Why Upgrade to an Ultra Luxury Cruise?
We cruise a lot, and so when someone asks the question, which is the best cruise line, or what was your best ever cruise – this is a difficult question to answer. The choice for cruisers is becoming more complex, with so many itineraries and cruise lines to choose from. They are all fighting for your business, so there is much to consider when deciding which cruise line to choose.
Everything from mainstream Mega ships to River Cruises, Expedition Cruises and more. So when considering your trip, why not consider the Ultra Luxury Cruise Option? While a luxury cruise is certainly not a small financial investment, the per-person per-day cruise fare, compared with other holiday options, can represent good value when considering all that is included.
So before you book with your usual cruise line, do some calculations. Work out your cruise fare, plus any extras like gratuities, wine and soft drinks packages, specialty restaurant fees, internet, laundry services, etc. etc. Now, compare that with the fare of the luxury cruise lines on your wish list remembering that most of them are all-inclusive.
You might be shocked to find what you’re paying on a mega-ship isn’t a lot different than what you would pay for sailing on a high-end Ultra Luxury Cruise ship. Don’t be lured by the headline price of a cruise as you may be in for a shock when you get your final bill on the last day. All those drinks and extras soon add up.
But remember it’s not always just about the money. If you’re planning a special occasion, anniversary or just treating yourselves, you might want to consider the Ultra Luxury Cruise option. Ultra Luxury Cruise ships are generally smaller than the large mega-ships, and there is a real focus on personalised service and are normally All Inclusive Cruises.
Ultra Luxury Cruise lines like Seabourn, Silversea Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Paul Gauguin Cruises, SeaDream Yacht Club Cruises and the new Viking Ocean Cruises are all worth a look.
Pre and Post-Cruise Add-Ons
All travellers expect a well organised transfer from the airport to port and back. Ultra Luxury cruise lines do this well, unlike the mass-market lines that normally just offer transfer by bus. Luxury lines tend to feature a range of options — from taxis, private cars and buses. Some Cruise Lines Like Regent Seven Seas Cruises Offer More of everything
Ultra Luxury lines also tend to have superb pre- and post-cruise land packages enabling you can make the most of your time away. Regent Seven Seas Cruises featured the Rocky Mountaineer train as a pre-cruise option from Banff to Vancouver and then picked up a cruise ship In Vancouver. We did this trip and it was stunning and very well organized with tour escorts all the way.
Cabins, Staterooms and Suites
Cabins, Staterooms or Suites – whatever you want to call them are generally more extensive and more comfortable on luxury cruise lines. The reality is that most offer all-suite accommodation with ocean views, and most suites or staterooms have a balcony. Generally, there are few, if any, inside staterooms.
Luxury staterooms and suites are spacious, with high-end toiletries from Bulgari, L’Occitane, and Mouton Brown. Flat-screen TVs, en-suite Wi-Fi and iPod docking stations are pretty standard.
All Beverages Included
Most ultra-luxury cruise lines include soft and alcoholic drinks as part of the cruise fare. As there are no extra charges, you can enjoy a selection of wines, beers, cocktails, spirits, or soft drinks in bars, restaurants, and lounges. It is even possible to have a fully stocked minibar in your suite and have a bottle of champagne waiting for you on arrival.
Exceptional Service Levels
Luxury Cruise Lines lines like Seabourn, Silversea, Crystal and Regent Seven Seas take pride in their crew and have in depth training programs for their crew members. On the smaller ships of Seabourn and SeaDream, cabin stewards, bar staff and waiters all seem to know your name from the moment you set foot onboard.
This is all part of their training. Being treated as an individual and not just one of a huge number of guests on a ship really allows you to chill out – which after all is what it is all about.
Gratuities Included
Despite the high levels of personalised service, you will experience on Luxury Cruise Lines, many include gratuities in the cruise fare, so you are not required to tip staff members individually. However, if someone goes above and beyond the call of duty, you can consistently offer something extra by donating to the crew fund. Cruise Ship gratuities are complex but are always much appreciated by the crew.
Fine Dining and Speciality Restaurants
Many renowned chefs have teamed with luxury lines to develop memorable dining experiences. The luxury hotel and restaurant brand Relais & Chateaux created Le Champagne for Silversea ships, and Nobu Matsuhisa created the Japanese-centric Silk Road for Crystal Cruises.
Seabourn has partnered with world-renowned American Chef Thomas Keller, the chef and proprietor of The French Laundry, Per Se, Ad Hoc, Bouchon, Bouchon Bakery, La Calenda , The Surf Club Restaurant and TAK Room.
Beyond great chefs, you’ll find that most maitre d’s will be happy to arrange special requests for specific meals for special occasions. Watch out for Food and Wine Themed cruises like the Seabourn Food and Wine Cruises, as these can be extremely good with celebrity chefs competing against each other for bragging rights!
Stunning Itineraries
he smaller ships generally found with the Luxury Cruise Lines have a big advantage over their larger counterparts. They can get into ports that the large ships can’t or won’t go to. That’s why you will find some really fabulous itineraries. In the Mediterranean this means exclusive ports such as Portofino and Capri. Exotic stops like Indonesia’s Komodo Island in southeast Asia. Antartica is another destination for smaller ships.
In a growing trend, luxury cruise lines also tend to overnight in popular ports so travellers can get a real sense of the place and enjoy both daytime and night-time shore excursions. Azamara Club Cruises do this well with their AzAmazining Evenings program
Exclusive Events and Shoreside Experiences
One of the most compelling things about the ultra luxury cruise lines is the importance they place on developing special shore events for passengers.
In addition to regular excursions, lines such Seabourn and Azamara host complimentary outings, just for clients. One of Seabourn’s most famous complimentary excursions is a lovely evening of classical music at The Great Theatre at Ephesus in Turkey which we enjoyed immensely.
No Photographers to Bother You
One of our favourites…. Unlike the mega ships, the onboard photographers are not trying to snap you every few minutes and charge a fortune for the prints. In fact, Ultra Luxury Lines tend not to have onboard photographers. A much more civilised experience.
Getting to Meet Interesting People
On big ships, you may be dining at the same table with the same people every day. You may get to know them quite well! Big ships with freestyle dining and alternative restaurants, suffer the problem of often meeting people once and then never see them again.
On a smaller Ultra Luxury Cruise Ships, you tend to be mix more easily, and more often. Many cruisers make friendships that last long after the journey.
Ultra Luxury Cruising – Are You Convinced?
So there you have it. Hopefully, some helpful tips will help you transition to your first Ultra Luxury Cruise. Once you have tried it, you will never look back!
Enjoy Your Cruising….
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