Cruises may bring to mind massive ships with packed pool decks, all-hours buffets and casinos, but cruise lines are as varied as the destinations they visit.
Mass-market operators have upscale counterparts, and those tend to be on the smaller side.
“The two biggest things, to me, luxury is defined by the amount of space that you have as a guest on board, and also the number of guests on board the ship,” Ralph Bias, a luxury cruise specialist and president of Amazing Cruises, told USA TODAY. He said the standard capacity is typically between 400 and 600 guests (though they can sometimes accommodate more).
And while the term “luxury” is used to describe a wide range of vacations, there are some key differences between the two categories, luxury and upscale. Bias walked USA TODAY through four other things that set them apart.
The Seabourn Pursuit ship.
The decor is comparatively understated
“You know, the big cruise ships are very flashy with, not so much neon these days, but the indirect lighting and LED strip lighting, where everything is just, you know, ‘wow,’” Bias said.
The lighting, furnishings and color palettes on luxury cruise lines like Seabourn, Silversea Cruises and Crystal tend to be “more toned down,” he added. “You know, just very refined decor.”
That extends to the onboard amenities. While those ships often have pools and spas, passengers won’t find the roller coasters, water slides and mini-golf courses common on larger vessels. That doesn’t mean they’re not family-friendly, though. Bias said certain lines cater primarily to adults, but others, such as Explora Journeys and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, are particularly welcoming to all generations.
The rooms are spacious
The accommodations tend to be larger on luxury lines. “The minimum square footage for a lead-in suite is what they would call them, is about 365 square feet,” Bias said. “And that’s pretty large for the cruise industry.” He noted that those are more comparable to a standard hotel room on land.
By contrast, interior staterooms on bigger ships frequently measure about 150 square feet, The Points Guy reported (though those vessels also have a wide range of cabins in various sizes).
The service is more personal
With fewer passengers – and usually a higher crew-to-guest ratio – luxury cruises can offer a different level of service.
“For example, they’ll meet you at the pier, they’ll escort you on board right to your suite,” Bias said. “They check you in in the suite, as opposed to queuing on the pier.”
Many of those ships also offer butler service, providing guests with a go-to point of contact that can help create a more personalized experience.
The fares include more
Luxury cruise lines bundle more with their fares than mainstream operators. Much of what would typically cost extra on a big ship, such as alcoholic beverages and gratuities, are complimentary (though the exact terms of the inclusions can vary by operator).
For example, Regent Seven Seas Cruises fares cover dining – including specialty restaurants – drinks ranging from cocktails to specialty coffees, an in-suite mini bar, shore excursions and more, according to its website.
That doesn’t mean they’re always more expensive in the end, though.
“We look at Celebrity Cruises, and some of my clients will call and they want to book (The Retreat) and I look at the pricing and I’m like, ‘Wait a minute. I mean, holy cow.’ So, for a lead-in suite on Celebrity, I can put you on Seaborn,” Bias said. The Retreat, Celebrity’s luxe ship-within-ship concept, does come with more perks than a standard stateroom, however.
Bias noted that it comes down to the kind of experience guests are looking for. “You know, choose what’s best for you.”
Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 5 ways luxury cruises are different from other sailings
