Caribbean Cruise Lines
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The Caribbean Travel World "Best Five" Ranking
Cruise Line |
Service |
Food |
Children's Program |
Holland America Line |
Holland America Line |
Celebrity Cruises |
Disney Cruises |
Royal Caribbean International |
Celebrity Cruises |
Holland America Line |
Carnival Cruise Line |
Princess Cruises |
Princess Cruises |
Princess Cruises |
Royal Caribbean International |
Celebrity Cruises |
Norwegian Cruise Line |
Royal Caribbean International |
Princess Cruises |
Carnival Cruise Line |
Carnival Cruise Line |
Carnival Cruise Line |
Norwegian Cruise Line |
The following cruise lines offer cruises in
the Caribbean. Descriptions do not claim to be accurate.
Carnival Cruise Lines is the largest and most popular cruise line in
the world. The ships have some of the best nightlife at sea, with entertainment
for every taste and age group.
Positive: Large standard cabins, exciting entertainment, new fleet
with unusual, innovation interiors, value, clean, easy to use literature.
Negative: The food quality is average, ships have megaliner size, you're
never alone, limited port info, drab spas, a lack of outdoor promenade
deck and lines for facilities and services. A Carnival cruise isn't
for everybody. The ships have more glitter than glamour.
Passengers: It's a peoples cruise line with a broad mix. Most passengers
are ages 21-45 with large groups of singles, couples, and families; average
age is 43; most have medium income. Best suited for people who like glitz
and glitter and nonstop fun. Not suited for sophistcated travels who prefer
luxury, gourmet cuisine, and individual travel; anyone seeking quiet or
cerebral travel experience.
Dining: The food quality is average, but the quantity and presentation
make it seem better than it is.
Activities: Disco music, parties, classes, games, bar and lounge entertainers,
and bands. Carnival's performers are among the most diverse group at sea.
There are musicians, magicians, dances, comedians, jugglers, and others.
Service: Dining staffs generally get good marks, but cabin attendants
get mixed reviews.
Tipping: Carnival recommends $3.50 per person, per day to the waiter;
$2 per person per day to the assistant waiter; and $3.50 per person, per
day to the cabin steward. A 15 percent gratuity is added to bar bills.
Dress: All types of dress from the very casual to those that enjoy
dressing up in evening attire.
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Celebrity Cruise Lines is the largest cruise line in the world carrying
one-fifth of all cruise passengers. Celebrity has enlisted the talents
of world-renowned ship architects and designers to create a truly extraordinary
fleet. Every ship reflects Celebrity's meticulous attention to detail,
yet each vessel has its own distinctive style, with its own uniquely inviting
public rooms and social spaces. From the line's celebrated cuisine to their
luxurious spas, Celebrity offers a distinct cruise experience. This is
a great main stream cruising value for those that are looking to have a
"FunShip" vacation with a party atmosphere.
Positive: Spectacular spas, above-average food, the ships are spacious,
understated elegance with grand surroundings, sophistication and innovation,
European trained staff, fine dining and shops and premium cruise experience.
Negative: There is a lack of outside, wraparound promenade deck, excessive
promotion of on-board shopping, unimaginative shore excursions, boarding
procedures.
Passengers: Lots of young couples and families choose this ship, partly
because of the complimentary Camp Carnival program and the shorter cruises.
However, it also draws a complement of singles. Best suited for middle
to upper-middle income travelers in their 40s and up, whether on their
first or tenth cruise, who appreciate good service and cuisine and want
the recreational and entertainment variety of a large ship at an easy pace.
Dining: The cuisine is highly praised. A typical lunch menu offers
4 appetizers, 2 soups, 2 salads, 2 cold the 3 hot entrees and 4 dessets.
Activities: Pool and card games, shuffleboard, snorkeling instruction,
horse racing, sheet shooting, and golf putting. Passengers are not pressured
to participate.
Service: Service is friendly and first class. Waiters, stewards, and
bartenders are enthusiastic, take pride in their work, and try to please.
