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You can select more than one option in most of the form fields. Here are explanations of the search options we get asked about the most often:
Departure Port: If you only want to view results for cruises that start in a specific port, you can specify it here. You can select more than one (to see cruises that start at certain ports). For example, you can select both New York and Boston if you only want to view cruises that start in either New York or Boston.
→ In the "Advanced Search"
Arrival Port: If you only want to view results for cruises that end in a specific port, you can specify it here. You can select more than one (to see cruises that end at certain ports). For example, you can select both New York and Boston if you only want to view cruises that end in either New York or Boston.
Ports of Call: You can the type name of one port that you would like all your search results to include. For example, if you type Barcelona all of the search results will include cruises that include Barcelona (even if it's not a starting or ending port in the itinerary). Be sure to spell the port name correctly!
Max Occupancy: Allows you to view search results that only include ships that have accommodations for a minimum amount of people per room. For example, if you select "5 and more" your search results will only include ships that have at least one room type that would accommodate at least 5 people. The pricing that displays on the search results page will be the per person pricing based on a room for two people. Proceed further in the online booking process to view the pricing for accommodations for a different occupancy.
Kid-Friendly: Shows cruises that are great choices for those traveling with children and teens. Includes ships with youth programs and/or youth-friendly public spaces. Programs and public spaces are subject to change, at the discretion of the cruise line.
→ Cruise Only vs Cruise Line Tour
If you check the Cruise Only option, you will only see results that are for a cruise vacation. If you check the Cruise Line Tour option, you will only see vacations that include a cruise + land tour package (also known as a Cruise Tour). Leave both unchecked to view results that include both vacation types.
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Call our travel experts at
866-214-7447 |
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for any help you need in planning
and booking your vacation! |
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Luxury Cruise Deals |
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Gratuities Included on Luxury Cruises!
Many luxury cruise lines include gratuities in the cruise fare, so there's no daily gratuity charge to budget for.
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Gratuities are included on:
Atlas Ocean Voyages,
Azamara,
Crystal,
Explora Journeys,
Oceania Cruises,
Paul Gauguin Cruises,
Ponant,
Regent Seven Seas Cruises,
Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours,
Seabourn Cruise Line,
SeaDream Yacht Club (call for details),
Silversea Cruises,
Swan Hellenic,
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection,
Uniworld River Cruises
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Luxury Cruise Onboard Credit Sale!
Book a luxury cruise and get a substantial Onboard Credit from us! The value of the Onboard Credit depends on the cost of your per
person cruise rate. Onboard Credit values are listed on Step 3 of the online booking process.
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View Luxury Cruise Deals on:
AmaWaterways,
Atlas Ocean Voyages,
Azamara,
Crystal,
Cunard Line,
Oceania Cruises,
Paul Gauguin Cruises,
Ponant,
Regent Seven Seas Cruises,
Seabourn Cruise Line, SeaDream Yacht Club (call for details),
Silversea Cruises,
Viking Ocean Cruises,
Viking River Cruises
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Huge Discounts on Luxury Cruises!
Book a luxury cruise with us and you'll get the best deal possible, regardless of the ship or sail date! Because of our huge price
discounts and "Low Price Guarantee," nobody beats our luxury cruise deals. Plus, select luxury cruises get an onboard credit in addition to the cruise discount!
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View Luxury Cruise Deals on:
Avalon Waterways,
Windstar Cruises
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Gift Cards on Luxury Cruises!
Book a luxury cruise with us and get a Gift Card for the store of your choice. The value of the Onboard Credit depends on the cost
of your per person cruise rate. Gift Card values are listed on Step 3 of the online booking process.
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View Luxury Cruise Deals on:
Star Clippers,
Uniworld River Cruises
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Cash Back on Luxury Cruises!
Book a luxury cruise and get Cash Back from us! The value depends on the particular cruise and accommodations you book. Cash Back
values are listed on Step 3 of the online booking process.
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View Luxury Cruise Deals on:
Explora Journeys,
Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours
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Our special offers may not be combinable. Applicable cruise lines for each sale are listed in the promotional boxes above. Gift values for
cruise lines that are listed with a "call for details" message can be found out by contacting us, as they do not display online.
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Luxury Cruises
There are quite a few cruise lines that are considered luxury cruise lines, some offering all-suite and/or all-balcony ships
while others offer more intimate "mega yachts," purpose-built expedition ships or river cruise ships. Luxury cruise lines
provide a fantastic value to those looking for a luxury vacation, and often offer unique itineraries and shore excursions. Exclusive
amenities, premium accommodations, spacious public spaces, gourmet cuisine and superb service are among the highlights one can count on
while on a luxury cruise. Many luxury cruise lines now offer all-inclusive pricing, including pre-paid gratuities and
premium beverages (such as soda, wine and spirits) in their pricing, and a few include shore excursions and airfare as well!
We are proud to offer the best luxury cruise deals possible on all luxury cruise lines. Backed by our "Low Price
Guarantee," and powered by our team of experienced travel agents, we're sure to exceed your expectations when booking your next
luxury cruise!
