Luxury cruises may offer a better deal
A room steward delivers two glasses of wine to a room on the ocean liner Crystal Symphony. Credit: Crystal Cruises
Nickel-and-dimed -- that's the common complaint among passengers on mainstream cruise ships. Once aboard, cruisers have to sign a chit for every drink ordered and dole out an extra $5 to $35 to dine in specialty restaurants. Passengers are often automatically billed $10 or more a day per person for gratuities to dining room personnel and cabin stewards. Excursions, Internet access, airport transfers -- all of it costs more, more, more.
Luxury liners, however, absorb many of those charges in their base fares. True, their upfront cost is higher (sometimes much higher), but in return passengers are likely to get superior service, more elegant quarters and amenities, a more relaxed cruise experience and the comfort of enjoying the cruise without constant interruptions.
Is it worth the higher cost?
"When you add in all the things other lines charge for what we include, the cost is maybe just $30 to $40 a day more," says Mark Conroy, president and chief executive of Regent Seven Seas Cruises. The line recently decided to include for free all shore excursions that had cost less than $200. Regent fares include round-trip airfare and transportation to the ship as well as unlimited wine and liquor onboard.
Luxury on sale
Before the recession, luxury liner fares reached as high as $1,000 a day. Then, a number of new ships hit the market -- adding even more berths to fill -- and the economy turned sour, which forced cruise lines to discount rates as much as 65 percent to entice passengers. Now, people who never thought they could sail on a luxury ship suddenly find them affordable.
Not only have luxury cruise lines discounted fares, many also offer hundreds of dollars worth of onboard spending credits, free airfare and other amenities that reduce the total cost of a cruise.
Seabourn, which has introduced three brand-new ships in the past three years, doesn't charge passengers for alcohol or to dine in its specialty restaurants.
Intimacy and access
Since most luxury ships are smaller than the mainstream mega-vessels, the vacation becomes a more intimate experience. Such ships also can visit ports the larger liners can't access. Silversea vessels, for instance, can dock on the Neva River in the center of St. Petersburg, Russia, while the larger ships have to stay miles out, says Brad Ball, public relations director. They also can tie up close to downtown in Shanghai and Ho Chi Minh City.
Carolyn Spencer Brown, editor of the online magazine CruiseCritic.com, sees a new category of upscale cruising arising across the board.
"Cruise lines are adding more suites on mass-market ships," she says, citing Norwegian Cruise Line's The Haven, a new complex of high-end accommodations that's available on several ships. On the Norweigan Epic, The Haven has 60 suites on two private decks with exclusive access to a pool, gym, saunas, sun deck, a restaurant and lounge. Fares for this level start at $2,599 a person for seven-night cruises out of Miami.
All three Cunard "Queen" ships offer top-end accommodations options and restrict some restaurants and lounges to suite and penthouse occupants. Mainstream lines, such as Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Holland America, Celebrity and Princess, all have owner's suites, penthouses and other high-end accommodations, including some with concierge and butler services and/or exclusive deck areas.
Here's a quick scan of luxury lines with examples of current deals (all prices are per person based on double occupancy, as of press time):
Azamara fares include gratuities, wine with lunch and dinner, sodas, bottled water and specialty coffees and teas. Other alcoholic beverages are extra. The line also has English butler service for suite guests.
CURRENT DEAL A 14-night Hong Kong-Singapore sailing on Jan. 18 aboard the Azamara Quest is priced from $3,599 with $500-$1,000 air credit.
INFO 877-999-9553, azamaracruises.com
Crystal Cruises
Crystal is noted for its extensive enrichment programs, which include complimentary courses in a second language, computer skills, piano instruction, wellness and wine, as well as theme cruises on many subjects.
So far, the line has not included gratuities and alcoholic beverages in its fares, instead offering onboard spending credits of as much as $1,000 per suite. But starting in March, it will include gratuities and alcohol in its fares and reduce onboard credits. Fares include airfare and two-for-one deals, and some have other savings. Like Regent, it revisits prices every month, and early bookers get the best deals.
CURRENT DEAL A 10-night trans-Atlantic Miami-Lisbon voyage departing March 19 is priced from $1,360 (book by Oct. 31). This is the line's first fully all-inclusive sailing.
INFO 866-446-6625, crystalcruises.com
The line's three "Queen" ships have three levels of accommodations, each with its own restaurant and amenities. Most luxurious are the Queens Grill suites, whose guests dine in their own restaurant, have an exclusive lounge, butler service, concierge service, complimentary bar setup, soft drinks, beer and bottled water. Fares do not include gratuities or other alcoholic beverages.
CURRENT DEAL A 15-night Fort Lauderdale-Los Angeles sailing departing Dec. 6 on the Queen Victoria is priced at $5,130 for Queens-level accommodations.
INFO 800-728-6273, cunard.com
Oceania Cruises
Oceania ships provide complimentary soft drinks and bottled water. Its fares include airfare, but not gratuities or alcohol.
CURRENT DEAL 12-night round-trip sailings from Miami aboard the Marina are priced from $1,995 for departures on Jan. 23, Feb. 4 and March 7.
INFO 800-531-5619, oceaniacruises.com.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Regent fares include round-trip airfare, one night in a hotel, gratuities and alcoholic drinks -- and nearly all shore excursions. Early bookers get the best deals, as the line bumps up prices every month as the sailing date approaches.
CURRENT DEAL A 10-night round-trip sail from Fort Lauderdale on the Seven Seas Navigator Feb. 27 or March 19 costs $4,899.
INFO 877-505-5370, rssc.com
Seabourn Cruises
With a crew-to-passenger ratio of about one-to-one, the line says it's comparable to luxury vacations on land. Current deals offer 50 percent or more off regular rates. Ships have open bars and access to restaurants is included. Gratuity is not expected.
CURRENT DEAL A seven-night Rome-Barcelona sailing on the Seabourn Sojourn April 6 is priced from $3,120.
INFO 800-929-9391, seabourn.com
Fares on these small (112-passenger) ships, which include gratuities and alcoholic beverages, have been discounted up to 60 percent. Water sports and mountain bikes also are included, as well as some crew-led informal excursions. You can have dinner on deck if you choose or sleep the night away under the stars in a Balinese bed.
CURRENT DEAL A six-night round-trip Caribbean sailing that departs Dec. 17 from San Juan on the SeaDream is priced from $2,399.
INFO 800-707-4911, seadream.com
Silversea fares include alcohol, gratuities and onboard credits.
CURRENT DEAL A 14-night round-trip Fort Lauderdale sailing on the Silver Spirit Dec. 20 is priced from $7,423 with $500 onboard spending credit.
INFO 800-722-9955, silversea.com
