Is luxury an overused word in the cruise industry? The big ships are often assigned to the category “mass market cruising.” Does anyone want to be described as belonging to a mass market? Probably not. Various cruise lines categorize themselves as luxury and ultra luxury. Broadly speaking, fares might be roughly categorized as $200+/day, $500+/day and $1,000+/day across these three categories. The luxury and ultra luxury accommodations might be aboard a large ship that is considered in the mass market cruising category. The MSC Yacht Club along with Queens Grill (and Princess Grill) on Cunard could fit into this category. What does luxury mean?
- Luxury means space. The average cruise ship cabin might be 220 square feet. It’s larger if you count the balcony. Luxury can mean the accommodations include significantly more square footage, ideally spread out over several rooms. If the suite has a name, that is even better.
- Ease of boarding. The challenge of sailing on a ship carrying 2,500 to 6,000 passengers is boarding along with 2,500 to 6,000 other passengers. Luxury can mean “standing on the short line” or boarding through an entirely different section of the cruise terminal.
- Getting to the ship. Do any cruise lines offer limousine service? There must be some. If you are driven from your home to the ship (and back home) again, that eliminates the hassle of handling your own luggage and paying for parking.
- Hotel room before boarding. Not everyone sails from a homeport. Some people might want to explore the city beforehand. If you are flying in, staying for a night in a luxury hotel beforehand starts the luxury of your vacation a day early. When we sailed with Swan Hellenic on the SH Diana from Athens to Istanbul, we were met at the airport and spent the night before the cruise at a large hotel in the center of Athens.
- Flying before sailing. Air travel can be a letdown when compared to cruise ship travel. Over the decades, the romance of air travel has become the romance of bus travel. If your cruise fare includes business class seats on the flights to and from home, that is luxury.
- Privacy is luxury. In general, we have found the fellow passengers we meet on a Cunard cruise are charming people you would invite to dinner at your home. If you are a Hollywood celebrity, you might have different opinions about mingling with the general public. The seriously wealthy solve this problem by chartering a private yacht. The major cruise lines deliver luxury by delivering “a ship within a ship.” You and your fellow passengers traveling in luxury share their own deck space, pool, cocktail lounge and restaurants. You can “trade down” and use any of the general facilities, but the general population onboard cannot venture into your space.
- Personalized staff is luxury. When you read about luxury travel in cruise ship brochures, “butler” is a frequently used word. Although my wife and I have not had this experience recently, my understanding is that you do not have your own “Jeeves” following you around. his is similar to staying at the Sy. Regis hotel in New York where each floor has a floor butler serving a few rooms. You have personalized service for unpacking, organizing parties, etc.
- The value of a concierge. You will want services booked through the general departments of the ship. You might want seats for a performance or a shore excursion booked. This often involved standing in line near the Purser’s office. Luxury means your level of accommodation has a concierge lounge where you can make your requests to someone who takes it from there. Your butler might be able to act as your connection to the concierge.
- Small is beautiful. While on a Caribbean cruise I noticed a huge line of people heading ashore from a huge ship docked nearby. I assume this was a huge shore excursion. When we sailed with Swan Hellenic, our shore excursions were led by a guide who traveled on the ship. She was supported by ship staff. Our small group was led through Ephesus and other ancient sights by a expert guide. The informality added to the luxury.
- Small ship cruising. Yachts have cachet. Ritz Carton has its Yacht Collection as it’s venture into the ultra-luxury category. Silversea and Seaborne operate larger vessels, but they are still small by cruise ship standards. Small implies exclusivity. That conveys luxury.
- Everything is included. The cruise ship industry has come under criticism for “nickel and diming” passengers. My wife refers to the experience where on one cruise, passengers were advised by one crew member to stay hydrated while ashore. Meanwhile, another crew member is selling bottles of water for passengers to carry ashore. Shore excursions. Bar bills, internet access and tipping can add up. When the fare includes everything, that is considered luxury.
- Safety. You don’t think about this much. Not worrying you will be pickpocketed or robbed is a luxury. As Americans, we assume we are safe everywhere. If your cruise can deliver an environment where you feel safe everywhere, that is a luxury.
- Unforgettable experiences. When we were in Ephesus, I marveled at the restored ruins. They did a magnificent job. The facade of the library is a recognizable sight and breathtaking. What could be better? We learned another cruise line had organized a sit down passenger dinner for that evening alongside the library, with the ruins lit by floodlights. You would remember that forever. That is luxury.
- Avoiding crowds. You see many ads on TV about cruises. These are often mass-market cruises on very large ships. The scenes show two people walking along a beach, hand I hand, with no one else in sight. Have you ever been to Santorini, Greece in the tourist season? The streets of Oia, the one with the white buildings and blue domes has crowds reminiscent of Times Square in Manhattan. If you can visit a beautiful place and enjoy privacy and serenity, that is luxury.
The cruise industry has succeeded in delivering luxury, but it comes at a price. In some cases you can pick and choose the aspects you want. This can make luxury more affordable.
Editor’s Notes:
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