chron.com Cruise guide
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The Texas fleet
Not sure who sails where from Galveston? For a seasonal wrap-up, click on the picture above. Or click below to learn more about the three ships that start out close to home.
CRUISE
Sail in the lap of luxury —A siren signaled the arrival of an inflatable boat dispatched from the Seabourn Sojourn cruise ship. READ STORY
CRUISING
Galveston gets Magic cruise ship —Even as construction continues, Carnival Cruise Lines has revealed innovations for its Carnival Magic, destined to become the first new ship based year-round at the Port of Galveston. READ STORY
ALL ABOARD
Good time to get sailing —It's the bargain of the year for Texas cruisers: You can sail for two weeks from Galveston across the Atlantic Ocean and to Barcelona, Spain, on Royal Caribbean's 3Voyager of the Seas. READ STORY
Rub elbows with notable figures aboard Crystal Cruises
10 reasons Crystal Cruises continues to collect accolades
Go beyond the Love Boat
An alternative cruise can offer unique adventure —This might come as a shock, but not every cruise is all about rum-laden umbrella drinks, 24/7 bingo, The Love Boat theme on steel drum and a general atmosphere devoid of culture. READ STORY
Ecstasy back in port a little more fabulous
Ecstasy back in port a little more fabulous —The Carnival Ecstasy returns to Galveston on Saturday after a 28-day refurbishment that is adding 98 stateroom balconies, a teen center and an adults-only retreat. READ STORY
Foodie bonus: Celebrity chefs sail with superb menus
Foodie bonus: Celebrity chefs sail with superb menus — Order everything on the menu at Silk Road and The Sushi Bar aboard the Crystal Serenity, and the only charge is a $7 gratuity. And that's optional. READ STORY
TOP 10   FOR LARGE SHIPS

The top 10 large cruise ships, based on a Conde Nast magazine poll.
1 Disney
Wonder
2 Celebrity
Constellation
3 Celebrity
Summit
4 Disney
Magic
5 Coral
Princess
6 Celebrity Millenium
7 Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas (tie)
8 Royal Caribbean's Serenade of the Seas (tie)
9 Celebrity Infinity
10 Emerald Princess
TOP 10   FOR MEDIUM SHIPS

The top 10 medium-size cruise ships, according to a Conde Nast magazine poll.
1 Crystal Serenity
2 Crystal Symphony
3 Seven Seas Voyager
4 Seven Seas Mariner
5 Viking lInes Viking XPRS
6 Holland America Prinsendam
7 Oceania's Insignia
8 Oceania's Nautica
9 Oceania's Regatta
10 Tahitian Princess
TOP 10   SMALL SHIPS
The top small cruise ships, based on a Conde Nast magazine poll.
1 Grand Circle’s Bizet
2 Sea Cloud
3 Oberoi Philae
4 Uniworld’s River Baroness
5 Uniworld’s River Duchess (tie)
6 Seabourn Legend (tie)
7 Paul Gauguin
8 Grand Circle’s River Anuket
9 SeaDream 1 (tie)
10 Viking River Cruises’ Viking Neptune (tie)
Life's a Trip
Travels with Harry Shattuck
Bargains, news and tips from a veteran cruiser
BEFORE YOU GO
CRUISE LINKS
Click or call:
• Abercrombie & Kent: 800-323-7308; www.abercrombiekent.com
• American Canadian Caribbean: 800-556-7450; www.accl-smallships.com
• American Cruise Lines: 800-814-6880; www.americancruiselines.com
• Avalon Waterways: 877-797-8791; www.avalonwaterways.com
• Azamara Cruises: 877-999-9553; www.azamaracruises.com
• Butterfield and Robinson: 866-551-9090; www.butterfield.com
• Carnival: 800-327-9501; www.carnival.com
• Celebrity: 800-437-3111; www.celebritycruises.com
• Club Med 2: 888-932-2582; www.come2clubmed.com/club_med_2.htm
• Costa: 800-445-8020; www.costacruises.com
• Cruise West: 800-888-9378; www.cruisewest.com
• Crystal: 800-820-6663; www.crystalcruises.com
• Cunard: 800-528-6273; www.cunardline.com
• Disney: 800-939-2784; www.disneycruise.com
• EasyCruise: 011-44-1895-651191; www.easycruise.com
• French Country Waterways: 800-222-1236; www.fcwl.com
• Grand Circle: 800-959-0405; www.gct.com
• Hapag-Lloyd: 800-782-3924; www.eurolloyd.com/hapaglloyd.html
• Holland America: 800-426-0327; www.hollandamerica.com
• Hurtigruten (formerly Norwegian Coastal Voyage): 800-323-7436; www.hurtigruten.com
• Lindblad Expeditions: 800-762-0003; www.expeditions.com
• Majestic America (formerly Delta Queen): 800-434-1232; www.majesticamerica.com
• MSC: 800-666-9333; www.msccruises.com
• Norwegian Cruise Line: 800-327-7030; www.ncl.com
• Oceania: 800-531-5619; www.oceaniacruises.com
• Pearl Seas Cruises: 800-983-7462; www.pearlseascruises.com
• Peter Deilmann Cruises: 800-348-8287; www.deilmann-cruises.com
• Princess: 800-774-6237; www.princess.com
• Quark Expeditions: 800-356-5699; www.quarkexpeditions.com
• Regent Seven Seas: 800-285-1835; www.rssc.com
• RiverBarge Excursion Lines: 888-456-2206; www.riverbarge.com
• Royal Caribbean: 800-327-6700; www.rccl.com
• Seabourn: 800-929-9595; www.seabourn.com
• SeaDream Yacht Club: 800-707-4911; www.seadreamyachtclub.com
• Silversea: 800-722-9955; www.silversea.com
• Star Clippers: 800-442-0553; www.starclippers.com
• Uniworld: 800-360-9550; www.uniworld.com
• Viking River Cruises: 877-668-4546; www.vikingrivercruises.com
• Windstar: 800-258-7245; www.windstarcruises.com

News and reviews

Cruise Critic: www.cruisecritic.com
CruiseMates: www.cruisemates.com
Avid Cruiser: www.avidcruiser.com
Cruise Addicts: www.cruise-addicts.com
Cruise Diva: www.cruisediva.com
Cruise News Daily: www.cruisenewsdaily.com
Cruise Week: www.cruise-week.com
Cruise Gourmet: www.cruisegourmet.com
Cruise Travel magazine: www.cruisetravelmag.com
Porthole magazine: www.porthole.com
Ocean and Cruise News: www.wocls.org/ocn.htm
Cruise Lines International Association: www.cruising.org




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