Forget the crowds, ultra-giant ships and windowless internal cabins.
In terms of shipping companies and cruises sailing the seas of the world, there is
a lot of variety, different categories and services
. They all usually offer
attractive itineraries
, whether they are getaways of 3 or 4 days or somewhat longer tours of a week or more. There are even proposals for more than 20 days or several months.
But within that great world,
upper premium cruises
and, especially,
luxury cruises
are distinguished by certain characteristics that aim at a more exquisite and exclusive audience and, of course, come with
much higher rates
.
Basically, these two categories could be defined in general terms, by accommodating
few people
, using
boats of smaller dimensions
and having a
much more personalized service
.
“There is an intermediate band where the main difference is that it offers something from the luxury cruises and something from the
mainstream
proposals called
upper premium
. For example, a luxury gastronomic experience, or trips on smaller cruises and almost all very good and intensive itineraries, but there are internal and external cabins, they are not just suites,” explains Sergio Vidal, from Discover Cruises, specialists and representatives of several shipping companies, including
Seabourn, in the luxury segment.
The Seabourn Quest ship touring Antarctica. Photo EFE/Yuriy Rzhemovskiy/Seabourn
As an example of
an upper premium
,
Azamara
stands out because it tends to stay for many hours in some ports where it is worth having time to explore. Their ships are small - no more than 700 passengers - and they enter ports that other companies do not access, the cabins are not huge, there are not many gastronomic alternatives, but the service and food are excellent. This is how Joaquín Salgueiro, vice president of Organfur, an agency specialized in cruises, defines it.
It must also be taken into account that some companies with larger ships have
more exclusive sectors
within the ships.
“Celebrity Cruises has a section called The Retreat with its own pool, restaurant, and butler. They are not luxury shipping companies, but they have that level of service on the ship,” explains Salgueiro, while also mentioning the case of the MSC Cruises Yacht Club, a sector with a separate deck. In short, “a ship within the ship.”
Azamara has ships with only 700 passengers for an exclusive segment. Photo Azamara
Part of the
luxury cruise
segment , the
Silversea
company has smaller ships that “can moor or anchor in ports where large ships cannot; Therefore, they tend to have more exclusive itineraries,” explains Claudia Lamesa, from Roca Transport, representative of that shipping company in Argentina.
Here the attention of passengers is “totally personalized” and they do not speak of “cabins” but of “suites”:
the smallest measures 35 square meters
, with a balcony, butler service and all inclusive.
“The decoration of the boats is stripped down and minimalist, priority is given to the client's comfort,” says Lamesa.
To give you an idea of rates, a 12-day Silversea cruise, departing and returning to Athens, Greece, in August, costs $6,150 per person based on a double occupancy. And the cruise to Antarctica, US$13,400, from November 19 to 29.
One of Silversea's ships. Photo Silversea
What luxury cruises are like
Although each company has its seal, its identity brand or even its specialization in a certain region, luxury cruises share
some similar characteristics
:
Few passengers and/or more space per passenger
It doesn't mean that the boats are too small. What stands out in this strip is the
highest ratio of space per passenger
.
“The most exclusive luxury ships accommodate 100 or 200 passengers, but there are others that carry up to 1,000 people,” says Sergio Vidal, of Discover Cruises.
One of the suites on a Silversea ship. Photo Silversea
Suites vs. cabins
We already mentioned it before. On true luxury cruise ships,
all cabins are suites
. And, in general, all of them have a balcony.
“They have significant dimensions, usually with a balcony or private terraces; The furniture, design, and
products are from luxury brands
, such as L'Occitane or other top brands. In general, in the cabin there are Nespresso coffee machines, iPads, and on cruises considered expeditions, it includes long-view cameras and other details,” says Vidal.
Very careful service
One of the characteristics of luxury cruise ships is the
crew-to-passenger ratio
. "As part of the exclusive and personalized service, the crew remembers names and preferences," says Vidal.
All inclusive
In general, everything is included in the rate: drinks, minibar, tips, specialty restaurants, wi-fi. There are some cases where even shore excursions are included.
"On a traditional cruise, you usually pay for drinks separately, for tips separately, and even for Internet separately, depending on the case," says Salgueiro of Organfur.
Pool and great view. Photo Explore Journeys
Itineraries
Smaller boats have more options for places to moor or anchor, beyond traditional ports. They reach smaller or off-the-beaten-path destinations.
Another characteristic of their itineraries is that, depending on the case, they offer longer stays or nights on board in each port and fewer days of navigation (unless the destination requires it).
Gastronomy
“Dishes with top quality ingredients, many more expensive, served on high-quality tableware. Everything is personalized and the rate includes all the gastronomic proposals,” says Vidal.
Gastronomy on board. Photo Paul Gauguin Cruises
Luxury companies: classic and new
In addition to the already mentioned Seabourn and Silversea, the company Explora Journeys
was recently launched on the market
, which “comes to rethink the concept of luxury,” says Joaquín Salgueiro about this shipping company that hopes to present six ships in the next seven years and that proposes a more relaxed, cosmopolitan concept and for younger people.
“They have more connecting cabins that are ideal for families,” he adds and lists some details: heated bathroom floor, huge shower head, Egyptian cotton sheets, minibar included, has a boys' club, many gastronomic alternatives and several swimming pools.
An incredible suite on the Explora Journey ship. Photo Explore Journeys
“A medium-sized ship that does not grow in passengers but in services,” says Salgueiro.
A June departure on the Explora I ship, for 7 nights, departing from Arrecife (Lanzarote) and arriving in Barcelona, costs from US$3,380; while a 9-night cruise next year from Luxor (Egypt) costs from US$4,350 per passenger.
Another example of a luxury shipping company is
Paul Gauguin
, based in Tahiti: they tour
Polynesia
on 300-passenger ships - in this case the two lowest categories have a window - and the invitation to
connect with the real essence of the destination
, with the culture. local. A 7-night October cruise through Tahiti and the Society Islands costs from US$5,450 per person.
And Regent, considered "ultra-luxury." Vidal, from Discover Cruises, adds options such as Ponant, Scenic and Atlas, while in the upper premium segment he mentions WindStar Cruises - with which they work in Discover Cruises -, Oceania and Emerald Cruises.