Top 3 Luxury Cruise Lines Comparison | Choosing the correct ship for you

[@RasielSuarez]

Just went on Siversea and the experience was really, really nice. The staff was amazing. Food was great. I don't have any real complaints. As a Gen-Xer the stuffy dress code was not my thing (it's only after 6pm and you can order room service as mentioned) and with so many boomers you feel like you're in an old folk's home but I'd rather that than deal with kids.

[@askarealtravelexpert]

Great to hear!

[@Dukster1963]

I’m a Boomer! and you made me laugh and Cringe at the same time! 😅😂

[@heathermichael3987]

Thank you . I’m thinking of choosing that brand , and I agree with your thought .

[@faithmoore7520]

There is nothing worse than sitting back,relaxing;then , you hear a high shriek, the wail of a crying child, a cruise ship full of unruly people, and substandard food! By the way, some young people love dressing up for dinner!

[@faithmoore7520]

@@askarealtravelexpert can you found out if Seaborn or Regent have day beds instead of loungers.

[@nanfrostsfashionfocusstyle6250]

This was really good to hear. I wondered about upgrading on a Celebrity Cruise v. just going luxury from the outset. I like a smaller ship and don't want the aggravation of a LOT of people. Excellent.

[@askarealtravelexpert]

Smaller ships are becoming a trend we are kinda over crowds as well!

[@gone2it]

Same here

[@Adriana-l8n9i]

Booked a silver sea cruise and am very happy to have heard all your comments!

[@askarealtravelexpert]

We came back for Silversea in December loved every minute

[@Linda-w3o3s]

We have been lucky enough to travel on Seabourn, Regent, and Silversea. We have travelled with our children several times on Seabourn when they were quite young and they were made very welcome. They were also not the only children on board.Two differences between Seabourn and the other two brands are that Seabourn do not include shore excursions or flights whereas Regent and Silversea do. Something to be aware of when comparing these three brands. They are all wonderful however!

[@askarealtravelexpert]

Thanks for sharing your experiences. Love all three of these lines.

[@carolmassero5699]

Thanks great info!❤

[@CaptScott-ff6mf]

Thank you. Especially for the cost comparison between these lines vs suite class on the other mega ship lines. I was thinking of doing that, now I don't need to.

[@askarealtravelexpert]

Glad it was helpful!

[@DaveM-FFB]

Great discussion. We've been on many mega ships over the years. We're so tired of being a number and standing in long lines to enter, to exit, for dinner, for shows, for elevators, etc. Being charged for soda, water, and every little thing. We've booked some upcoming cruises on Oceania's 1,200 passenger ships to see if the smaller ship experience agrees with us. Surprisingly, there's not much of a price difference for similar sized cabins between Princess and Oceania. But I suspect there's a world of difference in terms of food quality, service, and itineraries.

[@askarealtravelexpert]

Check back with us on your Oceania experience. We have a couple of upcoming segments on Oceania. One thing that comes up is The Finest Cuisine at Sea. Don’t think you are going to be disappointed. :-)

[@DaveM-FFB]

@Ask a Real Travel Expert - RTE Travel Talk We'll be sailing on Oceania for the first time next month, and I'll certainly report back. We're newly retired, and we have bookings on Oceania's Riviera, Marina, and their Vista ship (which launches in May 2023). We were consistently booking mini suites on Princess, and upgrading to the Princess Plus package while being disappointed about a few things when we realized for the same money we could be cruising on Oceania in a Veranda or Penthouse suite.

[@paulready8897]

Very interesting video. Been looking at a Regent cruise and love everything I’ve seen and heard about them. Their specialty dining restaurants are included in the cruise fare. You are guaranteed one reservation at each restaurant. Another thing I like is that you aren’t nickel and dimed on a cruise. I’d rather pay more for a cruise up front, than pay for things like excursions, drinks, meals and so on while I’m on a cruise. Seems like a better and easier way for handling the costs of cruising.

[@askarealtravelexpert]

We couldn't agree more on the nickel and dimed. Its wonderful to have everything packaged and no sticker shock on checkout day

[@noname-JS]

Oceania does the same with executive chef Pepin

[@cweegar8424]

We are Regent cruisers, and usually can check when the cruise begins and get one or two more specialty restaurant dinners. Compass Rose is the regular restaurant and it’s excellent as well. Lots of fantastic choices on Regent.

[@faithmoore7520]

@@cweegar8424 please clarify .you will get to dine at at lest 2 speciality restaurants., but can you eat at the speciality restaurants anytime you desire without extra cost ?

[@karlakopp93]

Thank you! Great information! I'm excited for my first Luxury cruise on Regent coming up soon!

[@askarealtravelexpert]

Regent is super you will enjoy it.

[@shirleykaye9693]

Silversea includes a choice of excursions at each port as part of the cruise cost, so excursions should not be added into the Silversea cost. Also the prices quoted for Silversea seem to be the door to door prices (as opposed to port to port). Door to door includes limo to and from your home to the airport, can include airfare as well as port transfers if the flight arrangements mean you are arriving a day ahead. I am only mentioning this because I keep doing my own price comparisons and can't reconcile the vast difference in pricing mentioned in this video. And, if you are travelling as a Single, Silversea is by far the best for pricing as they do run cruises where the single supplement is 25%. It's usually closer to 100% single supplement on the other 2 cruise lines.

