Adventure Cruising

Adventure cruising has gained popularity among travelers seeking immersive and active experiences in diverse and off-the-beaten-path destinations. Several cruise lines specialize in adventure cruising, offering unique itineraries that focus on exploration, wildlife encounters, and outdoor activities. Here are some notable adventure cruising brands:

  1. Lindblad Expeditions: Lindblad Expeditions specializes in expedition cruises to remote and wild destinations around the world. Partnered with National Geographic, their ships are equipped for exploration, with expert naturalists and photographers on board to enhance the guest experience. Lindblad’s itineraries often focus on wildlife viewing, cultural immersion, and adventure activities such as kayaking, snorkeling, and hiking.
  2. UnCruise Adventures: UnCruise Adventures offers small-ship cruises to adventurous destinations in Alaska, the Pacific Northwest, Hawaii, Mexico’s Sea of Cortez, and Central America. With a focus on active exploration and wilderness encounters, UnCruise itineraries feature activities such as kayaking, paddleboarding, hiking, and snorkeling, along with opportunities to interact with local communities and wildlife.
  3. Ponant: While Ponant is known for its luxury cruises, the cruise line also offers expedition voyages to some of the world’s most remote and captivating destinations. With a fleet of small expedition ships, Ponant’s itineraries include polar expeditions to Antarctica and the Arctic, as well as cruises to destinations such as the Amazon, the Kimberley region of Australia, and the islands of the South Pacific.
  4. Aurora Expeditions: Aurora Expeditions specializes in small-group expeditions to the polar regions, as well as other remote destinations such as Papua New Guinea, the Russian Far East, and South Georgia Island. Their ships are equipped for active exploration, with Zodiac excursions, wildlife watching opportunities, and expert guides providing insight into each destination’s natural and cultural heritage.
  5. Adventure Canada: Adventure Canada offers expedition cruises to the Canadian Arctic, Greenland, Newfoundland and Labrador, and other remote regions of Canada. Their small expedition ships provide access to wilderness areas and cultural sites, with a focus on learning, discovery, and authentic experiences guided by experts in history, culture, and natural science.
Credit: PONANT
  1. Quark Expeditions: Quark Expeditions specializes in polar adventures, offering expeditions to Antarctica and the Arctic. Their ice-strengthened ships are equipped for exploring remote regions, with activities such as Zodiac cruising, kayaking, and shore excursions led by experienced guides. Quark’s itineraries provide opportunities for wildlife encounters, scenic exploration, and learning about polar environments.

These adventure cruising brands cater to travelers seeking active and immersive experiences in some of the world’s most remote and awe-inspiring destinations. Whether you’re interested in polar exploration, wildlife encounters, cultural immersion, or outdoor activities, these cruise lines offer unique and unforgettable adventures.

Why Luxury?

Setting sail on a luxury cruise  promises comfort, indulgence, and adventure. If you are thinking about heading out to sea, choosing the right cruise line can make all of the difference. From extravagant amenities and world-class cuisine to personalized service and gorgeous destinations, the best luxury cruise lines redefine the notion of a vacation at sea. Whether you seek relaxation, adventure, or a blend of both, these are the finest offerings of the high seas.

The difference between a luxury cruise and a regular cruise extends beyond varying price points. A regular cruise often comes with all of the standard amenities and service levels, while a luxury cruise takes the experience a step further by offering an unparalleled level of opulence and refinement. Luxury cruises often include gourmet dining experiences, unique amenities, and VIP privileges, including priority embarkation and access to exclusive events.

Additionally, luxury cruises tend to focus on an adult market, with smaller, more intimate ships that often come with spacious and elegant suites or staterooms for guests. The smaller size of these vessels allows them to visit unique places that larger commercial ships cannot.

The best luxury cruise lines

These are just a few of the best luxury cruise lines, in no particular order.

Oceania Cruises

Setting itself apart from other cruise lines with its intimate and elegant ships, Oceania Cruises captivates passengers with a blend of impeccable service and exquisite culinary offerings. The cruise line offers personalized service, promising to treat all of their guests like family.

Oceania offers several unique travel options, including a 180-day “Around the World” cruise that visits South America, the South Pacific, Asia, and Europe. The ships at Oceania range in size, holding anywhere from 670 to 1,250 guests and 400 to 800 staff members.

