high end cruise lines
#3
Join Date: May 2011
Location: San Antonio, TX
Programs: AA EXP, DL Silver, Global Entry
Posts: 1,863
I think you actually mean Windstar not Windjammer. That said I personally would not consider them "very high level" like Crystal, Seabourn, or Silversea.
#4
Join Date: Jul 2009
Programs: Delta Gold, silver, what yr is it?
Posts: 2,417
OP, if you're actually looking for input on choosing a vacation, it would help to know what your priorities are. I like small ships but I also don't love formal nights (conversely, I love set dinner times but I haven't found set dinners on country club casual ships - oh well) So we chose Azamara for our next cruise - not a "luxury" line but looks nice enough. And it's the R class ship we love (have sailed on Pacific Princess a couple times)
#5
Join Date: May 2011
Location: San Antonio, TX
Programs: AA EXP, DL Silver, Global Entry
Posts: 1,863
If I can't have a balcony cabin, it's not luxury to me. Personal opinion. If I go on a cruise, I spend most of my time on the balcony
OP, if you're actually looking for input on choosing a vacation, it would help to know what your priorities are. I like small ships but I also don't love formal nights (conversely, I love set dinner times but I haven't found set dinners on country club casual ships - oh well) So we chose Azamara for our next cruise - not a "luxury" line but looks nice enough. And it's the R class ship we love (have sailed on Pacific Princess a couple times)
OP, if you're actually looking for input on choosing a vacation, it would help to know what your priorities are. I like small ships but I also don't love formal nights (conversely, I love set dinner times but I haven't found set dinners on country club casual ships - oh well) So we chose Azamara for our next cruise - not a "luxury" line but looks nice enough. And it's the R class ship we love (have sailed on Pacific Princess a couple times)
#6
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 3
High end cruise lines
If you are looking for cruises without a children's program so that there are fewer families think Ponant, Azamara and Oceania, Oceania has the best food of the high end lines.
Like to wear a tux? Seabourn
Luxury with good entertainment, Crystal
All inclusive including some shore excursions, Regent
Casual Elegant, Silversea
Private Yacht experience, SeaDream
You can find my reviews on most of these cruise lines at https://cruisesbylinda.com/crystal-serenity-review/
Like to wear a tux? Seabourn
Luxury with good entertainment, Crystal
All inclusive including some shore excursions, Regent
Casual Elegant, Silversea
Private Yacht experience, SeaDream
You can find my reviews on most of these cruise lines at https://cruisesbylinda.com/crystal-serenity-review/
#7
Join Date: Jul 2009
Programs: Delta Gold, silver, what yr is it?
Posts: 2,417
We will see what luxury lines are cruising Alaska in 2018 (husband's 50th) though I really enjoy cruising Glacier Bay and right now I think Crystal is the only luxury line with a permit to cruise there? But we have some time to worry about that....
#8
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: San Francisco
Programs: All-Around Kettle
Posts: 3,289
You should also check out cruisecritic.com -- it is like the FT of cruises and has tons of information on each line.
I like small ships but I also don't love formal nights (conversely, I love set dinner times but I haven't found set dinners on country club casual ships - oh well) So we chose Azamara for our next cruise - not a "luxury" line but looks nice enough. And it's the R class ship we love (have sailed on Pacific Princess a couple times)
#9
Join Date: Jul 2009
Programs: Delta Gold, silver, what yr is it?
Posts: 2,417
Yes - Crystal is one that has formal nights and set dining. I want country club casual (all nights) and set dining - that's the combo I can't find ;-) We've done formal nights, don't care to anymore (I suppose I could make an exception if we choose Queen's Grill on Cunard some time ;-) but husband doesn't want to forego the main dining room just because he's not wearing the tux.....
#10
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: San Francisco
Programs: All-Around Kettle
Posts: 3,289
Yes - Crystal is one that has formal nights and set dining. I want country club casual (all nights) and set dining - that's the combo I can't find ;-) We've done formal nights, don't care to anymore (I suppose I could make an exception if we choose Queen's Grill on Cunard some time ;-) but husband doesn't want to forego the main dining room just because he's not wearing the tux.....
http://www.crystalcruises.com/guideb...n-the-ship--18
http://www.travelpulse.com/news/crui...ress-code.html
#11
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE
Posts: 7,142
We initially didn't like the "dine anytime" on the luxury lines but after a couple of cruises we adjusted and actually now prefer the flexibility. It works really well on European cruises that are typically port intensive. Nice not to have to think about having to be back at the ship at a specific time.