[@askarealtravelexpert]

Thanks for the very considered comment. You are right about everything with Silversea and they are an excellent cruise line we are sailing with them in December. As to trying to figure out the price comparisons Lola's research was done last October and with anything prices can change not to mention the fact that it's almost impossible to compare apples to apples with these three lines . I do recall quizzing Lola on the some of what you mentioned and she did level up the pricing at the time as close as it could be. The 25% Single Supplement is a great deal on select voyages and they appear to have a good selection. Thanks for the comment.

[@rosebrenner8146]

I had booked a B2B cruise from San Francisco to Sydney with Regent as a solo cruiser with a 25% solo supplement. Which you can only get in one of the two lower end balcony categories. Mind you, their lower end cabins are in comparison to other cruiselines much more comfortable and luxurious. I will be leaving in 3 weeks and getting excited. My business class flight from Australia to Canada is also included in my price.

[@savagecub]

Regent includes excursions as well.

[@salliepaulson3952]

Silversea home to airport limo is not included at all areas of airport offerings! If not offered, they give a $50 credit.

[@lakeishasmith112]

You are absolutely correct. I'm doing my research now as I'm trying to find the best one for my cruise and I am finding out that silversea looks like the best choice for me with all the amenities that comes with it so I don't have to worry about anything regarding travel, hotel, transportation, excursions it's all here for me with one place doing it all for me without the confusion of different outlets doing these things.

[@dennismetz5235]

In her cost comparison she neglected to mention that Regent includes free business class airfare in the cost of the cruise. Makes a big difference when traveling.

[@askarealtravelexpert]

Good point!. We checked with Lola and on the comparisons she backed out the air credit on all of the lines to even the comparison. but if one line providing economy air versus another providing business class air that is definitely a consideration. It can be a long flight to some of the departure ports.

[@davidjames-maddaford4531]

Hello. My understanding is that all provide Business Class Fares. I would like to think that if you are cruising “Ultra Luxury” you would expect and deserve First Class.

[@cruisingforone]

I heard about this but when I looked into it, it does not include domestic flights. So for me that that would only mean a savings of a few hundred dollars. If they did it for domestic, that would really tip the scales for me. That would save thousands.

[@femalejaysfan]

I just began the booking process on a Regent cruise, and it appears this isn't actually accurate, even though they claim it to be the case. On the final payment page, the site clearly indicated that it was economy airfare that was included. Not only that, after deciding to remove the "free airfare" entirely from my package, the overall total cost of the cruise was reduced by roughly $1000. I then went on to remove the "free" hotel stay (for concierge rooms and above), and the total price dropped even further. 😑

[@dennismetz5235]

@@femalejaysfan They have changed the way they do business in the past several months. They have given you the option to get your own airfare. The business class airfare was only for international flights. Domestic flights were only economy class. The thing is, they get really cheap rates for business class, cheaper than you can get yourself. If you choose to go business class it’s better to book through them. We are going on a cruise with them from Boston to Montreal later next year and I have been looking to book our own airfares. My SIL is a travel agent and looks at airfares all the time for cheaper rates. In my experience it’s much better to be in the city the night before because of time changes, flight cancellations, etc. if you’re booking a concierge suite Regent provides transportation from the hotel to the ship. .

[@faithmoore7520]

For the exception of the spa ect, I love the idea of not being nickeled and dimed at every turn or made to feel guilty to tip. I love the idea of all inclusive . The cost of a cruise is enough already!

[@askarealtravelexpert]

Luxury ships are pretty all inclusive but the one thing that is not across the board is spa services.

[@faithmoore7520]

@@askarealtravelexpert if you stay at a certain suite level, I do believe there are some cruise lines or at least one that will include the spa, You can use the spa, but you cannot receive free spa treatments.

[@Dukster1963]

We’ve been on Seadream a handful of times. But it’s so small. If you are stuck with ignorant cruisers there’s nowhere to get away. We are now looking into the new Europa 1

[@askarealtravelexpert]

Valid point, we just came off Silversea 388 passengers with open seating. It was great and did not meet any lets say eccentric passengers. Everyone we dined with was great. MS-Europa looks interesting let us know how you get along.

[@faithmoore7520]

What cruise line do a sea dream?

[@faithmoore7520]

@@askarealtravelexpert what luxury cruise lines have big windows in their dining areas where I could out and see the ocean or eat outdoors by the ocean ?

[@askarealtravelexpert]

Google SeaDream

[@askarealtravelexpert]

Most luxury lines dining rooms have large windows for expansive ocean views.

[@celticqueen9762]

I found this extremely helpful, hubby and I are plannimg a luxury cruise, it's between Seabourn or Regent. Thank you!

[@askarealtravelexpert]

Glad it was helpful!

[@roseardanaz]

Thanks for an excellent, and very thorough video. We are booked on our first Seabourn cruise in a few months, and are really looking forward to it. And Happy Anniversary to you.

