Is The Cruise Value For Luxury
The key advantage Regent Seven Seas has over its land-based hotel rivals is the feeling of value while on holiday. Regent Seven Seas confidently claims to have the most inclusive offering at sea, which certainly stacks up when comparing it to luxury hotels on land. All dining, branded drinks and fine wines are included as standard, so at the end of an evening of cocktails and fine dining, there is not even so much as a room bill to sign.
It is quite possible to check-out having never signed a room bill, as there are few additional charges. Short of organising a private guide and driver , a cooking lesson or spa treatment, you will see an absence of prices advertised anywhere on board, and therefore none of those common and unsubtle notices to entice you to indulge and spend. While enjoying the hospitality on board, you really do have an appreciation for the excellent value-for-money provided.
What Are The Best Cruise Lines For Adults
Most Luxurious According To The Critics: Europa 2
The launch of the 500-guest Europa 2 in 2013 was eagerly anticipated bythose in the know, as it marked German cruise line Hapag-Lloyd’sentry into the international market. At the time of launch theoriginal 400-guest Europa had the highest rating of any ship in thenoted Berlitz Guide, so the bar was high, but for once the sequelwas even better than the original.
Europa 2 brings a fresh and contemporary look to cruising, withlight-filled public spaces, elegant suites , andan inviting combination of blonde woods and muted earthy tones, thedefinition of ‘Scandi chic’. It’s no surprise that Europa 2 has nowusurped her predecessor, acclaimed by the Berlitz Guide as the bestcruise ship in the world.
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Best Small Ships: Silversea
If youre ready to be completely pampered, Silverseas five-star service, smaller ships, and all-inclusive pricing is difficult to beat. Onboard, passengers enjoy free-flowing wines, in-suite dining, gourmet cuisine, enrichment lectures, 24-hour butler service, and included gratuities. Since most Silversea ships carry less than 300 guests, the company is a hybrid between yachting and cruising. Silverseas entertainment is very relaxed, so expect to unwind in luxurious lounges or in the onboard spa. There is no shortage of dining choices on Silversea vessels, ranging from intimate venues serving Asian fusion to open-air patios highlighting regional specialties.
Extravagant Sailaway Parties On Royal Clipper
The details:;Carrying just 227 adventurous sailors on swashbuckling Caribbean adventures, Royal Clipper is the worlds biggest, and we say, most beautiful square-rigged ship. With three pools, plenty of sunbathing space on her sun-warmed teak decks, a smart restaurant and an al fresco bar, Royal Clipper offers all the romance of travel under sail without sacrificing creature comforts. Complete with Edwardian touches, faux fireplaces and plenty of polished brass, Royal Clipper has plenty of character. Its propelled along by 56,000 feet of billowing sails and has a loyal following of keen sailors and boat owners. Indulge in one of 14 deluxe suites on the Main Deck and lie in the big nets either side of the bowsprit; its one of the best places to spot dolphins racing the ship.
Best for: People who arent big fans of cruising but love sailing this is the worlds largest full-rigged sailing ship.;Avoid if: Youve got any mobility issues. There are four decks and no elevators so getting around could prove tricky.
The Sunday Times cruise editor says: Dont miss;Sailaway, all the more exciting in the sultry Caribbean. Passengers gather on the foredeck to watch the crew raising the sails, the ships sailing anthem, Vangelis Conquest of Paradise, blasting across the open decks as the wind picks up and land fades into the distance.
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Small Ship Line #: Australis
Some of the most dramatic landscapes in the world can be found in Patagonias Tierra del Fuego, and Australis takes its passengers right into the heart of them aboard the all-inclusive Ventus Australis or the Stella Australis. Each day, passengers disembark their ship and navigate the icy waters in zodiacs, getting up close and personal with glaciers and penguins along the way. It doesnt get more off-the-beaten-path than this.