Tipping: Celebrity guidelines suggest gratuities of $3.50 for stateroom
attendants, $3.50 for waiters, and $2.00 for assistant waiters. The line
also recommends tips of 75 cents for the assistant maitre'd and 50 cents
for the chief housekeeper. All suggested tips are per person, per day.
Dress: Casual but not sloppy during the day; informal in evening with
two nights formal or semiformal.
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Costa Cruises enjoys the reputation of being Europe's number one cruise
line. The experience will be European or international rather than catering
to American tastes. Costa's fleet sails as well in the Eastern and Western
Caribbean. The ships run the gamut from the intimate to the super-luxurious
with Italian style cruising and European atmosphere.
Positive: Cabins, Italian style and service, plenty activities, new
fleet with a distinctive style, friendly crew, itineraries, dining room
cuisine.
Negative: Noise level in dining rooms, service, excessive announcements,
mediocre buffets, language problems, lack of consistency.
Passengers: The average age is 45 with an annual household income of
$50,000+ who want to try a more European ambience but with the typical
facilities of a large ship.
Dining: Usually good to excellent, the pastas are generally outstanding,
along with vegetarian eggplant dishes, flambe shrimp, breadsticks, salads,
cheeses, fresh fruits, and pasta-and-bean soups.
Activities: Entertainment is fairly typical, from cabaret shows to
dancing to sing-alongs in the piano bar, bingo, skeet shooting and lectures.
An on board snorkeling school gives lessons. The ships' spas are more elaborate
than most.
Service: The crew tends to its passengers with traditional European
deference.
Tipping: Plan on $2.50 per person, per night to your waiter and busboy
team, $1.50 per person, per night to stateroom steward or stewardess and
fifty cents to the Maitre d' and headwaiter.
Dress: Casual; informal evenings, two nights formal/semiformal.
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This cruise line is for those who are looking for ultra-luxury and
recently built, larger ships. Classic (but never stuffy or pretentious),
Crystal Cruises delivers each guest an uncompromising quality cruise experience
that mirrors the gracious ocean liner travel of years past. Sophisticated
cuisine, excellent service and imaginative itineraries. Exotic land programs.
Positive: Impeccable service, beautifully designed ships, large number
of cabins with verandas, alternative restaurants, globe-roaming itineraries.
Negative: Two sittings in main dining room, some cabins with restricted
views, limited closet space, some small bathrooms, inadequate seating capacity
in alternative restaurants.
Passengers: Professional, retired or semiretired, experienced travelers,
likely to be owners, entrepreneurs, and top-level executives rather than
their staffs, 45-70 in age. Typical passenger is an affluent, active, fashion-conscious,
friendly 55-60 year-old couple or mature single.
Dining: Crystal offers very good dining for a cruise ship. Dinner is
served in two seatings, unusual for a luxury line, and tend to feature
regionally inspired dishes with a contemporary twist. Great attention to
detail is paid to every nuance of the dining experience and the place settings
are perhaps the nicest of any line.
Activities: To the typical litany of ocean-liner diversions, Crystal
adds high-tech sports facilities; high-powered intellectual and cultural
debates and destination-oriented lectures by scholars, political figures,
and diplomats; a busy fitness center and spa; and the first Caesar's-Palace-at-Sea
casinos. There are cabarets, Broadway-quality shows, a piano bar, dancing,
a harpist, a trio, a sing-along piano bar, and the casino. Local entertainers
are sometimes brought on board.
Service: Crystal's staff members are well trained, highly motivated,
and thoroughly professional.
Tipping: $10.50 per person, per day (for waiters, assistant waiters
and stewardesses) is recommended with a suggested $6 per person gratuity
in each of the two alternative restaurants (a lot of passengers we talked
to actually tipped higher) and an extra $5 per person per day for the butler.
Tips can be charged to your account or paid in advance.
Dress: You have to enjoy dressing up go on theses cruises. Resort wear
and nice casual wear by day.
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These long, proud-looking ships carry 1,750 passengers at the rate
of two per cabin, but, since Disney is a family company and its ships were
built expressly to carry three, four, and five people in virtually every
cabin, the ship could theoretically carry a whopping 3,325 passengers.