[@askarealtravelexpert]

Thanks for the compliment Lola and Georges are lovely people. Will pass along your best wishes enjoy Seabourn.

[@xkr510]

Hope you enjoy Seabourn. We are Seabourn voyagers and love this line. Sitting in Monte Carlo harbour and drinking champagne was heaven! Small ships and very attentive service. We are doing Transatlantic with them again this fall. They are amazing.

[@highbaritone]

Have done many cruises. Always, for us, is the food. These three lines all have great food. Yes Silver Seas includes a selection of tours in each port, from which you choose one. We have found that we like all three for different reasons. Great post. Thank you.

[@askarealtravelexpert]

A man after my own heart! The food always makes a great cruise and the best part one does not have to cook it.

[@WilliamMurphy-uv9pm]

Silversea

[@faithmoore7520]

Which one pampered you the most?

[@faithmoore7520]

Which one has the largest selection of food on their menus and which ones has the best or the most selection items during afternoon tea?

[@faithmoore7520]

I like that idea,I do believe regent tours are free.

[@PiaAdora]

I’ve always been intrigued by the ultra luxury lines but I honestly worry that we would be bored. I’d rather be in the premium section on Celebrity or NCL and at least have the option of a big production show, a jazz club or a dance club, and even the casino. But maybe I’ll feel differently when I make it to my 60s/70s. And I’d make an exception for an expedition cruise.

[@askarealtravelexpert]

Totally get that. Celebrity and NCL are good choices . It comes down to what feels right for you. I often thought about that and what it comes down to is are you using the ship as a means of getting to several destinations or does the ship itself factor into being one of the destinations.

[@anitahenriquez2082]

The best is a transatlantic on a super luxury cruise!

[@trevorharrison29]

Silversea includes one complimentary excursion per port.

[@askarealtravelexpert]

That would be with there port to port or door to door promotion. Which looks like it is now more or less permanent :-)

[@trevorharrison29]

@@askarealtravelexpert there’s only door-to-door or port-to-port booking with Silversea. Regardless of which one is chosen, excursions are included. Have been since late 2021 at least.

[@askarealtravelexpert]

Thanks for the update

[@faithmoore7520]

Nice to know!

[@faithmoore7520]

What excursion was your best on Silversea and why was it?

[@lhpontes]

I had hoped for a more direct comparison of the 3 cruise lines amongst themselves.

[@askarealtravelexpert]

Thanks for the comment. More to come on some of these lines stay tuned

[@jaynewelch218]

My son 42 never been on a cruise but he would love to don his finery every evening. More clothes than myself and his wife put together. I’m researching a bucket trip hate crowds hate big ships so thanks for the info.

[@askarealtravelexpert]

LOL 😀 he would have a great time on Silversea as they have formal nights but yet no so stringent for those of us that want a little bit more country club sheik.

[@BoysOfBoca]

Silversea includes excursions just as Regent does. Seabourn does not include excursions. That item requires correction on her part. Also, the Regent Suite is 4,500 sq ft and the most luxurious suite at sea.

[@askarealtravelexpert]

Wow 4500 sq ft. Now if we only had the 11,000.00 per night we would be all set :-)

[@kd0r]

Just saw this two years after the fact. There's another useful comparison number in addition to the passenger to crew ratio. That number I call the space ratio. It probably has a formal name. It's the Gross Tonnage divided by the number of passengers. One of the Royal Carib mega ships has a space ratio of 33 tons per passenger. One of the Seabourn ships is 67 tons per passenger. So the Seabourn has nearly twice the space per passenger of a mega ship. They feel it too!

[@askarealtravelexpert]

Absolutely correct space ratio is a key metric. We are starting to refer to in our research for our interviews.

[@SportsBoss999]

I wish I could afford a luxury cruise, but my finances don't allow for it. But it was very interesting to listen. Lola really knows her stuff! I'm an older person and am going on my very first cruise in just 2 months. Can't wait! It appears that it's affordable, comfortable, and enjoyable. Can't ask for too much more than that. I like good food, relaxing entertainment, and lounging around the pool area to take in the sights and look out on the water. Thank you for this video. It was a good listen. But holy crap - $18,000 for a couple in a luxury suite? Wow. I'm spending $3,000 for my cruise, which includes my flight and a hotel stay. No wonder it's an all-included cost. That cake must have cost a grand then.

[@askarealtravelexpert]

You will have a great time on your first cruise even at $3000

[@hectorgomez4419]

Silversea all the way, Silversea is simply the best in the Ultra Luxury category

[@askarealtravelexpert]

We are fans! How many times have you sailed with them?

[@ohui1000]

Very much agree. We used to cruise with Crystal but have also tried Regent, Cunard and Oceania. We had to switch from Crystal this year as they went bankrupt and have to find a substitute. We were unsure how Silversea would stack up against Crystal but after our last cruise on the Silver Muse we immediately booked the Silver Dawn for next year.

[@askarealtravelexpert]

We are heading to the Caribbean with them this December.

[@faithmoore7520]

Have you sailed to n the others? Please provide details why you loved Silversea.

[@faithmoore7520]

@@askarealtravelexpert I would love to check ever last one of them out!

