Cruises are assessed on a number of important, though not always vital, star rating points. This invariably includes food quality and service, general crew attitude and standard, range and condition of amenities, décor, layout, safety, family focus and children's entertainment, itinerary, additional extras such as wellness spas, jogging tracks, and more.
For a fabulous cruising experience with loads of great entertainment, superior service, suites and staterooms, you won't go wrong choosing from the 'Excellence Class' which includes Pacific Dawn, Carnival Imagination, Brilliance of the Seas, Superstar Virgo, Sea Princess, and the popular Sun Princess cruise in the 'large' cruise ship category.
If you've been longing to experience the magnificent mega cruise ships, great options include Caribbean Princess, Diamond Princess, Crown Princess, Jewel of the Seas, Monarch of the Seas, Norwegian Pearl, Voyager of the Seas and Costa Atlantica, all scoring high in the ratings.
In a class of its own, the Queen Mary 2 enchants with all the glamour of a bygone era and all the luxury of a modern world-class hotel.
At a different point on the scale, cruise ships such as Carnival Dream and Celebrity Solstice are rated lower, yet still offer great cruising experiences, while voyages such as the Pacific Sun cruise come in around middle of the range.
Ratings are provided for a guide only. There will be many other considerations that will help you make your final decision on your perfect cruise including affordability, family friendly or child-free and personal interests.
Adventure cruises are the perfect example. In the adventure cruise line class, the magnificent 108ft topsail schooner, Spirit of the Pacific does not attract too many stars - but what an adventure! While Polar Star, Peregrine and other adventure cruises miss some of the opulent luxury of their larger sisters, but offer once in a lifetime experiences you'll never forget.