How it Ranks: Cunard has been ranked based on an expert evaluation of the line's level of luxury, as well as an assessment of user reviews and health ratings. Cunard Line appears on the following ranking lists: Cunard's three ships — Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria — receive well-rounded praise from travel experts and cruisers alike for their stylish accommodations and elegant facilities like upscale dining rooms and opulent ballrooms. Keeping with its legacy as a traditional, Old World ocean liner, Cunard is one of the only luxury cruise lines to offer secluded dining areas for select passengers, meaning guests staying in standard staterooms dine in a different restaurant than passengers staying in suites. Outside the luxurious lodgings, you can enjoy Cunard's versatile lounging and dining options, which include the Veuve Clicquot Champagne Bar and a specialty restaurant on Queen Mary 2 with a menu crafted by chef Todd English. Cunard offers one-way and round-trip voyages with popular 2016 itineraries covering the Mediterranean, the Baltic Sea and northern Europe, and including trans-Atlantic crossings between New York and Southampton, England. Popular destinations along the way spotlight major cities across the United States, Canada, Europe, the Caribbean, the Middle East and Australia and the Pacific Islands. Shore excursions available depend on the cruise's itinerary and duration (2016 voyages can last anywhere from two to 120 days), and cover everything from zip line tours through St. Lucia's Rainforest Adventure Park to a gondola ride through Venice's canals. What's more, on all of Cunard's ships you'll find a casino, a fitness center and spa, an art gallery and a wide range of enrichment programs, such as computer classes, ballroom dance tutorials and lecture series. Pros & Cons After one Cunard cruise, you can join the Cunard World Club loyalty program and start receiving fare discount notifications and other benefits Variety of cabin classes and specialty restaurants to choose from Complimentary night nursery available from 6 to 11 p.m. for guests ages 6 months to 2 years old Some onboard amenities cost extra Shore excursions are not covered in cruise rate Government fees and taxes are not included in cruise fares On Board While Cunard offers programming catered to children on each ship, the cruise line's onboard activities target well-traveled American, British and international travelers ages 50 and up who prefer afternoon tea and evening galas over pool parties and dance clubs. However, during the summer months, you'll likely find more families and kids on board. More about the onboard experience» On Shore While docked at each port, you can either explore independently or book one of Cunard's shore excursions. Excursion options vary by itinerary and ports of call, and are not included in the price of your cruise. You can pre-book excursions up to three days prior to your cruise departure ... More about the on shore experience» Before You Book If you book directly with Cunard, you must pay your cruise fare 90 days before departure. Children must be at least 6 months old on most voyages, except for trans-Atlantic and trans-Pacific journeys (including trips to Hawaii, Iceland and World Voyages) where guests must be at least 1 year old. Passengers younger than 18 must be traveling with a passenger 18 years or older. Passengers younger than 16 must share a stateroom with a guest who is at least 16. Cancellation policies vary by cruise length. For voyages that are shorter than 30 days, you must cancel at least 91 days before your trip to receive a full refund. If you cancel 61 to 90 days in advance, you'll forfeit the deposit amount; if you cancel your reservation 31 to 60 days in advance, you'll receive a 50 percent refund; if you cancel 15 to 30 days in advance, you'll receive a 25 percent refund; and if you cancel two weeks or less prior to your scheduled departure date, you'll receive no refund. For voyages that last 30 days or longer, you will lose your deposit if you cancel your cruise between 91 and 120 days in advance of your departure date; you will receive a 50 percent refund if you cancel between 61 and 90 days before yuor sail date; and if you cancel within 60 days of your departure date, you will receive a 25 percent refund.