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Viking Ocean Cruises

Credit: Viking Cruises

Viking Ocean Cruises epitomizes the pinnacle of luxury travel on the high seas, seamlessly blending Scandinavian elegance with high-quality service and innovative design. With its fleet of state-of-the-art ships, Viking Ocean Cruises offers spacious accommodations, refined amenities, and several fun onboard activities. The company’s fleet is one of the youngest luxury fleets in service, with gorgeous 930-passenger ships that cater to adults 55 and older.

Viking Ocean Cruises offers a wide range of destinations, and you can choose from trips to Scandinavia, the British Isles and Ireland, North America, the Caribbean and Central America, South America, the Mediterranean, Asia, and Australia and New Zealand. Book Now

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Owned by Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., Regent Seven Seas is one of the best luxury cruise lines, offering travelers a sophisticated cruising experience. Regent Seven Seas Cruises is the only truly all-inclusive cruise line, with thousands of excursion options included in the upfront price of your cruise. Carrying no more than 750 guests, the line’s luxurious ships explore more than 500 different locations, including Miami, Tokyo, Lisbon, and Bali. Book Now

Paul Gauguin Cruises

Paul Gauguin Cruises takes travelers to some of the world’s most pristine and exotic destinations in Tahiti, French Polynesia, Fiji, and the South Pacific. This award-winning small-ship cruise line offers spacious suites with private balconies, Polynesian-inspired cuisine, and complimentary 24-hour room service.

Nearly every voyage on Paul Gauguin Cruises stops for a day at the line’s own private islet, Motu Mahana, where guests can enjoy snorkeling, watersports, a barbeque, full bar service, and Polynesian hospitality. Book Now

Silversea Cruises

Credit: Silversea

Seabourn Cruise Line

With ultra-luxury ocean cruises to the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, and Alaska, Seabourn Cruise Line provides travelers with a one-of-a-kind experience. The cruise line considers the preferences of guests, providing customized, hand-selected itineraries. A few of the amenities you can enjoy when traveling with Seabourn Cruise Line include intimate ships with a yacht-like atmosphere, ocean-front suites, complimentary caviar, and extraordinary entertainment experiences.

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Book a trip with one of the best luxury cruise lines today

Now that you know all of the best luxury cruise lines, it’s time to set sail. The world of luxury cruising provides travelers with unforgettable experiences, and each luxury cruise line presents a unique blend of incredible service, top-notch amenities, and carefully curated itineraries. So, whether you are dreaming of relaxing on a warm beach, exploring ancient ruins, admiring glaciers, or indulging in delicious cuisine, let the best luxury cruise lines whisk you away on the trip of a lifetime.

Silversea Savings, 2024 – 25 Voyages

Whether you dream of a luxury voyage with lavish surroundings or a thrilling expedition to some of the most remote places on the planet, take time now to plan your trip of a lifetime. With voyages sailing to over 900 immersive destinations on all seven continents, the choices are remarkable, and the savings are, too. Silversea fares include ocean-view suites, wines and spirits throughout the ship to free WiFi, included gratuities, a butler for every suite and more.

OCEANVIEW SUITES

 

Ritz Carlton Yacht Collection, there is no substitute

Photographer: Francisco Jose Martinez Mendez

relates to A First Look at the Ritz-Carlton Superyacht: Photos

In an open-air space at the ship’s Marina, catch views of the sea while enjoying cocktails and light bites.
Photographer: Christopher Cypert

The concept

The well-regarded maritime architecture and design firm Tillberg of Sweden worked with a team from the hotel company to create a floating Ritz-Carlton hotel. relates to A First Look at the Ritz-Carlton Superyacht: Photos

Room to spread out

Guests stay in suites with ceilings that are higher than the cruise ship norm, with king-size beds, double-vanity bathrooms, and private outdoor “terraces” overlooking the sea. Also on offer are resort like features such as a supervised Ritz Kids program with its own playroom ($45 per three-hour session) and a Ritz-Carlton-operated spa with indoor and outdoor treatment rooms—as well as indulgences such as a $395 non-surgical lift facial. The 623-foot ship has more space per passenger than any other luxury cruise ship.

relates to A First Look at the Ritz-Carlton Superyacht: Photos
Photographer: Christopher Cypert

Water, water, everywhere

Guests may take in ocean views while sipping complimentary champagne on loungers around the infinity pool or get even closer to water’s edge on the Marina Terrace, where handcrafted cocktails and light bites will be served when the ship is at anchor. From the marina, there are paddleboards, windsurf boards, kayaks, sailboats, and snorkeling equipment to borrow. Four plunge pools scattered around Evrima afford more intimate opportunities to take a dip with views.

