We get a lot of cruises here. If you're going for the big, floating hotel type, then yeah, I would agree that Princess and Norwegian are probably the best (slight preference for Norwegian), and Carnival is to be avoided.

However, were I to go on a cruise, I would most likely choose a small line that runs much smaller ships, like the one tommy mentions above. In Alaska, a good choice would be CruiseWest [link] . I understand that this is not your target area, but looking at their website, it appears that they cruise outside of Alaska as well. As far as I know, CruiseWest is unique in that they guarantee a whale sighting on specific cruises, with a $250 refund if none are sighted. [link]

I don't know about cruising in other places, but I know that the big cruise ships up here often cruise by some of the best scenery at night, and can't get in close enough to the really gorgeous stuff. There are some smaller cruise lines that run ships that carry 75-300 people, as opposed to thousands, that can actually get in closer to the coast. These lines tend to focus more on where you are, rather than just a generic experience. They also tend to provide more education (like about the natural history and history of an area).

The Trinity House Vessel Patricia is a working ship offering passengers an opportunity to view the day-to-day activities she undertakes on her regular rounds of lighthouse, lightship and navigational buoy maintenat around the coasts of England, Wales and the Channel Islands.

Oooh.

The freighter cruises sound really cool.

There was a Madeleine L'Engle book that took place on a freighter, with a few people as passengers. Dragons in the Water, I think. And there was a mystery and a murder and all kinds of legends and history intersecting.

Mystery would be nice. Murder not so much.

I would agree that Princess and Norwegian are probably the best

It never ceases to amuse me that The Love Boat was basically an hour long fantasy ad for Princess Cruise lines, than had a primo prime time slot for like ten years or something.

Is that like getting a car with your vacation, or a vacation with your car?

The latter, I think.

I'm ready for a vacation. Budapest isn't until November, but I really need to get away sometime this summer.

I don't like the term "Bright". Bleah.

I hated the one cruise I was on. Hated. For me, it was like being stuck in a floating Las Vegas casino, without the option of going outside and/or awesome vintage shopping. I'd rather fly from city to city, or take a motorcycling/bicycling tour through the countryside. Or the Orient Express. Anything that doesn't involve me being stuck in the middle of the ocean with the same people day in and day out.

In my head, I'm going to Belize. That will have to do for now.

No one else in my group showed for this meeting. I have no idea what they're on about.

Another reason I've never done a cruise is it costs about twice as much if you want your own room. I suppose if I ever settle down with someone that won't be an issue anymore, but in the meantime... none of my friends are into the idea of a cruise, and I wouldn't want to share a cabin with someone I've never met....

being stuck in the middle of the ocean with the same people day in and day out.

Get rid of the people--aside from the well-trained wait staff that would know to leave me alone unless I'm looking for them--and I'd be ecstatic.

Some of my girlfriends wanted us all to go on a cruise together. I keep putting them off because while I love each and every one of them very dearly, being stuck on a boat together, sharing the same room without the option of escape? I would murder them.

For me, it was like being stuck in a floating Las Vegas casino, without the option of going outside and/or awesome vintage shopping.

CruiseWest, juliana. Okay, not so great with the shopping, but wonderful with the outside, or it was when I was in the visitor industry mumble, mumble years ago.

And looking through tommy's link more carefully, I noticed that the New England cruise stops in New Bedford so folks can go to the whaling museum. [link] Did you know that the New Bedford Whaling Museum is partners with the museum in Barrow? [link] Or perhaps the question should be, did you care?