residents have exclusive access to their own pool and sundeck, gym, dining and nightclub facilities. On Cunard ships, Queen’s Grill passengers have their own dining rooms, sun decks and lounge areas, not to mention fabulous accommodations — including two-floor luxury duplexes onQueen Mary 2 — and butler service.

Book a kid-friendly cabin. If you’re traveling with the family, minimize your stress by booking a cabin designed with families in mind. Disney cabins come with a split bathroom design (a toilet and sink on one side, a shower/tub and sink on the other), allowing you to maximize the efficiency of kids’ daily bath-and-bedtime routines — and consequently maximize pleasurable downtime for you. Family cabins on lines like Royal Caribbean, Princess Cruises and Celebrity offer separate bedrooms for kids, or at least partitions between the pullout sofas and the master bed, so parents can stay up with the light on while the little ones are tucked in their beds.

Pay attention to location. Cabins on some ships don’t shut out ambient noise entirely, so if you want a blissfully quiet in-cabin experience, make sure the laundry room, elevators or other noisy public facilities aren’t within earshot. (That includes above or below your cabin.) Waking up early due to loud conversations in the laundry room across the hall or being kept awake due to the thumping disco overhead does not make for a relaxing getaway.

Dining

Free yourself for dinner. Allowing guests to choose when to eat and with whom is becoming the rule — not the exception — in cruising, and it’s great for those who prefer intimate meals to the exchange of pleasantries at an assigned table. Lines like NCL, Regent Seven Seas and Silversea Cruises are always open-seating, while lines like Princess and Holland America let passengers choose between open seating in one dining room or set seating in another. Just know that on the larger ships, you might have to wait for a table for two at peak times.

Try breakfast (or lunch, or dinner) in bed. You’ll be guaranteed a table for two when you choose to dine in your cabin. Try breakfast in bed, lunch on your balcony and dinner at the table in your cabin. Some lines go above and beyond to turn room service into an event. Princess Cruises’ Ultimate Balcony Dinner (for an extra fee) features a course-by-course meal with soothing ocean views and perks like souvenir photos. Luxury lines like Silversea and Seabourn offer course-by-course in-cabin dining from the menu in the main restaurant, free of charge.

Consider the alternative. Large and small ships these days are offering bistro-style “alternative” restaurants, where you’ll need to book ahead and (in many cases) pay extra for a more intimate dining experience. However, you can easily make reservations for a table for two and avoid forced socialization with other passengers. Options run the gamut from upscale (Carnival’s steakhouses) and quirky (Celebrity’s Qsine), to exotic (Holland America’s Tamarind), theatrical (NCL’s Cirque Dreams and Dinner) and casual (Royal Caribbean’s Johnny Rockets).

Eat off-peak. Even with flexible dining, a full dining room can mean the only choice you’re offered is whether to share a table for eight or ten. Plan to arrive for dinner once the rush is over or before it’s begun to maximize your chances of snagging a quieter table for two.

Eat ashore. For a truly authentic meal in a foreign clime, port days await. Lunch ashore is always a possibility, since you typically won’t need to hoof it back to the ship until around 5 or 7 p.m. Ocean-going lines like Star Clippers and SeaDream, as well as most river cruises, may stay ashore well into the evening or overnight, affording plenty of time for relaxing dinners. Not only will you not have to sit with people you don’t know, but you may not even be able to understand the non-English conversations at the tables next to yours.

Itineraries

Cruise intensively. A port-intensive itinerary means you’ll be off the ship for much of the cruise, exploring the world meaningfully on your own at your own pace — and avoiding idle chatter with fellow passengers whenever it suits. Windstar Cruises and Oceania Cruises are two lines that keep sea days to a minimum and emphasize time in port. Look for itineraries with overnights in port to further maximize your time ashore.

Or, look for sea days. Alternately, if all you want to do on vacation is lounge around, listen to music, read books, watch movies and simply enjoy not having to be anywhere specific at any time, you might prefer an itinerary with lots of sea days. With nowhere to go but the open sea, you’ll find your stress melting away and that rush-rush workday mentality evaporating into the ocean air. With food available onboard 24 hours a day and the sun deck open all day long, you might even consider throwing out your daily schedule of onboard events and just letting each day happen as it will.

