Choosing a cruise? Meet your match

March 19, 2006

You and your cruise -- Are you a good fit? Match your personal style and interests with this sampling of cruise options.

If you: Plan black-tie galas for your country club . . .

Then consider: Regent Seven Seas. This ritzy cruise line draws the six-figure crowd.

Ships include: Seven Seas Voyager, Seven Seas Mariner, Seven Seas Navigator and Paul Gauguin. There are 300 ports on all continents, except Africa.

Tidbits: Three ships have kitchens run by Le Cordon Bleu. . . . Ed Asner and Gena Rowlands are among celebs set for a "Theater at Sea" cruise in April -- one of this year's 26 specialty cruises. . . . Some Baltic trips this year include free airfare.

If you: Whip up gourmet meals for your children's school lunches . . .

Then consider: Holland America Line. The Culinary Arts Center, with cooking demonstrations and seminars, will be on all ships by midyear.

Ships include: Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Ryndam, Statendam, Veendam, Volendam, Westerdam and Zuiderdam.

Destinations include: Alaska, New England, Pacific Northwest, Hawaii, Asia, Canada, South Pacific, Europe and South America.

Tidbits: The 1,918-passenger Noordam debuted last month. . . . This year's schedule includes 159 Alaskan cruises.

If you: Wrote your master's thesis on Mark Twain . . .

Then consider: Delta Queen Steamboat Co. Cruises and port stops are steeped in U.S. history lessons.

Ships: The American Queen, Delta Queen and Mississippi Queen cruise along the Mississippi and connecting rivers and waterways.

Tidbits: The American Queen cruises New Orleans and the lower Mississippi but is on hiatus until at least late November. . . . Cruise themes for the other ships include quilting, bluegrass jamboree, Kentucky Derby and a veterans reunion.
If you: Organize your family reunion each year . . .

Then consider: Celebrity Cruises Family members of all ages will have plenty to do.

Ships: Celebrity Xpedition, Century, Constellation, Galaxy, Infinity, Mercury, Millennium, Summit and Zenith.

Destinations: North and South America, including Alaska, Canada, the Caribbean, the Galapagos Islands and Mexico; also Europe.

Tidbits: Most ships offer acupuncture. . . . Some sailings include bridge classes.

If you: Think shorts and an old T-shirt are appropriate for casual Fridays . . .

Then consider: Windjammer Barefoot Cruises The laid-back ships present frequent opportunities to unwind with like-minded passengers.

Ships: Amazing Grace (a freighter), Legacy, Mandalay, Polynesia and Yankee Clipper ply the Caribbean, including the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, Bahamas, St. Lucia and St. Maarten, plus Costa Rica.

Tidbits: The August "Serenity Sail," a holistic-themed trip, includes Thai massage lessons and beachside yoga. . . . Free dive lessons are available for children in summer . . . The largest ship, the Polynesia, accommodates just 126 passengers.

If you: Aren't sure who likes Mickey Mouse more -- you or your kids . . .

Then consider: Disney Cruise Line. Kids will find countless activities, not just a token few your teen would deem "lame."

Ships: Disney Magic and Disney Wonder sail throughout the Caribbean, including to a private island called Castaway Cay.

Tidbits: Half of each ship's capacity can be seated in its theater, where Broadway-style shows are put on. . . . Special package deals combine stays at Disney World and cruises to the Bahamas.

If you: Yawn at the thought of another long weekend in Paris . . .

Then consider: Crystal Cruises. This luxury line for Europhiles seeks out unique excursions, including driving a Formula One race car in Monte Carlo.

Ships: Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony sail primarily the Mediterranean, Aegean, Adriatic and Black seas, with other cruises worldwide.

Tidbits: The 25 percent single-supplement fee for some rooms on the April 29 Big Band-themed trans-Atlantic sailing has been waived. . . . Photos of China from the Smithsonian will be shown on the Symphony beginning in November. . . . Casinos are run by Caesars Palace.

