Best Cruise Line

BRITTANY MURRAY, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER The Grand Princess cruise liner, one of Princess Cruises’ 15 ships, has 717 cabins with private balconies and five pools.

1. Princess Cruises

princess.com

Princess Cruises launched its newest flagship, the Discovery Princess in April. The 3,600-passenger ship features wearable technology that enables keyless entry. The wearable medallion-shaped device was an initiative of Princess Cruises President John Padgett, who previously worked on technological innovations for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. One of Padgett’s projects was Disney Parks MagicBand, a precursor to these Princess key fob medallions.

“Keyless stateroom entry is one of the most fundamental uses and is undeniably a guest favorite,” Padgett told The Orange County Register in April. “The medallion automatically unlocks doors, similar to using a remote key fob to open a car. On top of this, personalized greetings on the stateroom door portals welcome guests and note any special milestones they may be celebrating, such as birthdays and anniversaries.” It also works on shore with participating restaurants and shops.

The Princess Cruise line is known for its reliable internet connection at sea called the MedallionNet Wi-Fi.

The Princess flagship, which sets sail from San Pedro’s World Cruise Center to the Mexican Riviera and will also sail to Alaska, will remain on the Pacific Coast through the winter of 2023. Next up for Princess Cruises is the company’s first LNG-powered Sphere class ship. It will be the largest ship ever built for Princess and will carry 4,300 passengers.

2. Carnival Cruise Line

carnival.com

Carnival Cruise Line was founded in 1972 and its price value among its competition has helped it become “The World’s Most Popular Cruise Line.”

Two new ships will be added to the fleet: the Carnival Celebration later this fall and Carnival Jubilee in 2023. The Carnival Corporation’s sister lines Princess Cruises, Holland America Line and Cunard Line, among others, allow guests to choose from a variety of locales. The cruise line gives attention to important causes and allows its guests to give back while onboard.

The Carnival Cruise Line is an Official Celebration Partner for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. When a patient celebrates a birthday, Carnival supplies the cake. The Care to Play program helped raise more than $18 million for St. Jude Hospital to combat childhood cancer. The cruise operator also hosts a Day of Play at St. Jude, an event for patients and their families. The Mardi Gras ship will also feature a custom sculpture and three paintings by St. Jude patients.

The Disney Cruise Line is family-friendly and ever-evolving. The five-ship fleet expanded with Disney Wish, which embarked on its inaugural sailing July 14.

The Disney Wish features Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure, Disney’s first “Frozen”-themed theatrical dining experience, and “Avengers: Quantum Encounter” at Worlds of Marvel is the first Marvel cinematic dining adventure.

“Sharing a delicious meal together is an important part of family life, and we love finding surprising new ways to show our guests a magical time as they dine on each of our ships,” said Ozer Balli, vice president, hotel operations, Disney Cruise Line.

“For the Disney Wish, our three new family restaurants are a feast for the heart as well as the palate, and all meals are served, of course, with the incredible care and attention to detail that families expect from our worldclass Disney Cruise Line service team.”

A third restaurant called 1923 celebrates the year The Walt Disney Company was created.

3. Disney Cruise Line

disneycruise.disney.go.com