Premium & Luxury Class Lines

[ehsun]

Hi, previously, I have cruised on Crystal(for couple cruises), Carnival and Norwegian(for family cruises). I rather enjoy Crystal and has to be one of my top picks for a luxury cruise line and Carnival is good for a family cruise however, for me, it's too mainstream. I was thinking a cruise line like Celebrity for a luxurious experience but not being as expensive as Crystal for those family cruises. So my question is, what are good options for a premium experience(not breaking the bank), and is Crystal probably the best for luxury-couple cruises?

[Essiesmom]

Welcome to Cruise Critic. There is a board here for Luxury Cruising, under Special Interest Cruising. Celebrity is a step above Carnival, sometimes called a Premium line but still mainstream. Some will place Oceania and Regent Seven Seas between them and the luxury lines like Crystal, Silversea, Seabourn, Hapag Lloyd... EM

[Heidi13]

Having sailed with Princess for almost 40 yrs, their standards have dropped below what we consider acceptable. Therefore, we have research many of the up market/luxury lines, settling on Viking Ocean for our 2020 World Cruise. For us, Oceania was a close 2nd.

 

The base fare seems expensive, but the cruise is virtually all inclusive and we have almost $9K OBC. While considered small ships (930 pax) they are still big enough to have dinning and entertainment options. They also include business class flights, transfers to/from ship, luggage forwarding, free gratuities, free drinks package, free excursion in each port, free internet, free self-service laundry, free Visa service. Basically I estimated the per day cost will be almost identical to our 2015 WC with Princess.

[calliopecruiser]

Consider Oceania or Azamara

[Hlitner]

I am going to make this very short. IMHO, Celebrity is no longer a "Premium" product in any way. Due to recent cut-backs over the past 3-4 years we now think of Celebrity as just one more mass market line. At one time it was certainly something better then mass market, but that has been lost under the leadership of their current CEO. And I will go one step further and say that with recent price increases with the Celebrity product the line is no longer a good value.

 

Hank

P.S. We could go into more detail but its more fun to let others fill in the blanks.

[ehsun]

I am going to make this very short. IMHO, Celebrity is no longer a "Premium" product in any way. Due to recent cut-backs over the past 3-4 years we now think of Celebrity as just one more mass market line. At one time it was certainly something better then mass market, but that has been lost under the leadership of their current CEO. And I will go one step further and say that with recent price increases with the Celebrity product the line is no longer a good value.

 

Hank

P.S. We could go into more detail but its more fun to let others fill in the blanks.

 

Thanks everyone for the replies! So I want a rather larger ship so I can still have the amenities such as entertainment and meeting a lot of new people. Which line would work for me? Oceania, Viking or Azamara? Or is there any other lines that aren’t too small and are in between line like Carnival and Crystal? Thanks again guys so much!

[Texas Tillie]

Thanks everyone for the replies! So I want a rather larger ship so I can still have the amenities such as entertainment and meeting a lot of new people. Which line would work for me? Oceania, Viking or Azamara? Or is there any other lines that aren’t too small and are in between line like Carnival and Crystal? Thanks again guys so much!

 

As others have said, Princess, Celebrity and Holland America were once considered to be a step up from Carnival, but that step is getting flatter all the time. I think the 3 you mentioned are about it for that intermediate level. One thing to consider is what is and is not included with those three lines. Sometimes Crystal can be about the same price when you look at the bottom line.

[cruzeluver]

I am going to make this very short. IMHO, Celebrity is no longer a "Premium" product in any way. Due to recent cut-backs over the past 3-4 years we now think of Celebrity as just one more mass market line. At one time it was certainly something better then mass market, but that has been lost under the leadership of their current CEO. And I will go one step further and say that with recent price increases with the Celebrity product the line is no longer a good value.

 

Hank

P.S. We could go into more detail but its more fun to let others fill in the blanks.

 

Unfortunately I have to agree with Hank on this one. Our first few on Celebrity were wonderful and definitely felt like a clear step up from the lines we had sailed previously (Royal, NCL, Carnival) but that is really no longer the case. We still like Celebrity ok, but as far as I am concerned its basically Royal with less to do on board and much higher prices. We are booked with a group of friends for January and the rates are simply ridiculous.

[Hlitner]

Thanks everyone for the replies! So I want a rather larger ship so I can still have the amenities such as entertainment and meeting a lot of new people. Which line would work for me? Oceania, Viking or Azamara? Or is there any other lines that aren’t too small and are in between line like Carnival and Crystal? Thanks again guys so much!

