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THE ULTIMATE CRUISE LINES

In many ways, luxurious cruise travel is like heading to heaven, but you have a round-trip ticket. The world's finest cruise lines offer a travel experience that cannot be equalled on land. They are purveyors of heaven at sea.

Our choices for the half-dozen best cruise lines were admittedly quite subjective. Many luxurious lines didn't make our difficult cut to six, but that doesn't mean you won't also enjoy their cruises in the lap of luxury. Given that, we've provided a few additional favorites at the end of this special report, each also providing something especially luxurious at sea.

The six select lines summarized below all offer a variation on luxurious cruising. Each cruise line and, often, individual ships of that line, give passengers a unique experience on and off the ship. It's best to read all of the overviews and, later, promotional material, very carefully, looking for lines, ships, and itineraries that feature the things you most desire. Whether it's gourmet dining, private balconies, enormous suites, or modern spas, you're sure to find lines and ships that interest you.

We have provided typical costs from the excellent 1st edition of The Unofficial Guide to Cruises (Macmillan). However, please don't let the price guidelines lead to misleading price comparisons between the lines and individual cruises. Other good resources include Fielding's Worldwide Cruises (Fielding Travel Guides) and The World's Most Exciting Cruises (Hippocrene). Porthole magazine (800-776-PORT) often covers luxury cruises in colorful prose and pictures.

Many of the lines covered below include practically everything in the price. However, no matter what the cost of the cruise, you'll avoid unpleasant surprises by understanding what's included (e.g., gratuities, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, and port charges). In all cases, you'll get more than your money's worth, but just be sure you pick the right cruise to get the best bang for your cruise buck.

You can contact each of the cruise lines directly to receive their extensive marketing material, which provides some of the most luxurious armchair travel available. However, an experienced travel agent will be extremely helpful in deciding upon and booking with these finest of cruise lines. If you're looking for value in the luxury category, you may also want to contact The Cruise Line, Inc., (800-777-0707) a Miami-based cruise discounter that often has great deals with the luxury lines covered below.

CRYSTAL CRUISES

In 1988, Crystal Cruises set the goal of providing the best and most elegant large cruise ship experience possible. The outcome of this quest is their two-ship fleet, Crystal Harmony and Crystal Symphony. They are both music to the ears of luxury cruisers who want it all.

The sister ships provide the ultimate large ship setting--extremely spacious 960-guest ships offering a wider range of innovative facilities, accommodations, and amenities than most smaller ships. Conceived as resort hotels at sea, both ships are among the most spacious in their class.

Distinctive features include some of the largest luxury penthouses afloat, a high ration of stateroom and penthouse verandahs, flexible and varied dining, the Crystal Visions Lecture Series of charismatic celebrities, and the first casinos at sea for Caesars Palace of Las Vegas.

If you like the suite life, these ships will definitely suit your taste. The elegantly-appointed Penthouse Decks have accommodations ranging from 360- to 982-square-feet, making them some of the largest suites afloat. There are special amenities, European-trained butlers, and daily hors d'oeuvres that make the Penthouse Decks sweetly special.

If tasteful dining is your meal ticket, the Harmony features Japanese and Italian restaurants to accompany the fine Crystal Dining Room, while the Symphony adds Asian and Italian restaurants to its menu of dining options. If you're really into food, be sure to check the schedule of Crystal Wine & Food Festival sailings, a popular series that showcases guest chefs and wine authorities.

Built more recently, the Symphony is virtually the same as the Harmony, with a few modifications. This ship boasts all-outside staterooms and is the first large luxury ship to feature private verandas or large picture windows in every cabin.

The Harmony's cruise schedule includes the Panama Canal, the Caribbean, the Orient, Southeast Asia, Australia/New Zealand, Europe, South America, the Mexican Riviera, and Hawaii. The Symphony's itineraries include a world cruise, Europe, the Panama Canal, the Caribbean, Mexican Riviera, Alaska, Canada, New England, and Bermuda.

