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The 11 Best Luxury Cruise Lines, According to T+L's Experts

These luxury cruise lines offer stunning suites, fine dining, and exceptional itineraries.

Meena Thiruvengadam is a lifelong traveler and veteran journalist who has visited more than 50 countries across six continents. Her writing has appeared in The Wall Street Journal , Departures , TripSavvy , and other publications.

Cruising is back — and you might even say it's better than ever. "Vacations at sea are suddenly one of the biggest things in travel," Travel + Leisure cruise expert Paul Brady reported recently, as summer air travel is looking progressively messier but the cruise industry continues to stabilize post-pandemic. For those looking to plan a cruise, whether it's a last-minute trip for the summer or a 2024 around-the-world cruise, we've narrowed down the best luxury cruise lines to ferry you to some of the world's most mesmerizing destinations in comfort. Here, our favorite luxury cruise lines in the world.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

When this luxury cruise line says it's all-inclusive, it's not overstating. Everything from shore excursions, Wi-Fi, and laundry to gratuities, top-shelf liquor, and business-class international flights are included with Regent Seven Seas Cruises ' fares. While each luxurious suite features ocean views, nothing beats the view from the epic 4,000-square-foot, two-bedroom Regent Suite, which has two wraparound balconies, three walk-in closets, two Picasso lithographs, and a grand piano.

For the best in-suite views, book a room at the back of the ship, Kelly Cochrane, executive chef of Regent Seven Seas Cruises tells T+L.

Oceania Cruises

Oceania Cruises has just seven ships, but the debut of the brand-new Oceania Vista catapults this cruise line into the luxury division. The cruise line's relatively new Go Local shore excursions for small groups bring travelers to under-the-radar destinations, T+L contributing editor and long-time cruiser Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon reported recently. Her 2022 cruise on Riviera included 70 excursions "from canoeing Croatia’s Cetina River to cooking classes in Athens."

If you've ever dreamed of having your own butler, Silversea is the luxury cruise line for you. In fact, Silversea's butlers take white-glove service to a whole new level — they'll handle your laundry with more care than you do, scour port towns to find your favorite tastes of home, and even help you pack and unpack your suitcase. 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. Of course, there's no need to cook for yourself aboard a Silversea ship, as each one features several restaurants with multi-course menus to whet your appetite every night.

Viking Cruises

Viking Cruises is a river and ocean cruise line that recently added expedition sailings and the Great Lakes trips to its repertoire. "T+L readers rave about the consistency of Viking's vessels and their Scandinavian design," cruise expert Fran Golden reported when Viking once again topped T+L's World's Best Awards last year. Viking came in at No. 1 in T+L's best mid-size ship category and river cruise category. Golden said the WBA Hall of Fame honoree's 50 river "longships" are "light-filled floating boutique hotels."

Laureen Robert / Courtesy of Ponant

French luxury cruise line Ponant aims to make passengers feel as if they're traveling on their own private yachts. Guests enjoy Ladurée macarons, Veuve Clicquot Champagne, and luxurious Hermès bath products on board. Each of the company's ships features an onboard spa with massage cabins and either a Turkish bath or sauna. Ponant's luxurious small ships sail to remote destinations like Antarctica, incorporating once-in-a-lifetime experiences such as eclipse spotting from the edge of the earth. The company also partners with Smithsonian and Disney on certain sailings.

Seabourn cruises to all seven continents, and most recently launched Seabourn Venture , "marking the first time the Carnival Corporation–owned luxury cruise line will offer adventurous sailings on an expedition ship built for extreme environments," Brady reported. (The sibling ship to Venture , Seabourn Pursuit arrives later this year.) The World's Best Award-winning cruise line has all-suite ships and "is known for its onboard service and over-the-top food including complimentary caviar and Thomas Keller steakhouses on ships such as the  Seabourn Ovation, " Brady said.

