The Best Cruise Lines awards is something that companies such as Cunard, NCL, RCI, P&O and others take very seriously, as it shows they are doing a good job at keeping their customers happy. There are so many of these awards, with some more prestigious than others, and the Daily Telegraph Ultra Travel Awards is just one of them.

The Best Cruise Line winner this year is Cunard, and what makes this win so special is that they have won this 7 years in a row now, which shows they are doing something right. You can see in the image above just how happy the Cunard team who collected the award are.

Cunard has said that this award is very special to them for several reasons, the first is because it recognises the hard work that their staff across the fleet put in. Secondly, it is because this award was voted for by Daily Telegraph readers who have cruised with them.

The luxury cruise liner company has said that winning this ward will give them greater confidence for the future, and will ensure they do all they can to keep winning such prestigious awards, as it proves they are doing right by their passengers.

It’s clear to see once you have cruised with Cunard you will see it is a far different experience to that of other cruise lines, but Cunard is for a different kind of passenger. If you wish to feel special and enjoy a cruise full of elegance, then a Cunard cruise is for you. However, if you are looking for a fun-filled time for you and your children, then you may wish to consider one of the other companies.

Thanks to Cunard.

It wasn’t that long ago when there were reports that the cover charge for Geoffrey Zakarian’s Ocean Blue restaurant onboard Norwegian Breakaway was said to have been under priced, and as such would need to be reevaluated. Well it has and we are sad to say that the price has now been increased.

This Norwegian Breakaway price increase in the Ocean Blue eatery is a blow for passengers who thought they were getting a great deal, but it just shows that you can’t have too much of a good thing. The new price will now be $49, instead of $35.

What about those already booked for a meal at Ocean Blue? We’re told that those who already have a reservations at Ocean Blue at the cheaper price of $35 will still be honored, the increase only applies to new bookings, which we’re certain will not go down well with passengers.

Cruise Critic readers have been expressing their dissatisfaction with the price increase, with some of them saying it is a rip off, to others suggesting that the restaurant will now be empty, although not sure this will be the case. Having said that, how can a huge company like Norwegian Cruise Line get their pricing so wrong?

$35 isn’t too bad to eat in a specialty restaurant, but $49 is bordering on an excessive amount. Okay, so it’s nice to eat in one of these specialty restaurants at least once while on a cruise, but the food that you have already paid for is still of a high standard, so we can see more people sticking with the main restaurants onbaord Norwegian Breakaway.

Princess Cruises Royal Princess is set for her inaugural cruise on June 16, 2013, which means the one-month countdown has already begun. There’s still a chance to get a last-minute cruise onboard Royal Princess, and from what we have seen it’s something you will not want to miss out on.

She will start her season in Europe, with the very first Royal Princess cruise set for on June 16 and heading off to warmer waters. If you have already booked and just need to refresh yourself on the main features of this new vessel, then you can do so below.

She weighs in at 141,000-tons, which is the biggest in the Princess Cruises fleet, although another is already in construction. The Duchess of Cambridge will name her, and once onboard you will get a true sense of her size, as she is 20 percent larger than other ships in the fleet.

There is a selection of fresh new touches to the Royal Princess, such as the SeaWalk, and her beautiful Atrium. However, what appeals to us is the 24-hour pastry shop.

A number of changes have been made to the cabins when compared to her sister ships, such as 80 percent of them being balconies and inside cabins being made a little larger to make your stay more comfortable.

For a better insight into what to expect onboard the Royal Princess then might we suggest watching the video above?

On the very first day of boarding a cruise ship you find yourself running about like a headless chicken, as you never know what you want to look at first, although the food area is always the first stop. However, once you have been allowed in your rooms and then unpack your cases, where do you go next?

For us we would have to say the spa, as there’s nothing better than having a lovely cruise and being able to have a massage or some other treatment while there. For those who share this thought, then you’ll be pleased to know that Celebrity Cruises often runs spa offers, just like this latest one.

When you pre-book one of the Celebrity Signature Spa Treatments you will then receive 40 percent off your next treatment. Okay, so this is not the perfect offer if you only had one treatment in mind, but getting 40 percent off your second one could persuade you to change your mind.

We’ve enjoyed plenty of treatments like this on many cruise ships, but we have to say that Celebrity is one of the best, not only for their team at their spas, but also the whole experience while you’re having your treatment.

Some of the top treatments include Elemis Aroma Spa Seaweed Massage, Fire and Ice Manicure and Elemis Oxydermy Facial. However, if we had to choose our favorite, it would have to be the Hot Stone Massage, but what’s yours?

Visit Celebrity Cruises for more details.

Serenity is a place like you see on two P&O ships; where this is an adults only area, although Carnival Cruises takes this experience to a whole new level. There are several ships in the fleet with this area where no children are allowed, with the Carnival Sunshine offering the best yet.

However, we already know that this area has been hit with a few problems on its inaugural cruise, but small issues like waterfalls not working and other minor problems are to be expected, and have no doubt been resolved by now.

Let’s hope that have because the Carnival Sunshine Serenity advantages for adults will be truly amazing, and we hope to experience them one day. We’re not against children on a cruise ship, as it’s so nice to see them having fun, and makes you feel happy when you see a child smile, but there are times when it all gets a bit too much, and so you look for a place other than your stateroom where you can relax without the fear of being disturbed by an over-excited kid.

The Carnival Sunshine Serenity area is open for adults over 21, even better as we know how childish some 18 year olds can be. There is a complete bar service and they have sun loungers where you can fall back in and get lost in the moment, yes they are that comfortable. Soft music plays in the background and there are even extra large umbrellas if the heat gets too much for you.

