Luxury travel has become a popular mode of transportation in recent years. In a previous post, we covered the surge in premium travel by private jet in 2022. Following a case study of Guy Stockbridge, an owner of several companies headquartered in Central California, we highlighted that the share of premium travel on airlines has been steadily increasing after dropping during the pandemic. As of 2022, business jets, typically associated with entertainers and top executives, account for a quarter of flights in the United States.
Besides luxury jets, another form of luxury travel that has recently become popular is luxury cruises. According to data from Maximize Market Research, the luxury cruise tourism market is expected to be valued at $8.11 billion (£6.16 billion) in 2023, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 12.32% to nearly $18.3 billion (£13.9 billion) between 2024 and 2030. To drive continued market growth, luxury cruise providers remain focused on offering higher standards of service, premium cuisine, and an overall more sophisticated cruise experience.
At the same time, cruise travelers are becoming more “savvy” as companies realize that the price difference between premium and luxury lines is not that great. In fact, an entry-level luxury cruise can cost as much as a suite on a premium cruise line. As luxury cruise travel becomes more accessible, many may be wondering what is included in a luxury cruise vacation. Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your luxury cruise.
Select your destination and itinerary
Many luxury cruises offer pre-packaged itineraries departing from ports around the world to major cities and exotic islands, offering five-star ocean travel. Compared to point-to-point travel by air or land, luxury cruises offer greater opportunities for sightseeing and different travel experiences.
Provider Explora Journeys’ luxury cruise line offers destinations to suit the needs and tastes of a wide range of travelers, from the Mediterranean and Western Europe to the Caribbean and Central America. To promote lesser-known spots, Explora packages these destinations as curated seven-night voyages that guests can extend to 14 or 21 nights.
At the same time, Explora Journeys itineraries include land-based tours to delve deeper into a destination’s culture and experiences while avoiding crowds and big ships. Packaged itineraries are much less hassle-free than air travel, giving travelers peace of mind as Explora helps with hotels, flights, transfers and luggage handling before and after the trip.
Time spent on land
As mentioned above, many luxury cruise lines offer land-based sightseeing tours to allow travelers to get a deeper experience of the culture, cuisine, and experiences of their destination. For example, luxury cruise provider Silversea’s Silver Muse offers a cruise sightseeing tour that goes beyond the cruise terminal in the Japanese city of Aomori. If you’re cruising in August, the tour also includes a visit to the 300-year-old Nebuta Festival, where townspeople and tourists can enjoy brightly lit, decorated floats depicting historical Kabuki figures from Japanese folklore.
Travelers can also visit the Nebuta Wa Rasse Museum, which displays the Nebuta floats and the stories behind them. If you’re interested in further museum visits, you can also check out the Aomori Museum of Art. As you can see, a luxury cruise isn’t just about the onboard experience.
Enjoy the in-flight entertainment
Finally, while there is no doubt that the luxury cruise experience is much more than what is offered on board, there is no denying that the biggest draw of these luxury cruises is the top-notch service provided to travelers on board. There is a reason why luxury cruises are called “five-star hotels at sea.” Onboard activities on Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ Explorer range from 1930s Parisian Art Deco décor to a variety of on-board experiences, from cooking classes to spa treatments to onboard jogging tracks.
Guests can also enjoy cocktails and live jazz music in the Explorer Lounge, but less extroverted travelers also have the option of in-suite dining if they want to dine before a land tour or other activity during their luxury cruise.