Vacation Planning Resource: Cruise Line YouTube Channels

If you're like me, you're taking some time off during the holidays to relax with friends and family. Part of this downtime includes planning vacations for 2012 and beyond. So far, we've booked reservations for getaways to Mexico, Fiji, Switzerland, France, and Thailand. We'll see what other adventures we settle upon for the year!


As we search for new vacation ideas, we're reviewing the YouTube channels of various luxury cruise lines and resorts. If you've got some time to view videos and plan your next trip, check out these YouTube channels:

Abercrombie & Kent

Azamara Club Cruises

Compagnie du Ponant

Four Seasons

InnerSea Discoveries

Oceania Cruises

Paul Gauguin Cruises

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Seabourn

Silversea | Luxury Cruises

Windstar Cruises

There are some fantastic videos posted by these travel companies and you'll also find links to videos taken by fellow travelers. The combination of marketing videos and real-world experiences will help as you plan your next great escape.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for Luxury Cruise Bible

What Luxury Cruise Lines Should Say to Lure Younger Travelers

It's been five years since I first set foot on a luxury cruise ship. I was still in my thirties then and was struck by the fact that my husband and I were the youngest travelers on board the ship. We couldn't understand why.

The itinerary was fantastic—visiting unusual ports of call—and the value was clear. We enjoyed a spacious, well-designed suite, attentive service, inclusive food and wine, and a cadre of entertainment options for less than a comparable vacation at a five-star resort on land.

Since that first experience, we've been on dozens of luxury cruise ships and yachts and we're still often among the youngest cruises aboard. All the cruise lines are reaching out to a younger crowd, and here's what they need to be saying to all those professional thirty- and forty-something's who've yet to set sail...

Our itineraries fit perfectly within the structure of your vacation time. Many luxury lines are now offering more 7-, 8-, and 9-night sailings. This makes it easier for a young professional to commit without tapping out his or her allotted vacation time. SeaDream Yacht Club has excellent offers in this regard as does Azamara Club Cruises.

We go to the destinations you want to visit. From close-to-home regions, like the Caribbean and Mediterranean, to more exotic locales such as French Polynesia and Southeast Asia, luxury cruise lines program compelling itineraries all over the world. Cruises enable the traveler to sample many ports across a region in a relatively short amount of time. For the Caribbean, thirty-somethings should check out Windstar Cruises, Compagnie Du Ponant Yacht Cruises offers excellent options in the Med, Paul Gauguin Cruises is the way to go in French Poly, and Crystal Cruises is excellent for Asia.

We offer active expeditions and wildlife-centric adventures. People often joke that cruises are for the newly wed and nearly dead, but that's just not true. More and more companies are offering expeditions that offer active adventures including hiking, kayaking, snorkeling, diving, and more. American Safari Cruises, part of InnerSea Discoveries, has excellent itineraries in Alaska's Inside Passage, Mexico's Sea of Cortes, the Hawaiian Islands, and more. Australia outfit, Orion Expedition Cruises, hits far-flung destinations like Borneo, Papua New Guinea, and Micronesia. And, of course, Silversea's expedition ship, Silver Explorer, is one of the best ways to visit polar bears in the Arctic.

No matter what your age, consider sailing with a luxury cruise line in 2012. It's one of the best vacation values available these days.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for Luxury Cruise Bible

Photo © Leonard Hospidor

Delicious BBQ Dinner Under the Stars On Board Windstar Wind Surf

I've blogged about my admiration of Windstar Cruises many times. I love the line's three intimate motor-sail-yachts, the adventure-seeking contingent of guests, the calls on ports that the big ships can't get anywhere near, and the warm hospitality extended by every single member of the crew.

My second-ever cruise was a Caribbean itinerary aboard Windstar's Wind Surf. Since that time, it's always been one of my favorite ships. The romance of a ship sailing the seven seas is coupled with Windstar's attention to culinary adventures. All Windstar ships put on some of the best beach BBQs in the Caribbean, but now Wind Surf is also hosting a similar on-board experience with its Deck BBQ Dinner Under the Stars.

