It’s the Little Things …

major difference. The reason? It’s the little things you experience. And little things piled on little things changes your whole cruise experience. So what are some examples you may ask? I always have breakfast on my balcony to enjoy the morning sunshine in a relaxing atmosphere before beginning the day. On a contemporary line recently, my breakfast tray came with salt and pepper in paper packets, with paper napkins, and juice from a mix. Sailing even one step up on a premium line, I would instead have received real salt and pepper shakers, linen napkins and freshly squeezed orange juice. On a luxury line I might have had my own private butler!

2. In the dining room of the lower priced lines, one observes the service is not as attentive as there are more tables to serve with less waiters, and the tables are closer together. You also notice that your stateroom may not have the expensive toiletries, the WIFii, the big screen TV, or even the tub that you were used to on your luxury line. And with an up scale line, you won’t be peppered by those annoying announcements about ship board activities all day long. As I said, it is the little things that add up to a lot.

Enriching destinations … such as Galapagos

3. Every line is different but in general, the atmosphere on board a luxury line is not only more relaxed but refined as well. Premium and luxury usually have enrichment courses and lectures in cooking, art, science, politics, and more by experts in their field giving special presentations. Chances are you would never have access to these at home and if so, would be paying a premium entry fee to attend courses or lectures of this quality.

4. Up scale lines also have smaller ships and the itineraries, while including popular ports of call, also include unique and unusual ports that cannot accommodate the larger ships and the large influx of tourists they bring. Stays often are overnight too so you have longer to explore. Itineraries on luxury lines are different as well exploring all areas of the world not just the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, Alaska and Northern Europe. Think of cruising to the Galapagos, Antarctica, Dubai, Singapore, the South Seas, the Maldives and so on.

Smaller ports, exciting itineraries

5. Up scale lines usually offer pre and post stays, and if you watch for specials, sometimes these are included in your fare. A smart cruiser arrives at least one day before departure so why not take advantage to explore your embarkation city and have this pre-cruise stay included in the fare. Ditto the end of your cruise, when flights may not be convenient or available upon disembarkation day.

6. One of the biggest advantages in my opinion is that many luxury lines and river cruises have excursions and drinks included in your fare. Unless you are one of the very few who will not have soft drinks or alcoholic drinks, who never takes an excursion in port, who never eats in specialty restaurants, and overall adheres rigidly to just the cruise fare paid amenities, try completing this little exercise on your next cruise. Add up all the extras you paid for on your “inexpensive” cruise, and compare this to a similar itinerary on a luxury cruise line or a comparable length river cruise where all

Included In Your Fare Experiences

these items are included in your fare. You will find the “luxury” fare is not that much different in the end ( maybe even less) and you receive so much more. My favorite anecdote is getting the final billing for our stateroom shoved under my door for a 7 day river cruise complete with at least one excursion a day and seeing the bottom line of $18.00 for extras bought on board. Was I suitably impressed ! My final “extra”  billing is usually in the area of $500 for a comparable length ocean cruise on a contemporary line. And that would be just my bill, not my husband’s, which could equal or surpass that amount. And for my $18.00 extras luxury river cruise, I had everything I desired and then some.

One warning: The only downside of premium or luxury cruising as I see it, is that once you’ve tried it, it will be difficult to go back to the contemporary lines again.

Shari on the Windsurf

Looking for a luxury cruise ? Shari Marsh is an experienced luxury cruiser, both on the ocean and on river cruises. She knows the ships, she knows the itineraries and she can explain the wonderful personal enrichment you can expect by choosing a luxury cruise for its experiences and  hidden value. She’s your “best friend” in cruising. :-)

Photos courtesy of  Bigstock and Pixabay.