Give Luxury Cruising a Look
Written By: Tina Share
The word “luxury” can make travelers assume that a cruise will be far outside their vacation budget. While some luxury cruises are certainly expensive, others may be more reasonable than you think. Before ruling one out, it is worth looking at what is actually included and comparing the total cost of the vacation.
Many luxury cruise fares include things that cost extra on mainstream cruise lines, such as specialty dining, beverages, gratuities, Wi-Fi and some shore excursions. Depending on the cruise line, airfare, airport transfers or a pre-cruise hotel stay may also be included. Once those additional expenses are added to the price of a mainstream cruise, the difference may be much smaller than it first appeared. In some cases, the luxury option may actually be the better value.
Of course, it is also a different type of cruise experience. Luxury ships are generally smaller, carry fewer passengers and offer a higher level of personal service. Staterooms are often more spacious, dining is more refined and public areas tend to feel quieter and less crowded. Getting on and off the ship, finding a table and enjoying the pool deck can also be easier with fewer guests onboard.
What you generally will not find are climbing walls, water slides, go-kart tracks or a long list of high-energy attractions. Entertainment is usually more understated, and evenings may be quieter. Travelers who enjoy the activity and energy of a large resort-style ship may still prefer a mainstream cruise line.
The smaller ships do have another important advantage. They can often visit ports that larger ships cannot access. This can lead to more unusual itineraries, smaller harbors, longer days ashore and occasional overnight stays in port. For travelers who see the destination as an important part of the vacation, this can be a real benefit.
Luxury cruising is not the right fit for everyone, and it is not always the right fit for every trip. But I would not dismiss it based on the word “luxury” or the initial fare alone. If you value excellent food, attentive service, fewer crowds and more interesting itineraries, it may be worth giving luxury cruising a closer look.