Luxury Cruise Lines
Select a luxury cruise line below for more information:
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AmaWaterways
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One of the world's leaders in luxury river cruises, AmaWaterways is an excellent option for the
more discerning and experienced travelers. Their ships are among the most state-of-the-art on
the rivers, and many staterooms feature the line's signature twin balconies, with a French
balcony and a full walk-out veranda in the same room. Onboard you'll find a heated sun deck
pool, a walking track, a massage and hair salon and complimentary bicycles to explore the ports
on your own, and nearly every port day includes a choice of guided hikes and bike tours for
those who like to stay active. AmaWaterways sails the Danube, Rhine, Main, Moselle, Rhône,
Seine, Douro, Nile and Mekong, as well as Colombia's Magdalena River.
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| Passenger Capacity per ship: 60 to 196 guests (depending on ship), based on double occupancy |
| Guest-to-Staff Ratio: Approximately 3 to 1 |
| Awards: |
♦ "#1 Best River Cruise Line"
U.S. News & World Report (2026 Best River Cruise Lines)
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♦ "Best Enrichment" (River)
Cruise Critic (2025 Best in Cruise Awards)
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♦ "Best New River Ship" (AmaMagdalena)
Cruise Critic (2025 Best in Cruise Awards)
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♦ "River Cruise Line with the Highest Client Satisfaction"
TravelAge West (2022 WAVE Awards - Winner)
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♦ "Luxury River Cruise Line of the Year"
Aspire Travel Awards (2022)
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♦ "Best River Cruise Line"
Cruise Critic (2019 Editors' Picks Awards - Winner)
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Atlas Ocean Voyages
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Atlas Ocean Voyages brings a yacht-style approach to expedition cruising aboard a fleet of
small, purpose-built ships that each carry fewer than 200 guests. Ice-strengthened hulls let
them reach Antarctica, the Arctic and the more remote corners of the Mediterranean, Africa and
the Americas, while the atmosphere onboard stays closer to a private yacht than to a traditional
expedition vessel. Their all-inclusive fares cover shore excursions, beverages, gratuities and,
on polar sailings, round-trip charter flights to the embarkation port along with the parka and
boots you'll need once you arrive.
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| Average Ship Rating: |
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| Ship Size: Approximately 10,000 tons (up to 198 guests) |
| Guest-to-Staff Ratio: Approximately 1.55 to 1 |
| Awards: |
♦ "The Best Cruise Lines in the World" (Expedition Ships)
Condé Nast Traveler (2023, 2024 & 2025 Readers' Choice Awards)
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♦ "Best Antarctic Cruise"
Porthole Cruise and Travel (2025 Readers' Choice Awards)
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♦ "Best Restaurant at Sea" (Porto, World Navigator)
Seatrade F&B@Sea Awards (2025)
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Avalon Waterways
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An award-winning river cruise line, Avalon Waterways offers luxury river cruises throughout the
waters of Europe, Egypt, Southeast Asia, the Galapagos Islands and the Peruvian Amazon. Their
ships are among the youngest and most innovative in the river cruising industry, featuring large
and luxurious accommodations, fantastic cuisine and wonderful itineraries. Avalon's Panorama
Suites are a big part of the appeal, with wall-to-wall windows that open into an open-air
balcony and beds that face the view rather than the wall. As a part of the Globus family of
brands, many of Avalon's luxury cruises can be combined with a Globus land package, creating a
truly unique vacation package. Thanks to that relationship, they're also able to offer inspired
enrichment on their river cruises through guided sightseeing tours, daily port lectures and VIP
access into key destinations.
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| Average Ship Rating: |
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| Passenger Capacity per ship: 18 to 166 guests (depending on ship), based on double occupancy |
| Guest-to-Staff Ratio: Approximately 3.5 to 1 |
| Awards: |
♦ "Best River Cruise Line"
Cruise Critic (2025 Best in Cruise Awards - Winner)
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♦ "Best Cabins" (River)
Cruise Critic (2025 Best in Cruise Awards - Winner)
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♦ "Best for Active Cruisers" (River)
Cruise Critic (2025 Best in Cruise Awards - Winner)
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♦ "Cruisers' Choice Award" (River)
Cruise Critic (2025 Best in Cruise Awards - Winner)
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♦ "#4 Best River Cruise Line"
U.S. News & World Report (2026 Best River Cruise Lines)
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♦ "Top European River Cruise Line"
Cruise Critic (2019 Cruisers' Choice Awards)
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Crystal
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Crystal is among the leaders in ultra-luxury cruises. Their all-inclusive ships, Crystal
Serenity and Crystal Symphony, are magnificent vessels that are sure to please
even the most discerning and experienced travelers. Both were extensively rebuilt under the
ownership of A&K Travel Group, and each carries roughly a third fewer guests than the ship
was originally designed to hold, with the space given back to larger suites and more generous
public rooms. Your days and nights on a Crystal cruise are effortless and carefree, as Crystal
boasts one of the best crew-to-guest ratios at sea, with very nearly one crew member for every
guest onboard. You will revel in a wealth of time, a luxurious sense of leisure and ease; your
hours are your own, to spend as you see fit on Crystal's luxury cruises.
