If you love going on cruises, you might want to choose a luxury cruise ship for your next choice. Here are the top five luxury cruises that are currently available.
Opting to take a luxury cruise may cost more money, but it is worthwhile. When you choose to take a cruise on one of these beautiful ships, you can create lasting memories with your loved ones that you will always treasure.
Regent Seven Seas Explorer
When the Seven Seas Explorer was first launched in 2016, it was billed as the most luxurious ship in the world. If you want a truly luxurious experience, this ship will not disappoint. The ship is filled with paintings by the masters, including Picasso and Eduardo Arranz-Bravo with 2500 works on display. The ship’s interior is filled with lavish marble and granite. Every cabin on the Seven Seas Explorer is a suite, and the balconies are very large, ranging from 55 square feet up to 995 square feet.
Visitors may enjoy food choices from several restaurants on board the ship. La Veranda serves a buffet-style breakfast and lunch before being transformed into Sette Mari for dinner, during which you can choose between the buffet or the a la carte menu. Other restaurants on the ship include the Compass Rose, Chartreuse for French cuisine, Prime 7 for steaks, and the Pacific Rim for pan-Asian food.
The 10-night Western Carribean cruise costs $4,299 and departs from Miami, Florida. The itinerary includes ports in Grand Cayman, Cozumel, Costa Maya, Harvest Caye, Santo Tomas de Castilla, Roatan, and Key West. The ship also sails for an eastern cruise from Miami as well as international cruises that tour northern Europe, Asia, the Mediterranean, and Africa. There is also a Transatlantic cruise that leaves from Miami.
Pros of the Seven Seas Explorer
- 2500 works of art on display
- All cabins are suites
- Replete with marble and granite
Cons of the Seven Seas Explorer
- Needs to add a more refined entertainment experience
- Life on the ship slows when night falls
Oceania Riviera
Launched in 2012, the Oceania Riviera is an ideal choice for you if you are a foodie. The ship features seven different restaurant options that include the following:
- Jacques for French fare
- Red Ginger for Asian cuisine
- Polo Grill for dry-aged beef and steaks
- La Reserve for a seven-course meal with wine pairings
- Toscana for Italian food served on Versace china
- Privee for the most exclusive experience on the ship
- The Grand Dining Room
In addition to sampling the fine wines and cuisine at the numerous restaurants, foodies can also enjoy taking classes at the Bon Appétit Culinary Center, which is a self-contained onboard cooking school. You can also relax at the Canyon Ranch SpaClub or paint at the Artist Loft.
The ship features 147 suites and 478 staterooms, all of which are equipped with flatscreen televisions and minibars. The suites range up to 2,000 square feet, and the Owner’s Suites offer furnishings by Ralph Lauren throughout. Booking a suite also allows you to enjoy 24/7 butler service. The ship primarily sails in the Mediterranean and the Caribbean. It also offers a 19-night world cruise and a Cuban cruise. The 10-night Mediterranean cruise starts at $4,299 and departs from Athens. From there, the cruise has stops in Crete, Jerusalem, Haifa, Limassol, Rhodes, Patmos, and Santorini.
Pros of the Oceania Riviera
- Caribbean cruise starts at just $1,599
- Huge food selection
- Wide variety of bars
Cons of the Oceania Riviera
- Better for adults who are traveling without children because most of the entertainment options are geared towards an older audience
- A la carte pricing can make the costs add up quickly
Crystal Serenity
The Crystal Serenity is well-known for its robust enrichment program that features famous guest speakers, including luminaries, politicians, experts, and authors. When you choose to sail on the Crystal Serenity, you will have access to some of the most well-known and knowledgeable people in the world. You are able to take classes from the American Contract Bridge League, and pro golfers are onboard to add their knowledge. The ship also offers a broad variety of entertainment choices, including a casino, ballroom dancing, karaoke and dancing at the Pulse Disco.
The dining choices include the Crystal Dining Room, which serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There are also two specialty restaurants onboard, including Prego and Silk Road, which has a sushi bar inside. The cruise ship has various itineraries from ports around the world. Its quintessential crossings cruise departs from Lisbon, Portugal, and stops in St. Thomas before reaching Ft. Lauderdale, Florida at a price of $2,885.
Pros of the Crystal Serenity
- Terrific enrichment program
- Broad variety of entertainment choices
Cons of the Crystal Serenity
- It can be difficult to secure reservations to the specialty restaurants
- Most suites do not have three beds, making it difficult for families
Viking Star
The Viking Star has an airy, open feel, and all the cabins feature verandas. All cabins and suites have heated bathroom floors, anti-fog mirrors, and USB ports by the beds. The fare includes eating at all the restaurants, including the specialty restaurants except for The Kitchen Table.
Speaking of food, the World Cafe and The Restaurant feature international menus. Manfredi’s serves Italian cuisine, and The Chef’s table offers course dinners that are themed. Momsen’s offers Norwegian food. The Kitchen Table is an exclusive experience and is only offered two times during the cruise. It involves going with the chef to purchase food at a port and then helping the chef to prepare it before dining.
The seven-night cultural Cuba cruise departs from Miami with a multi-day stop in Cienfuegos and a stop in Santiago de Cuba before it returns to Miami. The cost of the cruise starts at $2,999.