[@WindAndTruth1]

Lola mentioned that Regent includes excursions, but she left out that Silversea includes excursions too. That would have a big impact on the overall price. Was there a reason she didn't take that into consideration for the price comparison?

[@askarealtravelexpert]

You are absolutely right about that. Silversea has a great door to door and port to port promotion which includes excursions. Lola is away for holidays so we will check back with her. It may have something to do with the amount and quality of shore excursions available per port when she was trying to level up the three lines for comparison. For example, Silversea's included excursions can be limited per port although they offer at least one per port ( usually a city or port tour). Regent offers unlimited shore excursions with more variety. This makes it really difficult to put them side by side for comparison. Which also makes it all the more important when booking to have a travel advisors advice as to what suits your individual needs. We will check back with Lola after the holidays to get her input. In the meantime, all the best to you and your family this holiday season.

[@mohel613]

LOVED THE VIDEO, VERY CLEAR AND INFORMATIVE.

[@askarealtravelexpert]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@christinabeech6518]

My view of the retreat within Celebrity is the opposite to yours. When you are not in the retreat area you have the benefits of a large ship. This means larger pools, especially the indoor solarium pool and great entertainment with reserved seats.

[@askarealtravelexpert]

Thanks for the comment

[@lynnfranklin5098]

We love decking out but as we are traveling longer cruises it is harder to pack and keep it down to one suitcase n duffle

[@askarealtravelexpert]

We hear you today is packing day for our Silversea adventure we managed to go to Egypt and Jordan last year carry on but not this time. Have to make room for the tux and gowns. 😁

[@faithmoore7520]

It appears she loves seaborn. I always wanted to go on Seaborn. I would like her opinion on Seabourn versus regent cruise line. I love that idea of the lazy boy chair!

[@askarealtravelexpert]

What cruise lines have you been on?

[@faithmoore7520]

@@askarealtravelexpertI love everything about cruising. Maybe, I should have became a travel agent; researching cruises is something I could do all day,. I have been enamored with the idea of cruising on Seaborn. . With me , it is the experience.I love the idea of engaging in enlightening conversations, fantastic food, relaxation, and comfort. I have been on Royal Caribbean. it was too crowded, noisy,and everything appeared to be tip driven or I was constantly being offered to buy something. I did not like the idea of them walking around with cameras, then offering for me to buy all these photographs near the end of the cruise! I have traveled to Rome Italy , Amsterdam Holland, and I traveled to old and new Jerusalem. Currently, I am a widow who is open to new opportunities.

[@askarealtravelexpert]

Lots of folks become travel advisors as a second of third career. If you are passionate about it you should look into it. You are always going to feel a bit nickelled and dimed on the mass market lines it’s part of their marketing revenue strategy so as long as you know that going on board it’s ok. It’s not the same experience on the luxury lines.

[@faithmoore7520]

@@askarealtravelexpert is this a lucrative career for people who work with you?

[@askarealtravelexpert]

It can be very lucrative but it takes time, dedication and work.

[@savagecub]

If you go on one of these cruises and you’re less than 65 years old you’ll feel like you’re among the youngest onboard !

[@askarealtravelexpert]

Lol marvellous way to feel like a kid again! It depends on the itinerary and cruise length. Our recent Silversea cruise in the Caribbean had a nice mix of age groups but no kids to speak of. The longer the cruises tend to run older because retired folks have more time to travel. And of course the financial side it also becomes a factor.

[@Linda-w3o3s]

Have just come back from an expedition cruise on Silversea and there was a mix of ages and it was very active!

[@bobcarr5497]

I really enjoyed this video chat with Lola and the three ultra luxury lines. My wife and I are taking two cruises on lines we have never sailed before in Celebrity Equinox in October to the ABC Islands and Oceania Vista December 30th for 10 days in the Caribbean as well in one of there Penthouse suites. The cruise i'm really interested to see if we like is Oceania because of the luxury of only 1200 passengers plus a Penthouse suite and all the amenities that come with the upscale service model and all speciality restaurants included and upscale service and cuisine and included airfare and transfers etc. Oceania Vista will be the most i have ever spent on a cruise basically the price of the ultra luxury like seabourn per say but if it goes well i could see my wife and I trying one of the ultra luxury lines next. We are 56 yrs old still young but we do enjoy the finer things in life and love cruising but want less crowds, adults only and a more laid back atmosphere with a higher level of service. I was not sure if ultra luxury was for us but after hearing your conversation with Lola i think if our Oceania experience goes well we will give it a try. Thanks again.

[@askarealtravelexpert]

Hi Bob you are going to see quite a difference between Celebrity and Oceania. Drop us a note on your experiences when you are back.

[@faithmoore7520]

How was your Oceana cruise? And how much was the penthouse suite for two people?

[@bobcarr5497]

@faithmoore7520 Hello, I'm sorry to say but we had to cancel our trip two days before leaving as we had a family emergency with my wife's mother. We had a PH1 Penthouse suite and for two people $ 14K for the cruise which included airfare. There are other amenities included as well.

