The sophistication and style of ultra-luxury cruises go beyond the destination and exquisite service on board. Today they acquire another dimension through exclusive experiences that give a new meaning to the trip.
Elegant decoration, personalized five-star service, a high crew-to-guest ratio – sometimes approaching parity – and, above all, a range of accommodation and leisure proposals worthy of the most exclusive hotel. This is what some of the best high-end ships of the moment offer.
Inspired by Paul Allen’s legendary superyacht Octopus, this elegant cruise from the Australian Scenic Cruises with 228 passengers – only 200 on trips to polar areas – literally explores the most remote corners of the planet. With such a vessel, Agent 007 would feel at home.
The Scenic Eclipse has every comfort and service you can imagine, including two helicopters that allow access to the most remote areas, and a seven-seater submarine. This small ship is ideal for tracking shipwrecks or spotting marine fauna in both the Arctic and Antarctic, the Caribbean or the Mediterranean.
The concept of the first ship of the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection – a hybrid between a cruise ship and a superyacht with only 298 passengers – is closer to a boutique hotel than a typical cruise ship. Its elegant and modern design exudes the brand’s seal on all four sides, with large spaces, good materials and excellent finishes.
Suites with high ceilings, king size beds and private terraces with sea views served by personal assistants; a complete spa service, and a careful gastronomic commitment – it includes an experience designed by Sven Elverfeld of Aqua, the three Michelin stars of The Ritz-Carlton, Wolfsburg – are among the great attractions of a cruise for “non-cruise passengers”. The size of the Evrima Ritz-Carlton allows you to access small ports such as Saint Tropez, St Barth or Ibiza, with personalized land proposals.
The emergence of the Seabourn Venture at the end of 2022 revolutionized the concept of a luxury expedition cruise, with a proposal based on a totally immersive experience, which has not left the most demanding travelers indifferent. It has a renowned team of professionals made up of 26 environmental experts, scientists, historians and naturalists who direct on-site activities on trips that explore the Chilean coast and Antarctica, with itineraries that also include South Georgia and the Falklands. . Zodiacs, kayaks or mountain bikes allow you to live the adventure by sea and land.
On board, facilities await you in which every last detail is taken care of: 132 suites, spa and sauna, a gym with guided yoga and meditation sessions, a terrace with an infinity pool and jacuzzis.
There are no half measures on this cruise. The last major ship of Regent Seven Seas, which called in Barcelona on its maiden voyage in the autumn, can boast of having the largest suite in the world, the Regent Suite. Staying there is an experience in itself: located in a privileged position, facing the bow and with unobstructed 270º views from a wrap-around terrace, it occupies 413 m2.
With capacity for up to six people, it has a master bedroom – and another for guests -, three bathrooms, three dressing rooms, a living room, its own bar and dining room, decorated with works of art, and a private spa. A personal butler and driver at guests’ disposal for shore excursions complement top service. After the season in the Atlantic, the Seven Seas Grandeur will return from New York to the Catalan capital on April 10, to explore the Mediterranean during the summer months.
The Silver Nova embodies a new way of traveling. It is not a themed cruise, however, it is a paradise for lovers of good cuisine. Its ambitious gastronomic project, baptized Sea and Land Taste (S.A.L.T.) – or the taste of the sea and the land -, devised by Adam Sachs, travel editor and an authority on the subject, allows you to know, taste and experience first-hand hand and on land the best cuisine and the best products of the area at each stopover, and ship them.
On board, one of the restaurants adapts its menu daily to the country or region and chefs offer cooking classes to small groups. The offer is completed with six more restaurant areas. The most exclusive is La Dame, a French restaurant decorated with large glass panels by Lalique.