Cruising can be luxurious. You see more and more ads on TV. Certain cruise lines target food and wine lovers. A recent issue of the Wine Spectator featured not but two, dual page spreads speaking to their target audience. You get the feeling luxury costs big bucks. That is true, but you can find luxury touches in mass market cruising too.
We are fans of Cunard. We have sailed with other cruise lines and had a great time. Because we have sailed with Cunard 20+ times, we are familiar with the details. Some change from year to year, but if you are sailing in Brittania Class (about 87% of the ship) these are the luxury touches you might expect to find.
- Bath toiletries. Cunard makes an effort to showcase British brands. In your bathroom, we usually find Penhaligon soap, shampoo and conditioner. These are usually sold in luxury boutiques both in the UK and abroad.
- Godiva chocolates. These are placed on your pillow at night, every night. The brand might vary but expect to see a shiny square about an inch in size. If you are not someone who eats their chocolates before bed, you build up a huge supply, especially if you are on a longer voyage, like a 100+ night World cruise.
- Twinings tea. When you have breakfast delivered to your cabin (that’s a luxury too!) or tea in one of the restaurants, the brand is Twinings. They are a British firm in business since 1706.
- Tiptree jams. Your breakfast tray (and breakfast table in the dining room) should feature jams and honey from Tiptree, started by John Wilkinson in the 1880’s. Check out what Tiptree jam costs back home the next time you visit an upscale supermarket.
- Comfy bathrobes. These don’t have a brand but are still a luxury. You can stand on your balcony in your PJs just like the models in the TV ads. These are helpful for getting to and from the pools in your swimwear.
- Bedroom slippers. Do you wear slippers at home? Many of us (including me) do not. I have slip on, slip off multipurpose shoes. For the duration of your cruise, this is an additional perk that is useful for getting to and from the pool.
- Specialty dining. Cruise lines have connections with specialty chefs. Michel Roux, famous for running Le Gavroche in London has a connection with Cunard. The ship does special dinners that you pay to attend. Other cruise lines have similar connections.
- Free laundry. How does laundry get done back home? You likely do it yourself, although some people send it out. If you pack for a long hotel stay, you bring a lot of clean clothing and return home with lots of dirty clothing. On Cunard ships, they have multiple laundry rooms, free for passengers to use. This can cut down on your packing. The good news is, you meet interesting people when you do your laundry. The bad news is those laundries are very popular.
- Premium liquors and fine wines. You might be a scotch whisky fan. How deep is the range at your favorite bar or the county club? Maybe you are a wine fan. Where would you get a Grand Cru Bordeaux back home and what would the restaurant charge? You will find the selection amazing.
- A cigar bar. This is not a luxury for everyone, but it is important to cigar fans. They should have a range of cigars, many which might not be available back home.
You know you can enjoy luxury if you are willing to pay a high price. You can enjoy more luxury than you might expect, even in mass market cruising.
Editor’s Notes:
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cover photo: Queen Victoria credit Cunard
