What’s New with Luxury Cruising for 2023

Grand Suite, Evrima
The Grand Suite aboard The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection’s Evrima (Francisco Martinez)

As 2022 is now on the downslope to New Year’s Day 2023, what trends are emerging on the high seas? Certainly, the U.S. government’s elimination of the pre-flight test to enter/re-enter the U.S. has fueled travel demand. One-third of Americans say that they’re more likely to travel internationally with that testing requirement gone, according to MMGY Global Intelligence’s research. As people get back out cruising, five trends in the luxury cruise marketplace have “taken off.”

1. Trading Up to a Top Suite

Luxury travelers are saying, “I deserve it,” after a few tough years with no travel. So, top-tier suites are selling out quickly—from the top down, not the bottom up. Cruisers who typically would have reserved a balcony stateroom are opting for a suite; those who previously sailed in a mid-level suite are now choosing the most spacious, highest category suite on the ship.  So, as these top-level suites often sell out faster than in the past, loyal past guests are taking notice. “As a result, they’re booking further out to ensure that they get what they want,” emphasizes Michael Consoli, franchise owner, Cruise Planners, an American Express Travel Representative, Roswell, GA.

2. Booking Longer Luxury Voyages

Just a few years back, the future of World Cruises was uncertain. It was thought that younger generations wouldn’t flock to them the way mature guests did. Today, though, those lengthy voyages are a hot commodity, selling out in just hours or overnight. For the fourth year running, in June 2022, Regent Seven Seas Cruises sold out a World Cruise in record time; that 2025 sailing was fully reserved prior to opening for public sale. One-third of guests booking were new to brand.

Oceania Cruises
Oceania Regatta (Photo Courtesy of Oceania Cruises)

Demographic-wise, loyal past guests and mature travelers still love World Cruises, but increasingly so do still-working Baby Boomers and even younger professionals. Connectivity is the reason. With smart phones, tablets and laptops in tow, guests are now able to work remotely using shipboard Wi-Fi. Competitively, many cruise lines have upped their bandwidth to improve Wi-Fi speed and reliability; it’s not perfect, but vastly improved from the past.

Ruth Turpin, owner of Cruises Etc., a Virtuoso member agency in Fort Worth, TX, says that “one of the biggest trends we’re seeing is clients booking much longer cruises.” Lines have responded on all levels. Past World Cruises were often 80 to 125 days, but Oceania Cruises will operate a 180-day 2023 World Cruise, while Royal Caribbean International fields a 274-day 2023 World Cruise. Many others too have much lengthier options than in the past.

Grand Voyages up to 65 days or so are also increasingly popular. “Our luxury clients are looking for the most inclusive experiences available and on longer sailings,” says Consoli. “They want to get out of the house and they want to do it for a while longer than in the past.” Whether for World Cruises, Grand Voyages or even less lengthy voyages, consumers with pent-up wanderlust are targeting more travel dollars to spend. “That’s pushing them to look at the 14-day to 28-day sailings instead of the normal 10 to 14 days,” he says.

Back-to-backs are definitely in style. Turpin also sees luxury lines “making itineraries seven and 14 days where they do not repeat any ports,” thus encouraging back-to-back bookings.

3. Combining Luxury with Adventure

Silver Endeavour, a Silversea Cruises expedition ship, previously sailed as Crystal Endeavor.
Silver Endeavour (Photo by Silversea Cruises/Silversea Expeditions)

Perhaps the hottest cruise trend, though, is “the rise of expedition. Silversea Cruises had just acquired the nearly new, former Crystal Endeavor. Renamed Silver Endeavour in honor of James Cook, the 18th century captain of HMS Endeavour.  The expedition ship will begin sailing in November 2022 and replace Silver Explorer in Antarctica this coming winter. Seabourn’s new 264-passenger Seabourn Venture,   recently debuted in Alaska, and sister Seabourn Pursuit will set sail this year, too.

Scenic Group’s second Discovery Yacht, the 228-passenger Scenic Eclipse II, was recently floated out. Viking’s new 378-passenger expedition ship, Viking Octantis, is now sailing the Great Lakes. Sister Viking Polaris will launch this fall and both will head for Antarctica this coming winter. Ponant’s LNG-powered icebreaker, the luxurious, 245-passenger Le Commandant Charcot, is now taking travelers to the geographic North Pole. Atlas Ocean Voyages will position the 196-passenger World Navigator and new World Traveller in Antarctica during winter 2022-23.