relates to A First Look at the Ritz-Carlton Superyacht: Photos
Photographer: Christopher Cypert

First-class dining

The large Evrima Room, the yacht’s main restaurant, features dishes inspired by the line’s destinations. A five-course tasting menu with wine and champagne pairings at S.E.A. (Sven Elverfeld Aboard) was created by Chef Sven Elverfeld of the three-Michelin-starred Aqua at the Ritz-Carlton in Wolfsburg, Germany . At the Talaat Nam restaurant, dine indoors or out on Southeast Asian dishes—or head to the sushi bar. Room service is available 24/7. relates to A First Look at the Ritz-Carlton Superyacht: Photos

The top-deck Observation Room is a socializing and cocktail spot that morphs into a nightclub in the late hours.
Photographer: Christopher Cypert

Nightlife

The ship’s Deck 10 indoor and outdoor Observation Terrace is a social hub—a place to take in views by day and to sip cocktails and enjoy live entertainment by evening. Late at night, the space morphs into a nightclub, with an opportunity to dance under the stars. Evrima has its own resident jazz and classical musicians, and local entertainers will come aboard to perform at select ports of call.

relates to A First Look at the Ritz-Carlton Superyacht: Photos
Outside the Observation Room, enjoy views by day, dancing under the stars by night.
Photographer: Christopher Cypert

Ritz-Carlton service

Every suite on Evrima comes with access to a personal concierge for requests from a cup of coffee to help organizing your shore excursions, as well as a separate concierge ashore to handle requests for private experiences and reservations on land. The goal is the kind of personalized service you expect to find at a Ritz-Carlton hotel: The ship has nearly as many crew members as guests.

relates to A First Look at the Ritz-Carlton Superyacht: Photos
Before or after your treatment at the Ritz-Carlton Spa, hang out on the spa’s hot tub-equipped terrace.
Photographer: Christopher Cypert

Destination focus

In its first year, Evrima sails the Mediterranean and Caribbean on 7- to 10-night itineraries—following the yachting crowd to such hotspots as Ibiza, St. Tropez, Bequia, and St. Barts. Overnights afford time to play on land, and there’s a focus on beyond-the-norm shore excursions. For example, a tour of the Aruba Aloe facility is followed by an aloe-based treatment at the Ritz-Carlton, Aruba, while an evening excursion in Tenerife focuses on cocktail culture. Cruise fares are from $1,000 per person, per night—though you can find some sailings for less.

relates to A First Look at the Ritz-Carlton Superyacht: Photos
At the poolside Mistral, grilled seafood and steaks will be on the menu at lunch and dinner.
Photographer: Christopher Cypert

The competition

Leading luxury cruise bands such as Seabourn (Carnival Corp.) and Silversea (Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd) won’t be the only competition. Late last month, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts announced Four Seasons Yachts, three 190-passenger ships to be built by Italy’s Fincantieri, in partnership with Nadim Ashi, owner of Miami-based Fort Partners (Four Seasons Surf Club in Sunrise, Fla.), and Philip Levine, a former Miami Beach mayor. The first is due in late 2025.

relates to A First Look at the Ritz-Carlton Superyacht: Photos
The yacht’s main Evrima Room restaurant serves locally inspired menus based on cruising destinations.
Photographer: Christopher Cypert

Bonvoy points

Members of the Marriott Bonvoy program can redeem 180,000 points for $1,000 in savings on the cruise fare, with increments of 90,000 points for $500 after that, It’s possible to pay for a 10-day cruise with about 2 million points  See participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels booked through the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection for more information. There are elite credits, too, those with Elite status will receive perks such as an invite to a special cocktail party and, depending on your member status, free laundry.

Seabourn Unveils Dining Options on New Ships

Seabourn Cruise Line has a reputation for offering incredible ultra-luxe cruise experiences. If you’re a fan of Seabourn, they have a treat in store for you. The cruise line is introducing eight fantastic dining experiences on future voyages. These experiences will be available on their brand-new ships, which set sail in June 2021 and May 2022. Check out the details (and get ready to drool!).

These new dining options will provide incredible delicious possibilities for travelers during breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Since Seabourn is an ultra-luxury cruise brand, all experiences are of these complimentary to cruise-goers. These new experiences will be available on the upcoming brand-new ultra-luxury expedition ships.