[@johnkean6852]

I was shocked when a couple paid £14k on Az@#@R@ Cruises for 10 days and their room flooded the doors to balcony were rusted. They were moved into another room - not upgraded - whilst the room was pumped out then ushered back to the same damp room!!! Uuughh!!!

[@askarealtravelexpert]

😧 Hate to hear about anyone having a bad experience.

[@faithmoore7520]

What Cruiseline was this! Azamara

[@cruisingforone]

I’m considering Silversea but having trouble finding which restaurants are an extra charge and what the charge is. I know the French restaurant is $70 USD extra.

[@askarealtravelexpert]

Seishin ( Asian Style) is the only other one with a cover charge but it is free for lunch.

[@faithmoore7520]

Will you do a review on Regent versus Seabourn?

[@askarealtravelexpert]

We will put it on the list stay tuned

[@faithmoore7520]

@@askarealtravelexpert I am looking forward to hearing your expertise;however, I decided to nominate myself as your travel team’s . assistant.🤵🏽‍♀️😁. I gathered what I could as fast as I could. The information I obtained is to the best of my knowledge.. 👇🏽 As far as accommodation, Both lines include open bars throughout the ship that serve beer, wine and drinks, and both lines say tips are neither expected nor required (i.e., they're already placed into their guest cruise fare. what makes the difference: Regent price includes air fares and hotel before or after your stay. Their clients have no say so on the travel times or the airport choice . For example.,a passengers might get flustered before the cruise because they only have one hour to connect to their next fight . What if they are at a large airport crowded with people, or the time of travel is inconvenient with their personal schedules ? Regent cost more than Seaborn, however the cost for travel has been placed upfront. There are no shocking round trip price tags after booking their cruise. It could be potentially expensive if they don’t have round trip plane tickets to the same countries. On the other hand, if cruisers have a watchful and well informed travel agents, or personally do their own due diligence , they will most likely find reasonably priced plane tickets. Unlike seaborn, seven seas has free excursions and excursions there clients pay. Based on personally observed the excursions with regent , ones that are most intellectually engaging will cost their clients. Yet, it does none are intellectually engaging. . Everyone have their own opinions on what they consider intellectually engaging. ,as a result , opinions will be subjective depending on client. For example, If they are the type of person who love going on excursions more instead of just sitting back and relaxing for most of the day than cruising itself, Regent seven seas cruise cost is justifiable. If they are the type of people that just want to go on a cruise to eat, relax , and be pampered due to guest to crew ratio and their only interest is a few excursions if any might want to consider factoring in the costs of Seaborn Cruises. Neither Seaborn or Regent offer care, entertainment or supervision of children. On a few select sailing,, during select holidays, Regent Seven Seas has a Club Mariner Youth Program designed for children between the ages of 5 to 17 . For example the offer mini-putt tournaments ,dance parties , or movie nights. Both Cruiseline average travelers are 40 plus . if you have a client who loves being out and about , and have a tendency to become restless, Seven Seas who offer free excursions might be better suited for them . if the idea of having most excursions paid upfront appeals to them! Regent might be the best option. Seabourn Cruises is not to be out done . This line has fabulous excursion opportunities, their excursions are very enjoyable, informative , and it will provide many engaging conversations. Also, Seaborn m have small ships that can fit into more intimate ports of call that other lines cannot . Seaborn, guest excursions are pain separately. Instead of upfront ,and passengers have the option of choosing how much they desire to factor into their overall cruise cost. For the most part, both Cruiseline are basically all inclusive to a degree. Seabourn Cruise Line does have an area on their ships named the Retreat. This magnificent haven offers a distinctive flower-shaped canopy that shields guests from sun and wind, The Retreat has 15 private cabanas. The cost of $250 for two sea days. . It’s designed as individual luxury living rooms that each feature a large HD flat screen television and a refrigerator stocked with a personalized selection of beverages for their cabana . Here is something Regent has that Seaborn does not. They offer a master bathroom spa retreat on Seven Seas Grandeur, Seven Seas Splendor and Seven Seas Explorer it delivers all the pampering of Serene Spa & Wellness™ in the privacy and comfort of their suite. The have professional fitness experts . Nevertheless, if you look at the overall cost, the cost for a suit that offers services of this magnitude might be within most budgets . Seaborn had a Spa and wellness program that was designed by a Dr. Andrew Weil. He is renowned for having bestselling books that combine physical, social, environmental and spiritual well-being. Seabourn, Cruise Line has fabulous La-Z-Boy chairs but I have read one report of their lounges chairs by the pool being hard and somewhat uncomfortable for long time lounging. Dining Options; Regent SevenSeas has more menu options and they offer a variety of steaks than what Seaborn has to offer. Seaborn has the famously renowned chef Kelly menus ,but it has not been updated in years. An overwhelming amount of repeated guest are content . ; why fixed something that does not need to be replaced ,and seaborn has various dining options. The Grill by Thomas Keller, cuts are limited to a rib-eye and New York strip. As far as the food quality, I heard iit is superb. However , I did observe a few complaints about their little ginger cake dessert being too dry ! Whereas, Regent has the specialty restaurant Prime 7 . This Restaurant has a wide variety of steaks options and cuts. Regency has only 548 crew members to 746 guest. I did a little research. Regent, seven seas cruise line have an overwhelming amount of satisfied guest. Yet I have read a few reviews of former guests who complained about waiting a while to get their meals. They ordered their meals when the restaurant was not crowded, yet it took up to 45 minutes to receive their main courses. They said the staff provided excellent service, and the food scrumptious overall . It had nothing to do with the staff disposition or service. Regent cruise line guest ratio are a tab bit higher than their staff Seaborn cruise line staff to guests ratio is pretty much 1 to 1 . As a result, Seaborn has more time to play attention to small details and to anticipate their guest needs before they could ask. Unlike complaints from a few regent guest , I did not read any reviews concerning Seaborn’s guest food arriving lukewarm , and there were no mentioning of extended wait periods.

