Covington Travel: Best River, Ocean, and Expedition Cruise Lines

Best Ocean and River Cruise Lines

Small Ships | Yachts | Ocean | River

Let’s Sail Away. The cruise seascape continues to diversify, sending more ships to new destinations, launching new vessels both mega to compact, and creating more specialized interest programs. With today’s expedition, river, yacht, sailing, and destination-focused cruise lines, you’ll experience the world in a whole different way – intimately, and in a unique style.

With hotly anticipated ship debuts, innovative new itineraries, and shore excursions for just about every interest, 2020’s sailings are already making waves. Whether you want to stay close to home (Alaska, the Caribbean), explore a continent via its major river (the Mekong, the Danube), or voyage to far-flung places (Antarctica, Qatar), your Covington travel advisor can help you chart the perfect course. River Cruising has spread from Europe to six continents, and Alaska has become a starter vacation for more remote Arctic explorations.

Wherever you want to go, our cruise experts can simplify the process and recommend the best cruise line and itinerary for you. All details will be managed, including your pre- and post-cruise adventures, saving you time. Best of all, you’ll save money with the exclusive amenities and shore events only available through your Covington travel advisor. Now get ready to sail.

Select the Right Cruise Line, Ship, and Itinerary

Since each cruise line has its own style and vibe, choosing the right cruise line, ship and itinerary can make a world of difference. Several variables such as the ship’s age, amenities, crew, number of guests, and the ports-of-call will help make your selection. For example, if you’re interested in traditional arts and culture—perhaps a Mediterranean cruise calling on the ports in Europe would be your best bet.

Vacations at sea have also become extremely popular with families with younger children and teens. Our travel advisors can recommend the best cruise ship for your family based on the youth programs, entertainment options, cabin layouts, and family-friendly adventures ashore.

Luxury Cruise Lines

Luxury vessels are exclusive and cater to a sophisticated, well-educated crowd who travel to be enriched by foreign cultures and places of historical significance. Tasteful and elegant suites along with butler service and exclusive amenities are found on most luxury cruise lines. Evening entertainment varies by ship size along with enrichment programs such as culinary, music, foreign language classes and famous speakers.  

Premium Cruise Lines

The premium brands offer a more subdued atmosphere and refined country-club ambiance and generally attract more affluent guests seeking authentic experiences. These ships generally offer unique land programs with longer stays and more overnights than a larger cruise line. They also offer an upscale experience generally at a lower price than luxury cruise lines. 

Contemporary Cruise Lines

The premium lines provide the most diverse size and selection of ships for couples, singles, families, and groups. From more traditional cruise ships to riverboats, the accommodations range from inside cabins for three to four people to suite accommodations.  Depending on the cruise line, most offer traditional cruise activities and entertainment, casual dining options, and specialty restaurants.

River Cruise Lines

River Cruising takes you to the heart of the region. On a river cruise, your ship glides right into the heart of a storied city, giving you an up-close perspective on its historical significance.

Specialty Cruise Experiences