Check out the eight experiences:

  1. The Restaurant will offer an open-seating fine dining experience. It will be open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner meals.
  2. The Colonnade will provide a casual dining outlet for travelers — and will offer both table service or buffet dining or table service during breakfast and lunch hours. A themed table-side dinner is also served here, and family-style menus will be available.
  3. The Patio is a casual alfresco dining experience which can be enjoyed during lunch hours when the weather cooperates.
  4. Sushi in the Club will offer made-to-order sushi during the evening hours.
  5. Seabourn Square provides a hangout space and will serve up coffee, sandwiches, pastries, and homemade gelato. This spot will be open during the day and into the evening hours.
  6. Constellation Lounge offers a place for those who want to start their day early. Beverages and pastries will be served. Afternoon tea and cocktail-hour tapas are also available.
  7. Pantry in the Bow Lounge is a grab and go freshly prepared light fare and refreshments spot.
  8. 24-Hour In-Suite Dining is another option for cruise-goers. Varied menus are available at any time of the day or enjoy The Restaurant menu (which is served course by course) in your suite or veranda.

As you can see, there are so many dining options on these new cruise ships. If you enjoy cruising and like taking part in incredible dining experiences, we have a feeling you’ll want to hop aboard these expedition cruises.

2024 Luxurious Brands and Ships

The most luxurious brands and ships of 2024!

Credit: Virgin Voyages

Virgin Voyages’ Resilient Lady (Photo: Virgin Voyages)

Cruise Critic has released its  highlighting the best in cruising and cruise travel as selected by Cruise Critic’s international editorial team.

Credit: Virgin Voyages

Virgin Voyages’ Resilient Lady claimed top honors this year as Best New Ship. The line’s first vessel, Scarlet Lady, charmed Cruise Critic’s editors enough that the vessel was awarded Best New Ship in 2021. Now, sister-ship Resilient Lady, which has just arrived Down Under for the season, sweeps to victory for the line once again.

Other winners in the Ocean Cruises category included Disney Cruise Line as Best for Families; Celebrity Cruises for Best Cabins; MSC Cruises for Best Nightlife; Holland America Line for Best Service and Carnival Cruise Line for Best Value for Money.

“This was a banner year for the cruise industry,” said Colleen McDaniel, Editor-in-Chief of Cruise Critic. “On Cruise Critic, we saw demand for cruises surpass pre-pandemic times, and a number of lines reported ships sailing at over 100% capacity. Cruising has always been a high-value vacation, but with costs of land- and air-based travel through the roof, the true value of a cruise really hit home this year.

“The value of a cruise doesn’t stop with mainstream sailings. From the fare inclusions on river and luxury sailings, to those on expedition sailings to farther-flung destinations like Antarctica and the Galapagos, you’d be hard-pressed to find a land-based vacation that delivers the experience and value that a cruise offers,” McDaniel said.

Cruise Critic has been releasing its highly anticipated Editors’ Picks Awards for 15 years. This year’s awards are the most thorough to date, naming winners across four key areas – Ocean, River, Luxury and Expedition.

This Year’s Awards Saw the Return of Best Ship Refurbishment

Crew assemble to welcome the first guests onboard Carnival Venezia

Main Atrium on Carnival Venezia (Photo: Adam Coulter)

Cruise Critic also brought back a heralded category in 2023: Best Ship Refurbishment, which went to the gorgeously decorated Carnival Venezia. The former Costa Venezia was refitted prior to entering service with Carnival Cruise Line, leaving it with a fascinating blend of Italian-style interior décor courtesy of the line’s longtime design guru Joe Farcus, along with a blend of Carnival favorites tweaked ever-so slightly.

Port Miami was named best North American Homeport thanks to an abundance of innovation and investment that has come out of the new and improved terminal structure and growing improvements to the passenger experience.

Cruise Critic’s 2023 Editors’ Picks Awards Include New Categories, a Return of Awards for River Cruises

American Serenade docked in Paducah, KY (Photo: Aaron Saunders)

American Serenade docked in Paducah, KY (Photo: Aaron Saunders)

Cruise Critic’s 2023 Editors’ Picks Awards is noteworthy for the return of the River Cruise awards for the first time since the global health pandemic shut down travel three years ago. In that category, river cruising giant Viking took top honors as the Best River Cruise Line, while the Best New River Cruise Ship was awarded, for the first time, to an American river cruise ship – American Cruise Lines’ American Serenade.

