Recently, luxury cruise lines have been amping up their offerings in an attempt to attract guests to sail with them. The Seven Seas Grandeur, for instance, just launched a booking incentive where one lucky Regent UK Travel Partner can win the Colours of Love Rose Gold Diamond & Ruby ‘180’ Egg Pendant. The pendant worth over $8,000 is a part of Fabergé’s 180-year anniversary capsule collection.
Similarly, other luxury lines are unveiling ships that seek to provide guests with palatial homes at sea. For example, Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman of MSC Group’s cruise division, told Cruise Industry News that Explora I will be a game-changer in the world of luxury travel, highlighting that the journeys they’ll be offering will redefine the very essence of luxurious ocean travel.
If you’d like to learn more about what to expect on your own trips, here are 4 things you can look forward to on your luxury cruise.
The ships
Constructed by Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri, the Explora I has 461 oceanfront suites, penthouses, and residences; 6 restaurants; 12 indoor and outdoor bars and lounges; 4 swimming pools; extensive outdoor decks with private cabanas; and nearly 11,000 square feet of wellness and fitness facilities.
Unlike other luxury cruises that are associated with established hotel groups and are battling to take the top spot as the most indulgent cruise line, Explora Journeys sees itself as a competitor of the finest land-based resorts.
The brand’s commitment to sustainability is also evident in its innovative liquefied natural gas (LNG) engines, as well as a provision for battery storage, allowing future hybrid power generation. Other highlights for the cruise line’s fleet include a single-use plastics ban and underwater noise reduction certification so as not to disturb marine wildlife.
The food
Mainstream cruises have garnered a reputation for subpar food, underwhelming buffets, and overpriced cocktails. On Regent’s Seven Seas Splendor, even passengers with a sophisticated palate and a fascination with culinary arts will not be disappointed. The cruise has a luxury cooking school called Chef Masterclasses, where guests will be instructed by Executive Chef Kathryn Kelly and is set in a state-of-the-art teaching kitchen with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the ocean.
The two-hour masterclasses take three forms: a technique-driven class, a regional class based on where the ship is sailing, and a “most-requested recipe” class based on popular dishes from the ship’s line of restaurants. As for passengers less inclined to take cooking classes, excellent meals await them at Chartreuse, the ship’s French fine-dining concept; Prime 7, a steakhouse; and Pacific Rim, a pan-Asian seafood restaurant.
The amenities
Oftentimes, there are aspects of traveling that can be stressful and counterintuitive to the goal of going on a trip to unwind. For guests of the Seven Seas Grandeur, the ship will offer treatments utilizing the rejuvenating power of an amber and quartz crystal bed, plus a treatment table for a zero-gravity massage. Their extensive list of indulgent spa treatments also includes the Hot Mineral Body Boost for alleviating muscle pain and removing toxins in the body.
The highlight, however, is the Tahitian Hydration Ritual created exclusively for guests occupying the Regent Suite. The treatment entails a lavish massage complete with aromatic frangipani flower-infused coconut oil and is topped off with a body-wrap treatment. The Regent Suite is the ship’s most extravagant accommodation, housing a private spa with a sauna, steam room, and jetted tub. In addition, it comes with unlimited in-suite spa services.
Itineraries
Cruise itineraries can be another way for cruise lines to set themselves apart and create a luxury experience for passengers. For example, the Seven Seas Grandeur is set to embark on its 2-week maiden voyage in November, taking guests from Barcelona to Miami. Then, in December, the ship will be christened by godmother Sarah Fabergé, a founding member of the Fabergé Heritage Council and great-granddaughter of Russian jeweler Peter Carl Fabergé. Meanwhile, guests eager to brush up on their culinary skills can book a 7-day roundtrip Caribbean cruise from Miami on the Seven Seas Splendor.
Ultra-luxury cruise ships certainly know how to take the cake by promising extraordinary voyages like no other. So, if you seek a journey where opulence knows no bounds and adventure awaits at every port, luxury cruises are for you.