If there was ever an area on the Carnival Sunshine where you needed to ease away your tension, then the spa would be first choice, with Serenity a very close second.

Some of the early reviews had a divided opinion of the Norwegian Breakaway, but this was to be expected because of teething issues with boarding, as well as some reviewers saying the pools are too small for the number of passengers.

However, these teething issues are long behind NCL and that first lot of passengers from the cruise industry has had time to reflect on their time onboard, and it seems as though the Norwegian Breakaway reviews have been universally positive. So, the latest ship from the NCL fleet is a winner.

We’ve already seen several reports saying that the Norwegian Breakaway is a classy vessel that has been well designed, and as such has changed the way we look at cruise ships. If this is the way forward for Norwegian Cruise Line, then they have a strong future.

What we love about this new ship is how they looked at the Norwegian Epic and all the things they felt did not work for the ship was removed, something that other cruise lines should think about doing.

NCL has always excelled in entertainment, and the new water slides are just one of many entertainment activities centered on fun for the children, along with some amazing shows for the evening, such as Rock of Ages. NCL has also made improvements to their dining experience, with the various restaurants in the Waterfront proving just that.

Like we said, the Norwegian Breakaway reviews have been rather positive, but we’d love to hear from you once you’ve taken your first cruise onboard.

As we move ever closer to the Royal Princess naming ceremony we have just learned of some new entertainment to help the day go even better, as Natasha Bedingfield will be in Southampton to do what she does best, and that is to sing.

The artist is to make a special appearance, and while she has not been in the limelight for a while, she is still inspiring to so many people trying to make it in the business. She has managed to break America, which is a testament to her talents.

It comes as no surprise that Princess Cruise is excited about this news, as they believe Natasha Bedingfield will add something extra special to the Royal Princess naming ceremony, although it was already special to begin with.

We say this because not only will Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge be on hand to officially name the ship, but The Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines Portsmouth along with the pipers of the Irish Guards will be on hand to add to the entertainment.

The naming ceremony is to take place on June 13, with the Royal Princess inaugural voyage on June 16 to Barcelona. From there she will begin a series of Mediterranean cruises, and in the autumn she will then head off to the Caribbean.

If you are looking for some amazing cruise deals this month, then we have found three for you, all from the Royal Caribbean. This includes onboard spending, free excursions and a free upgrade as well.

These three Royal Caribbean cruise deals are for May and counts as their summer cruise deals. So let us look at the first incentive, which is for the $100 onboard credit. If you have never cruised before this will be added to your room, so when you get your final bill at the end of the cruise only then will the $100 be taken of from your final bill.

You also have the chance to get free shore excursion for the kids, so when you book your own excursion and add a child on they will not be charged, well you as you are paying for the cruise anyway.

The final RCI cruise deal is for a free stateroom upgrade, but only on selected sailings to the Caribbean. This offer is only for sailings from September 1 – December 15, 2013. So if you book an Ocean View you will be upgraded to a Balcony stateroom, or an Interior to Ocean View stateroom. These offers apply for different ships, so you need to head over to the Royal Caribbean website for the full terms and conditions.

Remember these RCI offers are for a limited time only, so don’t delay and book today. These deals are for those of you booking from the UK, and while this is good news, it’s still clear that our US counterparts still get the better deals.

The Carnival Splendor fire is long behind her and with new safety measures being brought into the entire fleet, we hope to never to see a repeat of the issue. With this in the mind the ship is still a hit with those who travel on her, and for those who do enjoy the ship will be pleased to hear that the Carnival Splendor 2014 itinerary will be expanded to include even more destinations.

Carnival Cruises has added more four and five day cruises from New York to Canada. That’s not all; they have also added a seven-day cruise departing from Canada/New England, as well as eight-day Caribbean cruises. In total there is to be ten different Carnival Splendor 2014 cruises added to the itinerary.

It’s suggested that the new itinerary will add a bit of fun to the Splendor, so let’s look at some of these new Carnival Splendor packages in more detail.

The four-to-seven-day Canada/New England cruises will begin from June to October 2014. The four-day cruises will run from June 5, July 3, July 31 and August 28 2014.

There are also unique one-way trips from New York to San Juan, which will be a first for the Carnival Splendor. These itineraries will run for eight days and will stop at St. Kitts, Antigua, and St. Maarten. And remember you can go from either port to start your cruise.

For more details on these and the other cruises visit Carnival’s website.

If you are planning to go on a cruise in October 2014, then you could have a predicament on your hands, this is because many of you will not only want to see what the new Costa Diadema ship is like, but also the Quantum of the Seas.

Both these ships will have their inaugural cruise in October of next year, and while many of you have already made your choice, there are still some of you who are undecided. Both cruise lines have different approaches to how they design their ships, as well as the experience they offer their passengers.

However, it’s still obvious that the Royal Caribbean will not have to try as hard as Costa Cruises, who still has to cope with the fallout since the Costa Concordia disaster. Having said that, cruising is still a safe form of travel, so you should not let that incident out you off.

Costa Diadema vs. Quantum of the Seas – Will you go with the former, which as a 132,500 gross tonnage and will accommodate 4,947, making it the biggest in their fleet. Or will you choose the latter, with its 167,800 gross tonnage and up to 4,905 passengers, and is not the largest in the RCI fleet?

Both ships will have their positives and negatives; the question is, which out of the two will have the best innovations, culinary delights and entertainment. Our money is on the Quantum of the Seas because we already know so much about the ship. However, we could change our mind once more is known about the Costa Diadema.