For a different style of pampering adventure, Lindblad Expedition will offer a Croatia/Slovenia cruise and separate western Mediterranean itinerary in 2023 on the historic, 58-passenger Sea Cloud, a luxurious, four-masted, sailing ship once owned by Marjorie Merriweather Post. Guests can even opt to help hoist the sails.

4. Savoring Everything Culinary

Luxury cruisers are increasingly seeking a strong culinary component—fine cuisine, specialty dining choices, cooking classes and shoreside culinary and wine programs. The new Explora Journeys has laid the keel for its second ship, Explora II, and with nine restaurants, guests will have myriad culinary choices. Regent Seven Seas Cruises will unveil an enhanced Sette Mari experience (with refined/new menu choices) on the new 750-passenger Seven Seas Grandeur, launching in 2023.

Seven Seas Explorer Culinary Arts Kitchen
Seven Seas Explorer’s Culinary Arts Kitchen (Photo by Regent Seven Seas Cruises)

Oceania Cruises’ gourmet cuisine has been entirely reimagined from new dishes at the Grand Dining Room to a Dom Pérignon pairing dinner, while Azamara’s new 684-passenger Azamara Onward offers an Atlas Bar that serves new small plates (think “smoked lobster crudo) and artisanal cocktails using the latest techniques from smoking domes to nitro-infusions. As a “deep dive” in local food and drink tastings, Silversea’s S.A.L.T. (Sea and Land Taste) program debuted in late 2021 and is now on two ships. Launching in 2023, the 728-passenger Silver Nova will offer eight distinct dining venues including the 160-capacity S.A.L.T. Kitchen; it will have more space for bit larger groups and a more social culinary experience.

The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection’s 298-passenger Evrima is slated to begin cruising on August 31, 2022. Highly anticipated is specialty restaurant S.E.A. with a European tasting menu created by Chef Sven Elverfeld of the three-Michelin-starred Aqua at The Ritz-Carlton, Wolfsburg, Germany. Windstar Cruises’ revitalized, 312-passenger Star Pride offers the new Cuadro 44 by Anthony Sasso; we’d recommend the small octopus starter plate as it’s superb. Celebrity Cruises has introduced new “Captain-Curated Shore Excursions” in the Greek Isles, some with a culinary bent. At Katakolon (Olympia), Celebrity’s guests will visit Olympia, explore an olive mill, make their own Greek salad using fresh tzatziki and wrap their own pita souvlaki.

5. Soaring Multi-Generational Demand

Families have a strong need to reconnect so cruise lines have added new holiday or summer voyages, or multigenerational experiences. Definitely, “we’re seeing an uptick in multi-generational travel,” reports Consoli. One Seabourn “first” is a Hawaii holiday sailing on the 450-passenger Seabourn Sojourn, departing December 22, 2023, roundtrip from Los Angeles. This 20-day “Allure of Aloha Holiday” voyage calls at Catalina Island, CA, five Hawaiian islands and Ensenada, Mexico, plus spends many days at sea.

Disney Wish Tower Suite
Disney Wish’s Tower Suite (Photo by Disney Cruise Line)

For families seeking a new ship, Disney Cruise Line’s 4,000-passenger Disney Wish now sails from Port Canaveral, FL. A new, interactive “Disney Uncharted Adventure” experience is designed for families to play together. With the line’s Navigator app, guests’ mobile devices become “spyglasses” with families unlocking adventure, solving puzzles, conquering quests and, ultimately, “saving the day.”

Also, Princess Cruises will offer year-round cruises from Los Angeles in 2023. Included are the line’s first-ever summer roundtrip sailings to Mexico, Hawaii and the California coast; they’ll be operated by the 3,080-passenger Emerald Princess. “Grandparents have been separated from their families for two years and we are seeing a desire to get the family together, regardless of the cost,” Consoli explains. “They just want that time with their families and to create the lasting memories they have missed.”

Get Free Business Class Flights With Your Next Cruise

If you’re thinking of taking a cruise soon, you’ll want to consider sailing with Regent Seven Seas Cruises. The luxury all-inclusive cruise line has an exciting promotion that can help travelers save on the cost of a fantastic vacation. When you book a suite cabin on one of their ships, you may be eligible for free business class flight tickets! This offer is an excellent way for you to arrive refreshed and relaxed, ready to enjoy your cruise experience.

Regent Seven Seas wants to make it even more enticing for you to book one of their upcoming journeys. All guests who book a suite will be eligible for free business class air on intercontinental flights. This means you can get to and from your destination in comfort and style, at no extra cost to you.

