The best luxury cruise lines – according to our readers

As part of the annual Readers’ Choice Awards, Cruise Passenger readers came together to vote on their favourite luxury cruise lines. Luxury cruising continues to be on the rise in Australia, with more and more luxury ships coming to our shores.

Luxury cruising can wear many hats, with some taking to smaller ships in order to escape to far corners of Antarctica or the Kimberley, and others opting for lines that bring together glamour and indulgence.

Sailing on a luxury ship means longer and more immersive itineraries, often an all-inclusive experience or close to it, more intimate and personal service, elevated dining and much more.

For an idea of which line might be right for you, read on below to see which Aussies picked out as the best luxury ships this year.

Why take a luxury cruise?

• Smaller ship sizes mean that the ships can visit different ports, and you can explore all sorts of areas that you wouldn’t be able to go on a big ship. There’s also more variation in itineraries, such as longer cruises, more overnight or late-night stays and more. Luxury lines that double as expedition lines can also take you to remote regions like Antarctica or the Arctic.
• Service and inclusions are on another level compared to any other type of cruising. While not every line is necessarily 100% all-inclusive, you can expect dedicated and intimate service, and for most of what you consume to already be included.
• You can avoid kids and crowds and instead enjoy a much more tranquil experience on the seas.
• Entertainment is more geared towards adults and sophisticated activities, rather than family fun.
• You deserve to splurge! These cruises don’t necessarily come cheap, but you can give yourself a true bucket list experience by sailing with these lines and many who think they’re trying it as a one-time thing quickly become hooked.

What to know before sailing

• Finding a sailing on a luxury ship is very different to a big cruise line like Carnival or Royal. These ships generally don’t homeport out of Australia; rather, they sail to different destinations, such as between Australia and Asia, or Australia and the South Pacific. Therefore, it’s better to research what itineraries are available and see which routes or ports are most interesting to you.
• These cruises aren’t packed with endless activities and things to do like bigger ships. Instead, be ready to take it slower and absorb a different type of experience.
• Be ready to dress up! On a luxury cruise, people aren’t necessarily dressed to the nines every second of the cruise, but more elegant and formal wear is expected. Plus, dressing up to dine is all part of the fun.
• Dining works differently; you generally don’t have to pre-schedule eating like on larger ships, there’s rather open seating and you can eat whenever you like.

Tips for booking

• Book ahead of time! These ships are small and take fewer people and generally sell out much faster than other types of cruises. Plan to make sure you don’t miss out.
• Consider a travel advisor. Given that these cruises are a big investment, you want to make sure you get it right, and there’s no one better than a qualified cruise expert to help you with this.
• Consider a package. Many luxury lines offer ‘door-to-door’ options that include flights, airport transfers and more. If you’re cruising from overseas, this offers you a chance to get everything booked all at once.

1. Regent Seven Seas

Regent Seven Seas won out as number one for luxury lines, and really, it should come as a surprise to no one. 

Regent generally sits at a price point above even other luxury lines, but cruisers all around the world seem to agree that they’re the best at what they do, which is delivering all-inclusive, ultra-luxury experiences. 

Regent Seven Seas doesn’t rest on its laurels either; in 2024, we saw the debut of Seven Seas Grandeur, and this year Seven Seas Prestige will arrive on the scene as well. 

These sailings feature unlimited included shore excursions, including exclusive epicurean tours where famed local chefs guide you through the local markets and then prepare you a dish using the very same ingredients they’ve just picked out. 

Onboard ships, you’ll find anything from unique and curated art collections to a Faberge egg worth more than US$1 million and marble-coated crystal forests. 

Every luxury line has its own unique offerings and charm, but for now, Regent Seven Seas continues to play in a league of its own. 

2. Scenic Ocean Cruises 

The Australian-owned Scenic brand continues to thrill guests across rivers, oceans and remote expedition destinations.  

While Scenic also offers complete ultra-luxury like Regent Seven Seas, it varies quite differently in that it leans more towards expedition-style cruising, finding a blend between elegance and exploration. 

