Luxury Cruises

Silversea is known for pampering its guests.  One of the more formal luxury lines, Silversea has maintained some of the traditions from the golden age of cruising while adapting to what cruisers want today.  Silversea Formal nights are ship-wide events with guests breaking out their finest attire. 

Silversea is the only luxury cruise line to offer butler service for every suite.  Butlers are at guests’ call to assist with any needs and happily serve course by course in-room dining on an impeccably set table. 

Silversea has recently introduced a new door-to-door option which arranges everything from when a guest steps out of their home’s front door until they return.  All transfers, flights, pre-cruise hotels and select excursions in each port are included in the cruise fare. 

Silversea’s Italian heritage influences everything from interior design to onboard menus.  Silversea also prides itself on connecting with the unique local cultures of the ports it visits.  The S.A.L.T program (Sea And Land Taste) on a few of its newer ships provides food, drinks, cooking classes, and excursions to better experience each port’s uniqueness.  Every Silversea ship will have a few locally influenced menu items available in other dining venues, as well. 

Silversea offers the only Relais & Chateaux restaurant on the seas in addition to a variety of other dining options.  The poolside grill transforms into the restaurant Hot Rocks at night, where guests can cook their own steaks, giant prawns and other items on volcanic rocks heated to 400C – a unique dining experience not to be missed.  Silversea has three expedition ships and in 2020 launched the Silver Origin, designed specifically to sail the Galapagos Islands. 

One of the most all-inclusive of the ultra-luxury lines, Regent Seven Seas Cruises includes almost everything in its cruise fares.  Its all-inclusive offering includes business air for international flights, transfers between airports and ships, shore excursions, pre-night hotel stays (suite class dependent), and even valet laundry service.

Life onboard a Regent ship has a relaxed, country club feel, but with all the expected luxury amenities for guests.  This more casual vibe carries throughout its ships, with an informal country club dress code during the day.  On formal nights guests can dress in their formal wear or opt for Elegant Casual instead.  RSSC passengers tend to be mature and educated working professionals. 

On Regent’s three newer ships, it has added the Culinary Arts Center and Culinary Arts Kitchen program where guests can take a variety of culinary classes.  Regent allows guests to make an advanced reservation for the first dinner at each of the specialty restaurants.

Regent offers a variety of suite options, with guests in concierge class or higher receiving even more onboard benefits and guests in penthouse class or above receiving butler service.

Explora Journeys is a new entrant to the ultra-luxury cruise segment.  Its first ship will launch in 2023 with plans for a total of six ships by 2028.  Explora Journeys has been built from the ground up to cater to the needs of the luxury travelers, both cruisers and non-cruisers alike. 

Each of Explora Journeys ships will host up to 900 guests.  These larger ships will offer guests more dining venues, lounges, bars, pools, and other common areas than offered by many of the other luxury lines

On board, the ships will have a sophisticated European design, with the intent to feel more like a luxury hotel than a ship.  The relaxed European theme includes no formal nights, with attire expectations similar to many land-based 5-star resorts. While focused on catering to discerning adult travelers, the ships are also family friendly, with 78 connecting suites and kids programs/clubs offered during school holiday/break seasons.

All suites are ocean facing and include a private outdoor terrace.  Larger suites, called “Residences”, include butler service.  Explora Journeys offers many benefits, including low single supplements for solo travelers and discounts for pre-paying and booking multiple back-to-back journeys. 

Explora Journeys is also hyper focused on offering unparalleled Destination Experiences at each stopping point along its curated ocean journeys.  Ranging from over-the-top Beyond Boundaries experiences to more familiar small group Boundless Discoveries experiences, they are sure to thrill their participants.

Read our blog post – Spotlight on Explora Journeys

The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection (RCYC) is the first luxury cruise line to be launched by an established luxury hotel/resort brand.  RCYC is positioned to bring the luxury experience of Ritz-Carlton to the seas.  Its ships are designed to provide a yachting experience that is both upscale and relaxed, aligning with the overall Ritz-Carlton brand and experience. 