Carnival Cruise Lines is the largest and most popular cruise line in the world. Carnival offers their fleet of "Fun Ships, " operating voyages from 2- to 17-nights in length to many destinations. Carnival offers cruises to the Bahamas, the Caribbean, the Mexican Riviera, Alaska, and Hawaii. They even offer cruises to nowhere for those of you that don't have a lot of time to get away…or for those of you that are looking to get a taste of what Carnival Cruise Lines has to offer. Carnival is particularly well known for their festive-yet-casual atmosphere. Carnival Cruises offers a variety of onboard dining options, including both traditional (assigned) and open dining formats. They also have lots of entertainment and activity options to suit anyone's mood or taste. Carnival's ships offer everything from elegant multi-course meals in their dining rooms, to more casual meals available in their "Seaview Bistros" and 24-hour pizzerias. The Carnival cruise ships also feature dazzling Las Vegas-style entertainment, along with a full slate of morning-til-night activities to take part in. A Carnival Cruise Line "Fun Ship" cruise truly offers something for everyone…and then some! Why Choose Carnival Cruise Lines? Great for Everyone! Carnival cruises are a great option for anyone looking to cruise. They offer fabulous options for families, friends, couples, singles and seniors. Additionally, each Carnival cruise ship features many swimming pools, a full gambling casino, onboard duty free shopping, a major spa and fitness facility, and "Camp Carnival, " a complimentary fleetwide children's program that hosts around 175, 000 kids a year. Amazing Public Spaces Among the fabulous features available on select Carnival ships (Carnival Breeze, Carnival Dream, Carnival Ecstasy, Carnival Fantasy, Carnival Fascination, Carnival Imagination, Carnival Inspiration, Carnival Legend, Carnival Magic, Carnival Pride, Carnival Sensation and Carnival Sunshine) is Carnival's WaterWorks Park, a elaborate water park featuring a giant twister water slide. Carnival's Seaside Theatre is a 12-foot-high by 22-foot-wide LED screen located poolside on select Carnival ships, showing movies, sporting events, concerts and other special programming. Serenity Retreat is an adults-only area for those looking for some relaxation. Spa Carnival is another fantastic area available onboard Carnival's ships, featuring a state-of-the-art fitness center, salon and various body treatments. Your Choice Dining Carnival's dining program is called Your Choice Dining because when it comes to eating, it's really "your choice" as far as where and when you want to eat. For example, you can choose between assigned dining (at 6:00 pm or 8:15 pm) or Your Time Dining (an open dining format, available between 5:45 pm and 9:30 pm). What's New for Carnival Cruise Lines? Beginning October 2015 through February 2016, Carnival will begin offering 10 to 14 day voyages on six different ships that feature extended calls at destinations throughout the Caribbean, Bermuda, Mexican Riviera and Bahamas. The announcement follows the rearrangement of Carnival's current ship itineraries. In 2015, Carnival will return to NYC seasonally, offering short Canada & New England cruises, as well as the only program of eight-day eastern Caribbean voyages operating one-way between NY and San Juan. Carnival Splendor's Norfolk program will begin in May 2015. Carnival Legend, following the inaugural season in Australia, will operate seasonally in Alaska beginning May 2015. In late 2016, and Carnival Triumph in Galveston, joining Carnival Freedom. Carnival Triumph will be relocated to New Orleans, where it will join Carnival Dream and replace Carnival Elation in Spring 2016. Carnival Elation will replace Carnival Fascination in Jacksonville, offering significantly longer 10-11 day repositioning voyages; Carnival Fascination will reposition to San Juan in Spring 2016 to offer year round 7 day cruises. Carnival Miracle underwent extensive refurbishments when it entered dry dock in March 2015. The new features, all a part of Carnival's ongoing Fun Ship 2.0 ship enhancements, include popular programs like Seuss at Sea and Hasbro, The Game Show, as well as new dining venues and the addition of four new spectacular shows! Carnival Vista, the first of a new class of Carnival cruise ships, is the next cruise ship for Carnival Cruise Lines. With an expected delivery during the Spring of 2016, she's going to be the first of a new "Vista" class of ships. At 133, 500-tons, Carnival Vista will be the largest "Fun Ship" ever constructed, and will accommodate up to 3, 954 passengers and feature a variety of Carnival Funship 2.0 enhancements. A sister ship (yet to be named) is expected to debut during March of 2018. Be sure to check back here soon for more information. Carnival launched its winter schedule with the refurbishment