Choose the route less traveled. Boutique, expedition and small-ship lines have a distinct advantage over mainstream mega-ships: they fit into smaller, lesser-known ports and can deliver blissfully crowd-free shore days. On its coastal route,Hurtigruten‘s shore-hugging ships visit 34 ports over six or seven days to deliver people, goods and mail along the Norwegian coast, giving you an opportunity to explore non-touristy ports. Or, choose a cruise to Antarctica or off-the-beaten-path Alaska on an expedition line like Lindblad Expeditions orAmerican Safari Cruises, where the biggest crowds in “port” may consist of seabirds, penguins or seals. To avoid the tourist hoards in the Caribbean or Europe, look to SeaDream Yacht Club or Star Clippers to slip into little coves and harbors — or enjoy blissful days of water play from the ships’ water sports marina.

Play the numbers game. Ships can theoretically sail above 100 percent occupancy because that percentage is based on the traditional assumption of two passengers per cabin — when in fact cabins may hold three or four people, or more. To guarantee you don’t end up on an overly full cruise, avoid peak-season cruises, especially during school holidays. Try Alaska in May or September, the Caribbean in the fall or Europe in the late winter or early spring. Alternately, try a less-popular type of cruise. For example, repositioning cruises — so named because the ships are switching from one cruising region to another — take place in the off-peak months of spring or fall and tend to be long, transoceanic journeys or oddball itineraries. Because of this unusual style and timing, these cruises are often cheaper and less crowded.

In Port

Go it alone. Explore ports of call independently or, if you have the means, hire a private car, with or without a private tour guide to show you around town. You’ll have more flexibility compared to a ship-organized tour, and it can be less exhausting because you can sightsee as you please, avoiding shopping stops or attractions that aren’t of interest and avoiding long waits while the tour guide leading a large group struggles to round up wayward stragglers.

Escape private island crowds. Cruise line private islands offer pristine beaches, plenty of water sports and lunches that don’t cost extra. But with everyone in the same small space, it can be no more relaxing than being on the ship’s sun deck. To escape, rent a private cabana where you can have some space to yourself and perhaps splurge on an al fresco massage. Plus, having a place to shower, change and store your stuff will keep your island visit hassle-free.

Stay onboard. Avoid irritating lineups for tenders, aggressive touts and jam-packed beaches and souvenir shops by remaining on the ship when it anchors in a popular port. You can breeze through the buffet at lunchtime, and spa treatments are easy to come by (and often discounted). And remember that perfectly positioned deck chair by the pool you’ve eyed all cruise long? Now’s the time to nab it.

On the Ship

Go against the traffic flow. Every ship has a daily rhythm that influences the movement of people onboard and creates opportunities to find seclusion in certain rooms or decks at specific times. To avoid the crowds, hit the gym at lunchtime, rather than in the early morning; log in to the Internet cafe while everyone’s at dinner instead of mid-afternoon on a sea day; and snag a chair in the top-of-ship observation lounge in the morning, as opposed to at sunset. On sunny days, indoor conference spaces, card rooms and libraries tend to be under-used. Dine at off-peak hours to avoid lines in the buffet.

Walk (or sit) the promenade. Even party ships harbor quiet places to tune out the rest of the world. The outside strolling area known as the promenade is a great place to start on any ship. It’s far from the pool-deck action, isn’t a connect point between major public rooms and often comes with deck furniture for reading or napping. Some promenade decks wrap around the entire ship and are great for walking. For example, on Disney ships and Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas, the promenade decks double as jogging tracks with incredible views — try them instead of a busy gym.

Let the experts direct you. Concierges, private butlers or the guest services desk know their ships’ quiet nooks. If you’re looking for an out-of-the-way retreat, ask these staffers for suggestions. Their insider tips can help you find the ideal chill-out location.

Zone out in an adult-only enclave. More and more ships these days are discreetly separating under-18’s from their parents in order to maximize peaceful coexistence of all concerned. The Sanctuary on Princess ships, The Retreat on P&O Cruises‘ vessels and Carnival’s Serenity deck areas are places to grab drinks and sun loungers for blissfully kid-free afternoons. You won’t be able to get away entirely from fellow frazzled parents — these spots do tend to fill up — but you can certainly avoid chit-chat by donning earphones and listening to MP3’s or simply closing your eyes. Or, if you really want to close the curtains on the outside world, rent a private cabana on Oceania or Holland America and wile away the day, lounging in solitude — with perhaps a visit every now and then from an attendant bringing fruit skewers and refreshing drinks.

