Monday, April 1, 2024

The 9 best luxury cruise lines for elegance and exclusivity

what is the nicest cruise line

I particularly love the "Jetsons" futuristic-style design and the multicolored mood lighting. Only solos staying in the solo cabins (via keycards) can access the Studio Lounge, meaning that you and your new solo friends will have the place to yourselves. Still, Norwegian Prima isn't necessarily the best Norwegian Cruise Line ship for you. Whether you'll have a better time on one of the other 18 vessels in the Norwegian fleet will depend a lot on the type of traveler you are. Romantic types will love Windstar's three vessels with sails — a relative rarity.

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Here we list our top picks for the best Norwegian cruise ships for five different types of travelers. Others operate vessels that are as luxurious as any upscale resort found on land. A few small luxury players such as Regent Seven Seas Cruises have ships with lavish suites that'll cost you as much as $11,000 a day. The line’s newest ship, Silver Nova, which holds 728 passengers was ranked as the Best New Luxury Ship. This environmentally-friendly ship, which began its inaugural cruise in August, 2023 is the industry’s first hybrid luxury cruise ship. Regent Seven Seas offers the most "traditional" form of luxury when it comes to the main luxury lines, designed to appeal to an older demographic, reflecting its passenger base.

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But cruise ships -- even the world's most luxurious -- have their own unique personalities and some will be more suited to your vacation style than others. If you've ever dreamed of having your own butler, Silversea is the luxury cruise line for you. Further, Silversea's new culinary program, nicknamed S.A.L.T. (for Sea and Land Taste), brings the taste of destinations on board through cooking classes.

what is the nicest cruise line

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Disney has been named the top cruise line in the Caribbean for the past eight years, according to U.S. To qualify for this category, at least 62% of a cruise line's online traveler reviews must be made by couples. Here, average daily rates accounted for 60% of scores, while expert, traveler and health ratings accounted for the other 40%.

But what’s the difference between an expedition vessel and a discovery one? In many ways, it’s attitude, says Jason Flesher, expedition operations director for the luxury vessels. Available at both bars 24/7 were glass jars of nuts which you self-serve into little bowls. Then there was the display table at the entrance to Lemongrass Restaurant. Presented on it before each meal (bar breakfast) was every dish and wine on the menu, alongside a list of their ingredients.

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Its ships offer a wide variety of specialty dining options, from a food-truck style market with a burger shop, taco shack and sushi bar. Single cruisers on Norwegian have access to a dedicated lounge and meetups where they can mingle with other travelers, too. That’s not to mention all the regular activities and excursions Norwegian offers, from rock climbing and bowling to spa treatments to boxing classes.

Over the next two years, for instance, Norwegian Sun is sailing lots of long voyages out of such less-common home ports as Benoa, Indonesia; Melbourne, Australia; Auckland, New Zealand; Buenos Aires, Argentina; and Papeete, Tahiti. For older travelers looking for a Norwegian ship that isn't filled to the gills with children, Norwegian Sun is the perfect option. A bigger caveat, perhaps, is that these solo cabins have become so popular they often sell out far in advance and at prices that aren't much better than booking a cabin for two. Norwegian Epic was the first Norwegian ship with an exclusive solos zone, and it was such a hit the line later added them to eight more vessels. Outside of The Haven, other areas on these ships have a more elegant feel of the sort you find in the fleets of Norwegian's higher-end sister brands, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises — albeit on a bigger scale. That's all on top of dedicated children's play areas, pools and family-friendly entertainment that will keep your family busy from morning to night.

Best cruise lines for luxury

Silversea Cruises is also known for its industry-leading array of off-the-beaten-path itineraries. A giant of cruising in Europe, Switzerland-based MSC Cruises is making a big play for North Americans with newer, bigger ships sailing year-round from Florida to the Caribbean and Bahamas. And let's not forget that the cruise line offers its signature Champagne and Caviar Splash on Caribbean voyages.