of Carnival Pride, which emerged from a $75 million dry dock in November 2014. Boasting a variety of innovative additions, this upgrade to the line's Fun Ship 2.0 enhancements include the introduction of new dining and beverage venues, such as Guy's Burger Joint (developed in tandem with celebrity chef Guy Fieri) and Alchemy Bar. Another exciting addition is a massive WaterWorks aqua park, whose crowning attraction "Green Thunder" holds the title of fastest and steepest water slide at sea, as well as four new Playlist Productions shows. Carnival is now rolling out Camp Ocean across their fleet of "Fun Ships." The new program is designed for children between the ages of 2 and 11 and will feature more than 200 ocean-themed activities. Children will have a chance to play and discover in a fun, yet educational environment. Carnival Freedom is the first to receive the Camp Ocean program with the rest of the fleet receiving the program by 2016. Starting February 2014 onboard Carnival Splendor, Carnival introduced the Seuss at Sea program to their fleet. Combining all the excitement of a Carnival cruise with...

(6 p.m. EDT) - "Congratulations Dan Askin, Caribbean Cruise Line has identified you to receive a free two-night cruise for two onboard the Bahamas Celebration to Grand Bahama Island." * The Free Cruise We've seen spokesmodel Carmen Electra touting free cruises on TV, received the award booklet mailing (with its official-looking stamps of approval from The Islands of the Bahamas, Alamo and Our Lucaya Beach & Golf Resort) and discovered the offer while browsing the Web. We're told that collecting our free cruise is easy: Call an 800 number, or fill out a form, and it's time for two nights of zero-cost cruising. Naturally, "scam" might be the first thing that comes to mind with such an offer. And it quickly becomes apparent that the * means it's not actually free. It'll cost you a minimum of $59 per person for government fees and port taxes. There's nothing necessarily untoward here; the government taxes and fees are clearly stated, and $59 per person for a two-night Bahamas cruise - which includes accommodations, all meals, entertainment and a call at Grand Bahama Island - still seems like a decent deal for a quick getaway. Still, people have had serious complaints when trying to book the offer, ranging from confusion about which company is making the offer (Caribbean Cruise Lines, which sends the deal, or Celebration Cruise Line, which operates the ship) to forced timeshare pitches and misleading pricing. Cruise Critic did some research - and attempted to book a cruise - to help you determine whether the offer is a scam or a good deal. First, a bit of background: What is Caribbean Cruise Line, Anyway? Let's clear up a key point of confusion right away. Celebration Cruise Line is the actual name of the line on which you'll be sailing. Caribbean Cruise Line is not a cruise line at all, but the name of a wholesaler that's touting the free cruise. But the difference between line and wholesaler seems to be blurry at best, with numerous complaints on sites like Cruise Critic, complaintsboard.com and ripoffreport.com conflating line and seller. It doesn't help that each has a telegenic spokesmodel - Daisy Fuentes for Celebration and Carmen Electra for Caribbean. As a travel wholesaler, Caribbean Cruise Line is licensed and bonded in the State of Florida, "Fla. Seller of Travel Reg. No. ST-37425." (Though, there are timeshare marketing outposts in locations where the company is registered; for instance, in New Jersey, it's registered by the New Jersey Real Estate Commission.) Regardless of the official license, the charges against Caribbean Cruise Lines have been fast and furious - consumers have had difficulties getting refunds, been subjected to aggressive sales tactics, discovered that salespeople had misrepresented cabin locations - and many equate the two companies or confuse one for the other. Angelina from Pennsylvania, who booked an extended-stay vacation after seeing Carmen Electra touting the cruise on TV, told us a horror story, which included more than five hours of timeshare presentations that they were not told they'd have to attend. "You have to go, or you will not be allowed to get on the cruise ship if you don't, " she told us. Florida's Division of Consumer Services has record of at least 40 complaints, the content of which we've yet to receive in the form of a public record request. Moreover, the Better Business Bureau gives Caribbean Cruise Line and "F" - and the BBB has documented 459 complaints filed against the business, 396 of which have been considered resolved. Still, according to a spokesperson at the Florida Attorney General's Office, the body responsible for responding in earnest to those consumer complaints, no official investigation has been opened or closed on Caribbean Cruise Line.

