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ZAGAT RELEASES RESULTS OF FIRST CRUISE LINE SURVEY

Cunard, Regent and SeaDream Are Top Rated, Respectively, for Large, Mid-Size and Small Ships
While Royal Caribbean, Crystal and Windstar are Most Popular in Each Size Category
Carnival Wins for Budget Travel and Singles; Disney for Families, Nightlife and Entertainment
When it Comes to Top Itinerary Choices, Romance, Shopping, Spas and Casinos, Cunard Sweeps

New York, NY. November 12, 2009 – Zagat released the results of its first Cruise Line survey today. The survey, conducted on ZAGAT.com, covers 22 major cruise lines as voted on by 2,379 regular cruise-goers who had taken 9.5 trips, each averaging nine days. All told the surveyors had taken a total of 22,700 separate cruises.

“The survey reveals what the cruise line industry is doing plenty right, but that there’s still room for improvement,” said Tim Zagat, CEO of Zagat Survey. “Hopefully, these new results will help consumers during a time when making informed decisions is more important than ever.”

Background: The cruise lines in the survey were categorized as follows: Large Ships (1,500+ passengers), Mid-Size Ships (200 to 1,500) and Small Ships (less than 200), based on the average size of the ships in its fleet. Each line was then rated on Zagat’s signature 30-point scale for five aspects of its performance: (1) Cabins, (2) Service, (3) Dining, (4) Facilities and (5) Shipboard Activities, with an “Overall Score” based on an average of the five separate ratings.

Smooth Sailing: The top cruise lines, based on their Overall Scores, are Cunard Line (Large), Regent Seven Seas (Mid-Size) and SeaDream Yacht Club (Small). Lines with mid-size ships tended to get the highest overall ratings. Thus, following Regent were Crystal, Seabourn and Silversea all with a score of 26 out of a possible 30. Following with overall rating of 25 are Cunard and Disney. Based on their ratings, the major category winners are as shown below:

	Large (1,500+)	Mid-Size (200 to 1,500)	Small (<200)
Top Rooms	Cunard	Regent	SeaDream
Top Service	Cunard	Seabourn	SeaDream
Top Dining	Cunard	Seabourn	SeaDream
Top Facilities	Cunard	Crystal	SeaDream
Top Activities	Disney	Crystal	Lindblad
Top Overall	Cunard	Regent	SeaDream

When asked to name their personal favorites, the surveyors chose Royal Caribbean (Large), Crystal Cruises (Mid-Size) and Windstar Cruises (Small).

Setting Course: When choosing a cruise line, 88% of surveyors say that Ports of Call is their principal consideration, with Past Experience (81%) and Ticket Price (80%) following close behind. Other major issues are Cruise Duration (72%), Dates (69%) and Balcony/Deluxe Room Availability (64%). Departure Ports are cited by 61% of surveyors, with Ship Size and Activities tying at 58%.

Staying Afloat: As a result of the recession, many lines lowered their prices. The three named as “best for budget cruises” are Carnival Cruise Lines, Costa Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line in that order. When asked how the economy has affected their cruising, 47% say they’re looking for better values, while 23% report cruising less. Surveyors report these alternate ways to be cost-conscious: 20% are limiting their excursions, 19% are choosing cruises that depart closer to home, 15% cut back on what’s included in their packages, 10% choose less expensive rooms and 5% take shorter cruises. A lucky 18% say the recession hasn’t affected their cruising habits, while an unlucky 19% say they “don’t cruise enough to have habits yet.”

Choppy Water: Although cruising is all about feeling good and relaxing, we asked surveyors about their top complaints: crowds/lines (23%), embarking/disembarking (15%), other passengers’ behavior (12%), bad food (11%), poor service (11%), room sizes (5%), smoking (4%) and extra charges (3%). Surprisingly, bad weather, motion sickness, ship size and fixed dining times were not serious concerns.

More Winners: Other categories with smoother sailing are as follows:

Top Fitness Centers

1. Celebrity Cruises
2. Cunard Line
3. Royal Caribbean

Top Live Entertainment

1. Disney Cruise Line
2. Cunard Line
3. Royal Caribbean

Top Nightlife

1. Disney Cruise Line
2. Royal Caribbean
3. Cunard Line

Top Spa Services

1. Cunard Line
2. Disney Cruise Line
3. Celebrity Cruises

Top Onboard Shopping

1. Cunard Line
2. Disney Cruise Line
3. Royal Caribbean

Top Casinos/Gambling

1. Cunard Line
2. Royal Caribbean
3. Celebrity Cruises

Top Excursions

1. Princess Cruises
2. Celebrity Cruises
3. Cunard Line

Best for Singles

1. Carnival Cruise Lines
2. Royal Caribbean
3. Norwegian Cruise Line

Top Itinerary Choices

1. Cunard Line
2. Holland America Line
3. Celebrity Cruises

Best for Romantic/Honeymoon

1. Cunard Line
2. Celebrity Cruises
3. Princess Cruises

Best for Kids

1. Disney Cruise Line
2. Royal Caribbean
3. Carnival Cruise Lines

Best for Weekend Getaways

1. Disney Cruise Line
2. Royal Caribbean
3. Carnival Cruise Lines

Best for Families

1. Disney Cruise Line
2. Royal Caribbean
3. Carnival Cruise Lines

Best for Budget Cruises

1. Carnival Cruise Lines
2. Costa Cruises
3. Norwegian Cruise Line

Best for Seniors

1. Holland America Line
2. Cunard Line
3. Celebrity Cruises

Best for Expedition Cruises

1. Celebrity Cruises
2. Princess Cruises
3. Holland America Line

The Survey in Detail: Please visit (www.zagat.com/cruiselines) for the full survey results. Here’s a sampling of outtakes from our surveyors, which were deemed ‘not fit for print.’

• “A conga line is not conducive to good digestion.”
• “No activities for anyone who isn’t an alcoholic seeking random sex.”
• “They cater to the newly wed and nearly dead.”
• “Great if you like hairy chest contests.”
• “A rust bucket filled with rowdy people.”
• “The more you booze, the better you cruise.”
• “Bathrooms so small you have to sit on the toilet sideways.”
• “It does attract a crowd – it’s called ‘God’s floating waiting room.’”

About Zagat Survey, LLC

Zagat Survey is the world’s most trusted source for information about where to eat, drink, stay and play around the globe, and as such has become a symbol of quality. Zagat Survey rates and reviews airlines, restaurants, hotels, nightlife, movies, music, golf, resorts, shopping, spas and a range of other entertainment categories in more than 100 countries and has been lauded as the “most up-to-date, comprehensive and reliable guides ever published” and as “a necessity second only to a valid credit card.” Zagat content is available in print, on the web, on the mobile web, iPhones, BlackBerry and on TV. For more information, visit ZAGAT.com.

I have reproduced this article by Zagat Survey, LLC, to help you make a more informed decision about which Cruise Line may best fit your individual or family needs.  I am constantly researching articles and evaluating travel tends which I publish on my Travel Blog. Any and all comments and suggestion to help improve this site is highly appreciated.

CaptBob

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