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| Average Ship Rating: |
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| Ship Size: Varies, depending on ship: 51,044 to 68,870 tons (606 to 740 guests, based on double occupancy) |
| Guest-to-Staff Ratio: Approximately 1.1 to 1 |
| Just a few of Crystal's Awards: |
♦ "#1 Midsize-Ship Ocean Cruise Line"
Travel + Leisure (2026 World's Best Awards - second consecutive year)
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♦ "Gold List: Best Cruise Ships in the World" (Crystal Serenity)
Condé Nast Traveler (2026)
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♦ "#1 Best Cruise Line for Solo Travelers"
U.S. News & World Report (2026 Best Cruise Lines)
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♦ "Best Itineraries" (Luxury)
Cruise Critic (2025 Best in Cruise Awards - Winner)
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♦ "World's Best"
Travel + Leisure (2025 World's Best Awards)
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Cunard Line
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Cunard's glorious ocean liners are floating palaces of art deco splendor and Edwardian excess,
surrounding guests with every comfort and luxury. They are the quintessence of luxury travel.
With Cunard, the journey may be even more magnificent than the destination. The Cunard fleet
includes Queen Mary 2, the last true ocean liner still crossing the Atlantic on a
regular schedule, along with Queen Victoria, Queen Elizabeth and Queen
Anne. Regardless of which one you choose, you're going to be on a luxurious vessel with
fabulous food, entertainment and service, and guests booked in the Grills suites enjoy their own
restaurants, lounge and private deck.
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| Average Ship Rating: |
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| Ship Size: Varies, depending on ship: 90,049 to 149,215 tons (2,061 to 2,996 guests, based on double occupancy) |
| Guest-to-Staff Ratio: Varies, depending on ship: approximately 2.1-2.4 to 1 |
| Just a few of Cunard's Awards: |
♦ "#1 Large Ships" (2,500 to 4,000 passengers)
Condé Nast Traveller (2025 Readers' Choice Awards - Winner)
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♦ "Best Enrichment" (Ocean)
Cruise Critic (2025 Best in Cruise Awards - Winner)
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♦ "Gold List: Best Cruise Ships in the World" (Queen Mary 2)
Condé Nast Traveler (2026)
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♦ "Hot List: Best New Cruises in the World" (Queen Anne)
Condé Nast Traveler (2025)
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♦ "Best Large-Ship Cruise Line"
Telegraph (2019 Travel Awards)
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Explora Journeys
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Explora Journeys is the luxury brand of the MSC Group, and it was designed from a blank sheet of
paper rather than adapted from an existing fleet. Every stateroom is an ocean-front suite with
its own terrace, and the ships carry an unusually generous amount of space per guest, with nine
or more restaurants and bars, four pools and a spa that runs most of the length of a deck. Fares
include all dining, beverages with a genuinely good wine list, gratuities and WiFi. Itineraries
favor longer stays and overnight calls, and the tone onboard is relaxed by design, with no
formal nights and no fixed dining times.
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| Average Ship Rating: |
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| Ship Size: Varies, depending on ship: 63,900 to 72,810 tons (922 guests, based on double occupancy) |
| Guest-to-Staff Ratio: Approximately 1.4 to 1 |
| Just a few of Explora Journeys' Awards: |
♦ "Best Luxury Cruise Line," "Best Cabins," "Best Dining" and "Best for Families" (Luxury)
Cruise Critic (2025 Best in Cruise Awards - Winner)
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♦ "Ultra Luxury Cruise Line of the Year"
TTG Luxury Travel Awards (2025)
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♦ "Best Ocean Luxury Cruise Experience"
Virtuoso (2025 Best of the Best Awards)
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♦ "Cruise Line of the Year"
Global Traveler (2026 Leisure Lifestyle Awards)
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♦ "Best Luxury Ship" (EXPLORA I)
Porthole Cruise Magazine (2025 Readers' Choice Awards)
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♦ "Overall Best Cruise Cuisine"
Travel Weekly (2024 Gold Magellan Awards)
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Oceania Cruises
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Founded in 2002 by luxury cruise industry veterans, Oceania Cruises is one of the world's most
popular luxury cruise lines. The finest cuisine at sea, award-winning itineraries and
outstanding value define Oceania Cruises' five-star product and have positioned the company as
the luxury cruise line of choice for travelers seeking a truly refined and casually elegant
travel experience. The fleet ranges from the intimate 656-guest ships up to the larger
Oceania Vista and Oceania Allura, where every stateroom has a veranda. Every fare includes Your
World Included: specialty dining, unlimited WiFi, specialty coffees and soft drinks, and shipboard
gratuities, plus a choice of wine and beer with lunch and dinner or a shore excursion credit.
