One of the Princess Cruises ships was the star of the TV show "The Love Boat" back in the mid-seventies. The Caribbean Princess boat was built exclusively to sail the Caribbean and is what's known as "purpose built". Some passengers note things that could be improved upon - such as the smaller-than-average balcony cabins and lack of tables on the Lido deck for eating - but overall reviews were positive such as "Job well done!". There was one passenger that said "All in all the cruise was disappointing, though it certainly didn't ruin our vacation" which we take as a fairly negative review when compared with the other cruise lines below.

Royal Caribbean's Navigator of The Seas is a HUGE cruise ship with just about everything a family would need in terms of entertainment and activities. Former passengers have described the Navigator online as needing improvement on a few things (such as food) but "overall an excellent cruise with all kinds of activities".

Norwegian Cruise Lines (NCL) is one of the oldest modern cruise lines in the world and was established in 1966 with a single ship. Online reviews of Norwegian Dawn are described as "overall a great cruise" and "a fantastic cruise for someone who doesn't complain about the smallest little things". Passengers particularly like the "freestyle" concept in which they are free from having to do activities at scheduled times and can have a more unplanned, casual cruise experience.

Carnival Cruise Lines is probably the most popular cruiseline on the planet. Although they have great trips to Hawaii, Carnival cruises are usually in the Caribbean. Their cruises tend to be flashy "Las Vegas Style" with a lot of fun activities and good music. Online cruise reviews describe the Victory as "...the best cruise I have ever taken" and "...a perfect cruise" although some of Carnival's other ships did not receive such favorable passenger reviews.

Celebrity Cruises is a very popular cruiseline, and the Millennium has been described in online reviews as "an excellent line with above average service and meals" and "a fabulous experience," with one review stating the cabin steward was "not very accommodating". Overall, Celebrity enjoys distinctly above-average comments from online passenger reviews.

Holland America is the cruiseline of choice for many well-off, mature adults who would rather have five-star service and a refined crew than a flashy nightlife and loud music. However, that just doesn't work out when you are looking at the cheapest cruise option: The Volendam. The Volendam is an older ship so pay attention to reviews pre-2006 because the ship went in for a makeover around that time. You might read reviews about stained carpets and substandard menus. Cabin stewards have been described as "outstanding" and "extremely helpful".


IF I WERE GOING TO BOOK A CRUISE on one of these ships for a week in the Caribbean or the Bahamas, I'd have to go with the Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) seven nights in the Caribbean on the Norwegian Dawn. It is an inexpensive cruise without sacrificing service or amenities like the Holland America Volendam. The passenger cruise reviews were great and you get a full week at sea. Also, I prefer the "freestyle" concept in terms of activities. When you go on a cruise things are already planned enough. It's good to have some freedom in your choices.

According to consumer reviews found online, below are the best cruise lines for...
Best Cruise line for Kids and Families: Carnival, Royal Caribbean or Celebrity
Best Cruiseline for the Over-50 Crowd: Celebrity or Royal Caribbean (Alaska is recommended).
Best Cruise line for singles: Cunard, Holland America and Norwegian