But what do we actually mean by the term ‘luxury’?

Expensive? Exclusive? All-inclusive? Personalised? Unique? Modern?

Luxury certainly means something different to everybody. When it comes to cruising, some might find plush furnishings and 24-hour room service luxury. Others might not categorise anything less than all-inclusive fine dining, drinks and shore excursions as luxury.

At Panache Cruises, we make sure to only work with the best in the cruise industry. That means we ensure that each cruise line’s qualities, inclusions, and service match up to what we expect of a luxury cruise.

Every single luxury cruise line partner we work with provides:

• Personal and attentive service, often with a high crew to guest ratio of around 1:1.5
• Beautiful spaces on board, designed by some of the best architects in the world
• Fewer guests than mainstream cruise ships; most of our partners are well below the 1,000 guest mark
• All-inclusive dining and select beverages, with the option in some cases to add an alcoholic drinks package
• 24-hour room service
• Inclusive amenities which might include gratuities, flights, transfers, WiFi, robes and slippers, bathroom amenities, and select shore excursions
• Incredible offers every month which might include free upgrades, free onboard credit, or money off your cruise holiday

Some of our partners are considered ‘ultra-luxury’ as they will include all flights and transfers, shore excursions, specialty dining, personal butler service, all-suite and/or all-balcony accommodations.

Perhaps it’s worth considering how up-to-date the cruise ships are to determine how luxurious they feel once you’re on board, too. A huge number of our cruise line partners have been busy working hard to improve their (already incredible) cruise offerings and some have debuted this year, with more to come in the next few years.

Take for example Oceania Vista, Silversea’s Silver Nova, Seabourn’s brand-new expedition vessel Seabourn Venture, and new cruise line Explora Journeys' debut ship Explora I, all of which have set sail for the first time in the past few months.

Our team have been incredibly lucky to have been invited on board these beautiful new ships and can confirm that the interior decor just keeps getting better and better. Just when we think that a cruise ship has become the epitome of ‘luxury’, another one makes its debut and fights for the title of most luxurious cruise ship at sea.

Sustainability is also an element of luxury cruising that is becoming more and more important. We have seen ships such as Scenic Eclipse II, Silver Nova, Hurtigruten’s MS Fridtjof Nansen and more develop more sustainable ways of cruising and these come at a price. So does sustainable cruising equal luxury cruising?

When you get in touch with our team of cruise connoisseurs here at Panache Cruises, they will help you define your idea of luxury. And then they’ll find the perfect cruise for you.

So have a think, what does luxury mean to you?

Does it mean enjoying a ‘leave your wallet at home’ experience where everything single thing is included in your cruise fare? Take a look at Regent Seven Seas Cruises for ultra-luxurious, all-inclusive voyages.

Does it mean cruising aboard a small ship with fewer than 300 guests in a lesser-visited destination? Why not have a look at an expedition cruise aboard Celebrity Flora to the Galapagos Islands, or a yacht-style cruise with Windstar on the Red Sea.

Does it mean dining on caviar and lobster and drinking Champagne for breakfast each morning? Make sure you don’t miss out on Seabourn’s famous ‘Caviar in the Surf’ event.

Whatever you define luxury as, we guarantee that we’ll find your dream cruise holiday.

Discover luxury with Panache Cruises. Give us a call on 0161 513 8200 to find out more.