So Many Cruise Lines; How Do I Choose? Part 2 - Luxury Cruise Lines

 By: Mike Franks, Owner-Operator, Cruise Planners-Orange Park, FL

In this article, I will discuss some of the most popular Luxury Cruise Lines. As you might expect, the luxury lines are more expensive. However, their fares often include shore excursions, gratuities and other amenities you pay extra for on other cruise lines.

The following is a brief overview of some of these lines using guest feedback as well as the cruise lines' own advertising.

Azamara Club Cruises® - focuses on Destination Immersion®—so you can stay longer and experience more ports of call on every voyage. 

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Travel through scenic waterways and enjoy prime docking locations—two great advantages of their boutique-style award-winning ships. You’ll find crew members who are genuinely friendly and happy to make you feel welcome, and with a maximum of 690 guests, they quickly learn your name, tastes, and preferences, too.

The Crystal Experience® - is a heady combination of indulgent services and enriching discovery. Since their debut in 1990, they have been elevating and redefining the traditional notions of luxury cruising with innovative excellence, exquisitely designed ships, bold itineraries, customized destination immersion, and the highest standards of personalized service at sea and on land. A proven leader in evolving the guest experience to stay ahead of global luxury travel trends, they were the first cruise line to partner with celebrity chefs as well as a Wine & Food Festival. Crystal was the first luxury line to transit the Northwest Passage and offer four distinct World Cruise options in 2018

Cunard - has been one of, if not the most famous ocean liners in the world for over a century and a half defining sophisticated ocean travel. Her present royal court — Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth carries guests across the great oceans and to the far points of the globe in unparalleled style.

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The most glamorous names of yesterday and today have made champagne toasts in her salons, waltzed the night away in her grand ballrooms, savored grand feasts of the finest flavors in her dining rooms, and whiled away hours immersed in fascinating conversation on her decks. 

Oceania Cruises - is the world’s largest upper premium cruise line. Finest Cuisine at Sea, Destination Immersion Specialists, and Intimate & Luxurious Ships are the pillars that define Oceania Cruises’ five-star product, positioning the line as the cruise company of choice for travelers seeking a truly refined and casually elegant travel experience.

Oceania is renowned for its gourmet culinary program inspired by Master Chef Jacques Pépin and its array of destination-rich itineraries spanning the globe. They offer cruises, which call on more than 330 ports across Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, the South Pacific and the Americas. Spacious and elegant accommodations aboard the 684-guest Regatta, Insignia and Nautica and the 1,250-guest Marina and Riviera invite guests to explore the world in unparalleled comfort and style.

Paul Gauguin Cruises - is a luxury small ship experience in the South Pacific. They are the longest operating cruise line in French Polynesia offering an immersive all-inclusive luxury vacation.

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Paul Gauguin was built specifically to sail the waters of Tahiti, French Polynesia, and the South Pacific and is the longest continually operating year-round luxury cruise ship in this destination. No other luxury ship in history has offered this level of single-destination focus and expertise on a year-round basis for such an extended period of time.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises® - is recognized as one of the world's premier luxury lines with features such as 6-star, all-suite, all-balcony ships and superior space and service ratios. They offer imaginative itineraries, unique shore excursions and land tours, and the other innovative services for their discerning guests. 

The Regent Seven Seas Cruises fleet includes all-suite, all-balcony, 700-guest ships Seven Seas Voyager and Seven Seas Mariner; and the all-suite, 90% balcony Seven Seas Navigator. In 2016, they were joined by the most luxurious ship ever built, the all-balcony, all-suite 750-guest Seven Seas Explorer.

Seaborne - offers a cruise experience that is luxurious, yet relaxed -- elegant, yet casual -- sumptuous, yet understated. Their intimate ships visit the most desirable destinations worldwide, sailing to the heart of landmark cities, as well as to hidden gems where larger vessels cannot follow.

Seabourn pioneered small-ship, ultra-luxury cruising, and continues to represent the pinnacle of that unique style of travel. Its fleet of intimate, all-suite ships, carrying between 450 to 600 guests each, sail to the world’s most desirable destinations at their peak seasons. Onboard, guests are served by an award-winning crew numbering nearly as many as the guests, hand-picked and extensively trained to deliver Seabourn’s signature style of thoughtful, personalized and heartfelt hospitality that offers a wealth of amenities made possible by the highest ratio of space per guest in the cruise industry.

