Travel's Best Cruises 2014

August is the perfect time to start planning a cruise, especially if you’re looking for a holiday escape, winter getaway or even a spring break vacation. From exploring wildlife in New Zealand on a luxury cruise to island hopping in the Caribbean on a mid-sized cruise ship or taking a culinary tour of the Mediterranean on a fun river cruise, there’s a cruise to suite every type of traveler.

Choosing the right cruise line, though, can be a daunting task. So we decided to pull together a panel of 5 cruise and travel experts -- including Travel Channel host Samantha Brown, cruise expert Stewart "The Cruise Guy" Chiron and cruise writer Jason Leppert -- to share their recommendations for Travel's Best Cruises 2014.

This year’s list recommends boats of all sizes that offer unique opportunities for their passengers onboard or on the shore. These curated picks help cruisers choose the right ship for every destination, avoid the most overcrowded ports and prove there’s much to do out at sea -- while seeing the world.