Watch this short video to get a peek at this special event presented by Wind Surf:

We were treated to this feast during our June cruise from Civitavecchi, Italy to Nice, France. The crew masterfully transformed the Pool Bar, Compass Rose, and Terrace Bar into a fairytale setting. There was plenty of seating arranged in tables for 2, 4, 6, and even several larger spaces for families and groups.

The event is weather permitting and we lucked out with a beautiful evening as we sailed out of Portofino. As guests were just taking their seats and Top Society and the Souljourn Duo were gearing up to play some fantastic music, a pod of dolphins appeared and decided that Wind Surf couldn't leave Portofino without a choreographed show that included lots of leaps out of the water and fins splashing! It couldn't have been planned any better!

We enjoyed a table for two by the pool and felt more relaxed than we had in months. Wind Surf chefs pulled out all the stops and I tried to carefully select from the buffet so I could try a little bit of almost everything. The focus was on guest favorites like lobster tails and ribs and nothing was fussy...just excellent food that you'd expect at a BBQ.

Sample Menu from Wind Surf 

Deck BBQ Under the Stars

roast suckling pig

pork ribs

beef and sausage skewers

grilled chicken

grilled filet of fish

lobster tails

crab legs

shrimp cocktail

corn on the cob

baked potatoes

fruit tempura

a variety of fruit salads

several salads

cheese tray

strawberry tarts

chocolate-covered strawberries

flan

chocolate cake

macaroons

ice cream

fresh fruit

and more

The experience was out-of-this world and just made me like Windstar even more. Everyone having a jolly old time and the waitstaff seemed truly happy to be racing all over the decks to pour drinks, clear plates, and joke with the guests.

That night the crew also put on its once-per-cruise Crew Show. It amazes me how much energy the Wind Surf team has! I can't thank the crew enough for making our Mediterranean cruise so special.

If you've ever thought about booking a Windstar cruise, I say "go for it!" This is not a luxury line but is high-end and it's definitely one of the best values in cruising today. (I've seen per person fares as low as $999 and the line often promotes cruises for an excellent price at Jetsetter.com.)

Windstar is also embarking on a massive $18 million refurbishment project, which will make these three motor-sail-yachts even more special. I'm looking forward to more shaded areas by the pool, improved onboard Internet services, refreshed public areas, and new decor in the cabins.

I'm already thinking about our next Windstar cruise... the Costa Rica itineraries look fun!

—Andrea M. Rotondo for Luxury Cruise Bible

Windstar Cruises Beverage Packages

In another post, someone asked for information about beverage packages on Windstar Cruises. I thought I'd post it here to make it easy for anyone to find.


On this cruise, Windstar offered two beverage packages:


All-Inclusive Beverage Package
$434.70 US per person/per week
This includes unlimited consumption of premium cocktails except X.O. & Louis XIII; wines by the glass with a maximum price of $11.50; house champagnes; imported and domestic beers; soft drinks and bottled water (in restaurants and bars). Mini-bar items, in-room bottled water, and beverages through Room Service are NOT included.


Non-Alcoholic Beverage Package
$144.90 per person/per week
This includes unlimited consumption of non-alcoholic wines by the glass with a maximum price of $11.50; "virgin" cocktails; non-alcoholic beers; and soft drinks and bottled water (in restaurants and bars). Mini-bar items, in-room bottled water, and beverages through Room Service are NOT included.


If one person in your group takes a beverage package, everyone must. For example, Leonard selected the All-Inclusive Beverage Package (since he's a wine drinker) and I picked the Non-Alcoholic Beverage Package since I don't drink.


Your key card will be marked with your package selection but you rarely have to show your card. The waitstaff learn your room number quickly and bill the drinks to your package automatically.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photo © Andrea M. Rotondo

Livorno (Pisa), Italy: Day Five Aboard Windstar Wind Surf

Another gorgeous day dawned and we were up early to meet our Windstar shore excursion to Pisa. We'd never been to the Leaning Tower of Pisa complex so we felt this would be the best use of our time (instead of the super long coach ride to Florence).

