You have worked hard for your money and want to relax and enjoy it with the best holiday possible.

Booking a cruise has crossed your mind, but the idea of a mega-ship with thousands of other passengers doesn’t ‘rock your boat’.  AND you don’t know if the price tag for a luxury boutique cruise is really worth it.

With cruise lines like, Crystal Cruises, Seabourne Cruise Line, Regent Seven Seas and Azamara Club Cruises continaully refining their ships and itineraries, the chance of finding the cruise line that is right for you is pretty good.  Below are a number of inclusions and features that make a luxury cruise a true luxury!

PERSONALISED SERVICE

In order to maintain a high standard of excellence, luxury cruise lines like Seabourn Cruise Line and Silversea Cruises have developed demanding crew training programmes. Crew members are trained to anticipate the needs and desires of the passengers.  No request is too big or too small.  Luxury cruise lines also maintain a very high crew to passenger ratio, in most cases it is almost 1:1.

Crew members will quickly learn and remember your name, and don’t be surprised if you find your favourite pre-dinner drink is in front of you each evening before you even ask.

FINE DINING

On luxury cruise ships, fine dining = Michelin Star standard. If you have any special wishes, get in touch with the maître d’, who will be more than happy to accommodate your request. And whether it’s local specialties or delicacies from far away, the chef can craft a meal fit to your specifications if you just let them know in advance.

Started by Crystal Cruises years ago, it’s a common trend now that luxury cruise lines team up with celebrity chefs to deliver great memories and even greater flavours. If you happen to be sailing on Crystal Serenity, Japanese-Peruvian fusion restaurant Umi Uma is serving up chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s specialties. Silversea passengers should not miss Le Champagne: Its membership in Relais & Chateaux, a global fellowship of luxury hotels and restaurants, promises world-class cuisine.

DRINKS ARE INCLUDED

At the very least you will find that soft drinks, bottled water, coffee & tea are included as well as wine and beer at lunch and dinner.  Some cruise lines, such as Seaborne, will include all of your drinks, anytime, anywhere!  Which makes shouting a round of drinks with your newly found cruise friends very affordable.

Depending on the cruise line and/or your stateroom category, suites on luxury ships are equipped with mini-bars stocked with soft drinks, beer, and a bottle of wine or Champagne as well as state-of-the-art espresso machines.  Often you will find them magically reflecting your personal preferences by the ever attentive staff.

INCLUDED EXCURSIONS AND SPECIAL EVENTS

Some luxury cruise lines provide free shore excursions in every port, and/or hold exclusive events. Azamara Club Cruises, for example, hosts an “AzAmazing Evening” once every cruise. This could be a trip to the Mikhailovsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, one of the oldest opera and ballet houses in Russia. Seabourn hosts a similar event on select itineraries.

However, if you want a bit more freedom and some time away from the traditional guided tours, Silversea Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises provide their passengers with free transportation from the port to the town centre.

LAVISH SUITES

Stateroom and suites on luxury cruise ships are generally more spacious than what you’d find on a mega-ship. And to make your suite even sweeter, it may be outfitted with a vanity, a granite or marble bathroom with a full bathtub and shower, and designer toiletries.

Inside cabins will be impossible to find on a luxury cruise ship. All accommodations on board are oceanview suites, and a majority of them are outfitted with a balcony. If you’re cruising picturesque destinations like the Mediteraine, Alaska, or the fords of Norwegian and New Zealand, access to the outdoors from your stateroom will be a must.

NO TIPPING REQUIRED

On cruise lines such as Azamara Club Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Seabourn Cruise Line, and Silversea Cruises, tipping is neither required nor expected.  However, if a crew member has gone above and beyond in delivering personalised service, you are more than welcome to stop by the reception desk to make a donation to the crew fund.

SECLUDED PORTS OF CALL

Because luxury cruise lines operate smaller vessels, they can reach destinations that  larger ships can’t. Passengers can come ashore to remote ports in Alaska, hidden marinas in the western Mediterranean, and small islands in Southeast Asia.

Expect to spend more time, even overnight in ports at more popular destinations. Allowing you to explore during the day and night. And if you’re wondering where the crowds are, luxury cruise lines usually plan to visit popular ports when they aren’t overflowing with tourists from mainstream cruise lines.

HOW DO YOU CHOOSE

Deciding between which cruise line, which ship, which itinerary can be daunting.  Don’t waste your valuable time trying to work out pros and cons of every option available.  Talk to a travel consultant who either specialises in cruise holidays or who has a special interest in cruises.  Go prepared with with what is important to you in a holiday, what type of holiday you enjoy and places and experiences you are interested in…then let them do the hard work for you!  

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