More and  more people are discovering cruise vacations. Cruise lines can’t seem to build new ships fast enough to meet the demand, and many are producing larger and more elaborate ships practically every year.  Meanwhile, more small-ship cruise lines have been appearing on the horizon, and unique cruise options like river cruising and expedition cruising are winning more and more fans. In short, there has never been a better time to cruise.

Whether you’ve never cruised before, or are a repeat cruiser, the options are dizzying. When it comes to having the best possible cruise, there is so much to consider … itinerary, the cruise line, activities, food, stateroom category, shore excursions and more. At Maritime Travel, we don’t take that decision lightly.   Our national network of travel counsellors has been arranging thousands of cruise vacations since 1949. In fact, many of them have cruised on these recommended cruise lines, and have experienced these recommended itineraries first-hand.

We have mined the depths of their knowledge and experience. The result is the brochure you hold in your hands. With each turn of the page, you’ll receive an insider’s look into the world of cruising. Once you’ve gotten the inside scoop on our recommended cruise lines and itineraries — the ones that have earned our Counsellor’s Choice seal of approval — we encourage you to talk to your Maritime Travel counsellor to put it all together.                                                                                                        Cover image courtesy Seabourn Cruises

 After all, We Know Travel Best!

Cruise Recommended Vacations
	Oceans of extras for cruisers! The Maritime Travel Best Price Better Service policy means we will match any competitor's advertised and available price at time of booking, including online pr...
	Cruising Tips & Tricks Here’s some inside advice from our counsellors to help guarantee smooth sailing Packing & Document Checklist ‚  A valid passport for each person — no exceptions ...
	Cruising Styles There have never been so many choices when it comes to cruise lines. The choices run the gamut – from mammoth 5400-passenger floating cities to 13-passenger European barges. To help you navigate these complicated waters, we have divided up ...
	Choose to Cruise!   Here are our Top 10 reasons to come aboard
	Cruising at a Glance   Cruise lines, cruisers, itineraries and more...
	The Cruise Q & A Ahoy!  Here’s everything you’ve ever  wondered about cruise vacations. Is cruising an affordable vacation option? Given t...
Recommended Barge Lines
	European Waterways European Waterways – also known as Go Barging — has for more than 30 years offered luxury barge cruises on the canals and inland waterways of France (Loire Valley, Burgundy, Southern France), as well as Scotland, England and Ireland in Spring, Summer and Fall. These e...
Recommended Cruise Itineraries
	Western Caribbean Western Caribbean Discover miles of sugar-sand beaches, world-class diving and ancient Mayan ruins on a fabulous cruise to Mexico and the Caribbean islands. Western Caribbean itineraries typically range from four- to seven-night voyages from South Florida and San Jua...
	Southern Caribbean Southern Caribbean With their rain forests, volcanoes, and elements of both West Indian and French heritages, the islands visited on a Southern Caribbean cruise are nothing short of exotic. Southern Caribbean itineraries typically range from eight- to 11-day voyages ...
	Eastern Caribbean Eastern Caribbean For the sheer beauty of the beaches, the islands of the Eastern Caribbean and The Bahamas are unequalled. Almost every cruise line visits this region, with four- to seven-night voyages from South Florida stopping in at such ports as St. Thomas, St. ...
	South America South America For seasoned travellers in search of rugged natural beauty, intriguing cultures and hip, cosmopolitan cities, ports in Chile, Brazil, Argentina and points South offer up a cornucopia of adventures. Twelve- to 17-night voyages to the great cities of Sout...
	Panama Panama Needless to say, the highlight of a 10- to 14-night Panama cruise is the canal itself, along with the history, culture and natural splendour of Central America. Panama Canal cruises offer stops in both Central American and Caribbean ports and you can choose ei...
	Mexican Riviera Mexican Riviera As the fourth most popular cruise destination in the world, the Mexican Riviera is rapidly building a reputation as an alternative to the Caribbean. Cruises ranging from three to eight days take travelers to ports such as Acapulco, Monterey and Cabo S...
	Mediterranean Believe it or not, a Mediterranean cruise can be one of the most affordable ways to explore the Old World — great news, since there’s so much to explore in Europe, whether you’re a first-timer or a repeat visitor. A typical 12-day Eastern Mediterranean itinerary inclu...
	Hawaii Rich with dramatic landscapes, fabulous shopping and a proud and hospitable people, Hawaii is a cruise ship destination to be visited time and again. The eight major Hawaiian islands are all volcanic and each has its own distinct climate and attractions, an aspect tha...
