The cruise ship Crown Princess docked at Cape Canaveral, Florida. (John Raoux/ Associated Press)

A modern cruise ship is a floating luxury resort. Unpack once and you can visit a different place every day at a cost that’s generally less than an equivalent hotel stay ashore, and all your meals and entertainment are included.

It’s little wonder, then, that cruising has become the fastest-growing type of vacation.

If there’s a cruise in your future, now’s the best time to plan. Winter is sale season, when cruise lines cut prices and offer upgrades to fill their ships for the coming year, meaning virtually every cruise can be had at discounts from 10 to 50 per cent off the regular price.

Particularly appealing this year will be European cruising because of the loonie's free-fall in the exchange rate against the Euro. Since cruise prices are set more than a year in advance, they are guaranteed not to rise.

Meanwhile, more ships than ever are heading to Alaska and South America this year. The Caribbean has also become a year-round destination.

But making a choice can be daunting because there are hundreds of ships to choose from and more are on the way this year, so it can difficult for even a seasoned cruiser to pick which line is right. So here are some factors to weigh and a quick look at what’s new for each line this year:

Something for everyone

Carnival Cruises has built ever-larger and more sophisticated ships since its early days of garish party boats. While there’s still a lot of Las Vegas-style flash, you’ll find a wide range of activities, relaxation and a chance to explore a wide range of ports. This year, the line invades Europe as the new Carnival Freedom does 12-day grand tours in the Mediterranean.

Royal Caribbean Cruise Line builds ships that are floating cities, including main street shopping, rock climbing walls and skating rinks. But vast as they are, the ships are still human in scale and there are activities to appeal to everyone. The newest ship, Liberty of the Seas, features on-board surfing on trips from Miami to the Caribbean.

Norwegian Cruise Line’s new "freestyle cruising" policy tries to take the stuffing out of cruises with an emphasis on casual dress and no set meal times. The newly launched Norwegian Pearl includes the first bowling alley at sea and will sail round trips to Alaska from Seattle.

Disney Cruise Line’s ships do have Mickey Mouse roaming the decks to cater to kids, but the idea is that parents can leave the tykes with activity organizers and get some time to themselves. Among new promotions are three and four-night Florida to Bahamas cruises.

The glam lines

Celebrity Cruises is Royal Caribbean’s upscale fleet, featuring more club-like décor and a little more formality, but there’s still plenty for kids to do. A special series of gourmet cruises in the Caribbean features celebrity chefs and cruise specials are priced at under $100 Canadian a person per day.

Cunard Line, the company with more than a century of tradition, maintains a British class system that has long ago disappeared on other ships. Its new Queen Victoria, due later this year, is slated to do a world cruise.

Holland America Line is another cruise company steeped in European tradition, but its new ships have a very contemporary North American hotel ambience and its itineraries cover the world. A promotion includes free upgrade from inside cabin to an outside cabin. Or, book an outside cabin and get moved up to a veranda cabin.

Princess Cruises has come a long way from the original Love Boats that were the setting of the 1970s television series. After a double christening this spring, the vast new Emerald Princess at 3,600 passengers, as well as the relatively demure new Royal Princess, carrying 700 passengers, will both cruise the Mediterranean. Alaska sailings from Vancouver are a specialty as well.

The luxury bracket

Crystal Cruises' ships are the grand hotels of the sea. They carry about 1,000 passengers each in a style reminiscent of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, with copious amounts of fun and personalized service. This year, a freshly rebuilt Crystal Symphony is doing grand tours of Asia and Europe.

Regent Seven Seas is newly aligned with the luxury Regent Hotels chain. The ships have been upgraded to the hotels' opulent furnishing and dining standards. Also new is all-inclusive pricing that covers drinks in bars and wine with meals.

Silversea Cruises has four smaller ships that are among the most stylish and all-inclusive at sea. It features intriguing itineraries this year that include visits to 350 destinations in 120 countries.

Oceania Cruises' new fleet of 680-passenger cruise ships feature butler service and extensive itineraries around the world. "Free" airfare and two-for-one pricing are offered on many of its European sailings this year.

Euro-style ships

Costa Cruises is part of Carnival Cruises, but the European line remains true to its Italian heritage. The new Costa Concordia is sailing unorthodox itineraries from Italy to Egypt, Turkey and Greece.

MSC Cruises is an Italian line that is relatively new in North America, but is fast growing and attractively priced. Theme cruises are a specialty and new ships are arriving into its fleet to expand its list of itineraries this year.

Yacht-like ships

Seabourn Cruises ships cater to those who enjoy mingling. These 200-passenger ships are the equivalent of floating cocktail parties with a convivial and sociable group of fellow passengers. This year’s itineraries include specials on Asian and Middle Eastern cruises at 25 to 40 per cent off.

Sea Dream Yacht Club features the former Sea Goddess ships carrying just 100 passengers. They are designed to offer an experience akin to being invited aboard a tycoon’s private yacht, with copious personal service and gourmet food. It helps to be gregarious, because you’ll get to know everyone on board in the course of a week.

Life under sail

Star Clippers modern four- and five-masted sailing ships let passengers haul on the ropes or learn to take the wheel if they are interested. Or you can just let someone else do the navigating. The line is offering extended Mediterranean voyages for up to 14 days this year.

Windstar Cruises is for those who would rather let technology raise the sails while they focus on enjoying out-of-the-way beaches and smaller ports, along with adventurous shore excursions. Among the possibilities: A newly refitted Wind Surf includes several days on a cruise in May in Monte Carlo for the Grand Prix.

Windjammer Cruises is for the pirate in all of us, with a fleet of vintage sailing vessels that offer Spartan quarters and unpretentious frat party fun. A specialist in singles cruises.

Adventure cruising

Celebrity Xpedition is a newly created division of Celebrity Cruises, with three small ships dedicated to visiting seldom-visited destinations, including the Galapagos Islands and lesser-known parts of the Caribbean.

Discovery World Cruises: One of the original Princess Love Boats is now a world-circling cruise ship run by a British company. Longer voyages being offered this year include "free" airfare.

Orient Lines' Marco Polo is an 800-passenger, ice-strengthened ship designed to get in close to the Antarctic. Itineraries up to 28 days in South America and Europe are on sale at up to 50 per cent off.

Travel tip: The fares listed in cruise brochures are only suggested prices. Many cruises can be had for up to half off if you book in advance. And some of the biggest price cuts are on luxury ships, which can end up costing little more per day than more mass-market lines.

With so many possibilities, it’s important to shop around and get advice from a travel agent who has tried them out. Several Canadian agencies specialize in cruising and will send out regular on upcoming sales and last-minute deals. They include: The Cruise Professionals; The Cruise Network; and Cruise Connections.

Editor's note: Wallace Immen has been a frequent flyer and travel writer for 25 years, and has logged more than 70 cruises.

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