What Makes A Which Recommended Provider Cruise Line
Which? Recommended Providers are the cream of the crop and, as a minimum, we only consider giving the accolade to cruise lines that achieve a customer score of 70% or above.;
Thats not all. We know that pricing transparency is important, so we only give the award to the companies that provide clear information about gratuities, excursions and drinks at the booking stage. After all, it’s hard for customers to compare prices if they can’t find these details before parting with their cash. If the companies fall down in more than one area, theyre not eligible to be Which? Recommended Providers, whatever score they receive in the survey. ;
Similarly, a cruise company can only be a WRP if it is committed to refunding customers promptly for any cancelled cruises. Neither Azamara or Seabourn could make this commitment for bookings cancelled due to COVID-19, so both have had their WRP status removed for 2021.
Which? is independent, you can be sure that our recommendations are influenced only by our survey results. ;We’re not influenced by third parties and we don’t accept freebies from product manufacturers, retailers. or providers.
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Small Ship Line #1: Silversea Cruises
Silversea’s five expedition ships stop in the Caribbean, the South Pacific, Europe, Africa, the Galápagos, and Antarctica on shorter duration sailings, but they also offer around-the-world itineraries for an international clientele. Off-the-beaten-path excursions make for once-in-a-lifetime experiences, like penguin spotting in Antarctica or private catamaran tours in tropical locales. In September 2019, Silversea completed its first journey through the Northwest Passagea monumental featwith the Silver Explorer, a 144-passenger expedition vessel. The fleet was joined by the new Silver Origin, a Galapagos-specific ship, in 2020.
Crystal Esprit Crystal Cruises
About the Ship:Esprit is Crystal‘s first yacht, and while it’s not new, the line did an amazing job refurbishing the ship before launching it in 2015. It’s now one of the most contemporary and comfy ships at sea, feeling much more like a boutique hotel than a yacht. Even the smallest suites — which range from 223 to 280 square feet — feel spacious, and all accommodations feature an interactive bedside iPad that lets you set an alarm, order room service, learn about the ship and more. Even though the ship only caters to 62 passengers, there are several dining venues, including The Yacht Club, Patio Cafe and Terrace for alfresco breakfasts. Each restaurant offers dine anytime open seating.
For sun worshippers, Esprit offers a beautiful sun deck as well as a retractable marina that’s stocked with water skis, wakeboards, paddleboards, ocean kayaks , Skidoo Jet Skis and snorkel gear.
About the Cruise Line: This foray into ultra-small ship cruising allows Crystal to focus on some of its strengths: customized but unobtrusive service, and incredible cuisine paired with the world’s finest wine. They’ve translated the traditional Crystal experience and improved upon it for individuals that love attentive service on a very small ship. Esprit is getting rave reviews and it paves the way for Crystal’s first new-build yacht, Endeavour, which will start sailing in 2020.
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Small Ship Line #: Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Sailing with only 490 guests, the Seven Seas Navigator takes its all-inclusive promise seriously, offering unlimited shore excursions, open bars with premium wines , unlimited Wi-Fi, and dining in specialty restaurants. The ship sails all over the world, spending time in Asia Pacific, North America, and Europe on week-long to three-month-long sailings.
Is Norwegian Or Carnival Better
Our Pick: Norwegian While Carnivals standard cabins are big, the options are less innovative. Norwegian is great at trendsetting, with entertainment from Blue Man Group and Second City. On the other hand, Carnival has always excelled at providing a party atmosphere, with big discos and packed piano bars.
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Medium Ship Line #: Cunard
While Cunards Queen Mary 2 fits more than 2,600 passengersand a number of cats and dogson board, her sister ships, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria only have a capacity of about 2,000 passengers. Though theyre quite similar in layout, the QE and the QV differ in design. Both nod to the historic ocean liners of the early 20th century, but the QE takes on a bolder Art Deco vibe, while the QV features more subdued yet equally elegant decor. Guests on board both ships are likely to partake in afternoon tea before donning a glamorous gown for dinner.