For an ultimate cruise experience, reserve a Penthouse Deck suite during all or part of the Crystal Symphony's 103-day world cruise, "Voyage of the Hemispheres," departing January 17, 1997. The Unofficial Guide to Cruises lists the average per diem as $491, with the lowest being $246 and the highest at $879. Tel: 800-446-6620.

CUNARD

Luxury cruise travel really started with the Queen Elizabeth 2 and legendary Cunard Line Limited, which has cruise travel roots back to 1840. The flagship QE2 is the last liner to make regular transatlantic crossings between New York and Europe and she still does it in style, thanks to a recent $45 million refurbishment. This followed the $160 million conversion from steam to diesel, the largest such undertaking in maritime history. The modifications and upgrades resulted in the creation of a distinctive experience that reflects the vessel's heritage and tradition.

The Cunard cruising tradition is also found with the other five ships in the company's fleet. These include the Royal Viking Sun, the Vistafjord, Sea Goddess I and Sea Goddess II, as well as the Cunard Dynasty, which isn't recommended for luxury cruising.

The Royal Viking Sun is always among the highest-ranked ships in the world. Specially designed for extended cruising, the 38,000-ton ship carries only 760 passengers and offers itineraries throughout the world. The 736-passenger Vistafjord is rated almost as highly and has a loyal, almost snobbish, British and U.S. following for its worldwide sailings.

Sea Goddess I and Sea Goddess II have pioneered the concept of 'super yacht cruising.' They recreate an atmosphere of clubs that are afloat, with the utmost in personalized service, private yacht-like luxury, and exclusive destinations. Sailing in Europe, the Orient, East Africa, and the Caribbean, the Sea Goddess concept includes a Personal Preference form, which requests information on favorite beverages, food, and activities before the cruise.

The Cunard Dynasty is definitely not up to the standards of the rest of the Cunard line. It is not recommended for luxury cruisers and is not a good example of what Cunard has to offer on other ships.

Because of the great variety of ships and classes, Cunard's average per diem rates can be confusing. The QE2's per diem can range from $159 to $1,481, on average, while the Sea Goddess ships are in the $375 to $1,290 range and the Royal Viking Sun ranges from $227 to $1,462, according to The Unofficial Guide to Cruises. Tel: 800-221-4770.

RADISSON SEVEN SEAS

Radisson Seven Seas has one of the most interesting mixes of ships in the luxury cruise market. The line started with the 20,000-ton Radisson Diamond in 1992, which combines small-ship cruising with large-ship amenities. They then added the smaller ultra-luxurious Song of Flower and the world's newest luxury adventure cruise ship, the Hanseatic. The line is the only one that can claim to visit all of the continents on earth, including the two polar regions.

The Radisson Diamond's intimate profile owes to her twin-hull design, which cuts down on pitch and roll movements. This and other technological advances have made the ship one of the most spacious afloat. Of her 177 staterooms (all overlooking the sea), 123 feature private balconies. From December through April, she operates a distinctive Panama Canal program featuring Costa Rica and the Caribbean, with summers devoted to Mediterranean and Baltic Republics cruises.

The Song of Flower has a loyal following for her superb amenities, style, and exotic itineraries. The ship has distinguished herself as a lower-priced alternative in the ultra-deluxe category, with on-board amenities and sailings rivalling much more expensive cruises The yachtlike vessel has only 100 outside staterooms, sailing in the warm seas of Asia during the fall and winter and heading to the Mediterranean for the spring and summer months.

Finally, the Hanseatic offers a unique choice for more adventurous passengers. This deluxe cruise vessel offers paths of discovery in the lap of luxury to rarely-visited parts of the world, including the Far North, Greenland, the Northwest Passage, the Galapagos Islands, Patagonia, and Antartica. When not enjoying soft adventure, a maximum of 188 passengers enjoy the highest level of personalized service imaginable from anywhere on earth, including the Arctic.