Windstar Cruises

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. (You'll have to pay extra for alcohol, but all meals and a Windstar signature onboard barbecue — a feast of whole suckling pig, shrimp brochette, and more — are included.) The cruise line is not only a T+L World's Best Awards Hall of Fame honoree, it has a "long-standing partnership with the James Beard Foundation ," Brady reported, and regularly brings chefs on board for culinary-focused sailings. Yes, chef.

Courtesy of Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours

Whether it's a river or an ocean you want to cruise, Scenic can take you there in style. The luxury cruise line operates river cruises in Europe and Asia, while ocean cruises on Scenic Eclipse (and the forthcoming Scenic Eclipse II ) can take guests to Antarctica, the Arctic, Australia, South America, and Greenland, among other coveted destinations. On board, you'll find fine dining, expansive spas and fitness facilities, and butler service.

Cunard Line

Jonathan Atkin / Courtesy of Cunard Line

This British luxury cruise line is known for its transatlantic service, which also transports pets between its headquarters in Southampton, England, and New York City. Cunard operates three ships with a fourth in the works, though only the Queen Mary 2 sails the transatlantic route. It's a cruise line that takes formality seriously; white-gloved waiters serve afternoon tea each day at 3:30 p.m. State rooms include 24-hour room service and evening turndown service with chocolates. Don't forget your tux, the gala nights are black tie.

Paul Gauguin Cruises

Roger Paperno / Courtesy of Paul Gauguin Cruises

Paul Gauguin Cruises operates just one ship, but it is exquisite, hosting 330 guests and sailing only in the South Pacific to destinations like Tahiti, Fiji, Tonga, and the Cook Islands. The ship is small enough to access private ports at remote beaches and take travelers well off the beaten path. 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.

Celebrity Cruises

Steve Dunlop / Courtesy of Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Cruises ' new Edge Series ships are taking things up a notch. Celebrity's signature Iconic Suites on board the Celebrity Edge and Apex offer panoramic views from above the ship's bridge; each suite boasts more than 2,500 square feet of space, including expansive 690-square-foot terraces, and comes with two bedrooms and two bathrooms. 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. Beyond 's sibling ship, Ascent , will be delivered later this year.

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First look: Inside the new Ritz-Carlton cruise ship Evrima, which finally debuts this week

Evrima is finally here. Really. Or so they say.

The long-delayed debut of The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection , the new cruising arm of luxury hotel chain Ritz-Carlton , will actually happen on Saturday, according to the company. Its first ship, the 298-passenger Evrima, is finally finished and will begin its first sailing.

The brand even sent photos to prove it.

For more cruise news, guides and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

As you can see in the Ritz-Carlton-shot images on this page, Evrima is an upscale, yachtlike vessel with a sleek, sloping front that will be right at home nestled among the megayachts anchored off Monaco or St. Barts.

As the company promised when it announced the brand, the 10-deck-high vessel's interiors have an elegant, residential look designed to appeal to Ritz-Carlton regulars. Among marquee spaces is the top-of-the-ship Observation Lounge, which offers views over the bow from curving, floor-to-ceiling windows. There's also an interior "living room" that will serve as a central gathering point on the ship, photos of which the brand did not provide.

As can be seen in the photos, Evrima's 149 cabins are spacious. They include two-story Loft Suites that measure 611 square feet, not including 81-square-foot balconies.

There also are two massive, 1,091-square-foot Owner's Suites at the back of the vessel with giant, 635-square-foot wraparound balconies.

The company didn't provide images of the Owner's Suites but offered a peek inside a Loft Suite and smaller Grand Suites and Signature Suites. The latter two categories of rooms still are large by cruise ship standards at 587 square feet and 427 square feet, respectively, not including balcony space. All of these suite categories offer living room space with spots for dining, as well as bedrooms.

As can be seen in the photos, there's also lots of deck-top lounge space for sunning, including a back-of-the-ship area with a small pool on Deck 8 called the Mistral Terrace and a forward-looking area on Deck 9 called the Spa Terrace. The Mistral Terrace doubles as a venue for alfresco lunch and dinner, with a seafood bar and prime cuts of meat grilled to order.

Another lounge space called the Marina Terrace is closer to the waterline at the ship's rear-facing marina area.

