Monday, April 1, 2024

Cruise Critic announced the 2023 Best Cruise Lines of The Year

most luxurious cruise

The ship is immersed in all things Polynesian, with a troupe of local performers on board to entertain guests with local song, dance and craft lessons. Seabourn Ovation also features The Retreat, a private, VIP-access-only outdoor lounge area on Deck 12 that's unique to the Encore Class. A daisy-shaped canopy stretches over The Retreat so you'll find both sun and shade. Fifteen cabanas are available, and come outfitted with flat-screen TVs, Evian misters, a beverage-filled mini-fridge and fresh fruit.

Viking’s ocean ships

Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours has nine ships with oceanic destinations spanning from the Arctic and Europe to the Caribbean and Australia. Meanwhile, if you find yourself in France, you may want to check out Scenic’s beloved river cruises, in which you can tour the Seine in the utmost style. Time spent on Viking River Cruises’ Viking Osiris is not only a retreat, but an enlightening experience. Known for its educational programming, the ship features lectures and informative guides that highlight seemingly endless knowledge on everything Egyptian (ancient to modern). Paired with the Nile as a backdrop, you’ll find yourself absorbing more than you can have possibly imagined.

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They certainly still exist, yes, but now there’s a much stronger and more accessible market for luxury charters. Combining lavish amenities and refined comforts with the thrill of exploration, the best luxury cruises have taken white-glove service to the sea. In fact, luxury cruising has become so in demand that many esteemed hospitality brands—like the Ritz-Carlton, Four Seasons and Aman—have recently launched branded yacht collections of their own. Another of our top luxury cruise lines, Regent Seven Seas Cruises is proudly opulent.

7 Best Luxury Cruises - Cruise Critic

7 Best Luxury Cruises.

Posted: Thu, 07 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]

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most luxurious cruise

Whether you’re planning a romantic getaway, a family adventure, or a solo self-care trip, this list of the world’s most luxurious hotel cruises includes all the best options. Travel with the security and comfort of The World’s Most Luxurious Fleet™, enjoying the freedom that comes with our Unrivaled Space at Sea®. Best for elegance Glamorous, formal and traditional, Cunard’s art deco-inspired Queen Elizabeth harks back to the golden era of ocean travel with daily afternoon tea and black tie dances in the grand ballroom. At the same time, you’ll find the Mareel Wellness & Beauty spa, a choice of restaurants and a traditional British pub, the Golden Lion. You can also tuck into dinner in Steakhouse at the Verandah, a swanky New York-style grill.

Design and decor are more reminiscent of a Four Seasons or Ritz-Carlton hotel -- in fact, if you didn't know you were on a ship you could well imagine you were at a hotel. Well, it could mean exclusivity to some, privacy to others, a private Learjet experience or watching the sun rise over Macchu Pichu. Cabins may not have an overtly opulent feel, but they have all the right touches, including balconies in every room, quiet-closing drawers, heated bathroom floors and plentiful USB ports and outlets. After a long day of Zodiac, submersible or helicopter rides (yes, all these high-tech exploration toys are on board), you can retreat to your well-appointed suite, with distinct sleeping and living areas, plus a balcony.

BEST LUXURY CRUISES

To qualify for this category, at least 62% of a cruise line's online traveler reviews must be made by couples. Viking dominates this category due to its "adult-focused environment and luxurious and romantic amenities, such as fireplaces in each ship's common area and private verandas in every stateroom," according to a U.S. Viking, a cruise line based in Basel, Switzerland, is no stranger to accolades. News' luxury list last year too — despite Chairman Torstein Hagen indicating he isn't a fan of the word. Of course, if you need further inspiration to look into the cruise line, perhaps the fact that three-mast yacht, Le Ponant, is part of the Relais & Châteaux portfolio will do the trick. Relaxed, well-traveled types, honeymooners, scuba-divers and those keen to visit a true bucket-list destination.

What Makes The World's Most Luxurious Cruise Ship So Luxurious?

It’s also worth mentioning that the luxury cruise line took it to the next level with its spa, Aurora Spa. Crystal is renowned for its personalized voyages all over the world, not to mention its palatial suites that will leave you picking your jaw up off the floor. In addition to well-appointed design, the cruise line offers an impressive dining experience, with authentic cuisines from all over the world. So whether you’re in the mood for American, Italian, Peruvian, or Japanese food, you’ll have ample options to choose from.

And like most lines operating in this sector, there is a strong emphasis on food with two stand-out restaurants on most ships -- Pacific Rim and Chartreuse, as well as great steak house, Prime 7. Like the ocean ships, they feature Scandinavian design, a glass-walled Explorers' Lounge and signature Viking restaurants Manfredi's and Mamsen's (offering Norwegian specialties). Viking's fares are inclusive but not all-inclusive, and its ships sport clean Scandinavian design rather than opulent decor. Necessities such as Wi-Fi and self-serve laundry are complimentary, as are all nonalcoholic beverages and beer and wine with lunch and dinner. That's the approach upscale cruise line Oceania Cruises takes with its fleet of seven 648- to 1,238-passenger ships (the last of which, Oceania Vista, just debuted in May 2023 and is its most elegant yet). Scenic's all-inclusive fares include dining and drinks, Wi-Fi, gratuities, airport transfers and shore excursions led by the line's knowledgeable expedition leaders.

Catering to adventurous luxury cruise travelers with money to spend, the new cruise line Atlas Ocean Voyages, which debuted in the summer of 2021, offers upscale experiences on small ships that carry just 196 passengers. Paul Gauguin Cruises operates just one ship, but it is exquisite, hosting 330 guests and sailing only in the South Pacific to destinations like Tahiti, Fiji, Tonga, and the Cook Islands. The ship is small enough to access private ports at remote beaches and take travelers well off the beaten path. If you've ever dreamed of having your own butler, Silversea is the luxury cruise line for you.

Noted hospitality designer Adam D. Tihany had yachts in mind when he designed Seabourn’s ultra-luxe, 600-passenger Seabourn Ovation, as well as sister ships Seabourn Encore and Seabourn Odyssey. He likes to describe the ships as “sexy,” for their smooth corners and tactile fabrics. The ships have an at-home quality—if you happen to live in an art-filled modern mansion. Guests stay in oceanfront suites with walk-in closets and marble bathrooms, and if you spring for a Wintergarden suite, you get a glass-enclosed solarium with a soaking tub.

“I hope you enjoyed Culebra today because it’s quite hard to get in, through a very narrow channel,” O’Leary said at a supper-hour briefing. Silversea Cruises topped the list as Best Luxury Cruise Line for the second year in a row. Cruise Critic just announced its annual list of the Best Cruise Lines of The Year. This is the 15th iteration of the list compiled by the online cruise community’s international team of cruise experts. Wine, dine, admire masterpieces, and relax in luxury onboard the Seven Seas Splendor. Pre-pandemic, 62% of people who had never cruised indicated they wanted to try it.

There’s also the opportunity for polar kayaking, ice fishing, dogsledding, and snowshoeing, depending on the destination. In October 2021, a fun-loving girlfriend and I boarded the 2,770-passenger Scarlet Lady, which had just launched, wondering what playful billionaire Richard Branson could possibly bring to cruising that was new. Passengers (Virgin refers to them as “sailors”) can grab a scoop at the Lick Me ‘Till ice cream shop and be pampered by a crew who are encouraged to show off their piercings, tattoos, dyed hair, and unique personal style. You can get your own ink and piercings at the onboard tattoo parlor.

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