Credit: Shutterstock

To take advantage of this offer, travelers must book a qualifying cruise. You can view a whole list of available cruises here. All suite categories booked are eligible for this promo. Flights must be to and from a select list of airports — all other U.S. and Canadian airport flights will face additional charges.

Luckily, you have many voyages to choose from! Here are some incredible trips to consider booking:

Rome to Athens (8 nights)

Athens to Barcelona (10 nights)

Buenos Aires to Rio De Janeiro (10 nights)

Sydney to Auckland (14 nights)

Miami to Lima (15 nights)

Vancouver to Tokyo (19 nights)

Dubai to Singapore (20 nights)

Bali to Hong Kong (18 nights)

As you can see, cruises are available to some of the most incredible destinations on the globe. Several suite cabin options are available on all Regent Seven Seas ship, and each suite has unique features to love. You’ll enjoy luxurious amenities and plenty of space to relax.

Our Guide to Dressing Up (or Down) on a Cruise

If you’re new to cruising, you’ll want to make sure that you pack all the essentials that you need for a great trip. You may be wondering what to pack in terms of clothes. Don’t worry — we’ll help to make sure that you’re all ready to go. Each cruise line has a dress code in place, but we can help you understand the differences so you can get packing. Keep reading to learn more about the dress code for your upcoming cruise.

Carnival Cruise Line

If you’re taking a Carnival Cruise Line cruise, you’ll get the chance to wear a lot of casual attire. Most evenings the dress code is “cruise casual,” so you’ll be fine wearing khakis, collared sports shirts, pants, jeans, and blouses. “Cruise elegant” attire is suggested for a few special evenings. Think dress shirts, cocktail dresses, pantsuits, and sports coats. You won’t need to pull out the tuxedos and evening gowns, but you can if you want.

Holland America

You’ll also find that the Holland America dress code is also quite casual. Most evenings are “resort casual,” and clothing like slacks, collared shirts, skirts, slacks, and blouses are acceptable. For the evenings that have a formal option, the dress code is referred to as “Gala Night” wear. For these gala evenings, you can plan to wear suits, tuxedos, jackets, cocktail dresses, and gowns.

Credit: Shutterstock

MSC Cruises

If you’re taking an MSC Cruises journey, we have you covered! Most of the time, you can get away with “casual wear” on your cruise. “Gala Dinners” on the other hand, require travelers to wear more formal attire. Suits, jackets, ties, and cocktail dresses are acceptable for these evening events.

Oceania Cruises

Oceania Cruises has an easy to follow dress code to make things stress-free. Plan to wear country club and resort-style attire like button-down shirts and slacks and dresses and skirts and tops. For evening events, plan to dress more elegant. This cruise line keeps things pretty casual, which is excellent if you don’t feel like pulling out your gowns!

Princess Cruises

Another favorite cruise line is Princess Cruises. This cruise line has both formal and smart-casual evenings. When it’s formal attire night, plan to wear tuxedos, dark suits, evening gowns, cocktail dresses, and elegant pantsuits. For smart-casual attire, plan to bring pants, slacks, sweaters, and blouses.

Credit: Shutterstock

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

When you cruise with Regent Seven Seas, “casual” wear is perfect for daytime, and resort-style attire is best. In the evenings, plan to dress “elegant casual,” which means items like collared shirts, skirts, slacks, blouses, and sweaters. Some longer cruises have formal or semi-formal nights, which require gowns, cocktail dresses, and tuxedos.

For all cruise lines, you can’t wear swimwear in the dining areas. Some cruise lines also have special theme nights, where you’re encouraged to dress up to match the theme!

Transatlantic Tranquility

A Transatlantic cruise means a few extra leisure filled days at sea. What better way to ease into vacation mode, leaving stress at shore, than indulging in a little onboard pampering? Sail into bliss at our top five tranquil spas aboard these Transatlantic cruises.

Celebrity Edge: The Spa

Credit: Celebrity Cruises

Is it any surprise that the newest Edge class ship, Celebrity Edge would have one of the most magnificent spas at sea? Step aboard for an ahhhhmazing escape as the spa borrows calming elements from its surroundings. Envision peaceful waters, blue skies, and soothing earth tones. Couple the perfect space with state-of-the-art technology and innovative treatments, and your restorative journey is underway. Our favorite? The SEA Thermal Suite’s eight unique experiences featuring everything from HAMMAN to the Float Room.