These three choices mean you get three different styles, but you know you'll get the same Radisson Seven Seas luxury. The Unofficial Guide to Cruises lists average per diem for Radisson Seven Seas at $561, with the lowest at $428 and the highest at $699. Tel: 800-333-3333.

SEABOURN

When many people think of luxury cruising, they think of Seabourn Cruise Line and the ships that seemingly set the new standards for the best in modern cruise travel. Seabourn is the ultra-luxury line against which many others are compared.

The line's all-suite sisters ships include the Seabourn Pride, the Seabourn Spirit, and the newly-christened Seabourn Legend, which was originally planned for Seabourn, but was owned and operated by Royal Cruise Line for several years before 'coming home' to Seabourn this year.

All three ships are full-sized cruise vessels, yet they carry only 200 pampered guests and feature an elegant on-board ambiance. The well-appointed suites are among the largest afloat and feature five-foot picture windows. There are also a few larger suites on each ship.

The service on Seabourn sailings is often the most-noticed amenity. Service dossiers are kept on each guest, so the staff quickly learns the likes and dislikes of every passenger. The personalized attention often surprised even those who have stayed at the world's best hotels, making these ships some of the finest hotels afloat. Little touches like monogrammed personal stationary for each passenger and hand-cut Hadeland crystal make a big difference to Seabourn's long list of repeat cruisers (incredibly, more than 50% of passengers are on repeat voyages with the line).

Popular on-board activities include evening cabaret performances, music for dancing, and a very successful enrichment program of lecturers, celebrity chef presentations, and other special interest guests, including past cruisers like Walter Cronkite, Art Buchwald, and Dick Cavett. Shore excursions include the unique "Signature Series," custom-designed by Seabourn. The exclusive marina opens onto the ocean from the stern of the ship, including lots of watersports and a steel mesh pool for ocean swimming right from the ship.

Seabourn will appeal to experienced travelers and cruisers, as well as first-time cruisers seeking the best at sea. Guests range from younger professionals and entrepreneurs to more mature travelers. The line also attracts well-to-do families and it is not uncommon to see three generations of a family cruising together and occupying a number of separate or interconnected suites.

Seabourn's cruises are generally for 14 days, with seven-day segments, "Collector's Cruises" for 28 days or longer, and "Grand Cruises for the Blue Water Sailor" that last up to 109 days. The ships cruise in North America, South America, Alaska, the Caribbean, the British Isles, Europe, Scandinavia, the Mediterranean, East Africa, Asia, the Orient, and the South Pacific.

Sailings aboard the Seabourn Legend are a particularly good value now, in that the line wants to expose new and dedicated repeat cruisers to their newest offering. The Unofficial Guide to Cruises lists Seabourn's average per diem at $989, with the lowest at $335 and the highest at $1,654. Tel: 800-351-9595.

SILVERSEA

Founded in 1992, Silversea Cruises has carved a successful niche in the ultra-luxury market, bridging the gap between ocean-liner and small-ship cruising. The line already has many fans, thanks to superior quality cruises on all-suite ships, intriguing worldwide itineraries, and, perhaps most importantly, all-inclusive pricing that is a very good value in the high-end segment of the market.

Silversea's twin ships, Silver Cloud and Silver Wind, carry just 296 guests in 148 suites ranging in size from 240-square-feet to 1,314-square-feet, 75% of which feature private verandahs. Both modern ships were built in 1994, but the line has already contracted to build two more 390-passenger ships to meet continued demand from repeat and new Silversea fans. They will debut in 1998 and 1999.

The Silver Cloud and Silver Wind have the highest space-to-passenger ratios in the industry and also have a very low passenger-to-crew ratio of 1.51-to-1.

One of the many pleasant surprises aboard these ships is something they call "The Silversea Experience." Even the most jaded cruise travelers rave about these complimentary shore events (typically one per cruise) that unlock doors to places that few 'outsiders' are able to explore. You might head to a private beach for a sumptuous barbecue, attend a special ballet performance in a gilded opera house, visit a chateau for a private musical recital, or drink in the scenery and fruits of labor at a private winery.

