Top 5 Luxury Cruise Lines

Here at Cruise Planners-Unique Family Adventures, we pride ourselves on working with travel partners that represent the best of the best that the world has to offer. We work with discerning travelers who appreciate the attention to detail and level of service they receive with luxury travel.

When it comes to cruising, we have five preferred partners who we believe represent the best of the best on the sea when it comes to cuisine, service, amenities, itineraries and other intangibles that sets them apart from other cruise lines. We enjoy preferred status with these lines, and our clients benefit from this as well.

Oceania Cruises
Oceania tends to focus on port-intensive itineraries that offer longer days in port. When on board, you’ll enjoy a more relaxed and unpretentious atmosphere that appeals to travelers who want to maximize the cultural experiences available on their sailing.

Photo ©Oceania

Another hallmark of Oceania cruises is outstanding food in a relaxed atmosphere.  Each of their ships features open seating dining and the specialty restaurants are not an extra charge like you may have experienced on the mass market line. Since most guests plan to spend most of their day ashore while in port, Oceania has a more relaxed dress code for dinner. There is no need to race back to the ship to prepare for formal dress each night.

Whether you choose to sail on one of their smaller, more intimate ships or one of the larger vessels, you are sure to find the high level of service and care. Emphasis is always placed on excellent cuisine paired with exciting and fascinating worldwide itineraries. Keep an eye out as I will be doing a blog about my recent sailing on the Oceania Riviera.

Guess who in the picture? Not me, but the gentleman. He's been Oceania's Culinary director since the beginning.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Regent Seven Seas cruises are by far the most all-inclusive of the luxury cruise lines. Your cruise fare includes a stateroom with private verandah (with a few exceptions on their smallest ship, the Seven Seas Navigator), flights, shore excursions, drinks, meals, WiFi and gratuities. And don’t think that means second rate options! Their ships feature a relaxed style, a variety of dining options, and genuinely top-notch excursions. 

Chartreuse dining room on board the Seven Seas ExplorerPhoto ©Regent

Including excursions in your cruise fare means that every port adventure receives the same level of care, efficiency, and attention to detail that luxury cruise guests have come to expect. Be sure to experience the Regent Classic excursions that will provide you with behind-the-scenes access and truly exclusive cultural experiences. While these excursions do come at an additional cost, they are well worth the added expense!



Crystal Cruises
One of the features that sets Crystal apart is the cutting-edge design of their ships. They have recently begun expanding into river, yacht and expedition cruising in addition to increasing their ocean cruise fleet with three new “Diamond Class” ships in 2022.


The beautifully revamped Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony ships feature Crystal’s world-class service, luxurious and tasteful atmosphere, and thoughtfully planned itineraries that feature multiple overnights in port paired with blissfully relaxing days at sea.

atrium onboard the Crystal Serenity Photo ©Crystal

If the yachting lifestyle intrigues you, the 62-guest Crystal Esprit is a perfect choice! This gorgeous ship has had travelers raving about their experiences visiting destinations such as the Adriatic and the Seychelles.       

Crystal has made their mark on luxury river cruising in Europe as well. The Crystal Bach and Crystal Debussy are enchanting guests on leisurely journeys on the Rhine and Moselle. The Crystal Mahler and Crystal Ravel captivate their guests with a selection of carefully crafted itineraries on the Rhine, Moselle, Main, and Danube. No matter which ship you select, you’ll find spacious and beautifully decorated staterooms, welcoming guest spaces, and award-winning wine and cuisine.



Seabourn Cruises
If your dream cruise includes sailing on modern and ultra-luxurious ships with lots of space and unparalleled levels of highly personalized service, then look no further than Seabourn.


You’ll find a stylish and relaxed atmosphere with plenty of space on board each ship in the Seabourn fleet. The ships seemed to be designed to provide passengers with a real connection to the sea, something you won’t find on just any cruise ship.

Earth & Ocean at the Patio” onboard the Seabourn OvationPhoto ©Seabourn

They even feature opportunities for enjoying dinner al-fresco. With “Earth & Ocean at the Patio” dinner, guests dine on meat brochettes quick-fired or grilled; beef brisket slow-cooked or braised, and traditional Chinese-style filled bao buns. Seabourn’s President, Richard Meadows says this unique experience provides “guests a culinary voyage to far-flung regions of the world served in a remarkably welcoming and relaxing open-air space.”


