CRUISES IN 2010

Cruises in 2010 - Luxury Travel Magazine

Don’t Miss the Boat

By: Judy Cuervo, Issue 42 – Autumn 2010

(Cruises in 2010 - Orion Cruises, Seadream Yacht Club, Crystal Cruises, Silversea Cruises, Seabourn Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises)

THIS YEAR THE LUXURY SEGMENT OF THE CRUISE INDUSTRY IS MAKING A SPLASH WITH NEW SHIPS AND NEW INCLUSIONS. CRUISE REPORTER JUDY CUERVO ROUNDS UP THE YEAR AHEAD ON THE WORLD’S BEST LUXURY LINERS.

ORION CRUISES

Australia’s five-star Orion Expeditions brings luxury to the adventure cruise experience with a purpose-built vessel that combines the latest technology with casual elegance to take its welleducated and well-travelled guests to places that most people never get to see. An Orion expedition is far from the shopping and museum-hopping excursion of traditional cruises. Instead, guests will be immersed in exotic and pristine destinations with exploration enhanced by shoreside expeditions and on-board lecturers chosen for their expertise in the region. Fare Inclusions: In-suite stocked refrigerator, gourmet open-seating dining in main restaurant or alfresco on deck, use of ship’s sporting equipment and facilities, shore excursions and tender transfers, gratuities.

SEADREAM YACHT CLUB

Leave the tux and gown at home for your voyage aboard the smart casual SeaDream Yacht Club — a line that generates nearly 10% of its total business from Australia. SeaDream 1 and SeaDream 2 are intimate twin megayachts that ply the waters of the Mediterranean, Greek Islands, the Dalmation coast and Caribbean accommodating only 112 guests in all-suite accommodations. SeaDream appeals to the active traveller who might wish to explore a port independently using one of the yacht’s mountain bikes, or board a wave runner from the yacht’s marina. Five-star dining aboard SeaDream is either in the elegant Salon or on deck, al fresco. The yachts’ organized activities and entertainment are all-but non-existent, yet this “personal yacht” concept has earned SeaDream an abundance of prestigious awards. Fare Inclusions: Open bar throughout the ship, in-suite stocked refrigerator, gratuities, gourmet dining in open-seating restaurants, use of gym, tai-chi classes, SeaDream Marina water sports activities and use of equipment while in port.

CRYSTAL CRUISES

The newly-redesigned Crystal Symphony or Crystal Serenity is the choice for those who demand elegant and varied dining in the traditional two-seating format, a wide range of organised activities and a bit of intellectual enrichment. Large for luxury vessels, the Crystal fleet offers a variety of showrooms, boutique restaurants, bars and lounges and features an ambitious program of food/wine, fashion/style, health/fitness and other theme cruises. Fare Inclusions: Gourmet dining in the main restaurant and open-seating alternative dining restaurants, an on board credit of $1000 per person, butler service in Penthousecategory suites and above, entertainment, lectures, “Computer University at Sea” classes, use of gym and all fitness classes.

SILVERSEA CRUISES

Silversea welcomed the New Year with a new flagship: Silver Spirit, which with 540 guests, is significantly larger than the rest of the fleet. It joins the 296- passenger Silver Cloud and Silver Wind and the 382-passenger Silver Shadow and Silver Whisper, all of which define the good life with a refined hospitality and European elegance. Even by luxury cruise standards, Silversea is privilege: think white-gloved waiters who know your name and remember your preferences by the second day; think evening finery and salon appointments for formal night; think a folded, embroidered linen napkin beneath your Riedel crystal martini glass and not, heaven forbid, a paper one. On January 19, 2011, Silver Whisper begins the line’s first-ever circumnavigation of Australia, a 30-day journey that sails round trip from Sydney. Fare Inclusions: Open bar throughout the ship, gratuities, in-suite stocked refrigerator, gourmet dining in open-seating main and alternative dining restaurants, use of gym, all fitness classes, butler service in all suites, entertainment, lectures.

SEABOURN CRUISES

Last year, ultra-luxurious Seabourn Cruises added the 450 passenger Seabourn Odyssey to its fleet of three 208-passenger ships. Two additional new-builds, the Seabourn Sojourn and Seabourn Quest, will debut in 2010 and 2011, respectively. Seabourn, the original “yacht-like” cruise experience, has made its mark through extraordinary personalised service, lavish balcony suites, exceptional shoreside excursions and award-winning cuisine. This year, Seabourn has relaxed its formal dress code and has eliminated black-tie optional evenings during all Caribbean sailings. On longer cruises, only one formal evening per week is to be expected. Seabourn Pride will spend much of 2010 in Asia with a wide variety of itineraries. The Seabourn Sojourn will visit Sydney in 2011 as part of her World Cruise which begins January 5, 2011 in Los Angeles. Fare Inclusions: Open bar throughout the ship, in-suite refrigerator, gratuities, gourmet dining in open-seating main and alternative restaurants, entertainment, use of gym and all fitness classes, water sports activities and equipment.

REGENT SEVEN SEAS CRUISES

In 2001, the 700 passenger all-inclusive Regent Mariner became the first ship to offer all-suite, all balcony accommodations and, two years later, the Regent Voyager became the second. The ships of RSSC have long offered some of the best-appointed suites at sea with the Navigator known for its lavish marble bathrooms and full-size bathtub. In 2009, RSSC made headlines with a move that finally encouraged guests to leave the luxury of their suites and explore the exotic ports of call: free shore excursions. The same year, RSSC’s dress code was relaxed, making “smart casual” the order of the day. Fare Inclusions: Free air on select voyages, open bar throughout the ship, in-suite stocked refrigerator, gratuities, dining in open-seating main and alternative restaurants, shore excursions, gym, fitness classes, butler in Penthouse-category suites and above, entertainment, lectures.

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