Relax around the clock. Night owls have the run of the ship while everyone else is asleep. Turn insomnia to your advantage, and read a book in an empty lounge or library, enjoy a midnight snack at the buffet, or gaze at the stars out on deck. It’s amazing how alone you can feel on a 3,000-person vessel!

The 28 Best Cruise Ship Bars

Posted on 17 October, 2014 by Spacejunkie2

best-martini-bar Opinions about cruising’s best bars vary like the color of cocktails. One passenger’s top-shelf piano lounge might be another’s sun deck dive. But we have our favorites — levitating lounges, pubs with delicious fish and chips, and alfresco bars where you can watch a spectacular sunset as you nurse an Ocean Breeze.

What makes a bar stand out for us? Often, it’s originality and innovation, a new twist on the ol’ purveyor of gin-and-tonics and buckets of beer. You might find an ice bar gimmicky, but it’s certainly different. In other cases, we applaud onboard establishments for offering unique drinks or pairing food and booze; sometimes, these bars are simply places where, time and again, we’ve spent an enjoyable evening.

So, whether you’re a beer connoisseur or like your cocktails in the brightest of hues, we invite you to enjoy our list of best bars at sea.

Shaken, Not Stirred: The Martini Bar

Carnival’s Alchemy Bar

Ships: Carnival Conquest, Carnival Glory, Carnival Liberty, Carnival Sunshine and Carnival Triumph

What’s Cool: Sometimes a fruity martini is just what the doctor ordered. Carnival’s Alchemy Bar takes that a step further, with an “Olde Apothecary” theme, featuring bartenders in lab coats and a dark wood bar decorated with apothecary jars. They’ll write you a prescription for Passion Potions (like a Martini Seduction), Energizing Elixirs (Spicy Chipotle Pineapple Martini) or Cocktail Therapy (Curative Peach Cosmopolitan).

Celebrity’s Martini Bar & Crush

Ships: Fleetwide (minus Celebrity Xpedition)

What’s Cool: Order a martini flight and try out six colorful beverages, poured from a tower of martini shakers into a pyramid of glasses. The bartenders here have watched “Cocktail” too many times, and they put on an impressive display of bottle-tossing and -twirling as they mix your drinks. An ice-topped bar and a central location add to the appeal.

Cunard’s Commodore Club

Ships: Fleetwide

What’s Cool: The first thing you notice about the Commodore Club is its sweeping shape; located all the way forward, the lounge offers views that span three sides. Chairs, many tucked into windowed nooks, are deep and comfortable. What’s really special about the Commodore Club is that its out-of-the-way location (far from the throngs enjoying pre-dinner drinks at Britannia-adjacent venues) gives it a more secluded air. And, as befits Cunard, the more formal evening dress codes means everyone’s dressed to impress. The drinks? The bar’s nautical theme evokes a more glamorous era, which means it’s the place to order a Manhattan or a martini, straight up or with a twist.

best-wine-bar Start Wining: Wine and Champagne Bars

Vines

Ships: Caribbean Princess, Crown Princess,Emerald Princess, Golden Princess, Grand Princess, Royal Princess, Ruby Princess,Sapphire Princess and Star Princess

What’s Cool: Princess’ wine bar, found in the bustling Piazza area, serves up wine flights and a selection of new- and old-world vintages in a faux wine cellar setting. (Think dim lighting and wooden barrels.) But it’s more than just a bar; along with your vino, you can order sushi and tapas for a light, sophisticated meal (free with beverage purchase). As you sip, don’t forget to check out the street performers who entertain in the Piazza.Note that sushi and tapas are not served on Grand and Sapphire Princess, and only sushi is served on Star Princess.

MSC’s Wine Bars

Ships: Divina, Preziosa, Splendida, Fantasia, Poesia, Orchestra and Musica

What’s Cool: Although the wine bars on these ships all have different names, they offer a hefty list of wines from provinces across Italy. The bars’ light leather upholstery seems, at first, counterintuitive; wine bars, after all, are generally very dark and rich in tone. But, ultimately, the decor creates an atmosphere that’s open and chic. Knowledgeable sommeliers on each sailing offer tastings that include information about the various vintages, their regions and the processes that go into making the wines. There’s a small fee associated with the tastings, but you’ll also get a plate of tasty cheeses and meats to accompany each glass of vino.