In addition to a main restaurant called the Evrima Room, Evrima has four dining venues that, notably, include an a la carte restaurant designed by Sven Elverfeld of the three-Michelin-starred Aqua in The Ritz-Carlton, Wolfsburg in Germany .

There also is a spa on the vessel. The line didn't provide images of the Elverfeld restaurant or the spa.

Evrima's first sailing on Saturday will be a seven-night trip from Barcelona to Nice, France, that will include stops in Spain's Balearic islands of Alcudia and Palma de Mallorca, plus an overnight in St. Tropez, France.

Whether the ship really is ready to run at the sort of luxury level Ritz-Carlton fans expect remains to be seen. The ship has been plagued by construction problems for years, resulting in a succession of eight delays that have pushed back its arrival by nearly three years. The company initially used a shipyard to build Evrima that had little experience constructing upscale vessels .

The repeated delays have led to waves of trip cancellations over the past three years that have left would-be customers frustrated. TPG's inbox is full of emails from passengers on canceled sailings that feel let down by the company.

Assuming Evrima does begin sailing on Saturday, it will be debuting nearly 33 months behind schedule — a backup of a magnitude rarely seen in the cruise shipbuilding space. It was originally scheduled to begin sailing in February 2020.

Evrima is just one of a number of relatively small, yachtlike cruise ships that are coming to market as hospitality brands see demand for intimate, high-end vessels. Emerald Cruises earlier this year unveiled its first yachtlike ocean cruise vessel , the 100-passenger Emerald Azzurra, after several years of only operating river ships. And just last month, luxury hotel chain Four Seasons announced plans to launch a yachtlike, 190-passenger cruise vessel by 2025.

Luxury cruise operator Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours also is in the midst of adding high-end, 228-passenger, yachtlike vessels .

Rising 10 decks high and with capacity for nearly 300 passengers, Evrima is notably bigger than the vessels operated by these other brands, though it still has a yachtlike shape.

Evrima is just the first of several vessels that Ritz-Carlton plans for its new cruising arm. In March, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection announced that two more vessels for the brand would be built at the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in St. Nazaire, France — a shipyard with far more experience in cruise shipbuilding than the shipyard that initially built Evrima.

The two new Ritz-Carlton vessels, which will be bigger than Evrima, are scheduled to debut in 2024 and 2025, respectively.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
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• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• 15 ways cruisers waste money
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• What to pack for your first cruise

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Twinned with EXPLORA I for inherent sophistication. A beautifully crafted haven that stimulates the senses and connects us with the ocean.

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Get your bearings before boarding with detailed deckplans for more information suites, restaurants, pools and entertainment and more across all floors. 

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Breaking news, inside icon of the seas, the world’s largest cruise ship.

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They like big boats and they cannot lie.

For many of the first passengers on the world’s largest cruise ship, Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas, the onboard reality of the $2 billion behemoth lived up to the over-the-top hype.

During back-to-back preview sailings from the Port of Miami in late January, travel agents, special guests, members of the media and selfie-snapping influencers giddily explored as much as they could of the 20-story floating city that boasts eight distinct neighborhoods — and can hold nearly 10,000 passengers and crew at full capacity.

As they ate and drank across the ship a shared sentiment formed: Big is indeed beautiful.

“I think it’s definitely a game-changer,” said Tywana Minor, founder of Live Travel Go, a boutique travel agency based in Atlanta. “You can literally be on the ship for a few days and still not even experience everything.”

The first bunch on board explored the myriad offerings with a sort of collective awe. Couples clinked flutes of champagne at the walk-up Bubbles bar in the Central Park neighborhood, one of 40 bars and restaurants on board.

“You can literally be on the ship for a few days and still not even experience everything” Tywana Minor, founder of Live Travel Go

Adults giggled like nervous adolescents as they blasted down water slides with names like Frightening Bolt and Storm Surge in the 17,000-square-foot water park. Pint-sized passengers, meanwhile, found nirvana at Surfside, a family-centric area complete with a beach-themed carousel and wading pool.

