Luxurious liner. Ranking of the world's best cruise ships

Cruise Critic, the world's largest online cruise line, itinerary and liner reviews, has compiled an annual UK Editor s Picks Awards, divided into 25 categories, to target potential customers in the world of river and sea cruises.

Liner "Black Watch" (cruise company "Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines", Norway) - winner in the category "Best Route". In the photo: the liner is sailing along the Norwegian fjord Nereus.

Liner "Crystal Symphony" (cruise company "Crystal Cruises") is recognized as the most luxurious. The company collaborates with renowned chef Nobu Matsuhisa. In the photo: the pool on board the "Crystal Symphony".

The title of the best new liner belongs to the "Britannia" (cruise company "P&O Cruise"), launched this spring.

The winner in the Best Dining Area category was The Epicurean, located on board a P&O Cruise ship.

Winner in the category "Best Coastal Excursions" - liner "Azamara" (cruise company "Azamara Club Cruises").

Azamara Club Cruises has won this title for the third time in a row. In the photo: a visit to the city of Ephesus, Turkey (left); the company rented a cathedral (right) for its passengers.

Winner in the Best Itinerary category - Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines.

The winner in the Best Nightlife category was Norwegian Cruise Line.

British Theater Royale Spectra on the Anthem of the Seas (Royal Caribbean cruise line).

Star Clippers wins Most Romantic Cruise category.

Cruise line Sanctuary Retreats won the Best River Cruise Ship Cabin category.

AmaWaterways River Cruises is the winner in the Best River Cruise Company category. Photo: AmaDara cruise ship restaurant.

The winner in the Best New River Liner category was Loire Princesse (CroisiEurope cruise line).

Ever dreamed of a luxury ocean liner cruise that looks more like a floating city than a huge ship? Today I want to show you 11 of the largest and most technologically advanced cruise ships in the world.

11. Disney Fantasy

Length: 339 meters
Displacement: 128,000 tons
Passengers: 4,000

Disney Fantasy takes a trip to the Caribbean. This giant passenger ship boasts a virtual sports simulator, a water park with a play area "Aqualab", where numerous slides, geysers and fountains are located on an area of ​​550 square meters. Children can also enjoy the "Royal Tea Party" with princesses of Disney fairy tales.

10. Disney Dream

Length: 339 meters
Displacement: 128,000 tons
Passengers: 4,000

This fairytale cruise ship adopts the design style of the 20th century, called the “golden age of cruising”. The ship cruises to the Bahamas and is famous for its Aquadak water slide and seven entertainment areas for toddlers and teens of all ages.

9. Carnival Breeze

Length: 306 meters
Displacement: 130,000 tons
Passengers: 4,724

This majestic liner hosts comedy shows and also has a Guy's Burger Joint restaurant, 3-D cinema, rum and tequila bars.

8. Carnival Magic

Length: 306 meters
Displacement: 130,000 tons
Passengers: 4,724

On the Carnival Magic, in the SportSquare zone, there is a nine-hole mini-golf course, and for fans of extreme team activities - a rope course over the sea. Also at the Passengers' service: a pastry shop, a theater, a brewery and a branded beer "ThirstyFrog Red".

Length: 333 meters
Displacement: 133,500 tons
Passengers: 3,959

This Mediterranean cruise ship is renowned for its Thermal Cave spa, twelve hydromassage pools and a 4-D cinema. The highlight of the liner is the Formula 1 simulator and the water park with 150 illuminated musical fountains.

6. MSC Splendida

Length: 333 meters
Displacement: 133,500 tons
Passengers: 3,959

The name of the ship was given by the famous actress Sophia Loren. The liner is equipped with innovative systems that protect the environment from pollution, which is why it has rightfully earned the title of "Eco-ship". On its decks were replaced: five dining areas, a large theater, a poker room. Children under the age of eleven travel free of charge on all MSC ships.

Length: 333 meters
Displacement: 139,400 tons
Passengers: 4,363

On the luxury liner MSC Divina there are restaurants of Italian, Mediterranean and Texas-Mexican cuisine, a cigar room and even an art gallery.

