Luxury Cruising
There are several distinct features common to luxury cruises, which are absent from mainstream cruise offers. Among the features of luxury cruises is the exorbitant price, which usually covers the cost of airfare for transatlantic and European cruises. The cost doubles and even triples the cost of mainstream cruise offers. The luxury prices include prepaid amenities, a choice of wines and spirits during dinners and a mini-bar in each cabin. Visiting exotic and hard to reach destinations the larger ships cannot navigate is a special feature of luxury cruises.
Luxury ships are usually smaller in size with a capacity less than 1000 and as few as 50 passengers. Suites are large with private baths, an ocean-view and balconies. Luxury cruises include superb service onboard, exemplary gourmet cuisine, the finest choices in wines and spirits, refined entertainment and formal dinners in tuxedos and gowns. Luxury cruises offer escort service for single woman who enjoy dancing or the company of a male companion during meals. The entertainment on luxury cruises is refined and classical.
Luxury cruises offer unstructured activity schedules, personal choice seating for meals and no fixed menus. An atmosphere of sophistication and formality is present on a luxury cruise as opposed to the festive and sometimes frivolous atmosphere aboard mainstream cruises.
Among the cruise lines specialising in top rate luxury cruises are Cunard, Crystal, Radisson Seven Seas, Seabourn and Silversea Cruise Lines. The Holland America Line and Princess Cruises offer luxurious features to some of their cruises.