#12
Join Date: May 2011
Location: San Antonio, TX
Programs: AA EXP, DL Silver, Global Entry
Posts: 1,863
Yes - Crystal is one that has formal nights and set dining. I want country club casual (all nights) and set dining - that's the combo I can't find ;-) We've done formal nights, don't care to anymore (I suppose I could make an exception if we choose Queen's Grill on Cunard some time ;-) but husband doesn't want to forego the main dining room just because he's not wearing the tux.....
#13
Join Date: Jul 2009
Programs: Delta Gold, silver, what yr is it?
Posts: 2,417
It's about shoes for my husband. He doesn't mind dressing up and in fact - says if he's going to bring the shoes, he wants to use them every night. He's pretty much into an all or nothing dress code at this phase - he's wearing the black shiny shoes & dark suit or tux, or he's wearing Tommy Bahama boat shoes and khakis with a buttoned shirt. We'll see what happens in the future....
As light packers - it can be difficult to mix those 2 dress codes....
As I mentioned, we do prefer to dine in the main dining room every night. I won't overlook Crystal entirely, but thus far it's not quite been what we've wanted....
As light packers - it can be difficult to mix those 2 dress codes....
and it's not hard to avoid dressing up that one night by eating at Tastes.
#14
Join Date: May 2011
Location: San Antonio, TX
Programs: AA EXP, DL Silver, Global Entry
Posts: 1,863
It's about shoes for my husband. He doesn't mind dressing up and in fact - says if he's going to bring the shoes, he wants to use them every night. He's pretty much into an all or nothing dress code at this phase - he's wearing the black shiny shoes & dark suit or tux, or he's wearing Tommy Bahama boat shoes and khakis with a buttoned shirt. We'll see what happens in the future....
As light packers - it can be difficult to mix those 2 dress codes....
As light packers - it can be difficult to mix those 2 dress codes....
Might add that my issue with Crystal, if you can call it an issue, is that they've turned basically what was a premium line into kind of a luxury line. Their ships, at least the two main ones, are way too big for my taste and real definition of luxury. Like with almost any line you've got the diehard Crystal fans who would probably strongly disagree but we like smaller ships. Doesn't help that with just really a couple of ships their itineraries are somewhat limited and we haven't seen an itinerary that goes where we'd like to go when we like to go.
Last edited by Randyk47; Jun 8, 2016 at 8:51 am
#15
Join Date: Jul 2009
Programs: Delta Gold, silver, what yr is it?
Posts: 2,417
Oh, we have baggage allowances too. I just don't like to pack that much. Sometimes we stay in apartments up 3 (narrow!) flights of stairs, no elevators. Train/subway travel, etc. I'm a DIY sort of gal, and I've been working on my husband for years to fall in line. It's finally starting to take
I did notice that Crystal's fares jumped in the past couple years (FWIW, I have not cruised on any luxury line - I've just been tracking them for years because I want to - I've been reading CC for ages as well - 2005 or 2006? My first cruise with my husband was 2006) Our preferred size (so far) is the R class - nice combo of balconies/cabin choice but not too big. Largest we sailed has been Westerdam and at 1900 (?) it was too big. The cabin was nice & big (we had a mini suite on a Panama Canal cruise) but just didn't enjoy all those people. And the amenities that larger size can offer just don't appeal to us. I'm happy that some cruise lines are still building small(ish) ships but I worry constantly they'll stop and/or I'll be totally priced out of that market. It's already happening with the mass market lines - we love Pacific Princess but I'm sure that Princess will be getting rid of her soon, as with the other R ships they owned....
I did notice that Crystal's fares jumped in the past couple years (FWIW, I have not cruised on any luxury line - I've just been tracking them for years because I want to - I've been reading CC for ages as well - 2005 or 2006? My first cruise with my husband was 2006) Our preferred size (so far) is the R class - nice combo of balconies/cabin choice but not too big. Largest we sailed has been Westerdam and at 1900 (?) it was too big. The cabin was nice & big (we had a mini suite on a Panama Canal cruise) but just didn't enjoy all those people. And the amenities that larger size can offer just don't appeal to us. I'm happy that some cruise lines are still building small(ish) ships but I worry constantly they'll stop and/or I'll be totally priced out of that market. It's already happening with the mass market lines - we love Pacific Princess but I'm sure that Princess will be getting rid of her soon, as with the other R ships they owned....