The cathedral at Pisa is absolutely stunning! This tour was an excellent value and we look forward to returning and taking even more photos than we did today.

Here's a look at Pisa, Italy:

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photos © Leonard Hospidor and Andrea Rotondo

Portoferraio, Italy: Day Two Aboard Windstar Wind Surf

From Civitavecchia, Windstar Wind Surf sailed to Portoferraio on the island of Elba, where Napoleon was exiled twice. We didn’t take a tour here but instead enjoyed walking around the town. Here are a few photos to give you a flavor of this port of call.

Stay tuned for more photos from Windstar Wind Surf's Rome to Nice voyage.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photos © Andrea M. Rotondo and Leonard Hospidor

Has the Captain Ever Held the Ship for You?

Has the captain ever held the ship for you? That's a question I thought I might have to answer on Saturday morning when I made my first major travel blunder. Leonard and I have traveled all over the world from Siberia to South Africa to Indonesia to French Polynesia with nary an incident…no missed flights, no missing luggage, not even any major delays. 

Over the years we've been lucky (partly because things have just gone our way and partly because I'm obsessed with details and generally have checklists to guide us through each part of our journey).

With luck being on our side this long, I guess it was time for a travel hiccup and this one was major. After spending a few relaxing days in Rome, we headed for Civitavecchia to join the beautiful Wind Surf from Windstar Cruises. As we sped away from Rome I realized that I'd left our passports at the InterContinental. Oy! We had to backtrack all the way to the hotel and then race to Civitavecchia. (We arrived at 3:30pm for a 4pm all aboard and a sail-away after 5pm.) Phew!

We have to thank our driver from Rome Cabs and owner Stefano Costantini for making sure we got where we had to go…on time! If you ever need transfers in Rome, I highly recommend Rome Cabs. They also offer guided tours from StefanoRomeTours.com.

Things could have been much worse and I'm so glad we swerved around this potential disaster. The thing is, I almost knew that I was going to forget the passports. I never leave them in the room safe but for some unknown reason, I did this time. Never again.

The silver lining of the incident was that it reaffirmed to me why I married Leonard. He's such a calm person and goes with the flow. He could have been angry or at least aggravated when I told him we'd need to go back to the hotel, but he wasn't. He was calm and comforting and said, "Hey, we'll get the passports and hope we get to the ship in time. If not, we'll find a ferry and meet the ship tomorrow. No worries." Not many men would have been so  cool-headed about the whole thing!

I'll tell you though,we were both ready for a drink once we finally did board Wind Surf!

Last night was a bit windy as we sailed out of port so dining outdoors at Le Marche and Candles was cancelled. Instead, we had a lovely meal at Degrees. (I'll post some photos shortly.)

Today we're at docked Portoferraia and it's a lovely, crowd-free port. Leonard and I walked to Fort Stella and one of Napoleon's residences. While there are some steep inclines (streets and stairs), it's totally do-able on foot if you take your time. We worked up an appetite and enjoyed lunch at a local trattoria.

Now it's time to relax a bit and get reacquainted with Wind Surf. We haven't been on the ship in four years and we want to look around to see what's the same and what's different.

You can expect more photos as soon as we've had some time to download our chips.

Tonight we'll dine at Le Marche (weather permitting) and tomorrow we anchor off Porto Rotondo on Sardinia. Stay tuned for additional Wind Surf updates.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

InterContinental de la Ville Roma: A Few Photos

Our first day in Rome was absolutely perfect. It's sunny and in the high 70s with very little humidity so we were able to walk all over the city without exhausting ourselves. I'll write more about what we've seen in Rome later.

Right now, I wanted to share some photos of our deluxe-category room at the InterContinental de la Ville Roma. This is a very solid home base when visiting Rome. The Spanish Steps (pictured) are--literally--just a few steps away and it's an easy 10-minute walk to the Trevi Fountain. We've been using some of Rick Steves' suggested walking tours and so many of them can be customized to start or end right here at the Spanish Steps.

