As promised, here is the second part of the cruise ship comparison. Again this is in no particular order.
Azamara
Azamara has two ships that cruise all around the world, from Asia, Caribbean, Europe, Mexico, Panama Canal, and South America. They have brain stimulating activities, such as brain teasers, trivia, contests and Name that Tune (including movie themes, TV tunes, and more). There is a casino aboard, as well as art auctions, and the Azamara Cabaret. This particular cruise line is not geared toward children and would be a great couples retreat.
Celebrity
Celebrity offers many of the same routes as the others, Alaska, Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada, Europe, Galapagos, Hawaii, Panama Canal, and South America. While on board, Celebrity offers art auctions, as well as boutique shopping. They have a production theater, where dancers and singers perform nightly for your entertainment.
There are also several bars, depending on your style, where you can enjoy and cocktail and relax. They have a martini bar, specializing in several different types of specialty cocktails, as well as a champagne bar, with champagnes from all around the world. There is the Michael’s Club, which offers Grand Piano for your listening pleasure, as well as a sports bar, so even though you are out to see, you don’t have to miss a single game!
One thing that Celebrity offers that is unique is a conservatory. They have a floating botanical conservatory.
There are also several different sports that are offered, range from volleyball and basketball to Pilates and paddle tennis.
A new feature of the line, that began January 8, 2010, is religious services. They provide services for Catholic Protestant, Jewish, and Interdenominational faiths.
Like several of the other lines, there are programs geared towards kids of all ages. These programs range from Toddler Time, under 3 years of age, the Shipmates, ages 3-5, Celebrity Cadets, ages 6-8, Ensigns, ages 9-11, and Admiral Teens, ages 12-17.
Disney
Like the name suggests, this cruise line is family friendly and for Disney lovers of all ages. Disney provides cruises to Europe, Alaska, Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexican Rivera, and the Panama Canal.
Onboard you get a chance to watch Broadway caliber Disney musicals, ranging from Lion King to Beauty and the Beast. There is also a chance to watch the first run of the upcoming Disney 3D movies. No Disney cruise is complete without character meetings. There are meet and greets with all your favorite Disney characters.
Onboard there is “Alotf” for ages 13-17, a place where teens can watch TV, surf the internet, play video games, and listen to music all while being supervised. There is also the “Arr-cade” stocked with all the latest and greatest video games.
There are several activities that are meant for parents and children to interact together. D-Lounge and Studio Sea are places where parents and children can sing, dance and play together. The Disney Oceaneer Lab is a place where children and parents can play and learn at sea.
There are also programs for children of different ages. The Flounder Reef Nursery is for children ages 3months to 3 years. The Aloft for children ages 13-17 as well as the Vibe for ages 14-17. While the children are playing the kids their own age, the parents can play with people their own age. There are two different lounges for parents to escape to, the 687 sports bar and the Cadillac lounge.
Regent 7
This particular cruise is designed for smaller, more intimate cruising. They provide “upscale, but not uptight” accommodations. Regent 7 sails all around the world, including Africa/Asia, Alaska, Bermuda, Europe and Mediterranean, Caribbean/Mexico, Asia/Australia, Latin America, Tahiti/South Pacific, and Russia/Baltic.
Regent 7’s distinction is in accommodations, service, dining and amenities that elevate them to the lofty vantage point of their enviable six stars.
Oceania
Oceania is another small, yet distinguished cruise line. They provide cruises to South America, Alaska, Asia, Africa, Europe, Caribbean/Panama Canal, Canada/New England.
They have amenities that include afternoon tea, a card room, wine tasting, pool and Jacuzzi, martini tasting, headline entertainers, and boutique shopping.
Norwegian
Beginning July 2010, Norwegian Cruises welcomes Nickelodeon on the Epic and Jewel. This includes shoes, meet and greets and chances to get SLIMMED!
They offer two golf destination cruises, to Hawaii and Bermuda. They also offer cruises to Alaska, Bahamas, Canada/New England, Caribbean, Europe, Mexican Rivera, Panama Canal, and South America.
Norwegian offers “freestyle cruising” a chance to have your own style vacation. Whether it is seeing the Blue Man Group or a Broadway show, or hanging out in a comedy club or one of the 20 different bars and lounges onboard.
Holland America
Holland America has a “Service of Excellence” where they pride themselves on continually upgrading and enhancing their services provided. A couple highlights including; Mix, a new bar concept with three specialty lounges serving their namesakes: Martinis, Champagne and Spirits & Ales. Showroom at Sea, a glamorous nightclub with performances featuring Broadway entertainers. A new resort pool feature called The Retreat, complete with an upscale pizzeria and a giant LED screen for evening movies. Canaletto, a complimentary Italian restaurant comes to life for dinner with gourmet Italian selections.
Some of the unique features of Holland America include Art Tours, Shopping Onboard, Culinary Arts Center, Digital Workshops (powered by Windows), and special youth programs.
Their entertainment includes a casino, curtain call (Broadway shows), a movie theatre, and several venues including the crows nest, a lounge by day, night club at night, a piano bar, sports bar, and the silk den lounge, a Pan-Asian themed room, complete with plush furniture and breathtaking, panoramic views.
No matter which cruise line you choose, there is an adventure on board and memories to be made!
**As a side note, these are not my words, but the words of the cruise lines themselves. I use their websites for references in all the summaries.