RCYC launched its first ship, Evrima (which means “Discovery” in Greek) in 2022, with plans for at least two more yachts in the near future. 

Life on board should feel very comfortable to guests of Ritz-Carlton and other luxury hotel brands. RCYC brings the exemplary service Ritz-Carlton is known for to their ships.  It is very focused on the first-time cruiser and helping guests of land-based resorts add cruising to their travel repertoire.  But it will also feel comfortable to seasoned cruisers, especially those who like a casual small ship experience.

All suites on board have a private terrace.  Larger suites add features such as a wall of windows (“The View” suites) or multiple levels (“The 2-Story Loft” suites).  RCYC offers an all-inclusive experience, which includes dining in multiple onboard restaurants, beverages (alcohol and non-alcohol) both in-suite and throughout the ship, a dedicated Personal Concierge, Wi-Fi, and gratuities.  Guests looking for the ultimate dining experience can make a reservation at S.E.A., a specialty dining experience designed by Chef Sven Elverfeld of Aqua, the three Michelin-starred restaurant at The Ritz-Carlton® in Wolfsburg. 

As with land-based Ritz-Carlton properties RCYC is very family friendly, each ship has a Ritz-Kids program and dedicated space on the ship for younger guests. 

Dress on board tends to be country club/yacht casual and there are no scheduled formal nights.

A half-step down from the ultra-luxury lines and a step up from premium lines, Oceania caters to those who want a more a la carte upscale experience.  Oceania’s cruise only fares are partially inclusive, covering food, non-alcoholic beverages, Wi-Fi and at least one reservation at each specialty restaurant.  Guests can upgrade to the OLife Choice fares to add economy air and a choice of several included excursions, a beverage package or a ship-board credit.  Guests who do not select the beverage package will pay al la carte for alcoholic beverages at bars and restaurants on board.  Oceania also does not include crew gratuities in its base fares, but will add these to guests’ final bills. 

Guests on Oceania tend to be younger than on the ultra-luxury lines but still well-traveled.  Oceania also tends to attract foodies, drawn by Oceania’s gourmet dining, cooking classes and culinary shore excursions.  On Oceania’s newer ships, it offers La Reserve by Wine Spectator with gourmet food and premium wine pairings (the six-course Dom Pérignon Experience pairs courses with vintage Dom Pérignon).  Guests looking to really splurge can opt to reserve a private dinner at Privée (for up to 10 privileged guests). Dress on board tends to be country club casual with guests choosing whether they want to participate in formal nights. 

Positioning itself between the ultra-luxury lines and premium lines, Azamara has designed a cruise offering that is mostly all-inclusive.  Similar to the ultra-luxury lines, Azamara includes meals, beverages at restaurants and bars (both non-alcoholic and standard beers/wines/liquors), and gratuities in the base fares.  However, unlike the ultra-luxury lines, in-room alcoholic beverages and Wi-Fi are not included, and Azamara charges an extra fee to dine in its 3 premium dining venues.  Guests opting for suites gain additional perks, including butler service, laundry service, free premium dining, afternoon tea service and in-room beverages.

Azamara guests tend to be slightly younger than guests on the other luxury/ultra-luxury lines.  Azamara is known for having an energic vibe on board, with many shipboard and seaside activates. 

Azamara is known for a few unique activities.  One night on each cruise, it hosts a White Nights party on the pool deck.  Guests come dressed head to toe in whatever white outfits they can pull together (outfits run the gamut from white suits to white khaki pants and white shirts) and party into the early night.  Most cruise itineraries of 7+ nights also include an AzAmazing Evenings event on shore.  Each of these events is unique and an incredible experience for the guests.

Dress on board tends to be country club casual and there are no scheduled formal nights, though many guests will wear all white to the White Nights.