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| Average Ship Rating: |
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| Ship Size: Varies, depending on ship: 30,277 to 67,000 tons (656 to 1,250 guests, based on double occupancy) |
| Guest-to-Staff Ratio: Varies, depending on ship: approximately 1.5-1.7 to 1 |
| Just a few of Oceania Cruises' Awards: |
♦ "Best New Luxury Ship" (Oceania Allura)
Cruise Critic (2025 Best in Cruise Awards - Winner)
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♦ "Best Shore Excursions" (Luxury)
Cruise Critic (2025 Best in Cruise Awards - Winner)
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♦ "Best for Solo Travelers" (Luxury)
Cruise Critic (2025 Best in Cruise Awards - Winner)
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♦ "#3 Best Cruise Lines for Dining" (Luxury)
U.S. News & World Report (2026 Best Cruise Lines)
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♦ "#3 Best Cruise Lines for Solo Travelers"
U.S. News & World Report (2026 Best Cruise Lines)
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♦ "Cruise Line of the Year"
Gourmet Traveller (2026 Travel Awards)
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Paul Gauguin Cruises
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Paul Gauguin Cruises offers luxury cruises in Tahiti, French Polynesia and the South Pacific
year-round aboard their sole vessel, the award-winning m/s Paul Gauguin. Attentive
service, all-inclusive pricing, gourmet cuisine and fantastic itineraries are all features that
you can count on while on a Paul Gauguin cruise. Since its 1998 debut, m/s Paul Gauguin
has been the longest continually operating year-round luxury cruise ship in the South Pacific,
offering high levels of luxury, quality, service, staffing and value. The ship was purpose-built
for these islands, with a shallow draft that lets her slip into lagoons the larger ships cannot
enter. Paul Gauguin Cruises is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the French luxury line Ponant.
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| Ship Rating: |
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| Ship Size: 19,200 tons (330 guests, based on double occupancy) |
| Guest-to-Staff Ratio: 1.5 to 1 |
| Awards: |
♦ "Best Small Cruise" (500 passengers or fewer)
Condé Nast Traveler (2024 & 2025 Readers' Choice Awards - Winner)
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♦ "Overall - Small Cruise Ship" and "Luxury Ship - Itinerary"
Travel Weekly (2024 Gold Magellan Awards)
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♦ "Sustainability Initiative of the Year"
Seatrade Cruise Awards (2024)
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♦ "Best Small-Ship Cruise Line"
Global Traveler (Leisure Lifestyle Awards - eight consecutive years through 2023)
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♦ "#1 Midsize-Ship Cruise Line"
Travel + Leisure (2019 World's Best Awards)
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Ponant
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Ponant is a French luxury line that has built its reputation on small ships and hard-to-reach
places. The fleet runs from the three-masted sailing yacht Le Ponant, which carries
just 32 guests, through a series of 184-guest expedition ships named for French explorers, up to
Le Commandant Charcot, the first luxury polar vessel capable of reaching the geographic
North Pole. French service and cuisine set the tone throughout, and expedition sailings carry
naturalists, historians and photographers who lead every landing. Ponant also owns Paul Gauguin
Cruises, which sails year-round in French Polynesia.
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| Average Ship Rating: |
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| Ship Size: Varies, depending on ship: 1,489 to 31,283 tons (32 to 270 guests, based on double occupancy) |
| Guest-to-Staff Ratio: Varies, depending on ship: approximately 1.1-1.6 to 1 |
| Awards: |
♦ "Best Itineraries" (Expedition)
Cruise Critic (2025 Best in Cruise Awards - Winner)
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♦ "Best in the Arctic"
Cruise Critic (2025 Best in Cruise Awards - Winner)
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Regent Seven Seas Cruises
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Regent Seven Seas operates a six-star, all-suite fleet of small to mid-size luxury cruise ships
that includes the intimate 490-guest Seven Seas Navigator, the all-balcony Seven
Seas Mariner and Seven Seas Voyager, and the larger Seven Seas Explorer,
Seven Seas Splendor and Seven Seas Grandeur. What really separates Regent is
how much the fare covers: unlimited shore excursions in every port, round-trip airfare, a
one-night hotel stay before the cruise, all dining including the specialty restaurants, all
beverages, gratuities and WiFi are conveniently included.
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| Average Ship Rating: |
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| Ship Size: Varies, depending on ship: 28,550 to 77,000 tons (490 to 850 guests, based on double occupancy) |
| Guest-to-Staff Ratio: Varies, depending on ship: approximately 1.3-1.5 to 1 |
| Just a few of Regent Seven Seas' Awards: |
♦ "#3 Best Luxury Cruise Line"
U.S. News & World Report (2026 Best Cruise Lines)
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♦ "Cruise Line of the Year - Luxury"
TravelPulse (2025 Readers' Choice Awards)
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♦ "Star Award"
Forbes Travel Guide (2025)
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♦ "Ocean Cruise Line of the Year"
Global Travel Collection (2025)
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♦ "Best Cruise Line Rewards Program"
Global Traveler (2025 Leisure Lifestyle Awards)
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♦ "Gold List: Best Cruise Ships in the World"
Condé Nast Traveler (2025)
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Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours
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Scenic runs two quite different products under one name, and both are genuinely all-inclusive.
