Monday, October 12, 2009

Top 5: Cool Cruises

No.1 - Spring Break Bahamas Party Cruise
For: Party animalsDescription: Avoid the sick-stained streets of Cancun this spring break by taking yours aboard a luxury cruise instead. Highly recommended is the Spring Break Bahamas Party Cruise offered by Paradise Parties, which carries a boisterous, fun-loving crowd from Fort Lauderdale in Florida to Freeport on Grand Bahama Island. Revelers are catered for on a 500-foot ship with unlimited breakfast and lunch buffets, swimming pools on the deck and Vegas-style casinos. Once landed on the island, the cruise transfers you to a hotel where you’ll spend your days on the white sand beaches and your evenings partying beside the ocean. With MTV as the main sponsor, there will always be something to do. Price: From $1,319Website: ParadiseParties.com

No.2 - Splendor, Carnival Cruises
For: Bachelor partiesDescription: There’s never a dull moment aboard Carnival’s recently launched Splendor. Entertainment is paramount, with round-the-clock activities, a never-ending roster of Vegas-worthy shows and a huge casino that wouldn’t look out of place on the Strip. Then there are all of the usual amenities, including swimming pools, spas and restaurants, where rest and relaxation are the only order of the day. In fact, Splendor is like having a mass bachelor party at sea, with the exception of mermaid-themed strippers. We particularly like the Mexican Riviera cruise, which sets sail from Long Beach, California, and makes its way to Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas. Just don’t down too much tequila -- man overboard!Price: From $1,189Website: Carnival.com


No.3 - Queen Mary 2
For: Classy chapsDescription: While the QM2 is no longer in operation, the ship so beloved by the British has been replaced by a suitably stylish alternative: The Queen Mary 2. Already known for bringing back the glamour and style of old-world cruising, a trip aboard this Cunard classic is the perfect way to live out any Titanic-style fantasies you may be, er, harboring. Once on board, guests can enjoy 15 restaurants and bars and a total of five swimming pools, together with a casino, ballroom, theater, and planetarium. The evenings are all about tuxedos and cocktail dresses, while the day is about casually strolling the decks in tailored shorts and polo shirts. We recommend the transatlantic Southampton to New York itinerary, which incorporates six days at sea.Price: From $1,644Website: Cunard.com


No.4 - Crystal Symphony, Crystal Cruises
For: GolfersDescription: As part of Crystal Cruises’ Experiences of Discovery, a collection of themed cruises on a variety of niche interests, the golf cruise to Asia aboard the Crystal Symphony is akin to returning to the mother ship for argyle-clad golf fans and their bags of clubs. Sailing for a full 11 days, the itinerary includes golf-themed seminars, putting contests and private clinics with pros. The icing on the cake, however, are the ports of call, which take in four world-renowned courses in Vietnam and Thailand. Meanwhile, wives and girlfriends can enjoy the two swimming pools, an on-site spa, multiple restaurants, and a dazzling casino.Price: From $4,800Website: CrystalCruises.com




No.5 - Polar Pioneer, Polar Cruises
For: AdventurersDescription: Many cruisers want to see humpback whales and frozen ice caps as they sail through sub-zero waters, but that’s not to say they want to freeze their arses off Jack and Rose style while doing it. Fortunately, they don’t have to. Wrapped up in fur aboard the Polar Pioneer, cruisers are able to enjoy the picture-postcard beauty of Antarctica without worrying about frostbite; after all, gloves don’t come in hand when you don’t have any hands. With an emphasis on wildlife encounters, personal contact with the environs and visiting sites of historic interest, the 19-day cruise of South Georgia and Antarctica is more for nature lovers than it is for luxury lovers.Price: From $9,790Website: PolarCruises.com