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2023 Cruise Critic Editors' Picks Awards: Best New Ship ocean

top luxury cruise lines

Travelers are turning to trusted lines to help minimize the hassles of country hopping and maximize relaxation time in each destination. With 2023 poised to be a big year for both new and frequent cruisers — thanks in part to an abundance of new ships and itineraries — Travel + Leisure has hand-selected 16 different types of adventures to consider in the year ahead. 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.

Best Shore Excursions

Granite and Italian marble are found all over, and there are almost 500 chandeliers made of Czech crystal and glass throughout the ship. There are also 2,500 pieces of art on display, including works by masters such as Pablo Picasso and Joan Miro. Celebrity Beyond, which debuted in 2022, accommodates 3,260 guests has 32 bars and restaurants, like Le Voyage by chef Daniel Boulud, and two-story villas on board.

Seven Seas Splendor, Regent Seven Seas Cruises

And, while most fares include flights and transfers, you’ll pay extra for shore excursions, premium drinks and, unless you’re in one of the top cabins, wi-fi. Regent’s classy ships have touches reminiscent of grand hotels, with elegant cocktail lounges and imaginatively designed restaurants. The suites on the two newest ships, Seven Seas Explorer and Seven Seas Splendor, are especially covetable, with opulent decor and butler service.

top luxury cruise lines

Best Luxury Cruise For Small Groups: Windstar Cruises, Star Pride

Throughout the ship, complimentary spirits, fine wines and house Champagne flow freely. 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. While some menus had special dishes for an additional fee, most of the food on board — and everything I ate — was included in the $5,900 ticket price.

Oceania — 71%

Plus, the onboard amenities rival any luxury cruise—a rarity on expedition ships. Viking does not like to call itself a luxury cruise line, but we'd definitely put it in that category for the inclusive fares, fine dining and smart design of its ocean-going ships. 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. Upstart cruise line Atlas Ocean Voyages offers all-inclusive fares on its two 98-suite vessels, and, in a departure from industry norms, the brand doesn’t charge solo travelers a single supplement. It will sail nine-, 10-, 11-, and 12-night round-trips from Ushuaia, Argentina, to Antarctica through March 2023 before heading to the Mediterranean to hit Spain, France, and Portugal. The cruise line also offers a butler service in each Penthouse suite, with 24-hour room service.

Guests can look forward to soaking tubs, expansive private balconies complete with sun beds and a whirlpool, walk-in wardrobes, and more. As far as destinations are concerned, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection embarks on oceanic adventures in the Mediterranean and Caribbean. With its endless dedication to kids, Disney Cruise Line breezes to the top of the pack when it comes to the family cruise experience. Larger-than-average staterooms with double-bathrooms, free room service and fountain sodas, and Disney’s spectacular kids facilities and production shows help set the line apart. But Disney doesn’t forget that adults are footing the bill and crafts a memorable experience for them, too.

top luxury cruise lines

The latest addition to the fleet, the 1,200-passenger Oceania Vista, launched in 2023. It became the seventh ship in the fleet and the first of two new Allura-class vessels, with the second scheduled for delivery in 2025. Created to reflect the glamorousbelle époque era of Paris, the Grand Dining Room, with a ceiling that’s almost two decks high, is a standout feature on Vista. Suggestions from officers and crew members helped shape Oceania Vista, so you can expect a ship that is full of practical and aesthetic touches.

Right now, a four-day cruise from Miami to the Bahamas is around $440 per person, including taxes, for an inside state room. The publication evaluated 17 cruise lines through a combination of expert evaluations (30%), traveler reviews (50%) and health ratings published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Vessel Sanitation Program (20%). In 2009, the company launched the Seabourn Odyssey, which only carries 458 guests and, according to the company's website, offers the "highest ratio of space per guest in the cruise industry." The company also offers lengthy globe-spanning World Cruises, including one from Auckland, New Zealand, to Vancouver, Canada, which visits 15 countries in 93 days. The Ritz-Carlton is synonymous with luxury, so it’s no surprise that the company extended into oceanic adventures with a fleet of three superyachts.

There are few travel sensations quite as stirring and elemental as approaching an unknown island by sea.

