Described by Fodors Travel as a leader in luxury cruising, the Yachts of Seabourn offers impeccably elegant ships. Features include gourmet cuisine, open bar throughout the ship, complimentary caviar, luxury soaps and live music. Seabourn offers trips to northern and Mediterranean Europe, including tours of the Norwegian Fjords, Greece and Italy, and the Riviera. Seabourn yachts are relatively small, allowing them to access ports of call that are inaccessible to larger ships. Seabourn's Destination Specialists work with travelers to find offshore excursions that are best for them, and are happy to organize private tours, wine tastings or adventure travel. 2010 European cruise fares start at $3,000 per person. Airfare is sometimes included.
seabourn.com
Rated the most popular large-ship cruise line by Zagat's, Royal Caribbean offers cruises focusing on Great Britain and Ireland, the Mediterranean and Scandinavia. All Royal Caribbean ships are family friendly, with programming for kids, teens and couples. On-board features include ice-skating, talent shows and rock-climbing walls. Offshore excursions range from days at the beach and shopping junkets to historical tours and art museum visits. Travelers wishing to explore inland Europe may sign up for a Royal Caribbean Cruise-Tour, which allows travelers to extend their European visit with stays in cities like London, Venice or Paris. Four-day summer 2010 cruises start at $300/person, not including airfare.
royalcaribbean.com
Holland America, ranked the best overall cruise value by Ocean & Cruise News for 17 consecutive years, offers tours of Northern Europe and the Mediterranean. Amenities include gourmet dining, yoga and cooking classes, spa facilities, live music, dancing and casinos--all of which combine to make Holland America an ideal choice for couples and experienced cruise travelers. All European cruises include on-shore excursions to cultural and historic sights. Guidebooks and on-board lectures help travelers make the most of their visits. Some European cruises include transatlantic passage from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Others depart directly from a European port. 2010 Mediterranean and Northern European cruises start at around $2,000.
hollandamerica.com