Large Ship Line #: Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Cruise Lines is all about good family fun at a pretty affordable price point. The largest cruise line in the world in terms of number of annual passengers as well as fleet count, it has 24 ships that sail North America and Europe, with about half of them having a capacity between 2,500 and 3,900 guests. Carnival is known for its fun upper decks that are akin to an amusement park at sea, between water slides, ropes courses, mini-golf, and attractions like SkyRide, where guests pedal a hanging vehicle around a suspended track.;
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Worst: American Cruise Lines
American Cruise Lines specializes in river cruises that tour the historic waterways of the United States with their fleet of 7 small cruise ships. Occupancy ranges from between 150-50 passengers depending on vessel so whatever ship youre guaranteed an intimate cruising experience. While the staterooms are described as some of the largest in the industry, the primary complaint with American Cruise Lines is the extremely expensive rates. You could easily enjoy a luxury-level ocean cruise for less cost and get a longer experience. Perhaps this is one of the reasons for a low 3 star customer rating from Cruiseline.com; for this price guests expect a lot and unfortunately its just not there.
Jaw Dropping Pictures Of The Most Luxurious Cruise Ship In The World
When you want a cruising experience like no other, you want to book passage on one of the most luxurious ships taking to the worlds oceans. There are, of course, plenty of options for this, and many of them will do you just fine. However, there are a few boats that really deserve your attention, ones that take the idea of cruise ship luxury to the next level. One of those is called the Seven Seas Explorer, and its absolutely one of the most luxurious cruise ships out there! It seriously is a cut above.
The Seven Seas Explorer is operated by Regent Cruises, and it sails itineraries around the world throughout the year. Regardless of the ports of call, though, every passenger aboard this vessel is treated to the very best. In the 23 jaw-dropping pictures that follow, were going to show you exactly what makes this incredible ship so luxurious. We think youll agree with us that its simply one of the best, and were willing to bet that after taking a closer look, you just might be booking your next cruising vacation aboard her! So, lets check her out!
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Most Luxurious Expedition Ship: Scenic Eclipse
When Scenic revealed the specifications of Scenic Eclipse, their first discovery yacht,they ruffled a few cruise industry feathers. Many wondered how aship of just 200 guests could offer so many dining choices , along with a spa, lounge, theatre,plus a submarine and two helicopters.
When she finally launched in 2019 we were thrilled to see ScenicEclipse deliver on all this and more, with all-balconyaccommodation and a sleek and stylish interior that makes thisice-class expedition vessel just as suited to the yachting ports ofthe Mediterranean as the ice-filled bays of Antarctica.
Uniworlds Ss Maria Theresa
The S.S. Maria Theresa is a 443ft-long vessel dedicated to Austrian empress Maria Theresa and Viennas royal palace.
Tributes to the empress can be found in every corner of the ship, which has been decorated in 18th century style and features golden chandeliers and marble staircases, as well as a large-scale portrait of Maria Theresa herself.
Staterooms boast lavish padded fabric wall coverings, period-style furnishings and English Savoir beds draped in Egyptian cotton bed linens.
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Saga Review Which Recommended Provider
Saga, which offers small-scale ocean cruises exclusively for the over-50s, is a new WRP for 2021. In the past, concerns over the transparency of its excursion prices have prevented us from recommending it, but it has made significant improvements in this area this year, without losing any of what makes its cruises so excellent. Customer service, quality of food and value for money are all second-to-none.
, or read our full Saga review for more information.
Antarctic Adventures With Ocean Endeavour
The details:;;Expansive decks meet panoramic lounges on Ocean Endeavour, one of the Antarctics most impressive cruise liners. Youll be treated to complimentary yoga and stretching classes, an exclusive polar photography course and a series of lectures from onboard experts on Antarcticas history, geology and biology.
Best for: Relaxation paired with adventure. The state-of-the-art ship is focused on health and wellness and offers a spa, saunas, salt water pool and gym onboard. Solo travellers will be pleased to here theres no extra single supplements or surchargers.
Avoid if:;You prefer big, lively ships. This ship holds just 200 passengers and is more akin to small, boutique hotel.
