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While the staterooms and suites are stunning and the shore excursions are aplenty, it’s the food that really stands out aboard Windstar. Windstar Cruises operates a six-ship fleet dedicated to extraordinary sailing experiences. With small ships that carry less than 350 passengers, Windstar prides itself on offering guests intimate, aesthetic, unforgettable voyages spanning from Asia and Australia to Italy and Iceland. Speaking of fancy, the most luxurious cruise that Silversea offers is its 125-Day Chile to Norway sail, which rings up at $94,700. No matter which type of suite you book, you can expect butler service, optional 24/7 in-suite dining, endless access to premium beverages and craft cocktails, and complimentary caviar around the clock. A 312-passenger, all-suite vessel, Star Pride feels large enough for small groups where they won’t feel too-close-for-comfort and can have their own privacy, but intimate enough where they can welcome outside connections.
Best Luxury Cruise Overall: Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, Evrima
Portofino, Italy, is an intimate place that makes a huge impression – its secluded blue-water harbor is filled with small boats, surrounded by colorful buildings, with green cliffs rising above. You may have a perfectly fine time sitting at a waterfront café admiring the scene, but there is also opportunity to hike the surrounds and head to Cinque Terre, the famed rugged coastline of small villages and castles. Luxury cruise itineraries tend to focus in summer on Europe – the Mediterranean, the Baltic and Black Sea -- saving the Caribbean and more exotic itineraries for the rest of the year. Some even explore such far reaches of the earth as Antarctica and the remote South Pacific. TSA prohibited itemsWhen it comes to packing for a flight, we are often well-versed in the restrictions placed on carry-on items, particularly the infamous liquid rule.
Silver Moon, Silversea Cruises
Here's what it's like onboard a luxury yacht vacation - USA TODAY
Here's what it's like onboard a luxury yacht vacation.
Posted: Fri, 19 Apr 2024 09:07:56 GMT [source]
Plan a special evening at a specialty restaurant, like Fine Cut Steakhouse, Tuscan Grille, and Le Petit Chef®. Foodies can try signature dishes by Daniel Boulud, our Global Culinary Brand Ambassador, at The Retreat’s private restaurant, Luminae, or enjoy a five-course meal at the Chef’s Table by Daniel Boulud. On Edge-series ships, experience the magic of an Infinite Veranda® stateroom, where the push of a button gives you open-air access to the sea, taking your room right to the water’s edge. At The Retreat, stay in one of our spectacular suites, like the Iconic Suite that offers unparalleled views from above the captain’s bridge, and our breathtaking two-story Edge Villas that come with their own private plunge pool. For those who prefer something tropical during the holidays, Greek family-owned Variety Cruises goes beyond the Cyclades to offer an eight-day jaunt through the Caribbean.
South Pacific
As far as destinations are concerned, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection embarks on oceanic adventures in the Mediterranean and Caribbean. 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. I'm also the founder of @littleackbook, a Nantucket-based publication and concierge service. Cruisers truly passionate about food and wine will want to splurge on wine-paired dinners at La Reserve by Wine Spectator or enjoy a gourmet, multi-course menu with an intimate group at Privee. Sample candied foie gras, daily risottos or sushi made with fish flown from Japan, all while sailing through remote waters.
Life onboard is relaxed and informal, with the dress code best described as chic. Every voyage includes a decadent Champagne & Caviar Splash party, either around the pool or in the surf, with free-flowing bubbles. You can swim off the ship too and, for a touch of romance, sleep on deck under a duvet and a canopy of stars. Dining, crew tips and drinks apart from premium wines are included in the price. Viking Ocean Cruises epitomizes the pinnacle of luxury travel on the high seas, seamlessly blending Scandinavian elegance with high-quality service and innovative design.
Ocean Awards
A fleet of contemporary small ships offering intuitive, all-inclusive service, sumptuous all-suite accommodation and superb dining. Seabourn offers un-stuffy luxury with a vibe that’s more superyacht than luxury cruise ship. The line has some impressive partnerships, not least with the renowned chef Thomas Keller, Sir Tim Rice and the wellness guru Dr Andrew Weil. All dining, including speciality restaurants, crew tips and a comprehensive menu of cocktails and fine wines is included. You’ll pay extra for premium wines, wi-fi, access to the Retreat (an exclusive alfresco lounge on the top deck) and shore excursions.
Best Shore Excursions
Wash it down with whatever you like because all but the most premium beverages are included. 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.
Suites are well-designed and impeccably executed, while venues like The Marquee and The Chef’s Table are memorable for their clever blend of vaulted ceilings, upscale design and immaculate finishes. Silversea’s constant innovation and a desire to set the luxury bar ever higher sets it apart from all others. Sure, the line has suites, butlers, Champagne and caviar across the fleet, but it’s more than that – it’s finding your shoes shined, without asking; your butler organizing an in-suite party or waitstaff remembering your name from Day 1. Silversea’s restaurants rival Michelin-starred establishments, its S.A.L.T. enrichment program is outstanding, and its art and décor are reminiscent of a five-star hotel. Each of the fleet’s yachts, which carry between 458 and 600 guests, is outfitted with ocean-view suites only, so no matter what excursion you book, you can anticipate traveling in luxury style with a picturesque backdrop.
Fall Caribbean cruises
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. More focused itineraries include New Guinea, where you may be greeted by village men in loin cloths and dugout canoes combined with Indonesia's spectacular Raja Ampat islands, with their legendary coral reefs and underwater caves. A stop in Monte Carlo affords opportunity to explore the glitz and glamour of tiny Monaco, from the royal palace that is home to Prince Albert II to Michelin-star dining.
If you want to get the most bang for your buck when booking a luxury cruise, Regent Seven Seas Cruises is a prime pick. The all-inclusive cruise line crafts a new definition of the category with complimentary roundtrip airfare, free unlimited shore excursions, include 2- to 3-night land programs, on-the-house bar and lounge experiences, and more. It’s also worth mentioning that the luxury cruise line took it to the next level with its spa, Aurora Spa. 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. 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.
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.
Some luxury cruise routes go through the Corinth Canal, only accessible to small ships that float dramatically through the narrow four-mile pass cut through sheer limestone – a shortcut between the Aegean and Ionian seas. With their carefully curated itineraries, luxury ships afford a chance for you to immerse yourself in the Caribbean way of life, to slow down and enjoy the scene – including at night during overnight visits. These ships do classic itineraries too, but at a slower, more relaxed pace and often with the bonus of overnights and even multiple-overnights in iconic cities such as Melbourne, Monte Carlo and Singapore.
Here are the best options from Six Star Cruises and Cruise 118, as well as the best cruises from our trusted operators. Nearly every voyage on Paul Gauguin Cruises stops for a day at the line’s own private islet, Motu Mahana, where guests can enjoy snorkeling, watersports, a barbeque, full bar service, and Polynesian hospitality. 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).
For passengers of Silversea’s new and opulent cruise ship, Silver Dawn, otium will have similar connotations in 2022. Seeing the Caribbean en masse at popular destinations such as St. Thomas, St. Maarten and Cozumel, Mexico, can be a bit daunting. Even with crowds off the big ships dispersed to various beaches and sights, it's a mob scene at times.
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