When we have sailed on Regent, we consistently found the service, food and all-suite accomdations excellent and worthy of the 5 star luxury designation. The onboard enrichment programs are second to none. The all inclusive nature of their product with gratuities, table wine and spirits and many shore excursions included and good air promotions make them a great choice and an exceptionally good value. Smaller ships with an intimate feel and friendly fellow passengers have made our voyages on Regent very enjoyable. Country club casual makes it a nice, relaxed vacation.
		While Azamara is a bit of an upstart, they are emerging as a worthy player in the premium plus market. Their recently announced rebranding to be Azamara Club Cruises and more inclusive nature with gratuities and wine are more consistent with upscale cruising. The new itineraries with extended overnights in ports give you much more opportunity to enjoy the cities of Europe and other destinations Azamara sails to. Pricing is mid range between premium and luxury and we think you get a lot for your money.
		Celebrity is a great choice for premium cruising. They have a solid product with service that stands out for the premium category. The wide range of itineraries and ship sizes give you plenty of choices. The cruisetour offerings with Royal Celebrity tours are generally well above standard and reasonably priced. The Solstice class ships garner rave reviews from clients. That is not to say the older ships are lacking. Our favorite specialty restaurant in the cruise industry is aboard the Millenium in the Olympic dining room. What an experience! Our favorite Alaska cruisetour is Celebrity Cruisetour #14 which is structured to give you the best of the heart of Alaska.
		Royal Caribbean has the most innovative, interesting and exciting cruise ships in the industry. They are, in our opinion the best choice for family vacations out there. The range of activities onboard virtually has something for everyone regardless of age. The Ice shows on the Voyager class and above are the best entertainment in the cruise industry. The athleticism of the skaters and creativity of the shows is like no other. The design of the ships is done in good taste with a roomy, spacious feel and the atmoshpere onboard is a clean, family friendly environment that you can count on consistently. Each new ship Royal Caribbean builds outdoes the last. Each time I think the ship is just too big, I come back from sailing on them convinced Royal Caribbean just knows how to do it right.
		Cruise West is the leader in small ship cruising. Their slogan, "Up Close and Personal" says it all. Small ships carrying around 100 passengers can go places and do things the big ships simply can't do. From secluded bays and villages in Alaska to more exotic itieneraries that are being added all the time, Cruise West offers a lot for the adventuresome who are focused on the destination, not the ship. Food is good, staff is personable and friendly, onboard lecturers are definitely a cut above. The Spirit of Oceanus, the flag ship of the fleet is an exceptional small ship to sail on. While a little pricey, Cruise West delivers an experience that is unique and of high quality. Customer satisfaction rates have always been very high but it is not for everybody. If you enjoy the excitment of a casino, my advice is to bring a deck of cards and find some poker playing friends because that's the best your going to get. No big Broadway style shows or tropical drinks in Glacier Bay. This is for the people who really want to see Alaska and other destinations.
		Viking is the leader in the river cruise industry. They have more ships doing more itineraries than any other. A river cruise is a great way to see interior Europe since the towns, villages and hamlets were built around the great waterways. Complimentary city tours in each stop give you a great overview of each city and add a lot of value. River cruising is a great alternative to touring in motorcoaches as you don't have to pack and unpack and be on a bus with 50 other people. The food is good, the sights are interesting and the English speaking crews make it a comfortable way to see a large number of places efficiently. With the current exchange rate, river cruising is one of the most economical ways to enjoy an extensive European vacation and Viking River Cruises  is a very good choice.