Regent Seven Sea Cruises: Canyon Ranch

Credit: Regent Seven Seas Cruises

The epitome of relaxation, Canyon Ranch on Regent Seven Sea Cruises will take you on a relaxing reprieve with renewing organic body wraps, and rituals meant to reset your body. Treatments from around the globe set Canyon Ranch apart from other spas at sea. In particular, Ayurvedic (“the science of life”) services incorporating five elements: earth, fire, water, wind, and ether. Shirodhara and Shankara body wraps promote inner and outer harmony. Customized treatments for men, informative wellness talks on everything from aromatherapy to meditation and energizing fitness classes make Canyon Ranch one of the best at-sea spas.

Viking: LivNordi Spa

Credit: Viking Cruises

Leaving no pampering stone unturned, Viking’s LivNordic Spa features saunas, thermal suites, hot stone relaxation lounges, a cold-water splash bucket, and even a snow room. If you are not familiar with a “snow room,” imagine a quick escape into a snow-filled room. The winter wonderland is part of the 12-step process of Nordic Bathing known to detox tired muscles and improve circulation.

Seabourn: Seabourn’s Spa & Wellness

Credit: Seabourn

Dr. Andrew Weil’s partnership with Seabourn perfectly balances innovative and traditional approaches to physical and spiritual well-being. With groundbreaking research, guests at Seabourn’s Spa & Wellness are privy to the latest in health and wellness. Education, seminars, and classes intended to enhance body treatments, massages, facials, and fitness allow guests to take home more than beautiful memories of their cruise; they leave with a new holistic mind and body perspective for healthier living.

Princess Cruise: Lotus Spa

Credit: Princess Cruises

Named Best Spa on a Cruise Ship by Spa Finder Wellness 365™, The Lotus Spa is all about pampering Princess passengers with therapies such as aroma stone therapy massages and detoxifying ocean wraps. An inviting atmosphere and ancient treatments from both the Far East and contemporary Western technologies promote mind, body, and spiritual relaxation. Along with thermal suites filled with grottos and chambers releasing dry heat, steam, and mists of aromatherapy vapors, spa-goers are invited to leave the stress of everyday life far behind.

Regent Seven Seas Adds Veggie-Friendly Menus

These days, travel brands are finding new and exciting ways to appeal to the unique ever-changing needs of customers. Food preference and dietary restrictions are continually evolving. To consider dietary concerns like those of vegans and vegetarians, some cruise brands are adding more vegetarian options to their menus. In the coming months, Regent Seven Seas Cruises will introduce veggie-friendly menus. Veggie lovers are definitely going to be happy about this!

Regent Sevens Seas has a mix of food on their menus, but starting on October 1, the luxury cruise brand will be adding 200+ plant-based selections. Vegetarian options will be available during breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and they will be added to the full, regular menu. These items will be available on all fleets. This will make it easier for travelers looking to add more plant-based foods to their diet or those who are vegetarian or vegan. From soups and appetizers to desserts, there is something for everyone. If you’re a vegetarian, it’s now easier than ever to travel the world and take part in cruise experiences without worrying about food options.

Credit: Regent Sevens Seas Cruises

Examples of meals:

  • Banana Oatmeal Pancakes with Berries
  • Avocado Toast
  • Sweet Potato Soup with Miso and Ginger
  • Mediterranean Bowl
  • Impossible Burger
  • Plant Based Hawaiian Poke Bowl
  • Green Lentil Penne Pasta
  • Singapore Noodles with Stir-Fried Vegetables
  • Crispy Sweet and Sour Vegetables with Tofu
  • Lime-Vodka Sorbet
  • Peach and Blueberry Cobbler
Credit: Regent Sevens Seas Cruises

These are only a small sample of the available dishes. We’re getting hungry just thinking about it! Even if you’re not vegetarian, this is an excellent way to sample new, unique foods and to add more veggies to your daily intake. It’ll be interesting to see what other cruise lines choose to add more veggie-friendly dishes to their regular menus.

Miami Cruise Month January 2017 Offers Array of Cruise and Pre and Post Specials

January marks the beginning of Miami Cruise Month, a month-long campaign by The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) to help you plan your next Miami cruise vacation and take advantage of the best pre- and post-cruise deals. Cruisers sailing from PortMiami will also get to enjoy great offers on hotel stays, attractions, and heritage tours to extend their vacation beyond the cruise. A full listing of deals and partners can be found at MiamiCruiseMonth.com.