[@elleb7523]

We are not the target audience (we are in our 30s) but like the ultra luxury lines. I’d love to hear about some of the smaller new ships like Emerald (ocean going) or Ritz Carlton. How do those compare?

[@askarealtravelexpert]

Sounds like a great idea. We will look to see who has sailed with them stay tuned

[@westhavenor9513]

Fyi, the free Wi-Fi on Regent was useless to me. Not enough bandwidth to answer my doorbell at home which was frustrating. I heard other passengers complain as well. You have to pay $10 a day for sufficient bandwidth. I found this nickle & diming incongruous with Regent's all-inclusive spirit and believe it cheapens their brand somewhat. Everything else was excellent, especially the crew.

[@askarealtravelexpert]

Agreed! In this day and age there is no sense offering a low end version of Wi Fi especially on a luxury brand.

[@faithmoore7520]

Was there any other cost of paying for quality internet?

[@salliepaulson3952]

Should also include Crystal in the ultra luxury category.

[@askarealtravelexpert]

We are going to reach out to the Crystal team.

[@rosemaryf8177]

Although I enjoyed this video, I am disappointed that it did not do amore comparison between the three lines. I took a Silversea New England cruise last year and am taking a Silversea Grand Voyage cruise from Capetown to Athens this winter . But I would have liked to have a better comparison between the three lines, so that I could decide whether to go on either of the other two lines in the future. For example, how does the choice of excursions compare across the lines. Silversea has several free excursions included for each port plus two or three extra cost excursions. Does Regent and Seabourne have as much of a choice of excursions. How do the Entertainment and Enrichment lectures compare? Which line is better for solo travellers. Does Regent and Seabourn offer the Door to Door service that Silversea does? How do their loyalty programs compare? I found the price comparision not realistic since it did not take in account Silversea giving one free excursion per port and including airfare and airport transfers in their door-to-door service.

[@askarealtravelexpert]

Thanks for your detailed comment it’s time to do another interview re these great lines. Will take your comments into consideration. Stay tuned

[@mohel613]

I AM BOOKED WITH REGENT ON THE SPLENDOR. I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR YOUR OPINION ON THE QUALITY OF THEIR FOOD ON BOARD. TX

[@askarealtravelexpert]

You are going to a have a great time. We have quite a few experts who have sailed Regent let me reach out to a couple for an expert opinion.

[@lucys6223]

Great info thank you! We are likely in the minority but indoor smoking areas is a deal breaker for us. Hubby and I are extremely sensitive, allergic symptoms with second hand smoke. Years on Celebrity now considering one of the 3 reviewed here for future cruise, Silverseas is out for us due to the indoor smoking areas. Seabourn a strong contender, similar smoking policy as Celebrity, plus we like the itinerary. Not sure of Regent’s smoking policy?

[@askarealtravelexpert]

Regent is much the same as Silversea. But if it helps we were on Silversea in December and it was not much of issue just needed to avoid the designated outside areas.

[@lucys6223]

The difference is Silverseas allows some level of Indoor smoking, yes in designated areas, which Always travels to indoor nonsmoking area. We experienced this on Oceania. Seabourne - all designated smoking areas are Outdoor Only. Regent being similar to Silverseas, it’s a deal breaker for us and we won’t consider. Thx for your input.

[@chipper592]

Azamara offers course by course in room dinning. They also go out of there way to celebrate special occasions.

[@askarealtravelexpert]

Good to know.

[@dj2000lbs]

How do these compare to Windstar?

[@askarealtravelexpert]

Stay tuned for our segment

[@deskubrir]

Is it fair if I say that by looking at the newer ships, Seabourn and Regent have a classic luxury interior design while Silversea has a modern luxury interior design? Both designs are great, but I feel these may attract different audiences. For instance, I feel more exciting to sail on Silversea Nova/Ray than Regent Splendor or Seabourn Venture just by looking at the interior design.

[@askarealtravelexpert]

Totally fair and you are correct Silversea will attract a slightly younger more active clientele

[@heatherhall7898]

Silverseas explore class ships and itineraries should be considered and discussed outside of the typical cruises.

[@askarealtravelexpert]

Stay tuned for our upcoming series on Silversea beginning next Thursday with a look at Silversea Expeditions

[@GlobalAdventurer]

Have you guys sailed the new MSC Explora Journeys luxury line? I booked with them for next year. It's not too small or too large.