With over 261 romantic destinations in 72 countries to choose from, Royal Caribbean® can take you and your special someone almost anywhere. From the lure of the Caribbean to the charm of Europe, we've got everything you need for a romantic getaway - endless beaches, tropical breezes and sunsets over shimmering blue waters. Cozy up together as you set sail on a romantic cruise vacation. Imagine sipping wine on your private balcony while taking in the sounds and scenes of the ocean or sleeping in and enjoying complimentary breakfast in bed. We have the perfect stateroom for any couple and any budget. Formal night in the dining room makes any special occasion even more special. Or, for private nibbles and kisses, enjoy complimentary room service in your stateroom until midnight. Our specialty dining options provide delicious cuisine in a romantic, intimate setting, and with our pre-cruise reservations service, you won't miss a delicious moment.

Thousands of weary passengers stranded at sea for more than 24-hours as 30-foot waves blocked their cruise ship from docking finally made it back to shore early Wednesday in Australia. The Carnival Spirit — with 2, 500 passengers and 1, 500 crew aboard — was forced to remain out at sea as a massive storm pummeled Australia's coastline and shut down Sydney Harbor. "Upstairs on the main deck a lot of the glass had actually been pushed out and smashed all over the place, chairs just turned like lollipops, it was just crazy, " passenger Ernie Pittana said. "It was horrific, " passenger Rachel Browne told The Sydney Morning Herald newspaper. "You couldn't hear a thing anyone said, the noise was so loud and the rain was blowing sideways. "The glasses and teacups in my room smashed…They just blew off the table and hit the wall." On land, winds of up to 85 mph uprooted trees, crushed cars, snapped power poles and tore off roofs and building awnings. Damages were already in the millions and were expected to rise, according to officials.

Home > Cruise Destinations > Mediterranean Cruise Deals Embarking on a Mediterranean cruise is like being whisked away on a romantic odyssey. The Mediterranean will greet you with warm breezes, sparkling blue water, fresh seafood, medieval towns and European culture combined to create a relaxing and enlightening vacation. Mediterranean cruises offer plenty of port choices, big and small. You will be able to escape the crowds if you choose a ship small enough to fit into the more intimate ports. Because the Mediterranean ports are so close together, you can visit a different country each day and really get to understand the culture and history of each southern European port that you visit. Most cruises in the Mediterranean include one or two sea days for rest and relaxation and some sunbathing, too. Visiting the Mediterranean without taking a cruise is missing an important part of the Southern European experience. Search online for Mediterranean cruise discounts or let one of our cruise experts help you find the best cruise deal to the Mediterranean. Mediterranean and Southern European Cruise Highlights HISTORY AND ARCHEOLOGY The Southern Mediterranean has been a crossroads of civilization throughout history. The great explorers including Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Saint Paul, Marco Polo all explored the coastal cities. The histories of great civilizations lay waiting to be explored. From the Roman Empire to the Holy Lands a vast world filled with great heroes and adventurous stories waits to be heard. WINE AND CUISINE The Southern Mediterranean offers a vast variety of local cuisine and fine wines. Indulge in mouthwatering Spanish tapas, fabulous Italian pasta or many of the other regional specialties if the Southern Mediterranean. Add to that the incredible local wines and spirits produced in the Southern Mediterranean towns and villages and your Southern Mediterranean cruise can be a food lover’s delight.