The welcome amenity for InterContinental Ambassadors. We were also offered a free pay-per-view movie and late check-out, which we unfortunately can't take advantage of since we'll need to get to the port at Civitavecchia on Saturday.

A small sitting area across from the foyer.

A comfortable queen-size bed.

The work area. (Internet is lightning fast here, unlike a lot of hotels we've been to. You can actually get work done and not tear your hair out because of slow download or upload times.)

The bathroom. It's very pretty to look at but the bathtub is built-up on a pedestal...not the easiest entry for this five-foot Italian!

Before we left home I had a plan for our first evening in Rome...jump-start the vacation with drinks at the Emperor Terrace on the sixth floor of the InterContinental and that's exactly what we did. Here's the view from the terrace.

This was a fun way to work off the jetlag and take in the sights of Rome.

Complimentary appetizers that come with your drink order on the terrace.

So far, we're really enjoying our stay at the InterContinental de la Ville Roma. I'll post a full review upon our return home once I've had some time to write up my notes.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photos © Andrea M. Rotondo

On the Way to Rome, The Eternal City

Tonight we head to Rome, where we'll stay at the InterContinental de la Ville Roma for a few days before joining Windstar Cruises' 312-passenger Wind Surf motor-sail-yacht in Civitavecchia on Saturday. This seven sail, five mast ship is one of our favorites and we are truly looking forward to traveling with her again!

We're flying a British Airways 777 in Club World to London and hope to sleep a few hours on the overnight flight. Once we land at Heathrow, we have a short layover before connecting on to Italy's capital city.

We flew Delta and Virgin for our last few trips to Europe, so it will be interesting to see how British Airways compares.

I only have two gripes with British Airways so far...

1. I'm not crazy about the fact that you must pay a per person fee to secure seat assignments in advance. If you don't wish to pay this fee, you must wait until online check-in 24 hours prior to your flight and hope that you're happy with the seat selection that's left. It's $90 per seat on the New York to London and London to New York legs and $30 per seat on the London to Rome segment.



2. I'm also a bit worried about the seat layout in Club World on the 777. The cabin layout is pictured below. As you can see, seats E/F in the middle of the aircraft look good for a couple traveling together, but you're actually facing backward. That doesn't seem to be much of an issue but on a night flight it looks like you would have to climb over the legs of travelers seated in the D or G seats. The other option is a pair of facing seats (A/B or J/K). We opted for a facing pair to get a little more space between us and our fellow passengers.

If all goes well, Leonard and I will check into the InterContinental in the early evening and head to hotel's Emperor Terrace for cocktails. (The bar has amazing views of the city, including Saint Peter's Square, Piazza Venezia, and the Pantheon.)

If you use Twitter, be sure to follow me this week (@luxcruisebible) since I'll be tweeting messages and photos as often as I can. And, of course, I'll blog from Rome and from Windstar Wind Surf as we sail the Italian Riviera and the Cote d'Azur.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Windstar Last-Minute Deals in Europe as Low as $1,499pp

I think I've joined the email list for every cruise line and cruise travel agent out there! While the messages and newsletters tend to stuff my mailbox on a weekly basis, I still enjoy getting them so I can keep tabs on new itineraries and last-minute deals.


I just got a message from Windstar Cruises promoting a series of last-minute specials for Mediterranean and Northern Europe cruises this summer. Rates range from $1,499 to $2,699 per person.


The most compelling offers are in Northern Europe but there are still some very low priced Med sailings. If you've ever wanted to sample Windstar, this summer may be your chance.


Northern European Coasts


Lisbon to Le Havre (or reverse) – 7 nights on Wind Spirit
July 2 or August 13
Category B from $1,499pp


Le Havre to Oslo (or reverse) – 7 nights on Wind Spirit
July 9 or August 6
Category B from $1,499pp


Stockholm to Oslo – 7 nights on Wind Spirit
July 30
Category B from $2,999pp


Stockholm to Stockholm – 7 nights on Wind Spirit
July 23
Category B from $2,999pp




Mediterranean Itineraries


Athens to Rome – 7 nights on Wind Spirit
June 11
Category B from $1,699pp


Rome to Nice – 7 nights on Wind Surf (We're sailing this itinerary soon!)
June 18
Category B from $1,999pp


Venice to Venice – 7 nights on Wind Star
July 23
Category B from $2,299


Athens to Istanbul (or reverse) – 7 nights on Wind Star or Wind Surf
July 2, 9, 16, 23
Category B from $2,499pp


Athens to Venice – 7 nights on Wind Star
July 16
Category B from $2,699


Act fast if you want to book one of these last-minute offers since they expire on June 21st.