Oceania’s La Reserve by Wine Spectator

Ships: Marina and Riviera

What’s Cool: La Reserve isn’t just an ordinary wine bar; it’s a venue for wine tastings and gourmet wine-themed dinners. Tastings, developed by Wine Spectator, might focus on wines from your cruise region or show how different types of wine glasses affect your enjoyment of the vintage. Multicourse dinners pair fine cuisine with premium wines and are a collaboration between the executive chef and Wine Spectator’s wine aficionados. La Reserve’s elegant setting, with upper-deck views, simply adds to the experience.

Disney’s Pink

Ships: Disney Dream

What’s Cool: It’s pink. Really pink. It’s decorated with pink Champagne bottles, pink plush chairs, pink bubble lights and pink Champagne glasses. Yet it’s not overbearing. In fact, it’s downright charming. Lighted glass bubbles adorn the walls, and savvy cruisers might catch a glimpse of Dumbo dancing sporadically in them. Champagne and Champagne cocktails are, of course, the drinks of choice. Champagne cocktail options include standbys like bellinis, as well as more inventive drinks that include Elderberry cocktails.

best-cigar-bar Burning Issues: Cigar Bars

Silversea Cruises’ Humidor

Ships: Silver Spirit, Silver Shadow and Silver Whisper

What’s Cool: The Humidor feels like a traditional smoking room in an old British country house, where you can relax on deep, lush chairs and couches set on rich wooden floors, accented with handsome rugs and prints on the walls. It’s well ventilated, but it still retains that delicious, rich cigar aroma that has permeated into the furniture. There’s a bar adjoining it, and it has excellent waiter service. All cigar bars should be like this.

MSC’s Cigar Bars

Ships: Divina, Splendida, Fantasia, Magnifica, Poesia, Orchestra, Musica, Sinfonia andArmonia

What’s Cool: Although smoking is more prevalent on MSC’s ships than it is on mainstream U.S. lines, we often found the cigar bars, which vary in name from ship to ship, uncrowded and quiet. With rich woods and cushy leather seating, they offer elegant places to escape the general population onboard, whether it’s to read, write, nap or have a smoke. Some — like the Hitchcock Lounge on Poesia, which features silhouettes of Alfred Hitchcock — even have fun themes. (Surprisingly, the ones we visited didn’t smell anything like smoke, so nonsmokers shouldn’t worry about stepping inside.)

Disney’s Meridian

Ships: Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy

What’s Cool: The view from Meridian — located on Deck 12, aft — is spectacular, with huge windows and vast outdoor spaces that ensure passengers will never miss the passing scenery. A large granite bar runs the length of the lounge, which is decorated with lots of high-backed leather chairs and travel-themed decor. Cigars are available for purchase at the outside bar. Meridian is nestled between restaurants Palo and Remy, so aficionados don’t have far to go for an after-dinner stogie.

best-coffee-bar Daily Grind: Coffee Bars

Celebrity’s Cafe al Bacio

Ships: Fleetwide

What’s Cool: Cafe al Bacio combines the best of cruise-ship watering holes: delicious eats and drinks, inviting decor and a social setting. The coffee stand serves a wide array of extra-fee specialty coffees, teas and liqueurs, as well as gratis freshly baked pastries. Its warm yellow and brown hues and comfy chairs offer a relaxing space for a caffeine fix — and after dinner, you’d be hard pressed to find an empty spot. The venue is strategically positioned near The Gelateria, a great place to grab gelato or Italian ice to chase down that latte. It’s located on a main thoroughfare, so you can watch the cruise-ship world passing by.

Holland America’s Explorations Cafe

Ships: Fleetwide

What’s Cool: Found on all vessels, the Explorations Cafe combines a coffee shop, Internet cafe and a library — making these spaces ideal for those who want to check e-mail or curl up with a good book while sipping some Joe. Beverages offered at Explorations cost extra, but complimentary cookies, pastries, fruit and sandwiches are available. Even better, the cafe’s plush chairs and sofas are super-comfy, and many offer great views. You’ll need a caffeine hit to stay awake if you sink into one of those soft seats.