All cruises feature a day at Castaway Cay, Disney's private island paradise
in The Bahamas.
Positive: Disney name recognition, new, innovative ships, imaginative
entertainment, children's facilities, cabins.
Negative: To be determined.
Passengers: Similar to the folks who visit Disney parks, which is to
say, a cross-section of the United States from 3 to 93. Especially families
with children or grandchildren of all ages. Since Walt Disney World is
the honeymoon capital of the US, there are plenty honeymooners on board.
Dining: Each night passengers will dine in a different restaurant,
each with a different theme and different menu, taking along their table
companions and wait staff with them. Other dining options include an indoor/outdoor
cafe and a buffet dinner for children; a pool bar and grill; a patisserie;
an ice cream and frozen yogurt bar; 24 hour room service; and a cuisine
program for health-conscious passengers.
Activities: Disney activities are geared to three type of cruisers:
children, families, and adults. Top-quality Disney-produced shows with
Broadway-calibre entertainers, cabaret, and an adult-oriented lecture and
enrichment program. No casinos will be on board either ship.
Service: Expect top notch service that is found in Disney's Hotels.
Tipping: $2.50 - $3.50per person, per day (for Stateroom Host, Dining
Room Server, Dining Room Asst. Server, Dining Room Head Server, Dining
Manager and Room Service).
Dress: Lightly and primarily casual, inform resort wear.
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Holland America leads the cruise industry premium niche. Several times
voted as "best overall cruise value". Service, ambience, cuisine, personal
attention - Holland America offers a five-star resort and scenic cruising
areas. Consistent quality and attention to detail in mid-size ships. Extensive
shore tours. A surprising amount of luxury and pampering go on aboard these
ships.
Positive: Tradition and experience, outstanding crew and service, easy-to-like
ships, private verandas, great gyms, consistent quality and style, worldwide
itineraries, impeccable condition of ships, safety.
Negative: Show lounge entertainment, sleepy nightlife, shore excursion
cancellation policy, homogenous passenger profile.
Passengers: Middle-aged and older couples. Not suited for young swinging
singles, nonconformists, people who refuse to dress up.
Dining: Genteel tradition is important to Holland America. HAL consistently
produces some of the tastiest and most appealing buffets at sea. Dinner
menus have grown increasingly sophisticated.
Activities: Holland America offers the full complement of organized
group activities. Nevertheless, relaxing in a deck chair and letting the
world take care of itself while the ships's staff takes care of you is
the prime attraction of a Holland America cruise. Apart from a disco, the
entertainment is slanted toward an older audience.
Service: Staff members perform their duties with great pride and professionalism.
The crew seems to take a genuine, personal interest in passengers, learning
not only their names but habits and personal preferences.
Tipping: Holland America has a "tipping not required" policy and offers
no guidelines; tipping, however, is generally expected.
Dress: Dress code follows a traditional pattern. During the daytime,
comfortable, casual clothing is adequate.
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Norwegian Cruise Line ended shipboard regimentation when they introduced
a new style of cruising. 'Freestyle Cruising' geared for a
more active, casual lifestyle. NCL's ships offer traditional cruising,
with themed sailing, international themed dinners several times a sailing,
live calypso music on deck, and something going on around the ship every
minute.
Positive: Entertainment, sports and fitness facilities and activities,
flexible dining, down-to-earth crowd, theme cruises, nonsmoking cabins,
innovative ships, spacious standard cabins, guaranteed singles rate.
Negative: Overselling luxury of product, small cabins, uneven dining
room service, loud deck music, poor bathrooms on new ships.
Passengers: A lot of sports-oriented young couples; yuppies;
baby boomers; music fans; first-time cruisers; honeymooners; couples; families,
singles.
Dining: The food is plentiful, but average; standards are highest on
the Norway. Cuisine is a combination of American and Continental.
Activities: Nonstop activities, music, very professional entertainment
and sport-themed programs for watching or doing; fitness programs; adventure-oriented
excursions; snorkeling or scuba-diving tours; all day beach party on NCL's
own Bahamian island; Las Vegas-style variety shows; dance orchestras; piano
bars; discos.