4. Norwegian Breakaway

Length: 329 meters
Displacement: 144,017 tons
Passengers: 4,000

This gigantic liner houses thirteen decks, three dining rooms, 17 restaurants, 12 bars, water slides the size of a five-story building, and is all operated by 1,700 crew members. The famous comedy troupe "The Second City" entertains guests of the ship with magnificent comedy performances and pyrotechnic shows.

3. Norwegian Epic

Length: 325 meters
Displacement: 153,000 tons
Passengers: 4,228

The Norwegian Epic has a bowling alley, a theater where guests can dine while enjoying musicals and comedies, and jazz and blues clubs. It also hosts concerts of famous blue-headed drummers from the Blue Man Group.

2. Oasis of the Seas

Length: 360 meters
Displacement: 220,000 tons
Passengers: 5,400

The world's second largest royal cruise ship, the Oasis of the Seas, has 16 decks with different themes. For example, one of them has a handmade wooden children's carousel. It also houses a Starbucks restaurant, an ice skating rink, the largest casino in the world's cruise fleet, the Casino Royal and a 750-seat aquatic amphitheater with outdoor fountains, jumps and diving towers. Thirty types of cupcakes can be tasted at the Cupcake Cupboard.

1. Allure of the Seas

Length: 360 meters
Displacement: 222,900 tons
Passengers: 5,400

Rounding out our rating is the largest cruise ship Allure of the Seas, whose dimensions are simply stunning. To get some idea of ​​its size, take a thousand blue whales and place them on four football fields. More than 300 cabins overlook Central Park with living trees, grass and flowers. The ship also has a golf course, a surf simulator and an ice rink where ice and circus shows are held.

Imagine taking a free cruise on the world's largest liner. There is a whole metropolis of entertainment and services inside, and everything is free. Fantasy? Yes. But one day, when the parade of planets takes place, the company launches a new ship, this fairy tale becomes reality. Tour operators, the media and everyone who will subsequently sell tickets to this liner are invited on the first voyage.

Harmony of the Seas is by far the largest cruise ship for 8,200 people, of which 2,200 are crew members. The height of the vessel is comparable to the height of a 20-storey building. The length is 362 meters, which exceeds the length of the Red Square in Moscow. The construction of the liner cost Royal Caribbean more than 1,000,000,000 euros.

But the most impressive thing is not the measurements, but the filling of the liner - a helipad, swimming pools, water slides, a casino, a theater, an ice skating rink, a garden with 12 thousand different plants and much, much more. There is even a Bionic bar on board, where robots work as waiters. Let's see how it looks inside ...

General plans of the liner. This is really a huge thing, a giant Noah's ark with a displacement of 227,500 tons:

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We left the port of Barcelona. We were escorted by two fire-fighting ships: in honor of the maiden voyage, they arranged a "salute" from water cannons:

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The first place you get on a cruise is, of course, the cabin. I will not give the footage, I will only mention that there was a separate dressing room in my cabin:

Common areas of the liner. On the right in the photo is a giant sculpture of a head that rotates in layers in different directions:

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There are pedestrian streets on board. A complete feeling that it was not a ship that went out to sea, but a piece of the mainland. There are a lot of people. After a number of accidents on cruises, Royal Caribbean installed an advanced facial recognition system capable of identifying every passenger in the crowd when needed:

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Many sculptures and works of modern art:

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Let's go up to the upper decks. There are two types of decks - covered, comfortable in windy conditions, and outdoor:

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There are 16 decks on board. 6 main pools and 10 giant jacuzzis:

The upper deck is replete with public areas:

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Lots of sun loungers. Pay attention to the slides behind the pool:

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On the other side of the golf course:

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Waves for board riding:

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Rope crossing at seven floors:

There is a huge aquatic theater at the stern of the ship. Two pipes lead down from the upper deck, through which you can go down in clothes. Feels like very fast, very scary and very dark. You overcome almost 30 meters in height in 13 seconds, making two 360-degree turns along the way:

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To the right of the aquateatre there is a pedestrian zone called Central Park:

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Naturally, there is a gym, and it is gigantic. Lots of simulators and equipment:

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There are 20 restaurants on board the Harmony of the Seas. The main one occupies three floors, and it is there that daily dinners are held:

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And this is the very Bionic bar where robots work. There are 30 alcoholic components in the arsenal of mechanical hands. The range of cocktails they can make is infinite. One cocktail takes 30 seconds. Looks fantastic:

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Another memorable restaurant is called Wonderland and is based on the famous work of Lewis Carroll:

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Hall decoration:

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Instead of a menu, they bring an empty picture that must be painted with water. After these manipulations, words appear. It would seem a trifle, but it leaves a lasting impression:

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Molecular cuisine restaurant. The dish is called "Vegetable Garden", and "earth" is made from bread with the addition of cuttlefish ink:

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Dessert made from a ball poured over with hot chocolate. After a minute, the ball melts, revealing the ice cream inside. Very tasty:

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Weekly in the restaurants of the liner, 4500 kg of chicken and almost 7000 kg of beef are consumed. A total of 4900 seats on board in restaurants and bars. The assortment of desserts confused me again:

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There are dozens of shops in Central Park for every wallet:

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You won't be bored in the evening. Rather, on the contrary, you will need to run from one view to another:

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A Broadway production of Grease is at the theater. The film of the same name, based on this musical, made Travolta a star in 1978:

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Ice show. Just pay attention to the quality of the costumes that are prepared for the show.

Traveling on the ocean is the perfect getaway. However, it is best, of course, to rest from business in luxury and complete safety. There is nothing more relaxing and mesmerizing than relaxing aboard a large ship. Since the dawn of the cruise industry, ships have competed in popularity, size and luxury. We offer an overview of the most expensive cruise ships that can give an unforgettable vacation.

In 1912, the Titanic was the largest cruise ship in the world. Currently, he will not even make the top 50. Cruise ships fall into two categories: those that are worth a fortune due to their sheer size, and those that are smaller and offer a more relaxing experience. Most of them are so large that their own can be compared with whole villages. These are real floating cities in the full sense of the word, offering the same wide range of services as any real settlement. Cruise ship designers are committed to meeting the varied needs of holidaymakers, whether traveling alone or young couples and families with small children. These cruise ships have bars, clubs, casinos, various cafes and restaurants, spa and fitness centers, swimming pools, dance floors, theme parks and even surf simulators.

Royal Caribbean is clearly the leader when it comes to luxury cruises. The company is the proud owner of two liners, which are considered the largest and most expensive passenger ships in the world. Together, they weigh more than 1.5 million tons and can cover 31 football stadiums, as well as accommodate over 34,000 passengers (crew members do not count).

10. Liberty of the Seas: $ 800 million

The ship is owned by Royal Caribbean, a well-known Norwegian-American cruise line. Freedom of the Seas is one of three Freedom-class liners operating in the oceans today. The second liner in the "Freedom-class" series began operations in 2007. The vessel is 338 meters long and 56 meters above the water level. The 15-deck vessel can accommodate 4,375 guests and 1,360 crew members. Its Freedom-class features include a giant dining room, 2101 cabins, spa and fitness centers, a theater, surf simulator, skating rink, whirlpools and three swimming pools.

9. Freedom of the Seas: $ 800 million

The owner of the liner "Independence of the Seas" is also the Royal Caribbean company. Liner "Independence of the Seas" is the first ship of the "Freedom-class" series. The construction was completed in 2006. At the time, it was the largest cruise ship. The 18-deck vessel can accommodate 4,375 guests and 1,360 crew members. The ship has everything you need for relaxation, such as a surf trainer, a water park and whirlpool baths.

8. "Independence of the Seas": $ 828 million

The third liner from the "Freedom-class" series. The liner, owned by Royal Caribbean, saw the world in 2008. The 15-deck ship is 340 meters long and can accommodate 4,370 guests and 1,360 crew members. It features surf simulators, an ice rink, special climbing walls, a mini golf course and whirlpool baths.

7. Norwegian Breakaway: $ 840 million

One of the newest luxury cruise ships embarked on its maiden voyage in 2013. The ship is owned by Norwegian Cruise Line, a company headquartered in Florida. The ship was built by the German company Meyer Werft for $ 840 million. It is currently the largest cruise ship in the Port of New York. 1,024 cabins can accommodate 4,000 guests and 1,595 crew members. Its distinctive feature is the huge open-air space, which houses a mini-golf course, fitness center, water park, jacuzzi and swimming pools.