Experience the wonders of the Kennedy Space Center with the whole family. See, hear and touch NASA's glorious past, inspiring present and exciting future. Stroll through the Rocket Garden, home of Apollo and Gemini-era rockets, board life-size replicas of the space shuttle Explorer and see spacecraft that have actually orbited the Earth. Other Fun Things to Do Take an exciting and educational airboat tour into central Florida's Everglades. As you travel deep into the wilderness, you'll glide over a sea of grass into the pristine fresh-water eco-system of Bald Cypress Swamp, where alligators and other wildlife abound. Explore Cocoa Beach, made famous by "I Dream of Jeannie, " just a short drive from Port Canaveral and south of the Kennedy Space Center. You'll be charmed by the unique shops, many parks and 12 miles of beaches. Get a Taste of Local Flavor True Floridians celebrate Florida's wild side. And there aren't many places on earth more wild than the Everglades. Get a real taste of the Everglades by sampling some alligator meat. It's a popular appetizer all over the area and most people say it tastes "just like chicken." Local Currency The official currency of the United States is the U.S. Dollar (USD). Weather in Orlando (Port Canaveral) Temperature Fahrenheit Celsius Average High 69.9° 21.06° Average Low 47.3° 8.5° Mean Temperature 59° 15° Record High 88° 31.11° Record Low 19° -7.22° Precipitation Inches Centimeters Average Precip. 2.4 in

"We have adapted policies designed specifically to deal with the last minute discounts that are so disruptive to the system, " said Richard Fain, Chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Cruises Limited. The discounts, which are usually offered anywhere from a week to a month ahead of a sailing, are designed to fill ships that aren't yet full. But they upset customers who booked early and can't qualify for the new deals, confuse travel agents and undermine the company's brand image, Fain said. "As a result in March we adopted a new policy that we would not do any last minute discounts on bookings in North America. Depending on the type of cruise, that last minute may be 10, 20 or 30 days out, but from that point on we will hold our price at the prior level." Overall, Cruise Critic readers are pleased with Fain's announcement. "I like this, " Cruise Critic member marci22 wrote on the Royal Caribbean forum. "You won't feel like an idiot for paying more for a similar cabin that gets discounted after final [payment date], and the ship won't be as crowded."

International Travel A valid passport is required; visas are required where they apply. This includes Europe, Asia, Central and South America. Our Recommendation Royal Caribbean International strongly recommends that all guests travel with a valid passport during their cruise. This greatly assists guests who may need to fly out of the United States to meet their ship at the next available port should they miss their scheduled embarkation in a U.S. port; guests entering the U.S. at the end of their cruise; and guests needing to fly to the U.S. before their cruise ends, because of medical, family, personal or business emergencies, missing a ship's departure from a port of call, involuntary disembarkation from a ship due to misconduct, or other reasons. Guests who need to fly to the United States before their cruise ends will likely experience significant delays and complications related to booking airline tickets and entering the United States if they do not have a valid U.S. passport with them. For additional passport information visit Non-U.S. Citizens You will need a valid passport and, in some cases, a visa. If you live in the U.S., you will also need the original copy of your Alien Registration Card (ARC or "Green Card") and any other documentation the countries on your itinerary require due to your alien status. Canadian Landed Immigrants All Canadian Landed Immigrants (inclusive of those who are citizens of the British Commonwealth countries) who reside in Canada must have valid passports and US visas. Also required is the original copy of your Permanent Resident Card (PR Card) formally the IMM 1000 or with respect to any country on the itinerary any other travel documentation required because of alien status. Visas Please contact the Embassy (Consular Services) of each country on your sailing itinerary or the visa service of your choice for specific visa requirements, information, forms and fees for your nationality. VISA WAIVER PROGRAM Citizens from the Visa Waiver Program countries of: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunel, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom seeking to enter the United States will be required to have in their possession a machine readable, biometic passport with a digital photograph valid for the duration of the voyage.