Therefore, while you can expect six-star luxury, you can also expect high-level, new-generation expedition technology like submarines and onboard helicopters. As well as this, you can expect zodiacs, kayaks, electric bikes, paddleboards and more. 

These ships are built for polar exploration and can take you to almost any corner of the world, giving you the unique chance to view places like Antarctica, the Arctic, Patagonia, the Kimberley and more while enjoying ultra-luxury service onboard. 

While Regent might be in its own league when it comes to pure luxury, when it comes to bringing together ultra-luxury with expedition cruising, Scenic is in its own league as well. 

3. Oceania Cruises

Once upon a time, Oceania would have been considered to be an upper-premium line, but it continues to evolve its offering, including a notable shift into adults-only cruising, and now stands firmly as one of the most beloved luxury cruise lines. 

Part of this transition has included upping its inclusions, with the new ‘Your World Included’ package that brings unlimited wifi, specialty dining, specialty beverages and some included alcohol into the price of the fare.

Despite these rises in quality, Oceania still offers better value than many other luxury lines, with cruises available to be snapped up from around $300 a day if you stumble on a good deal. 

Oceania also can’t be mentioned without touching on its dining. The cruise line prides itself on original and innovative dining experiences, often placing a special emphasis on the destination of the ship and merging the lines between sea and shore. 

4. Silversea 

Silversea is another line that merges ultra-luxury cruising with expedition adventures. Ships like Silver Nova that come through Australian waters provide some of the most elegant and aesthetically pleasing ships to come across our shores. 

Silversea’s two key strengths lie in service and dining. The service is exceptional, with butler service offered across the ship and a close to 1:1 crew-to-guest ratio that means you’re taken care of at all times.

Dining is equally a highlight with Silversea’s SALT (Sea and Land Taste) program that expands across local meals made with ingredients fresh from port, cooking classes based around regional traditions and techniques, craft cocktails in the SALT bar, special shore excursions built around local life and cuisine and even lectures from food experts.

5. Ponant 

Ponant is a luxury cruise line from France, whose ships can be found anywhere from the Arctic to the Amazon. You can expect all-inclusive luxury, as well as decked-out expedition facilities, that can take you from sipping your tea straight into landing on Antarctic ice. 

Ponant leans into its expedition fleet, focusing on longer and immersive itineraries, with its ships purpose-built for exploration. This might mean that your cabin is slightly more compact than other luxury lines, but your adventure is even more remote and rugged. 

If your absolute priority is getting into untouched wilderness, spotting wildlife and adventuring into the unknown, then Ponant is a great pick. 

6. Crystal Cruises

What separates Crystal from other luxury lines is a reduced focus on expedition and adventure, and more of a look towards glamour and indulgence. Picture large ballrooms, glamorous furnishings and a bit more attention on things like nightlife and activities. 

It also has to be mentioned that Crystal Cruises is the only line that has a Nobu onboard. 

Something that you’ll commonly hear from Crystal fans is that Crystal’s crew offers a level of service that is unmatched. Guests commonly report feeling cared for and attended to in a way they never have before. 

Crystal Cruises is more similar to Regent in offering a traditional and glamorous luxury cruise experience.

7. Cunard Line

Cunard is an interesting candidate on the list, given that many of its cruises are hundreds or even thousands of dollars cheaper than those of other cruise lines on the list.

However, while Cunard’s ships blend luxury with other more accessible cabins, their more luxurious spaces and accommodations go toe-to-toe with more established luxury lines.

Cunard has its famous Grill class, considered a ‘ship-within-a-ship’, filled with exclusive spaces and suites for guests who are looking for something extra luxurious. 

This is unique as it offers the chance to experience luxury cruising while within the overall ambience and energy of a larger ship. This means you can find more in the way of socialising and activities, but still return to your luxury retreat within the ship. 

Cunard is all about royalty and history, and this can be felt within the ship, offering something similar to Regent or Crystal in terms of prioritising glamour and the feeling of a more traditional and dressed-up cruise experience.