With a draft of just 18 feet, the ships are small enough to venture into cozy harbors many larger ships cannot enter. Destinations include Africa, the Mediterranean, the Baltic and European capitals, Canada, New England, the Far East, China, the Caribbean, South America, the South Pacific, Australia, and New Zealand.

Silversea's all-inclusive rates include non-traditional items such as all beverages throughout the ship, a pre-cruise hotel stay, all gratuities, port charges, and the exclusive Silversea Experience mentioned above. Though many lines include some of these items, none include the wide range of value-oriented upscale extras featured by Silversea.

No matter which ship or itinerary chosen, value-oriented luxury cruisers will appreciate everything that's included in Silversea's rates. Though The Unofficial Guide to Cruises did not cover per diem rates for relatively new Silversea, average per diem rates range from just $580 to $795 for most cruises, which are generally below most similar ships. Tel: 800-722-9055.

WINDSTAR

If you're really a sailor at heart, but want the wind to take you there in sheer luxury, then Windstar Cruises will definitely put wind in your cruising sails. Though it may not meet the high luxury standards of the above lines and ships, we've included Windstar because they offer by far the best money can buy on a sailing cruise.

Since 1986, when Windstar christened the first commercial sailing vessel built in more than 60 years, this line has combined the romance of sailing vessels and explorers of yesteryear with the upscale amenities of cruising in the 1990s.

That first ship, the Wind Star, was soon joined by her sister ships, the Wind Spirit and the Wind Song, and a totally refreshing concept in luxury cruising was born. Windstar was created to offer an alternative to the typical luxury cruise experience, with a stunning sailing ship, the romance of the wind and the sea, unusual itineraries, deluxe accommodations, and seriously upscale service.

Windstar's ships are officially four-masted schooners, but the designation belies the unique rigging of the crafts. Everything is operated by a few microchips. Unfurling in two minutes at the push of a button, six billowing white sails reach 204 feet into the sky. The angle of heel is kept to a maximum of six degrees by a computer-controlled hydraulic stablilizing system, making the sailing typically quite comfortable.

Rich wood interiors, exceptional signature cuisine, an attentive crew of 88 per vessel, and intimate surroundings add to the special experience aboard each ship. With only 148 passengers on-board, it doesn't take long before people get comfortable. In keeping with the ship ambiance, Windstar sailors leave their ties and formal wear at home.

Celebrity chef and renowned owner of Patina Restaurant in Los Angeles, Joachim Splichal created 180 new recipes to match the adventurous style of the vessels. Windstar's signature cuisine includes such Splichal creations as appetizers of corn risotto with wild mushrooms and basil or towers of marinated salmon with chive creme fraiche and entrees like filet of beef with fried potato ravioli and roasted shallot sauce and farm chicken with carrot rounds and lemon thyme sauce.

Windstar sails in the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, and French Polynesia. An interesting mix of shore excursions and complimentary watersports are available at each destination. Passengers may find themselves feeding sharks in Bora Bora, slicing through the Caribbean on an actual America's Cup racing yacht, or exploring archaeological findings in Greece.

Given an option, Columbus probably would have booked a Windstar sailing cruise. The Unofficial Guide to Cruises lists the line's average per diem at $362, with $193 the low and $556 the high. Tel: 800-258-7245.

OTHER POSSIBILITIES

Many other lines and ships are well worth consideration. For instance, Celebrity Cruises (800-437-3111) is particularly popular with food fans and the creative cuisine of celebrated chef Michel Roux. Successful and rapidly expanding, Celebrity's fifth ship debuts in December and all of them feature some of the finest Steiner cruise ship spas afloat.

Other excellent possibilities include: Holland America (large classic and modern superliners, 800-426-0327); Norwegian Cruise Line (their Norway is a classic, 800-327-7030); Orient Lines (deluxe amenities with interesting itineraries and light adventure, 800-333-7300); and World Explorer Cruises (adventure cruises in Alaska, South America, and the Caribbean, 800-854-3835).