Top 10 Most Luxurious Cruise Ships in the World

Table Of Content

• About Annie Davidson Watson, Your Luxury Cruise Guide
• The Best Luxury Cruises Of 2024
• Seabourn Odyssey, Seabourn
• Best cruise lines in the Caribbean
• Best Luxury Cruise Overall: Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, Evrima
• Silver Endeavour — SilverseaArrow
• Most Yacht-Like Luxury Cruise: Silversea Cruises, Silver Endeavor
• Best Small Ship Luxury Cruise: Seabourn, Seabourn Venture

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. Beautiful interiors and intuitive spaces that are designed for the way people want to gather and relax are hallmarks of Seabourn Ovation's indoor and outdoor public areas, which were created by renowned designer Adam D. Tihany. All 300 suites have balconies that are perfect for enjoying breakfast, drinks or dinner alfresco. Foodies might also wish to pay a visit to the well-equipped Culinary Center onboard Oceania Riviera (as well as on twin sister ship Oceania Marina).

About Annie Davidson Watson, Your Luxury Cruise Guide

The footprint of Seven Seas Splendor is very similar to the Seven Seas Explorer, as both ships are part of the same Explorer Class series. But Regent made a few significant changes to the design of Seven Seas Splendor that go a long way to improving this flow. Before the pandemic, about 10% of people that had never cruised said they "never" would. According to the survey, this number rose to 17% in June 2021, but fell to 14% by August. The company previously welcomed kids aged 12 and older to cruise, but as of 2018, all guests must be 18 or older to board.

The Best Luxury Cruises Of 2024

From the glimmering chandeliers illuminating opulent lounges and secluded suites adorned with plush furnishings to one-to-one crew and passenger ratios and carefully-curated expeditions, these cruises redefine the meaning of extravagant living—on land and sea. Whether you’re traveling as a couple, family, small group, or otherwise, we’ve selected the best luxury cruise options for you. Guestrooms are large and lavish, ranging from a generousentry-level 300 square feet to the extraordinary Regent Suite,which clocks in at over 4,000 square feet on Splendor and includesyour own bar, in-suite spa and Steinway piano. All suites open ontoa private balcony, a concept that Regent pioneered with theSeven Seas Mariner in 2001, the world's firstall-balcony ship.

Seabourn Odyssey, Seabourn

Azamara’s “destination immersion” ethos means itineraries, many of which venture off the beaten path, are designed to maximise time in port. Each cruise includes an AzAmazing event, an exclusive and often elaborate taste of local culture, and a glamorous White Night deck party. The two speciality restaurants, Aqualina and Prime C, are wonderful, serving classy Italian and steak and seafood respectively. All cabins come with a queen-size bed, luxurious linens, L’Occitane products, TV and ocean views.

Best cruise lines in the Caribbean

With the myriad of options out there, it can be hard to choose the right cruise that gives the hoped-for experience. With our picks below, you’ll be able to travel the entire globe without leaving the lap of luxury. Get an awesome experience on some of the wonderful luxurious cruise ships. The Emerald Harmony is a chic retreat that serves as a convenient starting point for adventures through Cambodia and Vietnam along the Mekong River. Be forewarned that there is not much in the way of entertainment; local performers gather together at the many ports of call, but there is nothing particularly noteworthy happening each night.

It's a self-contained cooking school at sea that offers hands-on experience at 12 individual cooking stations (two people per station). Classes focusing on a variety of topics do incur an extra fee, but get rave reviews from past participants. Seabourn has three ship sizes -- the 354-passenger vessels, the 600-passenger ships and an expedition ship, Seabourn Venture, which carries 264 passengers.

Viking came in at No. 1 in T+L's best mid-size ship category and river cruise category. Golden said the WBA Hall of Fame honoree's 50 river "longships" are "light-filled floating boutique hotels." SeaDream Yacht Club's SeaDream II offers an intimate and luxurious yachting experience. With just 56 cabins, travelers and crew get to know each other quickly, and it really does feel like you're traveling on a friend's yacht instead of a cruise ship. All restaurants are included in the cruise fare on Viking Venus, except The Kitchen Table.

For a relaxed resort atmosphere where passengers of all ages are made to feel welcome, book a sailing on the recently launched Explora I. 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 in 2020, so the bar was high, but for once thesequel was even better than the original. For the best in-suite views, book a room at the back of the ship, Kelly Cochrane, executive chef of Regent Seven Seas Cruises tells T+L. As the most discerning, up-to-the-minute voice in all things travel, Condé Nast Traveler is the global citizen’s bible and muse, offering both inspiration and vital intel.

Wi-Fi, tips and drinks — like cocktails, wine and specialty coffees — are included in most Celebrity cruise bookings, however the cheapest rates can be purchased without them. Right now, a four-day cruise from Miami to the Bahamas is around $440 per person, including taxes, for an inside state room. U.S. News & World Report on Tuesday published its ranking of the "best" cruise lines of 2022. I'm a writer, editor and consultant who has covered luxury travel and cruising for the last ten years. Formerly, I was an editor at Departures, Travel + Leisure, Glamour and more, and I now contribute regularly to both Forbes and Forbes Vetted.

17 of the world's most luxurious cruise ships - The Times

17 of the world's most luxurious cruise ships.

Posted: Fri, 13 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Aside from a night at the most luxurious specialty restaurant you can find on a cruise ship, the rest of Crystal’s dining offerings are equally superb, from seasonal dishes at Waterside to classic Italian fare at Osteria D’Ovidio. Long gone are the days where overcrowded ships with overstimulating amenities are your only cruising option. They certainly still exist, yes, but now there’s a much stronger and more accessible market for luxury charters.

Book yourself in for some indulgence in the Retreat, a sanctuary on the 12th deck, where a private cabana can be yours for the day. Note that this ship isn’t for you if you’re a minimalist who prefers to avoid alcohol and fine dining. While you’d still have a wonderful time, you would be paying for the indulgence of others. Best for foodiesIt’s hard not to lust after the Regent Seven Seas Voyager.

SeaDream operates just two small (around 100-passengers) ships SeaDream 1 and SeaDream II) with fiercely loyal followings. The ships are getting on, and no cabins have balconies, yet passengers don't seem to care when they are spending most of their time outside anyway. Silversea has spent much of the past few years redefining itself in the luxury space.

This little change greatly improves the flow of Deck 5 as passengers now can stroll between the deck's various venues along a single, port-side corridor. The old configuration resulted in a less intuitive walkabout for passengers on the deck. The Compass Rose restaurant, and the adjacent Splendor Lounge and Casino, are where passengers coming down this stairway will likely be going. Outposts of the Asian eatery Pacific Rim and French restaurant Chartreuse (found on some but not all Regent vessels) also are on Seven Seas Splendor. Still, at all levels, the suites on Seven Seas Splendor are among the most enticing in cruising.

Instruction in making a French Toast-like dessert themed to the ship's new home in the Caribbean rounded out the experience. Nearly all signature cocktails and the new gin drinks are included in the fare (as is typical for drinks on Regent ships) and will be rolling out to other Regent ships starting later this year. Design-wise, most of the venues look similar to their counterparts on Seven Seas Explorer -- which is to say, they are stunning. Seven Seas Explorer is known for some of the most spectacularly designed restaurants at sea. They include Compass Rose, the international cuisine staple of all Regent ships.