14 Grand Circle Cruise Line Ships Make Conde Nast Traveler's 2013 Top 100 Cruise Ships in the World, including #1 Spots in the Small Ship and River Ship Categories

BOSTON, Jan. 29, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Fourteen of Grand Circle Cruise Line's ships have made Conde Nast Traveler's 2013 Top 100 Cruise Ships in the World listing—the most of any cruise line and including the #1 rankings in both the small ship and river ship categories, reported  Chairman and CEO Alan E. Lewis announced today.  In addition, six of Grand Circle's Cruise Line's river ships ranked among the top seven listed, while 10 river ships ranked in the top 20 of 40 river ships in total.

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"We are extremely pleased to be recognized by Conde Nast Traveler readers for our efforts to create affordable and culturally-rich itineraries with per diems that are typically $50-$500 less per day than other small ship cruises charge," Lewis said.  "In addition, we are highly committed to serving our growing population of solo travelers with low or free single supplements, a free roommate matching program, onsite staff training and more.  Our mission is to create affordable, culturally-rich small ship and river cruise itineraries that engage American travelers, both couples and solos, with local people and their cultures and ways of life.  Ultimately, our dream is to help change people's lives through international travel."

In Conde Nast Traveler's 2013 Top 100 Cruise Ships in the World listing, two Grand Circle Cruise Line ships took the top spots in two of the magazine's four cruise categories, which are based on size: small, medium, and large ships and river ships.  Grand Circle's 50-passenger M/V Arethusa placed first in the Top 20 Small Ship category, while the 120-passenger M/S Provence took the top spot in the Top 40 River Ship category.  Beginning this month, the M/V Arethusa will sail on Grand Circle's new 15-day small ship cruise tour, The Rivieras: France, Italy & the Isles, which explores Florence, Volterra, Pisa, Livorno,  Elba Island, Corsica, Marina di Carrara, Porto Venere, Cinque Terre, Portofino, Nice, and  Cannes, while the M/S Provence will continue operating on the 12-day Cruising Burgundy & Provence to the Cote d'Azur, which visits Paris, Beaune, Lyon, Tournon, Viviers, Avignon, Arles, and Nice.

This is the eighth year in a row that Grand Circle Cruise Line has been honored to have been included in the prestigious listing, and this year, the fleet's ships ranked as follows.  In the Top 20 Small Ships category, the M/VArethusa ranked #1, and its sister ship, the M/V Artemis ranked #14.  Twelve Grand Circle Cruise Line's river ships made the Top 40 River Ships listing , including four ships in the top five rankings, as follows: M/S Provence #1, M/S River Allegro #2, M/S River Adagio #3, M/S Chardonnay #4, M/S River Concerto #6, M/S Bizet #7, M/S River Harmony #13, M/S River Aria #14, M/S Tikhi Don, #18, M/S River Melody #19, M/S River Rhapsody #25, and the M/S Rossia #33.

Grand Circle Cruise Line offers 23 river cruises and cruise tours and small ship cruises around the world along—each of which offers a variety of pre-and-post trip options as well as myriad ways to customize one's vacation.  In the past two years, 80,500 Americans traveled with Grand Circle Cruise Line, including 56,400 female travelers and 19,000 solo travelers—15,255 of whom were women. 

With one in four (25%) travelers now booking as solos (vs. one in five in 2007), Grand Circle Cruise Line offers free single supplements on its three new small ship cruises for 2013, low single supplements on all other cruises, free single supplements on all pre-and post-trip extensions, a free matching roommate program, and more.  The fleet's three new small ship cruises for 2013 include Burma & the Irrawaddy River: Bagan to Mandalay, Turkish Coastal Voyage: Greek Islands, Istanbul & Athens, and The Rivieras: France, Italy & the Isles.

For more information please visit Grand Circle Cruise Line, and to see a video, please click Grand Circle Cruise Line Experience Video.

About Grand Circle Cruise Line

Established in 1998, Grand Circle Cruise Line has grown from a single river ship to more than 50 small ships today, ranging from custom-built river ships, three four-star plus 50-passenger ocean-faring ships, and dozens of exclusive private charters.  Ship capacities range from 50-164 passengers.  The fleet is part of Grand Circle Corporation, which also includes travel brands Grand Circle Travel and Overseas Adventure Travel, both of which provide unique international vacations to Americans age 50 and older. Since 1992, the non-profit Grand Circle Foundation has pledged or donated $92 million to more than 300 educational, humanitarian and cultural organizations worldwide, including 100 schools, in 50 countries.

SOURCE Grand Circle Cruise Line