World’s Best Cruises

Oceans are romantic, mysterious, and irresistibly beautiful and what better way to enjoy the ocean than to hop onboard an uber-luxurious cruise ship! Tulip explores 5 of the best cruises from around the globe. Get packing!

Regent Seven Seas Cruise

Regent Seven Seas is known to be one of the best cruise ships around the world and has some great facilities. In its journey from Southampton in London to Reykjavik in Iceland, spanning 15 nights, it covers the ports of Dublin, Dartmouth, Torshavn, Akureyri, Nuuk, and Qaqortoq.

The accommodation is nothing short of grand with intricate detailing of high-quality marble and granite and chandeliers of crystal illuminating the ship in the most beautiful possible light. One of the most exciting things about the ship is perhaps the fact that there are about 2500 pieces of art created by the masters hung not only in the public spaces but also in the cabins and suites – they even have work by Pablo Picasso himself!

They offer all basic amenities like room service and Wi-Fi and apart from that, the fare is also inclusive of unlimited shore excursions, onboard entertainment like dance and music performances, a constellation theatre, casino, spa, business centre, library and card room. For the sports lovers, they have a swimming pool, jogging track, tennis courts and even golf nets. A variety of cuisine is offered – Signatures serves French cuisine, Compass Rose serves Continental cuisine, Sette Mari serves Tuscan food, and you can dine al-fresco at the Pool Grill. All restaurants serve gourmet food and the number of choices will ensure you’ll find something you love! Make sure to visit a foreign exchange before you hop on board because the currency used on board is the US Dollar.

FARE FOR Two: Southampton to Reykjavik cruise starts from Rs. 10,31,520/- Approx

The Viking Star

The Viking Star fleet is a class apart in terms of its design. Their World Cruise goes from London to Los Angeles and covers 27 countries over a period of 120 days and the Voyage of Marco Polo goes from Athens to Bangkok covering 10 countries in 36 days. It has been designed thoughtfully to maximise the guests’ interaction with their destinations – each ship carries a maximum of 950 guests and has direct access to most ports because of its small size, not to imply that it’s anything but luxurious.

As the name suggests, Viking Star has the ambiance of the traditional longships that the Vikings used in their glory days and it even has a clinker bar to make the experience as authentic as possible. The fleet has figured in the World’s Best Awards 2016. It’s sleek and offers a minimalistic and understated elegance that places emphasis on functionality and utility, something that is also traditionally associated with Scandinavia.

Each ship has 9 decks and each cabin comes with a balcony from where you can immerse yourself in the sea breeze and enjoy an unhindered view of the ocean. The amenities include the Viking living room (which is a public space), the spa, the salon, the Viking bar, the fitness centre, the yoga area, and the swimming pool that has a really cool wall that can also be used as a cinema screen. For guests to make the most of the cruise, they also have an outdoor gym where you can work out while enjoying the ocean. The Viking library is the most elevated living room on the sea and is a marvel indeed. The restaurant serves great quality and amazing gourmet Italian food. The spacious seating, absorbing live entertainment, exciting planned activities and melodic music will ensure you have the best experience.

FARE FOR TWO: World Cruise starts from Rs. 58,02,300/- Approx

Voyage of Marco Polo starts from Rs. 12,89,400/- Approx

Oceania CruisesNautica

The Oceania Cruises Nautica cruise starts in Copenhagen and ends in London, covering the ports of Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greenland, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, and Sweden in the 20 days of the cruise. The ships are relatively small and carry between 684-1250 guests. The advantage this offers is that it can access smaller towns and villages, giving the guests lots of travel experiences.

