Don’t care for screaming children or being forced to sit at a table with strangers while on your cruise? Give luxury cruising a try. We all know that there are dozens of cruise lines out there but if you are looking for an exceptional vacation experience that list is narrowed down to a choice few.
Luxury cruises usually travel to amazing, exotic locations. This is not the usual Bahamas cruise. We are talking about trips to Europe, Asia, round the world cruises and more. But that is not the only difference between these and other cruise lines.
Upscale cruises are usually smaller, more intimate. There is usually a higher ratio of staff to guests to ensure that your needs are taken care of. They also have a tendency to actually mean the word all inclusive. The Crystal cruise line, for example, is currently (2009) running a special where you get a $2,000 on board credit to use as you will, while on board. You can have spa treatments, choose expensive wines, use it to tip the staff, have a specialized shore excursion and much more. They are even running a special where you get free air travel included with most excursions if you travel in 2010.
Yes, the current economy means that even these luxury cruise lines are offering deals of a lifetime. There has never been a better time to travel.
The Yachts of Seabourn is another way to go. This line makes you feel as if you are on a friend’s private yacht. All of your requests are taken care of quickly and efficiently until you feel completely pampered. And speaking of pampering their spa was rated Top Cruise Line Spa by the readers of Conde Nast Traveler. They combine spa treatments from all over the world to give you a first class experience that will leave you feeling rejuvenated.
And as for the quality fo the cuisine, it has an open bar policy, which is pretty unusual, and the food is prepared by world renowned chef Charlie Palmer.
But back to what it means to take a vacation on board a ship that caters to those discerning passengers that expect the best. You have on board casinos, bars, and lounges. You have nightly entertainment and first class shows and you have the opportunity to dine in restaurants with award winning chefs night after night. You have your own personal staff that caters to you and who are trained to know your personal preferences and make sure that they are met.
And the excursions that you choose to take are usually above and beyond what any other cruise line can arrange for you. Luxury cruising has, in the past, been reserved for only those who could afford to spend a fortune. Thanks to the current state of things, if you have just a bit extra to spend you can be treated like a king and finally experience what it is like to truly be treated like royalty.
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