Service: The general level of service on NCL ships is very good, but
the Norway passengers usually get treated a little better.
Tipping: The following are the Norwegian's tipping guidelines: $3.50
per day for the room steward, $3.50 per day for the waiter, $2.00 per day
for the bus boy and $1.50 per day for maitre'd. That's a total of $10.50
per person, per day.
Dress: Cocktail dress for the ladies and a jacket and tie for the men
for formal nights, anything but shorts for informal nights. For daytimes,
exercise clothing, bathing suits, shorts, T-shirts and sandals, and light
cotton clothes and walking shoes.
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From classical treasures to exotic grandeur, Royal Olympic offers intimate
mid-sized ships accommodating a small discerning group of passengers on
cruises designed for adventure, enlightenment, entertainment, and enjoyment.
Repeaters say its like coming "home".
Positive: Friendliness and personal warmth of the crew, refined, relaxed
ambience, Greek hospitality, innovative itineraries, lecture program, host
program, cultural and scientific enrichment programs, well-organized and
diversified shore excursions.
Negative: Aging fleet, limited facilities on smaller ships, lack of
age diversity among passengers, paltry fitness facilities.
Passengers: The passenger list consists primarily of retired couples
(generally 60 and over) with some single passengers and a handful of families;
upscale, adventurous travelers who seek a different kind of travel experience
in a refined, conservative ambience and expect the high level of service
and amenities found in fine hotels.
Dining: The food aboard is Greek and continental, served in generous
portions.
Activities: Lectures, to prepare passengers for the trips ashore to
ancient sites, are key elements of the cruise; more elaborate after-dinner
shows; cabaret acts such as a singer, comedian, or magician. late-night
discos and bands for dancing; Greek Night is an exuberant affair on every
vessel.
Service: Gracious, top-notch professional service with a warm, personal
touch, exemplifying the tradition of Greek hospitality.
Tipping: The suggested gratuity covering all services is US $8 - $9
per passenger per day, payable at the end of the cruise. Passengers are
requested not to tip individually during the cruise except for spa/beauty
salon which is not included in tipping pool.
Dress: Casual by day, dressed up by evening.
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Princess Cruises appeals to a broad range of lifestyles. The ships
are spacious with many amenities. Good cruises for almost everyone except
fussy foodies and families with infants. Shore excursion programs are extensive.
Diverse onboard programs, $3 million art collection, teak promenade deck,
suites and mini-suites with butler service on some ships.
Positive: Balconies; lots of dining choices; extensive shore excursions;
two Caribbean "private" islands; "The Love Boat" name recognition; spacious
cabins.
Negative: No free ice cream. Decor lacks pizzazz. Dissimilar ships,
uneven cuisine, outdated productions show on some ships, poor cabin and
dining room service on some ships.
Passengers: Romantic couples of all ages who saw "The Love Boat" on
TV; some families with children; people with glints of gold from head to
toe. Princess also attracts more families during holidays and school vacation
periods. Best suited for anyone who wants a very traditional cruise experience
with a chance to dance and dress up.
Dining: Continental cuisine with an emphasis on Italian dishes. The
cuisine could be the Achilles heel of this otherwise excellent cruise line.
Activities: All the expected ocean-liner activities are offered; fitness
facilities include an exercise manager; an extensive water-sports program
includes scuba-diving classed held in the pools; musical revues, variety
shows, cabarets, a piano bar, a dance orchestra and combo, and a disco.
Local musicians sometimes come aboard and perform.
Service: Generally, the service is excellent and unobtrusive, though
passengers occasionally complain of stuffiness among British crew members.
Tipping: $3 per person, per day for room steward and waiter; $1.75
per person, per day for the assistant waiter. A gratuity for the head waiter
and maitre d' is left to the guests' discretion.
Dress: Princess passengers usually have 2 formal nights, 2 or 3 semi-formal
and 2 or 3 casual nights during the week. Daytime clothing can be quite
casual, but cover ups over bathing suits are expected.
