Luxury Cruise Department

Due to our success of Luxury Cruise ships we have decided to have a dedicated Luxury team who will specialise with the high end of cruises.  I and 5 other staff have been chosen to work in this department and look forward to growing this over the next few months.  You will find that we have all seen a Luxury ship and some have even had the pleasure of taking a cruise so if you have any questions if I can’t answer it then I know someone who can. 

So what is Luxury cruising.  

1. You will find that these ships are much smaller so can offer a more personalised service. 
2. The staff onboard will get to know each and every passenger by name, will find out their likes and dislikes on the first day of the cruise. 
3. Champagne on arrival
4. Personalised Stationary
5. The staff ratio to passengers is much higher.
6. Waiters escort female guests (waitresses escort male guests) to the dining table and to the dining room exit after meals.
7.Relaxed embarkation and disembarkation is at your leisure.
8.Cabin stewardesses leave hand-written notes.
9.There are no announcements
10.The chef invites passengers to accompany him on visits to local food markets. 
11. More overnight stays in port.
12. Finest quality bed lines, duvets, towels and bathrobes
13. High quality personal toiletries (e.g. Aveda, Bulgari)

These cruise ships or yachts as some liked to be known as can dock in more unique ports, or can dock much closer to the centre, making the transfer or walk into the centre much quicker. Some Luxury cruise Lines include shore excursions, gratuities, flights and are also all inclusive. 

To me though the biggest difference is the Dining.  Fine dining is the highlight, and is more of an entertainment feature than the entertainment itself. Good company and conversation make dining a pleasurable social occasion.  You can expect to find plenty of tables for two, a calm refined dining atmosphere, open or one seating dining, by candlelight, high-quality china and silverware, large wine glasses, fresh flowers, a connoisseur wine list, and sommeliers who understand and can discuss fine wines. It’s really about non-repetitive, highly creative menus, high-quality ingredients, moderate portions and attractive presentation, with fresh local fish and other items provided (when available) and cooked à la minute (not in batches), and meat of the highest grade.
Below is a list of the cruise companies that are in the Luxury group:

Crystal Cruises
Regent Seven Seas
Seabourn Cruise Line
Seadream Yacht Cruises
Silversea Cruises

I will concentrate on one company at a time for my next few blogs and will give you as much information on each one. Hope you look forward to reading this.