| | |  Travel & Outdoors | October 2009 
Top 10: Cool Cruises
 AskMen.com
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October 09, 2009
No.10 - Oasis of the Seas, Royal Caribbean
| | OasisOftheSeas.com | |
For: Those who think size matters
Description: While it may sound like a Titanic-esque disaster waiting to happen, Royal Caribbean assures us that its supersize ship Oasis of the Seas, launching in December, will in fact stay afloat on its maiden voyage. With that said, we recommend a trip on its four-day opening voyage around the Caribbean beginning in Fort Lauderdale and incorporating two nights in Miami at either end. As the largest ship in the world - at least it will be when it is unveiled - the Oasis of the Seas has more than enough amenities to keep guests amused, from a zip wire that runs along the top deck to an open-air aqua theater. As a Caribbean cruise, you can expect plenty of bikini-clad ladies too.
Price: From $544
Website: OasisOfTheSeas.com
No.9 - Serenity, Crystal Cruises
| | CrystalCruises.com | |
For: Fashion fiends
Description: Style and cruising don’t always go hand in hand. In fact, sophisticated ships can be damn hard to find; however, you’re guaranteed a chic time aboard Serenity, part of Crystal Cruises’ fleet and widely considered the best ship in the world. Traveling from Beijing to Hong Kong, the cruise is focused entirely around style and fashion, from fashion-themed dinners to tours around shopping malls when you dock at port. While spending money on dry land is fun, nothing, apparently, compares to pounding the plastic at sea.
Price: From $5,995
Website: CrystalCruises.com
No.8 - Oberoi Philae
| | OberoiPhilae.com | |
For: Luxury lovers
Description: It’s not hard to see why the Oberoi Philae has been voted best Nile cruiser again and again. Fusing contemporary amenities with period trimmings, the vessel is styled like a 19th-century paddler cruiser and comprises 58 sumptuous cabins. Among the polished teak and decorative iron, you’ll find a decent-sized swimming pool, a selection of old-world bars, a musty library, and a fully equipped gym area. We suggest the 10-night itinerary that cruises the Nile at a steady pace and affords two full days in Cairo.
Price: Deluxe cabins (single) from $326
Website: OberoiPhilae.com
No.7 - Best of South America Cruise
| | iStockphoto.com | |
For: Singles
Description: Cruising is often considered something to do with your other half, watching sunsets over cocktails and dancing together in black tie attire. But why should sad singles miss out? Thankfully, Solo Holidays has tailored a cruise specifically to those who can’t get a partner, with the Best of South America Cruise taking you from the party capital of Rio in Brazil to stylish Buenos Aires in Argentina. Not only will you experience firsthand the sexiest part of the world (and, hopefully, a little sex itself), but you’ll also enjoy a number of social events on board, including singles-only tables and cocktail parties.
Price: $3,874
Website: SolosHolidays.co.uk
No.6 - Twilight
| | iStockphoto.com | |
For: Wannabe rednecks
Description: A Mississippi River cruise can only be enjoyed on a traditional paddle wheel steamboat, and there’s no better than the Twilight. Gently cruising down one of the world’s most famous rivers, you’ll discover rural America where life moves at a slower pace and where rest and relaxation are obligatory. The boat itself is a vintage treasure, with two black smokestacks, lacy fretwork and Tiffany-style glass lamps. Departing from La Claire in Iowa, the two-day itinerary will see you meander down the Mississippi at a snail’s pace toward Dubuque, staying overnight at a hotel on the riverbank. Hearty Cajun cuisine and Dixieland tunes - what more could a red-blooded male want form a cruise?
Price: From $329
Website: RiverBoatTwilight.com
No.5 - Polar Pioneer, Polar Cruises
| | PolarCruises.com | |
For: Adventurers
Description: Many cruisers want to see humpback whales and frozen ice caps as they sail through sub-zero waters, but that’s not to say they want to freeze their arses off Jack and Rose style while doing it. Fortunately, they don’t have to. Wrapped up in fur aboard the Polar Pioneer, cruisers are able to enjoy the picture-postcard beauty of Antarctica without worrying about frostbite; after all, gloves don’t come in hand when you don’t have any hands. With an emphasis on wildlife encounters, personal contact with the environs and visiting sites of historic interest, the 19-day cruise of South Georgia and Antarctica is more for nature lovers than it is for luxury lovers.
Price: From $9,790
Website: PolarCruises.com
No.4 - Crystal Symphony, Crystal Cruises
| | CrystalCruises.com | |
For: Golfers
Description: As part of Crystal Cruises’ Experiences of Discovery, a collection of themed cruises on a variety of niche interests, the golf cruise to Asia aboard the Crystal Symphony is akin to returning to the mother ship for argyle-clad golf fans and their bags of clubs. Sailing for a full 11 days, the itinerary includes golf-themed seminars, putting contests and private clinics with pros. The icing on the cake, however, are the ports of call, which take in four world-renowned courses in Vietnam and Thailand. Meanwhile, wives and girlfriends can enjoy the two swimming pools, an on-site spa, multiple restaurants, and a dazzling casino.
Price: From $4,800
Website: CrystalCruises.com
No.3 - Queen Mary 2
| | Cunard.com | |
For: Classy chaps
Description: While the QM2 is no longer in operation, the ship so beloved by the British has been replaced by a suitably stylish alternative: The Queen Mary 2. Already known for bringing back the glamour and style of old-world cruising, a trip aboard this Cunard classic is the perfect way to live out any Titanic-style fantasies you may be, er, harboring. Once on board, guests can enjoy 15 restaurants and bars and a total of five swimming pools, together with a casino, ballroom, theater, and planetarium. The evenings are all about tuxedos and cocktail dresses, while the day is about casually strolling the decks in tailored shorts and polo shirts. We recommend the transatlantic Southampton to New York itinerary, which incorporates six days at sea.
Price: From $1,644
Website: Cunard.com
No.2 - Splendor, Carnival Cruises
| | Carnival.com | |
For: Bachelor parties
Description: There’s never a dull moment aboard Carnival’s recently launched Splendor. Entertainment is paramount, with round-the-clock activities, a never-ending roster of Vegas-worthy shows and a huge casino that wouldn’t look out of place on the Strip. Then there are all of the usual amenities, including swimming pools, spas and restaurants, where rest and relaxation are the only order of the day. In fact, Splendor is like having a mass bachelor party at sea, with the exception of mermaid-themed strippers. We particularly like the Mexican Riviera cruise, which sets sail from Long Beach, California, and makes its way to Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas. Just don’t down too much tequila - man overboard!
Price: From $1,189
Website: Carnival.com
No.1 - Spring Break Bahamas Party Cruise
| | ParadiseParties.com | |
For: Party animals
Description: Avoid the sick-stained streets of Cancun this spring break by taking yours aboard a luxury cruise instead. Highly recommended is the Spring Break Bahamas Party Cruise offered by Paradise Parties, which carries a boisterous, fun-loving crowd from Fort Lauderdale in Florida to Freeport on Grand Bahama Island. Revelers are catered for on a 500-foot ship with unlimited breakfast and lunch buffets, swimming pools on the deck and Vegas-style casinos. Once landed on the island, the cruise transfers you to a hotel where you’ll spend your days on the white sand beaches and your evenings partying beside the ocean. With MTV as the main sponsor, there will always be something to do.
Price: From $1,319
Website: ParadiseParties.com |
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