FULL STEAM AHEAD
Full Steam Ahead - Luxury Travel Magazine
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Full Steam Ahead | |||||
| By: Caroline Gladstone, Issue 32 – Spring 2007 | |||||
| (Hapag-Lloyd Cruises; SeaDream Yacht Club; The Yachts of Seabourn; Cunard Line; Silversea Cruises; Sea Cloud Cruises; Crystal Cruises; Regent Seven Seas Cruises) | |||||
| STEP INTO YOUR SUITE, UNPACK YOUR BAGS, THEN LIE BACK AND RELAX IN LUXURY AS THE WORLD COMES TO YOUR GANGPLANK. | |||||
| White-gloved waiters, fine bone china, sparkling silverware and free-flowing champagne are the hallmarks of luxury cruising. Awards and readers’ polls may come and go, but when it comes to cruising, the most eagerly awaited honours are those bestowed by the industry bible, the Berlitz Guide to Cruising <itals>. Just 18 of the world’s 276 ocean-going ships were awarded five stars in 2007, and only one achieved five stars-plus. If you have the money, here are the ships for you… | |||||
| Ship: MS Europa | |||||
| Cruise Line: Hapag-Lloyd Cruises The eight-year-old Europa has achieved the highest score in the Berlitz Guide for seven consecutive years, and is the only five star-plus ship in the world. Its 408 passengers are pampered by 264 crew, and have access to the latest in-cabin entertainment and internet systems. At a touch of a button they can view any one of 100 movies on demand, listen to a choice of 1,000 CDs and send and receive emails free of charge. A cruise aboard Europa is an elegant experience in every way. The suites and public areas are beautifully appointed, while the staff is trained to anticipate and meet each passenger’s every need. Stewards, for example, bring drinks, refreshing herbal towels and spray fine mists of Evian water over passengers reclining on thick cushion padded deckchairs around the pool. Dressed in stunning uniforms complete with coattails they serve superb food, including tableside flambeaux, on the best German fine bone china in the main dining room. The two alternative dining venues, the Oriental Restaurant and Venezia serve the finest Asian fusion and Italian dishes and, unlike other top-ranking ships, are open for both lunch and dinner. Among the many public rooms is the Havana Bar, which carries a selection of the finest Cuban cigars and French cognacs. The other five star ship in the Hapag-Lloyd line is the Hanseatic. This small expedition ship is one of the most luxurious vessels sailing in Artic and Antarctic waters. Visit Hapag-Lloyd Cruises www.hl-cruises.com | |||||
| Ships: SeaDream I and SeaDream II | |||||
| Cruise Line: SeaDream Yacht Club Seasoned passengers will remember this stylish pair as the former Sea Goddess I and II, which sailed under the Cunard flag until the late 1990s. In 2001 they joined the newly formed SeaDream Yacht Club and were treated to a multi-million dollar facelift. They carry just 108 passengers who enjoy a totally blissful experience, akin to life on a private yacht. A special feature on both ships is the Balinese-style ‘dream beds’, sunbathing lounges by day that can be reserved at night by guests who want to sleep under the stars (and between designer sheets), wearing cotton monogrammed ‘sleep suits’. All staterooms have ocean views, and include fine touches such as Belgian linens, down duvets, flat screen TVs, MP3 players, Bulgari amenities, Turkish cotton bathrobes and mini-bars stocked with complimentary beverages. Wine is included with lunch and dinner, where every dish is prepared individually to order. Visit SeaDream Yacht Club www.seadreamyachtclub.com | |||||
| Ships: Seabourn Legend, Seabourn Pride and Seabourn Spirit | |||||
| Cruise Line: The Yachts of Seabourn These three ships, which entered service between 1988 and 1993, still deliver one of the finest cruise experiences imaginable. Each weighs 10,000 tonnes, carries just 212 passengers, and has been recently upgraded with flat-screen TVs, DVDs and Bose radio/CD systems in all suites, and French balconies on two decks of accommodation. All table-wines and bar drinks are included in the fare and mini-bars are stocked with two bottles of the passenger’s favourite liquor. Personalised stationery and a world atlas in each suite are thoughtful touches, as are the complimentary mini-massages on deck delivered by a team of roving masseurs. One ‘exclusively Seabourn’ shore excursion is a complimentary inclusion on each cruise. Visit Yachts of Seabourn www.seabourn.com | |||||
| Ship: Queen Mary 2 – Grill Class only | |||||
