Cruising in the Lap of Luxury 

Of the 75-plus cruise lines operating internationally, only a handful provide the kind of ships and onboard experience that can truly be called “luxury” 

Luxury cruises versus premium and standard (large resort ship) cruises are like the difference between a Rolls-Royce and a Hyundai. “Luxury cruising” should be a flawless combination of ship, facilities, food and service. Unfortunately, “luxury” is an overused term in marketing today, but the panel below tells you what the term ought to mean on a cruise ship.

Little and Large

Size is important. Boutique and small ships can get into ports that larger ships can’t. They can also get closer to the center of large cities. For example, in St. Petersburg, Russia large and mid-sized ships (such as those of Crystal Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises) have to dock about one hour from the city center, while the boutique ships can dock right next to the Hermitage Museum in the heart of the city.

One area where “luxury” ships differ least from large resort ships is in shore excursions, particularly in the Caribbean and Alaska, where almost all cruise operators are obliged to use the same specialist  tour operators ashore - simply because “luxury” is virtually un­known in these regions and local tour operators consider all cruise passengers to be the same.).

Large cruise ships (those carrying more than 1,000 passengers) simply cannot provide the kind of personal service and attention to detail that the boutique/small ships can. Although you can book one of the largest suites afloat aboard a large ship, once you leave your “private living space” you’ll have to mix with all other passengers, particularly if you want to go to a show, disembark at ports of call (think of the long lines at the gangway security checkpoint), or go on organized shore excursions. That’s when you appreciate the fact that smaller may suit you better.

These are ships suited to those not seeking the active, family- and entertainment-driven cruise experiences that large ships offer. The ships, companies, and comparisons in this section provide ships, facilities and service levels hard to find elsewhere. While most of them boast about being the best, or boast the awards they receive annually from various magazines (whose respondents are almost never global in scope), not all provide the same degree of luxury, and there are differences in the cruise product delivered

THE SHIPS

These 16 ships (listed alphabetically, by company) belong to seven cruise lines, and are the “cream” of the cruise industry in terms of style, finesse, staff training, cuisine, service, hospitality and finesse.

• Crystal Cruises Crystal Serenity, Crystal Symphony
• Hapag-Lloyd Cruises Europa
• Hebridean International Cruises Hebridean Spirit
• Regent Seven Seas Cruises (formerly ­Radisson Seven Seas Cruises) Seven Seas Mariner, Seven Seas Navigator, Seven Seas Voyager
• Seabourn Cruise Line Seabourn Legend, Sea­bourn Pride, Seabourn Spirit
•  SeaDream Yacht Cruises SeaDream I, Sea­Dream II
• Silversea Cruises Silver Cloud, Silver Shadow, Silver Whisper,
  Silver Win

So, what are the differences?

Know the differences, and you’ll be better equipped to choose the right cruise line and ship to provide the level of onboard food and service you are looking for. While most of the differences are immediately visible when you sail aboard (and compare) them all, some of the variations in style and service are more subtle. Some have more crew per passenger. Some have more expensive European crew than others. Some have better food and service. Some have entertainment, some don’t. Some have more public space per passenger. It’s important to weigh up the differences, so that you choose the right ship for the right reasons.

For example, the following facilities and services are found aboard the ships of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, SeaDream Yacht Cruises and Seabourn Cruise Line, but not aboard the ships of Crystal Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, or Silversea Cruises.

Anticipation is more widely practiced aboard the smaller ships, where staff training is better in terms of passenger recognition (remembering your name).

  Waiters escort female guests (waitresses escort male guests) to the dining table and to the dining room exit after meals.

Relaxed embarkation and disembarkation is at your leisure.

Cabin stewardesses leave hand-written notes.

There are no announcements, and no mindless background music in public rooms, accommodation hallways or elevators.

The chef invites passengers to accompany him on visits to local food markets.

More space, better service

All 16 ships have an excellent amount of open deck and lounging space, and a high Passenger Space Ratio (almost all are above 40) when compared to large resort ships (which are typically under 35), the two Sea­Dreams being the exception.

Almost all have a better Crew to Passenger Ratio than the large resort ships. In warm weather areas, the ships of SeaDream Yacht Cruises and Seabourn Cruise Line (all have fold-down platforms at the stern of each ship) provide jet skis, kayaks, snorkeling gear, windsurfers and the like at no extra cost, typically for one day each cruise (the others do not).

Hapag-Lloyd’s Europa also has a fleet of Zodiac rigid inflatable craft for in-depth exploration and shore adventures in areas such as Antarctica, the ­Arctic and the Amazon, plus an ice-hardened hull. And mattresses that are 7 ft (2.1 meters) long.

Dining

Fine dining is the highlight of the 16 ships featured, and is more of an entertainment feature than the entertainment itself (if there is any). Good company and conversation make dining a pleasurable social occasion. Expect plenty of tables for two, a calm refined dining atmosphere, open or one seating dining, by candlelight, high-quality china and silverware, large wine glasses, fresh flowers, a connoisseur wine list, and sommeliers who understand and can discuss fine wines.

It’s really about non-repetitive, highly creative menus, high-quality ingredients, moderate portions and attractive presentation, with fresh local fish and other items provided (when available) and cooked à la minute (not in batches), and meat of the highest grade. Caviar, foie gras, black/white truffles and other exotic foods, and fresh green vegetables (instead of frozen or canned vegetables) are provided.

Almost all the ships provide cloches for extra “wow” effect in the dining room service of main courses. Additionally, passengers are often invited to visit local markets with the chef aboard the ships of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, SeaDream Yacht Cruises, and Seabourn Cruise Line.

Some luxury ships provide even more special touches. Europa, for example, makes its own breakfast preserves, while Hebridean Spirit provides its own bottled water.

Typically, lunch and dinner menus are provided in your suite/cabin in advance, and special orders (ordering off menu) are often possible. Room service menus are extensive, and meals can be served, course by course, in your suite/cabin, either on the balcony or inside on special portable tables (some ships do this better than others). It is also possible to have a special dinner set up on deck (wonderful in the right location), with all the finery and individual service you would expect of private dining.

Drinks: Included or Not?

Hebridean International Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, SeaDream Yacht Cruises, Seabourn Cruise Line, and Silversea Cruises provide wine with dinner (Seabourn and Silversea also include wine with lunch). However, real premium (connoisseur) brands and classic vintage wines will be at extra cost.

Crystal Cruises and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises charge for all alcoholic beverages. Crystal Cruises includes soft drinks. Hebridean, Regent, SeaDream, Seabourn and Silversea include all drinks (but for mostly standard brands). Hapag-Lloyd Cruises does not include alcoholic drinks, because its passengers know and want their favorite brands, many of which are above the level of standard brands carried by those cruise lines that do include alcoholic beverages.

Other Differences

Aboard the ships of Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Seabourn Cruise Line and Silversea Cruises, white plastic deck lounge chairs are provided. Aboard the ships of Hebridean International Cruises and SeaDream Yacht Cruises they are made of teak (or other hardwood), and aboard Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ Europa they are made of aluminum and wood.

Crystal Serenity, Crystal Symphony, Seven Seas Mariner, Seven Seas Navigator, and Seven Seas Voyager are mid-size ships (500-1,200 passengers) that include entertainment with production shows and cabaret acts. To a lesser extent, so do the Seabourn and Silversea ships and Hapag-Lloyd’s Europa, but the other ships do not have entertainment as such, but instead rely on their intimacy and friendliness, and promote after-dinner conversation. Sadly, Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony hold art auctions, which seriously detract from the otherwise fine facilities, food and service, although they do have good-quality bistros (none of the other ships do).