Seabourn Square

Ships: Seabourn Odyssey, Seabourn Sojourn and Seabourn Quest

What’s Cool: Seabourn’s larger ships feature a space called Seabourn Square, which serves as a great gathering place and hub of the ship. The coffee bar offers specialty coffees, liqueurs, cakes and pastries, as well as a library (with both books and DVDs), Internet terminals and desks for Seabourn staffers (shore excursions, concierges, etc.).

best-martini-bar Got Game: Sports Bars

Disney’s Diversions, 687 and O’Gill’s

Ships: Diversions (Disney Wonder); O’Gill’s (Disney Magic, Disney Fantasy); 678 (Disney Dream)

What’s Cool: Disney’s association with ESPN means sports fans won’t miss a game while sailing. The line’s sports bars — all adults-only at night — have numerous flat-screen high-def TVs with digital surround sound and cozy spaces that allow for quiet conversation, even when the bar is packed and the big game is on.

Carnival’s EA Sports Bar

Ships: Carnival Conquest, Carnival Glory, Carnival Liberty, Carnival Sunshine and Carnival Triumph

What’s Cool: One reviewer described Carnival’s EA Sports Bar as the man-cave to end all man-caves. It’s chock full of flat-screen TVs that can show individual games or combine to show a single game across several screens. The bar is stocked with a selection of beer, bar snacks, sports tickers running game scores from around the world, and free video games from EA Sports.

MSC’s The Sports Bar

Ships: Divina, Preziosa, Splendida, Fantasia and Magnifica

What’s Cool: Called The Sports Bar on all ships (except Magnifica, where it’s known as L’Olimpiade), these venues are more than just a place to watch the game with a beer. With a relaxed and colorful atmosphere, each features a bar, a pair of mini-bowling lanes, a Formula 1 racing simulator, sports memorabilia, plenty of tables and chairs in various alcoves, and, of course, an astounding number of flat-screen TVs for watching live competitions.

best-english-pub Pub Reporter: The English Saloon

Princess’ Wheelhouse Bar

Ships: Fleetwide

What’s Cool: The pubby Wheelhouse Bar is a Princess staple, but decor varies from ship to ship. While the dark woods and nautical pictures are well and good, it’s the special (complimentary) pub lunch that gets us through the doors. The menu features English fare like bangers and mash, fish-n-chips (the most popular option), a ploughman’s lunch and traditional cottage pie. And, of course, Guinness and other beers make perfect bedfellows to the Brit-style lunch.

Cunard’s Golden Lion Pub

Ships: Fleetwide

What’s Cool: Cunard’s Golden Lion Pub reeks of authenticity with its fine lagers, ales on tap and classic pub fare like fish-n-chips. Entertainment is also pub-worthy with pub quizzes, live music and sporting events on the telly.

Norwegian’s O’Sheehans

Ships: Norwegian Epic and Norwegian Breakaway

What’s Cool: At O’Sheehans, passengers can bowl, throw darts and play pool or foosball before enjoying dinner and drinks. The 24-hour venue serves up complimentary breakfast (like scrambled-egg wraps) and pub fare (Buffalo wings, fish-n-chips), and it’s the best spot for draft beer. Bowling enthusiasts take note: while the Epic version features three full-sized lanes, the Breakaway version only offers two mini-bowling lanes, with shorter lanes and smaller pins and balls, hidden away at the back of the pub.

best-piano-bar Tickle the Ivories: Piano Bars

Carnival’s Piano Bars

Ships: Fleetwide

What’s Cool: Carnival earns top honors in this category, with piano bars on all its ships. Though no two look the same, you can expect a nearly identical rollicking atmosphere with plenty of sing-alongs, group toasts and some adult-themed tunes after midnight. The most coveted spots are the stools surrounding the pianos, which revolve slowly so everyone gets a good view of the ivories. But arrive early to snag a choice spot — some of Carnival’s pianists have nearly cult-like followings!

Royal Caribbean’s Schooner Bar

Ships: Fleetwide

What’s Cool: Royal Caribbean’s nautical-themed bar and trivia basecamp also turns into a piano bar at night. The individual pianists really affect the after-hours atmosphere; some host lively sing-alongs, complete with props, while others provide background music to a packed house of post-dinner merrymakers. If he’s not playing your song, feel free to make a request.

