I f the idea of sailing the seven seas in style is something you’ve always dreamt of doing, then you’re in luck: today’s ultra-modern, high-end cruise ships offer the last word in luxury, from state-of-the-art gyms to Olympic swimming pools, gourmet restaurants to full-size theatres. These vast vessels have been furnished with everything you could possibly need to make your dream cruise memorable, whether that means watching a Broadway-quality show, shopping for designer handbags or having your own butler on call 24/7. This level of luxury doesn’t come cheap, but it’s certainly a seductive way to travel.
Here’s our pick of the world’s top luxurious cruise ships. Main photo: Le Bougainville, Ponant (Studio Ponant/Clement Louineau) 1. Azamara Quest, Azamara Best for vegetarians and vegans Azamara Quest is informal and friendly, with warm, contemporary decor that wouldn’t be out of place in a smart boutique hotel.
The ship sails northern Europe and the Mediterranean in summer, crossing the Atlantic for a winter season in the Caribbean and South America, including the Rio carnival. Happily, almost everything is covered including drinks. Non-carnivores are well catered for — Azamara has introduced a creative, wide-ranging menu of meat-free dishes across all its restaurants.
The two speciality restaurants, Aqualina for fine Italian cuisine and the Prime C steakhouse, are worth the extra cover charge. Both have expansive sea views so time your meal for sunset..
