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In a very real sense, every cruise is a "luxury cruise."
Regardless of the ship or its destination, the elements of
fun, freedom and adventure plus a heavy measure of indulgent
service combine to create a "luxury" vacation. But
to receive the stars and accolades - to be ranked among the
best of the best - a true luxury cruise line must possess
these qualities:
- Product. Ship facilities, stateroom amenities,
staff-to-guest ratios, cuisine, entertainment, staff training
programs, onboard activities, shipboard ambiance - all must
consistently measure up to the highest possible standards
of creative excellence.
- Itinerary. The standard, mainstream cruise itineraries
just won't cut it for the luxury cruise traveler. The luxury
lines are consistently among the first to explore new regions
- Asia, the Antarctic, the Galapagos, Africa. They're also
among the first to include exotic ports of call and the
most creative pre- and post-cruise shore excursions such
as African safaris and game drives, ballooning above France's
wine country or exploring the mysteries of Angkor Wat.
- Service. An uncompromising willingness to please;
attentive yet unobtrusive service; and that special, unmistakable,
genuinely personal touch - all are hallmarks of service
excellence and all must be present in spades on a luxury
cruise ship!
- Sophistication. 5-star restaurants and world-class
resorts ooze it - that air of understated elegance and smart
sophistication. A cruise line - even one with excellence
in product and service - cannot hope to win luxury-paying
customers without a true sense of sophistication.
- Price. Only when all of the above are properly
in place can the luxury price tag be added. For comparison
reasons, frequent cruisers and industry experts usually
express cruise prices as "per diems" - the cost
per person, per day. Whereas "Mainstream" cruise
line average per diems hover in the $75 to $160 range, "Luxury"
line per diems start at around $$250 and up - way up!
Here then is our list of cruise lines that go the distance
to provide a true, luxury cruise experience.
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Per diems average from $550 to $650. "All-inclusive" cruising
- service gratuities, soft beverages, some or all spirits
and maybe even a special shore excursion - are included
in the cruise price. |
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The Yachts of Seabourn
The "Yachts of Seabourn" are truly more akin to private yachts
than mainstream cruise ships. Accommodating just 208 guests,
Seabourn's all-suite vessels visit worldwide ports many larger
ships can't access. Seabourn guests are well-traveled and appreciate
the line's personal, uncompromising level of service provided
in even the most remote corners of the world. |
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Silversea
The "elite of the elite" award goes to Silversea. Their mid-sized,
all-suite ships look, feel and act like ships twice their size,
including full scale production shows rivaling the best at sea
- yet their privileged guests enjoy unparalleled onboard cuisine,
sophistication and intimacy. With a distinctive Italian flair,
Silversea focuses on longer cruise itineraries with more leisurely
port stays at unique destinations. And to underscore their link
to authentic luxury Italian style and sophistication, Silversea
chose internationally renowned actress, model and author Isabella
Rossellini as their Ambassador! |
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Regent
Regent Seven Seas Cruises - the first cruise line to offer all-suite,
all-balcony ships and the first with Le Cordon Bleu® restaurants
at sea! And discerning travelers appreciate the "all-inclusive"
value of Regent; gratuities, non-alcoholic beverages, wines
at dinner, and in-suite bar set-up, at no extra cost! |
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Per Diems average $350 to $600. This is an all-inclusive
"plus" category with gratuities, soft beverages, spirits,
and daily, fully-escorted shore excursions included in
the cruise fare. |
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Celebrity Xpedition
Celebrity is an excellent "mainstream" cruise line.