Seabourn offers a variety of worldwide itineraries and features shorter sailings as well as the opportunity to combine a series of cruises to create longer more extensive voyages.



Silversea Cruises
Silversea offers guests the option of their classic small ship luxury cruises (their ships range in capacity from 300-600 passengers), or for those adventurous guests, they offer off-the-beaten-path options through their Silversea Expeditions fleet.

No matter which option you choose, you’ll enjoy their industry-leading service and incredible hospitality. For 2021 Silverseas is having 2 world cruises, one expedition and the other classic. For 2020 their world cruise will stop at all 7 continents.

Superior Verandah Suite onboard the Silver SpiritPhoto ©Silversea 

We often recommend Silversea to our most well-traveled clients. The fantastic experiences they provide make it no surprise that most of our clients become repeat guests (and Silversea is known for taking exceptional care of their repeat guests!). Our clients appreciate the full range of itineraries they offer, especially when it comes to bucket-list destinations such as Bangladesh, the Russian Far East, and West Africa.


With five new ships joining the fleet by 2021, there will be even more exciting adventures to be had.





Selecting the right cruise line, ship, and itinerary can feel overwhelming at times. Scheduling a cruise consultation will allow us to provide you with customized recommendations based on our expertise and experience with the varied options available.



Click here to request a time for us to meet. We’ll discuss the details and what you are looking for. We’ll give you our suggestions and explain how we can best work together to plan an unforgettable luxury cruise vacation.

Cruising Declared Cool !!

Think that sailing a large mass market is not for you, well it may well not be if you sail in a regular balcony cabin. Royal Caribbean is changing this with their Royal Suite class and the top level of that is the Star Class suites with amenities that will leave you with hardly any charges on your ship board account. Harper's Bazaar featured an article by a couple who probably wouldn't be caught dead on this type of ship, who now after sailing in a Star Class Suite, Cruising is Chic again. Of course they sailed on the Anthem of the Seas out of the New York City area. 10 Reasons Cruising is Chic Again.

The Star Class suites are only on the Anthem, Oasis, Allure and Harmony of the Seas. Anthem of the Seas as featured sails out of Cape Liberty,NJ(just across the river from NYC)  seasonally to Bermuda, Canada/New England and the Caribbean.

Allure and Oasis of the Seas sail out of Fort Lauderdale, FL year round. The Oasis will move to Port Canaveral, FL in the fall when the new Harmony of the Seas arrives after spending her 1st summer sailing in Europe.

Ready to be pampered in a Star Class Suite?

The Early Bird Gets The Worm

Love Nest Suite-picture courtesy of Sandals resorts

I have always been a long term travel planner even before I became a travel consultant. Working around everyone's schedule and counting those travel dollars, getting a head start allows you to save money for the trip, but also book the accommodations that you dream about. We were Disney Vacation Club owners and went in knowing we needed to be booking no later than 7 months ahead of time and for certain accommodations I would be booking at 11 months out. So there I would be calling the school district looking for next year's schedule!

This is something I try to educate my clients about, that by putting a deposit down on a resort or cruise especially if it is a special trip like a honeymoon or a big family celebration is a sort of insurance, because you don't want to settle for whatever is available at a later date on a special trip.
Deposits are usually refundable, it's really a no brainer for your peace of mind to go ahead and reserve.

Popular honeymoon resorts and certain room categories do book up early. Especially those sexy rooms with swim out access or their own pools. Honeymoon reservations in my opinion should be booked as soon as you've found your church and reception location.

Anytime you need a room that sleeps more than 4 or a stateroom that sleeps more then 2. These family type accommodations book up fast, especially at popular times when kids are out of school. Plus when resorts or cruise lines run a kids sail or stay free sale, take advantage of it. If you don't someone else will and when you get around to booking all those maybe already booked.

Luxury cruise lines with unique itineraries or programs, Azamara Club Cruises has a sailing that is centered around the British Open and offers a program that includes golf outings at some of the great  courses in the UK & Ireland. Guess when 2015's golf program was sold out? June 2014. Since these ships are smaller and maybe only offer an itinerary once or twice during a season, it makes sense to reserve early and get your choice of cabins.

