Celebrated Living - Summer 2003 Edition Cruises Larry Olmsted Technology and improved ship designs have created the most luxurious generation of ships to date - with service and cuisine to match - making cruises appeal to even the most jaded upscale traveler. More than 50 new ships have been launched since 2000, and many markets, such as Alaska, one of the most popular summer cruise destinations, may be looking at a record season. Among the world's many cruise lines, Celebrated Living has sought out the top five based upon best service, accommodations, dining and more. Best Overall Crystal Cruises Crystal vies for "best of" status in several categories. With everything from formal French dining to world-class sushi and outdoor tropical barbecues, its cuisine matches that of a luxury competitors. Very highly regarded shore excursions run the gamut, from museum tours to helicopter trips over glaciers. And its first-rate service consistently rates among the highest of any cruise line. But where it goes over the top is in ambience and entertainment. Passengers know they are in for something special when they board through a grand entranceway accented with a waterfall and baby grand piano. "From furnishings and appointments to china and stemware, no detail is left untouched," says Mary Jean Tully, CEO of The Cruise Professionals, considered by many as the top travel agency in the world specializing in luxury cruises (www.cruiseprofessionals.com). "They have a huge entertainment budget, and spend more than all of their luxury competitors combined." What gives Crystal this edge is that while considered a mid-size line, it operates the largest ships in the luxury category (940 passengers), allowing more space for restaurants, Internet rooms, and entertainment venues. Such facilities attract celebrity guests ranging from newscasters Barbara Walters and Walter Cronkite to Regis Philbin and Kirk Douglas. (800)-446-6620; www.crystalcruises.com Best Accommodations Radisson Seven Seas The marquee Mariner and its new sister ship Voyager, launched April 2003, are the world's first ships with nothing but balcony suites. With a minimum of 356 square feet on the Voyager, and 301 on the Mariner, their suites turn the "cramped" notion of cruising on its head, and passengers no longer have to worry about getting the dreaded interior rooms. While many cruises offer verandas or terraces consisting of nothing more than a railing for fresh air, the balconies on these two ships are large enough to enjoy a room service dinner on. (800)-285-1835; www.rssc.com Best Service Seabourn This white-gloved line's three sister ships carry just 208 passengers each, and they spoil guest rotten. While most luxury ships offer the option of room service in lieu of meals in the onboard restaurants, no line takes this - and every aspect of hands-on service - as far as Seabourn. Guest rave about the line's signature "caviar in the surf," where waiters wade out to serve the delicacy to guests floating in the sun. Through its personal valet service, the line will even pick up your luggage at home and transport it to your room, then deliver it after the cruise ends. (800)-929-9391; www.seabourn.com Best Culinary Experience Silversea Through its partnership with the Relais & Chateaux-Relais Gourmands boutique hotels and restaurants, Silversea has created La Collection du Monde, featuring numerous signature dishes from celebrated chefs like Jean-Georges Vongerichten and Charlie Trotter. Shore excursions often have a local culinary focus, such as over-the-top meals in palaces, castles, and other dramatic settings, and their small sizes allow the ships to visit more ports of call worldwide. Silversea is one of the only remaining cruise lines still including wine, champagne, and spirits in its rates. With 24-hour complimentary room service, guests can order up caviar and champagne whenever it suits their refined tastes. (877)-215-9986; www.silversea.com Best Unstructured Cruises SeaDream Yacht Club The SeaDream I and II are 100-passenger luxury craft offering a yachtlike alternative to even the smallest upscale lines. Rooms feature marble bathrooms with multi-jet massage showers, flat-screen plasma TVs with DVD/CD players, mini-bars, and high-quality European linens and duvets. But the line's trademark is flexibility: The captain has the option of changing the itinerary in between to take advantage of worthy sights, there is no dress code, gourmet meals can be unscheduled, and guests can dine anywhere from the restaurant to the side of the on-deck hot tub. Many ports of call are scheduled as overnight stays, allowing guests to explore the local nightlife. The result is complete freedom and a change of pace from the formal, structured experience typical of almost all other cruise lines. (800)-707-4911; www.seadreamyachtclub.com   Back         Top of Page

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