Hallmarks of Luxury: These lines have always focused on the traditional elements of luxury: caviar on request, personalized pampering, the finest appointments onboard, celebrity-chef-designed cuisine and a world-class selection of wine and spirits. All have intimate ships, with Crystal topping the charts with its 1,000-passenger duo, and SeaDream at the far extreme with its yachtlike, 110-passenger vessels. Spacious cabins are a must; Regent Seven Seas operates two all-suite, all-balcony ships, where almost no cabin is a disappointment. You'll find minimal nickel-and-diming, as most of these lines include alcohol, gratuities and meals at alternative restaurants in their cruise fares as well as the occasional flight, shore excursion, transfer into town and water sports from the ship.
But that's not to say these lines are stuck in the past. Modern-day upgrades include a focus on enrichment programs; Crystal excels with language and music courses, while Regent Seven Seas cleverly pairs onboard "edutainment" with shore tours. The two also offer children's programs, traditionally lacking on luxury lines, on kid-friendly itineraries during the summer and holiday weeks. Spa and fitness centers are being expanded as part of the current wellness trend, and Seabourn's new Odyssey-class ships sport two-deck spa complexes with Kinesis Walls, two Spa Villas each and hydrotherapy pools.