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Regent Seven Seas 769%
Regent Seven Seas travels all around the world, with ships that go to nearly every continent.
The company also offers round-trip flights with various airlines, unlimited shore excursions, beverages, open bars and lounges, and unlimited WiFi as part of their packages.
Crystal Cruises travels to 818 different locations and offers 2,000 different excursions.;
The cruise line also offers a butler service in each Penthouse suite, with 24-hour room service. There’s also a 360-degree Promenade Deck, which, their website notes, is rare to see on cruise ships today.
Ocean Cruise Lines Rated
In the table below, we show the latest results from our annual survey of Which? members. Viking takes the crown, with Hurtigruten, Noble Caledonia, Regent Seven Seas and Saga, also all receiving a Which? Recommended Provider rating.
| Brand | |
|---|---|
| 57% | |
| Using the table: *WRP stands for Which? Recommended Provider. Results based on a September 2019 survey of 2,254 Which? members and members of the public. The more stars the better. Passenger to space ratio;Number of people on ship compared to its size. On-board facilities Quality of communal facilities, e.g. swimming pool, shops, cinema, gym, etc. Cabins Cleanliness, condition of furniture, comfort. Port excursions Quality of excursions, e.g. organisation, availability and price. Overall value for money Price in relation to experience. Customer score Combination of overall satisfaction and likelihood of recommending, if asked. |
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Small Ship Line #1: Ponant
Fine French cuisine, Hermès bath products, and personalized service come standard on Ponant’s fleet of globe-circling ships. The line has recently expanded its original fleet of four expedition ships and one sailing yacht with six new Explorer-class ships designed for a form of luxury expedition-style cruising, each featuring an infinity pool, an underwater viewing lounge, and itineraries that include destinations as far-flung as Papua New Guinea and West Africas Bissagos Islands. It also acquired Paul Gauguin Cruises in 2019, adding another ship to the fleet. Ponant will launch Le Commandant Charcot, an ice-breaking expedition ship, in 2021.
Best Excursions: Crystal Cruises
Crystal has greatly expanded its luxury cruise brand to include ocean and river cruise ships, yachts, expedition ships, and even a private jet charter. The company also offers some extremely exclusive, high-end shore excursions, as well as volunteer excursions so passengers will feel more involved in the ports of call. The company has an impressive 2,000 excursions to choose from in ports all over the world. Onboard Crystal Cruises theres trivia, magic and comedy shows, movies, live music, theater performances, and the fabulous Crystal spa. The two ocean-going ships, Serenity and Symphony, carry around 900 guests, and offer butler service in suites and all-inclusive pricing.
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Oasis Class: Symphony Of The Seas & Harmony Of The Seas
Royal Caribbean Internationals Oasis-class cruise ship Symphony of the Seas is the worlds largest passenger ship currently in service. Thus, for obvious reasons, Symphony of the Seas is one the most expensive cruise ships in the world now with a cost of production of $1.35 billion.
Built by STX France, the vessel measures 1188 feet in length, 215.5 feet in width and 238 feet in height, with a gross registered tonnage of 228,081t.
The ship that started its maiden voyage in April 2018 features 18 decks and capable of accommodating a maximum of 6,680 passengers and a 2,200-person crew.
The features aboard this luxury cruise ship include 22 restaurants, 24 pools, childrens water park, ice-skating rink, full-size basketball court, and two 43-foot rock-climbing walls etc.
Another Oasis-class cruise ship of Royal Caribbean International, Harmony of the Seas, is another expensive luxury passenger vessel currently in service.
Despite costing Royal Caribbean the same expense of its sister vessel , Harmony of the Seas comes behind ;Symphony of the Seas due to the 1,100 tons difference in size with the former.
The 228,081GRT-vessel is also 1,188 feet long, 215.5 wide and 238 feet in height.; With 2,747 staterooms in various sizes, Harmony of the Seas is capable of housing 6,687 passengers in addition to 2,200 crew members.