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And if you don’t want to pick a single destination, there’s always the option to book a grand voyage or world cruise, which can last up to 168 days and cost upwards of $100,000. Nearly every voyage on Paul Gauguin Cruises stops for a day at the line’s own private islet, Motu Mahana, where guests can enjoy snorkeling, watersports, a barbeque, full bar service, and Polynesian hospitality. All cabins have sea views and almost 70% have balconies, but they don't come close in terms of sumptuousness when stacked up against the other luxury lines on this list. Seabourn has three ship sizes -- the 354-passenger vessels, the 600-passenger ships and an expedition ship, Seabourn Venture, which carries 264 passengers.
Best Small Ship Luxury Cruise: Seabourn, Seabourn Venture
And like most lines operating in this sector, there is a strong emphasis on food with two stand-out restaurants on most ships -- Pacific Rim and Chartreuse, as well as great steak house, Prime 7. The company also offers lengthy globe-spanning World Cruises, including one from Auckland, New Zealand, to Vancouver, Canada, which visits 15 countries in 93 days. Treat yourself to a decadent spa treatment or wellness-themed shore excursion, or take care of your body with complimentary fitness classes and plant-based menus at onboard restaurants. That's the approach upscale cruise line Oceania Cruises takes with its fleet of seven 648- to 1,238-passenger ships (the last of which, Oceania Vista, just debuted in May 2023 and is its most elegant yet). Sometimes luxury means more space to spread out and multiple onboard options for a truly outstanding meal. Couples can embrace the romance of the region by participating in a Polynesian blessing ceremony.
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection
Their ships sail everywhere from Antarctica to the Caribbean, often calling in at smaller ports for exclusive excursions. Launched just a year ago, Seabourn Venture is a 264-passenger ship with 122 seafront-suite-only accommodations (some even multiple stories) and the first expedition iteration for the cruise line. With an elegant design that reads yacht-like, Venture includes fine dining options and formal supper nights, as well as complimentary caviar and champagne on-demand, for a true luxury cruise experience.
Seabourn — 79.6%
Expect outstanding service, with penthouse suites and above enjoying the services of a butler. Back in the day, luxury was fairly simple to define -- luxury meant formality, so-called "white glove" service and elegance. 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. I'm also the founder of @littleackbook, a Nantucket-based publication and concierge service.
The company previously welcomed kids aged 12 and older to cruise, but as of 2018, all guests must be 18 or older to board. Viking, a cruise line based in Basel, Switzerland, is no stranger to accolades. News' luxury list last year too — despite Chairman Torstein Hagen indicating he isn't a fan of the word. Here, average daily rates accounted for 60% of scores, while expert, traveler and health ratings accounted for the other 40%. Cruise lines with average daily rates of $300 or more did not qualify for this category. TSA prohibited itemsWhen it comes to packing for a flight, we are often well-versed in the restrictions placed on carry-on items, particularly the infamous liquid rule.
Each of the fleet’s yachts, which carry between 458 and 600 guests, is outfitted with ocean-view suites only, so no matter what excursion you book, you can anticipate traveling in luxury style with a picturesque backdrop. You can also look forward to mouth-watering cuisine courtesy of renowned chef Thomas Keller. For the handful of cruise lines operating in the luxury space, they are constantly redefining and tweaking their luxury offering depending on who their passengers are. Luxury Travel Intelligence (LTI), a members-only organization which provides travel reporting for affluent voyagers, has released their list of the best luxury cruise lines of 2019. Larger than many other luxury ships, MSC World Europa manages to host nearly 7,000 passengers while still keeping everyone serviced and entertained with over 1,400 crew members. With plenty of pools and 14 different hot tubs, and more unique amenities like a casino, arcade, brewery, Formula 1 simulator, water park, roller rink and more, there’s truly something for everyone onboard.
These Are the Best Cruise Lines for Adults in 2024 Condé Nast Traveler - Condé Nast Traveler
These Are the Best Cruise Lines for Adults in 2024 Condé Nast Traveler.
Posted: Wed, 28 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Attentive crew cater to guests’ every whim, while the food is exceptional, not least the imaginative vegetarian and vegan dishes. Life onboard is relaxed and informal, with the dress code best described as chic. Every voyage includes a decadent Champagne & Caviar Splash party, either around the pool or in the surf, with free-flowing bubbles. You can swim off the ship too and, for a touch of romance, sleep on deck under a duvet and a canopy of stars.
Luxury Cruise Lines That Will Make You Want to Ditch Plane Travel Forever
Scenic is unique in that it not only offers luxury ocean cruises but river cruises, too. The brand prides itself on operating and innovating with guest experience in mind. As such, all of its cruises have so much to offer voyagers, from extensive dining, leisure, and wellness options to striking design elements that will make you want to stay aboard for much longer than your itinerary. It has ships ranging in size from 50 to 304 suites, offering voyagers the option of a more intimate experience as they travel the globe.
The line's two newest ships, the 264-passenger Seabourn Venture and Seabourn Pursuit, are built with a tough "polar class" design to operate in the ice-filled waters of the Arctic and Antarctica. Dining is over the top at the restaurants, such as the retro-chic steakhouses with menus created by famed chef Thomas Keller (of French Laundry fame). When you tire of prime beef, order lobster thermidor or sink into the delicious comfort of Keller's roast chicken.
Viking’s nine near-identical, adult-only ships carry 930 passengers and embody Scandi chic with their stylish, soothing interiors, gorgeous light-filled lounges and spacious cabins, every one of which has a private veranda. Highlights include an infinity pool on the aft deck, a superb spa with free access to the hydro pool, saunas and steam rooms, and the Wintergarden — a sunlit space with a retractable roof for warm days. Torshavn, an intimate little nightclub, is as fun as any jazz club you’ll find ashore. The package includes all dining, drinks with meals, wi-fi, crew tips, flights and transfers, and an excursion in every port. As stunning as land-locked adventures and beautiful hotels can be, there’s something to be said about sailing the seas. Fortunately for us, nowadays, there are cruise ships that far exceed the family-fun agenda of the classic companies so often advertised on TV.
The newer ships are stunning, offering an understated, tasteful style of luxury, and are at the larger end of the luxury scale, carrying 596 passengers. In 2009, the company launched the Seabourn Odyssey, which only carries 458 guests and, according to the company's website, offers the "highest ratio of space per guest in the cruise industry." There's also a cool Arts Cafe, where coffee- and tea-drinkers can feed their habit while noshing healthy bites amid funky art. Fares include transfers, complimentary wine and beer at lunch and dinner, no-fee specialty restaurants and free unlimited internet. Foodies might also wish to pay a visit to the well-equipped Culinary Center onboard Oceania Riviera (as well as on twin sister ship Oceania Marina).
Windstar Cruises operates a six-ship fleet dedicated to extraordinary sailing experiences. With small ships that carry less than 350 passengers, Windstar prides itself on offering guests intimate, aesthetic, unforgettable voyages spanning from Asia and Australia to Italy and Iceland. It’s also worth mentioning that the luxury cruise line took it to the next level with its spa, Aurora Spa. The cruise line also offers a butler service in each Penthouse suite, with 24-hour room service.
A fleet of contemporary small ships offering intuitive, all-inclusive service, sumptuous all-suite accommodation and superb dining. Seabourn offers un-stuffy luxury with a vibe that’s more superyacht than luxury cruise ship. The line has some impressive partnerships, not least with the renowned chef Thomas Keller, Sir Tim Rice and the wellness guru Dr Andrew Weil.
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