How to enjoy a refined luxury cruise

The key to an unforgettable luxury cruise is knowing just how to enjoy every minute of it. With this in mind, today we’ve put together a handy guide on what to expect on a range of six-star voyages – and the best experiences you can enjoy to make the most of your refined luxury cruise.

Make the most of your butler service

Nothing says luxury like personal service from a butler or a steward.  Ultra-luxury ships are well known for exceptional personal service, sometimes with as many staff on board as there are guests – bringing champagne to your room, taking care of your dining reservations and shore excursions, and even taking the time to learn your likes and dislikes in order to tailor your perfect cruise experience.

Take a different kind of shore excursion

Ultra-luxury cruises offer some incredible shore excursions which differ greatly from the shore trips you might expect on mainstream cruise lines. Enjoy wine tastings in France, ride elephants in East Asia, or see the world’s most remote locations like Alaska on a helicopter tour. You could even dive into some high-octane adventures on a luxury expedition cruise, combing the refined surroundings of your cruise ship with some rare face-to-face experiences with the world’s most spectacular wildlife.

Meet other people over drinks

Setting sail on a luxury cruise is a lot like joining an exclusive club. You’re here for the best experiences in the finest surroundings, and this is something you’ll have in common with every other guest on board. You’re immediately in a great position to meet others who share your love of travel and the finer things – and your ship’s relaxed, refined bars make the perfect place to share a drink.

Book a spa treatment

Luxury cruises are the perfect opportunity to relax and enjoy a real pampering. This is the kind of one-off occasion where you can really go to town, with a range of therapies like facials, body wraps, deep-tissue massage and revitalising aromatherapies in beautiful surroundings like the luxury Canyon Ranch SpaClub.

Enjoy afternoon tea

Many luxury cruise lines specialise in afternoon tea – and who wouldn’t want to enjoy this fine tradition on the deck of a cruise ship in the world’s most summery climes? Crystal, Oceania, Seabourn and Silversea all offer guests a choice of afternoon teas, from English cream tea with silverware and fine china, to a colourful buffet complete with live classical music.

Dress up for dinner

Fine dining lies at the heart of the luxury cruise experience, and is often served with complimentary wines to bring out the flavours in every dish. While dinner on luxury expedition cruises may tend to be a less formal affair, restaurants on other luxury ships are the perfect opportunity to step out in your finery and combine great company with incredible food and spectacular ocean views.

Listen to live jazz

Jazz can divide opinion, but when it’s done well its appeal can be universal and it can create the perfect soundtrack to a great night. Music lovers have plenty of entertainment to choose from on a variety of luxury cruises, and lines like Silversea and Regent Seven Seas have even held Jazz Legends cruises in recent years, with live performances available in show lounges and even out on the pool deck under the stars.

Take to the dance floor

If you’re out for the night, a little time on the ship’s dance floor is practically essential to show off your robot – or maybe even the fruits of your on-board dance lessons with a waltz or a tango. Some ultra-luxury cruise lines offer the services of hosts too, available to lead single ladies in a dance.

Sleep in a luxury bed

After a full day of adventures, good food and fantastic entertainment, what could be better than collapsing down into a king-size bed under luxury cotton sheets? Set the air conditioning to perfect and choose from a range of pillow types to get the best night’s sleep you can remember – and you’ll need it too, because the adventures start all over again tomorrow.