For more information, talk with your travel agent or Windstar Cruises at 1-(800) 258-7245.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photo courtesy of Windstar Cruises

A Few Days in Rome: Links to Plan Your Trip

Mediterranean cruises couldn't be any more popular than they are this summer. Nearly all cruise lines are deployed in the Med and a variety of excellent itineraries are on offer.

This June we'll sail Rome to Nice aboard Windstar's Wind Surf and, like so many other travelers, we'll spend a few days sightseeing in Rome before embarking on our cruise out of Civitavecchia.

Here are a few excellent resources you should bookmark as you prepare for your own Roman holiday...

Car Services & Private Sightseeing Tours

• Rome Cabs—This is the transfer company we're using for our upcoming trip. The company gets consistent high marks from Cruise Critic travelers. I'll let you know how everything goes. Rome Cabs offers straight-up transfers (airport to your hotel, hotel to Civitavecchia port, etc.). The company also offers wine tours, walking day tours of the city, and excursions to the nearby countryside.
• Rome In Limo Company—Many Cruise Critic travelers also recommend Rome In Limo. Transfers and tours are available throughout Italy.
• Roma Shuttle—Here's another favored vendor among Cruise Critic members. The company offers transfers and private tours.

Luxury Hotels in Rome

• InterContinental de la Ville Roma—Via Sistina (This is where we've decided to stay as the location atop the Spanish Steps is convenient to many of the sites we wish to visit.)
• Hotel Hassler Roma—Piazza Trinita dei Monti at the top of the Spanish Steps
• Hotel De Russie Roma—Via del Babuino
• St. Regis Rome—Via Vittorio E. Orlando
• Portrait Suites—Via Bocca di Leone

Rome Restaurant Recommendations

• Chowhound Italy Message Board
• eGullet Italy: Dining Message Board
• Maureen B. Fant Blog—food writer specializing in Roman cuisine
• Parla Food—travel writer Katie Parla's blog

If you've got any recommendations for what's not to be missed in Rome, let me know!

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Countdown to Our Windstar Cruise

On Memorial Day we began the countdown to our June Italian and French Riviera cruise aboard Windstar Wind Surf. We've got our cruise docs in hand and I've already drawn up a list of what we've got to pack. I have a feeling the next few weeks will fly by!

Here's a map of our itinerary...

Some friends have asked why we're sailing with Windstar when it's so soon after the line was bought by Xanterra Parks & Resorts at a bankruptcy auction. Well, my husband and I have been stalwart Windstar fans for years and we want to show our support for the new owners. The crew remains the same as does the executive team based at Windstar's headquarters in Seattle.

Xanterra actually has an interesting history that goes back to the days of the Sante Fe Railroad (Xanterra currently operate several national park lodges and the Kingsmill Resort in Williamsburg, Virginia) and I like their corporate message. This is what's posted on the company's homepage:

Life is short.

The world is large.

And your vacation time is too precious to waste on the commonplace.

I couldn't agree more!

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Windstar Offering Up to $1,000 Shipboard Credit for Mediterranean Voyages

Windstar Cruises has launched what it's calling its "Glitter & Glam" Western Mediterranean voyages and new bookings made now through March 31, 2011 will receive a shipboard credit of u to $1,000.

Windstar’s Selected Glitter & Glam Sailings

7-Day Lisbon to Barcelona voyage on Wind Surf departs April 17, 2011 and visits Tangier, Morocco; Malaga, Spain; Almeria, Spain; Cartagena, Spain; and Ibiza, Spain. Special fares from $2,299 per person, double occupancy.