A few lucky souls even had the good fortune to snag perhaps the most coveted reservation on the high seas: the 38-seat Empire Supper Club, an eight-course dinner complete with cocktail pairings and live jazz. The fine-dining experience, which costs $200 per person, is fully booked for the next few months.

But it wasn’t just Icon’s splashy main attractions wowing passengers: Surprises awaited around seemingly every corner of the 1,198-foot ship, including pop-up piano performances, magicians and a duo of donut-costumed employees at the breakfast buffet every morning pointing guests toward rows of sinks and reminding them to “washy washy before yummy yummy!”

For many passengers, adjusting to Icon’s staggering size — it’s nearly as long as four New York City blocks — presented a learning curve in itself. Even with signage everywhere, getting lost at some point was a given. Furthermore, the ship’s design — a vast open-air interior with elevators located forward and aft but not in the middle — almost guarantees that passengers will hit (or exceed) their daily step count.

“If you don’t like walking around a lot, this ship is not gonna be for you,” said Linda Miranda , a Newburgh, NY-based travel franchise owner with Cruise Planners.

As an antidote to the go-go-go vibe, Icon’s massive square footage also includes plenty of tranquil nooks and crannies ideal for kicking back and catching your breath: bed loungers overlooking the ocean; cornucopias of outdoor couches and chairs across various decks; and cozy, nest-like booths in the AquaDome, an area featuring a waterfall and wraparound ocean views.

“There are so many spaces that you’re not going to feel the 7,600 passengers it can hold fully occupied,” Miranda said.

To escape the sensory overload altogether, retreat to their staterooms. There are 28 room categories; the most basic accommodations are 157-square-foot interior plus cabins, with rates starting at $3,600 per week for two people.

Meanwhile, one-percenters can splash out with the three-story Ultimate Family Townhouse, which spoils eight guests with amenities like a private patio, outdoor hot tub, in-suite slide, cinema and popcorn machine, and kids’ room. The suite costs, on average, $100,000 per week.

So far, passengers are showing an insatiable appetite for Icon and its outsized experience. When the ship was first announced in October 2022, it broke records as the largest booking day and week in Royal Caribbean’s then 53-year history, according to the cruise line. And the remainder of 2024 sailings are almost sold out, a Royal Caribbean spokesperson confirmed.

But since Icon is the first of a new class of megaships by Royal Caribbean — two more are on the way, with Star of the Seas scheduled to debut in August 2025 — there’s plenty more big fun on the horizon. It’s a prospect that has the chubby chasers of the cruise community twitterpated.

“These news ships, I don’t know how they keep building them bigger and bigger,” said Howard Schildhouse — a retired accountant who writes about his travels on his blog, “ It Must Be Wanderlust ” — “but they do.”

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Disappointing photos show what it's actually like to go on a cruise

• I took a seven-day voyage on one of the largest cruise ships in the world , my first cruise ever. 
• I found the reality of cruising didn't match my expectations from social media and promotional ads.
• I spent much of my time battling crowds, waiting in lines, and sitting on hot tour buses.

I booked my first-ever cruise aboard Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas in April 2022. The seven-day Caribbean voyage on a mega-ship took me round-trip from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to port stops in Honduras, Mexico, and the Bahamas. I expected breathtaking views of the world between relaxing swimming and sunbathing sessions.

But my experience didn't quite meet my expectations.

Instead, I sunbathed in a loud, crowded pool area when I was lucky enough to find a chair. I spent more time waiting in lines than I had anticipated, and I saw much of the world from behind other people's heads.

Here's an overview of the most disappointing aspects of my cruise, from getting to the port to sailing across the region

The disappointment started before I was even on the cruise.

Since I don't live near my cruise's departure city, my trip began with a flight and a budget hotel room near my departure port in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

When I arrived at my port city's airport, I waited 45 minutes for a hotel shuttle to pick me up.

This was the first of many crowded bus rides during my trip. Looking back, I wish I had called a cab — especially since the next morning, I piled into a hot bus with several other cruise guests as I headed to the port.