 

Some of the featured cruise packages are:

Norwegian Cruise Line – Choose up to five free offers with Norwegian’s Free At Sea Promotion or five free deals on their seven-day Hawaii Cruises.
Oceania Cruises, Inc. – Choose from one of the following: free unlimited Internet; free shore excursions; free house beverage package or a shipboard credit. Miami Cruise Month guests will receive an exclusive $750 discount per passenger for any veranda or suite reservation made on one of the following ships Marina, Regatta or
Riviera 9 to 14 day itineraries- amongst other deals.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises – Miami Cruise Month guests can receive up to $1,000 off the cruise fare on select voyages when you book between January 1 and January 31, 2017 and mention promo code: Miami Cruise Month.
Royal Caribbean – For cruises departing on or after Feb. 4, 2017, you can save 30 percent off standard cruise fare for all guests in a stateroom; 50 percent reduced deposits or get up to $150 instant savings per stateroom, among other deals (offer excludes China departures).

Gourmet Explorer Tours Offered by Regent Seven Seas Cruises

rssc_la_residence_de_la_pinede

Regent Seven Seas Cruises has unveiled a collection of exclusive culinary-inspired shore excursions for the Seven Seas Explorer’s inaugural Mediterranean season. Part of the Regent Choice Shore Excursion program, these new Gourmet Explorer Tours are designed for guests seeking unique, one-of-a-kind epicurean adventures ashore to complement the culinary experiences found aboard highlighted by an array of gourmet restaurants and the hands-on Culinary Arts Kitchen.

This new collection of Gourmet Explorer Tours will enhance and expand upon the curriculum offered at the Culinary Arts Kitchen aboard the ship by providing adventures that allow guests to explore the destination and local culture through its epicurean offerings. To mirror the superb guest service found aboard the ship, each Gourmet Explorer Tour will be accompanied by the chef instructor from the Culinary Arts Kitchen and a local guide, often a chef, with intimate knowledge of the region’s agriculture, wine and cuisine, to add an extra layer of authenticity to this immersive culinary experience.

“Our Gourmet Explorer Tours were specifically designed to match the unrivaled level of guest experience found on board Seven Seas Explorer,” said Jason Montague, president and chief operating officer for Regent Seven Seas Cruises. “We have created an unbelievable collection of culinary-inspired tours where our guests can partake in true once-in-a-lifetime epicurean experiences. Our tours were expertly crafted to provide our guests with unique opportunities to dine at a highly coveted and world-renowned Michelin-starred restaurant, visit iconic markets and palatial vineyard estate homes, and learn from some of Europe’s premier chefs with personalized, hands-on instruction.”

Each Gourmet Explorer Tour was handcrafted by the line’s Executive Director of Culinary Enrichment, Chef Kathryn Kelly. In preparing the tours, Kelly partnered with a vast network of Michelin-starred chefs and local culinary experts to bring Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ guests the finest array of culinary experiences available for each destination. The resulting tours are both luxurious in nature and distinctly authentic to the region’s culinary heritage.

In total, 22 Gourmet Explorer Tours have been developed for Seven Seas Explorer’s upcoming Mediterranean season, with several ultra-premium experiences that are simply unavailable to anyone except guests sailing on the most luxurious ship ever built, Seven Seas Explorer. A few these ultra-exclusive Gourmet Explorer Tours include:

Sorrento, Italy – Become immersed in the unique cuisine of Campagnia by making cheese at the artisanal fromagerie, watching a culinary demonstration by a master chef, and wining and dining amid the luxury gardens of the stunning Don Alfonso.
Monte Carlo, Monaco – Wine tasting at Cave Bianchi in Nice followed by dinner at the famed La Chèvre d’Or restaurant highlight a special night out with fellow foodies. Guests gain an appreciation for local and traditionally-inspired dishes hand-selected for the evening affair.

Saint Tropez, France – Bask in an evening of ultimate gourmand indulgence on the luxurious French Riviera. Taste three Provence varietals at the famed La Croix winery, and then enjoy a gourmet dining experience at the renowned La Vague d’Or, a Michelin 3-star restaurant in the heart of Saint Tropez.

Barcelona, Spain – Enjoy the gloriously rich Catalan culinary scene with guided strolls through the famed Boqueria and Santa Caterina markets, followed by an unforgettable lunch and kitchen tour from Chef Jordi Cruz at ABaC, a famed 2-star Michelin restaurant.

“We are creating something truly special and sure to be enjoyed by both die-hard foodies and peripheral fans of the culinary arts,” said Kelly. “With our Gourmet Explorer Tours we have an incredibly diverse array of options for our guests, ranging from the crème-de-la-crème of luxury with our day in Saint Tropez to a more casual farm-to-table experience in Greece. I cannot wait to begin!”

Regent Seven Seas Cruises, www.RSSC.com

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