But this one vessel, Celebrity Xpedition, occupies a luxury
market all its own. Touring the Galapagos Islands year round
aboard a 98-guest "yacht," Celebrity Xpedition offers
a unique "luxury/adventure" cruise experience. The
daily juxtaposition of isolation and indulgence is without match
for the cruise traveler. |
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Per diems average from $250 to $350. Service levels are
extremely high, often rivaling those of the "Ultra-Luxury"
lines and upper-category stateroom amenities do rival
those of "Ultra-Luxury" cruise lines. Gratuities and alcoholic
beverages are not included in the cruise fare. |
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Crystal
Refined and elegant, with sparkling sophistication, Crystal
is one of just two cruise lines to successfully combine "luxury"
with "large." If you prefer the space, onboard facilities
and broad-ranging activities offered only aboard a large ship,
but simply won't compromise with mainstream mediocrity, here's
your line! Their cuisine is of special note with celebrated
chef Nobu Matsuhisa lending his culinary talents aboard Crystal
Serenity and Wolfgang Puck offering menu selections from one
of his premier California eateries, Chinois. |
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Cunard (Suites & Penthouses)
The "most famous ocean liners in the world" are also among the
world's most luxurious liners. Guests who choose the upper-category
suites aboard this "big-ship" line are indulged with almost
every imaginable service, including exclusive dining in their
famous "grill" restaurants. Aboard the celebrated QM2, Mediterranean
cuisine achieves its absolute peak within the alternative dining
venue, Todd English, namesake of the award-winning chef. |
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Oceania
If the concept of a floating country club appeals to you, this
may be your match among the "mid-size" luxury lines. With an
emphasis on cuisine excellence, distinctive stateroom amenities
and unique cruise itineraries, Oceania proudly offers itself
as the cruise industry's "entry-level" luxury line - quite an
accomplishment for a young cruise company! And to introduce
the world to their fleet of three, identical ships - and to
ease travel to their worldwide destinations - Oceania offers
an aggressive program of "free air" travel, too! |
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Windstar
With white sails unfurled, the sleek, high-tech beauty of these
"yachts" has no match. Occupying a unique niche, Windstar ships
- voted the world's "Most Romantic" by Porthole Magazine
- appeal to those who seek sophistication without even a trace
of pretentiousness. Windstar guests leave their tuxes and jewelry
at home, but bring along their love for adventure, fine dining
and personal service! |
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Let's Travel China
If you’re like most luxury cruise travelers, you probably have an almost unquenchable curiosity for world travel - particularly to exotic destinations such as China. Why not combine your Asia cruise itinerary with a luxurious 19-night/20-day tour of China? With Let’s Travel China’s “Grand 19” tour, you’ll explore Beijing’s Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square, visit the Great Wall of China, Xian’s Terracotta Warriors, scenic Guilin and the Li River region, the monasteries of Tibet, the Giant Pandas, enjoy a 3-night Yangtze River cruise and have time to shop in Suzhou and Shanghai. |
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Of course you do! Here are a few tips on how to
snap up that luxury cruise at a shamefully low rate!
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Ten Top
Deals!
Check our Home Page for our 10 Top Deals - and
check it every day! It's not just for mainstream
cruise deals. If there's a gem-of-a-deal on a
luxury line, we'll post it fast in our Top
Ten Deals! |
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Promotions.
Click below to view current, Extra-Savings Promotional
Fares:
Oceania:
“Promotions”
Seabourn: “Club Signature Value
Savings”
Silversea: “Silver Sailing
Programme”
Windstar:
“Cruise Specials”
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Transatlantic Sailings.
Mostof these luxury lines - with the exception
of Cunard, whose "ocean liners" actually
specialize in this market - offer transatlantic
cruises twice a year, in the spring and fall.
They're "repositioning" sailings - ships
which are repositioning from their winter season
in the Caribbean to their summer homes in Europe
(and back again in the fall). Most luxury lines
offer extended itineraries which include ports
on both sides of the Atlantic - at enormously
reduced prices! Check our
Destination
pages under "Transatlantic"
for these cruises. |
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Short Getaways.
Though VERY rare among these luxury lines, there's
the occasional short cruise getaway that's planted
firmly within your vacation budget. Check either
our Destination
pages or our Find
a Cruise pages for these special bargains!
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