Essence: Choose a cruise: for virgin cruisers, here's the lowdown on some of the major cruise operat

                  BEST KNOWN FOR     PASSENGER PROFILE

       CARNIVAL   A high-energy,     Singles,
carnival.com or   nonstop party      honeymooners and
(888) CARNIVAL    scene that has     families.
                  earned the
                  liners the
                  nickname Fun
                  Ships.

      CELEBRITY   A moderately       Couples who want
  celebrity.com   priced             an upscale
             or   experience that    cruise, first-
(800) 437-3111    feels high-end     time cruisers or
                  because of the     honeymooners who
                  premium service    like a little
                  and amenities.     luxury.

        CRYSTAL   Heavy pampering.   World travelers
crystalcruises.   The line           looking for an
         com or   consistently       extraordinary
(800) 804-1500    wins awards for    cruise
                  service on its     experience.
                  two ships, the
                  Harmony and the
                  Symphony.

         CUNARD   A classic          Anglophiles who
  cunard.com or   British            want attentive
(800) 728-6273    experience. The    service and
                  opulent ships      comfort.
                  offer elegant
                  dining and
                  sophisticated
                  entertainment
                  and facilities.

         DISNEY   Exactly what       Kids of all ages.
  disneycruise.   you'd expect:
         com or   family fun on a
(800) 325-2500    floating theme
                  park.

HOLLAND AMERICA   Understated        Experienced
hollandamerica.   elegance with      professional
         com or   excellent food.    travelers who
 (877) SAIL-HAL                      find a relaxed,
                                     refined
                                     environment
                                     ideal.

      NORWEGIAN   Decent food and    First-time
     ncl.com or   entertainment at   cruisers and
(800) 327-9020    a reasonable       people who are
                  price, and lots    looking for many
                  of activities      onboard
                  and parties.       activities.

       PRINCESS   Personal-choice    Anyone looking
princess.com or   cruising that      for an upscale
(800) PRINCESS    lets you           but unstuffy
                  customize your     cruise.
                  experience.

ROYAL CARRIBEAN   The signature      Singles, couples,
royalcaribbean.   Viking Crown       families and
         com or   lounges: round     first-time
(800) 327-6700    observation        cruisers.
                  decks with bars
                  and night-clubs
                  on each ship.

                  HIGHLIGHTS          DESTINATION INCLUDE

       CARNIVAL   Round-the           The Caribbean,
carnival.com or   clock food.         Alaska, the
(888) CARNIVAL    Moderate to         Bahamas, Mexican
                  upscale dining,     Riviera; limited
                  primarily buf-      trips to Hawaii,
                  fets but also       the Panama Canal
                  casual-             and eastern Canada.
                  restaurant
                  alternatives.
                  Facilities have
                  supervised
                  kids' camp
                  programs.

      CELEBRITY   High-quality        The Caribbean,
  celebrity.com   dining rooms and    Alaska, Bermuda,
             or   interesting         the Bahamas,
(800) 437-3111    hideaways           Canada-New England,
                  (cigar, martini     Europe, Mexico,
                  and sports bars).   South America, the
                  Most ships have     Panama Canal.
                  supervised kids'
                  program.

        CRYSTAL   Activities          Africa, Asia,
crystalcruises.   include personal-   Alaska-Canada, the
         com or   enrichment          Caribbean, Bermuda,
(800) 804-1500    lectures and wine   Mexican Riviera,
                  and food            the Baltic Sea,
                  festivals at sea.   Australia,
                                      New Zealand and
                                      South America.

         CUNARD   Celebrity chef      Alaska, Asia,
  cunard.com or   Todd English's      Australia, the
(800) 728-6273    new restaurant on   Carribean, Mexico,
                  the $800 million    South America, the
                  flagship Queen      Baltic,
                  Mary 2.             Scandinavia and
                                      Russia.

         DISNEY   Larger-than-        The Caribbean and
  disneycruise.   average             the Bahamas.
         com or   staterooms and a
(800) 325-2500    kid-friendly
                  environment. It
                  also offers
                  cruise packages
                  that can be
                  combined with
                  stays at Walt
                  Disney World.

HOLLAND AMERICA   Large staterooms,   Alaska, the
hollandamerica.   museum-quality      Caribbean, Europe,
         com or   works of art and    Hawaii, Mexico, the
 (877) SAIL-HAL   white-glove         Panama Canal-New
                  service.            England, Africa
                                      and India.

      NORWEGIAN   A water-sports      Alaska, Bermuda,
     ncl.com or   program that        Europe, Hawaii, the
(800) 327-9020    includes            Panama Canal and
                  equipment and       South America.
                  trips to
                  exceptional dive
                  spots.

       PRINCESS   Spacious rooms,     Alaska, Asia,
princess.com or   many with           Australia, the
(800) PRINCESS    balconies. Boats    Caribbean, Mexico,
                  are big yet         South America,
                  intimate, and       Africa, Europe and
                  offer excellent     Hawaii.
                  accessibility for
                  the disabled.

ROYAL CARRIBEAN   Fine dining,        The Caribbean,
royalcaribbean.   midnight buffets,   Alaska, Europe,
         com or   ice-cream bar.      Bermuda, the
(800) 327-6700    Activities: live    Bahamas, Canada-
                  music, first-run    New England and
                  movies, a casino.   Mexico.