	Baltics & Northern Europe Baltics (Russia and Scandanavia) and Northern Europe cruises offer a colorful mosaic of traditions, languages and cultures in the Norwegian Fjords, the Baltic and even the Arctic. Explore marquee ports like St. Petersburg or Copenhagen and more offbeat gems like Talli...
	Alaska Alaska itineraries typically comprise seven-, 11- or 12-night cruises from Vancouver, Anchorage, San Francisco and Seattle to ports along Alaska’s Inside Passage and along the Gulf of Alaska. Highlights include the grandeur of Glacier Bay National Park and Hubbard Gla...
	River Cruising Paris, Vienna, Luxembourg — because so many European cities and towns were constructed along waterways, they were literally made to be accessible by river. Unlike traditional cruise ships (too large), flat-bottomed river cruise ships are uniquely designed to access ever...
	Barging Holidays Intimate hotel-style barges accommodating no more than 18 guests are a unique and luxurious way to explore the canal systems of Europe. While France is perhaps the best-known region for these leisurely paced trips, you can also find canal trips in England, Scotland an...
	Expedition Cruising As the name implies, expedition cruising combines exploration and adventure, without sacrificing the creature comforts associated with traditional cruising. What sets expedition cruising apart from traditional cruising, however, is the time spent in port. On a traditi...
Recommended Expedition Cruises
	Hapag-Lloyd Cruises Hapag-Lloyd Cruises – part of one of the oldest shipping companies in the world – comprises four ships: the luxurious flagship Europa; the expedition ship Bremen; the luxury expedition ship, Hanseatic; and the small ship Columbus. Hanseatic, with its all-outside, spac...
	Hurtigruten In lieu of casinos and organized activities, Mother Nature provides the entertainment aboard the Hurtigruten (Norwegian for “fast route”) fleet. The line is comprised of 15 ships, 11 of which are committed year-round to Norwegian coastal itineraries. Life onboard is d...
	Polar Star Expeditions A true ice-breaker vessel with capacity for only 100 guests, the MV Polar Star plies the Antarctic and the Arctic during their respective summer seasons. An ideal expedition ship with knowledgeable and friendly staff and a team of onboard specialists, this unique vess...
Recommended Large-Ship Cruise Lines
	Princess Cruises One of the best-known names in cruising is still one of the most popular cruise lines, with 17 ships sailing the globe on approximately 100 itineraries visiting more than 350 ports. Customers appreciate the quality. Princess has ships that accommodate as many as 3000+...
	Carnival Cruise Lines With 23 Fun Ships plying the seven seas, Carnival is the largest cruise line in the world. And yet, it is all about the fun — from the onboard activities, familyfriendly atmosphere, entertainment, and more. A great choice for first-time cruisers. ...
	Celebrity Cruises Attracting a fiercely loyal clientele, multiple-awardwinning Celebrity Cruises has been in business for more than 20 years. This popular cruise line typically sails Alaska, California, the Caribbean, Galapagos, Europe, Canada/New England, South America, Hawaii, Pacifi...
	Costa Cruises Costa Cruises currently offers cruises to more than 250 destinations around the world on its fleet of 15 ships. The most recent addition to the fleet is the Costa Delizosa, which launched in February 2010. This cruise line is best known for its traditional European-st...
	Cunard Line One of the most famous cruise lines in the world, Cunard Line’s venerable fleet now includes flagship Queen Mary 2, sister ship Queen Victoria, and Queen Elizabeth (launching in Fall 2010). As well as the stately traditions and amenities for which Cunard Line is known...
	Disney Cruise Line As a top choice for families, Disney offers one of the most unique cruise experiences afloat. Sister ships Disney Wonder and Disney Magic – both with décor reminiscent of the 1920s, albeit with all the modern innovations — primarily ply the Caribbean during the w...
	Holland America Line Holland America is arguably the most historic and tradition-laden cruise line on the seas. Its first ship, the Rotterdam, set sail on a voyage between Holland and New York in 1873, and today, 14 classic Holland America ships sail all around the globe. While now a U.S....
	MSC Cruises MSC Cruises is one of the newest big-ship entrants on the cruise scene. Based in Naples and Sorrento, the line was founded on the premise of offering Europeans an affordable cruise alternative with a strongly Italianinfluenced ambiance. Italian-born celebrity Sophia L...