There was a long line to get inside the cruise terminal, and I should have known by this point that I'd stand in many more lines during my cruise.

Inside the cruise terminal , there was another long line to get through security. While I waited, I chuckled to myself as I read signs that said, "Adventure begins here."

Once aboard the ship, I was excited to view the ocean as we sailed away, but I was blocked by tall, thick glass and couldn't find a place to stand.

My obstructed view of the ship leaving Fort Lauderdale made me feel as frustrated as standing behind tall patrons at a concert. 

The ship was so large that I got lost several times during my stay.

But I found the maps on each floor to be helpful.

As I explored the ship, I was surprised that even a mega-ship could feel overcrowded.

While people seemed to enjoy themselves, many communal decks looked and felt like crowded malls.

The outdoor decks had 19 pools, plunge pools, and whirlpools accessible to guests. These spaces were crowded throughout the day. And even though there were rules against saving chairs with towels, I saw plenty of people doing it, so finding a spot to relax was stressful.

A Royal Caribbean representative told Business Insider crew members might remove items from lounge chairs after 30 minutes. Still, they must also consider families and groups who may be in the pool or going to the restroom when enforcing rules like these and must use their best judgment.

There were crowds and lines virtually everywhere I went.

From the buffet to activities like water slides and mini-golf, I felt like I spent more time waiting in line than enjoying the ship. For example, I waited in line for three hours to play a round of laser tag that was less than 20 minutes long. 

At port stops, I waited in lines to go through security every time I left and returned to the ship. I found this less annoying than the other wait times since it made me feel safer.

The lines continued at each port, crowded with others excited to begin their tours.

I often had to battle through crowds just to find signs for my excursions.

It was exciting to explore new places at each stop, though some of this exploration was from the window of another hot bus.

A Royal Caribbean representative told BI the cruise line worked with local tour operators for its excursions, so air conditioning standards varied.

And when I was finally doing the cool thing I booked, like walking across a suspension bridge amid the treetops, my view was sometimes blocked once more by everyone else who booked the tour, too.

I hoped to capture an empty image of this majestic jungle bridge, but it wasn't possible without losing my tour crew. 

According to a crew member I overheard, roughly 5,000 other people were aboard the ship, so I understand why the cruise felt so crowded.

I think that if I were to book a less crowded cruise next time, I might enjoy it more.

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24 Luxury Cruise Facts That Might Surprise You

Posted: November 7, 2023 | Last updated: December 10, 2023

Sumptuous escapes at sea

Some Oceania Cruises suites have walk-in closets and grand pianos

No expense has been spared when it comes to suite decor on luxury ships. For ultimate opulence, opt for the Owner’s suites which you’ll find on Oceania Cruises ' ships. These cover 1,991 square feet, have two walk-in closets and entrance foyers with a grand piano and a mahogany bar. A 15-day Svalbard & Arctic Passage cruise with accommodation in the Grand Owner’s suite costs from $23,044 per person.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ Seven Seas Explorer had a big design budget

We’re increasingly seeing bigger budgets for ships’ decor. Huge amounts of cash are being splashed on sprucing up interiors, and one example of this decadence is Regent Seven Seas Cruises ' Seven Seas Explorer, which has 473 Swedish-designed chandeliers, 45,876 square feet of marble, Versace-designed dinnerware, crystal glasses from Eastern Europe and a $12 million art collection which includes several Picassos.

Orient Express is set to launch a seriously luxurious ship

After launching the world’s most luxurious train 140 years ago, Orient Express will launch an opulent ship to match. Orient Express Silenseas, which will take to the waves in 2026, will have 54 suites (including a 15,231-square-foot Presidential Suite), two swimming pools, two restaurants and a speakeasy bar. Oh, and a recording studio. Prices are to be confirmed (but will inevitably be eye-watering).

Windstar Cruises’ Star Legend offers themed suites

Sail on Windstar Cruises’ Star Legend and you can book a suite inspired by exotic destinations and hotels. We recommend the suite inspired by the Sea Island resort in Georgia. Expect ocean-inspired colourways and plenty of sea-glass green. A Treasures of the Greek Isles cruise with Windstar starts from $3,745 per person.