 

Although we have not yet cruised the line, many friends have sung the praises of Viking Ocean Cruises. One down side for some folks is that Viking does not have casinos. But their ships are all relatively new and look like real ships :). We do like Crystal but the cost of this line is a deal breaker for many.

 

Hank

[LHT28]

Thanks everyone for the replies! So I want a rather larger ship so I can still have the amenities such as entertainment and meeting a lot of new people. Which line would work for me? Oceania, Viking or Azamara? Or is there any other lines that aren’t too small and are in between line like Carnival and Crystal? Thanks again guys so much!

Premium & luxury lines tend to have smaller ships

 

Oceania has 684 pax or 1250 pax 2 sizes of ship

not noted for their entertainment but you will meet well traveled mature people

Azamara 684 pax

 

Viking have 980 Pax

 

Crystal is more luxury line but still smaller size ships

 

Maybe the ship within a ship option would work for you

it is a tiered system

 

NCL =Haven

MSC= Yacht Club

Celebrity not sure the name

Cunard

You have your own dining area/pool etc you do not have to mix with the masses

 

You may have to compromise to get the premium/luxury you seek

 

Enjoy whatever cruise you choose

[buggins0402]

Welcome to Cruise Critic. There is a board here for Luxury Cruising, under Special Interest Cruising. Celebrity is a step above Carnival, sometimes called a Premium line but still mainstream. Some will place Oceania and Regent Seven Seas between them and the luxury lines like Crystal, Silversea, Seabourn, Hapag Lloyd... EM

 

Regent is definitely Luxury not Luxe lite/Premium Plus. Oceania, Azamara and Viking are generally thought to be between the premiums and luxury's. Also note that Viking is not suitable for a family cruise as it is adults only.

[CruiseRook91]

Premium & luxury lines tend to have smaller ships

 

Oceania has 684 pax or 1250 pax 2 sizes of ship

not noted for their entertainment but you will meet well traveled mature people

Azamara 684 pax

 

Viking have 980 Pax

 

Crystal is more luxury line but still smaller size ships

 

Maybe the ship within a ship option would work for you

it is a tiered system

 

NCL =Haven

MSC= Yacht Club

Celebrity not sure the name

Cunard

You have your own dining area/pool etc you do not have to mix with the masses

 

You may have to compromise to get the premium/luxury you seek

 

Enjoy whatever cruise you choose

 

I agree with this. I think you could get the best of both worlds by booking a premium suite experience.

[mnocket]

Although we have not yet cruised the line, many friends have sung the praises of Viking Ocean Cruises. One down side for some folks is that Viking does not have casinos. But their ships are all relatively new and look like real ships :). We do like Crystal but the cost of this line is a deal breaker for many.

 

Hank

I would love to try Viking, but the lack of a casino would put a damper on our evening fun.

[iancal]

We do not think of Celebrity of Holland America as premium lines. We think of them as being mass market lines that are focussed on specific market segments. No different than RCI, Carnival, Princess, NCL, etc.

[ehsun]

I would love to try Viking, but the lack of a casino would put a damper on our evening fun.

 

Same, I agree with this. Plus the point of the thread was to find a new cruise line that I can travel with family(some times) and have Crystal as my main adults only line. I'm also a big fan of poker so I'd be missing out on that

[ehsun]

Having sailed with Princess for almost 40 yrs, their standards have dropped below what we consider acceptable. Therefore, we have research many of the up market/luxury lines, settling on Viking Ocean for our 2020 World Cruise. For us, Oceania was a close 2nd.

 

The base fare seems expensive, but the cruise is virtually all inclusive and we have almost $9K OBC. While considered small ships (930 pax) they are still big enough to have dinning and entertainment options. They also include business class flights, transfers to/from ship, luggage forwarding, free gratuities, free drinks package, free excursion in each port, free internet, free self-service laundry, free Visa service. Basically I estimated the per day cost will be almost identical to our 2015 WC with Princess.

 

Which cruise offers the business class flights?

[Floridiana]

Which cruise offers the business class flights?

 

Oceania and Regent do.

[LHT28]

Which cruise offers the business class flights?

I believe she is talking about the world cruise perks

 

 

Regent offers Bus class fares

 

Oceania will but the fare is high so just book your own

they offer PE on certain cruises for a fee