CRUISE PLANNER
LINDBLAD EXPEDITIONS Ship
National Geographic Explorer
National Geographic Endeavour
National Geographic Sea Bird, Sea Lion
National Geographic Islander
Rating Type 5*
5* 5* 5* SR Dining Tonnage P / C Adventure 43.72 One 6,471 Adventure 19.51 One 3,312 Adventure n/a Adventure n/a One 100 One 90 148/68 169/64 62/32 48/22
a genuine, high-quality expedition-style brand featuring five of their own ships (and charters on several others), run in conjunction with the destination expertise of National Geographic. Lots of adventure- style options with Zodiacs, kayaks and other activities, and excellent onboard lecture programmes. Journeying to far-flung destinations like Polar waters, West Africa, the North Cape, Iceland and the Amazon. Islander operates purely in the Galapagos. Gratuities not included.
www.expeditions.com
LOUIS CRUISES Ship
Coral Louis Cristal 4*
Rating Type 3*
SR
Classic Resort
Dining Tonnage P / C
15.44 Two 14,194 919/365 21.34 Two 25,611 1200/450
This pair of former classic vessels operates some great-value Med cruises for much of the year, sailing around the Greek isles and Turkey, offering voyages of 3, 4 and 7 nights. The all-Greek onboard ambience is unfailingly friendly, while the passenger mix reflects a European flavour. The Med-inspired cuisine and entertainment are decent without being startling but the accent is more on port-intensive itineraries than onboard creature comforts (although the Spas and nightlife are surprisingly stylish for older ships). Coral is the ex-Sunward II and Cristal the former Leeward, both of NCL and, while they lack some facilities, the destination- intensive itineraries are a highlight. Gratuities not included.
www.louiscruises.com
MSC CRUISES Ship
Melody
Armonia, Sinfonia Lirica, Opera
Musica, Orchestra, Poesia
Fantasia, Splendida, Divina, Preziosa Magnifica
Rating Type 3*
4* SR
Classic Resort
4*-Plus Resort 5*
5* 5* Resort Resort Resort Dining Tonnage P / C
33.20 Two 36,500 1150/535 39.90 Two 56,000 1500/550 37.50 Two 60,000 1600/760 35.13 Two 89,600 2550/987
40.87 Two 133,500 3300/1200 37.06 Two 93,330 2518/1027
Owned by one of the world’s biggest shipping families, this traditional Italian outfit boasts a modern, high-tech fleet, with two new series of purpose-built vessels and two ships from the failed Festival Cruises (European Stars and Vision). This gives them a real cutting-edge sophistication alongside older vessel Melody, which is rather weak on entertainment and dining but offers traditional, friendly service. The other ships all feature fabulous onboard choice and a chic European style, with good standard cuisine and imaginative alternative dining. The three mega-ships (with Preziosa joining in March 2013) took MSC into new territory with the kind of expansive facilities previously seen only on Royal Caribbean, Princess, NCL and Carnival and their MSC Yacht Club ship-within-a- ship concept essentially offers a First Class upgrade to the onboard style on this trio. 2010’s Magnifica refined the Musica-class trio with a slightly larger format and facilities. Service could be better on the bigger ships at times, though. Mediterranean and north Europe- based every summer and in the Caribbean, South Africa and South America in winter, when they are also on sale to local markets. Some good repositioning voyages, too. Gratuities not included.
www.msccruises.co.uk
86 WORLD OF CRUISING I Winter 2012-13
NOMADS OF THE SEAS Ship
Atmosphere
Rating Type 6*
SR Dining Tonnage P / C Adventure 25.00 One 700 28/32
See Chilean Patagonia in luxury style on this unique adventurer, with an amazing array of equipment to provide close-up encounters with the scenery and wildlife. The ship includes two helicopters, five jetboats, a high-speed RIB boat and five zodiacs, plus kayaks and canoes for an unequalled range of all-inclusive excursions. The food is a superb ‘new Patagonian’ cuisine, while the friendly service is super-efficient, hard-working and amazingly personable. An open bar includes daily selections of top Chilean wines, while trips ashore are often accompanied by the chefs and their fine dining options. Fly-fishing and heli-skiing are other options, and their tour guides are some of the best. Facilities are limited to three Jacuzzis, massage treatments, a treadmill and tiny sauna, but they are superbly equipped for all their excursions, which is what a Nomads voyage is really all about. The ship anchors at night in sheltered bays and little- seen coves where the big ships never visit and onboard life centres on the lounge/dining room and bar, with the one-sitting dinner the main social highlight. Cabins are not spacious but ultra-comfy and attention to detail is first class. Gratuities not included.
www.nomadsoftheseas.com
NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE Ship
Norwegian Spirit Norwegian Sky Norwegian Sun
Norwegian Star, Norwegian Dawn
Norwegian Jewel, Pearl, Gem, Jade Pride of America Norwegian Epic
Norwegian Breakaway
Rating Type 4*-Plus Resort
5* 5* 5*
5* 5*
Resort Resort Resort
Resort Resort
5*-Plus Resort 5*-Plus Resort
SR
Dining Tonnage P / C
38.36 Open 76,583 1996/975 38.51 Open 77,104 2002/750 40.44 Open 78,309 1936/968 41.36 Open 92,000 2224/1100
39.14 Open 93,000 2376/1000
37.74 Open 81,000 2146/1000 36.42 Open 153,000 4,200/1690 36.00 Open 144,017 4,000/1595
With the introduction of Freestyle dining in 2000, NCL brought choice usually reserved only for the luxury customer into mainstream cruising. The fleet upgrade continued with seven new ships in six years and an ever-wider variety of itineraries, including year-round in Hawaii. Norwegian Epic’s debut in 2010 lifted NCL into the mega- ship realm previously only covered by Royal Caribbean and Cunard, with an astonishing variety of onboard amenities and a breathtaking array of entertainment, including Blue Man Group and Legends In Concert, plus a staggering dining choice. The Epic concept will be refined still further in April 2013 when Breakaway arrives to provide even more choice, with an imaginative Caribbean and Florida itinerary based year-round from New York. The entertainment options as a whole are sharp and lively, public areas are bright and well planned and cuisine varies from standard to gourmet. Freestyle lets you choose when, where and what to eat, with a choice of different restaurants each night. Operating to all the main cruise destinations, including year-round in the Caribbean and the Med, plus Alaska, Mexico, Bermuda, Canada, New England, northern Europe and South America. Gratuities not included.
www.ncl.com/co.uk
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