Cruise Line
Companies

Cruise Line Classifications

Next in rank are premium brands, which offer above average food, service and amenities, including a high number of outside cabins with balconies. These lines try, with varying success, to appeal to all age groups, with facilities for children and a broad range of entertainment. Premium brands, like luxury lines, will have a high ratio of space aboard the ship for each passenger.

Ships of the mainstream brand lines have less space per passenger, and provide average food and service. Some represent excellent value, with decor, entertainment and service that are comparable to premium lines but priced for a broader spectrum of the cruise market.

Budget brands usually use medium-sized, older ships with fewer facilities than the new megaships. Food and service will vary widely between that found on mainstream brands (and sometimes better) to being poor.

The average size of a cruise ship has gone up dramatically over the past 15 years, from an average of 35,000 tons for newbuilds to over 70,000 tons. The Titanic, which held 1300 passengers, was about 52,000 tons. Today there are many new ships over 100,000 tons carrying up to 3,000 passengers and although this makes such onboard amenities such as ice rinks and shopping malls possible, they are, in our view, perhaps not the best vessels for experiencing the sea.