Now discover amazing facts about cruise ships you might not know

There are butlers onboard with a Silversea cruise

Book a sailing with  Silversea  and you’re guaranteed your own butler. They'll be on hand to help with everything from the unpacking of luggage to the opening of the Champagne bottles. They’re not just any butlers, either – they’ve undertaken a 108-point training programme created for the cruise line by the London-based School for Butlers. An 11-day Mediterranean Cruise in 2024 costs from $8,092 per person.

You can go beneath the ocean's surface with Scenic Cruises

An abundance of onboard kit means that luxury ships don’t just help passengers get to the world’s most remote places – they help them get below the waves and into the skies too. Take Scenic Cruises – their Scenic Eclipse ship recently became the first vessel to offer both helicopter flights and submarine dives in the Canadian Arctic. An Antarctica in Depth cruise costs from $16,310 per person.

Seven Seas Grandeur has in-suite spas

Love a session in the spa but value your personal space? Book Regent Seven Seas Cruises ’ Regent Suite, which you’ll find on Seven Seas Grandeur, due to launch in November 2023. Highlights include the two enormous bedrooms and the whirlpool bath on the balcony, although the pièce de resistance is the suite’s very own spa retreat.

North America's best river cruises and steamboat journeys

You can sleep under the stars with the SeaDream Yacht Club

Set sail on one of SeaDream Yacht Club ’s yacht-style vessels and you’ll be able to spend a night under the stars. At night, staff transform the upper deck’s huge Balinese day beds by adding luxurious bed linens and fluffy pillows, allowing you to drift off to the sound of the ocean. Expect to pay around $3,700 for a seven-day cruise.

SeaDream Yacht Club has one of the highest crew-to-guest ratios at sea

Some cruise lines offer boats on boats

Zodiacs – small, fast boats carried on ships – make it easy to explore different landscapes, whether it’s the frozen tundra or the Galapagos’ wildlife-dotted islands. Special mentions go to Quark , which uses environmentally friendly four-stroke engine zodiacs; Silversea , famous for its expert-led zodiac excursions, and AE Expeditions – the line’s new expedition ship Sylvia Earle has 15 zodiacs. A seven-day Spitsbergen sailing with Quark costs from $5,547.

Aurora Expeditions and AE Expeditions ships have science laboratories onboard

If peering at distant shorelines through binoculars doesn’t cut it, sign up for a sailing with Aurora Expeditions or AE Expeditions . AE Expeditions ships have tech-filled laboratories and lecture theaters, making it easy to gain new perspectives on the destinations in question. Guests can contribute to a wide range of research projects, including ones relating to micro-plastics and sea life. A 15-day Svalbard In Depth sailing starts from $12,137 per person.

You can have your very own Dom Perignon Experience on Oceania Cruises’ Vista ship

Is spaciousness a priority? Consider Oceania Cruises . Their newest ship Vista (which set sail in May 2023) is tipped as having the largest entry-level staterooms at sea (280 square feet, if you were wondering). We’re equally excited about the Dom Perignon Experience – during this six-course extravaganza you’ll sip Dom Perignon Champagnes chosen to suit the various dishes. A 10-day Bangkok to Singapore cruise starts from $5,335 per person.

Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Flora has a stargazing platform

Celebrity Cruises ’ Celebrity Flora, which has space for just 100 passengers and is based permanently in the Galapagos Islands, is a pint-sized ship that can effortlessly access the areas other vessels can’t reach. But our favorite feature is the stargazing platform. Head here for stargazing sessions led by the ship’s onboard astronomer. You’ll pay from $7,796 for a Galapagos Inner Loop sailing on Celebrity Flora.

The naming ceremonies are often spectacular

Simply swinging a bottle against the side of a ship is so passé. In January 2023 Viking christened new luxury ship Viking Neptune. The ship’s godmother Nicole Stott (a retired NASA astronaut) used a traditional Viking broad ax to cut the rope, which sent a bottle of fizz smashing into the ship. A 13-day Mediterranean Odyssey cruise with Viking costs $5,911.