[@askarealtravelexpert]

No we have not but we have a number of experts that are booked on the, so stay tuned.

[@annekenyon8333]

Thoughts on Ponant and Ritz Carlton? Pretty sure I’ve decided but it’s a subjective decision - I prefer your objective method. One thing, do you have a preference for any of these for solo travellers? Thank you

[@askarealtravelexpert]

Both will give you an exceptional experience. We hear a lot of rave reviews about Ponant. No preference on solo travellers

[@annekenyon8333]

@@askarealtravelexpert I’m leaning to Seaborne. Don’t want to be the only solo on a small ship though. The gentleman escort will think I planned it haha. Is that still a thing? Guess I should do some more research. Thanks for weighing in. Great video.

[@askarealtravelexpert]

Seabourn is a great choice

[@monikamichaelis-iw3to]

On silversea cruises there were no anklebiters on board.

[@askarealtravelexpert]

You are correct you not going to find a lot of kids on Silversea although they do allow for children there are no programs or services for young children as a result you don't see many. That plus the cost. :-)

[@55north17]

Enjoyed the video and the content. However your price comparisons don't match our experience. We are booked with Silversea for a 14 day cruise, door to door and the price is much more reasonable than your comparison. All the typical inclusion apply with shore excursions I'not quoting the price we are paying. There will be some adjustment for comparisons (itinerary, time of year) and perhaps we got benefit for the time we booked and we are return customers and so I don't wish to cause unnecessary controversy. My suggestion is if you see something you like then talk to them. Our experience is that the listen and try to tailor to suit.

[@askarealtravelexpert]

Thanks for the comment. You are correct timing, and loyalty programs can make a difference. making price comparisons a moving target

[@lesliesnowdon1360]

Do you have a link for your Manitoba travel agency?

[@askarealtravelexpert]

Here is Roys email address. [e-mail]

[@heatherhall7898]

Silverseas includes 2-3 excursion choices at each port. No need to upcharge as calculated in this video.

[@askarealtravelexpert]

🤔

[@serenalim8545]

I love the detail to attention on service and food on luxury cruise line. I was on silversea last Dec with my adult children. The shows and activities are a big disappointment. We did not attend any of the shows subsequently. Anyone has any idea which luxury cruise line offers the best activities and entertainment ?

[@askarealtravelexpert]

That’s to bad to hear about Silversea. The smaller ships are a bit of a disadvantage due to their size what do you think they could have done better?

[@silviaeaston]

All this celebration by staff..... be aware that this is NOT a foreign usual celebration. In most other countries, (I'm foreign born) celebrations happen with family and/or people you have known forever, and partying with recent friends/people you have befriended is not what someone would boast about. (It's not a "better" or other thing, it's just a "different culture")

[@askarealtravelexpert]

🤔

[@janiekcarney5482]

I can’t afford any of these.

[@askarealtravelexpert]

😢

[@omarwilliams1145]

Oh ye of little faith. 😐

[@WilliamMurphy-uv9pm]

Are you bragging?

[@deniselanglois6193]

Is it safe to travel on a cruise ship alone

[@askarealtravelexpert]

It is absolutely safe to travel solo on a cruise.

[@lukejohnson5195]

How about food. This is one of most important points. Don’t just tell me they are all good. Disappointed in lacking details comparing the luxury lines.

[@askarealtravelexpert]

I man after my own heart. You are right food is always high on the list. Great topic for another deep dive comparison. Thanks for the comment sorry you found it lacking.

[@dlgregory35]

Nothing that we did not already know here.

[@askarealtravelexpert]

⛴

[@mandywalker3393]

I find it hard to believe they went that far with the service for her anniversary. Do they know she is a travel agent? I would be so disappointed if I didn't get the same treatment because i'm not. Sorry to be cynical, but I've only been on one cruise and I want to get away from the rowdy partiers and kids. I just turned 53, but i want to go on an "old fogey's" cruise. Smaller ship, please.

[@askarealtravelexpert]

They did not know she was a travel agent as most travel agents travel incognito to make sure they get the unvarnished experience. I can tell you from personal experience this happens a lot on the premium and luxury cruise lines. We had the exact same experience in Egypt with AmaWaterways and an absolutely wonderful experience with Celebrity Cruises (pre Covid) where we were invited to a special lunch and were waited on hand and foot by our waiter Alen and his team plus the very first waiter Bernard from the very first cruise we ever took several years back. Bernard sings opera and it was amazing to hear him sing happy anniversary. Amazing memories! Now for avoiding the party crowd. The longer the cruise the older the guests will be as a rule of thumb. You will also find that the premium cruise lines (Holland America, Celebrity Cruises, Oceania) as well as the luxury cruise lines and river cruises will have an older and more sedate crowd.

[@celticqueen9762]

Lola didn't say her favorite features on Regent or Silversea.....

[@askarealtravelexpert]

Let me ask her for you stay tuned

[@askarealtravelexpert]

Lola's Favorites Regent Seven Seas - The inclusive shore excursions Silversea - Their course-by-course in-suite dining

[@faithmoore7520]

@@askarealtravelexpert ask her overall which cruise line she felt more pampered or had the best course by Course Seabourn or Silver Sea? Also, ask her out of all the ones she mentioned, which one has where you can dine in see the ocean big windows? Which one was the best outside dining features ? Tables where you can oversee the ocean?

