Island Princess

The Joie-de-Vivre: A French influence can be found in the dining rooms (Provence and Bordeaux), the Paris-themed casino, La Patisserie, and even in the Bayou Café & Steakhouse, where Cajun dishes and jazz offer a taste of New Orleans.

Pizza by Princess: Many cruisers swear it’s the best slice this side of Naples, and the cruise line is only too happy to endorse the theory. There are frequent lines, but it’s worth the wait.

Atrium Excellence: The glass elevators add a touch of elegance to an atrium already made popular by the complimentary pastries at La Patisserie (Deck 5), which seats 40 and is often filled to capacity on sea days.

Being the Big Sister: It was already slightly larger than Coral Princess when a 2015 refurbishment added another 121 staterooms to push passenger capacity above 2,000.

Private Balconies: With 789 balconies, the varied vistas on Island Princess's itineraries can be enjoyed from the privacy of 80 percent of its staterooms.

Couples Who Like Tradition with a Twist: The nature and length of the ship's itineraries attract more seasoned cruisers who appreciate the old-school cocktails at Crooners Martini Bar and excellent Italian cuisine at Sabatini’s — but with the option to indulge in simpler pleasures such as burgers, pizza, and pastries.

Musical Chairs: Theater-goers have to be on time for nightly shows to get a good seat — or sometimes just to nab one at all.