LuxeWorld recommends some of the world’s best luxury cruise lines, each with its own point of difference:

• Oceania Cruises — Gourmet dining and destination immersion at an accessible luxury level.
• Azamara — Longer port stays and cultural experiences on mid-sized ships.
• Scenic — Ultra-luxury yachts with expedition-style cruises featuring onboard helicopters and submarines.
• The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection — Intimate ultra-luxury yacht-style cruising with signature Ritz-Carlton service.
• Regent Seven Seas — All-inclusive luxury with spacious ships and numerous shore excursions.
• Silversea — All-suite ships with butler service, offering both classic and expedition voyages.
• Ponant — Small, eco-friendly ships with French flair, specialising in expedition voyages to remote regions.
• Crystal Cruises — Refined elegance with high-end service and a focus on cultural enrichment.
• Seabourn — Yacht-like experience with personalised service and a gourmet dining menu crafted by renowned American chef Thomas Keller. 
• Viking Ocean — Adult-only, destination-focused cruises with cultural enrichment and shore excursions per port.
• Explora Journeys — Intimate, elegant and sustainable travel on boutique-style ships.

Luxury ocean cruising provides an elevated, intimate, personalised and all-inclusive experience compared to mainstream cruising. Here are the key distinctions:

• Inclusive pricing — Many luxury cruise lines include premium services in their pricing, such as alcoholic beverages, shore excursions, gratuities, Wi-Fi and pre-cruise hotel stays.
• Intimate ship size and exclusive atmosphere — Luxury cruise ships are typically smaller, hosting fewer passengers (often between 100 and 1,000 guests) to create a more intimate and exclusive environment. This allows access to smaller, less tourist-heavy ports that larger ships can’t reach.
• Unique itineraries and destinations — Luxury cruise lines offer carefully curated itineraries with extended port stays and visits to off-the-beaten-path destinations, providing deeper cultural immersion and access to remote locales like secluded islands, hidden Caribbean gems and polar regions.
• Spacious, elegant accommodations — Luxury cruise suites are more elaborate and often include private balconies, high-end furnishings, plush linens, designer amenities and personalised services such as private butlers.
• Gourmet dining experiences — Dining is of gourmet calibre, with 5-star menus crafted by renowned chefs using fresh, locally sourced ingredients from the regions visited. Specialty open-seating dining options are usually included in the packages. 
• Exceptional service and personalised attention — A higher crew-to-passenger ratio — sometimes close to 1:1 — promises attentive, personalised butler services and concierge-level assistance. The staff gets to know your preferences and dietary needs, offering a level of attention that surpasses mainstream cruises.
• Sophisticated entertainment and enrichment — Entertainment is refined and focuses on cultural enrichment, such as expert lectures, culinary demonstrations, art exhibitions and intimate performances, rather than large-scale shows. 
• Adult-focused environment — Luxury cruise ships often cater to adult travellers seeking a tranquil, refined atmosphere, with less emphasis on family-oriented activities.

To book a luxury cruise, contact our friendly team of expert travel consultants. You can schedule a consultation to discuss your preferences or enquire online for personalised assistance.