Your Abercrombie & Kent guide might be a famous explorer

Abercrombie & Kent Luxury Expedition Cruises – previously known as Crystal Cruises – are famous for their onboard experts. The cruise line’s expedition leaders include explorer James McClintock, recipient of the Antarctica Service Medal, and former Royal Marine Commando Russ Manning, who served as base commander in the South Orkneys and earned the Polar Medal. A 14-night Arctic Cruise Adventure with Abercrombie & Kent costs from $17,922.

You no longer have to wear a ball gown to dinner

You can ride on a magic carpet with Celebrity Cruises

Okay, not the type ridden by Aladdin. We’re talking about Celebrity Cruises’ Magic Carpet – a cantilevered platform which appears to float in thin air, and which glides up and down the side of Celebrity Edge, one of the cruise line’s most luxurious ships. Depending on what level it stops at, the Magic Carpet can become a restaurant, bar or nightclub, although the one constant is breathtaking views.

Check out Spain's most stunning seaside spots

There are luxury ships you can live on

Dread disembarkation day? Why not simply stay onboard? No, we’re not suggesting claiming squatters’ rights at the end of your cruise, but splashing out on a cabin on  The World , described by its owners as a luxury private residence at sea. There are 165 residences available for purchase and the ship sails around the planet – in 2023 it will visit South Asia, the Middle East, the Iberian Peninsula, Greenland, South America and Antarctica. Some residents live on the ship full-time, while others visit throughout the year, and residences start at around $1.2m.

Luxury cruise lines can be fully all-inclusive too

You can feast on cuisine prepared by Michelin-starred chefs

You can learn firsthand about the Polar regions

Luxury cruise lines are going all out to provide fascinating insights into the explorers who first mapped these regions. In 2024, Scenic will launch several East Antarctic cruises focusing on the routes taken by explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton. If you sail through the Arctic on Ponant’s Le Commandant Charcot (the world’s only luxury ice breaker), a team of 23 polar experts will help you gain a whole new perspective on these remote regions.

There’s designer decor on Oceania Cruises’ Vista ship

SeaDream Yacht Club offer a ‘Champagne & Caviar Splash’

You need to book well in advance

If you’re planning on a bucket list-worthy sailing on one of the more luxurious ships, you’ll need to bag your spot early on. Take  Azamara’s World Voyage , a 155-night, 37-country sailing which takes place in 2024 and is currently sold out (there’s a waiting list of passengers hoping for cancellations). Luckily, spots on the 2025 World Voyage are still available – if you’ve got a minimum of $42,622 to spare.

The world's most beautiful ports visited by cruise ships

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Christchurch to Antarctica on Ponant’s Le Commandant Charcot cruise ship

Anna Sarjeant

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Sail from Christchurch to Antarctica on Ponant’s luxury Le Commandant Charcot cruise ship. Photo / Supplied; Ponant

If anyone’s going to convince you that a trip to Antarctica can be done in style and with sustainability front of mind, it’s the French, writes Anna Sarjeant

“Cruise convert”. The buzzword of marketers. Title for a thousand travel stories the world over.

It’s the idea that anyone can be converted from being cruise adverse to a cruise lover. According to brochures and travel mags alike, the magic lies in finding the right cruise ship for you. Granted, there are currently 51 ocean and 27 river cruise lines navigating the globe, so you really shouldn’t base all your judgments on one or two.

But is there any truth to it? Do avid non-sailors — those with a penchant for a villa holiday and seclusion verging on a hermit’s agenda — really jump aboard a cruise ship and succumb to seduction?

I’ve always been sceptical. I don’t like snow and skiing weekends only made me loathe it more.

Surely, we can’t lure everyone into loving a boatload of confined fun.

