Luxury Cruise FAQs
Luxury Cruises: a guide with FAQs edited by Cruising Journal and Toni McClelland. Don’t miss all cruise ships’ Reviews, with Opinion, Suggestions, Pictures and Videos.
As a luxury travel advisor, my role is to design exceptional travel experiences, by first listening carefully and asking the right questions of my clients. I don’t just ask the basic where and when do they want to go inquiries, but I also dig deeper to understand what will make this vacation stand out. Inevitably, when talking about a luxury cruise, I often hear the same questions repeatedly. In an effort to share information and maybe entice you to consider a cruise, here are answers to common luxury cruise FAQs:
Why a luxury cruise? Traveling with the whole family or going on a romantic holiday? Interested in a specialty cruise, such as adventure or wine & food, a transatlantic crossing, a river cruise or a family vacation? Whatever your cruise style, there is a cruise that meets your needs. Luxury cruises can be large ships that makes stops at major port cities or small private ships that offer ports of call off the beaten path. The most important thing to remember is to have an open discussion with your travel advisor on what is important to you, so they can match the line and destination to create your perfect experience.
Aren’t luxury cruises for retired people? Each line has its own unique personality and caters to different people. For example, if you are considering a multi-generational cruise, Disney might be the perfect place to start. However, Uniworld’s new U by Uniworld is targeting travelers in the 21 to 40-year-old range with two designated ships on the Seine and Rhine-Danube rivers. If you are in your 40’s and looking for a casual, destination driven cruise, your travel advisor might suggest Windstar Cruises. There is no typical cruiser.
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Do I need to pack formal clothes? Generally speaking, luxury cruises have relaxed dress codes. While each cruise line has their own rules, here are a few suggestions:
Don’t over-pack, keep it casual, where comfortable shoes, step it up a bit for the evening. I suggest collared shirts, collared sweaters and dress slacks for men. Sport jackets are optional and about half the men wear them. Women bring dressy sundresses or their favorite little black dress, pantsuits or slacks with silk blouses. Pack wrinkle free clothes if possible, bring plenty of sunblock, a sweater or jacket for strolling on deck in the evening, bathing suits and a cover up. My advice: keep it as simple as possible.
Is the food good? Luxury cruise lines are known for their incredible food and higher quality than mainstream lines. Some of the best include:
Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony, which are known for their culinary delights including a fantastic restaurant that consistently ranks as one of the greatest dining venues at sea. They also have trained sommeliers that will help you pick out the perfect wine for your meal. The wine cellars on the ships are stocked with an incredible 10,000 bottles, including more than 230 vintages.
Seabourn serves award-winning cuisine, with various dining venues on each Seabourn ship provide you with the perfect choice to suit your mood. They partner with Thomas Keller, a world-famous American restaurateur who owns three Michelin-starred restaurants. If food and wine are a priority, dining on a Seabourn ship is a world-class experience.
What’s there to do to a cruise? Depending on the line, there are onboard activities to fit any lifestyle. Besides strolling on deck or sitting at the pool, here are a few options:
- Casino
- Evening Entertainment
- Spa & Fitness
- Guest Lecturers
- Pool Parties with DJs
- Cultural Activities – multimedia presentations
- Sports: putting greens, shoot hoops, jog, table tennis
The list can go on and on and on. My son is heading into his junior year of college majoring in aerospace engineering. My husband and I are thinking about taking him on a themed cruise and I actually found a cruise called: World Space Week that includes an onboard planetarium to offer specially-curated shows and lectures given by astronauts! So, believe me when I say that your travel advisor can find the right cruise to meet your needs
How much time do I have in port? Anywhere from a few hours to overnight.
Is insurance necessary? YES! Most trips we plan require a final, nonrefundable payment several months prior to departure. It’s is too big of a risk not to purchase insurance to cover your investment.
If I haven’t answered your specific question, feel free to drop me a note, I’m happy to help!
Toni McClelland is owner/travel advisor at Travel Bliss Vacations. Learn more about how Toni creates exceptional travel experiences and sign up for the newsletter.