Headed to Turkey to start an awesome 14-day Mediterranean aboard a Seabourn cruise and it got me thinking: who’s the best of the best in the industry?
Certainly, among mid-size cruise liners, Seabourn is right up therenot only are the accommodations and service to be the best in the industry, but the Seabourn Quest has a two-floor, 11,400-square-foot spa where I could literally live, if not for the pesky distractions’ of incredible dining options and ship-to-shore excursions.
Another strong contender in this size of ship is when you cruise with them, you will get service – and I mean service! With almost twice as many staff members as there are passengers, the Silversea goes the extra mile by providing every room on board with specially trained butlers for every room, doing everything from making your dinner reservations to planning your excursion itinerary.
Of course, if you’re looking for a mega-ship, nothing compares to Crystal Cruises. Not only do they offer all-inclusive luxury sailsyou won’t even have to tip for your drinks once you’re on board, which is so greatbut they make every minute at sea a pleasure, with on-board guest speakers, golf pros, bridge tournamentspretty much anything you might want to try ever. So incredible.
And last, but not least, for those who like a more intimate experience at sea, Ponant’s cruises offer the feel of a private yacht sailing with the incredible service of a major cruise line. How romantic is it to board a boat with real sails? And to be able to privately dine on the finest of French cuisine, all while exploring regions like the French West Indies or the Mediterranean? Unbeatable, if you ask me!
As all too many news stories have proven in the past few years, things can go very wrong if you aren’t discerning about your cruise ship (I can’t even think about being towed through pirate-infested waters or going days (DAYS without workable plumbing and thousands of people). I’m all for saving money when you can, but if ever there were a vacation where I’d recommend a splurge, it’s a cruise vacationstick with a top notch provider for smooth sailing.