Quote:
Originally Posted by LHT28
so basically if the ship has no inside cabins and alcohol, tips & airfare are included then it is a luxury line
I thought Crystal was always classed as a luxury line but until recently they were not all inclusive  |
Crystal is definitely a luxury line. IMO, what differentiates a luxury line from a premium line is the level of service and personal attention. On Crystal one can give the staff a day's notice for any special meal request. Want steak tartare or osso bucco for dinner, or Bavarian wedding cake for dessert? Done. Feel like having caviar tonight? Done. The staff learns your name and your preferences.
Your refrigerator is stocked and re-stocked with your personal preferences in soft drinks, water, and beer. Your fruit basket is replenished with your favorite fruits. Order your espresso with two sugars once and get it that way next time without asking. The staff anticipates your wishes and remembers your preferences.
The specialty restaurants are truly special - Crystal's Silk Road is the only restaurant at sea with the cuisine of Nobu. The black miso cod is pure heaven. The sushi bar is open every night, first come, first serve. The Carpaccio di Manza in Prego is the best I've ever had -- with 25 year old Modena balsamic and freshly grated Reggiano Parmesan. All at no extra charge.
Small elegant touches abound - Villeroy & Bosch designs created just for the line, Frette robes, round the clock in-suite dining.
Shore excursions -- the buses are never filled to capacity so that the guests never feel crowded. Been to Ephesus? In the daytime it's hot, crowded, and noisy but still a wonderful experience. Then go in the evening to a classical concert in front of the library facade. The hordes of tourists are gone, the hawkers are gone. You can hear the birds in the cool evening breeze. It's magical. Only the luxury lines offer this experience.
Days at sea - a golf pro on every cruise, a certified bridge teacher on every cruise, gentleman hosts for the ladies who dance on every cruise, interesting performers and lecturers - on every cruise. Right now these are the speakers on the Crystal Serenity:
Regis Philbin - you know who he is
Neil Leifer
When the
London Observer listed the 50 greatest sporting images of all time, photographs by Neil Leifer ranked first and second. Now principally a producer and director of documentaries and short films, his pictures have appeared in every major magazine, including
LIFE, Time, and
Sports Illustrated.
Ken Rees (Bristol, England)
Ken Rees brings to the role of destination lecturer over 25 years experience as a world-travelling foreign correspondent.
Dr. Robert Freedman
A Professor of Political Science at Johns Hopkins University, Dr. Robert Freedman is the author of five books on world affairs. He is currently working on a project to analyze the triangular relationship between the United States, China, and Russia. His presentations will cover both Sino-American and Sino-Russian relations. A consultant to the State Department and the CIA, Dr. Freedman has been a member of several US government delegations to Beijing. He is a regular commentator with NPR, the BBC, and the
Voice of America.
The luxury lines score consistently at the top of the Travel & Leisure and Conde Nast cruise rankings. Devotees of Crystal, Regent, Silversea and Seabourn may quibble about who's at the top today, but they are all luxury lines.
The premium lines simply cannot provide the level of service, personal attention and high standards that the "luxury" lines provide.
Luxury Lines
none of those things, IMO
Also, not all luxury lines include airfare (Seabourn does not). Silversea has a charge for two of their speciality restaurants. Regent is the only luxury line that has about 50% of their excursions included. I think the luxury lines intentionally do things a bit differently from each other for marketing purposes
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