STANDARD CRUISE SHIPS - Standard cruise ships are categorized by their size, cabins, public room characteristics, and on-board amenities. On-board characteristics vary from ship to ship. They are designed to be a self contained, floating resorts that are capable of spending several days at sea. Passenger capacities range from 400 to 3,000 people.

YACHT-STYLE CRUISE SHIPS - Yacht style ships are small cruise ships designed to facilitate a small, intimate, number of passengers. With cabins for 50 to 300 passengers, these ships have all of the amenities of their larger cousins. Typically, cabins are all outside with private facilities. Yacht-like designs have been used in the creation of most of the existing ultra-luxury cruise ships. - Windstar is a classic example.

RIVER SHIPS - River ships are small ships specifically designed for river cruising. Typically they have narrow beams and shallow bottoms in order to navigate rivers all year long. Since river ships are designed for destination, expedition or river cruises, passengers consider these ships as a means to an end and do not rely on on-board luxuries. Passenger capacities range from 22 to 165 people. - Temptress Adventure is a classic example.

FERRIES - A combination cruise ship and car ferry. Designed for short crossings of 12 hours or overnight. Newer ferries are designed to resemble cruise ships by offering more elaborate selections of cabins, restaurants, lounges and entertainment. Passenger capacities will range from 120 to 3,000 people. - Immensely popular in Europe and Asia.

FREIGHTER CRUISERS - Cargo vessel with some accommodations for cruise passengers. Unstructured, uncrowded on-board atmosphere. Accommodating from 4 to 60 passengers (average is 12), freighters offer surprisingly high levels of comfort to their unhurried guests.

MASTED SAILING SHIPS - Modern-day sailing is diverse, encompassing everything from large ships, with computerized sails to small, privately owned schooners. Masted sailing ships are designed to cruise under sail or power. These ships range in size from 65 ft. to 617 ft. and may range in service from basic to very luxurious. Passenger count will range from 12 to 439 people. - Windjammer barefoot cruise is a classic example.

STEAMBOATS - A paddlewheel (looking) vessel used for river cruises are designed with shallow bottoms and typically high ceilings. Steamboats are commonly used for scenery tours or casino cruises. Many paddle wheel ships have full on-board facilities and amenities of a cruise ship to include fully appointed cabins, restaurants and other public rooms. Passenger capacity up to 450. The Delta Queen is a classic example.

BARGES - A very small self contained flat bottom, narrow beam vessel used in overnight canal cruises. Barges are used in touring the scenery of a waterway's villages, towns and cities. Barges have spacious salons, sundecks and air-conditioned cabins with private facilities. Passenger capacity will range from 4 to 12 passengers. Viking River cruises is a classic example.

PRIVATE YACHTS - Private pleasure boats that are chartered to individuals or groups for custom itineraries. You have a choice of motor yachts (without sails), motor sailers (primarily powered by motor), and sailing yachts (primarily powered by sails). These yachts have stabilizers for comfortable long cruising ranges. On-board accommodations are compact but highly luxurious. Yacht size may range from 40 to over 300ft. in length, and from 8 to 20 passengers.