The MSC Divina and MSC Preziosa each have not one but five pools — and the best is the infinity pool at the back of the vessel, where you can soak in a privileged solitude and sublime ocean views.

The Lido pool on this new Holland America ship is where to go if you are hungry. You’ll find a gelato stand, the Dive-In burger bar, and the New York Deli & Pizza spot (which has surprisingly good bagels and towering sandwiches). It will be hard to wait 30 minutes before taking a dip in the pool or settling into one of the three hot tubs.

Open to the sun and skies above, this blissful aft pool on the Grand Princess has two decks of stadium-style lounge seating and calming views of the wake. A similar pool can also be found on other ships in the Grand class, but Grand Princess is the only one with the double deck.

The cool factor of the aft pool on Viking Star and Viking Sea is that it cantilevers over the back of the ship and is walled by glass, turning it into a gigantic picture window into the horizon.

A haven with ample lounging space and leafy green plants, the aft solarium on the Anthem of the Seas is a spectacular spot to relax to the sound of cascading waters: The glass-sided pool has four tiers of varying depths, and the water flows gently from one to another.

The Fountain Pool on both Regal Princess and Royal Princess occupies a prime patch of real estate — it’s a front row seat to open-air movies and the nightly fountain shows choreographed to lights. If you are looking for less of a show, the adults-only Retreat pool is a quiet escape with private cabanas and a hot tub.

Oasis of the Seas' and Allure of the Seas' AquaTheater, surrounded by amphitheater-like seating, may be just your average pool by day, but in the evenings, it transforms into a dazzling showcase of elaborate water shows with divers and acrobats.

Heated to a muscle-soothing temperature, the solarium-area thalassotherapy pool on Celebrity Infinity is enriched with minerals and has bubbling massage jets. You can also find this pool on Infinity's sister ships — Celebrity Constellation, Celebrity Summit, and Celebrity Millennium.

Unlike other cruise ship swimming spots, Eurodam’s Sea View Pool in the adults-only area has a wide, open deck with no obstructions to the broad-spanning views from the aft. All ages can enjoy the ship's Lido pool area, which has a waterfall as well as a hot tub.

The length of Europa 2’s pool — one of the longest at sea — stretches more than 49 feet, making it perfect for lap swimmers. It’s enclosed under a glass roof that, weather-dependent, slides open or closed so you can practice your strokes rain or shine.