6. Queen Mary 2: $ 880 million

The $ 880 million Queen Maria 2 transatlantic cruiser belongs to the British-American company Cunard Line. The cruise ship is currently operating between Southampton and New York. The 14-deck liner can accommodate 2,620 guests and 1,238 crew members. Its distinctive features are the Britannia restaurant with a capacity of 1347 people, the Royal Theater, the winter garden, as well as 14 clubs and fitness centers. The liner is 345 meters long and 72 meters above the water level. The liner "Queen Mary 2" is 45 meters longer than the Eiffel Tower.

5. Disney Dream: $ 900 million

The cruise ship is owned by Disney Cruise Line, a subsidiary of the Walt Disney Company. Disney Dream is worth $ 900 million. The first cruise on this liner took place in 2011 and currently there are regular cruises to the Bahamas. The vessel has a total of 1,250 cabins, which can accommodate 4,000 guests and 1,458 crew members. All kinds of entertainment are provided on the ship. What's more, it is the first cruise ship to feature a roller coaster called Aquaduck. There are many different entertainments for children and teenagers on the ship, and nightclubs and saloons will delight adults.

4. Disney Fantasy: $ 940 million

Another ship owned by the Disney Cruise Line. The liner was built by the German company Meyer Werft for $ 940 million. Just like all the other ships in the Disney Cruise Line, it was created for families and kids. The vessel has 1250 cabins, which are located on a 14-deck vessel. Disney Fantasy can accommodate 4,000 guests and 1,450 crew members. Its most striking features are the 3-deck lobby, marble and stone floors, sweeping staircases, fluted columns and many paintings and murals.

3. Norwegian Epic: $ 1.2 billion

The ship is owned by Norwegian Cruise Lines. The Norwegian Epic can accommodate 5,853 passengers (4,100 guests and 1,753 crew members). The ship is worth $ 1.2 billion and is currently the third largest ship in the world. Cruising the Caribbean and Europe, Norwegian Epic is introducing a new concept called Freestyle Cruising. Among its many onboard installations, there are rooms - studios for individual travelers, entertainment facilities, fitness and sports centers, a water park, jacuzzi, swimming pools, and more than 20 restaurants.

2. Oasis of the Seas: $ 1.4 billion

The second largest cruise ship, five times the size of the Titanic, is owned by Royal Caribbean International. The cost of the Oasis of the Seas is $ 1.4 billion. In December, it went to sea for the first time and currently runs on the Florida-Caribbean route, offering a large number of entertainments: a mini-golf course, casinos, sports grounds, themed parks, 4 swimming pools, and numerous bars and clubs. The liner is 360 meters long and 72 meters above the water level. The vessel is almost as tall as the Empire State Building. It has its own Central Park in an open area with 1200 plants and 56 trees. Oasis of the Seas prides itself on its luxurious cabins, the most expensive of which is the Royal Loft Suite, which costs $ 16,600 per person per week. The 18-deck vessel can accommodate 5,500 guests and 2,160 crew members.

1 Allure of the Seas: $ 1.5 billion

When a cruise goes on sale, two categories of staterooms are sold first: the cheapest and the most expensive luxury suites. It might surprise an inexperienced cruiser that the most expensive cabins are dismantled first, but keep in mind that there are far fewer luxury suites on ships than regular cabins - so a real war is being waged for the extra space and elite features that come with such suites. If you have a large family, or you are used to taking a cruise with a large company, such a large space will definitely come in handy.

Apart from the luxurious ambiance, another great advantage of living in a suite is the VIP service. You can rightfully count on concierge services, priority pick-up and drop-off, assistance in booking various restaurants, spas and excursions. A personal butler service is available in most luxury cabins, and can help you with any problem, from dry cleaning and unpacking luggage to daily sandwich delivery and spa reservations.

Cruise lines today offer the widest variety of cruise suites than ever before, but there are simply unique staterooms that can boggle your imagination. In this article, we highlight our personal favorites among the most stunning, prestigious and elegant cabins on the seas and oceans. (Please note: the cost of a suite depends on the length of the route and its duration. The prices indicated in the table are approximate and subject to change).