7-Day Barcelona to Rome voyages on Wind Surf departing April 24 and May 8, 2011, and visits Palma de Mallorca, Spain; St. Tropez, France; Monte Carlo, Monaco; Portofino, Italy; and Livorno, Italy. Special fares from $2,199 per person, double occupancy on the April 24, 2011, sailing and from $2,499 per person, double occupancy on the May 8, 2011.

7-Day Barcelona to Rome voyage on Wind Spirit departing April 30, 2011 and on Wind Star departing May 7, 2011, visiting Mahon, Menorca, Spain; St. Tropez, France; Monte Carlo, Monaco; Portofino, Italy; and Livorno Italy. Special fares from $2,399 per person, double occupancy.

7-Day Athens to Venice on Wind Star departing July 16, 2011, and visiting Monemvasia, Greece; Pylos, Greece; Dubrovnik, Croatia; Trogir, Croatia; and Pula, Croatia. Special fares from $2,999 per person double, double occupancy.

7-Day Venice to Athens on Wind Star departing July 30, 2011, and visiting Pula, Croatia; Trogir, Croatia; Dubrovnik, Croatia; Pylos, Greece; and Monemvasia, Greece. Special fares from $2,999 per person, double occupancy.

Rates listed are per person, US dollars, cruise only, and include non-discountable amounts. Shipboard credit offer is $600 ($300 per person, maximum $600 per stateroom) for Category B and A staterooms and $1,000 ($500 per person, maximum $1,000 Wind Surf only) for suites. Taxes ($35-$300 per person) are additional. New bookings only.

Offer expires March 31, 2011. Offer may not be combinable with any other pricing or shipboard credit offers. Shipboard credit may not be used towards gratuities or casino, has no cash value, and unused portions will be forfeited at the end of the cruise. Offer is capacity controlled and may be withdrawn or modified at Windstar’s discretion at any time. Cancellation penalties may apply, please see brochure for details. Certain restrictions apply.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photo of Wind Surf © Andrea M. Rotondo

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Windstar Cruises to Spend More Time in the Greek Isles in 2011

What do you think of Windstar Cruises spending more time in the Greek Isles in 2011?

Windstar, which operates three motor-sail-yachts—Wind Spirit, Wind Star, and Wind Surf—announced recently that the 312-passenger Wind Surf will join the 148-passenger Wind Spirit and Wind Star in Greece this summer.

Wind Surf sails six Greek Isles voyages departing July 16; July 23; September 24; October 1; October 8; and October 15, 2011.

Wind Star offers 18 Greek Isles voyages departing May 21; May 28; June 4; June 11; June 18; June 25; July 2; July 9; August 6; August 13; August 20; August 27; September 3; September 10; September 17; September 24; October 1; and October 8, 2011.

Wind Spirit Greek Isles voyages depart May 14; May 21; May 28; June 4; September 10; and September 17, 2011.

Ports visited on these sailings include Athens, Greece; Mykonos, Greece; Santorini, Greece; Rhodes, Greece; Bodrum, Turkey; Kuşadasi, Turkey; and Istanbul, Turkey.

This is interesting. These are gorgeous ports but I would suggest sailing early or late in the season. The last time I visited Turkey and Greece in July, it was unbearably hot and it was exhausting to tour all day.

I'd love to see Windstar sail a Northern Europe itinerary with a stop in St. Malo, France. That's a port on my "must visit soon" list.

For more information about Windstar Cruises, contact your travel agent or Windstar at 1-(800) 258-7245.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photo of Santorini, Greece

Follow Windstar Cruises on Twitter & Win Prizes!

Happy Monday! How was your weekend? Mine was fantastic because it started off with a message on Friday night announcing that I had won a prize package from Windstar Cruises in their holiday 2010 Twitter promotion!

I was absolutely thrilled! The photo at left shows the swag Windstar is giving away. I bought one of my favorite, comfy T-shirts on Wind Surf so I already know the quality of Windstar merchandise is very high.

