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I'm also the founder of @littleackbook, a Nantucket-based publication and concierge service. If you like spending the evening outdoors but prefer to sleep inside, check out the line's Starlit Movies series. On balmy evenings, the crew pops copious amounts of popcorn for cruisers who show up on the Pool Deck to enjoy a film as part of this program. If you're willing to pay, up to 24 passengers a night can enjoy a seven-course meal at La Reserve by Wine Spectator.
Best Shore Excursions
A 312-passenger, all-suite vessel, Star Pride feels large enough for small groups where they won’t feel too-close-for-comfort and can have their own privacy, but intimate enough where they can welcome outside connections. And thanks to its size, it’s able to access less-traveled routes and ports that make for an even more memorable experience to enjoy among a group. Plus, there are plenty of dining options (four restaurants including a top-notch Spanish tapas concept that’s a must-try) to enjoy as a group or split up on different evenings. Long gone are the days where overcrowded ships with overstimulating amenities are your only cruising option. They certainly still exist, yes, but now there’s a much stronger and more accessible market for luxury charters. Combining lavish amenities and refined comforts with the thrill of exploration, the best luxury cruises have taken white-glove service to the sea.
Silversea Cruises
Seabourn Ovation also features The Retreat, a private, VIP-access-only outdoor lounge area on Deck 12 that's unique to the Encore Class. A daisy-shaped canopy stretches over The Retreat so you'll find both sun and shade. Fifteen cabanas are available, and come outfitted with flat-screen TVs, Evian misters, a beverage-filled mini-fridge and fresh fruit. The cabanas are conveniently arranged around the hot tub, which is a focal point of The Retreat, but expect a hefty daily fee to use them. Get hands-on cooking experience with a class in The Culinary Center or explore the food culture ashore with a Culinary Discovery Tour. Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours puts the elegance into adventure with its two 228-passenger expedition yachts, Scenic Eclipse and Scenic Eclipse II.
SeaDream II, SeaDream Yacht Club
The package includes all dining, drinks with meals, wi-fi, crew tips, flights and transfers, and an excursion in every port. Cruising doesn’t have to mean enormous floating cities with thousands of passengers — there are plenty of ultra-luxury lines offering adventures on small ships with a much more intimate atmosphere. The best of the best has everything from butler service to helicopter flights, from infinity pools to world class cuisine. Their ships sail everywhere from Antarctica to the Caribbean, often calling in at smaller ports for exclusive excursions. French-owned Ponant operates a fleet of stylish expedition ships, the smartest of which are arguably the six Ponant Explorers, with clever design features — most notably a multisensory underwater viewing lounge.
Luxury Mediterranean Cruises: All You Need to Know - Cruise Critic
Luxury Mediterranean Cruises: All You Need to Know.
Posted: Wed, 10 Apr 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Viking Venus, Viking Ocean Cruises
Sessions are well-attended and often hands-on; if you miss one, you can catch it on-demand on your stateroom TV. Don’t miss the “crew show,” where international staff proudly share cultural traditions and dances. Cruises are booming right now, buoyed partly by the popularity of domestic seacations that hauled in first-time sailors. So much so that Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ 34,000-mile world trip for 2024 sold out in just over two hours, while the adults-only Virgin Voyages, which aims to throw cruise stereotypes overboard, rose to first place in Large Ships. And we’ve brought back last year's new category showcasing the expedition cruises – small, often sustainable vessels with a shoal of scientific experts onboard – that follow in the wake of adventurers such as Sir Ernest Shackleton. Beautiful interiors and intuitive spaces that are designed for the way people want to gather and relax are hallmarks of Seabourn Ovation's indoor and outdoor public areas, which were created by renowned designer Adam D. Tihany.
We love the consistency from ship to ship and cabin to cabin, no matter what level. The first thing you notice about Viking Venus is its open, airy feel and the care put into the design of every space onboard. All accommodations include a veranda, and even the tightest quarters -- the Deluxe Veranda and the Veranda categories -- are comfortably sized at 270 square feet. Larger accommodations include the Penthouse Veranda at 338 square feet, the 405-square-foot Penthouse Junior Suite and the Explorer Suite, which spans 757 to 1,163 square feet, including balcony. Thoughtful touches in all cabins include bedside USB ports, quiet-closing drawers, heated bathroom floors and anti-fog mirrors. Celebrity Beyond, which debuted in 2022, accommodates 3,260 guests has 32 bars and restaurants, like Le Voyage by chef Daniel Boulud, and two-story villas on board.