[@howardhdavidson]

I’ve done over 90 cruises and wouldn’t like this lady to be my travel agent,she didn’t know that Silversea as well as Regent have always included shore excursions and a selection for each port also Silversea you get a butler whatever cabin grade Regent only penthouse-suites upwards .Personally I like Silversea then Regent I’m not a lover of Seabourn now they are not up to the standards of the other two .They were years ago prior to Carnival buying them. There is a different experience depending on which ship you travel on each cruise line ,depending what your looking for . I know I get more offers of deals dally from Seabourn as apposed to the other two companies. She gives a very erratic uneven pricing example.I’ve been pricing two luxury cruises this year and her pricing is not accurate. I predicted she would pick Seabourn for her favourite feature,I wonder why.

[@askarealtravelexpert]

🤔

[@dlgregory35]

Why is t that these so-called u;tra luxury cruises can run at only 50% capacity and even less and yet still operate does that not tell you that they are way overpriced surely that is obvious?

[@stephaniehale946]

*I can never understand as to why the so-called cruise experts are all old people.*

[@askarealtravelexpert]

Because it takes a few years to sail on 100 plus cruises

[@faithmoore7520]

Experience means everything!

[@debbietaylor1703]

Sure is hard to call Regent an Ultra-luxury when they encourage kids. We loved Regent until this year and we were surrounded by Children. They tout the included airfare but since Covid, they don't give you a good choice for airfare. They took us west when going east and then past our state going west. Twenty-one hours to get home when it should have been 14. You can change the airfare but they charge more to do so. How can it be luxury when they book two stops? It is a beautiful cruise line and the children and bad airfare booking has changed it.

[@askarealtravelexpert]

Negotiated air contracts have been getting worse since the in recent years so I guess it comes down to keeping the overall price point of a cruise within range at the sacrifice of quality air not a great choice in our opinion. Interesting comment with regard to kids what time of year did you sail exactly? Summer and holiday season are bound to attract more kids as more and more families want the multi generational experience. The luxury cruise lines are now looking to fill that need.

[@shawngallacher2231]

I would consider booking the Retreat if I was bringing my adult children ( no grandkids) .

[@askarealtravelexpert]

For sure! Would you book the kids in staterooms with Retreat access as well?

[@shawngallacher2231]

@@askarealtravelexpert Yes we would all stay in the Retreat . After dinner we would go to the shows. This Xmas we are booked on the Silver Dawn for a 8 night Caribbean cruise.

[@askarealtravelexpert]

Silver Dawn at Xmas sounds wonderful!

[@faithmoore7520]

@@askarealtravelexpertdid she say there were children in the Norwegian Haven? How would you compare the celebrity retreat compared to the Norwegian haven?

[@faithmoore7520]

@@shawngallacher2231 sounds like someone is about to have a grand time!

[@deniselanglois6193]

Also do you get charged double when you are alone

[@askarealtravelexpert]

On most cruise lines you will pay what’s known as an additional single supplement if you are occupying a stateroom that normally holds more than one guest. It’s normally a percentage of the second guest fare. For example if the first guest fare was 1500 per person and the supplement was 50% then you as a solo traveler would pay 2250 to occupy that room. Single supplements vary by cruise line and time of year from as low as zero all the way to 100 % single supplement. It’s best to work with your trusted travel advisor to seek out the best fare for you. Hope this helps thanks for the question.

[@lynnfranklin5098]

Back in 60 70. All cruise lines were Luxury lines 😂

[@askarealtravelexpert]

Did you cruise in that era?

[@lynnfranklin5098]

@@askarealtravelexpert yes my parents started us cruising in 1964 (10 years old) my patents fav line was Costa lots of changes since them)

[@askarealtravelexpert]

Wow that must have been a great adventure for you at that age, and you would have definitely seen quite a few changes since then. I think the only line that possibly comes close to the atmosphere of yesteryear is Cunard.

[@lynnfranklin5098]

@@askarealtravelexpert my kids loved premier & RCL. Wow they were excited when rock wall added then skate rink like my parents we would do road trip one summer cruise the next summer

[@paulcasey9236]

Overall, a fairly poor review. If it wasn’t for all the reader’s’ contributions, I would not have the knowledge necessary. 😢

[@askarealtravelexpert]

🧐

[@johnkean6852]

One thing l'll consider before stepping on a "luxury" cruise: if one thing is wrong it will spoil my whole cruise. Egs: Cold coffee Bad coffee No saccharine for coffee Sticky handrails in public areas and on the balcony Hairs on sheets Worn sofa and chair fabric Smells Unfriendly uncommitted staff Cold food Bad behaviour from other guests eg: Leaving sauna door open Blowing nose in shared showers Not showering before swimming in pool Barefeet on floor Leaving unruly, noisy kids to fend for themselves Children in adult areas Pushing in queues Cheating lines Touching food Shouting and complaing Drunkenness

[@askarealtravelexpert]

🤔

[@YHWH101]

Sounds just like home hehe