Why choose a luxury cruise

Many things make a cruise super-special in the rarified world of luxury cruising. It’s an all-inclusive, immersive experience.

Your cruise, premium beverages, access to specialty restaurants, fine dining, shore excursions, gratuities and butler service are all included in the price of a luxury cruise – you usually don’t have to pay any extra charges.

There is also the recognition that makes the experience even more special. For instance, when you board the ship, it may be the crew’s instant recall of your name or the type of coffee you like, that makes the experience so appealing. It is often this unexpected touch that sets the tone of your holiday at sea.

Luxury ships often have butlers who are only too willing to serve guests canapes and champagne before sunset. They will also attend to your laundry and dry-cleaning needs. What sets a luxury line apart from the others is the attention to detail. Whether you are sailing with Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Silversea or Ponant, you’ll find they are all well-oiled machines where your every whim and fancy is attended to by a professionally trained butler or crew member. 

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The ship’s design and features

Most new ships, such as Silversea’s Silver Nova, have better-designed, spacious suites with a more polished finish. You will find marble bathrooms with double wash basins, and shower facilities plus a bath. Toiletries are high-end products and bathrobes are made of quality fabrics. Suites have good internet connections.

Some luxury ships love to make a design statement with expensive art collections and specially commissioned works displayed on board. For instance, Regent Seven Seas Cruises has a custom-made bronze and hand-cast bonsai cherry tree sculpture by Savoy Studios at the entrance to its specialty restaurant Pacific Rim on board Seven Seas Grandeur.

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Suites and Amenities

Luxury ships tend to be small and mid-sized – usually under 1000 passengers – with all-suite, all-balcony accommodation. Ponant’s Le Soleal typically accommodates up to 264 guests, while Crystal Symphony hosts up to 606. Suites are also more spacious with a separate sitting area. That’s why some guests pay top dollar for the best suites available – they love to stay in the owner’s suite which they can call home for the duration of the holiday. After all, it is the most exclusive address at sea with an in-suite spa. For instance, the Regent suite on Regent Seven Seas Cruises will easily cost you up to US$12,000 a night. 

Luxury ships are also equipped with better exercise and spa facilities such as saunas, temperature-controlled hydro-pools, larger gyms and bigger swimming pools. There’s often a café serving complimentary tea, coffee and small bites. There are more open spaces to read and a library with a wide selection of glossy, coffee-table books and novels. You can also learn how to cook from the very best chefs on board.

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Service

Luxury ships have well-trained crews that provide personalised service – they will remember your name and your favourite cocktail and anticipate your needs. The main difference between luxury and mainstream lines is that there is a nearly 1:1 passenger-to-crew ratio, allowing for more personalised service. On mainstream cruise lines, there is generally one staff member for every two to three guests. 

Don’t be surprised if you return to your suite and find your shoes polished and dress pressed – free laundry is often part of the service. Butlers can also unpack your suitcase and attend to all your laundry and dry-cleaning needs. They are also on hand to make bookings for your shore excursions and fine dining reservations, as well as serve you caviar and champagne before sunset. 

Besides exceptional cuisine, specialty dining is also accompanied by professionally trained waitstaff who know how to enhance your dining experience. Sommeliers are also keen to recommend fine wine pairings. 

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The Food 

Food and drink are two very important components that set a luxury cruise apart from the rest. So special attention is paid to the choice of fine dining with options drawing on some of the best American steakhouses and specially curated French dining experiences, such as Chartreuse on Regent Seven Seas Cruises.

Silversea has S.A.L.T. (Sea and Land Taste) on board its newer ships, specialising in offering well-honed dishes with ingredients specially picked from the cruise’s destinations. Guests can taste their way through regional specialties for a deeper understanding of the local cultures.

The in-house, free-flowing champagne is from top-shelf brands and not to be sniffed at – usually French and very drinkable. The same applies to the choice of whisky, brandy or after-dinner digestives.

Crystal ships have the award-winning UMI UMA dining created by legendary Master Chef Nobuyuki Matsuhisa who specialises in exotic dishes drawn from Oriental traditions.

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Entertainment

Some luxury lines have also spent a lot of money to include some of the best entertainment at sea with big West End or Broadway performances keeping guests entertained after dinner. Others, such as Silversea, employ violinists, pianists, and saxophonists to play at bars accompanying cocktail hours and pre-dinner drinks.

If you have to ask why some people pay top dollar for a luxury cruise, it is because they love to be pampered. And who doesn’t? But pampering comes with a hefty price tag.