In the days of the Titanic, cruising was either a golden opportunity for the privileged few in first class, or the only means of traveling around the world in third class. Either way, few people had the opportunity to see the world as we do today. Cruising has seen a massive growth in popularity recently, offering amazing itineraries on mega ships at very affordable prices. A cruise is within the budget of most people who are considering a vacation, with destinations as widespread as Alaska, Australia and New Zealand, traversing the Panama Canal, rounding Cape Horn, port-hopping in the Mediterranean or exploring the Far East. However, not all cruises are cut-price, tip-driven experiences. So what do you get for paying more for a luxury cruise?
Luxury cruises tend to be on much smaller ships, giving a more personal and friendly feeling. Some luxury cruises are on exclusive private yachts, complete with traditional masts and sails such as Windstar. These more exclusive ships will have less than 450 passengers rather than the 4000 passengers and crew packed onto the mega cruise ships. Staffing is also more personal, with a ratio of one member of staff or more per guest. Accommodation is not a compact cabin but all-suite accommodation where a balcony and outside view is not an option, but the norm. These smaller ships lose out though as they do not have the extensive shopping ‘streets’ and often do not have a casino onboard.
The gourmet cuisine on a high-end luxury cruise will not be mass-produced in the galley, but will be from menus created by celebrity chefs and prepared by cordon bleu chefs. Premium wines and champagnes are served, with correspondingly higher prices.
Crystal Cruises are in a league of their own with sister ships Symphony and Harmony offering world cruises, unique ports of call not open to larger ships, celebrated authors and lecturers onboard as speakers, renowned entertainers and many complimentary events and excursions included in the cruise. Voted the World’s Best Cruise Line by Condé Nast readers, Crystal won the title against stiff competition. One of the unique features about Crystal cruises is the onboard casino. Appropriately named ‘Caesars at Sea’, it is modeled on the lavish Las Vegas casino of the same name. With 80 slots on the Symphony and even more on the Harmony, the gaming tables feature blackjack, craps and roulette and more unusually 3-card poker, Texas Hold’Em and mini baccarat as well as video poker machines. Also unique to Crystal casinos, complimentary drinks are offered to players, as in Las Vegas.
Other leading luxury cruise lines include the Regent Seven Seas, formerly owned by Radisson; Silversea which has just four ships in its fleet and ResidenSea. All these ships have small casinos with a limited number of tables and slots for gaming.
For those who want an elite cruising experience with like-minded passengers on smaller vessels, look out for these luxury cruise lines, but expect to pay many times more for your luxury cruise experience.