Viking Ocean Cruises - boasts a fleet of new, all-veranda, state-of-the-art ocean ships. Each ship carries only 930 guests and is engineered at a scale that allows direct access to most ports. Classified by Cruise Critic as “small ships,” the fleet features understated elegance and modern Scandinavian design.

The Viking Star was awarded the cruise industry’s highest honors, including being named Best New Ocean Ship and receiving a 5-star rating by the editors of Cruise Critic. This is the highest rating in the mid-size ship category in Berlitz Cruising & Cruise Ships 2016, and being heralded by CNN as the “world’s best new cruise ship.”

Several cruise lines in the luxury category are considered to be more “yachting than cruising.”

SeaDream’s - The expression “yachting” is not only a statement about size; it describes a lifestyle aboard the intimate vessels. Chic and stylish, 56-stateroom twin vessels are favored for their elegant informality, state-of-the-art facilities, personal service provided by a crew of 95, inclusive, open bar and gratuities, ocean view accommodations, luxury spa and world-class cuisine.

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The twin, elegant mega-yachts SeaDream I & II have received numerous awards, honors, and accolades from authoritative travel publications and various industry organizations.

Whether anchored off an un-crowded sugar sand beach in the British Virgin Islands or docked in the historic port of Dubrovnik, Croatia, SeaDream ensures each guest’s needs and wishes are attended to. Enjoy dining al fresco at a private table for two, watch movies under the stars or take a complimentary mountain bikes ashore for private exploration.

Itineraries also include the Caribbean and the Mediterranean; featuring the smaller, less crowded yachting harbors that larger ships cannot visit. Many voyages include overnight stays in ports like St. Bart’s and St. Tropez.

Silversea Cruises - visit secluded harbors where only yachts can tie up right at the pier while others must anchor offshore.

Silversea has nine small luxury ships that sail to over 800 destinations worldwide on all seven continents and offers a world of European elegance and casual sophistication. All accommodations are ocean view suites with butler service in every category –and include wines, spirits, and gratuities - inclusive on all Silversea Expedition ships with wines, spirits and gratuities and shore excursions included along with air included on select voyages.  

Star Clippers - operates three of the world’s largest and tallest sailing vessels, the Royal Clipper, the Star Clipper and the Star Flyer. The ships offer passengers the activities, amenities, and atmosphere of a private yacht.

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The ships are under full wind power and sail as much as possible. The glorious masts and billowing sails make it clear from the start that you are embarking on a special voyage.  Star Clippers operates three of the world’s largest and tallest sailing vessels, the Royal Clipper, the Star Clipper and the Star Flyer. On Star Clippers you are encouraged to help raise the sails, learn how to tie knots, visit the open bridge, lay in the bowsprit net-suspended above the rushing sea, and most unique of all, climb the mast to the Crow’s Nest for a stunning panoramic view.  Or just relax in casual elegance and enjoy sailing the high seas.

Windstar’s - fleet of 6 recently renovated yachts, composed of 3 sailing yachts and three power yachts, all carry less than 300 guests and have become a market leader in small ship cruising.  Luxury yachts offer an unforgettable, intimate cruising experience featuring gourmet cuisine, exceptional service, and the world’s most unique ports of call in over 50 nations and 100 ports throughout Europe, the South Pacific, the Caribbean, and Central America.

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Windstar pioneered the concept of “casual elegance” in luxury cruising. Guests appreciate the understated attitude and relaxed feeling found on-board. Jackets and ties may be left at home. Fresh, gourmet menus are prepared by Windstar’s expert culinary team, catering to the varied lifestyles of savvy travelers. Each yacht offers a lounge, spa, fitness center, casino, pool, hot tub, shop, library, watersports platform and expansive teak decks.

Luxury liners are definitely a step up from the traditional “popular” cruise lines, but when you consider the upgrades in service and the truly “all-inclusive” amenities offered, it may be worth the extra up-front cost. The next time you are planning a cruise vacation, ask your travel agent to provide quotes for both so you can compare and make an informed decision.

What is your dream vacation destination? Chances are there is a cruise ship going that way!

Visit my website www.landorseatravel.com or call me 1-844-TRAVEL and discover the allure of cruising!

Mike Franks is an owner/operator of Cruise Planners in Orange Park, FL. Cruise Planners specializes in ocean and river cruises, land tours and resort vacations.