Anonymous
Post 01/11/2024 07:45     Subject: Re:Which cruise line is the most upscale?
Anonymous wrote:I suggest taking a look at The Haven on Norwegian. It is a "ship within a ship" with its own pool, bar, restaurant and upscale rooms. You also get priority access to events/entertainment, dedicated concierge for anything you need, as well as incredibly speedy disembarkation and embarkation at ports. We were looking for an upscale experience while also a line that had tons of stuff for my teens/tweens to enjoy. This fit the bill.


This or Disney Concierge level if you have kids.
Anonymous
Post 01/10/2024 19:15     Subject: Which cruise line is the most upscale?
I got an email from Ritz Carlton about their cruise ship. I’m sure it’s nice and I’m sure I can’t afford it.

I’ve only been on one cruise and it was on Carnival. Carnival doesn’t get a lot of love, but we actually had a great time.
Anonymous
Post 01/10/2024 19:04     Subject: Re:Which cruise line is the most upscale?
Anonymous wrote:No one has mentioned Lindbland Nat Geo cruises. Higher end very small ships. They are billed as "expeditions" rather than cruises so it's a slightly different thing but very family friendly. There isn't no going in and out of ports and doing the generic port activities. We did one with our kids. There are a lot of families on a school break and the old people are active old people because they have to be in order to do the activities.


Second this. We've taken two (Galapagos and Alaska). They have a variety of activities every day, usually nature-related, and they send little boats out every morning and afternoon to whatever you've signed up for. You don't have to sign up for anything, but that would be a waste. They also have lectures many nights, including from scientists doing research onboard (not sure I'd want to be those scientists, but they are eating great food on a cruise).
Anonymous
Post 01/10/2024 18:16     Subject: Which cruise line is the most upscale?
While everyone's debating cruise lines, let me drop a truth bomb – private yachting is where it's at! Forget crowded decks and buffet lines, on a private yacht, it’s just you, the ocean, and the luxury of doing whatever you want, whenever you want.
Anonymous
Post 01/10/2024 17:38     Subject: Which cruise line is the most upscale?
This is a puff piece but gives you some names: https://thepointsguy.com/guide/best-luxury-cruise-lines/?fbclid=IwAR1SK45vzTdqFNodw6qtcKF9brCR7miJdMeghYqO5MLTOkVAwhQn1J0Kd2I_aem_AU285DATjOj6B6iu-Xo-O0fL43Nkxdwi--H6Cnn2FmZOOwwuNvPeZ4p2sR1WeFY3CDM
Anonymous
Post 01/08/2024 15:29     Subject: Re:Which cruise line is the most upscale?
Anonymous wrote:The top luxury so-called 6-star lines are usually considered to be:

Regent Seven Seas, SilverSea, Crystal, Hapag-Lloyd, and Seabourn.

The next tier down includes lines like Viking Ocean, Ritz-Carlton, Seadream Yacht Club, Explora, Azamara, and Oceania.

Next would be mass-market upscale lines like Curnard, Holland America, Princess, Disney, Virgin, and Ponant.

The next tier of mass market lines includes brands like Royal Carribbean and Norwegian.

Expedition cruising is a different market, with different lines and vessels.


This is mostly correct, but Disney isn’t on par with Ponant, Holland, etc.

Disney is expensive and usually provides excellent service, but its food isn’t the same quality as Ponant, Holland, etc. But it is the best line for young kids.
Anonymous
Post 01/08/2024 15:12     Subject: Which cruise line is the most upscale?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:What about Celebrity?

Also - I've looked at some "family friendly" luxury lines - ie select itineraries during certain times of the year - where you get burned is their cabins just don't work for ~4, so its like $20K, and then at that point who wants to drop $20k on a ...cruise.


Yeah I'd love to know more about Celebrity with kids. I know its not the splashy waterslides and bumper cars of Royal Caribbean, but as long as there is a kids club, my kids are happy.


My kids enjoyed Celebrity but they prefer Royal. The kids club works the same and they had fun with Celebrity. Now that they're tweens they strongly prefer the more action/adventure features. We stay in suites on Royal which depending on the boat gives you a access to private lounges and dining rooms.


Celebrity skews older and is less fun. Less activities in the evening.

Plus, they have a dress code for the dining room. My boys preferred Royal Caribbean where they could wear khaki shorts and a polo to dinner some nights instead of pants and a button down. I mean, it’s the Caribbean…on a cruise ship.

And: more of a variety of live music on Royal. Celebrity had bland, mediocre bands.
Anonymous
Post 01/08/2024 14:40     Subject: Which cruise line is the most upscale?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:What about Celebrity?

Also - I've looked at some "family friendly" luxury lines - ie select itineraries during certain times of the year - where you get burned is their cabins just don't work for ~4, so its like $20K, and then at that point who wants to drop $20k on a ...cruise.


Yeah I'd love to know more about Celebrity with kids. I know its not the splashy waterslides and bumper cars of Royal Caribbean, but as long as there is a kids club, my kids are happy.


My kids enjoyed Celebrity but they prefer Royal. The kids club works the same and they had fun with Celebrity. Now that they're tweens they strongly prefer the more action/adventure features. We stay in suites on Royal which depending on the boat gives you a access to private lounges and dining rooms.
Anonymous
Post 01/08/2024 14:22     Subject: Which cruise line is the most upscale?
Viking
Anonymous
Post 01/08/2024 14:21     Subject: Which cruise line is the most upscale?
Anonymous wrote:Would love to find one with great food and expert-led tours.


Anything with fewer than 150 cabins.

The rest are mass-market.
Anonymous
Post 01/08/2024 11:19     Subject: Which cruise line is the most upscale?
Lindblad.
Anonymous
Post 01/08/2024 10:30     Subject: Which cruise line is the most upscale?
"Family Friendly" and "Luxury" do not go together. If I'm paying for a luxury cruise, I don't want to be around a bunch of screaming children. That is anything but luxury.
Anonymous
Post 01/08/2024 10:28     Subject: Which cruise line is the most upscale?
Anonymous wrote:What about Celebrity?

Also - I've looked at some "family friendly" luxury lines - ie select itineraries during certain times of the year - where you get burned is their cabins just don't work for ~4, so its like $20K, and then at that point who wants to drop $20k on a ...cruise.


Yeah I'd love to know more about Celebrity with kids. I know its not the splashy waterslides and bumper cars of Royal Caribbean, but as long as there is a kids club, my kids are happy.
Anonymous
Post 01/08/2024 09:42     Subject: Which cruise line is the most upscale?
What about Celebrity?

Also - I've looked at some "family friendly" luxury lines - ie select itineraries during certain times of the year - where you get burned is their cabins just don't work for ~4, so its like $20K, and then at that point who wants to drop $20k on a ...cruise.
Anonymous
Post 01/08/2024 09:39     Subject: Which cruise line is the most upscale?
Viking, Hurtigruten