R. Gino Santa Maria/Shutterstock Slide 1 of 17 A record 22.2 million people are expected to take a cruise in 2015; and with dozens of cruise lines to choose from, they’ve got some hard choices ahead of them. How do you save money without sacrificing quality? What luxury lines offer the unique experiences? What lines are best for those who want a little romance? On Tuesday, U.S. News & World Report released its ranking of the 2015 best cruise lines, including the best cruise lines for the money, for families and for romance, as well as the best luxury lines and the best lines in the Caribbean. U.S. News ranked 15 cruise lines (148 total ships) using expert recommendations (30% weight), travel reviews and ratings collected by Cruiseline.com (50%) and results from health evaluations conducted by the CDC (20%). Here are the best cruise lines for 2015: Leah-Anne Thompson / Shutterstock.com Slide 2 of 17 Best cruise lines for the money: Royal Caribbean (No. 1) For travelers looking to maximize quality while staying on a budget, Royal Caribbean RCL, -3.16% once again is the best way to go. “Apart from the line’s versatile amenities and low rates for 2015 itineraries, Royal Caribbean reigned supreme thanks to its health scores and high ratings from both travelers and experts, ” the U.S. News report reveals. Travelers will find activities including ice skating rinks, zip lines and surf simulators, along with rates that are among the lowest in the industry. Daryl Lang/Shutterstock Slide 3 of 17 Best cruise lines for the money: Disney (No. 2) Disney DIS, -0.67% snagged the no. 2 spot on budget-friendly list, but if you have little kids, you may want to bump this cruise line up a notch. Thanks to its Broadway-style Disney shows, 3-D theaters showing Disney movies and Disney character meet and greets — as well as its affordable rates — this cruise line is usually a big hit with children, as well as parents looking to stay within a budget. Creative Jen Designs/Shutterstock Slide 4 of 17 Best cruise lines for the money: Carnival (No. 3) Carnival CCL, -2.06% has done a lot to recover from 2013’s now-infamous “poop cruise, ” including pouring money into ship upgrades and offering passengers refunds if they didn’t like their cruising experience. And now, thanks in part to its recent cleanliness ratings, budget-friendly itineraries in 2015, and passenger satisfaction reviews, it lands the no. 3 spot on this list. Rounding out the top five budget cruise lines (in order) are Princess and Norwegian. EvrenKalinbacak/Shutterstock Slide 5 of 17 Best luxury cruise lines: Crystal Cruises (No. 1) Not only did Crystal score the highest traveler rating among all 15 cruise lines (4.6 out of 5), this is the second year in a row that Crystal has snagged the no. 1 spot on the luxury line list. For the past few years, the cruise line has done multimillion-dollar, high-end renovations on some of its ships - the Serenity now has an herb garden and the Symphony a fitness garden, to name a couple - which bumped its amenity listings a notch ahead of competitors (we also love the complimentary bottle of Cristal and 24-hour personal butler that Serenity passengers enjoy). Plus, U.S. News notes that “Crystal Cruises outshined competitors with its exemplary service, gourmet dining options and unique enrichment programs, such as tai chi lessons and food and wine tastings.” ducvien/Shutterstock Slide 6 of 17 Best luxury cruise lines: Silversea (No. 2) If high-end smaller ship cruises are more your style, Silversea is worth considering. This cruise line scored the No. 2 spot on this list for the second year in a row “due to a combination of personalized service (the line maintains a nearly 1-to-1 crew-to-guest ratio), all-suite accommodations and a 4.2 approval rating among travelers, ” the U.S. News report revealed. Vytautas Kielaitis/Shutterstock Slide 7 of 17 Best luxury cruise lines: Regent Seven Seas (No. 3) Regent — which this year was also named the best luxury line by the National Association of Career Travel Agents — kept its No. 3 ranking on this list “thanks to its luxury cabins, complimentary shore excursions and gourmet menus, ” the U.S. News report said. Rounding out the top five luxury cruise lines (in order) were Azamara, Oceania and Cunard. NAN728/Shutterstock Slide 8 of 17