If you don't get that point at first, look down at the many yards of Carrara marble under your feet, then gaze up at the Czech crystal chandeliers. Or spot the Picassos and Chagalls among your ship's stunning, mostly Latin-focused art collections. For the best in-suite views, book a room at the back of the ship, Kelly Cochrane, executive chef of Regent Seven Seas Cruises tells T+L. These are the best cruise lines in the world, according to the 2023 Readers' Choice Awards.
Viking ships have a large presence in Europe, sailing the Mediterranean and in northern Europe, but also explore the world from Alaska and the Caribbean to Asia and Australia. Foodies will drool over menus overseen by Master Chef Jacques Pepin in all-included venues specializing in French, Italian, Asian and steakhouse cuisine. Sometimes luxury means more space to spread out and multiple onboard options for a truly outstanding meal. Owned by Carnival Corporation, Seabourn's top-of-the-line, 264- to 600-passenger ships deliver comfortable, modern luxury that can be as fancy or casual as you like.
How can you not feel relaxed when you complete the Nordic circuit, which includes time in a sauna, steam room, snow room and thalassotherapy pool? Viking's spa offerings have a natural Nordic blend that makes you feel that Scandinavian hygge, no matter where in the world you are. The real star of the show, however, is Crystal’s exceptional dining, anchored by the only Nobu restaurant at sea, Umi Uma by Nobu Matsuhisa Restaurant and Sushi Bar, which can be found on both ships. Aside from a night at the most luxurious specialty restaurant you can find on a cruise ship, the rest of Crystal’s dining offerings are equally superb, from seasonal dishes at Waterside to classic Italian fare at Osteria D’Ovidio. Spaces inside are contemporary, and the ship is easily one of the best expedition options for adventurous luxury travelers.
On the three newest, Seven Seas Explorer, Seven Seas Splendor and Seven Seas Grandeur everyone stays in a roomy suite with an oversized balcony and marble bathroom. Regent Seven Seas' itineraries are fascinating and diverse, and they include more than 130 overnights so you can truly immerse yourself in local culture. Sailings range from Easter Island to Antarctica and Sydney to Singapore, to Papua New Guinea and Komodo Island, a port-intensive round-Japan cruise with a call in South Korea and South Africa, Namibia and West Africa – just to name a few. If you've got your heart set on a specific region, chances are strong Regent can get you there. I'm a writer, editor and consultant who has covered luxury travel and cruising for the last ten years. Formerly, I was an editor at Departures, Travel + Leisure, Glamour and more, and I now contribute regularly to both Forbes and Forbes Vetted.
All dining, including speciality restaurants, crew tips and a comprehensive menu of cocktails and fine wines is included. You’ll pay extra for premium wines, wi-fi, access to the Retreat (an exclusive alfresco lounge on the top deck) and shore excursions. Azamara’s four mid-sized luxury ships — most recently joined by Azamara Onward, which shares the same DNA as its fleetmates — offer affordable, destination-focused cruising with plenty of flair. Glamorous White Nights deck parties receive rave reviews, while every cruise includes an AzAmazing evening, a spectacular cultural event ashore. You’ll be spoiled with its choice of restaurants, including a grill, Prime C, and a romantic Italian, Aqualina.
With just 56 cabins, travelers and crew get to know each other quickly, and it really does feel like you're traveling on a friend's yacht instead of a cruise ship. Oceania's fares are not as inclusive as some of the small-ship lines mentioned above, but guests can choose a higher-priced fare that is more inclusive with the line's "simply MORE" promotion. These fares include free airfare and airport transfers, complimentary Wi-Fi and a choice of a select number of free excursions, as well as free specialty dining reservations, Champagne and wine.
With 209 crew members on hand to serve 330 passengers, service is top-notch and full of Polynesian hospitality, but all gratuities are already included in your fare. S.A.L.T., a new dining and culinary education concept, brings local tastes on board together with experts who share insight into each dish and beverage. Here are our picks for the top nine luxury cruise lines currently operating. Exquisite cuisine is prepared a la minute and accompanied by pours of fine wines.
Yet prices for Emerald cruises generally are less than what you’d pay on other luxury lines – plus the company regularly offers deals, like a 2-for-1 package. More than just a vacation, luxury cruises are designed to cater to the whims and desires of its discerning guests (caviar and Champagne on-demand, anyone?). Whether you’re traveling as a couple, family, small group, or otherwise, we’ve selected the best luxury cruise options for you.