Brewing the Best: Beer Bar

Celebrity’s Michael’s Club

Ships: Celebrity Silhouette, Celebrity Reflection, Celebrity Summit, Celebrity Infinity, Celebrity Millennium and Celebrity Constellation

What’s Cool: Beer snobs, noses upturned at the sight of Bud, have long been ignored on cruise ships. Not anymore. On several ships, Celebrity has transformed its iconic Michael’s Club, forgoing the country club style of earlier versions and trading cognac for craft beer. MC features a changing menu of 60-plus ales, stouts and lagers, from Newcastle to Dues Brut Des Flanders, a beer-sparkling wine concoction that’s $49 for a 750ml bottle. Ask one of the trained “beer sommeliers” to help you match brew to palate. There are great salty snacks to munch on, and entertainment comes by way of acoustic guitar and televised sports.

best-beer-bar Carnival’s RedFrog Pub

Ships: Carnival Magic, Carnival Breeze andCarnival Sunshine

What’s Cool: Eschewing the “British” in British pub is Carnival’s RedFrog Pub, a Caribbean-themed space featuring for-fee appetizers (conch fritters, roti and the like), chill live music, games like ring toss and table shuffleboard, and an exclusive brew on draft. Carnival’s ThirstyFrog Red Ale can be ordered by the pint or by the 100-ounce beer tube.(Tip: Check out the drink specials each evening.)You can also find the signature beer at the RedFrog Rum Bar on the pool decks of the aforementioned ships, plus Conquest, Dream, Glory, Liberty and Triumph; however, these venues focus on libations and not munchies.

Photo Op: Cool Bars You Gotta Try Once

Royal Caribbean’s Rising Tide

Ships: Allure of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas

What’s Cool: It levitates. This Oasis-class novelty bar, evocative of a space pod, floats up and down three decks between the Royal Promenade and the foliage-filled Central Park. Take-offs typically occur every 30 minutes during designated hours. The ride is about 20 minutes, but the “driver” can adjust the speed up and down. While the bar is one-of-a-kind, don’t expect the same from the menu; you’ll find a standard selection of cocktails and beers.

best-photo-op-bar Norwegian’s Svedka Ice Bar

Ships: Norwegian Epic and Norwegian Breakaway

What’s Cool: It’s not just cool, it’s freezing. The air in this spine-tingler is kept at a constant 17 degrees, all the better to keep the cocktail glasses, bar and ice sculptures from getting all wishy-washy. (Yep, they’re all made of ice.) Just don a parka at the door, take a deep breath, and enter the enchanting little cavern with multihued ice walls mimicking the aurora borealis. You can stay in there for up to 45 minutes, but trust us … you won’t. The cover charge includes a toasty, warm parka and two drinks (all of which are made with Svedka vodka).

A Room with View: Panorama Bars

Royal Caribbean’s Viking Crown Lounge

Ships: Fleetwide

What’s Cool: The round, UFO-esque tower in the middle of every Royal Caribbean ship houses the line’s signature Viking Crown Lounge. While some are more expansive and others are carved up with specialty restaurants and VIP lounges, they all offer sloping windows and great views over the outer decks and out to sea. Head there for sunset or sailaway — it’s an ideal place to snuggle into a comfy couch, order a drink and watch the world go by.

Crystal’s Palm Court

Ships: Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity

What’s Cool: One of the best places for a great view at sea is the Palm Court on Crystal’s two ships (Deck 11, forward). The highlight of the sleekly modern lounge, located just over the bridge, is the 5.5-foot high windows along the sides and the 10-foot windows toward the front, providing stunning 300-degree views. Stand right at the front when docking to see exactly what the captain is seeing. Aside from the view, Palm Court is a wonderfully quiet place during the day to curl up on a comfy chair with a good book. In the late afternoon and evening, the space comes alive with high tea and jazz.

best-view-bar Celebrity’s Sunset Bar

Ships: Celebrity’s Solstice-class ships

What’s Cool: Sunset Bar’s unimpeded aft views are particularly breathtaking. Celebrity paid careful attention to the scenery in designing the bar, where railings are barely noticeable and glass spans as far as the eye can see. The proximity to the ships’ unique Lawn Clubs provides a breezy backyard feel and makes for the perfect location for a sunset cocktail.