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Golden said the WBA Hall of Fame honoree's 50 river "longships" are "light-filled floating boutique hotels." When you choose to apply (and are approved) for a new credit card through our site, we may receive compensation from our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information. Viking does not like to call itself a luxury cruise line, but we'd definitely put it in that category for the inclusive fares, fine dining and smart design of its ocean-going ships. Like fine European hotels or the fanciest boutique properties, the ships of the best luxury cruise lines are designed to appeal to people who seek — and can afford — an elegant style of travel.

No. 6 Oceania Cruises also got a better score this year, rising two places, as numerous voters mentioned the high quality of the line's onboard cuisine. "In our experience with eight different cruise lines," said one well-traveled voter, "Oceania consistently has the best food." Complimentary choices on Silver Moon include Asian-fusion Indochine, Italian La Terrazza, seafood grill Atlantide, tapas restaurant and bar Silver Note, pizza place Spaccanapoli, and The Grill, a grill-your-own meat venue. During the day, La Terrazza is the ship's buffet, offering breakfast and lunch. Likewise, Atlantide is the closest to a main dining room you'll find, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner for those who prefer a sit-down option. The first thing you notice about Viking Venus is its open, airy feel and the care put into the design of every space onboard.

Suites are also a highlight, with more than enough space plus personal butlers and large bathrooms complete with bathtubs and separate showers. All cabins also have a neat hidden TV feature -- flat-screen televisions are embedded into huge mirrors, and when they're turned off, you can't even see them. Seabourn's newest ship, Seabourn Ovation, is the second in the line's Encore Class, the next generation of Seabourn's popular Odyssey-class ships.

Flesher says the Scenic Eclipse ships create an environment in which guests can “discover” while enjoying a sense of wonder and play. The reality is, we don’t do ‘expedition’,” he says, adding examples of his own far more hardship-laden exploits in some of the world’s most inaccessible and inhospitable landscapes that qualify as expedition. Independent exploration is definitely worth considering if you're keen to linger longer than if you're tied to a guided group. In Siem Reap we made the decision to visit the Ta Promh temple solo and didn't regret it. These incredibly photogenic ruins are famous for being where Angelina Jolie filmed scenes from "Tomb Raider" and we wanted extra time to soak it all up and take pictures. Everything that passed our lips was delicious, from omelettes and fruit at breakfast (the papaya and watermelon were sensational) to the waiter-served lunches and dinners.

Holland America Line and Princess Cruises are regarded as the Alaska cruise experts, with the most ships in the region and years of experience under their belts. Holland America's suite occupants get perks like exclusive breakfasts in the Pinnacle Grill, free laundry and dry cleaning, priority boarding for tenders and access to the private Neptune Lounge that stocks snacks throughout the day. Crystal offers a limited number of Alaska cruises, but if you snag one, expect the ultimate in luxurious cruising. Fares are all-inclusive of tips, Wi-Fi, most specialty dining and some excursions.

Besides the long list of fare inclusions, there are other reasons to consider a luxury Alaska cruise. Luxury cruise lines sailing to Alaska often call on more off-the-beaten path places. For example, Seabourn routinely calls on Wrangell, as well as the Inian Islands on its Alaska itineraries, neither of which are common stops for most mainstream Alaskan cruise lines.

The vessels also are packed with eateries, bars, casinos and showrooms. Tradition long has been a touchstone for this storied line, which dates to 1873 and is known for carefully crafted, globe-circling itineraries on midsize ships. Meet-and-greets with Disney characters, Disney-themed shows and the most extensive kiddie fun zones on the high seas are just a few of the family-friendly allures of a Disney cruise.

On board, guests enjoy five-star French and Polynesian cuisine, with all beverages complimentary throughout the ship and in your in-room minifridge. To make the most of the aquamarine waters, complimentary water sports, such as paddleboarding and kayaking, are available straight from the ship's marina and every guest receives snorkel gear for use during the cruise, free of charge. If you want to show off your heirloom jewels, go ahead, but on most nights, a jacket is optional in the ship's restaurants. If you prefer not to dress up for formal night, you can still eat well at casual alternatives.

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