Other winners in the River Category included AmaWaterways for Best for Active Cruisers, Avalon for Best Cabins, Riverside for Dining and Tauck for Enrichment.

Silversea Scoops Best Luxury Cruise Line

Silver Nova sails under a blue sky. (Photo: Silversea)

Silver Nova sails under a blue sky. (Photo: Silversea)

In the Luxury Cruise category, Silversea Cruises was named Best Luxury Cruise Line, thanks to its tireless dedication to service, its modern fleet, and continually innovative offerings. Its Silver Nova was Cruise Critic’s pick for Best New Luxury Ship, while Oceania snapped up Best Dining. The luxury category even held a bit of nostalgia, as restarted (and beloved) brand Crystal took two categories: Best Service and Best for Solo Travelers.

Credit: Crystal Cruises

(Credit: Scenic Cruises) 

Finally, the Expedition Cruise market continues to expand and mature at a rapid pace. Some of the most hotly deliberated categories were found here, but Cruise Critic’s editors came to consensus: Scenic Eclipse II was named

Best New Expedition Ship, while QuarkSeabourn, Silversea, Viking and UnCruise Adventures, among others, walked away with honors this year.

One thing that was apparent for the entire editorial team in selecting this year’s winners was how close many of these categories were for the ships and lines in the running. Few were easy choices – and that’s good for cruisers. With cruise lines of all shapes and sizes delivering stellar experiences across the oceans and rivers of the world, it’s never been a better time to take a cruise.

  1. The Full 2023 Cruise Critic Editor’s Picks Awards List
  1. Best New Ship: Virgin Voyages’ Resilient Lady
  2. Best Ship Refurbishment: Carnival Venezia
  3. Best Cabins: Celebrity Cruises
  4. Best Dining: Virgin Voyages
  5. Best Entertainment: Virgin Voyages
  6. Best for Families: Disney Cruise Line
  7. Best Innovation/Tech: Princess Cruises
  8. Best for LGBTQ+ Travelers: Virgin Voyages
  9. Best Nightlife: MSC Cruises
  10. Best Service: Holland America Line
  11. Best for Solo Travelers: Norwegian Cruise Line
  12. Best Spa: Norwegian Cruise Line
  13. Best Specialty Dining: Norwegian Cruise Line
  14. Best Suites: Royal Caribbean International
  15. Best Suite Complex: MSC Cruises
  16. Best Value for Money: Carnival Cruise Line
  17. Best App: Royal Caribbean International
  18. Best North American Homeport: Miami
  • Luxury Category
  • Best Luxury Cruise Line: Silversea Cruises
  • Best New Luxury Ship: Silver Nova
  • Best Cabins: Viking Cruises
  • Best Dining: Oceania
  • Best Enrichment: Windstar Cruises
  • Best Itineraries: Regent Seven Seas Cruises
  • Best Service: Crystal
  • Best Shore Excursions: Oceania Cruises
  • Best for Solo Travelers: Crystal
  • Best Spa: Viking Cruises
  • Best Value for Money: Emerald Yacht Cruises
  • Expedition Category
  • Best New Expedition Ship: Scenic Eclipse II
  • Best for Adventure: Quark Expeditions
  • Best Cabins: Seabourn Cruise Line
  • Best Dining: Scenic
  • Best for Light Expedition: Viking Cruises
  • Best for Luxury: Silversea Expeditions
  • Best Science Offerings: Hurtigruten
  • Best Service: Silversea Expeditions
  • Best Spa: Viking Cruises
  • Best Value for Money: Atlas
  • Best in Alaska: UnCruise Adventures
  • Best in Antarctica: Scenic
  • Best in the Arctic: Ponant Cruises
  • Best in the Galapagos: Lindblad Expeditions
  • River Category
  • Best River Cruise Line: Viking Cruises
  • Best New River Cruise Ship: American Cruise Lines’ American Serenade
  • Best for Active Cruisers: AmaWaterways
  • Best Cabins: Avalon Waterways
  • Best Dining: Riverside Luxury Cruises
  • Best Enrichment: Tauck River Cruising
  • Best for Families: Adventures by Disney/AmaWaterways
  • Best for First-Timers: Viking Cruises
  • Best for Luxury: Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection
  • Best Service: Viking Cruises
  • Best for Solo Travelers: Avalon Waterways
  • Best Value for Money: Emerald River Cruises
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