All cruise lines aren’t the same, and that’s a good thing. Families with small children are seeking a far different experience for a summer vacation than newly-weds taking a 5-day jaunt into the Caribbean. And retired couples who’ve spent their lifetimes saving for an ocean voyage are looking for a certain standard of relaxing luxury teens would find, well, boring.
But many travelers may not know even the upper end cruise lines are different in how they cater to their elite clientele. You can almost put your wallet away once you step onto a Seabourn ship, knowing top-quality meals, drinks and entertainment are all included in whatever price you negotiated to get onboard. And, yes, prices can vary depending on where you sign up and when you book them.
But that’s another column. Oceania, which some cruise critics consider a notch or so below the “ultra-luxury” Seabourn line, is not so inclusive. You have to purchase drink packages on Oceania, and prices can be pretty steep, depending on whether you want booze only with meals or if you want to knock it back all day long.
On Seabourn, you can have champagne. with caviar lounging around the pool, and you won’t fork out a penny more. This “all-inclusive” angle influences whether some lines are classified as 6-star “ultra-luxury,” while others are only “premium.
” I have cruised both on Oceania and Seabourn and can attest they both offer travelers a very high-end experience. Oceania has some real plusses tha.