On Europe's rivers, their 5-star Space-Ships pioneered the convertible Sun Lounge balcony, which
turns a section of your stateroom into an open-air room at the touch of a button, and every
sailing includes a wide choice of excursions, beverages, gratuities and airport transfers. At
sea, the 228-guest Scenic Eclipse and Scenic Eclipse II are billed as
Discovery Yachts and equipped accordingly, with two helicopters, a submersible and as many as
ten dining venues apiece, plus butler service in every suite. Between them the two fleets cover
Europe, Egypt, Southeast Asia, the Antarctic, the Arctic and the Americas.
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| Average Ship Rating: |
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| Passenger Capacity per ship: 128 to 228 guests (depending on ship), based on double occupancy |
| Guest-to-Staff Ratio: Varies, depending on ship: approximately 1.3 to 1 on the Discovery Yachts; approximately 3 to 1 on the river Space-Ships |
| Awards: |
♦ "Best Service" and "Best Entertainment" (River)
Cruise Critic (2025 Best in Cruise Awards - Winner)
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♦ "Best Dining" (Expedition)
Cruise Critic (2025 Best in Cruise Awards - Winner)
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♦ "#5 Best River Cruise Line"
U.S. News & World Report (2026 Best River Cruise Lines)
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♦ "World's Best River Cruise Lines"
Travel + Leisure (ranked #12 in the 2026 World's Best Awards)
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Seabourn Cruise Line
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Seabourn Cruise Line is one of the world's most celebrated luxury cruise lines, and its
ultra-luxury ships have consistently ranked among the very best vacation experiences in surveys,
polls and the annual honors lists of international guidebooks and travel critics. The fleet is
split between all-suite ocean ships, including Seabourn Quest, Seabourn Encore
and Seabourn Ovation, and purpose-built expedition ships such as Seabourn
Venture and Seabourn Pursuit, which carry submarines, kayaks and a full expedition
team to Antarctica, the Arctic, the Amazon and the Kimberley. Open bars, complimentary fine
wines, all gratuities and the line's signature caviar service are included throughout.
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| Average Ship Rating: |
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| Ship Size: Varies, depending on ship: 23,000 to 40,350 tons (264 to 600 guests, based on double occupancy) |
| Guest-to-Staff Ratio: Varies, depending on ship: approximately 1.3-1.4 to 1 |
| Just a few of Seabourn's Awards: |
♦ "Best Expedition Cruise Line"
Condé Nast Traveller (2024 & 2025 Readers' Choice Awards - Winner)
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♦ "Best Small-Ship Cruise Line"
Condé Nast Traveller (2024 Readers' Choice Awards - Winner)
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♦ "#3 Best Cruise Lines for Couples"
U.S. News & World Report (2026 Best Cruise Lines)
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♦ "Best Cabins" (Expedition)
Cruise Critic (2025 Best in Cruise Awards - Winner)
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♦ "World's Best Small-Ship Cruise Line"
Travel + Leisure (2007, 2009-2013 & 2015 World's Best Awards)
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Silversea Cruises
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Silversea's all-inclusive ultra luxury cruises appeal to discriminating travelers accustomed to
plush accommodations and attentive, individual service. Distinguished by its award-winning
all-suite luxury cruise ships and impeccable service, Silversea offers a choice of two fare
types: Door-to-Door, which adds private executive transfers from your home and business class
air on most voyages, and Port-to-Port for travelers who prefer to arrange their own flights.
Either way your fare includes all dining, all beverages with fine wines and spirits, gratuities
and butler service in every suite. The fleet spans everything from the 100-guest Silver
Origin in the Galapagos to the 728-guest Silver Nova and Silver Ray,
along with expedition vessels that reach the Arctic and Antarctica.
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| Average Ship Rating: |
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| Ship Size: Varies, depending on ship: 5,800 to 54,700 tons (100 to 728 guests, based on double occupancy) |
| Guest-to-Staff Ratio: Varies, depending on ship: approximately 1.1-1.3 to 1 |
| Just a few of Silversea Cruises' Awards: |
♦ "Best Luxury Ocean Cruise Company"
Travel Weekly (2026 Globe Travel Awards)
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♦ "#3 Best Cruise Lines in the Mediterranean"
U.S. News & World Report (2026 Best Cruise Lines)
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♦ "#3 Best Cruise Lines for Dining" (Luxury)
U.S. News & World Report (2026 Best Cruise Lines)
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♦ "Best for Luxury" (Expedition)
Cruise Critic (2025 Best in Cruise Awards - Winner)
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♦ "Ultra Luxury Cruise Line of the Year"
ttgluxury (2018 & 2019 Travel Awards)
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Star Clippers
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Discover a new age of sailing, where the traditions of the past are combined with the modern
comforts and amenities of the present. Star Clippers' tall ships are perfect for luxury cruising
in casual elegance. On board you will enjoy a relaxed atmosphere, friendly crew, and
international cuisine, all in pampered comfort. If you're a boating enthusiast, you can choose
to lend a hand hoisting the sails, you can climb the mast, or you can just lay back and let the
crew do all the work. The three ships sail the Caribbean, the Mediterranean and Adriatic, Panama
and Costa Rica, and Southeast Asia, and because they are so small they can anchor off beaches
and coves that the big ships have to sail past.
