RATINGS:
Moderate;
Standard; AMERICAN SAFARI CRUISES
Cruise Planner
Our unique Cruise Planner is an at-a-glance guide to all the main lines and their ships, offering a simple way to select the right voyage and vessel for YOU. Our detail includes all the basic info on ship size, style and quality, plus details like dining and tipping. The Planner is published once a year and includes all available info on new ships for the next 12 months. It is also available as a permanent section on our website,
www.worldofcruising.co.uk.
STAR RATINGS are indicative of relative standards. The higher the rating, the higher the overall standard you can expect. The highest rating a vessel can achieve is 6-star, which takes into account a ship’s qualities in terms of hardware, service, cuisine, entertainment and satisfaction level. These ratings are compiled by our writers, researchers and consumers. The majority fall in the four and five-star area. To help differentiate in these areas, each rating is then sub-divided into Moderate, Standard and Superior.
SHIP TYPE is a guide towards the Style of each vessel, which can usually be categorised as: Resort (a modern vessel with all the latest resort-style features); Classic (an older ship with fewer mod cons and a more traditional feel); Boutique (a small specialist ship operator, usually offering upmarket service and cuisine); and Adventure (a more basic style geared towards expedition-style voyaging to more far-flung destinations).
SPACE RATIO (SR) is a formula to indicate the relative space per passenger on each ship. The higher the Ratio, the more spacious the ship. The DINING info tells you about each ship’s evening meal arrangement and indicates any alternative dining. We identify whether standard dining is for Open sitting, a Single Fixed sitting or conventional Two Sitting. Check the comment boxes for additional info. TONNAGE is a measure of a ship’s cubic capacity, not deadweight.
PASSENGER and CREW numbers (P/C) help to provide a clear idea of the capacity of each ship, if full, and the ratio of passengers to crew; the closer the ratio, the better the service you can expect. NEW SHIPS just launched or due in the next 12 months are indicated in red, e.g. Disney Dream, and their rating is a provisional one based on what we expect from the standards of previous vessels. Where ships are new to a line but have previously sailed for another company, they are shown in blue, eg. Balmoral.
86 WORLD OF CRUISING I Winter 2010 / 2011
Founded in 1996, this collection of small-scale yachts offers an upscale experience in specific destinations (Alaska, Mexico’s Sea of Cortes, the coastal and rivers of the Pacific North-West and, new for 2011, Hawaii), featuring hard-to-reach ports, fine dining and expert guidance and nature programming, with all shore excursions included. Great for wildlife and local culture, plus ‘soft’ adventuring in the form of kayaking, snorkelling, hiking and biking, they have a casual and relaxed onboard style, low-key for activities and with their one-sitting dinner and all-inclusive drinks a feature each evening. Facilities are limited to an on-deck hot-tub and sauna (on Explorer and Spirit). Gratuities not included.
www.americansafaricruises.com
Ship
Safari Spirit Safari Quest
Safari Explorer Rating Type SR
5-Star Adventure 19.25 One 231 5-Star Adventure 16.09 One 354 5-Star Adventure 17.37 One 695
AZAMARA CLUB CRUISES
This brand is owned by Royal Caribbean and provides a more luxurious touch than the company’s other mass-market ships. The vessels were originally the R6 and R7 of defunct Renaissance Cruises and offer a refined, small-ship style with more expansive amenities and excellent alternative dining. In Europe for the summers, they visit Asia, the Caribbean and Panama Canal in winter, as well as offering several transatlantic voyages.
www.azamaraclubcruises.com
Ship
Azamara Journey, Azamara Quest
Rating Type 5-Star Boutique CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE
The world’s largest cruise line, Carnival’s all-modern fleet of ‘Fun ships’ offers extensive onboard activities and lively evening entertainment, with generous-sized cabins and good kids’ facilities and programmes. Popular cuisine, greatly improved in recent years, with menus tailored to American tastes. Good alternative dining with their Supper Clubs on most recent 12 vessels and casual, 24-hour buffet options on all ships. The older Fantasy-class eight have been extensively upgraded with new pool facilities and other neat touches. In the Caribbean and Mexican Riviera year-round, but now much further afield too, including Panama Canal, South America, Hawaii and New England/Canada sailings, plus selected summer cruises in the Med, Alaska and Bermuda. Gratuities not included.
www.carnival.com,
www.carnivalcruise.co.uk
Ship
Carnival Fantasy, Ecstasy, Sensation, Fascination, Imagination, Inspiration, Paradise, Elation
Carnival Destiny, Triumph, Victory
Carnival Pride, Spirit, Legend, Miracle
Carnival Conquest, Glory, Liberty, Valor, Freedom
Carnival Splendor
Rating Type 4-Star Resort
SR Dining Tonnage P / C 34.40 Two 70,000 2200/920 SR Dining Tonnage P / C 43.62 Open 30,277 694/390
Dining Tonnage P / C 12/6
22/9 40/15
Superior
4-Star Resort 5-Star Resort 5-Star Resort 5-Star Resort Carnival Dream, Magic 5-Star Resort
38.30 Two 101,000 2800/1150 31.30 Two 84,000 2400/1029 36.90 Two 110,000 2974/1150
37.69 Two 113,300 3006/1150 35.65 Two 130,000 3646/1367
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