Hottest trend in travel? River cruises and even though new ships are introduced every year the demand keeps growing. Playing the waiting strategy may get you a good value on an ocean cruise, but on the river it is going to get you as far as your sofa at your house, since they do book up early. Depending on the line I have seen ships sell out over a year before sailing.

As a travel professional, my job is to make sure you get the vacation that you want not the one you have to settle for. So when you are thinking about that Christmas trip or planning a honeymoon later this year think of that deposit as pre trip insurance. Take the risk of not getting what you desire out of the equation.


  

Specialty Cruises: For Something Unique

      Okay, so you have been on a cruise ship or two, (or maybe many more).  The experience was fantastic, the food was great, the ship was fun and the beach was relaxing.  You want to do another cruise, but you want to do something different.  Maybe that definition of different involves different locations, or excursions, or different activities or even a different types of ship.  Or perhaps your the type of person who would like to take a cruise, but the thought of being on a large ship with 3000 other passengers and doing the same things they are doing just doesn't excite you, and you want personalized service and experiences.  If these describe you, I have the answer; Specialized Cruises.  Specialized cruises may use different types of vessels, different itineraries, or different levels of luxury.  But they all offer lower passenger levels, personalized service, and unique itineraries and experiences for the cruiser that wants something different.  They come in many different flavors, so finding one that meets your specific requirements has become easy.  Here is a list of the specific categories of specialized cruises and and leading providers that will help you design your own unique cruise experience.

       The most popular category of specialized cruises are river cruises.  The attraction of river cruises is the offer of an "all-inclusive" experience for their passengers.  The ships from companies like Viking Cruises, AMA Waterways, Avalon, and others are designed to handle all of your ship and tour requirements in a relaxed, carefree environment.  These small ships, less than 200 passengers, travel the great rivers of Europe and Asia; offering an easy and relax way of experiencing the great cities and sites of those continents.

       A related way to cruise in the United States, to relive the past and take take a trip down the the Mississippi or Ohio rivers on a genuine river paddle boat.  American Queen Steamboat Company allows you to travel back to the times of Mark Twain and the Old South by offering cruises on genuine but modern paddle wheeled river boat, that still offer allow the If modern amenities and luxuries as you travel down the great rivers of America.

       Two other fast growing areas of the specialized cruise market are the upper premium and luxury cruise segments.  For the cruise passenger who likes what the main cruise lines have to offer, but wants a  better dining and on board experience on a smaller ship, or wants a more engaging land excursion will love sailing with a upper premium cruise line.  Oceania Cruises offers a more refined and personalized cruise experience, on 700 passenger ships that offer longer cruises to smaller ports than the average cruise line: all the while offering world class cuisine.  If the destination is what matters to to you, Azamara Club Cruises has you covered.  Their "Destination Immersion" program gives you longer stays, more overnights and night tours at their ports of call.

        If you require only the best and finest in your leisure travel, the cruise industry has a ship board experience for you.  Cunard Lines offers the elegance and feel of a luxury ocean liner from the golden age of ocean travel.  If you want the feel of traveling on your own mega yacht, Seabourn and Silverseas Lines offer less than 200 passengers the chance to experience the finest in personnel service and dining, as you cruise to the most exotic locales on the sleekest ships on the seas.  If you want the ultimate in luxury, but want to be different, try sailing on the tall ships of Star Clippers Line or Windstar to the most beautiful and exotic ports in the world.

       If adventure and unique excursions are your game, taking a specialty cruise can allow you to experience place and activities few people will get to do.  UnCruise, an operator of small ships will take less than 90 passengers on a cruise to parts of Alaska, Mexico, or Hawaii, that are inaccessible to larger ships and experience real adventures like kayaking among icebergs, snorkeling with whales, hiking on remote Alaskan islands.  Hurtigruten Line offers up close cruises to remote and beautiful regions such as Norway, Iceland, Greenland, and even Antarctica.  Want to do something really different?  Experience the uniqueness and wonder of the Galapagos Islands, on the Celebrity Cruises ship Xpedition.  This all inclusive cruise allows you a chance to be one of the few people to be allowed to experience on the the most remote and diverse areas of the world.

       These are just a sample of the types of types of cruises you can experience.  If you want luxury, adventure, want to go to exotic locations, or just like to be different in your travels; but also want to do it in a convenient and cost effective manner, then you should look into what a specialty cruise has to offer you.