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| Average Ship Rating: |
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| Ship Size: Varies, depending on ship: 2,298 to 4,425 tons (166 to 227 guests, based on double occupancy) |
| Guest-to-Staff Ratio: Varies, depending on ship: 2.14-2.24 to 1 |
| Awards: |
♦ "World's Leading Small Ships Cruise Line"
World Travel Awards (2021, 2022, 2023 & 2024)
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♦ "World's Leading Specialist Cruise Line"
World Travel Awards (2019 & 2023)
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♦ "Best Green Cruise Line"
World Cruise Awards (2024)
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Swan Hellenic
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Swan Hellenic has been running cultural expedition voyages under one name or another since the
1950s, and the modern fleet pairs that heritage with small, purpose-built polar ships.
Ice-strengthened hulls take them to Antarctica, the Arctic, the remote islands of the Atlantic
and the coasts of Africa and Asia, and the fleet includes SH Minerva, SH Vega
and the slightly larger SH Diana. Every sailing carries a team of expedition guides,
lecturers and subject specialists who lead the landings and run the onboard program, which is
what separates a Swan Hellenic voyage from a conventional cruise. Fares are among the most
genuinely all-inclusive in expedition cruising, covering shore excursions and landings,
beverages, gratuities, WiFi and the expedition gear you'll need ashore.
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| Average Ship Rating: |
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| Ship Size: Varies, depending on ship: 10,600 to 12,100 tons (152 to 192 guests, based on double occupancy) |
| Guest-to-Staff Ratio: Approximately 1.3 to 1 |
| Awards: |
♦ "Best Value for Money" (Expedition)
Cruise Critic (2023, 2024 & 2025 Best in Cruise Awards - Winner)
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♦ "Best Value Proposition"
TTG Travel Awards (2024)
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Tauck
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Tauck has been arranging travel for American families since 1925, and their river cruises carry
that same everything-handled approach onto the water. The riverboats are deliberately
under-filled, carrying between 84 and 142 guests on hulls built to hold considerably more, which
is why Tauck consistently offers among the most space per guest on Europe's rivers. Shore
excursions, beverages, gratuities and airport transfers are all included, and every sailing
carries several Tauck Directors who handle the logistics from the moment you land. Along with
the Danube, Rhine, Main, Moselle, Rhône and Seine, Tauck sails Portugal's Douro, and their
family departures are designed specifically around traveling with children and grandchildren.
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| Average Ship Rating: |
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| Passenger Capacity per ship: 84 to 142 guests (depending on ship), based on double occupancy |
| Guest-to-Staff Ratio: Approximately 3 to 1 |
| Just a few of Tauck's Awards: |
♦ "World's Best River Cruise Line"
Travel + Leisure (2026 World's Best Awards - recognized 29 consecutive years)
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♦ "Best River Cruise Line"
Condé Nast Traveler (2026 Readers' Choice Awards - 13 consecutive years)
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♦ "Best River Cruise Line"
USA Today (2026 10Best Readers' Choice Awards)
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♦ "#8 Best River Cruise Line"
U.S. News & World Report (2026 Best River Cruise Lines)
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♦ "Best Tour Operator"
Travel Weekly (26 times since 2003)
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The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection
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Designed to combine the luxury lifestyle of The Ritz-Carlton with the untethered freedom of a
yachting vacation, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection offers all-inclusive voyages onboard
custom-built yachts. Most voyages run seven to ten nights, with a good number of overnight calls
and experiences ashore at distinguished destinations. As with The Ritz-Carlton on land, each
yacht features personalized service, fine dining and luxury amenities, all delivered in an
intimate setting. The fleet includes Evrima, the first of the yachts to enter service,
along with the larger Ilma and Luminara. Every suite has a private terrace,
and the marina at the stern opens directly onto the water whenever conditions allow.
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| Average Ship Rating: |
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| Ship Size: Varies, depending on ship: 26,500 to 46,750 tons (298 to 452 guests, based on double occupancy) |
| Guest-to-Staff Ratio: Approximately 1.2 to 1 |
| Awards: |
♦ "Five-Star Rating" (Ilma) - the first cruise ship ever to receive one
Forbes Travel Guide (2026 Star Awards)
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♦ "Best Service" (Luxury)
Cruise Critic (2025 Best in Cruise Awards - Winner)
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Uniworld River Cruises
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Uniworld is one of America's leaders in luxury river cruise and tour programs, and no other
river line decorates its ships quite the way they do. Rather than repeating one hull design
across the fleet, each Uniworld boat is individually designed and furnished with antiques,
original art and hand-picked fabrics, which is why guests tend to remember the ship as much as
the itinerary. Their boutique vessels carry between 68 and 159 guests with a crew-to-guest ratio
near one to two and a half, and their fares are genuinely all-inclusive, covering shore
excursions, all beverages including fine wines and spirits, gratuities and airport transfers.
