Cruise Ships For Travellers Who HATE Crowds

Above, the Norwegian Sky made the list. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Even before the pandemic hit in 2020, the idea of going on a cruise on a massive behemoth cruise ship did not suit my fancy. To me, those ships are floating petri dishes.

The three cruises I have taken over the years were on smaller ships that accommodated under 3,000 people. Even then, I have come down with viruses anyway (fortunately, nothing major).

The topic of a Yahoo! article is about cruise ships for people who hate crowds. The ship I took to the Bahamas last summer, the Norwegian Sky, made the list. For me, it was just right.

The article begins with:

If the idea of sharing a ship with 7,000 passengers makes you queasy, the biggest cruise liners might not be your thing. But go too small, and you risk missing out on the perks that make cruising special – poolside lounging, a choice of bars and restaurants, spa days at sea and quality entertainment. That’s where 'Goldilocks cruises' come in: mid-sized ships that strike the perfect balance. Not too big, not too small – just right.

To read the full article, go here. 

World Cruise Awards Winners Named

Above, the Norwegian Sky docked at Freeport, Bahamas last August. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The World Cruise Awards Gala was held recently in Madeira, Portugal. The fourth annual event was attended by representatives from cruise lines.

As we are near the end of the year, the awards recognize "the best of" different cruise lines during the past year.

Yahoo! Life reported:

Many major cruise brands attended the fourth annual World Cruise Awards Gala Ceremony, hosted in Funchal, the capital city of Madeira in Portugal.

The results follow a year-long search for the world’s leading cruise brands. Votes were cast by cruise-industry professionals and the public, with the nominee receiving the most votes in a category named as the winner.

That's a unusual way to hand out awards: The weight of an industry member was five times that of a random cruiser.

The awards "had the privilege of recognizing cruise brands that are stellar examples of excellence in their field," World Cruise Awards Director Chris Frost said in a statement.

World Cruise Awards is the sister event of the World Travel Awards, which was launched in 1994 to celebrate excellence in global travel and tourism.

Norwegian Cruise Line was named "Best Cruise Line".

To see the other winners, go here. 

Best Cruise Lines For Families and Budget Travelers

Now that we're almost at the end of the year, this appears to be the time when the cruise industry hands out awards for the "Best this" and "Best that".

Yahoo Life has posted the winners.

They begin with:

The holiday season is upon us, and you ponder how to maintain this seasonal cheer throughout the year. Suddenly, a light bulb sparks to life inside your mind. Yes, a cruise!

Visions of a cruise ship sailing toward a sunny island with pristine beaches confirm that this is indeed a brilliant idea. Now, which is the best cruise for you?

U.S. News & World Report recently released its 2025 Best Cruise Lines rankings. The timing is perfect, almost like a Christmas gift to you. It's okay to open this present early. After all, you have a cruise to plan.

While U.S. News ranks cruises across several categories, I want to focus on the top cruises for families and from a value perspective.

To read more, go here.