Pros of the Viking Star
- Inclusive fare includes dining at most of the restaurants
- Beautiful small ship
Cons of the Viking Star
- No casino
- No amenities for families who are traveling with children
Seabourn Encore
The Seabourn Encore was launched in 2016 and is a luxurious mid-sized cruise ship. The ship’s public spaces both inside and outdoors were designed by Adam D. Tihany. All the cabins are suites that range in size from 300 square feet to 1,300 square feet. Plus, all of them have balconies.
The Spa allows you to enjoy therapeutic treatments, and there is a VIP-only outdoor lounge called The Retreat. Your cruise fare is all-inclusive and includes your meals and entertainment. The Grill by Thomas Keller is a new restaurant that is available fleet-wide and features a menu from the chef behind Napa Valley’s famed French Laundry restaurant. There are a variety of different itineraries, including to Asia, New Zealand, Australia, the Mediterranean, the Middle East, and the Greek Isles.
The price of a cruise on the Seabourn Encore starts at $3,199 for its Orchid Isles cruise in Asia.
Pros of the Seabourn Encore
- Ship is beautifully designed both inside and out
- Good restaurant selection
Cons of the Seabourn Encore
- The gym is rather small
Silver Muse
Silver Muse is redefining what it means to travel the seas. The intimate vessel accommodates 596 guests and doesn’t skimp on luxurious amenities, like all-suite cabins, private teak balconies off every suite, marble bathrooms, the finest linens, and TVs embedded in mirrors.
Unlike many cruise ships, the Silver Muse has no main dining room. Instead, guests can eat at any restaurant anytime. With eight different restaurants to choose from, guests can sample cuisines from around the world. Options include Kaiseki, Indochine, Atlantide, La Terrazza, Spaccanapoli, La Dame, The Grill/Hot Rocks and Silver Note. Whether you’re craving sushi, dim sum, Peruvian fusion or handmade pizza, you can find it onboard.
The menus are extensive, and the chefs gain inspiration from local ports. The menus at some of the restaurants change weekly, ensuring that guests always have something unique to nosh on. The chefs can accommodate just about any dietary restrictions and always go the extra mile to ensure that your dining experiences are extraordinary.
When passengers are not feasting, they can use the putting green or join an organized activity, such as trivia or shuffleboard. The lounge chairs by the large pool are padded and comfortable. Best of all, pool attendants can bring you anything you need. They’ll even polish your sunglasses for you. The best place to catch the sunset is from the whirlpool on Deck 10.
Nine bars and lounges give guests plenty of spots to scope out the views, put their feet up and get to know the other guests. Cocktails and snacks abound.
The seven-night Mediterranean cruise stops at Barcelona, Cannes, Monaco, Florence, Bastia, and Rome. The price starts around $5,000.
Pros of the Silver Muse
- Delectable, upscale and varied dining options
- Every suite includes butler service.
Cons of the Silver Muse
- TVs in mirrors are difficult to view at times because of glare
- Nightly shows start late
SeaDream II
With accommodations for only 110 passengers, the SeaDream II is the closest that many people will come to owning a yacht. The price is all-inclusive, and the staff members will go out of their way to make sure that every passenger request is fulfilled. This ship is perfect for those who desire a customized experience with exclusive itineraries and a laid-back atmosphere.
The fare includes gratuities, onboard dining, and drinks other than top-shelf liquor and premium wine. It also includes mountain bike rentals, snorkel gear, and equipment for non-motorized water sports.
Guests don’t have an abundance of restaurants to choose from, but the quality of the food is outstanding. The menus at the indoor Dining Salon or the Topside Restaurant, which is outdoors, are impressive and have a wide range of options, including a complete raw menu. All the seating is open, and the wait staff will appear promptly as soon as you settle in.
One day during each cruise is devoted to the Champagne and Caviar Splash, a beach party with a food, caviar, and plenty of champagne to go around. Other than that, there aren’t many organized activities onboard.
When you’re not heading on a land excursion, you have plenty of time to relax on a sumptuous Balinese bed. In fact, you can spend the night on deck in one of the plush outdoor daybeds if you reserve it beforehand.
You can also while the time away by the pool, the Top of the Yacht Bar, the Piano Bar, or the library. The SeaDream II features a golf simulator with 30 courses.
One of the most popular SeaDream II itineraries takes you across the Caribbean for seven nights, departing from San Juan, Puerto Rico, and stopping in St. John, Nevis, St. Kitts, St. Barts, Anguilla, Jost Van Dyke, and St. Thomas. Prices start at $3,599.
Pros of the SeaDream II
- All-inclusive
- Crew members are beyond accommodating
Cons of the SeaDream II
- Not many entertainment or activity options
- The ship’s furnishings aren’t as modern as those on many other luxury cruise ships
Cruise Ships of the Future
Cruise operators across the world are always striving to develop new ships that lead to a more luxurious and comfortable experience for passengers.
One notable innovation is the development of multi-hulled cruise ships. The Eoseas is a pentamaran (a vessel with five hulls) while Abeking & Rasmussen’s newest luxury ship features two hulls. These multi-hulled cruise ships are more environmentally friendly than the standard design. Plus, guests are sure to appreciate the extra stability multiple hulls brings to the ship.
The Eoseas is also equipped with massive sails to help power the ship’s motion. The cruise vessel is looking to bring about a 50 percent reduction in consumption of power and a 30 percent reduction in energy consumption levels by harnessing the power of renewable resources. There are several other concept designs that incorporate sails to reduce emissions.