Or so I thought, up until I ran my foot across the cool, grey slate tiles of a Ponant cabin. A room that, had you blindfolded me and hidden the sea views, I’d have assumed was a five-star hotel. The size alone feels too big for a cruise ship. The bathroom – and extension of those excessively slick slate tiles – has all the hallmarks of a luxury resort.

READ MORE: This is the cruise ship that converts even the most adamant ‘non-cruisers’.

This is Ponant, the French cruise line. I’m sampling the onboard delights of Le Commandant Charcot, a day after the vessel returned to Christchurch following an expedition to Antarctica. Tomorrow she will set sail again, ferrying fresh guests to The Ice at the end of the world.

For now, she’s stationed in Lyttelton Harbour, all 31,000 tonnes of her, which for a cruise ship is relatively demure. For context, the largest cruise ship in the world — Icon of the Seas — weighs 250,000 tonnes. The vessel carries just 245 guests, serviced by 215 crew members. Forget what you think you know about gazillion-passenger cruise ships and tabloid newspapers citing fisticuffs over the breakfast buffet, Ponant is none of that. The Commandant doesn’t even have a buffet. There are two upscale sit-down restaurants, Sila and Nuna, and the latter is the only Alain Ducasse restaurant at sea.

With itineraries that find the furthest reaches of Antarctica and venture as far north as its polar opposite, you could describe Le Commandant Charcot as an expedition ship. Of sorts. Except the idea of anyone roughing it in gaiters and knit balaclavas is farcical. Le Commandant Charcot is your gateway to the Northern Lights and Greenland’s most remote Innuit villages (several weeks ahead of any other ship we may add), which may sound intrepid, but you’ll be doing so with spa treatments, heated pools and a detox-bar to hand. Never had a manicure with a polar bear in eyeshot? Now’s your chance.

The expedition element comes into play when you hit the ice. Quite literally.

Le Commandant Charcot is the world’s only luxury ice-breaker. Capable of exceptional maneuverability in icy landscapes, it’s a vessel that takes passengers into the heart of a penguin colony rather than wait for Pingu to eventually wobble by.

Worry not, Le Commandant Charcot doesn’t smash through penguin habitats with sheer brute force, the agility of her design allows the ship to shift and move with the ice. Whereas other ships may view the difficult terrain as a blockade, this one simply goes with the flow.

Of course, with privilege also comes backlash and the surge in Antarctica’s popularity has put environmental impact back in the spotlight. In response, Le Commandant Charcot utilises state-of-the-art hybrid technology, reducing its emissions via an electric/liquefied natural gas engine. For those of us who fearfully envisage ice-white plateaus smeared in smog by 2030, Ponant shares your anxieties, hence why they’ve ditched diesel in favour of cleaner energy.

Joining you onboard and for excursions to the Big White is a full team of researchers and approximately 20 nature guides. Le Commandant Charcot also takes full advantage of her year-round polar visits, with two onboard laboratories to foster scientific research, part of The Ponant Science Project.

Now, back to those slate tiles, which may seem like an odd detail to obsess over, but this is a cruise ship when all is said and done – I’d have expected them to use a lighter material. They didn’t. Ponant spoils its guests with the perfect example of “anti-cruise” fixtures and fittings. Many of the larger suites boast a huge walk-in wardrobe and an enormous fireplace. Duplex Suites feature a mezzanine level and a Jacuzzi (complete with separate entrance on level 2 so you don’t have to navigate the stairs after a boozy dinner). There’s a helipad for excursions and the Owner’s Suite presides over 115sq m of the ship, accommodating two (very lucky) guests, where many cruise ships would squeeze in another five suites and a swimming pool. Lest we forget those slate tiles and a balcony for every cabin. Viewless interior cabins do not exist. Not now, ni jamais.

My time onboard is short-lived but as my second overnight dalliance on a cruise ship, I am becoming more and more convinced that there is truth in the “cruise convert” paradigm. While you may argue you too could be swayed should you find yourself on such a luxurious option, complete with Michelin-star food and a price tag to match, but I am not here in the capacity of a bank manager.

All I know is that I hate snow and here is a cruise ship that could easily convince me otherwise.

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