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Style RCCL ships follow a traditional cruise pattern, with specified
dress codes for evening on attractive, glamorous, but not too over-the-top-glitzy
megaships. Fun, well-rounded, activity-packed cruises with a day-long program
of games, activities and entertainment on board is supplemented by shore
excursions that emphasize sightseeing, golf and watersports. There's so
much going on you might not notice how small the cabins are.
Positive: Smooth running operation, outstanding activities and entertainment,
attractive public rooms, great solariums, service, product consistency.
Negative: Small cabins, limited storage in cabins, impersonal nature
of big ships, long lines, refurbishment needed on older ships.
Passengers: All-American couples between 40 to 60; single 20-some things
on holiday sharing an inexpensive inside cabin, more often females than
males. Statistically, the median age is relatively low 42, with household
income from $40,000 to $75,000. Not suited for anyone who dislikes regimentation.
Dining: Non-threatening, special-occasion food is produced by an affiliated
catering company on a rotating set menu. There's a wide variety and good
range of choices, and the preparation is capable if not inspired.
Activities: Life on board is similar to that of the party ships run
by Carnival, but slightly more sophisticated and conservative. Following
current fitness trends, the ships also feature numerous exercise activities
and well-equipped gyms.
Service: The crew is generally enthusiastic and personable, although
service can be slow...not surprising given the number of passengers that
must be served on the larger ships.
Tipping: Recommended by Royal Caribbean: $3.50 per person, per day
for room steward and waiter; $2 per person, per day for the assistant waiter.
A gratuity for the head waiter and maître d' is left to the
guests' discretion. Passengers who order room service are expected to tip
a buck or two on-the-spot.
Dress: RCCL makes it easy for passengers by spelling out dress-code
guidelines in the brochure. A normal 7 day Caribbean cruise has four casual
nights, two formal nights, and one or more theme nights. During the daytime,
comfortable casual clothing is appropriate on deck.
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Seabourn Cruise Line offers a very upscale posh cruising experience
with ultra luxury all-suite ships generally acclaimed as the best in the
world. Not for the budget-minded. An unprecedented ratio of European-trained
staff to guests assures the most attentive, professional service. The atmosphere
is adult oriented and formal. The ships are in the style of a trendy international
resort. There is none of the usual atmosphere of a cruise ship with announcements,
pool games, and contests.
Positive: Impeccable service, luxurious accommodations, exclusivity,
maneuverable ship size, single open-seating dining, cuisine.
Negative: Limited activity, limited water sports facilities, poor positioning
of outdoor pool, room service breakfast.
Passengers: Veteran cruisers; first-time cruisers who only want the
best and can afford it. About half the passengers on any cruise are under
50, and more often old money rather than nouveau riche. Clubby and very
posh, these ships are for couples who are rich and successful.
Dining: Sophisticated contemporary cuisine prepared a la minute and
served in small portions to encourage passengers to try the suggested menu
rather than simply one or two dishes.The French accented cuisine is light
enough and the portions small enough that you will be satiated but not
stuffed at the end of the meal.
Activities: There are only few organized activities; a small casino;
a library with a good selection of books and videos; a card room; water
sports; enrichment lectures; speakers include renowned chefs, editors of
major travel and lifestyle publications, and celebrities;
solo artists give nightly performances; a cabaret-style show twice
a week; nightly dancing and piano music round out the low-key evening entertainment.
Service: The passenger-to-crew ratio is among the lowest of any ship.
No tipping is allowed, yet the European service crew is professional, personable,
and eager to accommodate virtually any personal request.
Tipping: Included in the cost of the cruise.
Dress: While daytimes may be spent in casual, people dress up in the
evenings, wich are always formal.
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Silversea's offer luxury travel on highly acclaimed ships. This all-inclusive,
very luxurious cruise line should appeal to almost everyone who's extra-demanding
about food, accommodations and service with one of the highest passenger
space ratios of any ship at sea.
Positive: Accommodations are all outside suites, and space and passenger-to-crew
ratios are among the best at sea.
Negative: Limited facilities for those wanting elaborate entertainment
options.
