Luxury vs mainstream cruise lines

Helpful advice
on luxury cruises
Best 5 luxury cruise lines
Luxury-upmarket cruise lines
Luxury vs mainstream cruise lines
Luxury cruise ship photo gallery
Luxury cruise ship fact sheet

Tips on cruises in general
Best cruise lines by category
22 cruise lines - descriptions
Top 10 destinations
Cabin selection
Cruise costs
Booking advice
Shore excursions
Cruise pros & cons
Cruise dining insights
Family cruising tips
Cruise etiquette
Ship communications
Cruise industry - facts
More cruise tips/insights

What it's like on a luxury ship
Paul Gauguin
Regent Voyager
SeaDream II
Silver Shadow
Silver Spirit
Silver Whisper

Read my
destination-specific
cruise guides
Alaska
Antarctica
Arctic
Australian/New Zealand
Baltic
Bermuda
British Isles
Canada New England
Caribbean
Fjords of Norway
Galapagos
Hawaiian
Honeymoon
Luxury
Mediterranean
Mexican Riviera
Nile
Panama Canal
Persian Gulf
Romantic
River cruises
South American
TransAtlantic
World
Yangtze

World wonder rankings
Top 100
Top 1000

More
Site map
About me and my credentials
About my website
Reader testimonials
Email me your opinion

Luxury
vs mainstream
cruise lines

25 ways luxury cruises
are superior

Difference

There is a marked difference between what you experience on a luxury and a typical mainstream cruise ship. Although luxury cruise fares are higher than mainstream ones, you gain a lot for the extra money you spend.

The 25 differences

All-inclusive fare

Covers gratuities, alcoholic beverages, and some other items charged by mainstream lines

Cabins

Most are spacious suites with verandas, walk-in closets, and separate seating areas

They are stylishly furnished and decorated - and use top notch linens, pillows, and mattresses

Cabins have high-tech electronic entertainment equipment systems - and an extensive choice of free major movies shown on the flat-screen TV

Many cabins come with butler service

Dining

Quality of the food, presentation, and tableware scores high marks

Dining tables are not closely situated, giving you more privacy

Buffet restaurants don't feel like cafeterias

Entertainment

It's tasteful and geared for discerning audiences

Service

Staff is attentive and well trained as well as personable and genuinely eager to please

High crew-to-passenger ratio

Felow passengers

They're educated, sophisticated, and well-traveled - and easy to meet

Loud, inconsiderate passengers are rare

Children

Few if any children are onboard, therefore no dashing, screaming kids in the pool, restaurant, and other areas to disrupt your peace

Public spaces

They are spacious, tastefully furnished, and uncrowded

Ship

Ships are noticeably smaller and more intimate than mainstream ones

Passenger capacity is lower than on mainstream boats (for example, the Allure of the Sea carries 50 times more passengers than the SeaDream vessels do)

Space-to-passenger ratio is high (if a luxury and a mainstream ship are equaled in length, the passenger capacity of the luxury one will likely be about half of the mainstream one)

Ambiance

You won't be disturbed by incessant PA announcements

The low-keyed environment is perfect for vacationers who want to unwind - and for honeymooners and anniversary celebrants

Itineraries

You don't just visit the famous large ports - you experience the small interesting ones as well

More luxury cruise amenties

Waiting lines are few if any

Embarkations and disembarkations are swift

Shore excursion groups are small

Lectures are selected with high standards

Libraries are relatively large and thoughtfully stocked