If you'd like to win, all you need to do is follow Windstar Cruises on Twitter. Simply sign up for a Twitter account and then go to http://www.twitter.com/windstarcruises. Click on "Follow."

Then, you need to "RT" (retweet) Windstar's message about the contest. That will be your official entry. This is the text you should retweet:

"RT Let @WindstarCruises prepare you for the next adventure. Follow+RT this to win http://twitpic.com/3fmmqu this week! #HolidayCruise"

Thanks to Windstar Cruises for brightening my holiday season!

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photos courtesy of Windstar Cruises

Porthole Cruise Magazine Annouces 12th Annual Readers' Choice Winners

Porthole Cruise Magazine has been running its annual Readers' Choice Awards for the past 12 years and the 2010 results are now in.

The survey includes dozens of categories, but the awards are mainly geared to the mass market cruise lines. Still, luxury favorites like Yachts of Seabourn, Silversea, and Paul Gauguin Cruises get nods, as do premium cruise lines Oceania Cruises, Azamara Club Cruises, and Windstar Cruises.

And the winners are...

Best Small Ship (fewer than 500 passengers)
Seabourn Odyssey—Yachts of Seabourn

Best Medium-Sized Ship (between 500 and 2,000 passengers)
Azamara Journey—Azamara Club Cruises

Best River Cruise
Viking River Cruises

Best Luxury Line
Yachts of Seabourn

Best Expedition Cruise Line
Lindblad Expeditions

Best Eco-Friendly Cruise Line
Holland America Line

Best Shore Excursions
Holland America Line

Best Private Island
Half Moon Cay—Holland America Line

Best Megaship (at least 2,000 passengers)
Oasis of the Seas—Royal Caribbean

Best Tall Ship
Royal Clipper—Star Clippers

Best Value-for-the-Money Line
Carnival Cruise Lines

Most Family-Oriented Line
Disney Cruise Line

Most Romantic Cruise Line
Windstar Cruises

Best Short-Duration Cruise
Norwegian Cruise Line

Best One-Day Cruise
Discovery Cruise Line

Best Adventure Cruise Line
Royal Caribbean

Best Onboard Activities
Royal Caribbean

Best Main Dining Room Cuisine
Celebrity Cruises

Best Casinos
Carnival Cruise Lines

Best Spa Facilities
Royal Caribbean

Best Medical Facilities
Holland America Line

Best Service
Silversea Cruises

Best Onboard International Experience
MSC Cruises

Best Adults-Only Onboard Options
Celebrity Cruises

Best Accommodations
Yachts of Seabourn

Best Onboard Educational Programs
Cunard Line

Best Alternative Restaurants
Norwegian Cruise Line

Best Computer Facilities
Norwegian Cruise Line

Best Onboard Shopping
Princess Cruises

Best Children's Programs
Disney Cruise Line

Best Entertainment
Carnival Cruise Lines

Best Theme Cruises
Carnival Cruise Lines

Best Web Site
Carnival Cruise Lines
Best Facilities for Physically Challenged Passengers
Holland America Line

Best Caribbean Itineraries
Royal Caribbean

Best Mexican Riviera Itineraries
Carnival Cruise Lines

Best Central America Itineraries
Holland America line

Best South America Itineraries
Oceania Cruises

Best South Pacific Itineraries
Paul Gauguin Cruises

Best Trans-Atlantic Itineraries
Cunard Line

Best Africa/Middle East Itineraries
Costa Cruises

Best Bermuda Itineraries
Norwegian Cruise Line

Best Canada/New England Itineraries
Holland America Line

Best Alaska Itineraries
Holland America Line

Best Hawaii Itineraries
Norwegian Cruise Line
Best Mediterranean Itineraries
Costa Cruises

Best Northern Europe Itineraries
Holland America Line

Best Asia/Pacific Itineraries
Silversea Cruises

Best World Cruise Itineraries
Cunard Line

Best Australia/New Zealand Itineraries
Princess Cruises

To subscribe to the magazine, visit Porthole Cruise Magazine's website.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Logo courtesy of Porthole Cruise Magazine