Passengers: Predominantly middle-aged couples, many of whom have
sailed aboard some of the other super-luxury lines; passenger home addresses
included the United States, Britain, Hong Kong, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands,
Mexico, Bermuda, Switzerland and Austria. Best suited for Anyone
who likes a lot of options,
Dining: The cuisine is contemporary, restaurant-style cooking with
a nice mix of simple and sophisticated dishes and an emphasis on fresh
foods.
Activities: Morning aerobics; work out in small exercise rooms, swim
in the tile-lined pool, or jog on the promenade deck; card and board games;
foreign-language classes; chess and bridge competitions; a large library
stocked with books videotapes and compact discs; a small casino.
Service: Silversea's staff has been recruited from some of the finest
lines in cruising, such as Crystal and Seabourn. Service is highly personalized,
attentive, and friendly throughout the ship. Tipping is included in the
cruise fare, and no additional gratuities are accepted.
Tipping: Tips are included and actually discouraged by all staff.
Dress: The Silversea ships are fairly dressy with passengers fashionably
attired daytimes as well as evenings. Formal wear is requested for two
evenings a week. Informal dress is usually requested two or three nights
out of seven.
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A Windstar cruise is the closet you can get to being on someone's private
yach. The Windstar passenger sees the world from a romantic sailing ship
with luxurious accommodations, a casual yet elegant atmosphere, and exquisite
service and cuisine.
Positive: Luxury, modern sailing ships; appealing lifestyle; value
for money; itineraries; private yacht exclusivity; cabins; romantic escape
and totally different experience; water sports; perfect for honeymooners;
only 148 and 312 passengers per ship; casual and laid back fun.
Negative: Uneven cuisine level; evening activity; port-intensive itineraries
with minimal time under canvas.
Passengers: The majority is between 35-55 years old; their incomes
range, and they might be first-time or experienced cruisers. Active, affluent,
individualists; divers and others who enjoy water sports; experienced cruisers
looking for something different; those attracted by the romance of sailing
ships but want upscale cruise ship luxury.
Dining: With Los Angeles' super-chef Joachim Splichal, creating his
signature cuisine on board all the ships, you can count on delicious fare.
Activities: The ships do not have a schedule of daily activities, as
is typical of most cruise ships. Days are passed sunbathing, reading, deep-sea
fishing, swimming, and watching the ship being maneuvered. Night life on
board is low-key and minimal.
Service: The captain and his European officers are affable, accessible,
and always visible, inviting passengers to watch the ship in operation,
visiting with passengers to ensure their comfort, and participating in
activities when possible.The cabin staff and most of the restaurant personnel
are Indonesian; deck stewards, bar personnel, and section captains are
Filipino. And all get very high marks.
Tipping: "No Tipping Required" policy, although most extend a small
gratuity to stewards and waiters.
Dress: Elegant resort wear with jacket and tie optional. You see a
lot of open-necked silk shirts and linen pants on both men and women. Daytime
wear is very casual, usually a lot of shorts and swimsuits.
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Marella Cruises is a TUI company and sails to over 200 destinations–
there’s even the option of stepping straight onboard their cruises from
one of their UK homeports.
Caribbean cruises excel in weak-at-the-knees scenery. The region’s
7,000 islands sweep across the Caribbean Sea, all the way from the
Florida Keys to Venezuela. Flawless white beaches are something they
all have in common. Whether you drop anchor in Aruba, St Lucia or
Guadeloupe, you’ll be greeted with icing sugar sands lapped by
sparkling blue waves.
A revised sustainability strategy was launched in 2018 as part of the
rebranding of Thomson Cruises to Marella Cruises. Emissions and
environmental management, water and waste reduction initiatives and
biodiversity and community programs are key focus areas. Measures such
as the installation of new air conditioning equipment, operating with a
single engine running, or drifting on passage all help Marella Cruises
run at an efficient speed, cutting energy demand.
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With over 30 ports of call in the Caribbean, MSC Cruises provides some
of the best value cruises on the market. They are an Italian cruise
line which is reflected in the food and entertainment onboard.
Passengers onboard speak a variety of languages and onboard
announcements reflect this.
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