The interiors of the ship are elegant as well as luxurious and the accommodation spells classic with a capital C. The USP of this cruise, however, is the food. They are known for having the finest cuisine at sea and have rightly earned this title. They offer a plethora of choices and have multiple specialty restaurants like the steakhouse Polo Grill, the Italian restaurant Toscana, or the continental Terrace Cafe to the all- American Waves Grill that serves delectable and traditional fare from across the world. Then there is the afternoon tea served daily at 4 at Horizons and Baristas, the coffee bar for Java fans. The Grand Dining Room, true to its name, is done up with exotic wood from around the world, designer furnishings and oversized furniture. The menu changes daily and is mostly inspired by Europe but you can also opt for healthier alternatives. The staff is well trained and will gladly cater to your every whim and fancy. The best part is that all restaurants have open seating, which means they’re not crowded and you don’t have to wait before you dig right in!

Besides all that, they ensure that there is something to pertain to the taste of everybody. They have all the usual amenities and their onboard entertainment has a huge range – from guest lectures to classical music, and from a wild dance floor to a casino. You will have nothing short of a lifetime experience.

FARE FOR Two: Copenhagen to London starts from Rs. 9,67,050/- Approx

Seabourn

The 11 day Mediterranean Idyll cruise starts from Piraeus in Athens goes to Barcelona in Spain. The ports of call are Hydra, Xlendi, Valletta, Livorno, Portofino, Marseille, and Palamos.

This fleet is owned by the Carnival Corporation and has one of the youngest fleets in the industry (all built between 2009 and 2011) which comprises 5 luxury cruise vessels. Seabourn’s vessels carrying between 450 and604 guests. The ships are intimate with less than 300 suites and offer exclusive itineraries to less explored places that bigger ships can’t explore. The USP of Seabourn’s vessels is that they all have marinas that lower into the sea so the guests can take part in water activities from the back of the vessel.

Seabourn offers free gourmet dining, free wines, and spirits, all-suite accommodations. The standard cabins are huge and luxurious and have walk-in closets, a TV with a variety of film and music to choose from and a refrigerator that is filled with the food keeping the likes and dislikes of the guest in mind. The bathrooms are mesmerizingly beautiful and come with bath products from top-notch brands like Hermes and L’Occitane and Molton Brown. Guests can even ask for sprinkled rose petals on their beds and warm scented baths at an extra charge. The penthouse suite is even better and has a bedroom separated from the living room and whirlpool jets and powder rooms. The best suites, however, are the two Grand Winter garden accommodations that are the very definition of luxury with a glass-walled solarium of its own and its stand-alone bathtub has received accolades from travellers across the world.

FARE FOR Two: Mediterranean Idyll starts from Rs. 5,15,760/- Approx

Silversea

Their 16 day Kangerlussuaq to Kangerlussuaq and Greenland Expedition Cruise starts from Kangerlussuaq in Greenland goes via Sisimiut, Uummannaq, Pond Inlet, Nuchavut, Buchan Gulf, Sirmilik National park, Bylot Island, Cruise Peel Sound, and Beechey Island.

The Silversea fleet is family owned by Carnival Corporation and is headquartered in Monaco. The entire fleet is dedicated to polar expeditions and ships carry between 296 and 596 guests. The fleet shows quite a distinct Italian influence when it comes to the officers, food, and beverage. However, the service staff is mostly Asian with a lot of people from India and the Philippines. The USP of Silversea is that they have butlers on their whole fleet for all types of staterooms and suites. That staff to guest ratio is 1:1 and that ensures that the guests will have someone to take care of their needs at all times so they can really feel pampered and spend time relaxing, unwinding, and adventuring.

The accommodation is done up in a simple and elegant manner that appeals to the minimalist aesthetic and the bathrooms are spacious and thoughtfully designed to maximise comfort and utility. The food is delectable and the preferences of the guests are kept in mind while preparing made-to-order dishes for them. They have a team of experts including ornithologists and historians who educate and inform the guests about the destinations they visit, making it a truly educational experience. They also arrange excursions and explorations and provide free exploration gear, and the thrill and adrenaline rush is unbeatable.

FARE FOR Two: Kangerlussuaq to Kangerlussuaq Arctic and Greenland Expedition Cruise starts from Rs. 19,85,676/- Approx