	Norwegian Cruise Line Notable for its “Freestyle Cruising” philosophy, which eschews traditional cruise line dress codes, dining options, etc., Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has inspired other lines to copy its more successful “freestyle” concepts. Today, NCL has the youngest fleet in the in...
	Royal Caribbean International Known for innovative ships offering rock-climbing walls, iceskating rinks, inline skating tracks, bungee trampolines, boxing rings, and the Flowrider surf simulator, Royal Caribbean is one of the biggest names in cruising. This line, with its mammoth ships, appeals to...
Recommended Mid-Size and Small-Ship Cruise Lines
	Azamara Club Cruises The deluxe smaller-ship Azamara line is geared to discerning travelers who long to reach out-of-theordinary destinations. The 694-passenger Azamara Journey and Azamara Quest both offer butler service in every stateroom, as well as upgraded inclusions like wine with me...
	Crystal Cruises Voted ‘World’s Best’ by the readers of Conde Nast Traveler and Travel & Leisure magazines more than any other cruise line, Crystal Cruises recently marked its 20th anniversary. With just two ships that carry more than 940 passengers, Crystal offers the amenities a...
	Cruise West The largest small-ship player in Alaska, Cruise West ships accommodate 78 to 148 guests, who get to experience the company’s trademark ‘up close, casual and personal’ style of cruising. Expect extensive shore programs and onboard presentations by local experts. With nin...
	Oceania Cruises Known for its luxury, destination-intensive cruise product, Oceania Cruises has three 684-passenger ships: Regatta, Insignia and Nautica. With top-notch food and highly personalized service, this cruise line  prides itself on delivering a luxury experience at a m...
	Regent Seven Seas Cruises A specialist in world cruises, this luxury four-ship fleet recently received some major upgrades, including wireless capabilities (and improved computer connections), renovated staterooms with hightech  features, and Regent-branded bathroom amenities. Unlike trad...
	Silversea Cruises All-inclusive price plans, spacious cabins and high-quality service are the hallmarks of Silversea Cruises, an ultra-luxury line known for its blend of exotic itineraries and mainstream locales. The line currently has four luxury ships with capacities ranging from 296 t...
	Star Clippers Star Clippers operates three of the world’s largest and tallest sailing vessels and its flagship, Royal Clipper, is the largest fully rigged sailing ship in the world. This cruise line offers all the amenities activities and atmosphere of a private yacht. The fleet of...
	Windstar Cruises The three ships of the Windstar fleet carry between 148 and 312 guests and are best known for their alternative dining venues, diversity of shore excursions, deluxe spa facilities and luxurious  accommodations. Passenger-to-crew ratios are a high 1.5 to 1, and a ...
	Yachts of Seabourn Seabourn markets its ships as “The Yachts of Seabourn” and the ultraluxury ships do in fact feel like private yachts. The 208-passenger sister ships, Seabourn Legend, Seabourn Pride and Seabourn Spirit, are nearly identical and all create a rarified environment where ci...
Recommended River Cruise Lines
	AMA Waterways One of the newest entrants in the European river cruise market, this line has seen remarkable growth since its launch in 2002, expanding to six 148- passenger ships in 2009, with two  more on the way. AMA Waterways focuses on Europe’s Rhine, Danube, Mosel and Mai...
	Avalon Waterways An award-winning line, Avalon Waterways has become the world’s fastest-growing river cruise company, with eight ships to its name. While Europe’s rivers are a mainstay for Avalon, the company has also expanded beyond the region to Egypt, the Galapagos Islands and Chin...
	Scenic Tours Billed as the “Space-Ships,” the four river cruise ships of the Scenic Tours fleet are the most spacious plying the waterways of Europe, with expansive public areas, two restaurants, a wellness centre, gift shop and three large outdoor viewing areas. Out-of-the-way it...
	Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection Uniworld offers over 500 departures on more than 35 itineraries sailing on 12 rivers in 17 countries throughout Europe, Egypt and China. Its cruises range in length from a week to a month and are designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and guests. Fine dinin...
	Viking River Cruise Established in 1997, Viking River Cruises is the world’s largest river cruise company, with 21 ships sailing the rivers of Europe, Russia and the Ukraine, Egypt and China. Cruise ships average just 150 passengers and often dock right in the heart of town, providing “w...
	.Choosing the right ship Size Matters Choosing the right type of ship a key consideration A ship’s size is one of the most important questions to consider when choosing the cruise vacation that fits your lifestyle. That’s because the size of a ship directly relates to the kind of amenit...