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Cruisers appreciate the beautiful infinity pool, sun decks and water toys, like kayaks and snorkeling equipment that lend a private yacht vibe. Expect Mediterranean-inspired cuisine, generously poured wine at lunch and dinner and a nicer price tag for a cruise on the Azzurra than on comparable ships. Whether it's a river or an ocean you want to cruise, Scenic can take you there in style.
Best for Ships with Sails
The Grill is an eatery enclosed in floor-to-ceiling glass for the best views in the house. L'Austral explores both polar regions and spends time in the Mediterranean, cruising along the coast of Croatia and around the smaller, less touristy Greek Islands like Amorgos, Milos and Delos. L'Austral is the ideal size for a small ship — intimate but still large enough for amenities such as a gym, spa and show lounge. Ponant has been busy launching six new ships in its impressive Explorers series. However, L'Austral (with sister ships Le Boreal, Le Soleal and Le Lyrial) is my favorite ship in the fleet. Both have a stern marina for easy access to water sports like kayaking and paddle boarding.
Ship Tip
Every year for our World's Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe — to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Readers rated individual cruise ships on their cabins and facilities, food, service, itineraries and destinations, excursions and activities, and value. Those assessments were combined to generate results for the cruise lines in five categories; small-ship ocean cruise lines have ships that can carry 249 or fewer passengers.
The Top 10 Small-ship Ocean Cruise Lines in 2021
In a world where gigantic megaships draw all the attention, I've always found small ships to be the best.
Luxury vs. budget cruises: My experiences on Explora and Seven Seas ships - Business Insider
Luxury vs. budget cruises: My experiences on Explora and Seven Seas ships.
Posted: Tue, 26 Mar 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
No river overlooked, you can wind your way through the Danube, Rhine or Moselle in the heart of Europe, glide down the Mekong or explore Columbia’s lush terrain on the majestic Magdalena. Oenophiles can even board a specialty wine cruise, while those seeking the magic of Europe’s Christmas markets can join a festive seasonal sailing. More essentials, more enjoyment, more indulgence—it’s the whole package. Bundle Internet, spa, dining, beverage, and shore excursion savings with these inclusive options. Jason Leppert is a San Diego-based cruising expert with more than 140 sailings under his belt and a fresh, millennial perspective on the industry. He is the founding editor of Popular Cruising, producer of the successful Popular Cruising YouTube channel and Cruise Editor for TravelAge West.
The food is excellent and served both on the romantic outdoor decks and inside the cozy restaurant. SeaDream Yacht Club's 40-year-old ships may not be new, but they're still some of the prettiest classic luxury yachts afloat. However, they're spacious, recently refurbished, and feature wood details that evoke a classic nautical feel. Lindblad Expeditions has been a leader in small-ship expedition cruising since 1966 when company founder Lars-Eric Lindblad pioneered expeditions to Antarctica, Easter Island and the Galapagos. I also gravitate to the off-beat itineraries small ships offer because they focus on unusual and remote places that only small vessels can access.
UnCruise Adventures: Wilderness Legacy
Each one houses a marble bathroom (some with whirlpools), balcony and living area, together with a bar ready-stocked with beverages. Picture yourself drawing your cabin blinds to find an iceberg laden with chinstrap penguins just outside, a couple of humpback whales in the distance, and a giant petrel flying majestically overhead. Interiors – particularly those on The Jahan and Jayavarman – are spacious and flooded with light, while hospitality goes above and beyond. And as for the cuisine, that’s exceptional, fusing elements of Asian and Western fare.
SeaDream I
Owned by Carnival Corporation, Seabourn's top-of-the-line, 264- to 600-passenger ships deliver comfortable, modern luxury that can be as fancy or casual as you like. Everything operates in the upper-tier way, from the spa and expansive fitness offerings to the restaurants — which include a Nobu eatery. The top Regent Suites on these new ships are mansions at sea and come with solariums, private spas with saunas and steam rooms and Steinway pianos in their living rooms. Now owned by Royal Caribbean Group (the same company that owns Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises), the luxury cruise line delivers stylish, contemporary luxury — more streamlined than opulent — complemented by pleasantly extreme pampering. Other advantages of Heritage Lines’ particularly small ships are there’s never a queue to board or disembark, no crowds at mealtimes or cocktail hour, and certainly no trouble securing bookings for everything from spa treatments to yoga and cooking classes.
Wind Surf
On board, you'll find fine dining, expansive spas and fitness facilities, and butler service. Nearly 165,000 T+L readers completed the 2023 survey, an increase of nearly 25 percent over pre-pandemic voting levels. A total of more than 685,000 votes were cast across over 8,500 unique properties (hotels, cities, cruise lines, etc.). Onboard, passengers can enjoy the doting of a polished 95-person crew; locally inspired and international cuisine served up on deck or in an elegant dining salon; and included-in-the-rates wine, Champagne and cocktails. Look out for exciting extras like the option to sleep under the stars (on deck-side Balinese loungers) and a water sports platform with complimentary equipment including sailboats, paddle-boards and kayaks. The real star of the show, however, is Crystal’s exceptional dining, anchored by the only Nobu restaurant at sea, Umi Uma by Nobu Matsuhisa Restaurant and Sushi Bar, which can be found on both ships.
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world. The ship's 12 crew members include wellness professionals (wellness is a big focus for the brand), naturalist guides and a local chef. There also are two local expert guides on board, who will provide insight as Kontiki Wayra stops at small Ecuadorian towns, historic sites and nature areas full of wildlife. 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.
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. The line's two newest ships, the 264-passenger Seabourn Venture and Seabourn Pursuit, are built with a tough "polar class" design to operate in the ice-filled waters of the Arctic and Antarctica. On sailings in those regions, each passenger receives a free jacket to keep them warm and cozy. Like her popular Viking sister ships, Jupiter features a spacious spa, several dining venues, an intimate jazz lounge, two cinemas, a pool with retractable roof and a sports deck.
On board, many rooms are veranda suites measuring 356 square feet (including a private balcony), all with marble baths. The largest Grand and Owner's suites are massive multi-room affairs with huge private verandas. An impressively kitted-out expedition ship, Scenic Eclipse has an ice-strengthened hull with a C6 rating suited for polar cruising, including navigating the Northwest Passage.
The line offers sailings in the Windward Islands from Grenada on the 10-passenger Diamant; its 24-passenger schooner and 26-passenger Vela offers a mix of both. Other itineraries include the French West Indies and the British Virgin Islands. Look out for special themed cruises like Solo Sojourns (for those traveling alone), rum cruises, pirates and mermaid Week, and Taste of the (Caribbean) Islands foodie sailing.
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. If it’s fine food, fabulous wine, and exceptional service you seek, you can’t go past French luxury cruise line Ponant. With a maximum of just 260 guests, they appeal to travellers who crave discovery with a second helping of haute cuisine. World Voyager, which sailed its maiden voyage in Antarctica this past November, is the third vessel to join the fleet of one of the newest players in small-ship expedition cruising, Atlas Ocean Voyages. The company’s 100-cabin expedition yachts are almost identical and provide a hybrid of sorts between traditional expedition and luxury cruising.
Near the well-stocked library is the Expedition Study, where the 20-member expedition team is accessible for questions. Outdoor deck space includes the forward-facing bow area with an outdoor hot tub. There's an impressive spa, salon and gym with panoramic ocean views and several lounges for drinks (always included) and lectures. Scenic Eclipse cruises to nearly every corner of the world, including French Polynesia and the Pacific Islands, Australia, the Indonesian archipelago and Antarctica.
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