From golden age trans-Atlantic crossings to royal tours, luxury ocean cruising has a long history of continent hopping in style. The concept at its core – the “floating hotel” – is occasionally maligned by non-cruisers, who prefer travel to be more challenging. But to cringe at the ease of it all is to entirely miss the point. The joy of the ocean liner is getting from here to there, cocktail in hand, with 360-degree views that change every day.
At the higher end, ocean cruising is typically split into two sub-categories. The first is the “grande dame” – think Titanic, pre-iceberg. Led by Cunard and Regent Seven Seas, this is where gold is a neutral and retracing the steps of royals and aristocrats is all part of the fun. Then there’s the new-wave resort ships in the vein of Celebrity and Oceania Cruises where contemporary design sets the scene, and the pulse of a good time is strong and steady. Between the two, cruise lines such as Silversea, Explora Journeys and Crystal Cruises do glamour through a modern lens, while Viking and Seabourn tend towards minimalism and intellectualism.
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