A few of the amenities you can enjoy when traveling with Seabourn Cruise Line include intimate ships with a yacht-like atmosphere, ocean-front suites, complimentary caviar, and extraordinary entertainment experiences. Owned by Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., Regent Seven Seas is one of the best luxury cruise lines, offering travelers a sophisticated cruising experience. Regent Seven Seas Cruises is the only truly all-inclusive cruise line, with thousands of excursion options included in the upfront price of your cruise. Carrying no more than 750 guests, the line’s luxurious ships explore more than 500 different locations, including Miami, Tokyo, Lisbon, and Bali. For instance, SeaDream's intimate yachts can stealthily visit ports that large ships can't manage. Regent Seven Seas packs all-inclusive gourmet dining and suites into their luxury offerings.

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). Sure, its ships have reinforced hulls capable of breaking through ice, but they also feature chic bars serving 130 different kinds of whiskey (all included in your fare) and high-end onboard spas (treatments cost extra, alas). Not all cabins are suites, but the top suites on the ship come with butler service.

Suites are also a highlight, with more than enough space plus personal butlers and large bathrooms complete with bathtubs and separate showers. All cabins also have a neat hidden TV feature -- flat-screen televisions are embedded into huge mirrors, and when they're turned off, you can't even see them. Seabourn's newest ship, Seabourn Ovation, is the second in the line's Encore Class, the next generation of Seabourn's popular Odyssey-class ships. Regent Seven Seas Cruises once again aimed for “Luxury Perfected” with the 2020 launch of Seven Seas Splendor. Splendor features the exquisite cuisine and generous all-inclusive rates for which Regent is known, with some of the most luxe rooms at sea.

Named the best small-ship ocean cruise line in T+L's 2022 World's Best Awards, Golden said the line is known for Tahitian-inspired massage techniques in the onboard spa and noted that cruisers particularly love the wonderful staff. Windstar Cruises' luxury small ships call on 150 ports throughout Europe, Central America, the Caribbean, and the South Pacific, and there's no way you'll go hungry on the journey. Exquisite onboard menus have been designed by acclaimed chefs from Michelin-starred restaurants. If you've ever dreamed of having your own butler, Silversea is the luxury cruise line for you. Further, Silversea's new culinary program, nicknamed S.A.L.T. (for Sea and Land Taste), brings the taste of destinations on board through cooking classes.

10 Luxury Cruise Lines, Ranked By Passenger Review - TheTravel

10 Luxury Cruise Lines, Ranked By Passenger Review.

Posted: Thu, 23 Nov 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]

On the three newest, Seven Seas Explorer, Seven Seas Splendor and Seven Seas Grandeur everyone stays in a roomy suite with an oversized balcony and marble bathroom. S.A.L.T., a new dining and culinary education concept, brings local tastes on board together with experts who share insight into each dish and beverage. Exquisite cuisine is prepared a la minute and accompanied by pours of fine wines. When you rest your head, it's on a luxury mattress topped with the finest linens.

Costs cover dining, most drinks, a stocked minibar, wi-fi, crew gratuities and — on expedition cruises — most activities. Spaces inside are contemporary, and the ship is easily one of the best expedition options for adventurous luxury travelers. Every suite has its own balcony and separate lounge area, and you can expect fine-dining quality meals at spots like the Chef's Table. First-class service, fine wines and gourmet cuisine, picture-perfect itineraries, and high crew-to-passenger ratios are just some of the hallmarks of the best luxury cruise ships. But cruise ships -- even the world's most luxurious -- have their own unique personalities and some will be more suited to your vacation style than others. Whether it's a river or an ocean you want to cruise, Scenic can take you there in style.

Passengers are spoiled for choice, from upscale Italian in Onda by Scarpetta and delicious Teppanyaki and sushi, to fine French food or Mediterranean fare. The line also offers thoughtful dining packages to help make visiting these venues less restrictive and costs more manageable. All restaurants are included in the cruise fare on Viking Venus, except The Kitchen Table. The Restaurant (the main dining room) and The World Cafe (buffet) serve international menus in light-filled venues, with options to open floor-to-ceiling windows on balmy days. Manfredi's is arguably the best restaurant onboard andoffers Italian fare, while you can sample Norwegian dishes inspired by the mother of Viking chairman Torstein Hagen at Mamsen's. 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.

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