![]() When you dine at the buffet, don't be surprised if a waiter appears to carry your plate of food back to your table that's the norm on luxury lines. They'll do their best to anticipate what you might want next - a cool skewer of fruit or bowl of ice cream at the pool deck on a hot afternoon, for example. The wait staff and bartenders listen carefully to your requests and learn your favorite drink, snack and dining preferences very quickly. If they find out you're celebrating a birthday or anniversary during the voyage, you can bet they'll share that information with your butler, room steward, bar staff and waiters so you are assured to receive many well wishes - and even a few special treats (maybe a card and balloons delivered to your suite or a special dessert served at dinner) - on the big day. If there is a problem or they hear about something you were disappointed in, they proactively follow up on it and provide a solution. Officers and crew on a luxury ship generally want to know how you're enjoying your vacation and will stop to talk with you in the hallways or lounges. Smith - while other lines like SeaDream Yacht Club and Windstar Cruises may lessen the formality by using Mr. Crew aboard lines like Crystal or Regent generally address travelers by last name - for example, Mr. They are tasked to memorize your names as soon as you board and will address you by name. ![]() They strive to be friendly and warm but a bit reverential too. How do crewmembers interact with passengers on a luxury sailing?Ĭertain cruise lines have a more formal feel than others, but all crew members aboard luxury ships are trained to treat passengers with the utmost respect. And with so few people onboard, you're likely to see your shipmates again and again, lending itself to a social atmosphere. Embarkation - which can be intimidating on a mega-ship - is a breeze on a small ship, and can often be a festive start to your cruise with bar staff handing out Champagne and passengers chatting with each other. The chef might whip up a baked Alaska just for you because you raved to your waiter about the time you tried it when you were last on the ship.Īll of these factors lead to less crowding, fewer lines and a less stressful vacation. That could mean receiving a unique gift in your suite (SeaDream provides personalized pajamas) or your butler delivering your favorite canapes every day at sunset. With fewer passengers to tend to, each officer and crew member can truly respond to - and even anticipate - your needs. Ships that offer a high space-to-passenger ratio generally also have a high crew to guest ratio as well. In addition, luxury ships have a high space-to-passenger ratio, so fewer people are crowded into the available space. Whether it's Crystal Cruises' 62-passenger Esprit yacht or Regent's 750-passenger Seven Seas Explorer, you'll find far fewer than the 4,000+ passengers that Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the Seas greets each week. The smaller the cruise ship, the easier it is for the cruise line to provide a more personalized experience that is customized just for you. Does the size of the ship impact the onboard ambiance? You'll be happy to know that on a luxury cruise ship, you'll never have to fight for a lounge chair at the pool or a seat in the lounge.Īll these elements combine to create a comfortable, upscale environment in which to enjoy your vacation. Your ship will never feel crowded - even though it will be smaller than mass-market cruise ships that hold thousands of passengers. Just like luxury resorts, high-end cruise ships are spacious and that's denoted by the line's space-to-passenger ratio, which is always quite high. (Silversea actually hires butlers trained by the venerable Guild of Professional English butlers to cater to every single cabin on its ships.) Most lines offer butler service in certain cabin categories. Well-trained officers and crewmembers greet passengers at the gangway and are eager to show off "their" beautiful ship. You'll board a ship whose elegant architecture is paired with pleasing interior design and colorful floral arrangements and art installations. Going on a luxury cruise is actually like staying at a Four Seasons or Ritz-Carlton resort. ![]() If you've never been on a luxury cruise, it might be tough to imagine how the mood onboard could be any different from that of a traditional ship. Yes, there are concrete differences between the atmosphere on a mass-market line versus one a luxury ship. Does a luxury cruise ship feel different from a mainstream cruise ship? How so?
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