Uniworld sails the Danube, Rhine, Main, Moselle, Rhône, Seine and Douro in Europe, along
with the Nile, the Mekong, India's Ganges and the Peruvian Amazon.
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| Average Ship Rating: |
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| Passenger Capacity per ship: 68 to 159 guests (depending on ship), based on double occupancy |
| Guest-to-Staff Ratio: Approximately 2.4 to 1 |
| Just a few of Uniworld's Awards: |
♦ "#2 Best River Cruise Line"
U.S. News & World Report (2026 Best River Cruise Lines)
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♦ "Best for LGBTQ+ Travelers" (River)
Cruise Critic (2025 Best in Cruise Awards - Winner)
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♦ "#1 River Cruise Line Worldwide"
Condé Nast Traveller (2024 Readers' Choice Awards - Winner)
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♦ "World's Best River Cruise Line"
Travel + Leisure (2016, 2018 & 2019 World's Best Awards)
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♦ "Best River Cruise Line"
Cruise Critic (2018 Editors' Picks Awards)
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Viking Ocean Cruises
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Viking Ocean Cruises has grown from a single ship into one of the most decorated ocean lines
afloat, and it has done so by leaving things out as much as by adding them. There are no
casinos, no photographers, no art auctions and no children; every guest is 18 or older. What you
do get is an all-veranda ship carrying under a thousand guests, a shore excursion included in
every port, the Nordic Spa with its snow grotto and thermal pools, an infinity pool off the
stern, and beer and wine included with lunch and dinner. The larger ships in the fleet carry 998
guests and follow the same layout as the first, so regulars always know where everything is.
Viking's itineraries lean heavily on ports with rich heritage and the local experts who can
explain them, which makes these cruises a natural fit for travelers who like to learn as they
vacation.
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| Average Ship Rating: |
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| Ship Size: Varies, depending on ship: 47,800 to 54,300 tons (930 to 998 guests, based on double occupancy) |
| Guest-to-Staff Ratio: 2 to 1 |
| Just a few of Viking Ocean Cruises' Awards: |
♦ "#1 for Oceans"
Condé Nast Traveler (2025 Readers' Choice Awards - fifth consecutive year)
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♦ "#1 Small-Ship Ocean Cruise Line"
Travel + Leisure (2026 World's Best Awards)
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♦ "#1 Best Luxury Cruise Line," "#1 Best for Couples," "#1 Best in the Mediterranean" and "#1 Best for Dining"
U.S. News & World Report (2026 Best Cruise Lines)
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♦ "Best Ocean Cruise Line"
USA Today (2026 10Best Readers' Choice Awards)
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♦ "TIME100 Most Influential Companies"
TIME (2026)
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♦ "Best Cruise Line - Luxury"
TravelAge West (2026 WAVE Awards - Winner)
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Viking River Cruises
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Viking River Cruises operates the world's largest fleet of vessels built specifically for river
cruise travel. Most of them are Viking Longships, a patented design carrying 190 guests that
introduced the indoor-outdoor Aquavit Terrace and gave the line the largest suites on Europe's
rivers. Because so many of the ships are identical, guests who sail Viking once tend to know
exactly what they are getting the next time. Every cruise includes a guided excursion in each
port, beer and wine with lunch and dinner, and WiFi throughout. Viking showcases the Danube,
Rhine, Main, Moselle, Elbe, Seine, Rhône, Douro, Nile, Mekong and Ganges, and also sails
the Mississippi.
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| Average Ship Rating: |
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| Passenger Capacity per ship: 80 to 190 guests on most rivers (386 on the Mississippi), based on double occupancy |
| Guest-to-Staff Ratio: Approximately 3.8 to 1 |
| Just a few of Viking River Cruises' Awards: |
♦ "#1 for Rivers"
Condé Nast Traveler (2025 Readers' Choice Awards - fifth consecutive year)
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♦ "World's Best" for Rivers
Travel + Leisure (2026 World's Best Awards - recognized every year since 2004)
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♦ "Best for First-Timers" and "Best for Remote Workers" (River)
Cruise Critic (2025 Best in Cruise Awards - Winner)
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♦ "#3 Best River Cruise Line"
U.S. News & World Report (2026 Best River Cruise Lines)
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♦ "Best New River Ship" (Viking Hathor)
Travel Weekly (2025 Readers' Choice Awards)
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♦ "Overall River Cruise Line"
Recommend (2025 Readers' Choice Awards - seventeenth time since 2006)
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Windstar Cruises
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Windstar Cruises was created with the vision to offer an alternative to the typical cruise or
resort vacation. The Windstar passenger sees the world with luxurious accommodations, a casual
yet elegant atmosphere, and exquisite service and cuisine. Well known for cruising off the
beaten path and pampering without pretense, they sail to exotic locales and hidden harbors that
larger ships can't access. The fleet reaches well beyond the original sailing yachts: alongside
Wind Star, Wind Spirit and the five-masted Wind Surf, Windstar
operates the all-suite motor yachts Star Pride, Star Breeze and Star
Legend, along with the 224-guest Star Seeker and her sister yacht. Their
partnership with the James Beard Foundation puts guest chefs and specially designed menus aboard
throughout the year.