If you: Only vacation where surf, sand and fruity frozen drinks can be found . . .

Then consider: Princess Cruises More than half the fleet is cruising the Caribbean this year.
Ships include: Caribbean Princess, Coral Princess, Dawn Princess, Sea Princess, Star Princess, Sun Princess and Tahitian Princess.

Destinations: Besides the Caribbean, Alaska, South America and Europe are popular.

Tidbits: Guys can pop the question to their unsuspecting girlfriends via video shown on a giant outdoor movie screen on the newest ship, the Crown Princess. . . . The line debuts Caribbean sailings from New York in June.

If you: Think that "creature comforts" refers to whales, otters and seals . . .

Then consider: Lindblad Expeditions. Passengers don't just view flora and fauna, they learn about it from experts.

Ships: Endeavour, Islander, Polaris, Sea Bird, Sea Lion and Sea Voyager visit nature lovers' locales such as the Galapagos Islands, Patagonia, Alaska and Baja California.

Tidbit: Special permits allow Lindblad passengers to kayak in the Galapagos.

If you: Yearn for your college days, when you partied a lot more than you studied . . .

Then consider: Carnival Cruise Lines They don't call these floating nightclubs "fun ships" for nothing.

Ships include: Carnival Conquest, Carnival Destiny, Carnival Liberty, Carnival Spirit, Carnival Valor, Carnival Victory, Celebration, Ecstasy, Elation, Fantasy, Fascination, Inspiration, Paradise and Sensation. Destinations cover most corners of the world, with a big presence in Alaska and the Caribbean.

Tidbits: The line is offering an expanded series of 15 12-day Mediterranean cruises this year. . . . Of Carnival's 3.3 million expected passengers for 2006, more than a half-million are anticipated to be children.

If you: Stash away money for a few years so you can afford one big vacation . . .

Then consider: Norwegian Cruise Line. The line's size and popularity keep prices comparatively low.

Ships include: Norwegian Crown, Norwegian Dawn, Norwegian Majesty, Norwegian Spirit, Norwegian Wind and Pride of Aloha.

Destinations include: Hawaii, Alaska, the Caribbean, the Mexican Riviera, through the Panama Canal, South America and the Mediterranean.

Tidbits: The newest ship, the Jewel, has 10 restaurants. . . . The Pride of Hawaii is scheduled to begin sailing in June.

If you: Hate taking long car trips because you get bored after an hour . . .

Then consider: Royal Caribbean. With ice-skating rinks, rock-climbing walls and on-board scuba lessons, Royal Caribbean ships are a dream for distraction-seekers.

Ships include: Adventure of the Seas, Explorer of the Seas, Jewel of the Seas, Monarch of the Seas, Navigator of the Seas, Serenade of the Seas, Splendor of the Seas, Voyager of the Seas and Vision of the Seas.

Destinations: More than 100 ports in North America and Europe.

Tidbits: The Freedom of the Seas, with its own water park and ice-skating rink, debuts in June as the largest ship in the world, accommodating 3,634 passengers. . . . The cruise line will sail from Philadelphia for the first time, with seven-night trips to Bermuda from April through October.

If you: Cared more about the ship than Leo or Kate in Titanic . . .

Then consider: Cunard Line. Stepping on a Cunard ship is a nautical throwback (as long as you have the money).

Ships: Queen Elizabeth 2 and Queen Mary 2 are known for trans-Atlantic cruises but also go to South America, Hawaii and around the world.
Tidbit: Starting in April, the QM2 will depart for its trans-Atlantic cruises from Brooklyn, N.Y.

If you: Only shop online during the holiday season because you loathe the mall crowds . . .

Then consider: Seabourn Cruise Line. The all-suite luxury cruises accommodate 208 people max.

Ships: Seabourn Pride, Spirit and Legend.

Destinations: Asia, Northern Europe, the South Pacific and Africa, among others.

Tidbit: Select cruises are available for 50 percent off on Seabourn's Web site.