| Cruise Line: Cunard Line The huge Queen Mary 2, which made its maiden visit to Sydney in February, is the only ocean liner to make it into the exclusive Berlitz club. However, discerning cruisers should note that only the elite Grill Class accommodation and dining category has been rated five star. The rest of the huge ship is four star-plus. Cunard’s ‘class system’ means passengers enjoy a better accommodation the more they pay, and enjoy a more superior dining experience too. Grill Class passengers dine in either the 200-seat Queen’s Grill or 178-seat Princess Grill, where the food is simply superb. Queen’s Grill accommodation includes the grandest suites at sea, with bathrooms that have a bathtub and a separate whirlpool, and the services of a butler and concierge. At 148,500 tonnes, the QM2 is the second largest ship in the world, and the fastest. It is the only ship undertaking regular transatlantic crossings, and its grand décor, huge ballroom and sweeping staircases echo the grand liners of yesteryear. Visit Cunard Line www.cunard.com | |||||
| Ships: Silver Shadow & Silver Whisper; Silver Wind & Silver Cloud | |||||
| Line: Silversea Cruises The larger Silver Shadow and Whisper (28,250 tonnes), and little sisters Silver Wind and Cloud (16,800 tonnes), belong to an elegant Italian cruise line that has attracted a dedicated following since its launch in 1994. Every cabin on all four ships is a suite, with 80 per cent having private balconies. All have marble bathrooms with double ‘his’ and ‘her’ vanities, full bathtub and shower, monogrammed Frette bed linen, soft down pillows and 100 per cent cotton bathrobes. Each ship has a Rossellini suite, personalised by actress Isabella Rossellini, the ‘face’ of the cruise line. Included in the fare are pre-dinner canapés each night in the bar, Moët & Chandon ‘house champagne’, table wines with meals, a mini-bar champagne that is replenished throughout the cruise and a captain’s welcome aboard and farewell party. The main restaurant is beautifully decorated and serves a selection of dishes created by Relais & Chateaux chefs. New cruise schedules put the Silver Whisper in local waters for part of each year. Visit Silversea Cruises www.silversea.com | |||||
| Ships: Sea Cloud I & Sea Cloud II | |||||
| Line: Sea Cloud Cruises These exquisite sailing ships carry just 68 and 96 passengers respectively, and have a selection of lavish cabins that feature marble fireplaces and four-poster beds. Sea Cloud I, built by Wall Street millionaire E. F. Hutton in 1931, is the oldest and (reputedly) the most beautiful sailing ship in the world, while Sea Cloud II has captured the same timeless elegance despite being more recently built in 2001. Sailing enthusiasts will relish the chance to bunk down in classic sailing ship quarters with upper and lower berths, while the best accommodation exudes the style of an elegant European country hotel with plush fabric, gold plated bathroom fixtures and warm timber paneling. Visit Sea Cloud Cruises www.seacloud.com | |||||
| Ships: Crystal Serenity & Crystal Symphony | |||||
| Line: Crystal Cruises Big ships carrying big passenger numbers rarely make it into the five star league due to their need for two seatings at dinner. However despite this challenge, the Crystal sisters have kept their place in the Berlitz five star club due to their amazing penthouses with huge verandahs, and their two alternative 75-seat restaurants, which can be reserved at no extra charge. In addition, Crystal Serenity has a separate sushi bar, run by Los-Angeles-based super chef Nobu Matsuhisa, whose restaurants ashore create a large following. Both ships have classic good looks, spacious interiors and warm, inviting décor. They have wide wrap-around teak promenade decks and elegant public rooms including the colonial style Palm Court, the Avenue Saloon resembling a gentlemen’s club with leather sofas, and the 25-seat Vintage Room for exclusive wine-tasting dinners. Visit Crystal Cruises www.crystalcruises.com | |||||
| Ships: Seven Seas Mariner & Seven Seas Voyager | |||||
| Line: Regent Seven Seas Cruises These mid-size ships carry 708 passengers each and every cabin has a balcony. Together with the top-ranking Europa, they have the highest passenger/space ratio of any ship sailing today. Each has four single-seating dining rooms including the 120-seat Signatures, which is the only Le Cordon Bleu restaurant at sea. Classic dishes are served on Porsgrund china and tables are set with silver show plates and the finest silver wear; the top suites are served by butlers who belong to the exclusive Guild of British Butlers. Visit Regent Seven Seas Cruises www.rssc.com | |||||
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