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| Average Ship Rating: |
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| Ship Size: Varies, depending on ship: 5,703 to 14,745 tons (148 to 342 guests, based on double occupancy) |
| Guest-to-Staff Ratio: Approximately 1.5 to 1 |
| Just a few of Windstar's Awards: |
♦ "Best Value for Money" (Luxury)
Cruise Critic (2025 Best in Cruise Awards - Winner)
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♦ "#1 Boutique Cruise Line"
USA Today (2020 10Best Readers' Choice Awards)
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♦ "Best Small Ship Cruise Line"
AFAR Travel (2019 Travelers' Choice Awards - Winner)
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♦ "Best Small Ship Cruise Line"
TravelAge West (2019 WAVE Awards - Winner)
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♦ "Gold List"
Condé Nast Traveler (2001-2006, 2008-2014, 2019 & 2020)
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Luxury Suites on Mainstream Cruise Ships
A luxury enclave within a larger ship, sometimes called "ship within a ship":
Several mainstream cruise lines now set aside a private, key-card gated enclave near the top of their
largest ships, with its own suites, restaurant, lounge, pool and sundeck, and a butler and concierge for
the guests staying in it. Book one of these suites and the level of space, service and privacy compares
well with a small luxury ship, while the rest of the vessel still gives you the dining, entertainment
and activities that only a big ship can offer. It is a genuinely good option for travelers who want
luxury without giving up a full-size ship, and for families traveling in a group where not everyone
wants the same vacation.
One important distinction: what you are booking here is a particular category of suite on a particular
ship, not a luxury cruise line. The enclave is what is exclusive, not the ship as a whole, and the
ship-wide statistics for these lines look nothing like the figures shown for the luxury cruise lines
above. Availability also varies by ship, so it is worth confirming that the ship you have in mind
actually has one, and what comes with the fare varies by ship, by sailing and by suite category. Treat
the descriptions below as a guide to the experience rather than a list of guaranteed inclusions, and
call us to confirm what a particular sailing includes. Cunard's Grills, listed among the luxury cruise
lines above, is the longest-running version of this idea.
The Retreat
Celebrity Cruises
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Suite guests dine in Luminae, a restaurant serving a menu you cannot get anywhere else on board, and
have their own lounge and private sundeck. Butler service comes with every suite, and premium
drinks, WiFi and gratuities are included in the fare. The private sundeck is a feature of the Edge
Series and the revolutionized ships rather than the whole fleet.
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MSC Yacht Club
MSC Cruises
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A fully gated complex with its own reception, restaurant, panoramic lounge, private pool, sundeck
and bar, reached by key card and its own elevators. Every suite comes with 24-hour butler service
and a concierge, and the fare includes a drinks package along with access to the private areas.
Found on MSC's larger ships, and MSC has been adding it to more of the fleet as ships come through
refurbishment.
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The Haven
Norwegian Cruise Line
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A private enclave of suites at the top of the ship, with a courtyard pool, sundeck, bar and lounge,
and The Haven Restaurant, which is reserved for Haven guests. Every suite has 24-hour butler service
and a dedicated concierge who handles dining reservations, priority tendering and show seating.
Available on most of Norwegian's newer and larger ships.
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The Sanctuary Collection
Princess Cruises
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Princess's most exclusive tier, on the Sphere-class ships Sun Princess and Star
Princess. It spans a range of accommodations from balcony staterooms up to full suites, and
includes the Sanctuary Restaurant, the Sanctuary Club, a private sundeck with its own pool, and the
Princess Premier package.
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Ship sizes, guest capacities, guest-to-staff ratios, onboard features, included amenities and awards shown above are intended only as
general guidelines and are subject to change. Cruise lines regularly add, refurbish and retire ships, and each award listed reflects
the year in which it was given. What a fare includes varies by ship, by sailing and by stateroom or suite category, and cruise lines
revise those inclusions from time to time. Please confirm any details that are important to your decision with us, or directly with
the cruise line, before booking. See our Terms & Conditions for more information.
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Carnival Cruise Lines
Fun for All. All for Fun.
Celebrity Cruises
Nothing Comes Close
Cunard Line
The Most Famous Ocean Liners in the World.
Disney Cruise Line
Magic Included!
Holland America Line
Savor the Journey.
MSC Cruises
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