Why spend money on a luxury cruise? The answer is as simple as why buy steak instead of hamburger. Smaller ships with better crew to guest ratios can pamper your every whim. Better linens, toiletries, gourmet restaurants, and premium spirits are all included. The unique ports and tours with shorter lines are just some of the perks. And did I mention some cabins come with butlers?

Regent Seven Seas

Regent offers something no other cruise line does – everything is included! Air (sometimes business class!), cruise, excursions and of course food, gratuities, beverages and deluxe accommodations are standard.

Currently their fleet has 5 ships, and each holds from 490 to 700 passengers in all-suite cabins, keeping your cruise intimate and relaxed. Like most luxury lines, these types of ships usually are not round trip, but instead go from port-to-port, creating a world cruise. They specialize in longer cruise, some up to 120 days! And with people anxious to get out there, they have opened up booking into 2024. Unheard of to be that far out!

Like most lines, Regent offers specials year round to various locales.

 Viking Ocean Cruises

Long known for their river cruises, Viking has conquered the seas.

Renowned not just for service and amenities, but the food is also world class.  Their attention to detail at every turn, will make you feel like royalty.

Like most of these luxury lines, the smaller ships (none over 1000 passengers) for destinations not accessible by the larger lines. This gives you better access to those spots you see in travel shows or only read about in magazines. And adding a new ship yearly since 2015- the fleet is large enough to take you where your imagination can’t, and does it is modern style.

Despite all this luxury, they remain a great value with incredible deals throughout the year. – even post pandemic sailings that are selling fast

Honestly- you have to give props to one of PBS’s major sponsors- they know quality.

Silversea

This line began in 1994 in Monaco and pioneered the all-inclusive marketing concept. Today, it is part of the family of lines owned by Royal Caribbean. This will allow bigger and better upgrades, more specials, and additions to the fleet that a small independent company cannot match.

But don’t let the past fool you. Founder, Roberto Mattioli, wanted to have the finest line out there and built a fleet of nine vessels for 100-540 passengers., assuring the top attention to every guest. Royal will continue this vision on an even grander scale. The newest ship, the Muse, allows 596 guests to sail.

In addition to luxury cruising, Sliversea has upscale expedition cruising with UNESCO ratings to exotic spots like Antarctica, Galapagos and the Artic. See those parts of the world you never thought you could, and still maintain comfort in style and grace. All these expedition cruise follow the most eco-friendly guidelines possible. The goal to to share these wonders , never harm them.

Seabourn

Like the other high-end lines, luxury is the name of the game with Seabourn. Voted the best small cruise line by such publications as Condé Nast and Travel & Leisure, with awards for service and culinary excellence, this line is favored by many a traveler.

Unlike some of the other small-ship luxury lines, Seabourn cruises to all the popular ports and countries around the world and does it in top-of-the-line accommodations -boasting all-suites and almost all having verandas ( you know, fancy sailing for balconies!). The fleet is made up of 458-600 passengers ships.

And despite the fleets relatively small size, you can be sure its huge on class, stateliness and pampering of it’s guests.

The Rest  – Azamara, Oceania, Cunard

There is another class of ship I refer to as mid-range luxury. These are larger, with many of the services associated with higher-end ships but without full all-inclusive amenities. They are larger, but still less than half the size of the full standard cruise ships.

Azamara (from the Royal Caribbean family) and Oceania (from Norwegian) are a great way to enjoy a bit of the better life without all the expense.

Cunard’s White Star line is known for ships like the Queen Mary, Queen Victoria and the Queen Elizabeth. In keeping with their renowned reputation for old-world values, these ships are the last that still insist on traditional formal wear for their formal nights in keeping with the cruising in days gone by where grace and charm were everything.

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